Hello dear all, as the status of yesterday said, here comes the new chapter of this story. I am very sorry for letting you wait so long, but I will update this story faster from now on.

I really hope you'll enjoy and so I'll be looking forward to read your lovely comments and see what you think of this chapter and what happens in there.. Well, more is added and let's see about that. I don't want to add much more, I'll leave it to the chapter itself.

Dedicated to all of you fans of this story (THANK YOU!!!) and in particular to Purple_topaz as a super thank you for reading and commenting this story, thanks dear, hope you'll enjoy the chapter! :-)

On the right a picture of STEFAN, Kaan's friend --> Freddie Stroma

Now, enjoy!

KAAN POV

I stared at my friend and I realized it really pissed me off the way he casually talked with Michel as if they were best buddy. The hell? They were not; they probably just studied few times together and that was it, so why now taking all that confidence and act so friendly? What they had to talk about of so interesting? Same was for that damn bloodsucker, which I could not stand and wished to tear open his pale throat and let the vermin feed with his polluted blood. I knew he and Misha had a relationship in the past and the more I thought about that and thought about his filthy hands and fangs on MY Michel, the more I felt the urge to kill him.

Trey discussed something with Misha about some exams and damn their smart brains; in this cases I missed that idiot of Stefan, for he sure understood me. I fucking made clear to my best friend that Michel was my mate and my man, so why he kept gazing at him in that way? And why the hell was he still wearing just a damn pair of shorts and nothing else? Damn, did he realize how fucking tempting and hot he was? I bet many bastards lusted for him in the university and I hope for their pathetic safety that they’ll never dare to lay eyes on him. Michel was mine and only mine.

“You are such a prick, seriously. Go take a piss to calm yourself. Can’t you see he respects Michel as future leader?”

“You might want to take a piss, dickhead.” I mentally growled to him and in that moment my beloved half turned his glowing purple eyes to me and chuckled, probably having heard what I just said to this royal pain in the ass. “Just shut up for now, ok? We have another problem to deal with and might have to do with that idiot of Dillon.”

My lycan bared his teeth and groaned really pissed and I knew he couldn’t stand that pathetic excuse of a werewolf.

“They are both cunts.” He snorted and Michel this time laughed out loud and I shook my head to get rid of this prick here talking, because I loved to hear my mate laughing like that. It was something rare for him and I never understood why. Wasn’t he happy? Was it because he missed his family?

“Are you guys done with your lovely chit-chat?” Trey asked eyeing me with a rather annoying smart smirk. Argh, he was my best friend and of course I loved him as friend, but he could be such a pain in the ass sometimes, especially because he never had problem in standing in front of me and confronting me. Well, probably that was the reason we were such good and close friends; I sure knew he wasn’t a damn coward or pussy.

“If this dickhead keeps quiet yes.” My lycan growled at me and then I felt something in my head and I knew it was Michel, trying to sooth him down and believe it or not, it worked perfectly. “Why my lycan listens to you and not to me?”

“Because I am more patient than you are, Kaan.” He gave me a smile and then turned his head to look at Trey and I didn’t like that. He had to simply look at me.

“Kaan, don’t be so absurd. Don’t tell me you are jealous also of your best friend? It is simply irrational and without sense, as we are mates, as you said before.” Michel talked to me through our mind link and I sighed because he obviously was right.

“Fine, but before you tell us what that piece of crap has done, Misha baby, why don’t you go and wear something more than just a pair of shorts?” I asked him and in all answer he snapped his head back and eyed me with a look I could not read.

“Are you for real?” He questioned me still piercing me with a very intense and hard stare. “Kaan, I am not one of the females you spent time with and your mentality is just mediaeval.”

Damn, I just said something else that pissed him off. He hated to be compared to girls and to think I treated him as one, but of course it wasn’t the case. I mean, Michel was a male and a lycan, so I would never think of him in that way. Plus, even though he never said a word or show it, I knew he did not like the way girls still tried to approach me. Of course I could care less about them; I had Michel now.

