Chapter 2

Hello:)

And now ladies and gentleman, here is chapter 2 for you all:)

This chapter is dedicated to @KanchanMehta for the lovely cover >>>> Thanks Kanchan :)

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“You cannot control what other people do, only how you react to it.”

― Jeffrey Fry

TEMPLAR P.O.V

Two days later, I was washing dishes while Everett was raiding the refrigerator for ice-cream, when his cellphone started ringing. With a groan, he closed the refridgerator door and picked out his cellphone from his back pocket.

“It’s Egan” he uttered before answering the call and I frowned. Every time Egan calls Rett, it’s because he wants Rett’s help in the work. Nine out of ten times it involves Rett going back to Greenrock.

Rett walked out of the kitchen while talking and my frown deepened.

I harshly placed the plate on the counter and waited for the news. My wolf growled and I took a deep breath.

He wasn’t doing this intentionally. It was difficult for him and I should be more considerate because the bottom line is, he is doing all this for me. It was for me that he decided to leave Greenrock pack, I tried to reason with my wolf but that stupid female was far from hearing my words.

You cannot be selfish. Almost everyone in Greenrock pack was relied on him, but he left them, all of a sudden, for you. I hissed at my wolf and she cowered.

Good girl! I said and mentally did a self-five.

Placing my hands on the edge of the counter, I started taking deep breaths to compose myself.

When I was sure I was calm, I started dabbing the dishes.

Rett appeared after few minutes and silently stood leaning on the threshold of the kitchen door. He was watching me silently as I consigned the dishes in their respective places.

“I have to leave tomorrow” he said and I nodded but didn’t turn to face him.

“At what time?” I asked quietly.

“Morning”

“And when will you be back?”

“Might take around two weeks” he said and I held the bowl very tightly.

Two fucking weeks.

My wolf started to whimper, but I quickly pushed her back and turned to face him with a bright smile.

“Cool” I said and he narrowed his eyes.

“Cool?” he parroted and that’s when I snapped.

“Yes. Cool. I am trying not to be selfish, okay? So please co-operate with me because at the moment all I want to do is throw this plate upon your head or even better Egan’s” I said in one breath.

Rett sucked in a breath and flashed me a startling smile before saying, “Okay”

“Good” I said keeping the plate, which I was holding, back in the shelf. I closed the shelf door harshly and flinched at the noise.

In a flash, Rett was behind me. He held my arms, twirled me around and then pulled me closer to his chest. It took me no time to wrap my arms around his waist and hug him tightly. My eyes started brimming with tears and I gulped.

“I have a good news to announce” Rett whispered right next to my ears and I craned my neck to look at him.

Wiping my tears, he announced, “Once this is done, I don’t think I have to go back”

“Seriously?” I asked quickly as my heart bubbled with happiness.

“Seriously. After this, there are only few things left, and it is nothing which Egan cannot handle.” He said with a smile and I flaunted one of my own smile.

“That makes this better” I said sincerely.

“Ouch” Rett mocked hurt and I raised my eyebrows. “Does that mean you are not going to miss me?” he enquired and I chuckled.

“Yes. I am not at all going to miss you” I teased.

Rett smirked and leaned forward. “How about I change that and make sure you will miss me?” he whispered near my ears. I bit my bottom lip and my wolf purred.

When he pulled back, I held the collar of his shirt, hauled him closer and smashed my mouth against his tempting ones.

Around eight the next morning, Rett boarded a flight to Greenrock. After dropping Rett at the airport, I picked Theo, from the pack house, to take him to his school.

My arrogant was in my garage and I recently purchased a new car, a Mercedes and I call him Muscles, my new baby.

Theo hopped on the passenger seat of Muscles, and quickly buckled his seat after waving goodbye to Marissa, his mother.

“Did you keep your lunch box in the bag?” I asked Theo.

“Yes. Mama packed chicken sandwich” he replied excitedly.

“Yummy” I said with a smile and Theo stuck his tongue out.

“So, did your teacher changed your seating arrangement?” I asked him. Apparently, Theo is asked to sit beside Tawny, a cute golden haired girl, whom he dislikes thoroughly because she placed a sloppy kiss on his cheek after he helped her once.

