Page 12 of The Alpha and His Song: Volume One

Grandpa’s eyes were flickering black meaning his wolf was angry too. Channing said, “Ratchet had a lot to say. Mostly swear words and things about ripping flesh off bones.” That would Lisa’s flesh, and I wasn’t certain I cared at this point.

Grandpa would obviously know about more about sex than Lisa did. So, maybe it wasn’t… I literally let that thought trail off and die. Hoping that was a lie and I wasn’t an embarrassment felt like too much right now.

A pop sounded in my room. I looked up expecting one of our pack members or Preston. I was stunned when I saw who was in my room. I asked, “Aria?” Aria Lyons greeted, “Hello, Keaton Daniels.” I asked, “Are you ok?”

Aria nodded, “Yup and don’t worry, no one knows I’m gone.” I asked, “Why are you here?” Aria answered, “Sometimes I know things. Like when a soul needs encouragement. I know that your soul is in danger, and that your mate isn’t so far away.” Channing perked up in my head.

Aria glanced away then said, “I think she’ll be around here soon, but there are souls that want to keep you both apart. There are dangerous souls around both of you. Your soul nor hers will be happy without each other. I don’t know who she is yet, but she needs you as you need her.”

I growled, “What do you mean there are dark souls around her? Someone wants to take her from me?” Channing snarled, “I’ll kill them all! THEY CAN’T HURT MATE!” Aria nodded, “Yes. There is a very dark soul around her. I’m sorry I don’t know more. I just know that if the dark souls win, it won’t be good for anyone. She’s not the only one surrounded by darkness though.”

I didn’t want to talk about that because I might lose my mind. I needed facts and data, but I couldn’t get any. Channing growled, “We need to protect mate.” I replied, “We need to know who mate is to do that.” I asked Aria, “Is it hard, knowing what you do?”

Aria shrugged, “Sometimes it makes me very sad knowing the suffering around me. I just didn’t want to repeat the mistake I made with Cousin Alexander, with you. My mom always respects when people don’t want to be told who their mates are.”

Aria confessed, “I knew Melanie was Alexander’s mate along with the fact there were many dark souls that wanted her, and that she needed him. Sometimes I woke up screaming, about the number of dark souls that surrounded Melanie. I think it would be very scary to be my cousin’s mate.”

“Your mate doesn’t have as many dark souls after her. No one does, but they are still several very dark souls. She is a pure soul, but if she went dark everything in me tells me that would be very bad. So, I’m telling you to watch out for your mate and to protect both your souls. I don’t feel like that violates you not wanting to know who your mate is.”

I snorted, “I asked your mom if she knew my mate at Alexander and Melanie’s reception.” Aria answered, “She doesn’t. Someone around here does though. I can sense that someone knows her. Maybe a few people.”

I snorted. Maybe Finn would get his wish about Resistance members. Or the likelihood Melanie knew my mate was decent. Channing said, “Little does Finn know, you’re an honorary member basically.” Except I wasn’t in it. Channing replied, “We kind of are.”

I said, “Thanks, Aria.” She nodded. I asked, “Do you know who your mate is?” Her lips twitched into a soft smile. I smirked, “So, you do.” Aria sighed, “It’s not our time yet. We do communicate though.” I laughed, “You sneaky little Fairy. Does he know what you are to him?”

Aria answered, “I didn’t tell him.” Evasive, which meant he knew. I offered, “Well, if you need anything you let me know. Thanks for the heads up on my mate. Get back home before an alarm goes out because you’re missing.” Aria smiled, “Aaron has that covered.” I snorted, “You Fairies are devious.” Aria winked at me and was gone.

I stood up to pace. Channing demanded, “We need to find our mate, Keaton. I don’t want anyone to take her from us.” I told him, “We won’t let anyone take her from us, she’s ours.” Channing said, “I will not accept Lisa. I would never come forward to mark her. I’ve told you all along her sex reports are wrong.”

We’d actually argued over those papers. I usually blocked him out when I read them because well, I don’t even know why. Dear god, was I in an abusive relationship? Lisa had hit me with items and slapped me sometimes; but it’s not like it hurt. I closed my eyes, trying to think.

If Emma or Allison was in a relationship like mine. Would I say it was abusive? I didn’t even have to pause to know the answer. I would say it and kill the guy. Shit. I grabbed the folder that held two years and change of the reports.

I walked downstairs to our fireplace, quickly built a fire, and tossed them in. It felt freeing. Keith asked, “What on earth are you doing?” I answered honestly, “Setting myself free.” Keith pressed, “Are you going to tell me what’s in those papers? I’ve seen you studying them before and crying.”

I repeated, “It’s embarrassing.” Keith said, “I’m your twin, and we don’t hide things from each other.” I told him, “I’ll tell you soon. Right now, I’m just reeling from the revelations from my talk with grandpa.”

Keith was silent for several moments. Eventually he said, “Lisa apparently walked into a Warrior practice and told Justin he was taking her to the dance. He held her back when another girl said that was because you turned her down.” I shrugged.

Keith winked, “Well, I’m proud of you. Normally, you’d just take her.” My twin wasn’t wrong, I would’ve. Was grandpa right? Did she have some kind of magical hold on me? Keith asked, “What are you focused so hard on?”

I asked, “Could having saved Lisa when we were pups have bonded us in some magical way? Or those cookies I ate bind me to her? I didn’t ask questions about Melanie when she was younger. Maybe the cookies affected me in some way that wasn’t intended.”

Keith’s eyebrows raised, “Maybe. You could ask Preston to look into it.” I admitted, “Dad has the Bishop’s looking.” Keith sighed in relief, “Then maybe that’s the answer. Dad ate those and so did Emmett but you consumed the most.” I knew that. We eventually left and went to bed.

The next morning, we left after checking Emma was fine and headed back to Gray Stone. I hated that it felt like a weight left my shoulder being out of my pack. That was my home. One day I would lead the pack with my brothers, but right now it felt like I was shackled with guilt when I was there.

Aria Lyons words repeated in my mind. Dark souls surrounded me. Was Lisa a dark soul? That seemed too far and out of bounds to consider. I obviously didn’t bring out a good side of her, and she didn’t bring out a good side in me.

I was the worst Alpha wolf around and my mate needed me to be better. I threw myself into training, knowing I needed to be stronger. I would protect the both of us from the dark souls Aria warned me about. No one would take my mate from me.

I left the guys in the gym and went back to my room. I was astonished to find Haley Conners there. I smiled greeting, “Hey, Aunt Haley.” We all usually called her aunt even though she wasn’t one by blood, but she was an honorary aunt to me. Not to mention my godmother.

Haley replied, “Hello, Keaton.” I asked, “What are you doing here?” Haley answered, “To be perfectly honest, I have no fucking idea. I have guesses. Your grandpa asked me to talk to you. I don’t know what you’re going through Keaton, but I’ll say this: there is no shame in getting help.”

“I don’t know why your grandpa didn’t want Eric to talk to you, but he asked me. I can guess that because Frank wants you to know that Eric has spoken to a therapist when things have been hard in life. My husband had moments where he’s felt fucking weak and unable to protect his family.”

“Eric’s been so fucking angry he needed to talk to someone about what to do with those feelings. I’m obviously a big believer in talking to therapists. Sometimes it is nice to have someone from the outside give their perspective.”