Lux Black
I wish I was a wolf.
I ended up feeling guilty every time I thought that, but as I watched Nat bound through the forest at my side I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. My brothers were all wolves, a few of my sisters too. And then there was me, stuck as a hybrid. The odd one out. I knew both my older sister Sarah and younger sister Cyra were also stuck in human form unable to phase into a wolf or use that gene hidden deep in our DNA but there was something about being the only son of the legendary Jacob Black that wasn't a wolf that hit me hard.
I loved my hybrid cousins and siblings but there was a part of me, a much bigger part of me that loved being around the wolves. The pack was where I belonged, I just wasn't a part of it and never could be fully.
Nat's head nudged me slightly causing me to shake myself out of my thoughts, I followed her lead and cut a left through the trees. I didn't realise where she was taking me at first until I felt the ripple of her phasing to her human form and a very naked Natalia pushed me into a tree with a playful laugh. My arms instinctively wrapped around her, one because I simply wanted to touch her but also, I was petrified someone was going to see her completely naked.
"no one will see" she murmured her lips kissing my collar bone and she went onto her tip toes to kiss my neck. She was tall but not quite as tall as me, I had a few cm on her still.
I span her around so her body was the one against the tree and I stepped as close as I physically could to her to make sure that statement would stay true. Like this, someone would only see the sides of her body.
"Kiss me Lux" she taunted reaching up again summoning me to her.
I was powerless to resist, not only was she my imprinter but I was also a teenage boy. I wondered if the hormones would level out eventually but at the same time, I hoped they wouldn't.
I wasn't sure how long we made out against the tree but I wasn't quite willing to do anything more out in the open, just in case.
I was glad of that thought when I heard a wolf-y huff behind us. I broke the kiss and turned my body, so it was still covering the front of Nat's. I saw a very familiar huge grey, white wolf grinning at us.
My sister. Chartelle. The largest wolf ever to exist, other than our father of course. The true born alpha many called her in the tribe. She had been the most successful and well loved of the children my father had gave his title too. Except of course the famous Amirah Cullen. But she was only as loved as she was because she was the daughter of the wolf standing before me and had been born to unite every shapeshifter alive under one pack. There was a flash and suddenly a fully clothed Chartelle stood before us.
"How?" I asked in shock. I'd seen my sister in wolf form thousands of times before. I'd also seen her in human form, but I'd never witnessed her phase.
"she's a show off" Nat murmured playfully. I didn't react to my girlfriends' words and waited for my sister to explain. Chartelle grinned at Nat behind me as if she heard it anyway.
"Having a powerful daughter has its perks. She gave me this" Chartelle said grasping a necklace on a long chain hidden under her clothes I'd never noticed before. "It's spelled to protect my modesty" she added with a shrug.
"And you let your entire pack go without one?" I asked with a frown.
"They're not exactly easy to come by. Mia created the spell herself. I can't exactly hitch a ride to the remote mountains of Canada every time a new wolf phases, can I? she's made a few extra but they have been handed to our siblings. She said she'll make more when she can." Chartelle explained.
"I didn't mean to question you" I said realising I'd basically bad mouthed her daughter for assuming she wouldn't give them to her old pack.
"Don't worry Lux" she grinned and rested her hand on my shoulder. Her eyes fell on Nat behind me.
"I'm fairly sure you were meant to be running the southern patrol, not making out with my little brother against a tree" she said with a glare I knew all too well.
"Sorry boss" she said behind me, but her hand reached up to rest on my lower back.
"It was my fault." I covered for her. Chartelle turned to look at me and grinned again.
"Sweet brother. I am old remember. I've raised and taught hundred of wolves over my lifetime now, there isn't much that I don't know" she said with a wink. "don't worry, I won't bust her ass like I would the others. She's family after all" she said stepping back away from us. "Get back to your job Nat, ill see you later Lux" she said as she phased back into her giant wolf and bounded off into the forest. She was gone in a blink, so much faster than I was used to with Nat.
