Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Johanthon was sitting in his office chair behind his desk while Timber stood just to the right of him. Johnathon not fully trusting the witches kept her close by. Andrew stood at the door while two more warriors stood just outside just in case they were needed. Mother Cora and Mother Evelyn sat on the couch against the far wall, while Layana and Mother Lina sat in the chairs right in front of Johnathon and Timber.

Andrew never took his eyes off Layana while in the office. Rusty was just at the brink of pushing through but he knew better than to disobey his Alpha’s orders to stand down. Even if his mate was sitting right in front of him. Every so often Layana would glance over at him, feeling his eyes penetrating the side of her head.

“What do you know of a pending war?” Johnathon asked without hesitation. His eyes still focused on Layana. He didn't trust her and Bane trusted her even less after she said she was responsible for its beginning.

“Where should I begin?” Layana sat as though she was the most important person in the room and they needed her like breathing needed air. But she knew better. She needed their help just as much as they were going to need hers. She just wasn’t willing to let them know that. Not yet anyway.

“Probably from where you had aided in an impending supernatural war. Sounds like a great spot to start to me.” Johnathon said, expression void of emotions although his words were laced with venom. He leaned forward lacing his fingers into themselves while speaking before removing them, leaning back into his chair again.

His words initiated a slight nod from Layana to show her approval of his words. Taking in a deep breath, she slowly released it allowing it to calm her from within.

“As you have learned, I’m sure, I am the daughter hybrid of the witch Lucia and wolf Dirk.” Layana started.

“So it is true? Lucia did have a child secretly no one knew of?” Timber questioned back.

“Yes. It is true she had a child, me. But only a very select few knew at the time. That was how my mother could keep it a secret for so long.” Layana added for clarification.

“Anyway. My mother taught me the ways of witchcraft and coven life. As I was to become their leader one day, after her.” She paused briefly and let out another deep breath. “She didn’t know if I was going to get a wolf, being from a very powerful bloodline of witches. It wasn’t until I was eighteen that I shifted for the first time.”

“That must have been scary for you. Not having other wolves around to help guide you through the shift? They can be quite painful and long for the first one.” Timber interjected.

A low growl could be heard coming from Andrew’s chest at the thought she was alone for her first shift. All eyes looked over to him to see black orbs staring back. Johnathon narrowed his eyes at Andrew for it.

‘Stand down Rusty. It happened a long time ago. Nothing can be done about it now.’ Johnathon mind-linked to him. His eyes lightened in color, and all eyes went back to Layana for her to continue.

“It wasn’t that bad. I had the support of all the coven Mothers. They did some research on wolf history and shifting to help me when that time came years before I actually shifted.”

“We helped guide and support her as much as we could. We were able to diminish some of the pain that came with it and to make it go slightly faster than normal without placing her in danger.” Mother Lina interrupted, seeing the concerns on their faces she shifted without wolf support and from research alone.

“My mother hoped I didn’t have a wolf since she was scorned by her one and only love, who happened to be a wolf. When I didn’t get my wolf at sixteen, she was elated thinking I didn’t get that gene. She despised wolves. Especially the destined mate bond.” she paused enough to look over to Andrew with apologizing eyes before starting again.

“She knew that now I had a wolf, I would have a mate out there somewhere and she was livid with jealousy. She told me that destined mates were awful things, that everyone should have the choice to choose their true love and not be told who it should be. Dirk broke her heart in millions of pieces the day his mate came and he threw her aside for someone he just met. She was a broken scorned woman whose heart hardened that day. When she found out she was pregnant with me she prayed to Acate that I was a wolfless hybrid. But I wasn’t. Causing her more pain to the point of revengeful anger.”

They all sat listening, taking in everything she said. As werewolves, they couldn’t imagine not finding their destined mate. The one and only person who completed them. The only one loved them unconditionally.

“So, how does that play into starting a war?” Johnathon asked after listening to her family history.

“You have to understand that this great hatred for mates fueled her hatred for wolves because she felt they were responsible for her increasing heartache. She was set out to destroy destined mates by killing off all wolves. Without wolves, everyone could love freely. At least that was what she thought. My Mother spelled your aunt in hopes she would end the Royals and their children. With the Royals rid of, she thought she could easily take out the rest of the wolves. She thought she had a handle on things until Jonas took things into his own hands, changing her plans.”

“My family being wiped out and me left for dead was your mother’s fault? Were you responsible for Kronin too?” Timber questioned. while wondering if they were the witches that helped Kronin kidnap her too. Anger started building in her at the thought she could have been.

