Chapter Five - Part Two

I stared up at him for several seconds, unable to come up with a single word to express the appropriate amount of gratitude. And when I found myself flinging my arms around Lucas in a tight, lingering hug, I knew that I wasn't the only one surprised by my actions. There was a short pause before Lucas decided to hug me back, but I was simply glad that he did. Because for a moment, it felt like I was being hugged by my father.

"And if you have any problems, with Ethan, you let me know." Lucas said, after we had both stepped back. "I know how to get through to that kid..."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." I said, with a grin. He gave me a curt nod, and then I followed him into the warehouse.

* * *

Inside, I wandered my way through the large gathering until I managed to find Addy. I joined her at the head of the crowd, where the several hundred Garou were all positioned in a U-shape around the stage. There was no one up there yet, but I knew that the time had drawn near for someone to take his place upon it. And as if on cue, the volume of the crowd was suddenly reduced to a hushed murmuring, as the Garou parted respectfully to allow several persons to ascend the stage.

With a clear view, I could see Charles in business attire, backed by two other men and one woman who were all similarly dressed. Lucas was the only Leader who stood out of line from the others, and though he wasn't exactly knocking elbows with the Elder, he certainly wasn't standing behind the man either. And he was also the only Leader comfortable enough to sport jeans and a leather jacket.

Meanwhile, Charles raised a single hand, and conversation among the Garou ceased entirely. Spotlights that were hanging from the ceiling shed enough light to illuminate my grandfather and the other Leaders on the stage. With faint interest, I watched how the Elder glanced importantly to the woman behind him. She gave him a single nod and he began.

"Here we are again, on the evening of another glorious full moon. And we gather here today, as we do every month, to honor and celebrate what we have become."

There was silence as the Elder momentarily paused so he could study the crowd. And in that moment of watching him, I suddenly understood the reasons why the Garou would choose to be led by a man like him. He had a certain finesse that demanded respect and authority. And even though he was cold, and probably a little immoral, there was no doubt that to these people Charles Noble was a king.

"We are shopkeepers, bankers, and deliverers of fast-food. We are mothers and fathers, we are sons and daughters, but more importantly we are the Garou. And though we have blended into a society of Humans that chooses not to believe in our existence, here we stand - more corporeal and capable than we have ever been. And this evening, we have the honor of welcoming another strong wolf to our ranks - a wolf that I believe possesses every shred of the necessary qualities to one day lead us all..."

My heart began to thump as whispering enveloped the Garou, and people checked excitedly to see whether or not their neighbor could be the new Leader. Momentarily, I was paralyzed within my own anxiety, as one by one more eyes began to pick me out from the crowd. But somewhere to my right, I felt Adelle's faithful elbow dig painfully into my side.

"Get up there." she muttered from the side of her mouth, smiling and nodding at the curious onlookers.

Snapping somewhat to, I walked with a lethargy until I reached the stairs at the edge of the stage. Lucas was there to hold out one, rough, hand, and I hesitated. But he smiled and gave me a tiny nod of encouragement. So I accepted, and then joined the Elder at his side, beneath the warm lights. And underneath the scrutiny of so many pairs of judging, inquisitive eyes, I felt like an ant beneath a magnifying glass.

"Naomi Elizabeth Noble - my granddaughter, and our newest Pack Leader." Charles announced, as he slid an arm across my shoulders and pressed me firmly to his side. I could smell the cigars and cologne on him, and winced slightly when I felt his hand's touch. And in the intervening time, there were a few chauvinistic catcalls and hoots, along with thunderous applause, causing my cheeks to go warm.

"Naomi," Charles said, addressing me for the first time. "Are you ready to accept this role as a Leader to the Garou, and can you promise to honor and uphold the integrity of this Pack as you serve?

You could have heard a pin drop it became so quiet in the warehouse. I looked before me into a sea of upturned faces, and wondered if I was really up to the challenge. Was I truly a Leader? Could I honestly undertake this much responsibility?"

"Yes," I said, loud and clear. "I'm ready to serve."

"Then we have ourselves a new Leader!" Charles announced, to his loyal Pack members.

