Now In Command

Here

"Mom? What are you doing here?"

Robino, Evan and I ran up to my room as quickly as possible to finish talking when I found my mother in my room.

"Just was cleaning up for you. Your room is a little messy."

"I can clean up after myself." I said through clenched teeth.

"Evan and I will just step outside for a sec." Robino excused himself awkwardly. Evan gave me a kind smile before following behind him out my room.

"Why are you upset? If any one should be upset it should be me."

"You have yet to introduce me to your mate."

"Have you earned that right?" I asked.

"Well as your mother..."

"As my mother?" I interrupted. "When was that? When you didn't visit me in the castle on my birthday? Or spent holidays with me? Or when you didn't come to my graduation because of a sale? Or when I was crowned Third in Command and you didn't attend because of something at school for Thomas and Amanda?"

"Gary, you made it pretty clear that you didn't want me there." She said sadly.

"How?" She took a small step closer to me.

"When you moved out."

"I didn't move out to abandon you or for you to abandon me and you know that."

"How could I know that?"

"I never said I didn't want to see you again."

"But you acted like you didn't need me!" She finally yelled. "You were growing up so fast! Nothing I did was good enough for you. You convinced yourself you had the weight on your shoulders and there was nothing I could do about it."

I just stared. I couldn't remember the last time my mom yelled at me. Even worst, I knew what she was talking about.

I distanced myself from my family while training, not on purpose but I did. I moved into the castle and barely spent time with them. I only did it to make my parents proud.

"I just wanted you to be proud of me." I admitted. "Like you show everyday how proud you are of Thomas and Amanda."

"Gary." She sighed and rolled her eyes. "I would have been proud of you if you sold rocks for a living. I don't love your siblings any more than I love you. For some reason I just can't show it with you but I tried. I really tried."

We just stared at each other for a while after that. She grabbed her small purse from off my bed and walked to the door.

"She's beautiful Gary." Her shoulders raised slightly​ as she sighed.

I knew she was talking about Evan. I stuffed my hand into my pants pocket. "I know."

After a head nod, she exited. Robino and Evan walked back into the room.

"Want to talk about it babe?" Evan asked as she rested her hand on my shoulder. I shook my head no.

"Talk to me about Diane." I said looking at Robino.

"It's like after in taking so much wolf's bane, my senses were heightened more than ever. She's in a motel room. 27 miles west. Two bodyguards apparently. Big dudes."

"I'm assuming that's an after effect. Thanks Robino. I'll get everyone else up to speed."

"Should I bring any thing?" Evan asked silently.

I turned to face her. "Evan, love, you're not going."

"Yes I am." She said sternly staring me down.

"I think I left something in the hall." Robino said excusing himself again.

"It's too dangerous. This is not up for debate." I took a seat on the bed hoping this wouldn't turn into an argument.

"She's my friend."

"She's an enemy of the Kingdom." I tried to reason.

"She's my sister. My only family!" Her voice was getting louder with every word.

"You'll make a new family within the Kingdom."

"I'm going to make sure your army won't hurt her."

"You're not going so she won't hurt you. We will imprison her."

"I trust her." She said calming down.

"I don't."

"Why not?" Her voice loud again. I don't remember her having a temper.

"Because I don't trust people!" I yelled back.

"You don't trust me? And what about Robino?"

"Don't bring me into this!" Robino yelled from outside the door.

"That's complicated." I answered truthfully.

"Trusting people won't kill you." She argued. "I trust Diane with my life!"

"I don't!" I yelled back.

"Why not? Why don't you trust people?"

"Because of Dion!" I yelled so loud at the top of my lungs that I'm pretty sure the whole castle heard me. The whole room grew silent. My subconscious had let one of my secrets out and I couldn't take it back.

She sat next to me not saying a word while I hoped she did. Talking about feelings were never a guy's strong suit but I was hoping she asked.

"Who's Dion?"

"Alerick's brother. My best." I paused. "Ex best friend."

"What happened to him?"

"He's being held in the castle."

"He lives in the castle? I never seen or heard of him."

"He's a prisoner." I added. "He lives in the dungeon."

I got up and paced around the room waiting for her response.

"What did he do?"

"He tried to kill the Alpha."

"Wait! As in Alerick? His brother?" She leaned forward with interest. "How did you even become friends with him?"

"I grew with him. In the castle.  For about eight years of my life, he was the only one that understood me. My goals. My dreams to serve this kingdom and its people."

"And he betrayed you by trying to hurt your king." She finished for me. I stood in front of her, hands in my pocket, head bowed and eyes trained to the top of her head. She lifted her chin to stare into my eyes.

"I'm on your side Gary." Evan whispered. "Forever and always, I'll be here by your side."