139
Chapter 139
Duncan
"Yes, I did. See my father was a twin, fraternal twin. My uncle hated my father because he believed he'd taken his birthright. See, they'd engaged in a duel and my father had won. Only by share luck. My uncle was bigger and faster than my father." Duncan said.
"He was the one everyone thought would win the trial and tournament. He was taller and bigger and obviously faster than my father. He was the sure choice but by a stroke of luck my father won the last trial and that was the determining factor. My uncle was far from happy about it. In fact, he disappeared from the pack house for years. The pack was prosperous without him. What my father lacked physically, he made up for it heavily in strategy. He was cunning and conniving and could talk anyone out of anything and talk his way out of anything. My father was a genius. Suddenly we started getting attacked by other power pack members for now reason. My father was able to solve that problem but that was when my uncle appeared again. We welcomed him with open arms and then the human appeared. My father wanted nothing to do with her but my uncle had pleaded on his behalf. One thing led to another and my father began to cheat on my mother with this human that was never supposed to be in the pack. My mother left him and the pack was not the same.
She betrayed him by killing someone and making it look like my father did. There was a war and in the end my father was thrown out of the pack,"
I stared at him, my chest rising. He basically went through the exact thing I had when I was a kid. If not worse.
"I'm sorry, Duncan. I didn't know." Anna said as I squeezed my hand reassuringly.
"How would you?' I chuckled but It was humorless and filled with pain.
"Anyway, my father built this whole thing. He's gone now but coming to this world... great decision because I got to meet you,"
Anna squeezed my hands again. I felt an agonizing sadness that tore out my chest and left deep scars in it's wake and I felt the unnatural urge to cry or scream.
"Did uh did you ever see your mother again?"
She asked.
"Never," i shook my head...
"I'm sorry,"
"Shut up, Anna. None of this is your fault," I warned.
She gave me a sad smile.
"I know it isn't. I just wish I could have been there to protect you,"
"I was a teen." I said.
"Can you just let me wallow in self pity?!" She snapped and I chuckled...
She was so cute, it made me happy.
"Mu bad, love,"
"Now, how did your father die?" I asked.
I opened my mouth to speak but suddenly Lucas and Levi appeared in doorway.
"Sorry for interrupting." Levi said.
"It's fine, come in,"
"The doctor just arrived. His given him some pain suppressants, said he would heal in two days or so."
"Two days? That's good. As soon he's able to walk. Send him back. Let him know the next time him and his kins men show up here, I won't be so kind,"
Levi nodded and left the room...
Lucas however stayed.
"What, did something happen?' I asked Lucas.
He looked agitated.
"I think we should hear him out, Sun," he finally spoke
"There's nothing to hear out. Whatever bullshit they are going through has absolutely nothing to do with me."
"But it's our home,"
"Was. It was my home. Now, this is my home and it's yours too."
Lucas sighed, nodded and walked off..
I glanced back at Anna and she was staring at me with a sad expression.
"Trust me, Anna. Those people are not with a listen,"
"Yeah, they are not but maybe they aren't the ones you should listen to..."
I frowned in confusion. "Well clearly... that's why I'm not listening!"
"You should. They are bastards and shouldn't have to see your face after what they've done but you have to realize they were caught in these web of lies too."
I paused. I had never thought of it that way.
I stood up from the stool and ran my hands through my hair.
"I know why they are here. A couple of years ago, my uncle fell seriously ill and ever since, neighbouring packs face attacked, soldiers are dying, kids, women. They want me back because they think I can restore the peace and the pack."
Anna nodded
"What are you going to do?" She asked
"What I've always done, ignore them,"
She nodded again.
"Well, as long as it's not in your heart to save those poor kids, then I stand by your decision," she said.
For some reason, I felt like she in fact did'nt stand by my decision..
Later that evening, I spent the rest of the day trying to distract myself, sparring with Levi, double-checking guard posts, even reorganizing the strategy board in the war room, but none of it worked. Anna's words kept echoing in my head like a stubborn song.
"As long a it's not in your heart to save those poor kids..."
It wasn't what she said-iy was how she said it. Calm. Supportive. But tingrf with disappointment she wasn't brave enough to show on her face. And I knew her well enough to read between the lines
She wanted me to go back. Not because she believed in those people. Not because they deserved forgiveness. But because she knew what it meant to me to not go. Deep down, I was still that boy abandoned, betrayed and starved due justice. That some part of me still hoped to rewrite the end.
Night came quickly. The moon was high, silverlight filtering in through my bedroom window as I sat on the edge of the bed, still fully clothed, still torn
Anna walked in without knocking. Her hair was damp, and she wore one of my oversized shirts. She looked at me like she already knew what I was thinking.
"You okay?" She asked. She had been knee deep in the accounts for the last 6 hours while I stewed and tried to figure out what I was going to do.
"Do I look like I am!" I ashed in a whisper.
"No," she shook her head, walking towards me.
"You think I should do it don't you, you think I should go save them,"
"I think you should do whatever gives you a semblance of peace, but I also know peace doesn't always come from walking away."
I hated that she was making sense and most of all, I hated that I was considering it.