Dirty Secret

Chapter 2

When the night fell, Louis went back inside and straight into his room. He listened carefully as his father went to his sisters' rooms and said his goodbyes. He made sure to move quietly around his room as he gathered up some warm clothes and things he thought that would be useful in war. His suppressants for example. He was almost done by the time there was a knock on his door.

"Come in," he calls to whoever was on the other side. He was almost certain that it was his father, coming in to tell his goodbyes.

Louis was proven right when Dan came into the room and closed the door behind him. "Hi," Dan says quietly walking to the bed and sitting down next to Louis. He doesn't notice the bag peeking from under the bed, from where Louis had pushed it before he entered.

"Hi," Louis says back, looking down to his fingers. He was calmer now that he knew that his father would be okay, but he was still sad as it was a goodbye after all.

"I know that this is hard for you but I hope that you can understand why I'm doing this," Dan speaks softly, clearly trying to make it easier for the both of them. "It's an honour to be able to fight for what's right and at the same time, I'll be fighting to keep you guys safe. That's my main priority."

Louis looks up to his father, not even bothering to keep the tears away. He had to make it seem like he had accepted the situation, even if the tears were real. "I just don't understand why you were chosen," Louis whispers honestly, his voice raw. "I know that you are a great fighter, but you have a family that needs you. The girls need their father, mum needs her mate and husband and I need you."

"Oh Louis," Dan says frowning as he pulls the boy into a warm hold. Louis curls up against his father, scenting the familiar scent that he wouldn't have a chance to be around after tonight. "There is a chance that I will come back, you know? Our pack is a strong one and if every alpha available is coming to help, we have nothing to worry about. The heads up we got from the Cao pack is our biggest advantage. They rogues don't know that we are aware of them coming. Without the heads up, I wouldn't be this hopeful."

"You think that we could win?" Louis asks quietly, the words quite hard to understand as his face was pressed against his father's chest.

"I would never lie to you Louis," Dan says and Louis believes him. His family would be fine. Their pack had a chance of winning the war and his sisters would have a father around. He would be forgotten in a year or two and everyone would be happy. No one would have to worry about him finding a mate anymore. Lottie and the rest of the girls would find their perfect alphas and Ernie, when he is older, would present as an alpha and bring pride to the family.

Everything will be perfect.

"I love you, dad," Louis whispers quietly, letting the tears fall and hit his father's shirt. He holds onto Dan's shirt tightly and focuses on the feeling of his arms around him.

"I love you too Louis," Dan whispers back and tightens his hold on the boy. A few seconds later Louis feels something wet against is hair. He immediately realises that his father is crying as well.

They sit on Louis' bed for what feels like forever, crying together before all that is left is some puffy eyes and wet cheeks. Dan convinces Louis to come to his parents' room and say good night to his mother before going to bed. He doesn't fight it as he wants to hug his mother one last time before he is gone.

It takes another half an hour for Louis to say his goodnights, as he clings onto his mother longer than would be necessary if he was actually just saying good night. She doesn't say anything, so he assumes that it's because she thinks that he needs some loving considering the situation. She isn't wrong. Before Louis goes back to his room, he goes around his siblings' rooms, making sure that they were all tucked in. He also kisses their foreheads softly and whispers quiet goodbyes.