I felt Nat take a deep breath from behind me.
"Your sister scares me" she sighed as she leant into me.
"Why?" I asked as I turned around to face her.
"Because she's kind of wonderful and untouchably powerful at the same time" she explained and I wrapped my arms around her for a moment.
"Like she said, you're family. You get a free pass being her sister-in-law" I joked as I kissed her nose. She tensed at the word. "You know what I mean" I retracted instantly not wanting her to get the wrong idea, but that's what an imprint was. It may as well be a marriage promise. It wasn't like either of us were going to want anyone else for the rest of our lives.
"I still need to respect her. Our connection doesn't matter" she explained.
"And that's why you're a great pack member" I said kissing her cheek but pulling away. "Better do as you're told though" I said giving her space to phase back into her wolf form.
"Why did she say see you later?" she asked stepping away from the tree.
"she's coming over for dinner, something about Amirah and my parents. I don't know." I shrugged. She muttered an 'oh' in response and suddenly my beautiful girlfriend was the familiar dark grey black wolf I loved in equal amounts.
She gave me a soft nudge and I ran my fingers through her fur. Her eyes closed at the contact, and I leant forward to place a light kiss on the bridge of her nose, her eyes flickered open to lock with mine and I didn't need telepathy or projection to know she was saying I love you.
"I love you too. Always." I reminded her and we turned to run the rest of her patrol together.
Parting with Nat caused an ache in my chest I couldn't describe. It didn't matter if it was for ten minutes or ten hours. That ache was a missing piece of me.
I stepped inside my house to see bodies rushing from the lobby to the kitchen area and back again.
"what's going on?" I asked catching Jaselle who was running through the house.
"My parents are staying in Chicago for the week. Eddie and Jacob too. So it's just Auntie Chloe and Aunt Nessie taking care of all nine kids. We may or may not be making their life hell for fun" she grinned widely. I scowled at my troublemaking cousin and turned to look at a flustered looking, very pregnant Chloe enter the lobby.
"Lux! Where have you been?" she asked.
"On patrol with Nat. Mom knows I go every Thursday. What's going on? Why is my dad in Chicago, he never goes to Chicago." I asked.
"He's not. He's on some guild business for Zac and Leah." She explained as she leant on the pillar of the staircase.
"Are you okay?" I asked her, concerned with how pregnant she looked. She had about a month left.
"I'm great" she grinned. "Jas, you're supposed to be helping Nessie with the dinner" she turned to Jaselle, but she scoffed when she realised Jas was now gone.
"I'll go help mom" I said heading towards the kitchen. I entered to see both Ivara and Emelina in there with my mom. They were arguing over who got to do the mixing in the bowl. My mom was staring at them, her hair in a messy bun, her apron all askew trying to assure them they would both get a turn.
"momma" I said, and she turned to face me. "what's going on? why are Chanti and Zio staying in Chicago, they've never done that. Why is Eddie staying there too?" I asked and she sighed, looking at the girls still arguing and shook her head at me, as if to say. I can't tell you now.
"Girls! Stop. Now." She ordered them and snatched the bowl off them. "Go and set the table, please" she said and Ivara pushed Emelina off the stool. It was only a foot off the ground but for my dramatic cousin it was enough to make her wail.
"Ivara!" My mother shouted as I reached to lift Emelina up.
"It wasn't that bad Emmy" I told her as I stood her on her feet. She was nearly nine physically, much bigger than my five-year-old sister, even if mentally they acted the same age.
"Please don't push your cousin Ivara" my mom scolded my sister but didn't say much more.
"table" I reminded them both and pointed to the door that connected the kitchen to the dining area. They both scurried off and I turned to my mom. I held my hand out to her, insinuating she could project to me what was going on, so the little ones didn't hear. She sighed but nodded, making the decision I deserved to know.