“Seriously buddy, you need to realize that Michel is your mate and that I am not interested in him; do you really think that poorly of me? You are offending me, Kaan. I’m going to become your Beta and we are all members of this pack and you know that when we turn into our lycan forms, clothes are an option.” Trey as well had quite the hard look and I just snorted in annoyance. Why making such big deal for what I said? I was jealous, just get over that.

“Fine, just drop it, I fucking got it.” I groaned rather irritated and my mate felt it, because his fingers slipped in my hair and so the wave of anger soon washed away. I closed my eyes and exhaled deeply. “Sorry Trey, I’m just very jealous of Michel and cannot stand the idea of others looking at him and lusting after him; I know you are not. Now, tell me what’s the problem with the Dillons? Are they trying to pull the Council on their side? And for which reason? I am the one entitled to become the leader of the pack and not that weakling.”

Trey nodded and smiled smugly; bet he was having the time of his life seeing me like this. Then his eyes hardened and became more serious and so I straightened up and my lycan too turned his head to pay attention.

“Charles Dillon asked the Council to hear him over the fact his son as some genes too and tried to say that you are not the right leader for our pack, because of your violent temper and because you have not found a mate yet, while his son did it.” At those particular words I heard that sound again, the sound of something painfully tearing apart and turning into dust; and this time I felt something in me. It wasn’t just my lycan growling at those words, but I found myself baring my canines to my best friend. “Chill down, Kaan. I am just reporting what I have heard.”

Michel said nothing and his face grew impossible to read and when I went to caress his mind, I could not penetrate it. I stiffened in sudden anger and annoyance, as I didn’t like whenever he blocked me from his thoughts, but what could I do about that? My hands gripped him harder and my body shivered for the coming wave of rage and then I felt them. His lips caressed my neck, right where he had bitten me before and they whispered something to me.

“Kaan, my love. You need to control your temper right now.” He was right of course, but in that precise moment it pissed me off to hear it.

“I know it, damn it.” I snarled back and then I wished to punch my face for my reaction. I was such a prick.

“For once, I completely agree with you. You are a prick and now beg for forgiveness, dickhead.”

“Shut the fuck up.

“Stop, we have something important to discuss. Now, you both shut up and let’s hear what Trey has to say.”

“Yes, Michel.” My lycan immediately snapped his head at him and purred content. What a slut he could be sometimes. But Michel was right.

“You are right, baby. Sorry for snapping at you. It’s just my damn temper and..” He simply smiled at me and suddenly desire coursed through me in seeing those plump and inviting lips, his messed-up curls and his bare chest. Damn it, he was just so hot.

“Later, babe.” He whispered to me and I growled just picturing what we would be doing later.

“Ok, I am sorry to interrupt this and even if it looks all cute and romantic, we have a real problem here. Kaan, those two bastards might think to look for allies inside the pack and if more will raise the same request, you know what will come necessary. Karl told me that the Council doesn’t agree with them and Elder Aucaman and Maiara clearly spoke well for you, but buddy, you better watch your back and be careful. Even if we have codes, and is the Spirit that decides, you know power can corrupt minds and hearts easily. The Purple Halo pack changed its rules because of that.”

“I know that perfectly and damn it.” I brushed Michel’s curls and closed a moment my eyes to repress the anger mounting in me after hearing what a pain in the neck those two bastards had become.

“But we all know that having a mate is not necessary and to be precise, Kaan has found his mate, me; the matter has not been discussed publically and that is all. We had a leader without his half and Justin’s genes are weaker, extremely weaker, as the color of his eyes testifies. Only his right eye has a very thin trace of purple and he has neither brain nor charisma to lead this pack. I think that merely a fool would consider having him as leader, especially in view of the fact he had not followed the same training Kaan did. The right has been appointed to Kaan without doubts from our Great Spirit and I still wonder why the Council allowed his father to bring such question up. I do not even see the problem here, as they have absolutely nothing in their hands.”

My Michel, always the smartest and sharpest; always so composed and rational. He never lost his lucidity and coolness of reasoning and you have no idea how much that meant for me. I really loved him and his words and his voice had me bursting in pride.

