Chapter 6

The plane ride lasted four hours. Celus slept most of the way there, sleep finally taking him over. He called a cab as the two men grabbed their luggage from baggage claim, weaving their way through the large crowd. Jaden had arranged for them to be picked up at a rest stop just outside their border.

Celus was feeling restless as they drove closer and closer to the only family he had left. Brady gave him a concerned look as his friend bounced his leg in anticipation, but he didn't say a word. He knew how Celus was feeling, and he didn't want to amplify it.

There was a large black SUV waiting for them at a secluded rest stop. A man stood tall with dark sunglasses and a clean-cut suit by the driver's door. He acknowledged Brady's presence and bowed to Celus before ushering them into the back seat and roaring the engine to life.

The ride was short; all Celus could think about was Salen with her golden hair and piercing eyes. He hadn't noticed when they pulled up the long stretch of a driveway. He also didn't notice the beaming middle-aged woman standing on the front porch with a somewhat bored Alpha by her side.

Celus could see the resemblance she held with his mother. They both had caramel brown hair and small stature. Her brown eyes were not as bright, and she didn't hold herself with as much confidence.

She ran down the steps and greeted Celus at the car. She pulled him into a hug and admired how much he has grown since the last time she saw him.

Celus felt uncomfortable as the unfamiliar woman held him tightly to her. With her small figure, she came to just below his shoulders.

He grunted awkwardly and took a step back, not knowing how to interact with her.

"It's nice to see you again aunt Jaden." He grabbed his suitcase from the trunk of the car and stood with Brady close to his side, trying to ignore the uncomfortable feeling he was having.

Celus could see the hurt in her eyes, but she tried her best to hide it.

"Well follow me and I will show you to the room you will be staying in." He nodded, following her close behind. He caught the glare that her mate was flashing towards him, but he chose to ignore it. After all, he didn't want to start a war with him as well.

Jaden stood awkwardly in the doorway as she watched the two settle in. There were two queen-sized beds on opposite sides of the room with a lounge area separating them. A small love seat and two lounge chairs surrounded a small round coffee table with a large chandelier lighting up the room just overtop.

Brady admired the room as Celus just grunted and began to situate his belongings. He didn't want to stay here any longer than he had to.

"Thank you Jaden. This place is great." Brady gave her a friendly smile as he made himself comfortable. She looked at Celus with pleading eyes, but he didn't even glance her way.

"I will find you when we are all set. Thank you Jaden." He dismissed her coldly, not bothering to look at her. 

Jaden hid the tears in her eyes as she nodded and sulked out of the room, leaving the two alone.

"You know," Brady began as he sat in a lounge chair facing Celus. "I know why you feel the way you feel, but you could at least try to be nice to her. At least while we're here." Celus glared at him, trying to contain his growl.

"After everything that has happened, I will not go out of my way to be friendly to her if she doesn't deserve it." He snapped, throwing his now empty suitcase across the room.

His family was a touchy subject, and Brady knew that. He just hated seeing everyone suffer.

"Will you let her know I would like to speak with the both of them in ten minutes." He growled, his body rigid from the tension.

"Yes, Alpha." Brady made his way down to the common area of the pack house where he found Luna Jaden and her Alpha mate together in a heated argument. Their words ceased as they watched him walk closer. Her mate, Alpha Williams, glared at him with a pair of intense hazel eyes. His greying brown hair was slicked back, showing a large scar across his forehead that resembled claw marks.

"What can I do for you sweetie?" She gave him a friendly smile.

"Celus would like to talk to the two of you in private." She nodded, still smiling as she stood and dusted off her lap, motioning for her mate to follow. He growled and forced himself up out of his seat, trudging his way towards his office. Brady gave them a confused look, but followed closely behind them.

Alpha Williams mumbled insults under his breath, but they were too quiet for Brady to hear.

Celus was waiting by the door when they arrived. He had a blank expression on his face as he watched Williams throw the door open and stomps over to his chair, throwing himself into it with frustration. Jaden gave them an apologetic look as she took the seat next to them.

Celus growled, not liking how Williams was acting. The two locked eyes and didn't look away until Jaden shoved him slightly, making him break contact.

"Please, sit." She motioned towards the two chairs across the table from them.

Celus was never too fond of Alpha Williams. He was demanding and never did anything he didn't want to do.

"What I'm about to talk to you about is very confidential. It must never leave this room."  He said with a straight face and a rigid tone. Williams rolled his eyes and nodded, wanting this meeting to be over as soon as possible.

"Yeah, whatever. What is it that you want." He snarled, letting out a huff of annoyance. Brady looked over at Celus in disbelief. He had never met such a disrespectful Alpha out of all the meetings he has attended along side him.

Celus gave him a shrug and pretended to ignore Williams' disrespect.

"Jaden, do you remember the book your parents had that contained all information about past Alphas?" She leaned back in her chair and racked her brain.

"I think so. I haven't thought about that book in a long time. How do you know about it?" She looked at Celus expectantly.

"There are many things I know. I had to become an Alpha at a young age, so I wanted to be prepared. I read everything there is to know about Alphas; including old tales. Of course it was mentioned within at least one of those books." Celus was proud of the effort he put into being the best leader for his pack. After everything, he didn't want to let them down.

"What do you need it for?" Williams butted in, not wanting to be cut out of the meeting.

"Does it matter?" Celus boomed, struggling to control his wolf.

