Chapter 45: Chapter 17

DAMON

“He’s her dad?” Finn looks at me like I have two heads.

I just look at him. “She slapped him and told him she hoped he was dead.”

Finn’s brows go into his hairline. “Wow. Good for her.”

I knock on Stewart’s door then wait for him to answer. I follow his link and I know he’s here. “Open up, Stewart. I know you’re in there. We need to talk to you.”

“Go away!” he calls through the door.

“We just want to talk to you,” Finn calls out.

“No. And if you command me, I’ll leave the pack for good!”

“Is that really a bad thing?” Finn asks as he leans against the porch column.

I shrug my shoulders. “His choice, but we need answers.” I knock again. “What about your daughter? Is Natalie in danger?”

He pulls the door open. “Natalie is a curse. She shouldn’t be near anyone. She’s the danger.”

I can’t help the growl that escapes. “Are you referring to her powers? Her gifts? She was an innocent pup and you locked her away.”

“What would you know? You’re not the true alpha. You stole the position. Alpha Roberts kept us safe. Now we’re all going to die.”

I step in his face and let an ounce of my power out. “Alpha Roberts kidnapped the luna of the Redd pack. Alpha Roberts broke all of her bonds, forcing her to become rogue. Alpha Roberts took his own son’s mate. Alpha Roberts told his son to force mate Luna Redd. Alpha Roberts coerced with rogues and sent pups to die at the hands of other people.”

I’ve forced him back against the wall and he cowers before me. “His son only cared about himself. I risked my life not because I wanted a title or power, but because I knew this pack would fall apart and have no real leadership. My pack comes first. Now tell me what’s going on?”

Stewart drops to the floor and begins to wail. I pull back my power and take a step back. I look to Finn who just shrugs his shoulders. “Stewart, what are we in danger from?” I let out an ounce of my alpha power just to remind him who he’s talking to.

“You broke the spell. Now she’s going to kill us all.” He holds his head as he shakes it from side to side.

Finn growls with his arms crossed over his chest. He leans against the door frame. “You know, I’m pretty sure she’s only after you or more people would be dead already. I have a mind to find her and bring her right here to your doorstep.”

“No! She needs to be stopped. Alpha Roberts, he placed her under a spell. It’s in the witch’s dungeon with the other spell books.” Finn and I just look at each other and we both know where our next stop is.

“Richard Stewart. You’re a coward and you have no respect for me or my mate. You put yourself above the pack. You cause trouble and you’re a danger to my pack. I banish you from the Ramirez pack.”

I feel his link to the pack float away, but I know the discomfort will take more time. “You have until midnight to be out of my territory.” We don’t bother with Stewart anymore; he’s useless.

“We could torture it out of him,” Finn says as we get back in my jeep.

I shake my head. “I dread the day that becomes necessary. Can you believe what he said about Natalie?”

“Means he knew about her gifts, but she didn’t even know about them. At least she didn’t when Dec found her. Kya pointed out that she’s a healer. Nat had no idea,” Finn fills me in.

“He knew they would come out one day, which means he knows what she is.”

“Do you know what she is?”

I shake my head. “Other than special and my mate, I have no clue.”

“Well, whatever she is, she goes back in a few days. Are you taking her back, or is Dec coming to get her?”

My stomach gets sick at the thought. “Don’t remind me. We haven’t made plans yet.”

“I know it sucks, but you gotta face up. She has to go back at some point. Either you tell her or you’ll have to wait for the Goddess to let her see.”

“I think it’s best to wait for the Goddess. She told me she’s not ready and hasn’t said anything to the contrary.”

Finn shakes his head. “Either way, I’ll protect her. Once she leaves, you know Dec and her family will look after her and help her control her gifts.”

I rub my hand over my stubble. “I uh, I never told Dec that she has powers.”

“What?” Finn gives me an incredulous look.

“I figured it’s not my place, it’s hers. As far as he knows, she’s just a healer.”

“Ballsy move, but I agree. If she wants to say anything, it’s up to her. I respect the guy, but he’s not my alpha anymore. I won’t tell him.”

