Chapter Twenty three

Chapter Twenty Two
I've felt a certain amount of destruction in him all month, but I guess hunting and killing witches or anything that jeopardizes the pack’s safety brings about those things.

I did manage to get him to open a safety deposit box so that he’d store his five witch’s heads. Ah, yes, he now has a collection. He’s working with William, one of the witches that went into my restaurant that day, now what I’m not sure about is whether William was a girl and is now in transition or he was a man and is starting transition.
Convincing William to change alliances was really easy because the main requirement is the ability to pay a bunch of money every month, second was to promise him sex, from different women and third is vegetables, plenty of them. We could feed a nation with our gardens and besides wolves have never been known to particularly enjoy veg.

William and Mrs. Miles will begin their herbs and potions class today noon, but the boyfriend warned me that it would be a difficult task. Witches are tricksters by nature. When William readily agreed to share their secrets with us, Mrs. Miles seemed pretty suspicious, and I’m surprised she didn’t refuse the offer altogether.
Mr. Miles though, yikes! I think he only agreed to let his wife work with the enemy because he was afraid of Jackson. The Alpha had to beg, argue and threaten with the promise of a bleak future, he’d no choice.

"How will the sibling get here?" asks Carl as we mercilessly torture one of the heads for information. Yes, he forcefully drags me to these places, just as I took him against his will to the holy palace. We need to thank the Gods.

"He's probably going to take the bus," I say. “Scott will be here by Wednesday.”

"A bus for thirteen hours? No, book him a flight, I'm paying " he says.

"Okay," I say.
He looks up at me, away from driving a screwdriver up the witch's nose. I think he’s surprised that I don’t protest.
"I think he wants to meet you, that's why he insisted on coming back home. He sees that things are getting really serious between us ," I say.
I excuse myself as the screwdriver comes out filled with buggers. I love him , but the Gods knows, I ain’t watching my man dig some dead woman’s nostrils. Ew.
I might as well turn in an early night.
In the morning I’m woken up by a phone call. Scott is here. What time did he get up anyway? His was a two hour flight and it’s just nine a.m and he’s already here. He’s the complete opposite of me, but if he didn't look so much like me I'd swear we're not related at all. We're two completely different people.
I groan and moan as he keeps chatting away from his way from the airport. He doesn’t want to hang up, knowing g very well I’ll go back to sleep if he does.
Ugh. Might as well go home. Don’t need him to find me at a boyfriend’s he doesn’t even know I’m fucking.
I leave Carl a note.
Scott is here. Going home.
It reads.
He looks better than I remember. He’s dyed his hair green, it’s outrageous, although it looks good on him. He’s wearing an orange outfit, shorts and button up shirt. He looks like an orange.
Within minutes he’s raided the house and tied up. He does what he’s good at: criticize my house keeping skills, yet there wasn’t even a dirty cup on the sink. Well then, good thing he’s back. I missed his cooking.
“Where’s your serial killer boyfriend at anyway,” he asks. He’s so blunt.
“He’s not a serial killer. He’s a witch and vampire hunter,” I say defensive.

"Yes, too bad, socially it makes no difference, economically it does. But whatever," he says. “Not that I approve.”

As if I needed his approval. No, who am I kidding? I need his approval. I couldn't choose between the two.

Carl arrives, albeit reluctantly. I know he doesn't want to be here, but he doesn't want to go to sleep without seeing me. He comes in looking a little nervous, but with an "I'm ready to defend myself" look on his face.
“Oh so this is Clay,” Scott says when my too damn tall boyfriend walks nervously.
Now of there’s anyone who’s good at matching a name to a face then it’s Scott and so I know he’s doing this ‘Clay’ thing on purpose.
“Scott man, it’s nice to finally meet you,” Carl says extending his hand for a handshake. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
My brother brushes him off as if he’s an annoying fly on the wall. He completely ignores his out stretched hand.
“You can call me Mr. Hall,” he says. “Only friends call me Scott. And someone sleeping with my sister is no friend of mine.”
Carl nods and nervously takes a seat.
“I don’t believe anyone is allowed to do as they please in another man’s house,” Scott says. “I didn’t offer you a seat. Alpha or not, this is my kraal and there won’t be two bulls.”
I have never seen anyone so scared. “Yes sir.” He gets up immediately.
“Have a seat, Clay.” Scott says pointing towards the cough.
They both leave me in the kitchen. At least the snacks are ready. Scott has magic hands. I quickly load them unto a tray and then go to the lounge.
Wouldn’t want them to keep each other in my absence.
I offer them the food then sit down.
“Is he been treating you like the queen you are?” Scott asks me.
He’s liking me in the eye. I can’t lie to him and so I avert my eyes.
“Have you been good to her?”
I feel the weight of his gaze lift from me. I know he’s staring Carl down.
Scott can be intimidating when he wants to be.
“I try,” Carl says simply.
No one has touched the snacks. The air in the room is so thick.
“That’s not good enough,” Scott says, leaning forward toward Carl. “Now I don’t care what your rank is, but if you ever hurt her, I can find a thousand ways to make you pay, trust me I can be persuasive.”

Oh, can he finally stop!
Carl doesn’t answer. It looks like he’s out of his element.
“Now I don’t like you,” Scott continues. “Of course I wouldn’t like any guy mated to my little sister but with you…” he shakes his head. “ I can’t put my finger on it but I’m never wrong about someone, Clay.”
I've to interject.
“Carl this is my brother Scott, Scott this is Carl,” I say for lack of better words. Scott continues staring at my mate. Carl looks like he’d rather be anywhere but here.
Then Silence. Alright then.
“Let’s eat before the sandwiches attract flies,” I say. “The blood is loosing its chill.”
Hopefully dosing them with vampires blood will help them relax.
“Heard what happened at the restaurant,” Carl says. “I’m really sorry.”
At least he’s trying, even though it’s a wrong statement to the wrong person and he could do with a bit of timing as well.
Scott starts telling him how useless Carl is, that its his fault thatvi was hurt to begin with and he keeps going and going… all this while Carl nervously guns down glass after glass of vampire blood.
He keeps giving me awkward looks, and I can't help but chuckle. The looks says it all: help me.
He eats almost the full plate of snacks and I can’t blame him. This is the first time he’s hand some of Scott delicious sandwiches and chips.
The silence is overwhelming. I can hear them chew and gulp. Can this moment get anymore tense.
He stands up, ready to go.

"It was nice meeting you, Sco – Mr. Hall, but I've to get back to work," he says, then turns to me, "I will see you…? " he asks.

"I’ll call you," I say.

He says goodbye to me and I walk him to his dragon. He holds me as we wait, but he doesn't speak.
"So this is my brother, all the way," I say, still trying not to laugh at how awkward he looks at this moment. I know he wants to ask, and I'm not going to make it easy for him by just saying it.
"So I might not see you again at all today?" I nod.

"I miss you already. I wish I didn’t have to be away from you," he says as he squeezes me into a hug and plants kissing from my neck to my lips and then hops onto his dragon. The creature grunts.
Just as Carl’s about to lift off, he turns around.

"He doesn’t like me does he...?"

"Nothing personal," I say, giggling. “Scott doesn’t like anyone.”

He shakes his head, smiles and signals for the dragon to leave. The beast roars and spits fire into the air as it flies away.