“Like I said Royal Luna Timber, it was all part of the plan to end the werewolf bloodline.” Layana didn’t actually say it did, however her omission didn’t show they didn’t. Looking over to Andrew know she had hurt him with her words.

A horrid growl escaped Johnathon as he threw his fist down on his desk rattling everything in the room. The women stood up abruptly at the action, stepping back and away from him. His eyes had turned pure onyx and hair started sprouting on his arms while his claws penetrated his skin, showing Bane was merging forward. The stench of fear spread throughout the office room at the sight of him. Only Timber knew he could half shift, connecting him and Bane as one.

Timber, not wanting a blood bath, placed her hand on his furry arm and looked up at him. ‘Bane, Johnathon. Listen to my voice, my loves.’ she tried mind-linking him, to pull him back into control. Lifting her other hand, Timber rested it on his cheek forcing him to look at her as she spoke to him.

‘I am right here. I know what she’s saying is awful, but we asked her for this. Please baby, calm down. Bane. Give Johnathon back full control.’ She linked to him again hoping this would help his raging beast. She just caressed his arm and cheek until she got the response she needed.

The two warriors who were stationed just outside the door barged in at the loud commotion from within, claws and teeth barring ready to attack in protection of their Alpha, Luna and Beta. When their eyes fell on the scenario before them, eyes widened in shock and fear at the sight they were seeing.

Never had anyone been able to shift like their Alpha had. It was terrifying to think about, yet here they were as a witness. “Is everything ok in here?” one of the guards asked, still in disbelief of what he’s seeing. Trying to keep a firm and steady voice.

“Yes. Everythings fine. Thank you. Please go back to your posts. We are all fine, aren’t we?” Timber responded tilting her head slightly to the right as if questioning anyone in the room to say otherwise while looking at each and every one of them. Only nods were given and they went back through the door they had entered, closing it behind them.

Seeing the claws slowly retract and his arms releasing the hair that grew abruptly, Timber smiled while she continued to caress his cheek lovingly. Layana just watched in awe of what, she can only imagine, was the mate bond at work.

She glanced over to Andrew who also had his claws out, ready to fight for her to the death. Her heart did a somersault in her chest causing a small smile to creep on her face. She was starting to believe everything her mother told her about destined mates… was a lie.

After Johnathon had calmed himself, he gestured to the women in front of him to sit as well. Giving them a slight nod inhaling Timber’s scent deeply into himself, who was still standing near him during his merging with Bane in front of them.

Neither Johnathon or Bane cared that they witnessed it, he wanted them all to know how powerful they had gotten, even if he didn’t flaunt it often in front of others openly.

After glancing at each other and nodding they were alright, each of them sat back down where they originally sat. There was an unspeakable tension in the room… everyone felt.

“As you were saying Head Mistress Layana?” Johnathon spoke quietly yet with a menacing growl that her next statement had better be carefully worded. Johnathon was now seated comfortably in his chair with Timber on his lap holding her by the waist. Every so often turning his head so he could inhale her strawberry and cream scent. Keeping the beast inside at bay.

“Right. Well…” Layana stumbled slightly over her words trying to pick up where she left off. The fear of the witches perfumed the room causing them to make sore faces at the scent. Which in turn caused more fear.

“We knew Jonas had kept Shamira for his own, so we continued there. Keeping the path going from your aunt through him so it would filter into and grow in her as well.” Layana confessed.

“So Shamira isn’t really bad then? She can be talked down to doing the right thing?” Timber questioned in hopes she didn’t need to kill her sister after all. Her eyes twinkled with the hopes this was possible. She really didn’t like the idea of having to kill her only sister, and her twin at that.

“Sorry to say, Luna Timber, but no. Shamira was raised and mated by Jonas, who we didn’t need to do much coercion on, because he was already a dreadful man to begin with. If she was found earlier in her younger years then maybe. But now? She has been tainted by him to the point of no return. There’s no more hope for her. She is just as rightless as he is and some would even say worse.” clarifying her words leading to Timber’s misguided hope, while squashing them all at the same time.

Johnathon squeezed her a little tighter, feeling her sadness at Layana’s words, knowing she didn’t really want to hurt anyone. Especially not her own sister whom she had in recent time have come to know she has. Kissing the side of her head, she closed her eyes leaning into his warmth and released a sorrowful sigh.

Layana watching and observing closely the mate bond they shared. Wondering if she would give herself over to it, if it will give her just a little of what she’s seeing in front of her.