The Discovery
Nate let Isaiah shower in one of the rooms and gave him some clothes, I didn't even beg and plead he just agreed to it as soon as the question was posed.
I was greatly appreciative, I would much rather walk into my home with him clean and tidy for this whole thing.
As soon as we entered my car I sent out a link to my parents and Elisha, knowing that by the time we got to the house they would all be there and ready for the bomb that was about to be dropped.
'S.O.S'
We would only use S.O.S if it were an emergency and we urgently needed to regroup. This was definitely an emergency. I was driving as quickly as I could, Isaiah had given me a few side-eyes but I ignored them, we weren't going that fast.
I didn't really like driving if you haven't noticed. I would always choose someone driving for me over me driving myself. Driving was uncomfortable for me. I was trusting this moving gadget to take me places when it could blow up or go rogue like the robots in the movie i-Robot.
Why would anyone trust a machine after that movie? I would rather get places by running.
Once we arrived at the house, I turned to Isaiah and asked, "Are you ready for this?"
I was both nervous and scared, I didn't have a good feeling about this at all. I don't want to believe Isaiah's story but why would he lie? At the same time though, how would my parents never mention him? Exiled or not, if he is their son there isn't a chance they would cast him out and never look back on him.
He laughed, "I should be asking you that question. I can tell you right now, Nicole and Themba won't be happy to see me."
I couldn't understand what he could've done that was so bad that I would never know of his existence. My parents are so loving and overprotective, they would never reject their own son.
I can't imagine them not batting a lash at their only son being exiled. There must be some mistake.
As soon as my car door shut, my mother was out of the house, "Elijah. What is it? Why did you call for an emergency â"
Her words were long forgotten as soon as Isaiah shut the door, I could see the recognition in her eyes. She knew this wolf. I looked over at him, my heart instantly sinking.
Fear beginning to pitter-patter deep inside me.
"Themba!" She yelled not breaking eye contact with Isaiah.
"What, honey, what is it - Isaiah?" He seemed shocked, "Elijah what are you doing with him?" His tone turned stern.
The fear grew larger when his name left my fathers' lips.
"Why didn't you tell us we had a brother?" I completely ignore his question, throwing him with my own.
"A brother?" Elisha came into view, her voice questioning.
"Hey," She pointed at Isaiah, a few moments ticking past, "I know you, don't I?" Her brows creased.
I looked at her with wide eyes, "You do?"
"Yeah. I think... I think I used to play with him as a pup."
Okay. Don't point fingers at me yet. I have a horrible memory, okay? I mean, I don't even remember what I had for breakfast yesterday. How am I supposed to remember who I played or rather 'disliked' as a child?
"I knew you would." He smiled at her.
He fiddled with the hem of his shirt as he addressed my â our parents, "I'm sorry for coming here. I know I probably shouldn't have come but when Elijah asked me if I wanted to â"
My father didn't let him finish explaining himself,
"Why would you approach her? Why would you even tell her you're her brother? Couldn't you just leave us alone?" My father drawled, obviously exasperated.
"All I wanted to do was protect her, I didn't mean to involve myself in her life. It just happened. After one conversation with her, I couldn't turn back. I did try to stay away but... She's my sister. I have a right to speak to her. To see her, to be in her life." His voice was rising, "You can keep me off this land but you can't keep me from my family!"
"Why, why did you leave?" Elisha asked.
His eyes lowered, "I had to. I was exiled. I was framed."
My father was furious, "Oh, that's a load of rubbish! You weren't framed, you're a filthy murderous piec â"
"Pa! He's your son." I couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth.
My fear was at its peak.
"I told you, Isaiah." Our father began, "I told you those boys were dangerous. I told you, you were hanging around the wrong crowd. Those Russo's are no good."
My heart hammered, the Russo's?
"The Russo's?" I looked at Isaiah, "What do they have to do with all of this?"
"Isaiah always ran off into No Man's Land with those boys. Doing goddess knows what." My father said bitterly, "Probably practising on springboks."
Practising? Practising what?
Isaiah sighed shaking his head, "We would just play, that's all we did," It was clear he knew what our father meant with his last sentence,
"We all thought Nate's powers were cool so he would do whatever we asked. One day he did something and a tree fell, unfortunately, it fell right into this land and crushed a member. We thought we could save him..."
Memory in Isaiah's point of view.
"Nathaniel! What have you done?"
"What have I done? You all asked me to do something different. All I did was give you what you wanted! Now, now a man's injured."
He paced, hands running through his curls.
Pointing at the bark Alex said, "It fell into the North Park's territory. He must be a part of their Pack."
Abel'a voice wasn't above a whisper, "We have to help him."
"Help him? Hell no. He's going to tell the Alpha. Then the Alpha will tell Dad and we'll get into trouble! Nathan will get away scot-free." Axel sneered, "We need to kill him. To protect ourselves."
Our eyes widened, "Kill him?" We all repeated.
"Yes." Axel nodded, "C'mon, we've got to be quick."
I had to try reason with him, "Axel, there must be another way. I'm sure if I just explain to my Alpha what happened he'll let it go. We just need to help the man first."
"No!" Axel yelled, "He needs to die. You just want us to get into trouble. Once we free the man, you'll both go to your Alpha and get the rest of us into trouble."
"No, I won't," I argued.
"Let's just kill him." Alex walked to the struggling wolf. He couldn't get the tree off him. Obviously, it was crushing his spine because he was barely moving.
The body began to speak, "Please help me. I think I'm losing feeling in my body."
"Nobody cares," Alex said.
"Excuse â" His voice came out hopeful when he realised someone was approaching but Axel snapped his neck instead. It was quick and swift.
"That was so fun." Axel laughed.
"What the heck, I thought we were going to do it together," Alex whined.
I stole a glance at Abel and then Nathan and they were just as traumatised as I was. I couldn't believe Axel enjoyed killing someone. I couldn't believe Alex wanted to join in. They killed my fellow Packmate.
Peter.
That was his name. He hadn't found his mate yet. Thank goodness, she'll be spared the heartache of feeling the death of your mate.
I walked towards the body and lifted the tree, it made a crashing noise as I threw it aside. That must have been the signal.
The signal for the Russo's to leave and for the patrol team to find me. Right beside a dead body.
"I was ten! I had no desire to be killing wolves. Obviously, Alex and Axel had different thinking patterns than your average twelve and fourteen-year-old. I wasn't like them, I'm not like them. I didn't do it." He let out a shaky breath, his emotions had been wavering throughout the story.
I didn't know what to do, I believed him. I barely knew him but I sure as heck believed him. Mainly because Axel seemed like the kind of wolf to just kill someone and think it's enjoyable. Even at fourteen.
This must be why my parents have such great hatred for the Russo's. Also, why Isaiah didn't want me near them. He probably didn't want me falling into the same fate he did. Even with this discovery, I knew I couldn't back away from that family even if I wanted to and that's what had my body filled with fear.
I would be faced with the same fate as my brother the moment my parents find out that I am the mate of Alexander Russo.