"...a talk is long due"
The next day was another chaotic morning. Selena was initially awoken by the strange discomfort that seemed to be wrapped around her like a blanket. As soon as she had opened her eyes, she fully felt the raging environment of the packhouse.
'Seems like the unhappy wolves got to Xavier first,' Izzy growled.
Selena sighed, she wanted to be able to tell him before the pack members broke the news in any other way. The attack on them changed her priorities. She couldn't even sleep well last night as Izzy was worried about Xavier, too worried to fall asleep.
Selena shook her head and hurried downstairs only to find Xavier breathing heavily, his back was towards her but the stiffening of his muscles was enough to indicate that he knew she was there.
Roy stood on one side of him with Raymond, who was giving an evil smirk. Aiden stood on the other side with Connor but he looked at Selena with sheer hurt and pain.
Selena didn't need to see much more to confirm her guess. All these were related to the departure of Damien and Adriana. She looked at Connor who looked back at her with a poker face but Selena could see the distress.
'He is angry, I cannot link him,' he linked her.
She looked back at Xavier and the said man turned to look at Selena.
"What's the matter?" She asked like nothing is wrong.
Xavier became stiff. His eyes narrowed and he took three long steps and stood right in front of her. Selena stayed right where she was, she wasn't afraid.
"Do no pretend like nothing is wrong," he gritted, his eyes burning with the confusion and anger he was trying to control, "I leave for a few days, there was a rogue attack during that time, my beta is injured, and I come to hear that my parents have been 'thrown out'..."
"They weren't..."
Xavier glared at Connor, shutting him up. It wasn't that Connor was afraid, but he could understand that this was something these two needed to talk about.
"They aren't people who would just leave like that. He would never say that our pack lost its morals... he wouldn't just give up on these people, my family build this pack from the scratch, made us one of the strongest."
Selena could see Raymond furrowing his eyebrows from the corner of her eyes. She didn't know what to think of that, but she definitely didn't wanna talk to him like this in front of all the prying ears. She tried to link him again, but he was still too much hyped up to be connected to.
"So you're gonna put the blame on me again?"
Xavier's eyes glowed silver before he pressed them tightly together, "I didn't say that."
"Sure," Selena rolled her eyes.
"Guys, c'mon... this isn't gonna solve anything."
Two of them didn't pay any heed to Connor as Xavier held Selena by her shoulders and pushed her against the wall. Even while doing so, he placed his hand behind her head to make sure that he didn't hurt her.
Even though it looked rough to the surrounding eyes, Xavier only did it to be close to his mate, to acquire some strength and comfort from their bond. Their foreheads touched as they both took deep breaths.
"Selena, I really, really don't wanna believe that you did it just for revenge. But there are a few of my pack members saying so and Connor wouldn't explain to me what the fuck is going on. I refuse to believe that you'd take my anger out on them. I've known you enough to know you wouldn't do that. Just tell me..."
"'Then don't. Don't believe it,' Selena linked him before saying the next part out loud, "Just come with me."
Xavier closed his eyes as he calmed himself. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. He looked at Selena and nodded his head.
Selena looked into his eyes, but when she realized that she wasn't gonna get anything about how he was feeling from his eyes, she turned towards Raymond and Roy.
"Don't you two have training this morning?" she asked them with her eyes narrowed slightly.
Izzy made an appearance as Selena's eyes glowed silver and she could see Raymond feeling uncomfortable, that wasn't enough to stop her wolf from making her dominance known.
"I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't stay and Evelyn said she would take over the training," Roy said with his head bowed slightly.
'I have told her about it last night when she woke up.'
Selena didn't answer or acknowledge Connor's answer in her mind as she stared at Raymond.
"An hour extra training time for you today for skipping it in a crucial time like this."
Saying this, she turned around instantly and walked towards the stairs, but stopped to wait for them. Xavier stood where he was with a pleasant surprise as he had never really seen her behaving like an alpha.
Connor patted Aiden on the back and it caught Xavier's attention too as Roy guided Raymond back to the training field.
"C'mon, let's head to the office."
"No, let's go see Ryan first."
All three of them looked shocked at Xavier. He was so deadest on knowing about his parents, so it doesn't make sense that he wants to see Ryan first.
Selena didn't say anything, she just nodded her head and all of them headed towards Ryan's room.
'Did that go better than expected or the worst is yet to come?'
'No clue.'
Connor didn't ask any more questions and they all headed up to Ryan and Ileana's room.
As they all entered the room, Xavier's eyes widened on seeing Ryan's condition and Ileana muttered an 'oh boy'.
"What the fuck happened to you?!" He asked pointing towards the sticks which he barely uses now.
"I might have had some nerve damage which made my recovery longer, and left me still a bit weaker." He smiled sheepishly.
"You told me it was a small injury!"
"I didn't want to worry you."
Xavier didn't waste any more time and tackled him into a hug.
Selena didn't wait anymore as she slipped out of the room. She went to the room where she had spoken to Ileana and Connor and brought the paper where she had written down Damien's plan.
She went back to their room and there the conversation was still on but about something else.
"How is the training of the kids going?" he asked looking at Ryan.
"They are enjoying it a lot, they feel like they are being treated as adults," Ryan chuckled as shook his head.