“You are right and I agree with you, but I don’t like Justin and I don’t trust him. He has something that smells bad and it’s not just his breath.” Trey smirked and I chuckled. Yeah, you can see why we were best friends. “And that aside, Karl did not like the fact he decided to bring this up right when Alpha Demir wasn’t here.”

“He did it right today because he knew he would have to face our leader too and no matter how much they pose, they both fear and respect Alpha Demir.” The words my mate spoke were so strong and vibrating with pride and respect, deep respect and admiration. He really loved and respected my dad as Alpha and I knew he was proud of me; I was really a prick sometimes, I knew it, but it wasn’t so easy to get out and tell the whole damn world that he was my half and mate. I wasn’t ready yet.

“Our Beta thinks the same and he was actually mocking them.” Trey laughed at same private joke and I saw Michel smiling too.

“Karl can be quite the peculiar lycan sometimes, oui? But he is incredible and very trustworthy.” Oh right, he told me that our Beta spent a lot of time with them, since he was buddy-buddy with his uncle.

“That is right, he’s one of the best second in command ever and it is a great honor to be taught by him.” My friend’s golden eyes gleamed with burning light and I shook my head. He was going to be one of the best second in command, too, without damn doubts. I had been lucky, very lucky to have him as my future Beta.

“So what do you suggest to do? The Council said nothing about that and I am sure they want to discuss it again once Alpha Demir is back, oui?”

“Yes, Michel. Clever has ever.” Trey winked at him and I growled and bared my fangs at him. He snapped his eyes at me and so did Michel.

“Don’t do that again.” I groaned royally pissed along with my lycan.

I was trembling and felt my skin tickling as if about to burst.

“Kaan..” My mate said with calm voice, but I didn’t hear it.

Now the rage inside me was burning in my veins and when my eyes met Trey’s and he just smirked, the urge of tearing his throat apart almost took over me. I felt as if I was possessed.

“No, I cannot tolerate you flirting with my mate.” I felt a sudden crushing warm emotion coming from Michel and so I looked at him and he was staring at me in some dreamy shock. I took his beautiful face in my hands and brushed his lips with mine. The rage evaporated in an instant. “What is it, baby? You look sort of shocked, you ok?”

“I should ask you that, Kaan. Are you ok? You just bared your fangs to your best friend and future Beta, knowing he is not flirting with me. He barely made a joke.” I shook my head and tried to understand his words, but there was nothing wrong in what I did, as it was natural to defend your own mate. “Kaan love, look at me and relax, let it go. This is not right; there is no need to defend me now, as I am yours and Trey is our friend, and you know I can perfectly take care of myself. Listen to me Kaan.”

I sighed and yeah, he was right. But why I felt that sudden urge to tear Trey in pieces and why my lycan almost took over me? It was like being in some crazed and dark daze, as if I could not properly think. Fucking strange; I knew my anger and temper weren’t the easy one, but what I felt before was different. Way different.

“You are right Misha.” I smiled and pecked his lips. When he felt my calm state of mind and senses, he gave me one of his sweetest and most breathtaking smiles. I turned my stare on my best friend, but he wasn’t worried or scared. Of course he was not, because he was damn used to me and what with that smug smirk?

“Can I leave you here few minutes? I want to take a shower and then Trey, will you like to join us for dinner?” I almost felt my head breaking from my neck when he said that. Was he out of his mind? But he shot me a quiet and meaningful glance and for once I shut up. Yeah, why not, right? We never did anything with my friends.

“Don’t worry, baby. He might be an annoying ass, but he’s my best buddy.” Michel smiled and stood up and damn it, I followed every step he took to the stairs, not able to tear my eyes off of his sensual and arousing body. Damn, look at those muscles and that tanned skin.

TREY POV

I clearly knew I was playing with fire while provoking Kaan, as he had a very bad and violent temper and almost no patience. But I sure wasn’t afraid of him and he might be a blockhead, but he would never attack me. Well, not so sure at the moment, but it wasn’t his doing.

