Chapter 123: Damon the protector

Garrett 

Finally, we would not be needing to keep our identity hidden from Jace any longer. It was high time actually because I was already wondering if I was going to have to keep lying to him. Harold seemed to be finally getting into understanding us and I was really happy. That was when Jace asked the funny question and we started laughing.

I felt bad for him when I looked up at him and noticed how he looked. He had been genuinely shaken up by Peter's stuff that he might have seen his life flash before his own eyes. I knew for one thing though that even though Peter was not going to eat him, he was definitely going to kill him. But it was not intentional and that was something I believed Jace should understand. Yes, I have always wanted his attention to myself and I really wished for that even now but we all had fought together to keep him safe and so, everyone deserves a second chance to make him trust us.

So, I spoke up.

"Actually, he was not going to eat you. He was in pain and did not recognise you at that point. For that, I sincerely apologise." I said to him,

"But have you killed another human before?" He asked me, looking directly at me.

Killed another human, that was something I have yet to do but I knew that I would with the bounty hunters flying around.

"No." I responded.

"But there are criminals everywhere." He protested.

Wait, was he going to be okay if he learnt that we can kill bad guys? Then this definitely meant that even Jace would understand the need for the bounty hunters to die.

"Well, it's not like a superhero power, Jace. We're just what I like to term a different species on earth." Harold had responded.

"Okay." Jace responded.

"But don't worry, if it's about the bad guys, we can handle them." Damon responded.

Seriously, when did Damon become this softie? I mean, he has always done his best to put it out there that he was a man of strength after all.

"Alright boys, I think there are more pressing matters at hand and Jace, I know you have questions but there are things we need to discuss at this moment. You can keep your questions all lined up when they are free. As for trying to run away, I would advise against that act." Harold warned him now.

I noticed that Jace was scared at the moment. I mean, Harold had this aura about him at this point that seemed to make it clear that he could be pretty much dangerous.

"Okay. I'm not going to run away, I promise." Jace responded.

"I know you wouldn't." I assisted him with a smile. "You should try resting. I mean, you were pretty shaken up that time and even when you woke up." 

"Thank you." Jace responded.

"I guess it's welcome to the family, Jace." Jacob said, his eyes were full of love.

Alright, everyone better keep their wanton feelings for Jace in their pockets because I did not mind a jealous outburst. We still were yet to figure out how we wanted to share our moments with him too.

We all started to leave and followed Harold downstairs. I wondered why we were speaking downstairs but it became clear that he did not trust Jace not to try and flee. I said nothing but went and sat down when we arrived, so did everyone else. Harold looked like he had much to say and I was certain most of which had everything to do with Jace.

We had closed his door too after we left his room, so he was definitely not going to be eavesdropping.

"Are you guys certain that you really want to do this?" Harold demanded.

"Do what?" Damon asked him, a mischievous smile on his face.

"You know what I'm talking about. Jace. Do you really want to keep him alive and in the full know of what you are?" He demanded.

I was going to get angry at this point but our diplomatic and yet charismatic Jacob was already on it.

"Harold, I believe that he gave off a pretty good reaction to us and deserves a chance to try and understand us. I'm not going to let anyone harm him, much less try to kill him." Jacob stated vehemently.

"Me too." I chipped in.

"Ditto." Damon said.

"Fine and how then do you intend to treat the whole mate bond. I mean, it's four of us with him. Let's not fool ourselves, Jace is not a woman. He cannot be pregnant and the lineage needs to be continued. You would all need to reproduce." Harold responded.

"I already did the thinking around that when I was still sneaking around with him and I believe that I found the perfect solution. Humans have really advanced and right now, we could find mothers that are worthy to insert our sperm inside of. This way, IVF takes care of the hassle of being with a woman. I mean, it would for me. I don't speak for everyone." I said when I noticed the looks on their faces were blank.

"You really want to make test tube babies for the pack? Listen, you don't need human women carrying these babies. We need strong babies.£ Harold responded.

"Then I believe that in your benevolence and kindness, you would assist with finding us suitable werewolf women for this job. We need four women, right?" Jacob demanded.

"Four different moms?" Harold demanded.

It made perfect sense to me.

"Yes. We're four different guys unless we're agreeing that I get my own kid before Damon's." I teased.

He totally smiled unlike his grumpy self whenever I made a suggestion. This meant we were all in a good space.

