Chapter 44
AKELA’S POV
I paced the floor of my sitting room while waiting for my mother to come down from my room. I wondered what was taking her so long. I took a few steps toward the stairs and took several backs. My mother would have my head if I dared to interrupt her in whatever it was that she was doing. My mind drifted to Koda, and I clenched my fist. I wanted his throat wrapped in my hands.
“I am going to kill that bastard…” I muttered to myself.
“No, you won’t.” I looked at my father as he sat on one of the single sofas, with his chin resting on his palm and legs crossed. He looked a little too relaxed for my liking. How could he be so relaxed?
“Maybe because I know that she is going to be alright, and she wouldn’t appreciate you getting yourself sick, or doing something you would regret when she wakes up.”
Oh my goodness, did I say that out loud?
“Yes. Yes, son, you did.”
“What?” My father sighed and shook his head.
“Have you had anything to eat?” I nodded my head. Even if I hadn’t, food was the last thing on my mind anyway.
“Okay. Let’s have a drink then.” I looked at my father skeptically.
“You’re offering me alcohol?”
“Why are you acting so shocked?”
“I don’t know, maybe because I am seventeen—not old enough to be drinking alcohol—and it’s just weird that you are the one offering it to me.”
“Akela. Swear on your mate’s life that you have never tasted alcohol.” I looked away. I have tasted alcohol more times than I would like to admit. I scratched the back of my head.
“Okay, then. So, you have.” He stood up and walked towards the bar. “Besides, you’re a werewolf. A few shots of vodka are more or less going to feel like orange juice to you. And besides, you need it.”
I sighed and followed him, sliding into a stool, and watched as he brought out a single malt whiskey and a bottle of vodka.
“Which would you prefer?” I shrugged and nodded at the single malt whiskey. It just felt like that type of night. He poured me a glass and handed it to me. I sipped on it and let the drink flow through me. I watched as my father poured himself a glass and sat on a stool on the other side of the counter.
We both sat and drank, refilling our glasses and relaxing in the silence.
“What do you think they are doing up there?” My dad shrugged.
“Taking care of her wounds, I guess. There’s nothing else to do.” I sighed and placed my head on the counter of the bar. I heard my door open and close and then footsteps. I drained my cup and turned around. My mother rounded the corner and then paused in her step when she saw us.
“Alan, did you give this boy alcohol?” she said, pointing to me and the glass in my hand.
“I’m not a boy,” I muttered, and unfortunately, she heard.
“Says someone who isn’t even legal yet.” My father snickered, and I glowered at him. This was all his fault.
“How is she?” I asked. The look she gave me told me that she was nowhere done with me, my father, and this conversation.
“She is fine. Asleep. She didn’t have deep injuries. Just bruised skin and bones. She will be fine come morning.”
I sighed, feeling the burden and fear leaving me immediately. My father patted me on my shoulder.
“She’s okay, son.” I nodded.
“She just needs a lot of rest.”
“Okay.” I got up and hugged my mother, allowing my touch to tell her what my mouth could not. She hugged me back and patted me on the back. I side-stepped her and went up the stairs. I smiled as I heard the faint voice of my mom, berating my dad for giving me alcohol.
I opened the door to my room as gently as I could and snuck in, closing the door behind me. I saw that my mother had changed Dakota out of her old clothes, and she now lay in bed wearing one of my tee shirts. For some reason, I felt my chest swell with pride. She looked good in my clothes. I wanted her to wear them more. I wouldn’t mind going naked, as long as she would wear them. She stirred in her sleep, and her eyes flickered open and looked right at me.
“Akela?”
“Yes, baby.” I gently sat down on the bed beside her and took her hand.
“Have you been drinking?” I chuckled.
“Not really, princess.”
“Come to bed.” She didn’t need to repeat herself. I took off my shirt and dumped it on the floor beside the bed. Alongside my belt, shoes, and socks, leaving me in just my jeans. I wanted to take those off, but I didn’t know if she would be comfortable with me in bed with just my briefs.
I gently lifted the covers and joined her in bed, covering us both. She shifted and wrapped her hands around me. I kissed her on the head and played with her hair. She seemed to like that because she snuggled closer to me and buried her nose in my neck. In no time, I forgot all about the events of the night and just focused on the moment. I sighed and closed my eyes, allowing sleep to take me.
I heard a voice calling out to me. A very soft voice, so soft that my name sounded like a lullaby to me. I eased my eyes open and found that my room was surrounded by fog. I looked beside me in panic and sighed when I saw Dakota lying next to me, fast asleep. The situation unsettled me, and the fact that Dakota was not in a very strong state made my anxiety go through the roof.
“Akela…” I heard the voice again. I looked around and saw what seemed to be the shadow of a woman, standing right in front of my window. I growled at her, placing an arm protectively over Dakota’s sleeping body.
“Who are you, and what do you want?”
“It will be your time soon…”
With that cryptic message, alongside the fact that I could only see the silhouette of whoever was trespassing, I pushed down my wolf’s urge to simply attack. I knew that whatever this was was beyond my werewolf strength. I was dealing with a witch. One that I didn’t know how strong she was.
“What the fuck do you want?”
“You must protect her when the time comes. She is the only hope.”
“I think you are a little too late with that instruction.”
Grave silence followed my response. I got off the bed and walked towards the shadow. As soon as I got closer to her, a force pushed me to my knees, and I felt another push in my brain, as though fingers were trying to manipulate my brain. I gasped at what I saw.