Michel was surprised when Kaan claimed him as mate in front of me and I knew he was keeping quiet on the matter simply not to push or force my friend into something he wasn’t ready. Fucking huge moronic idiot. What there was to care about? He had found his mate and his mate was wonderful; Michel was a wise and smart lycan, very sharp and calm and always observing what was going on around him. He was the perfect half for Kaan and no doubts on the matter. Yes, homosexuality was banned in our pack for those old and apparently practical rules, but they would change it. And what could the Council say about their bond? Nothing, because they had no saying in what the Great Spirit decided.

But what now worried me was the fact that they had mated months ago and still had to complete the ceremony. Their bond was unstable and wavering; my lycan and I could feel it and that was risky. Risky for both of them; they desperately needed to complete the mating and claim each other and it was beyond infuriating the way Kaan did not see it or felt it. He had snapped so badly before that he was almost about to turn into his lycan form and only because I purposely winked at this mate. You see the problem here? When a door of the second floor closed, I looked at my friend and spoke.

“Kaan, you need to claim Michel and you need to do it very soon. You snapped at me before for no reason, did you realize that? You really think I would look at Michel with hidden intentions?"

His purple eyes studied me and they darkened a moment. He exhaled and shook his head.

“It was strange; it was as if I was possessed, I didn’t mean to really open your throat, well, maybe I did, but you know what I mean.”

This was bad; this was very bad.

He had a violent and short temper and the instability of their bond and the fact it was incomplete only nourished it and I wonder why he didn’t see it himself. Michel as well was strange and there was something about him that made me feel pain inside and my lycan as well felt it. I never had conversations with him in the same way Kaan or Michel did, but we were one thing together and shared emotions and states of mind, hence I knew what he was feeling. And we both sensed the same coming from Kaan and his lycan; a very dangerous wave of uncontrolled anger that could lead to more than a simple outburst.

“I am serious, buddy. You need to claim him and tell everyone else to suck it up. The Great Spirit gifted you with Michel and you know it. And have you told him you love him?” My friend arched his brows in a duh-way, thinking probably how stupid was what I asked. “What I mean is if you told him your love goes beyond the mere mating part.”

“Michel knows I love him.” He snorted annoyed. I silently sighed. It was pointless right now to keep going on with this conversation, and Michel was here and I sure did not want to trouble him; he had enough in his hands with this blockhead here.

“Just listen to me in this Kaan. Claim Michel as your mate and do it soon.” He growled annoyed and I felt again that aura due to his Alpha genes sort of crushing me. Kaan was going to become a very powerful and strong leader, yes, that if his unstable anger didn’t take a toll on him.

“Mind your business. I’ll do it when I’ll be ready, got that?” I sighed out and shook my head. Let’s leave it for now, but I still had something to say.

“You better talk to Stefan and your mate just invited me for dinner and of course I am not refusing, as I will have the chance to see you all cozy and domestic with your sweet half.” I smirked having fun in teasing him and he growled, but not very pissed. “And Stefan asked me to go out and have fun and of course he does expect you to join, so you better tell him yourself. It’s only fair.”

“To Stefan? Are you nuts?”

“No and you know you can trust him. He would rather die than betray you and if I might not be scared of you, well, I wouldn’t say the same about him. He sure does not want to provoke your lovely temper.” But it was also true that Stefan admired Kaan and we all knew he was going to be his third in command. He sure was an idiot and wasn’t interested in fighting for sport, but he was loyal and was a damn strong lycan that knew no fear when the time called for it.

“Fuck, and then to who else? That bloodsucker already knows it and I bet also that weird chick, Ling or whatever it’s her name, you know, Michel’s best friend.”

“Yes of course I know Yenling; she is a member of our pack.” I rolled my eyes, then remembered his words. The vampire knew and I bet he didn’t need to hear a word about it; they were very sensitive and sharp creatures, and they understood emotions better than anyone else. Interesting vampire was Michel’s friend; Maxime LeBlanc was his name and I always found fascinating that cunning smile he always kept on his lips. “Maxime knows it? Oh well, not so surprising. He is very close to your mate and they sure are good friends, plus, he’s a rather old vampire.”

