Alex gingerly took a seat next to Cordelia in her family's living room. He was healing at a much faster rate than a normal human would but it would be a day or two until he fully healed even with transforming. He'd transform again later and that would help, but for now he was definitely feeling tender.
"We caught Chris at his family's house." Charles reported, eying Alex, he knew from experience what a bullet felt like, having been shot in the hind leg by a hunter years ago. Yes, Alex had killed a human, something Charles Chase also had experience with, but he'd done it to defend himself and Cordelia. It was something they could all live with. It didn't mean Charles wasn't concerned, Alex had still taken a human life, there'd be some emotional fallout.
"His mother is in bad shape, she's become a total shut in. Spends all day watching videos of Daryl and doesn't acknowledge Chris anymore. Apparently Daryl was always her favorite anyway." Charles continued.
"So Chris used his big brain to figure out a way to revive Daryl from death. The funeral was closed casket, we were told it was because of Daryl's injuries and the family wasn't comfortable with people seeing them, even covered over with makeup." Alex stated. "Chris must have preserved his body immediately somehow and maybe trapped his soul in the process. I never got any sense that Chris could do Magic, I doubt he even knows it exists. But he's very much a scientist and very intelligent. If anyone could figure it out, it's him."
"He must have done it for his mother's sake." Cordelia offered sadly. "He had to have some idea of how she'd react to Daryl dying. Eric was just in it for the thrill, he was clearly insane."
"I'd have to agreed with that statement." Charles nodded. "Chris confessed to Eric digging up the bodies and dismembering them. There's no evidence that two people were present at the gravesites, so both I and the police believe him. No one needs to know about Daryl being sort of alive. And there isn't much left of him anyway, the chemicals they used to keep him alive where so flammable it just took a spark to ignite them. There also isn't a lot of Eric left, not enough to prove a wolf killed him anyway. Oh I have no doubt forensics could find evidence of an animal attack, but it's going down as he died in the fire. Chris will be prosecuted, but his sentence will include mandatory therapy and once the jury gets a load of his mother's condition there will be a good deal of sympathy. An emotionally neglectful mother who became obsessed with her dead son to the point that she ignored the existence of the other? It's going to be seen as a massive cry for help. Both of them need help, badly. And we're going to make sure they get it." Charles said determinedly.
"There's something else we need to discuss, Alex." Charles said gravely. "You faced down your fear of fire and that's almost unheard of for a Wolfblood. It fact, there's a legend in regards to Wolfbloods that face down their fear of fire."
"There is?" Cordelia asked. "You've never mentioned that before."
"Because it's so rare, it's rarely spoken of. The cerddwyr tan, as it's called in our language. The Firewalker. One who overcomes the instinctive fear we all have of fire."
"I don't think I actually overcame it, just found a fear that was bigger than it. Losing Cordelia, failing to protect her."
"I didn't say you overcame it, I said you faced it down. Fire terrifies all animals at an instinctive level and finding any way to deal with that can be all but impossible. But you found a way and that sets you apart. Some will be in awe of you, others envious. When the time comes for me to step aside as Prime Alpha, you may find yourself challenged, forced to prove yourself even more than you already would have been."
"Because I'm from the wild pack and they have a reputation and because I'm with Cordelia and some might think I got the position handed to me."
"We know you're working for it and will earn it and so do most of our pack. But there are always those who want to tear down others and look for any excuse to. This one act will make some things easier and some things harder for you. But it reinforces my belief in what you're capable of. You used love to motivate yourself to save Cordelia. From fire. Your feelings for her have to be incredibly strong to do that."
"They are." Alex assured Charles, looking him in the eye, normally such an action would be seen as a challenge, not this time. This time it was Alex exposing himself emotionally, showing his inner most feelings and strength for Charles Chase to see. What Charles saw confirmed what he'd already known, Alex loved Cordelia. The way Cordelia was leaning against Alex and holding on to him and boldly meeting her father's gaze as well, said clearly what her feelings were. If Charles disapproved, they'd defy him together.
Fortunately he didn't disapprove, he never had. He smiled approvingly, they both had the strength to lead and support each other. Which was a good thing because they were going to need it.
A/N The legend of the Firewalker, cerddwyr tan, as it's known in the Wolfblood language, a Wolfblood who finds a way to overcome the instinctive fear of fire, is referenced in the Wolfblood wiki.