AMBROSE
Year 2014
(Summer, The U.R.T, Spring Palms)
The Alpha King and his Queen had their cheeks flattened against each other to get a clear view of the tiny phone screen. Although they had hoped desperately for their son to come out of his depression, it was still shocking to see that affectionate smile.
Is this really their youngest and the most worrisome son?
"Did you see the girl?" The Queen lightly caressed his son's cheek, her smile widened to a grin. "Kate, is it? Her name,"
Ambrose gulped down the cold water and sighed. "She didn't come back after that."
The King flashed a 'what the fuck' face that earned him an elbow from his mate. "Did you find out who she is?" The ex-Delta shook his head.
"You wouldn't want me to do that."
The couple exchanged looks to confirm the hidden meaning and the King lowered his voice to ask, "Get a PI. He won't know."
"I can't afford the risk. Not after what happened," explained Ambrose, reminding the two about their son's latest episode, and they fell into pondering silence.
Then, the Queen said in a private decibel, "We should tell him that Mozzo died because of the dark whims."
"I trust Ellis' analysis," exhaled the King.
The Queen frowned in irritation. "I'm not saying that Eliis is wrong."
"Then what are you saying? That we lie to Ray? Haven't we already done that?"
The Queen shot him a warning glare. "That wasn't a lie. It was a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding that made him despise his kind," retorted the King.
"His depression did that!" The Queen faced him. "He didn't just cut himself off from the entire Howling Five Kingdom, he doesn't want to see us too—and we're his family."
The King was forced to face his mate as well. "His wolf killed Mozzo—that's the truth. His wolf is powerful and unpredictable—that's also the truth. But the folks do not hate him—."
"How do you know? You saw how they avoided him." The Queen sought support from Ambrose. "Like plague. Do you know how painful it was to watch? As a mother?"
Ambrose wanted to nod but caught the Alpha King's glare and took another gulp of the cold water to elude questioning. His best friend then turned back to his mate and said, "They are avoiding him because they are afraid."
The Queen leaned in and muttered through gritted teeth. "They are avoiding him because you refused to tell them that Ray's wolf would kill him each time he shifts so he can't use it."
The King threw his hands up in the air. "What good does that do! He'll only be seen as a traitor to the Goddess! I'm saving his pride—we've been through this, cub—."
"A million times—I know!" Her motherly instincts triggered the tears again. "Is his pride more important? Or his life?"
The memory of Ray's almost lifeless body slammed mercilessly back into their minds, and the Alpha King snatched his mate into his embrace. "His life. His life…," he chanted fiercely, angry at himself for almost losing Ray.
Ambrose wasn't present but the Alpha King had updated him on everything, not leaving a single detail out. He knew of humans who would commit the unthinkable—he didn't think a werewolf would do the same. Back then, when he first saw Ray, he thought the dark whims had attacked again.
But the King assured him that the dark whims were dispersed before they could take over an entity. None of the bullies—not even the dead Mozzo—carried the darkness. When they checked Ray, he was clean too.
The only explanation was that Ray's wolf killed it—to protect Ray.
Which means Ray might have inherited the Alpha King's special trait: an explosive healing wolf.
If Ray wasn't a hybrid, he might be able to control the Goddess' special gift like his father.
But, unfortunately for him, he is a hybrid—and the weakest of them all.
Ambrose downed the rest of his cold drink and shook the negative thoughts out of his mind. Resuming a smile of optimism, he said, "I'll do it." When the couple turned to him with curious gazes, he explained, "I'll get her back to the club."
In a sniff, the hybrid Luna regained her fighting spirit. "What can we do?"
"Stay out of the way." Ambrose flashed a grin that said: need you ask? "The prince is super shy and timid as hell—don't give me that look, Alpha Kee, I'm just doing my job looking out for your baby son." His grin softened to a caring one and his tone turned firm. "You guys don't want his condition to get worse, you've got to respect his pace."
The Queen squeezed the hand that was intertwined with hers. "You're right, Ambrose. You're absolutely right."
"But what do you have in mind?" Pursued the Alpha King.
"I think it's time for you two to take your leave." Ambrose stood and ushered the two stubborn nosies to the door.
"Do you think he can try to talk to his brothers and sisters?" asked the Queen on her way out the door.
Ambrose shrugged with the nicest smile he can pull out. "Bye, Rose. I've got a hot date tonight—and I'm already late."
*****
RAY HOOK
Year 2014
(Summer, U.R.T. Crescent Club)
"NO!" The Alpha stood, his chair shoved back in anger. "You can't do that!"
His uncle couldn't be more amused. "Come on, Ray-ster. It's just a girl."
"It's not just any girl—-it's Kate!" His fingers raked through his hair in nail-biting desperation. "I talk to her—I might as just tell her that I'm that fox—no—that puppy she saved. I MIGHT AS WELL TELL HER: I'M THAT MONSTER WHO LEFT HER! I BROKE MY PROMISE! I'M A PATHETIC PIECE OF SHIT!"
The seasoned lover grabbed his shoulders and squeezed them. "Deep breaths, Ray-ster. Follow me." They inhaled… and exhaled. "One more." And they inhaled deeper, then exhaled slower. "Are you calm?"
Ray shook his head. "I really can't do it."
"But you've been searching for her, haven't you? Seven years, Ray-ster, and she's finally within your reach. The dorm isn't far from here." Ignoring the head-shaking leaf, the uncle gave an encouraging slap on the nephew's back and lowered his voice to a serious decibel. "Go to the campus—yes, Ray-ster—go to the fucking campus and train your nerves. It's just like those boring competitions you've prepared for."
"Please, don't make me do it, Uncle Ambrose." Ray pleaded. He looked like he was about to peed his pants.
And Uncle Ambrose pulled his terrified virgin nephew in for a paternal hug. "Don't make me drag you there, kid. You're pathetic enough already."
Three hours later, Ray watched helplessly at the red sports car speeding off, disappearing into the distance. Pulling his hoodie to hide his cheeks, he pressed the face mask to make sure that it was secured around his face, took a deep, deep breath (suddenly thinking of holding his breath to invite death and avoid eternal hate, then changing his mind again) and exhaled, then turned towards the campus entrance.
In another two hours, he would find her chuckling with a guy her age—and, for the second time, experienced jealousy.