Chapter 67: Christmas

*****Taylor’s perspective*****

My phone rang, it was Strix. She said that EJ was coming into his powers and they needed help. I immediately went to the packhouse. When I got there, EJ’s hands were glowing, similar to the way mine had when I first got my powers.

I took EJ aside and coached him. I told him that for witches, our powers were tied to our emotions until we learned to control them. I said I wasn’t sure if it was the same for hybrids but it would be a place to start. I told him I would work with him everyday after training if he’d like. And of course he said, “that’d be great!” Kids, they get excited over anything new.

We started with the basics, deep breathing. Then we worked on starting and stopping the glow. We weren’t sure yet what the glow was for, what power it suggested so we were talking it slow.

*****Ethan’s perspective*****

EJ came into some powers when we went to study for our finals. Since then Lucas and I have been watching him train in how to use magic with Taylor everyday after our morning training sessions. He was getting pretty good at controlling them. When his hands would glow, he could move things, like a jedi. It was really awesome. He didn’t have the power of persuasion that we knew of but he was still learning new powers. He could also levitate himself, manipulate the weather in a fifty foot radius of himself, and make plants grow. It was all pretty awesome.

Jacob and Jonathan now appeared to be nine years old, even though they were barely two months old, and were constantly trying to outdo each other. They even fought over EJ’s powers and which ones they would get when they were older. They didn’t seem to understand that EJ ate the heart of a god and that might be the only reason he has powers at all. Although, Strix seems to think that at least one of his powers, the weather manipulation, was because of his vampire side.

On Christmas morning, Lucas and I went to the packhouse for breakfast. We were greeted by EJ. He handed us each a tornado in a bottle. They were amazing. Two tiny tornados wreaking havoc in two, two liter bottles. Lucas and I had already stashed our gifts for him under the tree. I got him a Jedi robe and lightsaber. Lucas got him some noise canceling headphones and some really funny t-shirts.

After breakfast, we all gathered around the tree and opened the gifts. Jacob and Jonathan passed them out. When we were done, we went out back and played some football. Lucas and I sucked at it. We sucked at pretty much all sports. EJ was a natural though.

After a while, I went back inside. I was sore from getting tackled so much. I sat on the couch and watched the twins play with their new toys. After a bit, they started to argue. It was escalating pretty quickly. I wasn’t exactly sure what started it, they were playing just fine. Next thing I know, they both shift. They are at each other’s throats. I tried to break them up, but it didn't work. I called Strix and Alpha Shawn in to help. The boys in wolf form were all over the place just tearing into each other. Shawn shifted and tried to stop them. He used his alpha command and that didn’t work. The twins were his sons and therefore alphas also, they could ignore it. But the rest of us felt it. EJ came in and without saying anything pulled his brothers apart. He pinned them both to the walls. EJ kept them there until they calmed down and their parents could talk to them.

I couldn’t believe what I just witnessed. The twins shifted at the same time. One white wolf and one black wolf. No wonder they had started to argue. With the way things were going with them lately, I was kind of surprised none of us picked up on them about to shift. The twins settled down and shifted back. Strix threw them some clothes.

Once dressed, the boys began to argue again. And again EJ pinned them to the wall. He wasn’t taking any chances that the boys would shift again.

EJ asked us all to leave so he could get to the bottom of their dispute. I would have loved to stay and watch. Instead though, we all went to the kitchen to help with Christmas dinner. I accidentally got some flour on Artemus and she freaked out. Then a food fight broke out. We were having fun. Flour, fruit, veggies, and dough were flying around the kitchen. Then we heard a loud bark followed by whimpers. EJ must have put the twins in their place forcefully. They can refuse their father’s alpha command, but EJ is not just an alpha. They wouldn’t be able to refuse his command since he is king. I knew EJ didn’t like using it, not many alphas did. They prefer their packs to respect them and to follow orders of their own free will. Using the alpha command can lead to a pack fearing their alpha and that alpha ultimately losing control of his or her pack.

We stopped throwing food and cleaned up. Then we went back to the main room to find EJ and the twins in wolf form sitting and staring at each other. I thought EJ was giving them a private lecture. He was very mature for fourteen. I guess it came with being king. When both boys bowed in submission, the three of them shifted back.

“It has been settled, the boys will not fight with each other again. Right?” EJ asked.

“Right,” they said in unison.

“It seems that each thought the other was cheating at the game they were playing and they got angry enough to trigger their shifting. That just fueled their anger more. But we have settled it. And I commanded them to never fight each other again for any reason.” EJ said.

“We are sorry we ruined Christmas, Mom and everyone.” Jonathan said.

“We will do better and make it up to you.” Jacob said.

“Just do better, that will make it up to us,” Shawn said. “And don’t ever refuse my alpha command again.”

“Yes, sir,” they said in unison.

We all sat in the main room and watched Christmas movies after that. Then we started getting ready for the main event. Strix’s family was coming over. There would be more gifts and lots of food, plus games and stuff.