Esther and Masen ran into Sulpicia, Aro's wife, whilst searching for someone that had the same power as Thea. They also ran into a powerful coven of witches and pissed them off. They came back to Chicago an hour ago. Zio had to face his birth father's wife and consider a threat on the family all in the same breath. Zio, Chanti and Eddie are staying in Chicago for a few days to settle Sulpicia and the new Nephilim and also to ensure that the crazy coven of witches are in fact not on their way to take back what they think they're owed.
"Right. Got it." I mumbled as my mom dropped her hand. "And dad?" I asked.
"he'll be back in an hour or so. He's doing something for Zac. That's not connected to the Volturi drama" she said. It wasn't unusual for my dad to do these trips. Sometimes it was just to help out an outpost of wolves in the next state. Sometimes it was to deliver a message or pick something up. It was often something too important for my brother Zac to trust with anyone else other than someone like my dad. He also did diplomatic missions to the wolf outposts. Even though it was my brother Zac and his wife Leah that they saw as gods, a vast majority of them, especially the Quileute's amongst them also worshipped my father. He was the chief after all.
I had barely registered what my mother had said when there was the all familiar feeling of a witch entering the room through teleportation.
"Take me back!" Masen screamed and I turned to see him and Levi Riley standing in the kitchen.
"Sorry kid, your fathers' orders" he said and suddenly he was gone. Masen groaned loudly and he pivoted as if he was looking for something to let his anger out on.
"Let's go in the garden" I said immediately recognising the frustration on my best friend's face. I tucked my arm around his shoulders and led him to the back door and practically pushed him out.
"Let it out Mase" I encouraged him, and I was surprised when he didn't yell and try to hit something. He just looked at me, completely and utterly defeated. "What the hell happened?" I asked.
He ignored me and began walking down the garden to where the stone stairs led down to our private beach were hidden in the cliff edge. I followed him silently until he curled up on the sand and hugged his legs into his chest.
"I think I fucked up" he mumbled as I sat down next to him. My hybrid hearing heard someone descending the stairs and both of us turned to look as Az came down to meet us. We both relaxed as our friend came over to sit on the other side of Masen.
"I saw you both leave the back door. You didn't look too happy Mase" he said as he copied our sitting positions next to us.
"I rejected Athena and it backfired on me." He explained.
"so, this isn't about the maybe threat to the family and the fact your creepy ancient grandma has appeared from nowhere?" I asked him. I saw him fight a smirk.
"No, my dad will deal with that shit. I'm more worried about how I'm going to lose the love of my life to a damn angel boy." He huffed out.
"Angel boy?" Az asked with a frown.
"The Nephilim. They're part angel. Extremely diluted part angel of course. They're incredibly rare. Athena's mother Alena is part Nephilim, which makes Thea, part-part Nephilim. Masen and Athena were in Italy to find another like her…" I explained quickly to Az before turning back to Masen. "So, he's not a kid then?" I asked realising that before Masen left, he was talking about it like they were going to find a child.
"No, Esther only called him a boy because everyone is a child to her." He said with an eye roll clearly feeling stupid for thinking just because Esther said 'boy' that he would be a child.
"Rooky mistake in hindsight" I agreed.
"he's a seven-year-old hybrid. So yes, he is a child by human standards but he's very much a grown ass man by supernatural standards" he said but there was a level of distaste in his voice.
"So, what happened, did he make a move on your girl?" Az asked.
"Not really but she was enamoured by him. Giving him tours and wanting to stand with him when he faced my dad at court. She never left his side the whole time. She even fought for him when my father mentioned he couldn't stay in the mansion."
"Why can't he stay? I thought that was the idea." I frowned.
"It's complicated. He doesn't want Sulpicia under the Volturi roof. Its not that he hates her or anything, quite the contrary, I think my father is rather indifferent to her. But he knows what kind of message that sends if he offers her a place. He offered Aurelio a home but not his mother. It got complicated." Masen said but trailed off. "Anyway. This was all after I rejected Athena whilst we were in Italy." He added as he slumped his chin into his knees.
"You rejected her? I thought she was all you ever wanted" Az commented.
