Chapter 113: Group hug

Damon 

Seriously, what was with all this friction? I mean, hell it has been established that I was with a vampire but Harold was just being crazy. First, he had been mad that I was with a vampire and now, he was mad that I let him go. What on earth did they want from me? Perhaps, I should have grabbed the vampire and brought him back home so they could kill him, well I have made a promise to Ralph and there is no way that I would be breaking that trust. I mean, look at Peter here. I was certain that Harold had been yelling at him when I came back and from how prickly he had been when I complimented what I suspected to be a tattoo, I knew something was terribly wrong.

I mean why not focus on one before delving into the other, right? That is how things should be done and not spend a lot of precious time whining and groaning about me. I was about to lash out when Peter suddenly asked where Jace was and was alert. I mean, I was not planning on being the reason that he gets to discover there was such a thing as supernaturals and right now, everyone was quiet as we listened. I could hear the sound of his shower running and I smiled. I wondered what it might feel like being - hell no!

He was a man and no matter how Ralph had seemed to ship us together, I could not let it happen. Well, Harold was beginning to relax his tensed muscles at this point and I really wanted to embrace Peter for distracting him. Well, so I thought because he was right back to talking.

"All four of you, follow me to the cave. This is not over just yet and you will see what I am talking about." Harold said and then turned away. His tone did not give off any signs that he was bluffing at all and I knew something was up. Well, we started walking out of the sitting room and I noticed that my brothers did not want me close. It was almost as if I was reeking so badly which was strange.

Now I could understand why it was us werewolves that had been able to identify them. When Ralph had passed by those humans, they had not noticed him or any stench from him. It was like that did not even exist but we were able to know it and I had not been expecting that it would rub off on me. I really wanted to get to the bottom of Peter's tattoo and I was willing to wait and bid my time until it happens.

Soon, we all were at the cave and I stood with my back against the wall. Harold turned as he faced us. Jacob had found a seat and he gave it to Harold who took it and glared at Peter. I noticed also that Peter was beginning to grow pale and looking weaker by the minute.  This made me worried because he was my brother. I wanted to know also how it had been possible that it had not healed and even more, I wanted to see the tattoo. We both have always wanted to get it but it has always been impossible but wait, it was also wrong, right?

"Here, sit down before you double over." Harold said as he pushed the chair to Peter who looked really guilty. I was certain that he was blaming himself so much for getting the old man all riled up even though it had not been his intention.

"Thank you, Harold." Peter said and now sat down. Garrett has always been sort of a wild child. Not like me who has been nonchalant but he had this tendency to act like he was from some jungle of sorts. He has never actually cared about anything. Right now, he was beginning to sit down on the floor of the cave as they all faced me.

"Wow. That's a whole lot of eyes on me. Easy tigers, you don't want to dismantle me now, do you?" I asked jovially. I was actually trying to lighten the mood right now.

"What did the vampire tell you?" Harold suddenly asked me.

From what I could tell, he really wanted to know something about Ralph.

"Well, he said nothing much, just that he had not come here himself. He and a few others had been kidnapped and forced down here by the bounty hunters. Turns out someone older than the both of them was there to assist him make his escape. That's all he said." I said to Harold.

"That is all he said? Did you guys do anything or go anywhere?" Harold asked me.

I smiled. More like sneering because I was wondering what he was referring to at the moment.

"Do anything like kiss or fuck each other? Me and that stinking creature? That would be totally out of line. How can you even imagine such an unthinkable thing about me, Harold? I thought you knew me?" I asked him even though I was actually teasing. I knew very well that I had crossed a line that for him was a big no and he was not pleased about it. I could feel his anger and contempt at this point.

"This is no trivial matter, Damon. It might be a game to you, to all of you but what is happening now is no child's play. Not for you. So I need to know if we still have to keep worrying about that vampire, Damon." He said to me,

"Listen, D, you really need to speak up. Those vampires are no friends to our kind and Harold here is simply worried about us all. You know that has always been his nature. Is there something that you have to share with us?" This was Jacob now and I heard him calling me by the pet name they used when I was a kid told me all I needed to know. 

But then, I was going to shield Ralph no matter what they thought of me. I have never been the good one in the family and have never strived to appear wholesome before any one of them. It has been my nature to handle things the best way that I could.

"I don't have anything to explain at the moment. You all would not believe me anyways because guess what, I am Damon. The terror of the family and the only one that keeps bringing shame to you all. No one cares about me or the fact that I could have been taken today because some people were following me. Or the fact that instead of continuing my way home, I decided to risk my life and halt my car where I might have been spotted just never I wanted to lose them and keep this family safe. Or probably think that the reason that I was with a vampire was because I wanted to help in my own little way. I was going to eventually let you all in on my findings but guess what, until I am ready for that, I would say nothing. Kill me if you must!" I stated.

I have learnt a lot from my years as a werewolf and one thing that I was certain of was the fact that if you wanted to get your enemies off your back, bring in sentiments. Make them feel so bad that they are the one causing you pain and not the other way around. That way, it would be much easier to handle things.

I could already see that my words had made an impact as everyone was staring wide eyed at me. Even Harold looked really shocked and suddenly, he started coming over to me and I was initially wondering what he wanted when he stretched out his arms.

"I'm still reeking of....oh!" I said as he suddenly embraced me so tightly that I was wondering what had just happened. "Thought you were mad at me?"

I had to ask but he still held me there as he responded. "I'm very mad at you, boy. I want to kill you too but for now, this is all I can do. Squish you with a hug because I know you hate hugs."

Yes. Back then as a child, I had always made certain that I avoided anything that would cause me to embrace anyone but Harold always had his way of getting me to join in. Suddenly, I saw Jacob rising and he came over too.

"Don't even think about it." I said to him, casting a warning glare his way but he did not even seem to care. Instead, he came over.

"It's not like I see you having a say in this." He said to me as he embraced me over Harold then he looked around at the others. "Group hug, everyone! I mean, Damon hates it and we can punish him now. Come over."

Gosh, I really should have smothered Jacob while we were kids. That might have been fun, right? Garrett came over with a smile on his face and Peter stood away for sometime before finally giving up on his stubbornness.