“No” Theo grumbled. “I still have to sit with Tawny and she tells everyone that she is my girlfriend” he said and I fake gasped.

“You didn’t tell her about me?” I asked with a pout. Theo shook his head and this time, I really gasped in surprise. “Why not?”

“Because she is my girlfriend in school” he said and I raised my eyebrows amused.

“So you keep two-two girlfriends?”  I questioned and brought my car to a halt at the side of the road when I spotted Alisha going somewhere.

“Yes. Just like you.” he said grumpily.

“What? I don’t have two boyfriends” I said in shock.

“You have. You married Alpha even though I am your boyfriend” Theo said sadly and my eyebrows shot up.

“Okay” I said unsurely.

“But I am not going to marry Tawny” he quickly added and I sniggered. Oh Dear! He has his future planned.

“Alisha” I called out loudly and she turned to face me. “Hop in.”

“Why not?” I asked turning to face Theo.

“Tawny is short and she talks a lot” he grimaced and I shook my head.

“Where are you going?” I queried Alisha as she kept her bag in the next seat.

“To pay the college fees” she answered. Alisha cleared her high-school and now got admitted to a well-known college of the town to study medical. She wanted to become a doctor.

“You are going to college?” Theo asked Alisha with wide eyes and she nodded with a soft smile. “I heard you have a lot to study in college. Is it true?”

“Yes, it is” she said and Theo pulled a face.

“Then I don’t want to go to college” he said furrowing his brows and I shook my head. This boy seems to be just like me. I didn’t want to go to college because after high-school, I wasn’t keen to study more.

“What do they teach you in college?” Theo asked her after few minutes.

“Well, since I want to become a doctor, they teach me about medicine” she said smiling and ruffling Theo’s blond hair as he replied with Eww.

“Did Henry leave already?” I asked Alisha about her younger brother, who started schooling in a private institution from sixth grade. Even though Henry is thirteen years old, he couldn’t complete his studying after he got kidnapped. Hence the school principle insisted that he start from sixth grade again.

“Yes, he left with his friends” she said and I nodded. I then dropped Theo first to his school and then Alisha to her college.

“Alisha” I called her before she could climb out. “Tell me if you need extra cash, okay?” she nodded as a reply.

“Thank-you, Alpha” she said and I smiled.

While she was walking towards the entrance, I stared at her retreating figure. Even though she was the one who actually killed Kate and her niece, I couldn’t actually blame her. She had done that out of fear and most importantly to ensure that Glen’s plan turned to be a fiasco. But that didn’t stop me from feeling guilty of Kate’s death.

Even though what Rett said, about Kate’s death, was true, I still didn’t get that peace of mind over it. I couldn’t get it because every time, Lillian’s face would pop in my head.

While I was lost in my thoughts, Keith spoke to me through the link, ‘Hey Templar, can you get some pickles?’ Keith said in a worn-out voice and I felt a wave of sympathy for him.

‘Sure will’

‘Anything else?’

‘If your sister had given me the list of her cravings beforehand I wouldn’t have had any problems at night’ he replied sourly and I chuckled.

‘True’

‘Anyway thanks. I owe you more than ton’ he murmured.

‘No problem…. Just take care of my sister and my neice or nephew’ I added at the end. Just like Sveta, even Trudy didn’t want to know the sex of her child. She wanted it to be a surprise.

I was about to go to my house and give her the pickle which is in the fridge, but then I didn’t want to give her half-eaten one.

Sighing, I started the engine and drove to a nearby shopping mall.

When I entered Keith and Trudy’s house, I found Keith sleeping in the couch on his stomach, while Trudy was simply flipping the pages of a magazine, sitting in another couch. The T.V was on, but no one was actually watching it.

“Why is the T.V simply on?” I asked and Trudy looked up, her eyes first travelling to check my hands.

“You got it” she said in ecstasy.

“It’s mixed vegetables” I warned, handing her the bottle.

“Perfect” she grinned and quickly opened the lid.

“I will get you the spoon” I said heading to the dining table.

When I turned, Trudy was already licking her fingers. I shook my head when I saw her. Trudy was a perfectionist but ever since she got pregnant, all her rules are thrown to the nearest bin. She was also health conscious but right now, it was like she didn’t give a damn about her weight.