"She was, she is!" he argued. "But I've always tried to do the right thing. You both know why were not together. Its more important now than ever that she focuses on her power and not on me. But she came to my room whilst we were there. She wanted us to…" he said before trailing off. "She was so tempting… but I knew it wasn't right. Not yet. So, I told her no and she was hurt by it." he explained.
"I wish I had that strength." Az muttered but I wasn't sure he knew I'd heard it. I'd heard a lot of things the past few weeks. He looked up at me and dipped nervously from my gaze.
"It doesn't bother me you're screwing my sister Az. If anything, I'm glad for you. I just don't want to hear about it yeah?" I asked. I tried to reassure him; I knew he was nervous around my dad. That much was obvious, but I was glad he stayed mostly the same around me, even if he was avoiding the topic of him and Cyra as much as he could.
"absolutely" he said with a firm nod.
"don't think ever anything's changed between us. You'll always be my best friend." I said reaching behind Masen's back to clasp my hand on Az's shoulder briefly. He let out a genuine smile at my words. "Maybe one day you'll be my brother" I winked. "Or cousin. I'm ok with either"
"we'll see" he said letting out a nervous laugh and turning back to Masen. "Athena is just hurt. She'll get over it."
"There is no way that girl jumps ship to angel territory when she has the next king of the supernatural pining after her" I agreed, and Masen sighed deeply at my words.
"I didn't tell you the worst part" he said, and I eyed Az across our friend in the middle. How could this get worse?
"She told me that we're soulmates and I was the love of her life. She said she had found out we were officially mates." He sighed.
"that's not exactly a surprise bro" I said with a shrug. Anyone with eyes knew that.
"It was never spoken though. Micah Cullen confirmed it. She's my romantic soulmate. She told me that and then I rejected her." He explained looking between us both. There was actual torment in the eyes of my cousin. "I told her I loved her more than anything else in the world. I told her she was all I ever wanted or could think about and then I told her no. I told her she wasn't ready. Even when she begged me, even when she told me she was ready, I took that decision from her. I told her no and she hates me now" he continued before he paused. I didn't know what to say to my broken friend. He had seemed to cause his own heartbreak. "I never kissed her. In all the times I almost did, in all the times I wanted to, I never did. What if… What if they become a thing whilst I was too stubborn to make the next move?" he asked.
"So, what if they do?" I asked. "You did the right thing. You know you did. Your love, especially at the start will consume you both. We've had this chat a thousand times, every time you came home on a Sunday night pining for your girl. Every time you lay on my bed staring at the ceiling as you told me how your day went during training with her. She will be your wife. Just right now you both need to focus on yourselves." I reminded him for the thousandth time.
"But what if focusing on herself leads to his arms?" he asked.
"Then that's something you're gunna have to face" Az answered this time. "I can't imagine the pain or frustration you're going to feel, but if it happens, just know that whatever she has with the angel boy is going to be nothing compared to what she will have with you one day. He's a distraction, a new toy. From what I've learnt about girls, she'll probably get with him just to anger you and make you jealous. But its not going to matter, first kisses don't matter. Only lasts do. You will be her last kiss and her last boyfriend. You will be her forever, that's all that matters." Az explained.
"When did you get so wise about girls?" I asked in shock.
"Cyra has me reading some of her books. They're actually really damn insightful." He shrugged.
"Her and Alicia's romance books?" I asked with a laugh. It got a smile out of Masen too. The pair of them were obsessed with fantasy romance. They spent hours talking about their 'book boyfriends' and how perfect they were.
"In the words of Cyra: men written by women are the best role models for boys" he grinned. "I haven't really been wanting to be around people recently. So, I've been reading a lot. I take notes"
That had me and Masen almost rolling on the sand trying to contain our laughs.
"Thanks man, I needed that" Masen said with a grin to our friend.
"You both may think I'm joking but there's a reason girls go nuts for those books" he said with raised eyebrows. "Plus, Cyra seems to love that I read what she loves. She actually gets hot for it"
"My sister Az. Sister" I reminded him.