"Listen here, pup," he hissed, "you are on my land. I can speak to you however I want to. Now, you will tell me why this book is so important." Williams' eyes were almost completely black, meaning his wolf was now taking control.

Brady readied himself in case either of them attacked. Both men were completely on edge, and starting a fight would get them nowhere.

"I don't have to tell you anything. I came for her, not you." Williams slammed his hand on his desk, causing everyone but Celus to jump.

"How dare you disrespect me. Without my help, you are nothing!" Williams shot out of his chair, lunging towards Celus. With his quick reflexes, Celus threw his chair and took the impact from the Alpha. They fell to the floor with a thud, snarles echoing off the walls. Brady jumped to his feet to help his Alpha as Jaden tugged at her mate's shoulders.

Celus easily overpowered Williams, throwing him across the room. He stood tall, glaring down at the weak Alpha. Williams scrambled to his feet, focusing only on his rage and not the consequences of what he had just done.

Power radiated off Celus as he stood his ground against the angry Alpha. Jaden stood panicked to the side as she watched her mate once again charge her nephew.

Celus side stepped Williams and grabbed his shoulder as he ran past him, throwing him to the ground.

"Enough!" He boomed, causing everyone to freeze. Everyone knew truly how powerful he was. Most Alphas can only control their own pack with their commands. Celus, however, can take control of any wolves that cross him.

"How dare you command me. I am the Alpha." Williams growled.

"Then act like it." Celus hissed, dissolving the tension. "I didn't come here to fight you. I came here for one thing, and I'm not leaving without it." Williams sighed and nodded, knowing there wasn't much he could do.

Williams stood with humiliation radiating off him in waves. "Follow me." He lead them to the far bookshelf where he typed in a code and a door appeared. The walkway lead them to a small room that contained family jewels that have been passed down from generation to generation. There in a glass case sat the old leather book. The word Alpha was scribed on the front cover in cursive, giving it an olden feel.

"All along I thought this was just a book my parents gave me. I thought I was always meant to have it. I now know that it is really meant for you." Jaden pulled out a key from her pocket and unlocked the case, grabbing the book gently in her hands.  "They guarded this book with their life, and now it is yours. This is the last thing I have of my parents, so please take care of it." She handed it to Celus with a weak smile. He nodded and eagerly reached for the book, ready to leave their land.

"Thank you." He grumbled, leading Brady out of the office. Jaden followed right behind them, not wanting to let her nephew go that easily. 

When they got to their room Celus began looking through his things until he found comfortable enough clothes to sleep in. Jaden watched the way he moved with confidence. He looked just like his father. 

"Can I help you?" He said stiffly, not once turning around.

"Do you have to go so soon?" She held her arms close to her chest and leaned against the door frame.

"I have a pack I need to run. There's no need to stay for three days." He was very snippy, just wanting the conversation to be over.

"Well, I just thought maybe we could use this time to catch up. It's been so long, and I'd like to know what's been going on with you." Celus rolled his eyes.

"There's a reason it has been so long." He growled, taking deep breaths to control his wolf.

"Well, I just thought that-" Celus cit her off with a venomous snarl.

"No! I am not staying here to 'get to know' the one woman who abandoned me when I needed her most." His voice deepened as his wolf Rowan began to make himself known.

Celus advances slowly towards Jaden, no longer recognizing the foreign woman that he had once found comfort in a long time ago. 

"I was just a child when you decided you couldn't handle it and left. You just left me there with no parents and no idea how to run a pack."

Fear was etched on Jaden's face as she watched Celus' eyes be replaced by the cold, empty ones of his wolf.

"I was twelve, Jaden. Twelve. So maybe you should get to know that information, because I am done with you." By now they were mere inches apart, and Celus was panting heavily.

"But...I'm family." She squeaked, now almost trembling in fear.

"Not anymore. I have all the family I need, and you are no longer part of it." He shoved her to the side and sprinted down the stairs, shifting into his large wolf as soon as he felt the fresh nighttime air.

Jaden gave Brady a hopeless look, but he ignored it. Brady's family did everything he could to help Celus turn into the man he is today. After his parents died, all their responsibilities landed on his shoulders. Jaden couldn't handle the pressure and decided to move away. She found Williams a year later, never again trying to make contact with the hopeless boy she abandoned back home.

"I can not comfort you, only because I was there to see how broken he was. Within one night they went from one happy family to you being the only thing he had left. Instead of staying to help look after him, you disappeared and took with you the one sliver of hope he had left." Brady spoke calmly, but his words stung just as much to Jaden.

"I was young. After my sister died, I didn't know what to do. Her mate didn't have any siblings, so I knew the Alpha title would pass straight down to Celus. I just couldn't take the pressure of him looking up to me, so I did the first thing I could think of." She was now sobbing and covering her face with her hands, trying to seek comfort within herself.

"I think it would be best if you leave - give Celus some space. We will head back in the morning." She wanted to argue, but knew that she was in no position to. With a short nod, she left in search of her mate.

Brady groaned and threw himself back into his bed, looking over at Celus' things.

When they were younger, the two of them shared a room just like this. After the death of his parents, Celus had terrible nightmares that kept him awake most nights. Brady, only eleven at the time, decided that he would be there for him no matter what time of day.

Brady was in a deep sleep when Celus finally ran off enough of his rage and returned to their room. He had finally gotten control of Rowan, and he knew the best thing for him right now was to try and get some sleep.

As he laid there with his eyes closed, his mind wandered to his beautiful mate. The way she felt in his arms was enough to lull him to sleep.