“He’s fucking too close to my mate, for my taste.” He hissed and I smirked, but stopped when I realized something.

This jealousy he felt was not healthy and normal, not even for a creature so strong and powerful like him. There was something else behind it, but I wasn’t sure. They really needed to complete the mating, because there was this sensation of uneasiness that would not leave me and my lycan, but I couldn’t just force him. That would be wrong and I understood why Michel never pressed the argument.

“So, shall I call for Stefan or not? Because we both know that soon he will call us.” Better change topic. He sighed and cursed under his breath and then heard him growl, but not at me. From the expression on his face I could tell he was having another funny discussion with his lycan; another growl and then he shot up, cursing loud this time.

Honestly, my friend was a lunatic, no more doubts about it.

“Fine, I’ll call Stefan so you will all shut the fuck up. But he better keep his mouth shut and he better avoid stupid comment about how hot my mate is.”

“You can tell that to him yourself.” I smiled and handed him my cell-phone. “And Stefan isn’t into guys, even if Michel sure is very fascinating and handsome.” He shot me a warning glare, but I brushed it off with a roll of eyes and he sighed out quite annoyed, knowing he could not intimidate me.

I bet Michel was going to like this and the end of the day, also Kaan would thank me for this. No, the lunatic will never admit it, but I knew him too well and thus I knew he already liked my idea.

KAAN POV

Michel was simply mouthwatering in his fit light-blue jeans and a simple white shirt clearly revealing his collarbone and his golden-tanned skin. I had left Trey in the living and I quickly darted upstairs for a shower and damn it, my mate was there, trying to fix his messy hair. Silently I approached him, but he felt me and when his smile welcomed me in the room, my hands shot on his arms and pulled him flushed at me. I wasted no time in shoving my tongue in his throat and soon we both were growling and moaning and our members stroking each other thighs. We broke the kiss when we felt about to tear each other clothes, remembering we weren’t alone. Damn it!

“Baby, I need to take a shower now and be ready for Stefan.” He arched his honey-blonde brows in confusion. “He is coming over tonight for dinner, so we are going to order pizza. Is that ok with you?”

“Oui, c’est bien.” He smiled tenderly and I sank my fingers in his hair.

“No baby, I mean, he’s coming over and well, I’m going to tell him you are my mate. Is that ok with you? It was Trey’s idea, since Stefan is my friend and probably will be my third in command and for once I agree with him; I think is fair for him to meet you as my mate and I like the idea, even though I’ll never admit it to Trey. And anyway, you know Stefan already, so please, ignore whatever bullshit he talks about, his brain works only in one direction.” Yeah, because I knew he was going to say something that might piss Michel off.

He stared at me few seconds in complete silence and when I tried to read in his mind and in our bond, there was something new I never felt. Such crushing and overwhelming joy that left me literally breathless, but right when I tried to deep in that more, he somehow hid it somewhere for me impossible to reach. Why was he doing that?

“Michel..” He pressed a finger on my lips and his other hand caressed my arm.

“Are you ok with this, Kaan?”

“Of course I am; why shouldn’t I? And anyway he’ll keep his mouth shut, so no worries about that.” Something crossed his face, but it was so fast that I didn’t catch it. He smiled and pecked my lips. Argh…he tasted to lose sanity and his lips were so soft.. “I’ll kick them away as soon as possible, because I can’t wait to be alone with you.” He gave me a very mischievous look and took a step back.

“Well, I’m going downstairs and I’ll order pizza. The usual for you?”

“Yes baby.”

“Michel Malone is your mate.” Stefan said for the nth time and my lycan was getting overly annoyed just like me and I bet he saw that, given he wisely took a step back. “Yo, well, freaking hell, Michel Malone.”

He was standing in front of us with a damn shocked face, the leather jacket hanging on his hand like his mouth hanging open like an idiot, and I wished with all my will to fucking punch it. Then he looked at my mate with wide eyes and scanned his body back and forth a couple of times, until my patience snapped along with my lycan’s and my hand reached his collar, my nails extending right to tickle his throat.

