Page 14

Tyee

“Have you been getting settled in with the Underground?”

I looked up at my uncle Vern as he slapped a playing card on the plastic white table. Seth kept his cards close to his chest, and grinned with his yellow eyes sneering at the play in the center before nodding.

“I’m getting used to the idea of being down here, getting comfortable with my roots.” He said. My oldest brother’s eyes cut slyly towards me before he slapped the card down. “BOAW!”

“Ahh hell,” Hawkins groaned, letting his cards go. “This is why I don’t play with the youngins…Always cheating!”

“How is that cheating, Unc?!” Seth laughed.

I stood by the back door of the house, watching my family sit around the back porch that led to the backyard. This was our father’s home…the home Namir and I grew up in. We lived in one of the largest communities and subdivisions in the Underground, and was one of 6 major packs in the country. Just in the distance, beyond the ba ckyard, the houses belonging to other members were spread throughout the fields outside of Cedar park.

Seth hadn’t been a part of this since he was 16 years old. Our father and the very same uncles sitting out here laughing and kicking it with him were the ones to chase him out because of his mother. A basic black woman that had no business sleeping with our father, let alone having children. Now here he is… Aria, before she was killed, told me she heard Seth was trying to make his way back into this family. That it would cause a shift in loyalty and I could already see it happening here tonight.

I should have listened. I should have seen Namir and Maggie happening in real time. I should have taken Aria more seriously because none of this would be a problem. I wouldn’t have another male, let alone a brother I barely knew come and try and take my place right before my eyes.

Aria tried to warn me.

“What do you think about the school so far?” Hawkins asked.

“What he really means is, have you talked to Namir?” Eugene laughed.

“Yeah,” Seth nodded coolly as he reached to pull his curly hair back from his face. His yellow eyes glanced at me before grabbing a handful of cards to place in his hands. “I talk to him almost every day. He’s enjoying the coach’s life at that school. Pretty teachers, pretty students…what’s not to like about his life?”

“What about the girl?”

“Ahh man,” Seth said with a hard sigh. “I can see why he left the pack…He claims it was for his sister but nah…it was definitely for her. He’s in love with her.”

Everyone became quiet as I adjusted my glasses on my face. My jaw became so tight, I didn't realize I was clenching my teeth together until I could taste the blood.

“So it’s true?” Boyd asked.

“I told y'all she was going to be a problem,” Hawkins warned. “He’s sleeping with her now?”

“It’s all over his face…He’s gone.” Seth laughed. “Personally, I don’t get it. Maybe that’s the human side of me but the moon is nothing but a white rock in the sky. A mere nightlight against the stars. Maze told me something…and I already told Roy but I don’t think he’s taking it seriously. She’s scared of what Namir is turning into with the girl by his side. I even caught a different energy when we spoke about the girl. He’s different…and it’s going to take a lot to deal with him when he realizes his newfound strength.”

I slowly stood up against the door as everyone grew quiet and looked at each other.

“Does our brother know you’re here telling us this?” I questioned .

“Does it matter?” Seth replied without looking at me. “I told Namir as long as he stays out of my way…As long as he and his sister stay out of my way…We won’t have any issues. I’m here for one thing.”

“You want my position,” I said.

Seth placed a card on the table while leaning back in his chair to look at me.

“You said it, not me.” Seth repeated with a chuckle. “The stories I heard about being in a wolfpack…the strength…the power…How you all move as one…think as one. You have each other’s backs and fight without hesitation. You’re protective over the women and children…take care of the sick and elderly… It’s family on a different level but seeing it in person…it’s nothing like I imagined and I’m a little disappointed. Had Namir become pack leader, you all would look alot different…a wolf with the moon beneath him…He gets to fuck the moon night after night and you all were scared of her?” Seth began to laugh. “You should have been afraid of him, especially now that he’s gone. Nobody, not even the First Family could touch Namir…”

Hawkins looked at me with a slight shake of his head, warning me to stay quiet but it was too late. Seth was planting his seeds of doubt in everyone’s head.

“Roy insisted Ty become pack leader because he wanted someone of logic and reason to run the family…” Bo yd said with an attitude. “I wanted Namir. We all wanted Namir–––”

“No you didn’t!” Hawkins snapped. “You wanted the position for your damn self! You didn’t want either of the boys to run it–––”

“I said we were making a mistake when we put Namir out! Roy is so damn hard headed!”

“No, it’s because Roy can control Ty…” Vern said tiredly with a disappointed yawn. “Roy knows he wouldn’t be able to control Namir…he’s too much like himself when he was younger. You can’t really tell him shit. Hard headed, stubborn, does his own thing…figure out the consequences later. Ty follows the rules by the book…”

“What does it matter now? Ty is the rightful leader. He controls the books, the movement, everything is handled through him and doing just fine,” Hawkins stated. “What does it matter to say this now?”

“I don’t think Ty should be in the position he’s in just because he was simply born. As Namir gets stronger with the girl, you’re going to need someone to combat and keep him under control. You and Ty are the reason Namir is with her in the first place, no?”

Hawkin’s face turned red as Seth put another card down on the table.

“In the end, I am the only one that will be able to keep Namir in check when the time comes…and believe me…it’s coming. ”

“Nephew, if you’re going to place your bid in for alpha, you know this means you cannot speak with outsiders anymore…”

“Done,” Seth said.

“Your focus needs to be on this family and you need to prove you can carry the responsibility. Roy may not see it yet but…” Marrock took a swing at his beer bottle. “You have our backing. We stand behind you.”

“Hell yeah,” Eugene said as they slapped hands. Hawkins looked at me with a worried expression but I shook my head, unphased. Instead, he stood up, letting another take his place at the table for a game of cards, and walked over towards me.

