Valene:
The ride home was nice and quiet outside of some casual conversation had between Harlyn and me. No more was mentioned concerning the idea of Master Wade turning me into a wolf, and to be honest, while I was thinking about it still, in the back of my mind, I certainly didn’t want to talk about it anymore.
When we pulled up at the Wade estate, I was glad to be home despite the complications of the family unit.
“You good?” she asked me as I carefully stepped out of the car.
I nodded a yes. No, I wasn’t all that good but I wanted to be able to move on my own. Or at least try.
“They must have a whole lot to badger about.” I heard Harlyn mutter as I stressfully shut the door to her sports car.
“What are you-” I started to ask when I saw an old and beautiful muscle car sitting outside of the house. “Who-who is that?” I nervously looked at Harlyn and then back at the car. Somehow, I already knew who it was.
Shakily I took a deep breath and instinctively grabbed at my well-wrapped wound. “Don’t worry, Vali,” Harlyn said. “The cut has been closed up pretty good and wrapped well. You’ll be fine.”
“Right.” I absentmindedly murmured as we walked toward the house. “Maybe, I should go through the back and-”
“Vali,” Harlyn hissed impatiently. “Come on.” She went to the front door and unlocked it. Reluctantly, I followed.
When we entered, I took a quick survey of the room and was glad to find that no one was around.
“They must be in the meeting room or daddy’s study,” suggested Harlyn. I could sense the disappointment in her voice.
“No worries, Mistress. I’m sure you can wait around for them to show up again.” I teased. “As for me, I’ll be heading out of the way.” I started toward the basement where my room was located.
“Yes, we really must see to checking Cumberland State Forest. There’s a lot of human traffic around that area. I wouldn’t be surprised if they settled in that area. More access to food and it’s far enough away from Shadow Veil not to be found immediately.”
“I’ll gather some of my men and yours. We will see what there is to find in Cumberland.” the sound of the Alpha Lycan’s voice brought a shiver up my spine. Needless to say, anxiety crept up on me again.
“Good,” Master Wade replied. “I’ll-”
I hadn’t realized that I was frozen in place until Master Wade said my name and even still I could not find the words to speak.
The Lycan King’s presence was so enigmatic and domineering that it almost lured me to look into his eyes, but I immediately thought better of it. I certainly did not want a recap of what happened two days ago.
“How are you, Valene?” Master Wade asked.
“I’m fine, Master Wade.” I bowed. “Thank you for asking. May I be excused?” I know that my rush to leave the situation may have come off as rude but I was only trying to get out of the way as quickly as possible.
“You…you are the sangue de ouro.” The Lycan Beta said.
“I am,” I bowed.
The Beta laughed. “Ah, so she knows our language as well. You are full of surprises, vassal,” he said.
“Valene often surprises everyone that she comes into contact with.”
“I am sure she does.” The Lycan Alpha finally spoke. Again…that voice provoked shivers. “I must beg your pardon, little human.” the Lycan said to me.
“You don’t owe me apologies, Master Barbosa. I should apologize to you for provoking…you.” I started to say, ‘sorry for provoking your primal instincts. I figured that would not be the best way to word my apology, however, and decided against it. “As well as Master Holt.”
He didn’t respond to what I had said, and I started to take this as a sign of me to excuse myself. I couldn’t take much more of his heated gaze boring into me.
“Not your fault that you were bleeding.” he curtly replied. “I hear that you gave as good as you received.”
“That…that is debatable, sir,” I replied as my gaze steadily stayed straight ahead while observing the Alpha and his Beta’s every move as I stood there. I noticed a near smirk raise the corner of his lips as he looked down at me. It was difficult to ignore the rising heat in my stomach at something as simple as his stare.
“Modesty, hm. Last I checked he is dead and you are not.” He countered.
“Not by my hand, your grace.” I quipped.
There was a lull in our exchange before he grunted again. I didn’t know what the grunt meant but I guessed it was that of amusement. “Right.”
“May I be excused, Master Wade?” I was beginning to get nervous around this Lycan. It was hard not to after what happened with him and his Beta two days ago. He was in control at the moment but after witnessing the extent of his lack of restraint, I wasn’t so sure that I wanted to be around him for longer than I had to. The look in his eyes that day, the furor that I saw in his gaze that day was something I would never forget.
“Yes, of course.” Master Wade said. “I will be in to discuss a few things with you later.”
“Master Barbosa, Master Holt,” I said. “Always a pleasure.” I bowed my head subtly and nodded before quickly heading to my room, the sooner I got out of the way of trouble, the safer I would probably be.
Alastair:
I watched the interaction between Ares Barbosa, Zevi Holt, and Valene very closely. There was no doubt in my mind that she was nervous around them after what had transpired days earlier. And after Ares and his Beta found out what Valene was, I admit that I was concerned about their intentions following the incident.