“What the fuck are you looking at? Stop staring with that face at my mate, before I rip you in damn pieces.” I yanked his face a centimeter from mine and soon I felt Misha’s hand on my arm.

“Kaan..” He simply said.

“My friend, cool it down. I wasn’t staring at your mate as if wanting to jump him, I’m not suicidal and I love my life, but heck you found a mate, Kaan. When? Why didn’t you tell me immediately? Wait, must be recently, because I haven’t heard of any claiming ceremony going on lately.”

I let go of his sweater and studied his clear eyes, while my lycan sniffed the air. Right, he wasn’t lusting for my mate, so no big deal. He was perhaps just surprised I had found it and never told him; right, without the perhaps. My friend was surprised and sort of unsettled that I haven’t said a word to him and I sort of understood him.

“Few months ago, but we keep it private, if you know what I mean.” I warned him and he just shrugged, looking then at Trey.

“You knew it?” He asked still in an idiotic daze.

“He didn’t tell me either, but I realized it almost immediately, Stefan. I understood after a while that Kaan had found his mate and have you ever noticed the way he looked at Michel and have ever asked yourself why he stopped going out with girls? Not just going out, but hanging around?”

“Damn, that’s right. I thought it was because of your training, you know, shit like women are bad before a competition and the like. I mean, how can a good fuck be bad for fighting? If anything, it should pump your adrenaline.” I snorted rather annoyed, but then I heard Michel chuckling and when I looked at him, he had a very amused expression.

“For once your logic makes sense, Stefan. So money isn’t that wasted in college, I see.” He said with no little sarcasm, but my friend didn’t get it.

“Right, isn’t it? Especially for a lycan. Well, back to the main issue, I guess no more going out to pick girls up together, right?” I growled at him feeling my blood pulsing in my head and he raised his hands in front of me taking another step back. “Yo buddy, I was just joking. Even I know that once you find your mate you are settled for life, but well, how come you found a male and not a female? You are going to have quite the pain in the ass to tell the Council about that.” Right, the Council and the whole pack. Let’s not think about that now.

“I don’t know and I don’t care, got a problem with that?” My voice sounded threatening enough and he just shook his head.

“Hey, if the Great Spirit says so, who am I to disagree with that? I’m fine with that; just a bit surprised it’s a male, that’s all. And you see plenty of gay couples out there, it’s not anymore something so shocking or strange. Plus, I like Michel.”

“What?” I snapped and I felt my mate as well reacting surprised at that.

“Yeah, you’re a smartass and freaking fast at running and well, it’s cool you guys are mates. So apparently it’s true what they say, opposites do attract each other. And your uncle is a real badass, Michel, you have no freaking idea. He taught me few things about fighting and then he is into bikes too. Hey Trey, do you think we are going to find our mate, too? Can you see the face of those old royalties if one of us too finds a male instead of a female?” Stefan chucked the leather jacket on the chair and bumped his fist into Trey’s shoulder. He sure took it well and easily, but we were talking about Stefan and I knew for a fact the whole pack wasn’t going to take it that smoothly.

My lycan shook his head and so did I, but Michel chuckled softly and again I felt that overwhelming wave of joy and warmth coming from him. I loved to feel it and it soothed my entire body and mind and I could almost taste it on my tongue. That should be the normality, and not him having nightmares or closing his mind link at me, hiding to me his deepest thoughts. I pulled him in my arms and I sure didn’t miss his gasp of surprise, but I needed to feel him close.

“Oui, mon oncle c’est magnifique.” He said to Stefan when my friend asked him something else about his uncle. And damn, I loved when he spoke French, that was so..

“That’s so hot, pal. Hey, do you know any girl speaking French? Can you have an idea of having a threesome or foursome with girls speaking three different languages?”

I let it go only because Michel and Trey found that sort of amusing, but I sure did not like my friend calling hot my mate.

