Chapter 33

Kash View

"Alpha Dax." Speaking as if meeting foreign pack leaders, I kept my face and tone neutral. "Thank you for allowing us to stay during this ceremony. I am looking forward to it." My body moved to stand beside Atlas automatically.

"His belongings have been packed and he have no need to enter the pack house. Jace will be here later and visit you both at the cabins. I assume you will be leaving shortly after the ceremony?" He turned away from me and spoke to Atlas instead.

The was a strange scent around him I never noticed before. Unsure if it had always been there and I never noticed it due to my lack of training or if it really was new, I looked towards Atlas and then Zion. I'm sure they would have noticed the smell if it was not there before.

"Yes, we will be leaving shortly after. My mate and I have our own to plan and a few other packs to visit on the way. I am sure once the new alpha marks his mate, he would rather keep it short anyways. We know he will have a pack to run as well." Atlas kept cordial, but I could feel his tension.

"Ah, yes. Jace has already marked his mate. We did the event at her old pack, along with welcoming her to our own. This event is just for him to take over. I felt there was not need to wait for the first two."

That hurt me. I had plans to invite Jace to mine. It was a big thing. Bigger than human marriages. It was two souls connecting forever. Trying to hide the hurt I walked over and grabbed the few boxes of my belongings followed by my two guards and went to put them in a car.

"Do you have no respect for your other son at all? Why would you force Jace to do it without his brother? What did you use as leverage for this betrayal?" Zion was barely holding himself back.

"You are not really needed for this event either. Rather unwelcomed I would say." Alpha Dax was grinning as I walked back.

"It was a mistake coming here. Alpha Dax has made it known to not be accommodating to me." Turning to my father I smiled. "We will be gone by the time the sun fully rises from the mountain ledge. No need to pass on any messages." Moving with purpose I walked to the passenger side before turning around. "I can only hope that Alpha Jace does a better job with the pack then you ever did."

"Why you little brat. Have you no respect for all I have done for you?" Alpha Dax tried to walk over but was blocked by the guards. "I'm glad you were never really part of the pack. It gives me less to do."

This information shocked me and I sat in the car without replying. My father had changed so much the last few weeks. It was like a different being had been before me my whole life. Was he finally succumbing to the loss of his mate? Or was this a side I never saw of him before, because he kept it from me? All I had was questions and knowing I would never get an answer hurt more.

Lost in my thoughts I never even felt Atlas sit beside me, or Zion entering the driver seat. "Kash, is it okay with you if we just head to the cabin and discuss things later?" Nodding as we drove off, I buried my head into his chest allowing hurt to come out.

"Boss, I will have our inside team stay when we leave. There seems to be something happening. I find it strange that Jace would behave this way." Zion was barely a whisper as he spoke.

Atlas was rubbing my back as I slowly started to pass out, exhausted from the emotions. "Jace has not responded to any of my texts in the last week and a half. I feel his father blocked our numbers in a way to prevent communication. We need to find a way to communicate to him and find out what his father is holding over his head. Head to the cabins. No mater what the Alpha here states, things can change when Jace takes over."

The sleep pulled me deep into dreams of the past. When Jace and I were closer than ever. Before I turned sixteen and presented. When I would crawl into Jace's bed at night because I was scared. Or when I would run away from the guards and it was always Jace that would find me, but never rat me out. Just sit with me and chat. The past that would never be again.

A soft voice pulled me from those dreams. "Kash. We are here. Time to wake until we get to our room."

"Why did you wake me? I could have slept here." My complaints fell on deaf ears as the next thing I knew I was being pulled and carried from the car.

A deep chuckle and the rumbling chest beside my body had me curl in closer. "Go back to sleep then. I will tuck you in and join you later."

My only reply as I succumbed once more, was a gentle hum.

I woke wrapped in warmth and a feeling of security. The evenings events hardly felt real. Needing Atlas closer I turned around to face him and curled up into his chest once more. "Kash? Are you okay?"

"Yes?" Of course, it sounded like a question. I was unsure how I should feel. The only thing I could trust in was Atlas at this time. "Just wanted you closer, even if just for a few."

