Chapter 71 - Rejecting A Wolf

When Jace met up with Henry, the young man was shifting, getting accustomed to changing into different forms.

Henry was on the verge of death when Jace saved him. But even so, he didn't want to die as he wanted revenge for his brother, parents, and pack.

Henry saw the cruel reality of the weak being oppressed by the strong. How many lives were lost within the past few years? The answer? Countless lives, most of them innocent children.

"Hey, kid." Jace waved at Henry with a smile. "Gotten the hang of shifting yet?"

Henry looked at Jace and pursed his lips. It was hard for him to accept that this man was his brother. They looked, sounded, and acted nothing alike, so of course Henry would have some doubts.

"I think I've gotten the hang of it," Henry answered in a stiff manner.

"Still doubt I'm him." Jace laughed, " It's okay, Henry, you can treat me accordingly or as a good friend."

"That....." Henry's brows furrowed as he looked to the side uncomfortably, "It's just a lot to digest okay."

"Stop overthinking it, Henry. " Jace told him sternly. "Maybe if I tell you my story, it'll help you understand a bit better. What do you say? We have time."

"Then help me understand. I want to hear your story." Henry nodded.

Jace proceeded to tell Henry his story, leaving out most of the important parts. He tried his best not to paint the Lord in a bad light.

After he was done, the two sat down in silence. Henry was speechless, to be honest. He didn't know what to say. Even though he could tell Jace had told him a watered-down version, he felt extremely bad inside.

"Even though if nothing ever happened like that with Alaric and Maya and the council. Your life was doomed to be hard and end early?" Henry asked.

"Honestly it's a good thing those things happened. It caused a chain reaction, and we finally were able to free ourselves from the cycle." Jace smiled and told him. "Looking back, I'm grateful for that temporary pain and struggle. Because now I get to be with the woman I have loved for thousands of years."

"Is that so," Henry mumbled before asking. "Then what's your name? Your real name."

"My name is Jace," Jace smiled and answered him gently before adding. "It's the name I chose for myself. It's my name it's irrelevant what name I had before."

"You really are something different, huh?" Henry, it sounded like a question, but it was actually him stating that Jace was different.

"I'm not different. I'm a lycan just like you." Jace told him as he bumped his shoulder playfully.

"What's going to happen to our world now?" Henry asked Jace. "I feel like you would have a proper answer for me."

"Well," Jace drawled out." I don't know how things may change from now on. It all depends on how we all come together and decide our futures."

"Will it be like now? Like, what if I want to mate a vampire?" Henry asked.

"Then you mate a vampire," Jace chuckled. "It's not as ridiculous as you're thinking. If a baby is born from a lycan and a different species, it's more likely for that baby to have less lycan traits, and besides I don't think there has ever been a baby born from a union between these two species. "

"Oh, why is that?" Henry asked while looking at Jace.

"Vampires have always found lycans, difficult to be around. We give off a very unpleasant smell according to them." Jace explained. "But don't worry, I believe in your lofty goals,"

Looking at Jace, who was giving him a silly smile and a thumbs up, Henry couldn't help but feel like punching that stupid smile off his face.

Henry rolled his eyes and proceeded to ignore the nonsensical babble Jace was saying about how to court vampires. The easygoing atmosphere was interrupted by Aurora's sudden arrival.

"It's time, boys." Aurora smiled gently at them and told them. Jace smiled brightly at her and stood up, pulling Henry up with him.

"Did you enjoy spying on us?" Jace walked up to Aurora and hugged her waist while asking.

"Hahaha, "Aurora threw her head backward and laughed. "Spy? I was just simply watching my mate be happy."

"Yes, yes, I know my love." Jace chuckled and kissed her cheek. "The meeting is ready?"

"Yes, it's ready," Aurora nodded at Jace before looking at Henry. "Not bad, Henry, a little more practice, and you will be seamlessly transformed into any animal but don't try to transform into other humans yet. You'll need more than practice for that."

Henry nodded while looking thoughtful. Aurora smiled again and turned her attention back to Jace.

"Everything is waiting for us. Let's go." Aurora told Jace. Who nodded.

"Hey, let's walk to the meeting being fashionable late as the humans say." Jace gave her a mischievous smile.

"Yes, good idea," Aurora agreed. "Come on, Henry, we'll leave you behind."

The three proceeded to take a nice stroll back to the pack. By the time they arrived, the alphas gathered reached their break point.

"What is the meaning of this? Why the hell did you call us here if you weren't going to say anything?"One alpha glared at Tom.

Tom, however, leisurely looked at him indifferently and muttered. " Wait."

"Wait? What on fucking what we should be thinking about how to save our people." another argued but Tom only said wait again.

This made everyone agitated and as they began releasing their auras the door opened. At the door, Aurora and Jace stood shoulder to shoulder and their hands were clasped together.

Behind them, Henry trailed behind. To the heated room filled with trigger-happy alphas, the interruption was not welcome but as they were about to explode Aurora released her aura.

"Sit, stay, and bark." She chuckled as she entered the room. Cold sweat began to appear on these alpha's bodies. She was so powerful, her Aurora alone made them want to bark. Their wolves wanted to bark but they swallowed their voices as a means to not do so.

"Aww none of them barked," Aurora pouted while she acted to Jace.

"They aren't dogs Ror." Jace looked helpless but it was what they agreed on. For these men to take her seriously, Aurora planned to give them a show of power.

"No, I don't think they understand" The playfulness of her nature shifted. As her eyes glided over each alpha. Aurora sneered. "The proper way to greet their queen is to kneel, now, and bark. "

"Yes, you're right." Jace nodded, he let go of her hand and walked in front of her. Tom and Henry quickly followed and the three of them went down on one knee. Bowing their heads they greeted her together.

"We greet the alpha queen," Their voices were loud and clear. This was agreed upon between them beforehand and Jace explained it to Tom when they entered through the mind link. It was the best way to make sure they took her seriously. And it worked because it shook the other alphas to the core.

"Bow down for me," Aurora's voice boomed across the room. The arrogance of an alpha is nowhere to be seen here anymore.

Because as they bowed, they all began to bark.