“I know no girls speaking French, but my friend Maxime speaks French and given his immense patience, I am sure he could teach you few words to charm girls.” The world “charm” was literally oozing of sarcasm and if it wasn’t for the fact I didn’t like him talking about that bastard, I would have laughed at the fact Stefan did not get it.

“The bloodsucker speaks French?” I asked in irritation.

“How cool is that? Actually how old is he?” Stefan went on. Huge idiot.

“He speaks several languages and he had been turned into a vampire more or less hundred and twenty years ago.” Hearing him speaking about that bastard annoyed me to very dangerous extent and so my grip on him strengthened and he felt it, because he turned his head to look at me and his hand moved back and locked into my hair.

“No need to be jealous. You know we are only friends, and you know there is only you for me.” He told me through our mind link and my lycan purred at his words.

“It’s just that … argh, I know it and it’s the same for me, baby, I really love you.”

“And I love you, Kaan.”

It all went through our minds, but when I peeked at Trey I knew he had understood what happened and he just smiled, not smugly, not smartass-like; my friend just gave me a genuine smile.

“Am I missing something?” Stefan suddenly asked.

“Yes, you missed to tell us how you want your pizza and so we ordered nothing for you.” Trey said; I ought to thank him for that. I wasn’t ready yet to reveal my friend everything about me and Michel, not for much, but simply because I liked to keep few things just for us, and that had nothing to do with keeping our relationship secret.

I felt my mate lacing his hands with mine and resting his body in my embrace, his hair tickling my neck and his scent filling my senses. It was the first time he felt so, how could I say it? I didn’t know how to express it, but maybe free, yes. Michel was different right now from his usual composed and calm self and I loved this new side, as I loved to see him smiling and hearing him laughing; it was music for my ear and for my heart and my lycan loved that too.

Why could I not hear him laughing more often? Why my mate felt the need to hide some thoughts from me?

EXTERNAL POV

Elder Maiara concentrated her energy on the tarots in her hands, old and powerful cards that her grandmother had passed to her. She focused her thoughts on a clear and specific image and then saw the edges of it becoming shining with warm light until the picture seemed to burn in her mind and that meant it had been impressed to the channel of force needed for the tarots. The Elder took a deep breath keeping her eyes closed and then shuffled the cards thoughtfully, never letting her mind wonder elsewhere.

She needed some answers that neither she nor Aucaman could find, even though the tarots themselves seemed confused.

And that sure was not a good sign and when she tried to ask the Great Spirit for guidance in reading them, it came no answer and that meant some mysterious forces were operating coming from the Great Spirit and that sense of uneasiness she felt might be a presage for a great event. Great in the meaning of important and crushing, not great in the meaning of good. They could not tell that yet. But it was there, in the air, in the wind, in the whispers of the spirits and of the nature; her lycan felt it and so did Aucaman and his lycan. It was like hearing a silent voice, but it was there.

Was it just an impression and a feeling or was that really awakening and coming back? Very strange it was, for everyone thought it had disappeared leaving this dimension for good, retiring its existence elsewhere and forgetting about itself. Very strange indeed, but even in this second round the tarots were clear at least on one particular: great unbalanced force and uncertainty hovering over the future. 

“What do your tarots say, Maiara?” Aucaman asked sitting across the table and studying her eyes with his dark and bottomless pits. Elder Aucaman had eyes that could lead you lost in the most black and dim depth.

“Same as before, Aucaman. They are confused and disorientated in a way, but certain under another aspect. They know as we do that a great force is looming over our heads and clouding the future of the Purple Halo pack and they feel just as you do that there is great unbalance, but no more and when I try to concentrate further, they simply say nothing or make no sense. Is the Great Spirit guiding them and I believe we should follow this path, therefore wait and see and guide those two souls. They will need our guidance, Aucaman.”

Elder Aucaman slowly closed his eyes and let the words dip in his head and let his lycan taste them; then he refocused on Maiara and even more slowly nodded lacing his hands in front of him.