Xavier scoffed with a smile, "I bet they are... It will be good for them."
He looked at Selena, who had a stern face on and she stared back. Xavier opened his mouth to speak something but Selena stopped him by taking a few steps towards him.
Without any words, she handed him the paper.
Everyone remained quiet as Xavier read the paper. He read it twice, to understand what was happening, and then she looked at her.
"Why would you let him do this?"
"I wouldn't disrespect him when I know that he is capable of doing this."
"It is dangerous Selena..."
"I know, but I have faith that they can do this."
Xavier furrowed his eyebrows and looked around, "Do you hear that?"
"Heartbeats," Aiden muttered confused.
"Yes... And..."
"How many?" Ileana asked shyly while Aiden looked at her weirdly.
"One... No two. There are two of them. What the hell... it's like they are within this room only."
"Maybe they are," Ileana said and Xavier's neck snapped towards her, reading right through her.
"They are..."
Aiden and Xavier both looked at Ileana and she smiled at them nervously.
"Ileana..." Xavier whispered and she nodded, her hand over her stomach.
"Twins?" he asked with a smile and everyone could see how excited he actually was. Selena smiled seeing the childlike excitement on this face.
"These are gonna be so very spoilt by their uncles..." Connor chuckled and so did the rest of them, except for Ileana and Xavier.
"You're gonna be a mom," he whispered and both of them laughed together, he held her shoulders before pulling her in for a hug, "Twins, Ileana," he said and Selena looked at Ileana to find her eyes already filled with tears while Aiden looked at his siblings in awe.
"Does Evelyn know?" he asked.
"I told her early morning when she came to see me," she answered.
"The first one of the next generation!" Aiden cheered and join his siblings.
Selena also felt the wetness in her eyes as she realized how happy they all were. They deserved to be happy, and for Selena, she was the one bringing in the problems right now.
'Ask Lorcan to be here as soon as you can, please,' she linked Ryan, and he answered with a 'Yes, Luna.'
Connor didn't miss the sad expression on his sister's face and he held her in a tight hug, "It'll be okay, doll," he whispered near her ear, using the nickname he had given her.
She wasn't surprised that Connor noticed, he always knew when something was wrong with her. She just let him hold her and let the comfort wash over her.
"Sel..." Aiden too tried to comfort her but he didn't know what to say. His own mate didn't even acknowledge him yesterday... he knows nothing can bring enough comfort except one's own mate.
"Selena, I..."
"Just make sure Lorcan comes to visit us as soon as he can, I am gonna start on my own training."
Selena left the room.
Xavier sat on the bed and shook his head, "I shouldn't have brought up all those revenge shit, Raymond is always scared about someone breaking the pack, he always had been."
"What about revenge?" Ryan asked confused.
"The first thought that Mr. Bigshot here had was that she threw them out for revenge," Connor said with a tight smile.
"What?" Ryan frowned.
"Shit..." Ileana cursed.
"I am gonna go see my mate."
"I'll go with you," Xavier said and got up as he too hadn't seen Evelyn since the morning.
When they went to the training field after checking on Evelyn, they found only Selena there, just sitting there silently, staring off somewhere.
Xavier froze but Connor went straight up to her and sat beside her.
"You okay?" he asked all the while looking at her with concern but Selena couldn't help but let out a humourless chuckle.
"Awesome," she said with a weird grin on her face and wrapped her arms around her knees.
Connor paused, "Is it a reference to that paranormal show you used to watch?"
Selena furrowed her eyebrows but smiled, "You remember Supernatural?"
Connor rolled his eyes, "For a time that's all you could talk about."
"Selena chuckled, "It wasn't intentional... god knows what happened to that show, I completely lost track after the attack."
"Hey. You can take a break maybe. Goddess knows you need one," he said but she shook her head.
"Now is not the time. We need to get rid of the threat first."
"Selena..."
"I'm fine Connor, don't worry."
"Stop saying that!" he raised his voice, shocking both Selena and Xavier, who was now standing there with Evelyn.
Selena's eyes had widened at his sudden outburst and everybody had stopped in their steps.
"Connor..."
"No. You are not fine and we all know that. Even a blind person can see whatever you are going through is killing you from the inside. Just stop lying to yourself at least if not us!"
"Please don't do this right now," she said through gritted teeth.
Everything was quiet for a while. Connor was glaring at her and she could feel Xavier's and Evelyn's eyes on them too. Xavier had remained quiet and she was thankful for that. She was still looking at Connor which faltered when she noticed that the angry look had now turned sad and crestfallen.
"I miss the old you," his voice broke slightly but he continued. "I miss your carefree laugh, the way your eyes used to have that shine. Goddess, Selena..."
She immediately hugged him, she hated seeing her brother so sad.
"Connor please..." she whispered, not knowing what to say to him.
Evelyn then came towards them and gently pulled him against herself. After a few whispered reassuring words, they both got up and walked towards the hospital with him as Xavier and Ileana came up to her.
"Selena..."
"We need to talk," she said, looking at him straight in the eye.
"Yes, a talk is long due." He breathed.
Thetwo of them stared at each other until they slowly started walking back towardsthe packhouse, heading straight to the alpha's office.