He chuckled. "Will you be a little feistier after a coffee? Zion is already making it for us."

"Mmm. I promise." Sitting up and pulling the blankets back I looked down at Atlas. "So, my father never accepted me in the pack? Did you know this?"

"Before you loose your temper hear me out." I glared at him as he spoke. "Zion and I suspected, and so did Jace. Jace told us you never mind linked with anyone, and never spoke about any of the mind links from the pack. Usually when your born the alpha accepts you into the pack. We think with all that happened that important event was missed with you."

"And no one thought to fix it? What the fuck am I to them?" Closing my eyes, I leaned back into Atlas. "You will let me be part of your pack, right?"

"As much as I am upset with him, I am happy as well. It won't be painful for you to come over to my pack. It will be overwhelming though. Hearing all the voices at once. We will do our best to teach you." He kissed the top of my head. "Now, let's wake up your feisty side before Jace arrives, shall we?"

I knew I was grinning. Even though it hurt, I know Jace would not have done it without a reason. The strange part is the lack of communication as well. We only had one side of the story; it was time to get the other.

It had only been about an hour since we got up but I was already bouncing in my seat waiting for Jace. No matter how upset I was with everything, I still missed my brother. "I don't like how late he is." Turning to Zion I complained. "Atlas said he was to meet us here when the sun came up. It is already up."

Atlas who was having a quick shower, was not around for my anxious questioning. Zion grinned. "Don't worry he will come. As future Alpha he has a duty to see us." Zion seeing me grimace at the term duty continued. "Look I know he missed you as well. It won't just be a duty for him. Trust in him."

"Kash." Atlas was walking over still towel drying his hair. "We just have to find out what is going on to fix things. It will not be the first time we have had to jump in."

Sighing I could only nod. "I do have one more question."

Atlas chuckled and rubbed my head. "Just one more?"

Smiling I pulled his hand off. "Okay. One question for now. Did you smell the weird scent on my father? I dunno if it's because I am still getting to know my wolf side and never smelt it before, or really if it was new."

"It was stronger, but not new." Atlas shook his head at Zion who was answering.

"What is it?" I looked between them then stood up. "Keeping information from me does not protect me. What is with the smell?"

"That is the smell of a wolf losing themselves. Your father seems to be finally falling from his luck and succumbing to the loss of his mate. We could smell it the last visit, but it was much weaker. I am not sure what has caused him to change so fast, especially after living so well for so long." Atlas had sat down on my seat and pulled me over. "Anything could have triggered it. He is truly lucky to have been well as many years as he has. If there was any way to reverse it, we would do it for you, but there isn't."

Looking into Atlas's eyes for a while I put it all together. "So, what you're saying is to prepare myself for a real goodbye? That the Moon Goddess will call for him soon?"

"Yes. I'm sorry Kash." Atlas rubbed my arm as he spoke.

While trying to think of what to say a knock came on the back door. We all looked in the direction, confusion etched on all our faces. "Why would Jace come from there?" Zion was the first to speak up.

"Wait it is Jace!" I tried to pull away from Atlas who held me tighter. "Atlas. Let me go." I growled wanting to see my brother.

"Kash just wait for the guards to place themselves." Zion was moving to stand beside the both of us now. "It is peculiar how he arrived."

"I don't care how he got here for fuck sakes. At least he came." I ripped myself from Atlas and stomped over to the backdoor. Unlocking it and pulling it open without checking, I smiled seeing my brother. "About fucking time! I have been worried sick." I moved to give him a hug and stopped in my tracks when he stepped back.

"I'm so sorry Kash. I...I...I just can't." His hands now up he backed away a little more. "If I smell like you..."

"Jace." Atlas was now behind me arm around my waist. "Have you been ignoring all our messages?"

Jace did not look away from me as he spoke. "What messages? I had been wondering what's going on since you never responded to mine."

"We messaged you when we arrived and Kash started his heat, and when Kash got hurt." Zion was knocking fingers as he spoke.

"Wait! Kash was hurt? How? When? He was supposed to be safe!" Jace moved half a step in before he realized what he was doing and took a step back instead.

