DAD'S SECRET

We returned to the packhouse. Once again, Bell waited on guard for me to shift and change first before going to shift and change. Dad and Beta Lucas watched with approval.

It's no secret that they liked him. Dad had been referring to Bell as his son. And Beta Lucas had taken Bell under his wing, to mentor personally, and tap into the young Bell's immense potential.

Seriously, I heard them say so at breakfast this morning.

Anyway, we headed back up into the pack house, but instead of going home, Dad led us to his office. Then he took out a roll of parchment from the drawer in his desk and unrolled it while Beta Lucas quickly cleared away the files and things on his desk for Dad to fully display the contents of the parchment.

It was a hand drawn map. And I didn't have to look closely to recognize it as something from the Colored Mountains.

"This is the map to the Colored Mountains." Dad told us. He pointed at a spot on the map where he had drawn a red line out - "This is our home and the tunnel."

There were other red lines.

Dad released the map, letting it roll back shut, "I had spent my life since my puphood reading about the Colored Mountains. One day, I would like to go there."

"When you have become Alpha, and see our pack through the upheaval of the coming war... Once things settled down and I see both you and your sister properly mated... And I supposed Ben and Lizzy settled with their mates too, Lucas, Willow, your mum, and I will leave for the Colored Mountains. We will start a new adventure!"

So my dad's retirement plan was to set off on some epic adventure to the Colored Mountains? Without me?

"If I had been just a normal wolf, I would have taken your mum and left for the colored mountain from the very beginning. Who knows, maybe you and Savy would have been born in the mountains. But this pack needed an Alpha. But now you're all growing up and our pack will soon have a new Alpha. I will be free to go." Dad explained.

My first question was, "Does mum know?"

"She knows the gist of it, that one day we will go look for the Colored Mountain together, yes. About the timeline or the tunnels, not so much."

How did Henry put it? My dad was radical? Eccentric? If he said crazy, I would have also agreed.

I looked at the map on the table, there were several red lines, "Are all these tunnels?" I asked.

Dad nodded. "We can't travel above ground due to the warlock traps, so we have been making an underground road to get us to the other side of the warlock lands."

"The crystals, they don't attack white wolves... I think." I told Dad, "So theoretically, Mum would be quite safe."

Dad and Beta Lucas looked a little surprise. They turned to each other, and then back to me... Then Dad shrugged. I think he had decided to give up trying to figure out where I learned some things.

Beta Lucas looked like he still wanted to ask me, but I spoke first.

"When...when are you going?" I asked. My heart started to feel heavy again at the thought of it.

I had Dad and Mum with me all my life!

"I will still have many, many more years here before we go." Dad promised, "The tunnels are not even half way completed."

"You'd tell me right? Before you leave?" I asked, "Promise?"

"Yes. Promise." My dad said, he patted my head like he always did. I couldn't believe he was leaving, "Just don't tell your mum yet."

I swallowed. How will I manage without them?

"Gamma Harry would still be here." Beta Lucas offered.

"Does he know?" I asked.

Dad shook his head, "I asked him what his retirement plan was, and he said wanted to take it easy and watch his grandchildren grow."

"What did Beta Lucas answer?" I asked, curious. Did Beta Lucas dream of retiring in the Colored Mountains too?

"I told your dad I wanted to follow him and retire with him." Beta Lucas said.

"You'd take Mrs Beta and follow Dad to the Colored Mountains?" I asked.

"It's a win-win." Beta Lucas explained, "Willow wants to go. I want to follow my Alpha."

I see. I want to go too...one day. Reading too many books about the Colored Mountain probably did that to you.

"I want to die on the Colored Mountains or die finding it." Dad said resolutely. "Son, I'll be leaving Sam to you then, please take care of her for me."

Stoopid. Who allowed you to die?

Rebel nodded, "I would protect her happiness with my life."

Stoopid. Who would be happy if it cost your life?

Dad nodded, "Thank you."

Stoopid stoopid stoopid. Don't use your deep voices and act like this was a perfectly good arrangement.

I didn't need a mate to protect my happiness.

I needed my family to stay with me forever.

But one should never deter a wolf who wanted to return to the mountains.

So I kept quiet.

Stoopid stoopid stoopid.