Mate Mysteries

Chapter 60

Pip must have stared for a long time. The tall man sitting in between his parents tilted his head and said, "this has shocked you quite a bit."

Pip only realised his mouth hung open when he tried to find his words. "A-A bit? Just a bit?" He leaned forwards, recognising the intenseness to his dark eyes. "You're Roden Graymer?"

The man nodded. "A bit of a pathetic version of myself, I must admit."

Pip shook his head to scatter his thoughts. "I-" Pip wanted to cry again. "You have no idea what your death has done to him."

Roden's face hardened as Pip's parents looked to the man between them. "I imagine he spiralled."

Pip was back to gawking and blinking hopelessly. He struggled to find words at the best of times. Now questions wanted to spew from him so fast, he crashed. Eventually, Pip stuttered, "H-He did. A few times."

Roden's eyes lowered to his thin legs crossed beneath him. "And Makena, has she spiralled?"

"Yes," Pip whispered. Almost for the last time.

"How badly?" Roden's voice lowered too.

Pip didn't want to tell him that she very nearly ended it all, so he used Krey's famous way of avoiding topics. "How are you not dead?"

Roden shifted weakly, unsettled. "Well, I don't know the details, but the last thing I saw was Krey leaning over me, then I woke in the back of a van. I assume Jordan ushered me out of the building rather quickly. I'm sure he and Debra had planned to bring me back to life. I was in one of those vans the government send to take away dead wolves." Roden hadn't yet looked up from his lap. "I just remember Debra being thrilled when I freaked out about not feeling my wolf. For the longest time, she let me believe that Makena was dead." In the sharp shadows, his jaw clenched. "Evil bitch."

"That's why we're all here together," Julie whispered. "Roden was here before us, though his wounds were months old by then, so maybe Debra thought she would get to you sooner. What was happening two years ago?"

"Uh..." Pip really had to think about it. His mind was mush. "Debra's Pack invaded the annual meeting, and because Crescent Pack came to rescue Krey, Debra's pack invaded Crescent Packhouse, so we went to Sea Claw Packhouse. Viktor was killed and me and Sid had to run. We were almost caught a few times. I guess Debra was desperate because she lost Jordan."

"And you said Krey killed him?" Roden asked.

Pip nodded.

Roden perked up. "Good lad."

Pip had heard stories of Krey's father over the years, stories of him being a great leader, a fair leader, and a calm and considerate Alpha who took the time to care, but a distant father. He had also heard that Roden started off a little rough around the edges, like Krey, and still had moments of sternness.

"If you and Makena are still alive, why do you not have your wolves?" Pip asked.

"We're too far to reconnect, if that's even possible. I love her, and we'll reconnect in our own way." Roden nodded curtly.

Pip had watched Makena deteriorate over the years. Hopefully he would get the chance to watch her grow again. He shook his head, staring at all three prisoners in utter disbelief. His father, Krey's father, and his mother all stared back. The situation was crazy enough to be a dream, a bittersweet dream that was just on the brink of a nightmare. "This changes everything." Pip tried to think of how Krey would react. He couldn't bear to imagine his breakdown. "Your death has been so hard on so many people."

Roden looked away again. "Some days I willed for Krey or Makena to get caught so I could see them. I'm glad they never did. This has been hell, sitting here for almost two years. Debra is the definition of bedlam, but she's been our only visitor. It's hard to stay sane when insane is all you've had."