"I take it there is something going on that you're unable to speak of." Atlas turned to Zion and mind linked him. How could I tell. Well body language is easy to read even when lips don't move. "We were prepared for this. Since you are unwilling to allow us to assist. We will leave and you can clean up the cabins." Atlas and Zion started to pull me away.

"What the...? Hey!" Trying to pull away was as affective as trying to move a bus with one hand. It was not working. "Let me talk to him!" Zion had already shut the door and the guards were already moving around the cabin to clean things up for departure. "Can someone PLEASE FUCKING talk to me!!" Exasperated and done I stomped my foot.

Atlas leaned in and chuckled. "When we are safe in our car. You don't have to be so cute."

I growled to his comment. "Fuck off. Why can't I talk to him now? Why did you pull me away?" I then jabbed him as hard as I could. "I'm also not cute!" This had both Zion and Atlas chuckle.

It did not take long for them both to have things all packed and ready to go. Since we did nothing more than bring our bags inside last night there was not much to actually pack. "Zion. Have the boxes Alpha Dax packed sent right to the pack. No need to keep it along."

"Hmm. Right boss. On it already." Zion was looking at his cell while Atlas watched me. "Kash can you please go to Atlas and settle him down. His pheromones might not bother you so much, but the rest of the team is affected."

Turning to look back at Atlas I saw the tips of his ears red. Looking back at Zion who was smiling had me really confused. "But I don't smell anything."

"Trust me Kash, please?" Zion though smiling pointed at Atlas once more.

"Fine. Whatever you say." Walking over to Atlas I was unsure of what to even do. "Now what?"

Atlas grinned and grabbed me. "Now this!" Tossing me over his shoulder he took off for one of the cars.

"You ass!! Let me go!" Even though I tried to sound upset, the actual feeling was excitement. The was never a dull moment around him. "Atlas, please put me down." By the time we got to the car I was holding in my laughter.

"That's better. A smile." His hand brushed my cheek and I leaned in and trembled at the soft touch. "Though I know of the impossibility, and how corny it would sound, but all I ever want to see is a smile." He then leaned in to my ear and whispered. "Tears are only for the bedroom."

My eyes closed and a small whimper at what he suggested escaped. My answer was but a whisper as well. "You're an ass."

"And all yours." He laughed as I smacked him. Once we got settled in the car Atlas turned my direction to speak. "We have an idea of what is going on, just not who's behind it. Something triggered your father's change. Someone is threatening Jace, his mate and or your father. The fact of it all. The connection all has to do with you."

"Me? But I have never hurt anyone. I haven't even met anyone for fuck sakes." A little pissed that my family was threatened because of me, and hurt. "Is there a way to track this person?"

"Until they make a move we can see or follow; not yet. Zion is leaving a burner phone for Jace to contact us with. Not sure how much information he has, but anything at this time will help us." Atlas then leaned back into the seat. "As much as we want to deal with it now, we have other priorities and duties. These must be done as we normally would have. We can't show our concern to other packs. This is where you need to practice."

"You said it was just meeting new leaders and stuff. I have my laptop as well, so anything you need access to will be ready at my fingertips." Zion was even impressed I remembered to pack it and that had me feeling very good.

"You are going to be an amazing Luna, but that is not the part you need practice with." He smirked a little. "Your pheromones. They can tell others when you're in heat, when you are hurt, when you want comfort, also when you're pissed. To others, your scent is mild, which is lucky. But when we meet with some of the elders. They will be able to use it to detect lies."

"What you're saying is, and let me be blunt. As a Luna I will excel, but as a wolf I suck." Atlas smiled then covered his mouth. "Naw, you can laugh. Nothing but the truth yeah."

"Really, you're not that bad." He finally laughed. "I wish I saw you tumble down the cliff. Never seen a wolf do that before."

"Have I told you you're an ass and not funny?" I turned away from him and looked out the window. Zion had already been driving us out of the area for some time. "Zion? How do you put up with him for so long?"

"Blackmail." We all laughed. "Seriously, he actually was never this bad before. So, I blame you."

"Hey! Way to take his side!" I glared at Zion. "Traitor!"