“Do not worry, Alpha Wade,” Ares said as if reading my mind. “I would not encroach on your territory so blatantly,” he said as I realized that he too was watching Valene as she exited the scene.
“Forgive me for not taking your word at face value, Ares.”
It was this comment that made the significantly younger Alpha return his stone eyes to me again. His eyes came off as amused and curious. “You do not trust my word, senhor?” he seemed surprised by this. “This is not our first dealing with one another…have I ever gone back on my word before?”
“Valene’s position in our lives is more complicated than a simple vassal,” I confessed without regret. “She saved my wife as an infant and for that, I am not ashamed to admit that I do hold her to a higher standard than most human serfs.” Ares was offended by my blatant admittance of not trusting him, I could tell but I didn’t care. “On a normal occasion, I would trust you young Alpha,” I said. “But that human…that just walked out of here is rare...in both blood and character and I’ve witnessed treacheries from the closest of my kin to get to her. Surely, even someone as old-world as you understands why I am so guarded.”
He was quieted for a moment before he smiled and finally answered. “I had a human once that…I was guarded over. She was…useful…but she also was a liability. She did make for a good meal when it was time for the sacrifice.” he simply answered.
“I hope that you’re arriving at a point that will not increase my mistrust of you being around Valene.”
Again, the young Alpha grinned and chuckled dryly. “My point, senhor, is that at the end of the day, no matter how…delicious your human may seem, she is just a human and I would not risk our agreement over one,” he said. “Nevertheless, it does not change the fact that she is a liability. I’ve known other Alphas who gladly and without prejudice took the lives of vassals who saved their lives many times. And you know why they did that?” he asked me.
I didn’t answer as part of me already knew. Even I was guilty of it at one point in time before and even a little after Valene had come into our lives.
“They began to care too much about those humans and they realized that those emotions…” he shook his head. “Were not useful to them.”
“What is your point, Ares?” I asked impatiently.
“I think I’ve made it pretty clear, Alpha,” he said. “If not for you and your Beta’s immaculate skill, your human would be dead and so would the both of you. She was lucky, but the risk of her simply…bleeding around a pack full of inhumans…I am not so sure that the liability is worth such life-threatening risks. You obviously have different views about your liabilities. I will not impede on that, Alpha Wade.” he glanced at Harlyn who seemed to be mesmerized by him.
I noticed this as soon as we walked in on her and Valene as they were in the living room.
“This is your territory, and because I have long respected you, I will not encroach on your territory with disrespect. Although, I am surprised that you actually had someone as…prestigious as your heir pick her up from the hospital.”
“Tell me,” Harlyn said. “How else would she have gotten home?”
“Walk? Hitch a ride? Usually, a Keeper does not care enough to concern themselves with it.” Beta Holt replied.
Harlyn found this slightly amusing, but then she replied, “Valene, may have acted out of character the other night but she is still a good human and one that has served this family diligently for years.” Harlyn said. I admit that I was surprised that had defended Valene in such a way. “I would not leave her to fend for herself in a matter that was not completely her fault.” She stepped toward the Alpha. “It wasn’t like she was the one who acted out of character that day…was she, Alpha?” she looked past Ares and at his Beta. “As I remember, you two…were the ones who could not control yourselves. So why, would one allow her to walk home alone?” she smirked. “Have a good day, Alpha…Beta.” Harlyn replied, not bothering to wait for a response. “We’ll talk later, daddy,” she said and walked away.
I nodded in agreement as suddenly I was in the mood to tell Harlyn how proud I was of her and how she stood up for Valene.
When she was gone, Ares spoke again. “Quite the up-and-down relationship your daughter has with your Drudge.”
He was right. Even I didn’t know what to make of Harlyn’s thoughts and emotions concerning Valene of late. The only thing that I could do was try to understand their dynamic one day at a time and hope that one day…soon, their relationship would be made less complicated and more…sisterly. I wouldn’t express this much to Ares Barbosa, however.
“No relationship is ever so simple, Alpha.”
“True,” he agreed. “Though…one that was always meant to be…was the relationship between a human and his or her superior, Alpha Wade.” he then walked passed me and headed for the exit. “I just hope that you do not live to regret the blurred line. I will round up some of my men. I’ll arrive at the Shadow Veil Packhouse later to meet up with yours, Alpha.”
I didn’t say anything else as he departed my home. No male likes when another speaks so boldly about his life’s decisions-inhuman or non. But what is worse than even that is when that man’s words are true. I saw Ares and his Beta out before I went down the hall and into the basement to check in on my apparent liability.
When I knocked on the door and she didn’t answer. “Val?” I called to her but she didn’t answer; it seems that she was otherwise distracted by something else. There stood Valene, standing there, back facing me and completely oblivious to her surroundings. Or at least I thought she was.
“Apologies, Master Wade,” she said. “I didn’t mean to be rude,”
When Valene turned around, her eyes were wide with concern and a seeming confusion. She even glanced back at her half-opened window one more time before returning her attention to me. She took a deep breath and smiled but only for a moment before concern filled her face again.