“You alright?” Hawkins muttered as a loud eruption of chaotic cackles came from the drunk men at the table.

“I’m fine.”

“I’m not trying to pressure you because I know you have a lot on your plate but…”

He leaned in close, using a technique he learned from Drew Collins. Hawkins whispered only for my ears to where the others couldn’t hear.

“I can smell the murderous intent on his breath…You need to kill him before he does it to you.”

Hawkins pulled back with a raised brow as I nodded.

“No pressure, big alpha. You were chosen for a reason, let it be known why.”

…

“What would you have me do, Roy?” Wilhelmina Holmes asked as she sat behind her desk in her office. “Your family has wreaked havoc on The Grounds, and for what? Werewolves and Vampires have been at war, have fought, have procreated…long before these two started their relationship.”

I cringed at the thought of Maggie and Namir but silently watched my father. He became alpha in times like this when I felt he was cleaning up the mess I made.

“The sirens are on my fucking back and them threatening to leave this school will do more harm than good–––”

“I don’t give a damn about them!” Roy snapped. “Marvin and I maintained a cordial relationship. We weren’t exactly friends but we left one another alone.”

“Yes but I am not my brother. I would much rather have sirens here over werewolves–––”

“My son can lose his job. I don’t care–––”

“Oh he will do more than lose his job. I want all of you removed from the Grounds,” Wilhelmina stated as she leaned back in her chair. Her one grey eye staring at me before shifting back to my father. “Your son was plotting to kill my niece next, did you know that?” Roy looked at me as I lowered my head in submission. “Yes…he needs to be a little more careful where he sticks hi s dick at… the male students love to run their mouths…”

I closed my eyes, feeling every ounce of anger and rage as she just revealed the one thing I worked so hard to keep hidden. I could feel my father’s gaze on me, staring me down with growing hatred.

“Remove them from the Grounds,” Roy agreed.

“No,” Wilhelmina laughed. “I said, your son was plotting to kill my niece. The things I have planned for the future of the Underground require her to be alive until I no longer need her. You fucked with my money when your boys killed the random ass sirens on the Grounds! Do you understand they are their own fucking nomadic economy?! If they leave, this entire Underground is threatened to collapse! Removing them isn’t nearly enough…Having them arrested, having everyone of you hauled off to the the fucking dog pound isn’t nearly enough! I am not my brother! I am far from weak and my tolerance for bullshit is low! I think…it’s only fair that I take a life or two…or three…” My head shot up as I watched Wilhelmina smile. “My nephew is married to your daughter, yes?”

I saw Roy weaken in his stance as his knees buckled at the thought of Maze. I stood up, feeling the hairs on my arm raise at the threat.

“My daughter had nothing to do with any of this––– ”

“No…of course not but I never cared for the union…and I’m okay with sacrificing Draco in the process. There will soon be plenty more of him by the end of next year. Right now…I have two ghouls standing outside of your wife’s home…waiting on my word to come in and attack both–––”

I hadn’t realized I charged at her desk until Roy’s thick arm slammed into my chest to push me back.

“STAND DOWN, TYEE!” He barked.

“Your brother Namir…a beloved coach here…can also die…I know he makes frequent trips above ground. I have people in place that will make it look like a beautiful accident…a random shooting over drugs or what have you… I personally do not care… I can have this reported back to the sirens community so I can make sure they feel safe as they are the largest in numbers in the Underground. The First Family is the most powerful…what would that make you werewolves?” Roy didn’t say anything as he licked his lips and slowly inhaled just to release a low guttural growl in response. “It makes you all expendable. Disposable. Replaceable. Maybe at one point in time you were all deemed a threat but not anymore…”

“What about a human? 100% no mythical, no magic, no creature…just pure human blood…”

Wilhelmina’s eyes twitched .

“In exchange for your wife, daughter and son? Well now that would be interesting, tell me more…”

“I have another son who is half human…”

Wilhelmina’s eyes caught a glint of interest as she slowly sat up in her chair.

“I never knew this about you Roy… So that is where Namir gets it from… Is the mother still living?”

“Yes,” he strained through his teeth. “You can take her. She has two daughters…Young…still under 18 but they are 100% human as well.”

“Is your son close to them?”

“I don’t speak to him…He doesn’t speak to me.”

He was talking about my brother Seth… Aria warned me he was trying to make his way back to the Underground… Maybe this could offset that or so I thought.

“I’ll do it,” I said. Wilhelmina tilted her head to look at me before turning her attention back to Roy.

“You are willing to sacrifice the mother of your first born to protect the children of the second mother.”

“My daughter,” Roy corrected. “This is for her. I missed the chance to protect her the first time. Let her be and my wife be…They have nothing to do with any of this shit. This is my two boys, and their mess… ”

“Do you know where the mother of your first born is currently?”

Roy pulled out his phone and dialed a number on speaker. It ringed a few times before she finally picked up, answering to her own death. Her voice, frail, innocent, and oblivious to anything going on.

“Hello?”

“Are you at the house?” Roy asked. “We need to talk.”

The hardened eyes suddenly swelled with tears that refused to fall. That was a look of a man who still had a connection to this woman which meant he still kept in contact with her after all these years. Wilhelmina motioned for him to hang up as she gathered her things.

“Well let’s make this quick. All will be forgiven and forgotten…I just need you to get me in the door. The rest will be taken care of privately. As long as you don’t say anything, nobody will know you had anything to do with this untimely death.”

Now looking at Seth as he played his cards with our laughing uncles, he cut his yellow gaze towards me and held it. I could see the quiet rage building with hate for me before masking it with a blank gaze .

He knew. Somehow Seth knew we were the reason his family was killed. The questions now are, how did he find out? What was going to be my next move? Do I defend my turf, my family or do I accept my fate?