“Yes, you speak correctly and wisely as always, my dear Maiara. They need our guidance and they will need great strength, especially the one now suffering. This is dangerous maybe, but we can only wait, as the Great Spirit told us through your cards. But I fear we will encounter problems and obstacles, for the Council is losing that primordial sense of cohesion and one is having doubts. We shall not have doubts, but be one unique body.” Maiara said nothing, but thought his friend was right. “Father and son Dillon must understand their place.”

“They do, but tell me, Aucaman, you feel menace coming from them?”

“Difficult to say now, but I can tell you what in that room I felt before; and it was greed and thirst for power, but I cannot say how deep and rooted in their lycans that is. When the time comes, they might actually make the right choice.”

Elder Maiara nodded.

“Yes, I agree with you, as always. I felt it as well, but we shall not worry much over that matter; Alpha Demir is one of the most wise and respected leaders we ever had and he shall find the right way. His son Kaan has full right to succeed.” She gave another look at the tarots and then decided to collect them and put the cards in their box. No more reading for today; it would not work. “Even though, Kaan Demir needs to grow stronger in his heart. I feel something is awakening and I know you feel it too. But this is worrying me, as I cannot understand what that is. It seems great and strong and very old, and I always thought it had left this world and dimension. Why awakening now? However, it is only a sensation, nothing more and I might be wrong.”

“If our feelings will be wrong, then good. If they will be right, we shall need to prepare ourselves for a war.” At those words they exchanged a silent and knowing glance and they both stood up and glanced at the flame of the candle trembling visibly. “Wars are not always fought with weapons and armies, but they always require a payment of blood, and that is what worries me most. Blood. There is something about blood and this feeling we both share, my dear friend Maiara.”

“I understand your words and your worries. Now, we need to wait and have faith the Great Spirit and in those two souls we need to guide. I am sure they will find the right balance, or else we might face deeper complications.”

In another room, far from Elder Maiara’s house, Justin Dillon and his father were discussing the result of the meeting with the Council and the young lycan hissed and cursed unsatisfied, calling them old pieces of crap.

“Bunch of useless and tedious mutts.” Justin snarled.

“Mind your words, son.” Charles Dillon almost roared in the room. “The Council has to be respected, no matter what and mind your words when you speak to Alpha Demir. His son might be an idiot with a very poor temper and lacking a mate, but Egemen Demir is a powerful leader and everyone respects him. Do not be stupid and hasty, Justin. How do you plan to convince the Council if you act with this attitude?”

The young Dillon growled annoyed, but then shook his head and exhaled.

“You’re right; I need to be smarter than that asshole of Kaan. How can the Council be fine with having that piece of shit for leader? Only because of his father. I have the same right and don’t give a damn if my eyes are not as purple as his; I have found my mate months ago and they can say what they want, but I am sure this must count as something.”

The older Dillon nodded and sat down and considered what he heard in the council, especially from those two Elders, Maiara and Aucaman. Of course they would stand against him; they always stood for Egemen and his son and he wondered why. Maybe they had some hidden interests or personal relations; could he find out that much? Was that even true? Well, maybe a word casually dropped in the right moment to the right ear might sort out a good result; facts did not necessarily always need to be true, right?

“Do you think we can find some allies inside the pack, dad? Someone must be normal and not wanting to have that mutt for leader.” Justin hissed worse than a snake. You could almost taste the venom in his words and in his breath; the strange thing was, his lycan kept quiet the entire time and never uttered a sound.

“I will think about it, Justin. It is not something to take lightly and the smallest mistake will lead to troublesome consequences, so you better listen to me and avoid further problems, am I clear?”

“Don’t worry; I want to be leader more than you do.” His eyes gleamed of a green light that overshadowed the weak purple of his right eye and in that moment his lycan raised his head and nuzzled the air and then howled.

Author's chit-chat:

So, what do you think is this feeling the two Elders sense around them and in the air? What that could be? You think father and son Dillon will create huge problems or not?

Did you pick anything up from Kaan in this chapter? Hope you enjoyed it and you liked Trey POV.

Well, I will update very soon and we'll have a rather intense chapter.

Until next time xox