"Well, I don't want this bean head having a kid before me so yes, four different moms. And I think you would find that we can keep our mate now. So, if we are in agreement, we may proceed with the main reason we are here." Damon stated.

My brother was always in a hurry to get these things sorted and I understood him. Harold looked like he had no choice at this point, so he simply nodded his head.

"Alright then. Four moms but we would eventually have to figure out how to break the news to your father. I don't think he would be happy to hear this bit." Harold said.

"We'll definitely cross that bridge once we get to it. Now, back to the issue on the ground. What are we doing?" Jacob demanded.

"I believe Damon here has something to share with us and I believe that it is important. So Damon, go ahead." Harold said.

Damon started speaking. He started off on how he had actually gone to the orphanage under the guise that he was a cousin to Diddy who had been hurting Jace and how the woman there, matron, rather accepted him. This was really risky and I felt respect for my brother. That was when he excused himself to go get his evidence. While he was away, we had to simply speak about him.

"Damon has changed." I noted.

"Yeah. He actually took this really seriously to the core" Jacob noted.

"No, he has always been like this. Damon is a protector and all his life, he has done things to protect you all. Do you ever wonder why he fully accepted the bad boy role, it was all stemming from his desire to protect you all. During your childhood days, when you all made a mistake, he would meet with me secretly to accept every blame on himself. I had to keep it a secret because I did not want to betray his trust at the time." Harold responded.

"I never saw him that way. I mean, with all the partying and stuff, he seemed rather carefree to me and I believe that we owe him apologies then." Jacob responded.

"Me too." I said.

"That would not be necessary." Damon's voice suddenly came. Seriously? Was he actually playing his sneaking around ability right now? Well, he has always been excellent at that.

He came down with a little note and some papers at hand as he started explaining further on how had taken it to our old friend who by the way was not happy in her abusive marriage.

I remembered that girl. She used to throw herself at Damon and even once offered to sleep with me if I could get Damon to marry her eventually. I turned her down because it was never my thing. 

The girl however was not the centerpiece of this matter, it was her husband that was the focus. He explained that this man, Luke, was a bounty hunter and he definitely was the one he believed we should take away. He also noted how he suspected him of being in the top ranks.

This was by far the best lead ever and I was proud of my brother. But it was not done yet. There was the explanation of the vampire and he finally told us that he had him safely away.

"Where is he?" Harold demanded.

"I need your word that you would not try to harm him when you see him." Damon demanded.

Come on bro, defending that vampire does not look like a pretty picture on you. We are your family for crying out loud!

"You have my word." Harold said.

"And mine too." Jacob followed.

"Mine as well." I chipped in.

"Not enough. Swear by the moon goddess and on your lives that you would not harm him." Damon demanded.

"Wait, is he also your boyfriend? Or should I tell Jace you're already courting someone else?" I teased.

"You're funny. Now swear." He smiled and then switched back to seriousness.

"Alright. If he does attack us then I would have to swear by the moon goddess and on my life that I would never cause harm to come from me to him." Harold said.

And the both of us followed. It seemed enough for him at this point and he started speaking again.

"He's at the old house." Damon said.

"Ah, hell no!" Jacob responded.

"Whose room did you keep him in?" I demanded.

"He's not a prisoner but he's sleeping in my room." Damon responded.

"The way you keep things eh, wonderful. Now tell me, what is he eating?" Harold demanded.

"Though I told you, we stopped at the hospital to get him blood from the banks there." Damon responded.

"Human blood." Harold noted.

"Open mind." Damon retorted.

"Fine. Now, what do you think he can do for us?" Harold demanded.

"He escaped from the bounty hunters and I'm certain that he knows the way to their current hideout. He's also willing to help us if only we would let him live." He said.

He already had his life because I myself did not see anyone willing to contend with that. We needed this vampire on our side by all ramifications and I could tell from the look in his eyes that Harold thought so too. At least, everyone was finally beginning to understand each other.

"Then we would start with what you have in the books. Tell me about it." Harold stated.

Damon began opening pages and handing out papers. I recognised these at one glance. They were coordinates. I just could not understand what they were going to lead to at this point.

"These are places that I suspect have factories or something of that nature. It also speaks of a machine in this place that I believe Garrett would probably understand more." Damon said as he showed me a particular page in the journal.

It was actually true and if what I was seeing was accurate, it was going to mean our total annihilation.

"What do you see, Garrett?" Harold suddenly asked me when he noticed how I was staring.

"We need to find this place." I said a matter of urgency.