Salvaging things from the past

Author's note: This is from Fynn's point of view

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I was in the helicopter, clutching the seat while trying to find comfort.

Yes, I know that I'm pitiful. Once a powerful general, commanding thousands of warriors, was now reduced to a scared pup, but I can't help it. We, the werewolves love to feel the ground under our feet, and flying is NOT our preferred way of travel.

What am I doing here (other than embarrassing myself)?

Serina sent me an invitation to come for Zoe's birthday. I was proud when she invited only me from the whole gang of thirty-something werewolves that sheltered Zoe, Ash, and Luca for the last three years.

As a bonus, I was invited to come a day before everyone else, so my mind was coming up with all kinds of scenarios about what we will do with all that time. Did Serina finally decide to acknowledge me?

My excitement dwindled quickly when I realized that her driver, Mitch, arrived to give me a lift… and when I said, 'a lift', I meant literally, A FUCKING LIFT, with a helicopter.

Mitch said that he can't disclose the location in advance, for security purposes, and the drive will last less than two hours, but why does this seem to be like two lifetimes?

If this is a prank, I swear I will get back at Serina, no matter how hot she is.

'Dash… Dash!', I called my wolf desperately. 'It's your turn to take over!'

Silence.

Coward.

The ability my wolf grants me is not common. Dash can take over my body, enhancing my senses, without shifting into our wolf form. We don't take turns, like other werewolves, because we can literally share the mind and the body at the same time.

In my centuries of existence, I knew only one other werewolf with this ability and that was Alpha Damiano, the only Alpha I ever submitted to. When Damiano's wolf took over their body, they were unstoppable. I still get goosebumps when I remember the force that was behind that punch.

Since the Bluemoon pack fell apart, I don't find much use for my ability, but now it would come in handy, yet Dash is a sissy.

"We are almost there, Mister Fynn!", Mitch's voice sounded through the earphones that did a lousy job in suppressing the noise of the helicopter.

I looked down only to see that the endless mountains were replaced with the endless forest. Well, at least the altitude reduced and if I fall down, there is a possibility of me falling on something soft.

I tried to focus on counting trees, meadows, rocks, something… anything, only to keep my mind occupied and not to think about this eerie feeling of suffocating doom that comes with flying.

At first, I thought that I am imagining it. How is it possible that some scenery looks familiar? Not the trees or the meadows, but there was a tall cliff, and a river below it… and then there was a lake and I forgot how to breathe when the mansion came into the view.

Is my destination the packhouse of the Bluemoon pack?

Now, this was something I wouldn't expect in a million years.

It took me a moment to realize that the garden is well maintained, and the building is like new, an obvious sign that someone is living there.

Is this where Zoe will celebrate her birthday? Who lives here now?

The last thing I heard was that some poor bloke was trying to make it into a hotel, but he failed and the whole property was abandoned about one decade ago. But this didn't look abandoned.

We landed on the helipad, and I couldn't wait for my feet to touch the solid ground.

"Thank you for coming, Fynn", I heard Seraphina's voice as the helicopter's engine died down. She emerged from the garden. "I guess you can recognize the place and are probably wondering what we are doing here."

"Yes, and yes.", I responded while walking to meet her.

"This is my home now.", she said with a smile, and I stared at her like an idiot.

This can't be coincidental, right?

"I see you have many questions.", Serina continued talking and I nodded in response.

"Well, maybe that person can answer a few.", Serina said and gestured to my right.

I looked in that direction, only to see a ghost looking at me.

My legs moved on my own and I approached the figure. Is this real? No, Sergio died more than a decade ago. There is no other explanation why he disappeared, and we didn't hear a peep of him.

But just to make sure…

'POW!'

My fist landed straight on his face, and I felt the bones of his nose breaking under my knuckles.

"You son of a bitch!", Sergio cursed while holding his nose.

"You are not a ghost.", I said in disbelief.

I could hear bones cracking as he fixed his nose and he pointed his finger at me angrily while shouting at Seraphina, "THIS is why I didn't want this bastard here! He is just a pile of brainless muscles!"

Wait a minute. Sure, my mind can't be compared to a famous Shaman who was always buried in some mental work, but why did he insult my intelligence? "Did you call me a brainless bastard?"

"And how else would you call a person who decides to punch a ghost? If I'm a ghost, it would go right through me, and since I'm not, you ended up injuring me. In any case, it only made you look stupid. You brute barbarian!"

I was ready to hit him again, and Sergio sneered at me. The blood still dripped from his nose and drained into his mouth; his bloody teeth made a sorry image, but he did look a bit scary.

Unfortunately for him, I knew very well that Sergio is a shaman with very low fighting abilities, and I raised my arm to pummel some respect into him.

"Stop! Stop!", Seraphina interfered. "I didn't call you here to fight! Apologize!"

"What?", I asked in outrage.

Serina narrowed her eyes at me. "Apologize or you can go back and forget about stepping into my house!"

The idea of going back to that blasted helicopter was not appealing. I hoped that she will send me back in a car, but until then… "I apologize for hitting you, Sergio.", I said with all the sincerity I could muster. I really didn't want to experience another helicopter ride.

Sergio snorted, some of the blood splattering on his clothes, but I took that as his acceptance of my apology.

"So, who is going to explain what's going on here? I assume that I am not invited just for a birthday party.", I said. I knew that Zoe was closer to several other people, like Vito and Tessa, and if there was a shortlist to attend her party, those two would be on it, and not me, so they probably had a different reason to bring me here.

Serina let out a long breath.

"To be honest, Fynn, we thought about how to explain the situation to you. I had a speech ready and a strategy in place, but Sergio told me that you are a simple man who needs to get straight to the point."

I was not sure if Serina was insulting me or not, but I gestured for her to continue talking.

She took her phone and sent a text message before looking back at me.

"I am aware that eleven years ago, with the war, you lost much more than just a pack. You are here so that you can see that not everything is lost and that some things can be salvaged. I hope…", Serina paused and glanced at Sergio. "WE hope that you will help us in our task. You are one of the few people who can help…"

Serina's voice trailed, and she turned toward the villa.

I followed her line of vision to see a young man walking toward us. I glanced at Serina and I frowned at the way she looked at him. No one ever looked at me like that, but I knew very well what it means. If she is a werewolf, I would label him as her mate. And he looked at her in the same way, even though he smelled human. What's going on?

'That's Mateo!', Dash finally decided to speak up, but he made no sense.

'Mateo, who?', I asked.

'Damiano's son.'

My head was buzzing and I narrowed my eyes at the man. Sure, he had those blue eyes and some of his features reminded me of Damiano, and there were some traces of Isabella as well.

Is it possible that little Mateo grew up so much? Is it possible that he is alive?

I think that I blanked out because I didn't realize at what point he reached us.

"Fynn", he said while his arm circled around Serina's waist, like it belongs there, and she leaned on him.

"It's good to see that you are doing well.", Mateo said, confirming that we know each other.

My jaw dropped. What's going on?

Wait! Serina said that they are trying to salvage some things that were lost after the war. Was she talking about Sergio, and Mateo, and this packhouse? Is she for real? What else is she planning?

I hated that my heart thumped excitedly despite my dejection of seeing that Serina has a man in her life. She is a fine woman and I hoped that she will be mine, but there was too much going on and I was absolutely confused.

Maybe I was hallucinating due to the helicopter ride and none of this was happening. Yes, I passed out and this was a dream but somehow, it felt real.

I rubbed my forehead. "Do you mind explaining what's going on?"

Serina smiled and gestured toward the villa. "Let's go inside and we can chat over some refreshments…"

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