~James' POV~
A week. One fucking week had gone by since Avery left and I was losing my fucking mind.
I nearly killed one of the warriors during practice yesterday morning because I couldn't control my anger. The other warriors stared in shock and it wasn't until Damon came with three others that they managed to somewhat pull me of the poor bastard.
For me to stop completely, Alex had come and given me a right hook to the face. It didn't hurt but it made me focus my anger on him instead. We had both shifted and were going at it for five hours until we called a truce, or well, I did when I realized the sun was going down.
Only then did I see how badly I had fucked up. Only when my brother was bloody and beaten did I comprehend what had actually happened. How I nearly killed an innocent pack member.
Nobody talked about it and the warriors and I had a conversation where I apologized, however I knew that I needed to do a lot more than that.
What the fuck are we going to do?
'I don't know. But something needs to happen quickly'
The only thing that made this worse was that Blade was just as angry as I was. Meaning that I couldn't in my human form nor my wolf form control myself.
This shit was just getting worse and worse. I needed to find a way to make this work until Avery came home. But how the fuck was I going to do that? I needed my mate, my love.
Natasha's words about Avery being safe weren't cutting it anymore. I needed to see it for myself. There was a fucking wizard out to get her and I swear by the goddess if anything happened to her. I would burn down the world and step on the ashes of those who burned with it.
"FUCK!" I growled and my hand flew through the wall leaving a hole behind.
~Alex's POV~
I was walking to my brother's study when I heard his growl and something smashing again from down the hall. I walked down to his bedroom and saw that the door was slightly open. I went in and there he stood, with his hand through the wall, sweat dripping down his face and his chest heaving.
"This has to end." I said and stared at my brother, befuddled by the sight.
This wasn't him. Alpha James Knight wasn't the man to lose his temper without a cause. He wasn't the man to nearly kill a pack member and he was definitely not the unstable kind.
He turned his head and looked at me. His eyes were pitch black and his nostrils were flaring.
"Oh fuck," I groaned, knowing what was to come. I took off my jacket and pulled up my sleeves.
James stood there staring at me, watching my every move. With everything I did his eyes started to lighten up, his breathing slowing down.
He looked at me with precision and with every move he got more and more confused. James' eyes met mine and the pain behind them made me ache. My brother was being tormented, tortured by memories and situations he couldn't control.
He knew as well as me that this wasn't him. He didn't want to be this person. But how the fuck can we change this without me blabbering things he's not supposed to know? James looked down at his hand as he flexed his fingers, the broken bones slowly healing. He then looked back up at me and shook his head before walking over and taking a seat on the edge of the bed.
"What the fuck is happening?" He asked me with his face buried in his hands. I walked over and sat beside him.
"You lost your mate. That's what's happening. Neither you nor Blade can cope with the loss." I said with a sigh.
"I can't continue like this, Alex." James stated. I wanted so badly to tell him what Avery had told me, but I couldn't. There was a reason for James not to know. I couldn't compromise her plan.
"We'll figure this out, brother." I said reassuringly and put a hand on his shoulder.
James nodded his head and looked up at me.
"How?" He asked, desperation clear in his eyes. I scratched the back of my neck and shrugged.
"Honestly. I don't have a fucking clue man. But we'll fix it, we always do." I said.
"I need her back."
"I know you do."
"Then help me find her," He said and I removed my hand, placing it on the bed. Sorry brother, but I can't do that.
"James, she will be back. This isn't forever, she said so herself in the letter. Until then, however, you need to get your shit together. This pack is nothing without their Alpha and it's only a matter of time before word spreads about the unstable Alpha James. Packs will gather and believe they can start a war, fight for your position. You know as well as I do that losing your mate weakens you. We can't afford to have packs swarming here right now brother," I stood to my feet as I continued.
"If you want to change, then you have to let yourself change. You have to live like you did before Avery entered the picture. You have to be the all mighty Alpha and rule your pack. Until the day she comes back. There is a war brewing and we can't have you be an unstable, emotional wreck when it starts." I saw the color in my brothers' eyes once again darken at the end of my speech. However this time, there was determination where desperation once held place.
James stood to his feet and straightened his clothes, shaking his head and looking at me like I was his target.
"You're a jackass you know that?" He said.
"Well, someone has to be." I said with a shrug and a smirk.
"I'm going for a run." James said as he walked towards the door.
"Hey, brother!" I called out to him. He turned around with a raised eyebrow.
"With the whole emotional instability and all, stay away from the cliffs would you? Can't you have you falling to your death just yet," I said with a wide smile. He opened his mouth to say something but close it up again, groaned and rolled his eyes before taking his leave.
I was in my room, changing and ready to hit the fields for some practice before dinner. I promised Jackson that I would join the warriors in training for the witch hunt.
As I grabbed the pair of shorts that were lying in my drawer I saw the letter from Avery.
I exhaled a breath and picked it up, remembering what it said. I opened it up and sat down in the armchair, re-reading it for the third time.
'Dear Alex,
Where do I begin...
You made my life with you guys more fun, exciting, and frustrating than I ever imagined possible. You were the brother that I never had. I do have a brother, but we've never had any contact. He never cared. You showed me how it was to have a brother who truly cares for you, who fights for you, and who wants to genuinely help you. You did so much for me in the short time that I was with you guys, and I wish I didn't have to end that. But I had to leave and I hope that you can, in some way, understand my actions.
Also, I need you to keep James safe. I won't be gone forever, but neither will I be home soon.
I need to ask you for a favor, Alex, one that you must keep secret from the others, including James.
'There is a war brewing and much blood will be spilled, and only when the war begins will I be able to come home. The war is where everything begins and where everything will come to an end. Closure will be given to those wise enough to listen.' This is all I know, Alex but I'm hoping it's enough. I need you to prepare everyone. They know that there is a war coming but they have no idea too which magnitude this war will be. It's not a small one. Many people will die and I need you to make sure that all the warriors are prepared so that the blood being spilled, isn't from ours.
When it's time and the war is beginning, burn this letter and I will know. I will come home. Please, keep James safe, I don't mean from others, but keep him safe from himself. Natasha explained to me what happens when one loses his mate. And that it is amplified when it is an alpha. Take care Alex and thank you for everything.
Love, Cupcake. '
"Don't worry ,sis, everything will be ready for your arrival."
With a smile plastered on my face, I tucked away the letter and got dressed for practice.