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"A church?"

Bran closed the doors and walked to the front of the large room. I followed him past the front stage and to a side door. There was an abundance of various instruments ranging from a cello to a dizi.

"Whoa," I whispered as I trailed my fingers over an electric guitar. I moved on to an oboe after. Bran let me wander around for a while and get mesmerized by the music.

"You can play these anytime you want," Bran said as I inspected a flute case.

"Where did they come from?"

"People come from all over for help from me and they sometimes bring things like instruments. They leave them here occasionally."

I picked up the guitar and strummed the chords carelessly. Bran motioned for me to follow him and walked back to the stage.

"Play something," he said as he sat in the front row. I plugged in the guitar and sat down. I narrowed my choices to three songs.

"Stairway, Prayer, or Heaven?"

"Heaven," Bran replied after a moment of thought.

I strummed out the beginning melody to Heaven is a place on Earth by BelindaCarlisle. It was a tad slow but catchy and rhythmic. My voice came out lighter than with other songs to accommodate the tune. It dragged on a bit longer but was beautiful.

When I finished my chest was heaving to the beat and my body felt calm. Bran noticed the peaceful state I had slipped into and grinned.

"Why that song?"

I smiled at him and set the guitar down. "It was Heaven is a place on Earth, I thought considering the place we are in it would be appropriate."

He leaned back on his bench and rested his arms along the back. His posture was relaxed and open but still calculating. You could see the gears behind his eyes spinning so fast that they may never stop. Bran always had some thoughts going on, some secret underlay for everything.

"What was stairway and prayer?"

I hopped down the stage and looked around. "Like a prayer and Stairway to Heaven," I answered as my hand ran along the top of the bench he was on. I kept my head lowered as I walked around as a respectful gesture towards Bran. Having your head above a dominant wolf caused them to be angry and the antagonizer to be uncomfortable. Lowering your head acknowledged their superiority and permitted you to be up and about while they sat.

"My son, Samuel, listens to music like yours."

I spun like a ballerina down the space between the benches. "Good to know one of you Cornicks knows newer music. I was worried you all were stuck in the olden days."

Bran grinned and stood. I kept skipping and twirling around the open areas of the church. It was nice to play here and just float around like a butterfly. A small beeping came from Bran and stopped my childish fun.

He pulled out a phone and answered it. "Marc," he greeted.

"Marrok," a deep voice boomed from the phone, "one of my pack has decided to kill his neighbor and try to pin it on another pack member. The police are hot on our asses and, frankly, I've got no way to cover it up. Mind if I have that boy of yours come out and help?"

"I can have Charles there tonight," he replied and tucked the phone back in his pocket.

"What's up?" I asked curiously and leaped over a bench in front of him.

"Charles has to go do his job. Anna won't be too happy," he sighed.

I tilted my head in confusion. "Why doesn't she go with him?"

He shook his head. "Charles' job is rough and Anna being there worried him. She also had a few nightmares from seeing him having to take care of wolves that were out of line."

I did a cartwheel then a backflip down the aisle. "Nailed it," I whispered. I looked back to Bran who was watching me with a smile. "I'll watch over her; keep her distracted."

He thought about it a moment and nodded. "Thank you, Athena. That will be one less thing I need to worry about."

"I've got your back, big M," I laughed.

He looked at me slightly confused. "Big M?"

I shrugged, "it sounded better in my head. You know 'M' for Marrok and 'big' for boss or something. I saw humans do it on the television a few times."

Bran shook his head and motioned with a wave of his hand for me to follow. We left the church and drove out to Charles and Anna's place. Charles was out on a spiritual cleansing of some sort. Anna tried to briefly explain it to me. She said that Charles' grandfather—his mother's father—was a shaman in his tribe and taught Charles all the magic he knows. There was pride and pure adoration in her eyes as she rambled on about her mate.

"If you asked, I'm sure Charles would teach you some about his culture," she said happily.

I liked the idea of learning. "I might just do that." The sound of the front door creaking open and Charles' scent blowing towards us drew our attention.

"Da. Athena," he greeted.

Bran stood and immediately got to the problem at hand. "I need you to go help a pack clean up a mess with their police force. A pack member tried to pin a murder on someone and their Alpha requested your help." He cast a quick glance at Anna. "We can't afford the bad press, Charles."

He nodded and pulled his waist length black hair into a ponytail. Anna surged up from the couch and tried to look okay.

"But he just got back," she exclaimed.

I sighed and got up next to her. "Anna, let Charles go take care of some stupid werewolves and I'll stay here with you, okay?" She nodded and I looked towards Charles. "I can take care of her," I told him confidently.

Charles looked unsure. "Maybe it would be better if Anna stayed with Da or another wolf."

I snorted and placed my hands on my hips a tad bit sassily. "I'll have you know, mister big bad wolf, that I have proudly defended and fought for great European countries since the seventeenth century. Plus, I've got mama wolf instinct coursing through me like fresh drugs. Quite the power boost, if I'm being honest."

Bran gripped his son's shoulder and grinned. "Let Athena help. I believe that anyone—highly dominant or not—trying to mess with Anna will have a tough time with her watching."

"It's not like I'm helpless," Anna grumbled.

I patted the top of her head patronizingly. "Of course not, darling. Let the elders talk now." She glared at me and I laughed. "Kidding. Charles is hardly an elder. 200 years old is like the new 10 years old. Bran and I are the grandparents that should be bickering about the olden days and arthritis."

Anna chuckled whilst Charles growled and mumbled a few words about me being a pain. Bran waited for us to calm down before continuing. "You have to leave tonight, Charles."

Anna was evidently pained by the news. She went to her mate with sorrow and hugged him. It hurt to see, smell, and feel the sadness overtaking her. I went back by Bran's side and watched with a small smile. Mates were such a beautiful treasure. I personally ensured to never take a mate while I was free. The pain of losing family and friends throughout the years discouraged the thought of ever having one. The events of the last near century only solidified my choice. I was not worthy of having a mate.

"Let's give them some space," I said to Bran and left the home. He followed me shortly after and we waited on the hood of his truck.

"I can give you more rest at night so you do not go killing everyone," Bran said.

"Thanks." We sat in comfortable silence until Charles came out with a large bag and Anna waited at the threshold of her home.

Charles stopped in front of me and handed me a phone. "Same as before. If I call, you answer right away. Look out for Anna." We all heard her grumbles but ignored them.

"I will, Charles, you have my word." I placed my hand over my chest and bowed to him quickly. The older the wolf, the more they took giving their word seriously. I would never go back on what I promise someone no matter the cost. My honor would not allow it.

He nodded and got into his truck. Anna waved goodbye and blew him a kiss as he pulled out of the drive.