“Thanks, man.”

B, and my mom are laughing in the kitchen. Finn automatically pulls B against him with a kiss to her cheek. She’s mixing a yellow batter.

“It’s not that bad, we can thin it out,” my mom tells Natalie as she tastes the concoction in the pot. Felix and June are wrangling the pups for dinner.

Natalie’s face turns red and she coughs into the sink. “Or we could just dump it. What happened?”

I’m curious, so I take the spoon from Natalie and give it a taste. The overwhelming heat hits the back of my throat. “I’m guessing you used a huge amount of red chili flakes.”

“Well, it is chili,” Natalie plays with her shirt sleeves and bites her lip as she looks away from everyone.

“It’s actually not that bad, just cut it down with some tomato sauce.” Mom nods and opens a can and adds more red beans to the pot. She adds a little beef bouillon and lets Natalie taste it.

“You’re a magician, Camila. It’s still a little spicy though.”

“Well, it is chili.” We all laugh then wash up for dinner.

Bianca is obsessed with peanut butter and throws a scoop into her chili. “And I thought mine was bad,” Natalie laughs.

B just shrugs. “It’s not my fault Finn’s pup likes weird shit.”

Finn sits up proud. He kisses her forehead then whispers in her ear.

I sneak a peek at Natalie, my desire to be with her growing stronger. Her eyes meet mine and I’m just willing her to make the connection, but it’s not there. Her cheeks color pink then she focuses on her chili, adding extra cheese and sour cream to cut the spice.

Once we’re back at the alpha house, she goes straight to her room with only a “goodnight.” A few more days. I only get a few more days with her. I wish there was a way to keep her here, but I know that’s not a possibility.

I head to my office and pour over the tome for a few hours. Natalie is doing better than I ever imagined and I want to be able to help her as much as possible. I go to bed with a plan for tomorrow.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Finn asks as we pull up to the greenhouse.

I shake my head. “Nope. Not at all.”

“Just don’t get too close to the negative energy and you’ll be fine,” Natalie warns from the back seat.

I let out a breath. “Let’s get this over with.” I open my door and step out. Finn follows behind me with Natalie just ahead of us.

Over a half hour of walking and hardly a word is spoken between the three of us until Natalie stops in her tracks. She holds her hands up and her palms glow yellow. “There’s so much energy. I don’t think I can pull it all in.”

“Let it out on that…maybe in the form of a gust of wind?” I suggest.

Natalie turns toward the tree I pointed out and her light turns pink. She releases the energy and the gust of wind is so strong the tree barely stays upright. She drops her hands to her knees and tries to catch her breath.

I rush to her side to check on her. “Natalie!”

“I’m okay. I’m just tired. It’s safe up to the entrance. I’m not sure about inside, though.”

I look to Finn, not wanting to leave her, but I also don’t want to put him in danger. “Stay with her. I’ll check it out.”

Finn gives me a questioning look. “That’s not a good idea, man. You’re the alpha. If anything happens to you…”

“You’ll become the alpha,” I cut him off.

“Damon…” Finn shakes his head at me. Before we even realize, Natalie is already standing at the entrance.

“Nat, stop. We don’t know what’s down there,” Finn calls out.

“I feel a power that’s like mine. It’s really strong, like… I have nothing to compare it to. I bet it’s even stronger than your full alpha power.”

“You’ve never felt my full power,” I tease her. She rolls her eyes with a shake of the head.

“But seriously. Damon, I can’t take on whatever it is that’s down there.”

“I’ll get out of here, Damon. We can’t do anything right now.”

I nod, and we leave the dungeon having learned nothing but that there is something down there, something very powerful.

I drop Natalie at the pack house. Although he won’t be going, Finn and I have to prepare for the upcoming alpha’s summit. I need to pick an enforcer to accompany me. I was thinking of Spencer, but I’m not as confident anymore.

Geoff has been loyal since I took over, but Dirk has a certain intimidation factor. They’re both excellent fighters. I ask Finn for his opinion, and we agree to bring them both over.