The Veterinarian and the Werewolf

Chapter 19

Chapter 19 – Henry

The little family embarked on their journey into the forest, Jessie at the forefront, Henry beside her. Dillon, Joe, and Tom walking in a trio behind. The normal chatter and joyous spirits were absent. Henry knew he wasn't going to like this next part of his healing; he knew that something very bad must have happened for him to have locked his human self away for so long. When grilling the boys for dates and times he had worked out it had spent fifteen years living and roaming as his wolf.

The birds that were singing sounded familiar to Henry, the trees and vegetation held recognition as if they were welcoming him home. It was a peaceful feeling as they walked out into a clearing towards a tree that had his senses reeling. He knew this place, it was familiar, it was comforting, and it drew him in. He walked forward as if on autopilot towards the tree, closer... closer... until his hand reached to touch it, to feel it. As his hand made contact, a wave of emotions flooded his body, excitement, pain, grief, loss, love, joy, and fear. All too much, he fell to his knees as picture after picture ran through his mind like a slide show, running, rescue, survival, injury and then her. The arms of his precious one now surrounded him as his body heaved trying desperately to catch his breath.

"Henry, listen to me. Breath with me. In, out. In, out. That's it, sweetheart."

He struggled, but the more he listened to her voice, the more he felt her pushing her calm into his mind. He began to feel the soil under his feet, hear the birds singing in the trees. Finally, he was able to rock back and sit, pulling his knees forward, up towards his chest, his head resting back against Jessie's shoulder.

"Why Jessie? Why did this all happen? I was so happy, so excited to find you."

He felt her hands reach up and run soothingly through his hair as she said, "I don't know the reason. In fact, there may be no reason except for the wickedness of man. The fear of what they cannot control."

He knew now, he remembered taking his nephew to find her, and when he had returned to the tree to let the others know, bullets had started flying. He had taken off, to protect the last of their family. Another set of arms came around him from his other side, and a rough voice choked up with emotion spoke, "I... I'm sorry Henry," Tom sobbed. "It was my family that did this, it was..."

Henry turned to the distraught young man beside him. That's right, he remembered Tom sharing his story when he was a wolf, but... "No, Tom. You saved me. The wolf and cub that you saved were me and my nephew. If you had not been with your father that day, I would not be alive. You have no reason to be sorry. Boyd has paid for his blood with blood, and your father missed so even though his intent was there, he did not fulfil his desire."

Tom laid his head against Henry's good shoulder and the three sat catching their breath. So where was his family? Where were they buried? He looked up, but all he could see was a grassy meadow surrounded by the trees. His eyes caught a cluster of beautiful wildflowers almost as if someone had tended a garden here by their tree. He looked to Jessie and asked, "Where Jessie? Where did you bury them?"

She looked about, her eyes searching, trying to remember. "I don't know Henry. I am sorry, it was so long ago and it was at night. I was so upset I did most of the work through tears not really thinking about anything other than giving them a proper farewell." Silence followed her statement as Henry tried to reconcile that they were here he just didn't know where.

A tentative voice rose from behind them, as Joe asked, "Jessie, when did this happen?"

Henry looked at Joe, really looked at him. For most, his personality fooled you into thinking he was a young boy 18 or 19, not the 26-year-old that he really was. But at this moment the seriousness on his face had him paying attention. "About fifteen years ago why?"

Taking Dillon's hand he walked over the perfectly manicured garden of flowers, colours of reds, yellows, purples and oranges made a sunset across the six subtle mounds. Softly he said with reverence, "Fifteen years ago I came here. I was upset because I wanted to grow a flower garden and my father insisted, I do something more manly. I stepped into this clearing and found this freshly turned soil. It was as if someone had prepared the perfect garden beds for me. I would sneak here every day and over time I built this sanctuary. Jessie, do you think that this may have actually been Henry's family?"

Henry didn't know what to feel, a mix of gratefulness, and grief overwhelmed him. Jessie stood as Henry began to rise along with Tom. Together they supported him as he walked with them to the beautiful garden of flowers. Here was his family, his father, mother, brother, sister, and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law. His pack. Once more he knelt in the dirt, placing his hand on one of the mounds. Shutting his eyes he pictured his family, their cheeky smiles and excited expressions as he left to get his mate.

"Father, mother, I want to introduce someone to you. I..." A sob broke in his voice as he took her hand. "I found my mate... You would love her so much. Mum, she has your strength, and Dad she has your justice streak. She is going to make a wonderful Luna to our family." Fat tears ran down his face as he held her hand tight. Finally, he breathed in a deep breath and said, "I have run for a long time, but I am home now. I will visit you often, I will bring our children here to visit. I will be the Alpha that you taught me to be."

With those words ringing in his ears, he felt a renewed strength, he also felt his wolf calm within him, a calm that had not been there for a very long time. Standing he looked at the four around him, then to his mate. Smiling he realised he remembered all the visits to this tree, all the special moments when all he could do was hold her. Stepping forward he wrapped her up in his arms and kissed her hard and passionately on the lips. They stayed like that until several coughs and clearing of throats were heard and then Joe's ever petulant voice. "Will you two get a room already?" Jessie and Henry laughed, a free open laugh that was so infectious that the five ended up all in a fit of giggles that did not stop until they reached the back porch of the house.

The rest of the boys went in, but Henry sat looking back towards the forest. So many traumatic things had happened there. But now, sitting here with Jessie, all the good memories surfaced. "Do you think we might go find your nephew, Henry?" Her voice was gentle, but the words were weighty. It had been five years, did he want to go and disrupt the boy's life? He would have his mate now, would be happy and settled with his new pack. The real question that hung in the space between his breastbone was would the boy want to see him?

Knowing that Jessie was waiting for an answer he spoke his fears. "What if he doesn't want to see me, Jess? I mean, I never once showed him my human side, and I have been gone for five years. Do I really want to interrupt the life that he has built there?"

He continued to look out at the forest so when Jessie's hand gripped his chin lightly turning his face to hers, shock filled his body. Her frown held his mouth shut as she said, "Listen to me, Henry. No matter what, that young man is your blood. No matter how long you have been gone he will want to see you. So don't let some silly notion that he won't you stop you from going to him." He wanted to grin like a silly loon, this was his Luna. His strong beautiful mate, and now he knew who she was, all the hours they had spent together there was only one thing left he wanted to do. But she was right, he needed to find his nephew and if his calculations were correct, if they left soon they would get there in time for the mating ceremony.

Her face frowned again, now at his change in demeanour. "What, Henry? What, has you grinning at me like you just won the lottery?"

He would tell her, but he wanted to do it in a special way, "Nothing my love, just you, you are so amazing, and yes love, let's go find my nephew." Her face softened at his words. He lifted his arm, inviting her to snuggle which she graciously took. Snuggling deep into his arms, she felt so right there, just as the goddess had intended. Together they sat until Tom called out that dinner was ready. Henry walked arm in arm with Jessie back into the house, his memories restored and a new task in mind that he needed to talk over with the boys. He just knew they would insist on helping him out and truth be told, he was glad for their assistance.

A/N and Surprise another one :) Hope you are all having a good Day Mwah Selah