Actually, we got to know she was pregnant only after she gained weight. Before that no one actually noticed any change in her scent. By the time we came to know, she was already twelve weeks pregnant and Trudy was all over the moon.

Maybe that’s what having a baby does? I thought with a smile and went and sat next to her.

“How is the kicking going?” I asked her, gently placing my hands on her belly.

“She kicks occasionally” Trudy said still eating the pickles. “Oh look! A carrot” she said excitedly showing me a carrot and then popped it into her mouth.  Yes. Trudy does believe that she is going to have a daughter.

“That’s enough” I snapped when I saw that her cheeks turning red and her green eyes swimming.

“I want to eat” she popped another piece.

“Later. Now you need to drink water” I snatched the pickle jar from her hand.

“Fine” she grumbled. “Keep it in the table” she added while I walked towards the kitchen. Ignoring Trudy, I kept the jar in the fridge and pulled out a water bottle.

“You sent him anywhere last night?” I asked Trudy, looking at Keith who was still sleeping.

“No. Rett called him last night to ask him more about the rogues. Do you know about whom?” she said and I nodded.

“Yes. It’s about Ryker’s family”

“He still has a family left?” Trudy asked, her eyes widening with fear.

“Yes. I am aware of a father and an uncle” I said and Trudy gulped. “Relax. I don’t think they are of much harm” I said gently, looking at Trudy’s haunted face.

“But they are Ryker’s” she said and I shot her a look of bewilderment. “We are Wayne’s and they hate us. Do you seriously think they will not come after us?” she asked, fright evident in her tone and I furrowed my brows.

“If they wanted to, they would have done sooner” I told her, but after hearing her words, even I realized that I have to find out the whereabouts about the remaining Ryker clan and their friends.

“Maybe they are planning something big” she added and then closed her eyes shut. “I really don’t want anything bad happening now. I will not be able to handle it” she whispered, holding my hands tightly, while tears were already tumbling from her eyes.

“Shh… Trudy. Nothing is going to happen” I said gently, placing my hands on hers. I knew she was hormonal and tended to take silly things seriously.

“No… I have got to tell you. Last week, I dreamed about me and Keith getting married” she said and I looked at her confused. “Don’t you know, if you dream about someone dying, then something good will happen, But if you dream about someone getting married, then something devastating will happen” she sobbed loudly.

Keith woke up at that moment and when he saw Trudy’s distressed face, he rushed towards her.

“Trudy it’s a myth” I said, trying to pacify her.

“White wolf was supposed to be a myth” was all she said and I immediately pulled back.

‘I will take care of her’ Keith said through the link, after looking at my aghast expression.

I nodded and then strode out of their house, while Trudy sobbed, resting her head against Keith’s chest.

“I cannot handle it. I cannot” Trudy kept saying to Keith.

The water touched by feet and then was immediately pulled back by the ocean. I stood crossing my hands against my chest, staring at the wide ocean, recalling all the things Myron, Everett and Trudy said.

My head felt heavy all of a sudden. I placed my hands on either side of my head and tried to regain composure.

Recalling their words again and again was stressing me out and I needed to take rest. However, that could wait. Right now, all I wanted was a peace of mind and I would get it only after I talk to my mother.

I shrugged of my jacket and threw it on the shore, along with my sandals. I walked a few steps ahead before diving under the surface. As soon the cool of water engulfed me, a sense of serenity engulfed me.

Feeling relaxed, I swam length after length.

After almost half-an-hour, I climbed the rocks that led to my favorite place. It was the same place where I first connected with the moon goddess, mere minutes after shifting into my wolf. I then sat on the rock, in a lotus position. After placing my hands on either side of my lap,in a Gian mudra position, I closed my eyes and started taking deep breaths.

One after the other, the sounds around me started fading, until even I couldn’t hear my own breathing. I felt myself being taken away from this world and there was complete silence everywhere.

“You have come here” I heard an angelic voice saying. At that precise moment, I opened my eyes and looked around. I was in what looked like a large garden. Green pastures covered the ground and there were few trees here and there.

There was also a fountain, where water was brimming from the mouth of a statue of a silver wolf. The moon Goddess was sitting on the edge of the basin of the fountain, playing gently with the cool water in the shallow basin.

