The Erinyes's Bond (Wolfguise)

Chapter 41-Eska

I sat another stack of pancakes on the plate. Ronnie had brought the girls over while Ramona and Shade spoke with the police. Arthur was with them because the officer wanted to speak to him as well. He'd been nervous but had calmed when I gave my statement.

"Do you think they'll be okay?" Ronnie watched out the window waiting for them to return.

I dropped the remainder of the batter onto the skillet. It sizzled in the sausage grease. "Right now its hard for me to say. We didn't even talk about what happened last night."

She turned back to the counter and picked at her pancake. "Us either. I could feel how upset and angry she was. I tried to get her to open up but couldn't. Their childhood must have been something."

"Its been so long for them. Maybe last night was what they needed to break the cycle. Free the kids from their fate." Something their father said left Shade unsettled. So he hadn't been ready to discuss it.

I'd told him to start where it hurt least. So whatever happened with their father, it must be so much harder to deal with. I wasn't sure how to help him. My relationship with Richard wasn't much better.

The side door opened and Arthur walked in. He didn't look as upset as before. Shade and Ramona on the other hand did. Shade's irritation fizzled through the bond. He strode across the house, purpose in his steps.

When he reached me, he pulled us together. He kept his hands on my hips and rested his head on mine.

"Raymond was at the house. He was still trying to see the kids." He swayed us.

"Do you want me to call Claybake?" I would call Ibrahim in a heartbeat for him. We may be a defense company but Ibrahim had been around a very long time. He wasn't clean. He kept Triple S clean but his time before not so much. He had never elaborated. I didn't want him to.

"No. Your employer is not necessary. The matter is settled. The officer took everyone's statement. Then to appease Raymond, let him say his piece." His grip tightened.

"Fuck his piece. He hurt Gramps, almost Nana and Mom. Fuck he could have hurt Ronnie or the kids!" Ramona turned to their siblings."You three go upstairs. Turn on the TV. I want to have a grownup fight with your brother."

Shade swiveled us, but held fast to my hips. "Arthur go in my room. Close the door. This anger needs to be resolved."

Arthur picked Amelia up from the floor. "Its okay. We're used to this. We know that a fight always starts with us. Best make ourselves disappear."

Shade's grip tensed. I glanced quickly at Ramona. Her temple pulled tight.

I slipped from my mate and reached for the kids. "You know what? This fight is starting because Shade and Ramona love you so very much. They are going to fight because your safety was jeopardized. Its going to end with Raymond. He is the cause of the fight, he is the reason this fight is about to happen. While you will be a topic, you are not the cause or reason. Not you."

"Thank you for telling us." Arthur hugged me. This kids needed open communication. Plain truths. They'd been led to believe they were the problem. There was only one problem. Raymond.

The door to our room clicked closed and I heard the TV start. They turned it down below Shade's normal volume.

"Begin. If things start getting out of hand. Ronnie and I will intervene." Their anger was being held back by ash.

Shade's anger rolled against the bond, unbelievably strong. Ronka chewed on her nails, her serpents still around her. Ramona rolled her shoulders and stood up tall.

"Where the fuck were you? We were waiting on you for dinner. Then that fucker comes strolling into the house. Holding gifts like he's goddamn Santa. You should have been at dinner.

"I can't raise them alone Shade. I can't protect them alone. Not from all the shit he's going to put them through. They deserve better than what we had! Raymond hated us because he had werewolf children outside of a claimed mating. Hates us." Her ferocity bristled.

"I know that. He calls me his chosen bastard. Last night said it but,  in a way that cut." He exhaled.

"What did he say?"

"He called me a chosen bastard of an unclaimed mate. Our father only sees me as a choice he had to make. That I was ultimately unwanted but a choice. A choice he felt coerced into making. One he regretted making. Raymond doesn't view chosen matings as real. So, he reminded me of that, in front of our brother. Raymond finally acknowledged that he does not view me as his child. I am nothing to him. He made sure he said it in front of Arthur. To remind me that he claims Arthur over me."

"Raymond never called me stuff like that. He never even eluded to hating me." Ramona moved towards Ronka. Reaching for her.

Shade hung his head.  "I am his biggest disappointment. There are things you do not know. Things he found out about. Things that, that will change your views of our relationship.  However, now is not the time for that. My trauma does not make yours any less and vice versa. We were both abused Ramona. The pups as well. Raymond has harmed us all. He's done it in different ways, so we cannot compare that to each other.

"Know that that abuse ends today. That is the only thing that matters. The only thing." Shade held out his hand. I moved beside and embraced him.

Ramona relaxed. "You're going to tell me what happened. If Nana and Gramps come home we'll go out tonight."

The heat in the bond relaxed. Shade was relived she was letting the subject drop for now.

Ramona eyed Shade. "What do we  do about the kids? Nana and Gramps don't really need to be watching them. Mom either for that matter. I'm not sure what to do."

"Really that's a decision that Othella and Tobin need in on. Shade said something about eldest relative takes custody?" Seemed like a strange pack law.

"Yes, but the law is partly archaic. We live longer now. " Shade began rubbing my hip.

"Then that means us. I'll fight ya for them." Ramona squared up.

"No. I will not fight you for the pups." Shade growled at his sister.

I leaned forward against the counter. "Stop it. Let the kids decided. They're their own people. Who better to pick their own future, than them."