“Is everything alright? I didn’t offend anyone, did I? I’m sorry if I was disrespectful earlier. I just…I thought that it would be best that I not-”
“Everything is fine, Val,” I reassured her. “I’m only here to check on you,” I reassured her, stepping further into her room and leaving my thoughts about what Ares Barbosa had said at the door. “How are you?”
She nodded. “Yes, yeah, everything is fine, considering.” Valene glanced down at her bandaged wound. “Still a little sore but nothing that I cannot handle, I assure you.”
I nodded, glad to hear the news but still concerned about whatever it was that had so blatantly caused her to worry.
“What did you see, Valene?” I asked her. I could tell that she was struggling not to look out of that window again. Truth be told it was beginning to worry me; my conversation with John came back to mind. I started to wonder whether it was safe for her to be here anymore. At least at the packhouse, she’d be safe all around.
“What do you mean, Master Wade?”
I exhaled and approached her closely. “This isn’t the first time, Valene. Someone or something is watching you…or at least that’s how you feel.”
She chuckled, and I knew why. “I know,” I sighed. “I know.”
“With all due respect, Master Wade,” she grinned. “I’ve been feeling watched for most my life, Master Wade. Why do you think now, you should be concerned?”
“Well, considering the fact that attacks have become more frequent of late, I think I have more than enough reason to be concerned. Nevertheless,” I added. “I am sorry for not validating your concerns before now.”
“Concern…do I seem concerned to you now?” she asked.
“Yes,” I realized something as I watched Valene. “You always seem concerned, about everything under the sun.” when I said this, Valene’s eyes suddenly weren’t capable of looking near mine let alone eye to eye. “We’re not going to discuss that right now, though.” I walked further into her room and broached a subject, that for the time being, seemed more important. “We need to discuss your safety going forward, Valene.”
“What do you mean, Master Wade?”
I had been thinking about this for a while now following my conversation with my Delta as well as the many short conversations had with Toran. It was just…time.
“I think it’s time we moved into the packhouse.” I turned around to face her and saw the surprise on her face.
“Oh.” she seemed too shocked to say anything else. At least at first. “Wh…um, did you talk to Mistress Harlyn about this?”
“Not yet,” I replied. “I wanted to know how you felt about it first,”
“I just…I think that you should talk to her about this rather than me, Master Wade. I am only a vassal. My say should not matter, so-”
“But it does,” I interjected. “So answer my question.”
“I-I think that whatever decision you think is best, is the one that I will stand behind.”
Of course, she would turn this on me again. I should have expected as much. “You’re not afraid to be around a house full of inhumans?”
“I am around inhumans all the time, Master Wade.”
“Yes, but you’d be around them significantly more.” I clarified. To be honest, I was a little concerned about John and his daughter being around Valene, but somehow I knew that he would be the least of my concerns.
“And I will carry myself accordingly,” she said. “Do not worry about me, Master Wade. I’ll be fine. You just do what you have to do to keep your family safe.”
Somehow, I got the feeling that she did not consider herself a part of that unit in my life. Not anymore. But I still did.
“I will.”
Valene smiled and nodded. “Good,” and then sat on her bed, “thank you…for the chocolates, by the way,” she said as she pulled the small box from underneath her pillow and opened it, popping a morsel of chocolate into her mouth.
“I’m glad you like it.”
She swallowed the chocolate and then her facial expression changed, I knew then that she wanted to talk about something else.
“What is it?”
“Well, I still need to resign at Bone’s tonight. I was wondering if-”
“You don’t have to worry about that, Valene. That will easily be taken care of soon enough-”
“Well, if you don’t mind, Master Wade, I…I’d like to go myself. There’s someone there that I have to talk to.”
“Do you think that it is a boy?” Aziz asked anxiously.
I found his sudden concern amusing but not enough to laugh as I shared the concern too.
“Is it a boy?” I asked.
Valene laughed and shook her head. “It is a friend. She was always kind to me, and I just wanted to tell her goodbye in person.”
“Ah,” I recalled one of my outside vassals telling me about an older woman who regularly kept Valene company on the days that she had to work at the restaurant and pub. In truth, I would have liked to have met this young woman, but at the same time, I did not want to interject myself into what little of a life she did have to herself. “Very well,” I said. “But I will be the one taking you.”
“Master Wade, I-”
“Valene, Shadow Veil is on lockdown, and things have gotten worse since the last you ventured out of Shadow Veil. So, I will be accompanying you. I will stay in the car until you’re finished.”
“Okay.” she knew that there was nothing that could be said to combat my decision.
“Just let me know when you’re ready.”
She smiled. “Thank you, Master Wade.”
I headed out of her room and chanced one more glance to see that, once again, she was staring out of the window. There was something that she wasn’t telling me, but I’d play the waiting game. Hopefully, she’d tell me in time.