And there were loud whoops, and more cheers and clapping, as Charles smiled down at me with all the pretenses of a man that was proud of his kin. But I knew by the stiffness of his hand on my shoulder that this was all for show.

"And in proper form - as many admirable, and selfless, future Elders choose to do - our young Leader has already selected a Champion -"

There were audible gasps from the crowd, whispers, and surprised mutters. I looked around and the tentative smile that I'd previously worn slid rapidly from my face, as I experienced a horrible feeling of dread. It settled deep in my stomach, with all the weight of a heavy stone.

"As most of us know," Charles resumed. "Unless Naomi passes on the Noble bloodline, the Champion she has selected is next in line to the Eldership. And I would like to take the liberty of saying that I don't think she could have chosen a finer, more deserving candidate."

As if in slow motion, I watched Ethan surface from the crowd, gravitating towards the stage. And then there was this... thunderous applause from the crowd - cheers, howls and hoots. He was hugged, his hair was playfully tousled, and his back was slapped. But somehow he still managed to squeeze in time to lock eyes, however fleetingly. But there was no missing the guilt that was stamped across his face. And nevertheless, when my grandfather called him by name, Ethan obeyed, taking his own place at the Elder's side.

Finally, Charles released me, and the only other female Leader - a middle-aged woman with olive skin and raven colored hair - was walking forward with a small wooden box. Wordlessly, she presented it to the Elder, and taking the courtesy of removing the lid for him.

With a solemn nod to her, he removed a small, but important-looking knife from the box. The blade was several inches long, sitting on a thick, black handle, with words and symbols that I didn't recognize etched upon its vane.

"Naomi," said the Elder, looking at me again but projecting to the crowd. "Are you ready to accept Ethan as your Champion?"

Solemnly I nodded, unable to find my voice, and I watched as Charles then turned to Ethan.

"Kneel, son." Charles said, and as Ethan dutifully sank to one knee before me, I was reminded of a bride and groom at the altar. And my grandfather was the priest.

I looked down at Ethan, hoping that he would at least look me in the eye, but his gaze was firmly planted on the ground, and I could see nothing but the top of his head.

"Naomi, Ethan, the connection that you two will share from here on out, is a link that can never be broken. It runs deeper than water, is thicker than blood, and it will force you to rely on each other in ways that no one but the two of you will ever understand. And on behalf of the Garou, I thank both of you for making this sacrifice... Ethan, your hand, sir."

Ethan bypassed my frantic gaze and willingly extended his right hand. Deftly, Charles used the peculiar knife to slice a long, shallow line across the palm of Ethan's hand. And he didn't even flinch.

"Naomi?" Charles turned to me, with the knife still extended, waiting. And yet, I looked down at the blade that was slick with Ethan's blood, and I froze again. Because suddenly I knew that not only had Ethan played me, but this was about much more than simply swearing our fealty to one another.

"Naomi?"

After a last, desperate glance to the crowd, I raised my own hand and watched as Charles easily slid the knife across. And three fat drops splashed to ground as the palm of my hand began to fill with blood.

"Before us all, Ethan has pledged his loyalty to Naomi; the bond between them is now complete."

Charles pressed the two of our palms together, mixing the blood. And with a gasp, I looked down as beams of white light sparked between our fingers. But as the pain in my hand was mended by the light, something else inside me remained devastatingly broken. I looked into Ethan's eyes and saw my very soul ripped in half and replaced with part of his own. Everything within me shifted, right then, to make room for him too, and now my heart was terribly full. Where there should have only been one, now there were two.

Somewhere, out in the crowd, there was the hollow sound of a girl's scream.

* * *

"Naomi, this is Jonathan Newport, Lucas Blacklock, Mathew Raines and Sofia Devila."

As my grandfather introduced the Leaders, I shook each of their hands in turn, unable to ignore how much Mr. Newport and Mr. Raines each resembled their younger counterparts. And while Lucas was a familiar, comfortable face, Sophia (the woman with the raven-colored hair) was not someone that I could place.

She was older, early forties, but still quite attractive. Her eyes were a light shade of brown, framed by wavy hair that was piled loosely about her shoulders.