Dressed in a white gown, the Goddess was sitting facing sideward. Her dark hair was cascading like waves on her back and side, covering her face as always. At least now I was aware as to why I couldn’t see her face.

“I have” I whispered taking a step towards her. I realized that not only was I barefoot, but also, I was wearing the same white off shoulder knee length dress that had an ocean blue color silk tie around the waist.

“Tell me what is bothering you” she said calmly in her soft voice.

“You know what’s bothering me” I told her and she laughed. The sound was melodious and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Indeed I do” she said gently and then there was a splash of water as the Goddess kicked up the water. I watched in astonishment as the droplets sparked in the sunlight when they were splashed.

Wait a minute…. Sun?

I frowned and walked closer, staring at the bright sun. Indeed, the sun was there in this garden.

“The sun.” Moon Goddess said after sometime. “Some of you call him my brother, some of you call him my creator” the goddess added quietly and I stared at her in confusion. I then understood, that the ‘you’ here was the entire living creature and not just me.

“Day and night, you both are looking after us” I whispered and took another step forward.

“What do you want to know, my child?” she asked me tenderly.

“Is there any danger lurking around?” I queried her and suddenly the Goddess stopped tracing her fingers on the surface of the water. That gave me the answer I needed and I closed my eyes shut.

“There is always danger lurking around, but there is also ways to overcome those dangers just around you. All you have to do is look carefully and then, you will surely overpower it”

“So, it’s always about the way I look?” I asked her.

“Yes. It is. It is always about the way you look. If every person had same view then there would have been either only good or only evil. But since different individual have different way of thinking, it is a fight between these two” she said and I nodded.

“What should I do?” I asked gently.

“That completely depends on you. You can make the best out of it or you can turn it to a worst nightmare.” she replied and then stood up and got out of the basin.

“Okay” I whispered feebly.

“Remember one thing my child, no matter what happens- never lose your calm” she added and I looked at her puzzlement.

“Calm?” I said unsurely.

“Being calm even in the worst state of affairs will be your greatest strength.” She said and I gulped. She was talking in riddles and I couldn’t understand the message she was trying to convey.

“Will anything happen to my pack?” I enquired when she started walking towards an apple tree.

“That again depends on you” she said smoothly while placing her hands on the trunk of the tree.

“Do I have to fight against evil?” I asked her but there was no reply.

“You will have to fight against yourself before you fight against evil” the goddess replied after few minutes of silence and I furrowed my brows.

“Go my child. Someone is waiting for you” she said and I nodded.

I was about to turn, when the goddess asked me to wait. I turned around only to see an apple being flung at my direction. I was so taken aback to see it that I immediately cupped my hands together to catch it. But apparently, I had butter fingers, because the apple slipped from my hand and then fell on the ground.

I stared at it, only to see it shatter into million pieces and disappear like it was never thrown at me.

“Oh No! I dropped it” I said sadly and looked up to face the Goddess, who threw the apple in the first place. Even though, her face wasn’t visible, I felt like she was staring at me intently with a sad expression. It was like she was expressing her sympathy to me.

“It was never yours then” she stated, her voice almost like she was holding back a sob. “Catch this” she threw another apple, which I caught quickly. “This one is yours to treasure” she said and I grinned and stared at the apple in my hand, which disappeared without shattering.

“Why the apple?” I asked her.

“You will understand soon. But remember my child, never lose your calm” she whispered.

I opened my eyes only to realize that I was completely soaked in salty water. I shook my head, sighed and then craned my neck to stare at the bright sun in the afternoon sky.

‘Some of you call him my brother, some of you call him my creator’ I recalled the Goddess saying. Facing the sun, I closed my eyes and prayed to give me enough strength to overcome whatever life throws at me.

I then dived into the water and swam back to the shore.

Once I reached the house, I went to take a shower since I was all salty and sticky.

While returning here, I already checked the text I received from Rett informing me that he reached the pack. I decided to call him, after I come out of the shower.

I stood under the shower letting the powerful flow of the water, cool my body.

Never lose your calm. Never lose your calm. I chanted in my head, placing my hands on the cold tiles. When I was done, I shoved my thumb against the shower knob to cease the flow of water. I stepped out of the shower and wrapped myself in a huge towel.