"sorry" he said sheepishly right as I heard my mom calling from up the cliff.
"We better go" I said standing and Masen doing the same.
"Dinner must be ready." I said as the three of us began walking back up the stone stairway to the back yard of our house.
"Hey, um, just wanted to say, thanks" Masen said catching our attention before entering the house.
"Anytime bro. It will work out." I said giving him a quick side hug before we entered a full dining room full of kids and a busy looking Nessie and Chloe.
It was just in time for the door to slam and Chartelle to walk over grinning.
"Hey sweetheart!" Nessie turned to smile widely at her daughter. The pair hugged quickly and Chartelle's grin didn't drop. "what's going on?" she asked her, already knowing something was up.
"where's dad?" she asked scanning the table as the kids took their seats at the long table to eat.
"he'll be back in a few hours." Our mom informed her. Chartelle looked visibly annoyed.
"Okay I guess it will have to wait" she said and came to take her seat too.
"Where is Ryan?" my mother asked as she began serving the food. Ryan was my brother in law, Chartelle's husband. Even he was a wolf at some point.
"Can't say." She said as she immediately began eating. My mom gave her a small playful scowl as she continued to serve the food and we all started to eat. Chloe sat on the end with Rowan at her side as she watched us all eating.
"Do you ever miss eating Auntie Chloe?" I asked her as the entire table began shovelling the delicious food my mom made.
"I miss chocolate. But other than that, no not really" she answered with a smile.
"What happens if you ate it as a vampire?" Rowan asked curiously. I wondered how much they'd told him, but I suppose it was hard to hide the fact Rowans new parents were supernatural from him. Az knew it all of course, but I was surprised to hear the word vampire out of Rowan's mouth. Even though the boy spent weekends here playing with my sister Ivara, he only knew we were different, he didn't have a name for it before now.
"Nothing, it goes into my tummy and then I have to puke it back out because my body can't digest it" she explained and made a silly face at the word puke. It made little Rowan laugh.
"What does digest mean?" he asked her as he continued to eat as he listened.
"It's what your body does to food, it breaks it down, some of it goes to your blood and muscles to give you energy and help you grow and keep you strong, and the rest turns into poop" she said simply and pulled a disgusting face at the last word, he laughed again. I turned to look at Az curiously. He wasn't watching them; he had his head down moving his food around his plate and taking small bites. I knew he was listening, most of the room was even if some were having their own conversations.
"So, you don't poop?" he asked with a shocked look.
"nope" Chloe laughed, and Rowan didn't say another word until his entire plate was empty. He turned to Nessie and asked for more.
"Rowan" Az scolded. "That's not polite"
"It's okay" My mom grinned and came down the table with the pot to give him more. I knew the term 'seconds' or 'more' was not in Az or Rowans vocabulary before they moved here. Living in near poverty meant that both Az and Rowan grew up on bare minimum. Mostly because their mother couldn't be bothered giving them more food than was necessary to keep them alive, but I knew it was a foreign concept to both of them. It was clear Rowan had fully assimilated into his life with my aunt and uncle. I wouldn't be surprised if in a few years he didn't remember his previous life at all. Azriel would though. He'd remember it for both of them and carry enough of the trauma for both of them too.
I caught the stare of my sister across the table. Cyra knew what I was thinking, even without using her ability on me. Her gaze moved to Azriel at my side, but he didn't look up at her or acknowledge anything after my mother had said it was okay for Rowan to ask for more.
I knew my best friend was hurting, hell both of them were now. I eyed Masen playing with his food too, not wanting to eat with his broken heart.
I'd never felt the pain that either of them were feeling right now. I'd never lost my mother and I'd never had a broken heart.
I just wished I knew how to help both of them.
I promise you will get Zio's full reaction to Sulpicia and the Volturi situation next chapter. I just wanted to focus on some of the relationships with our main five. Plus Lux is a big sweetheart and I love writing him.