I groaned when I checked the time. It was two in the afternoon and I was hungry too. Whenever Rett isn’t in town, I either go to some restaurant or I eat in the pack house. Today, I decided to go to pack house since I didn’t have the patience to wait in the restaurant.

My cellphone started ringing while I was drying my hair. Sliding my legs into black skinny jeans, I pulled a grey tank top over my head and hurried downstairs to answer the call

The call was from Everett. He couldn’t connect with me through mind link because our link gets weak, when he is miles away.

“Hello” I said chirpily.

“Templar” he whispered, in a grave voice and I stiffened. “Teresa met with an accident. She passed away on the spot” he said and all color drained from my face. Teresa, my aunt, was also my foster mother. Hearing the news of her death, made my heart bang loudly in my chest and I gulped but it was impossible to hold back my tears.

“W-When?” I stuttered.

“An hour ago” he added quietly.

“How is Allan?” I asked about my foster father.

“He isn’t taking it well. He has shifted and is trying to attack other wolves”  Rett said and I sucked in a breath. “Listen, I have already informed Terence and he will come to our house soon. You both decide whether or not you want to tell this to Trudy, but I suggest you don’t”

“I will not. I will not tell it to Trudy” I said shaking my head, recalling the way she was crying this morning. “It’s too risky”

“All right. You and Terence come here as soon as possible, okay?”

“Yeah”

“I love you”

“I love you” I said and then cut the call.

I sat on the couch and held my head in my hands. While I closed my eyes, all wonderful memories that I had with Teresa popped in my head. She had taken wonderful care of me while I was a child and she did try her best to be a good mother to us. She had come here for mine and Everett’s wedding and even after marriage, I used to occasionally call and talk to her.

The front door being pushed opened brought me out of my thoughts and I found myself staring at Terence’s brown eyes that were sad.

He sat on the couch beside me and I rested my head against his shoulder. “We cannot tell Trudy” I said sniffing, after few minutes of me crying.

Terence nodded, before saying, “We will have to leave to Greenrock in the five o’clock flight. They are conducting the funeral today itself” he said.

“Okay” I whispered. I stood up and wiped my tears. “Did you book the tickets?” I asked him and he shook his head. “You do that. I will go and inform Keith” I said and then went upstairs. I picked up a white color utility jacket and put it on.

Terence wasn’t there when I went downstairs and so, I closed the main door and rushed towards my car.

I was just buckling up my seatbelt when I heard screams coming from somewhere. I quickly undid the belt and climbed out of the car and rushed towards the gate. Two fighters from the pack where already coming towards the house. As soon as they saw me, they stopped in their tracks and lowered their heads.

“What’s wrong?” I whispered. My heart started hammering in my chest as goosebumps appeared all over my body. Fear was engulfing me and my wolf started pacing continuously inside me.

“A b-body of a p-pack wolf was thrown” one of the guy stuttered and I closed my eyes shut.

“Where?” I asked and curled my fingers to form a tight fist.

“On the outskirts, Alpha. The guards are fighting with the rogues and the third-in-command and your brother have rushed there” the other one said.

Growling ferociously, I started running towards there.

When I reached there, twenty minutes later, I stopped running and looked around. Terence, Cam, Keith and few other fighters were already fighting against ten to twelve rogues. Two of the pack guards were already killed in the fight. It was then my eyes fell on the other dead body and I froze in my tracks as soon as I saw whose body it was.

“I want to become a doctor” I could still hear her saying the words today morning. But here she was, lying on the ground with her hands and legs torn apart.

“Alisha” I whispered chokily. Tears clouded my vision as I stared at Alisha’s dead body.

Suddenly, a rogue lunged at me, but Keith quickly pushed him away. I growled and glared at the nasty creature that had done this. All of a sudden, my claws were out.

I was about to take a step forward to attack him, when my eyes rested on a rogue leaning against a tree, with a relaxed expression in his face. He seemed to be the leader of this group of rogues.

As soon as his eyes met mine, his lips curved to form a victorious smirk.

How can I not lose my calm after witnessing that?

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Aha… so what do you think will happen next?

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Next update on my birthday, that is 28th July :D

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