Chapter 3

Reed’s POV     

I go to the address listed in Nix’s file. The principal is right; it is a farm and if he is working it. That would explain his strength and size, but not his aura. I drove about half a mile before I saw the house. It’s small and simple, nothing elaborate. I knocked on the door. No one answers. But I knew someone was home, so I knocked again. Nix answered the door.     

We exchanged pleasantries. I asked him if his mom was home. He tells me she is resting, but he looks nervous and shuts the door behind him, which makes me think he is lying. His mom will know who his father is. Maybe she can explain why he has such a powerful aura before he has his wolf. I need to talk to her.    

He tells me they have lived here all of his life and he doesn’t know about the Wolf Council. Maybe his mom is not a wolf herself. I test his knowledge when I tell him about rogues being in the area. He doesn’t question what rogues are, so I am guessing he knows some things. I need to meet his mom and find out who she is. As well as finding out who he is.     

I already know it’s his seventeenth birthday from his file, but I want to keep him talking. Hoping his mom would make an appearance. When she doesn’t, I leave my number. Nix tells me it is unlikely that she will call, because they are private people. I can see that. Do they have something to hide, though?     

When I leave, I am more curious than when I went. I call Ethan, at the Wolf Council, as I think we really need to know more. I am getting nowhere, so it’s time for him to step in.     

I tell him of my interaction with Nix and how confused I am about it all. He tells me he will come, as he is interested in a child that has baffled me. He should be here in two days.     

While I waited for his arrival, I drove by several times during the daytime. I frequently see Nix working the land, but I never see his mom. I watch the house at night in my wolf form, but I only see one person. Where is his mom or what has happened to his mom?     

As the days go by, I ask myself more and more questions about who Nix actually is. I know it’s above my rank to find out, but he has piqued my interest. I hope Ethan’s visit goes well. Nix seems like a nice enough boy.      

I waited for Ethan in a diner on the edge of town. We don’t want to visit Nix until night fall. Just in case things do not go well and Ethan may need to use the talisman the Wolf Council issues their senior members with. Ethan is not a senior member, but he is being trained up to that level. When a senior member died, they gave him a talisman. But he hasn’t reached the senior level yet.  

When Ethan arrives, I have a little catch up with my cousin. I also want to report what I have observed. Everything is great until we come to leave. He was curious why his protection detail hadn’t shown up yet. “Is it possible they went and saw Nix on their own, is it?” I asked.     

“I don’t know?” he looks at his phone and sees a text message ‘we’re going in, see you when you get here.’ We have our answer. The protection detail are sent to assist and protect the Council Members. They are not a group to mess with. They are strong physically, in both human and wolf form. Why would they go in without Ethan? Nix isn’t a match for them, he is just a kid.     

I started panicking and I drove there as fast as I could. As I drove down the dirt path to his house, I said to myself, ‘Please let him be okay’. I could see the silhouette of a male figure outside the front door, on his knees. Nix didn’t stand a chance against the protection detail.     

I frantically stopped the car. It’s then I realize the male silhouette doesn’t belong to Nix. It is also clear to me that I couldn’t move. “I can’t go any further.” I told my cousin. Ethan looks at me. “What the hell?”     

“Go. I can’t move.”     

     

Council Member Ethan’s POV     

I got out of Reed’s car, dumbstruck by what I saw. One men from the protection detail was on his knees, unable to move with his neck reaching to the sky. When Reed told me he couldn’t go any further, I couldn’t figure out what was going on. We are both of Alpha blood. The only difference between me and him is that I have a talisman.     

I’m not affected by what’s affecting Reed when I walk up the steps. When I opened the door, a young man was standing in front of the bedroom door, and he was raging at the three men who were lying on the floor. “I made it crystal clear that you can’t go in there.” The boy was yelling at one of them. I can see now what Reed was talking about. The boy hadn’t even noticed I had come into the house.     

“Nix?” I asked. “Hi, my name is Ethan.” His eyes darted in my direction. But his anger is hitting me in waves, only just. But it shouldn’t touch me at all. The talisman should render his aura ineffective. How is this possible? “Nix, I need you to calm down or I will have to calm you down.”     

“I told them they couldn’t go into her room. They wouldn’t listen.”     

His anger intensified as he stared at my protection detail. I have felt nothing like this since joining the Wolf Council. The talisman protects me. I am expected to wear this at all times, as it blocks all auras.     

I take it in my hands and say, “Blessed by the goddess.” Nix drops to one knee, his clenched fists supporting his upper body. He shouldn’t be able to do that. Reed told me he is wolf less. He yells something as he fights against my talismans’ power. I can see the strain in his face, the vein in his neck throbbing. He is going to cause himself an aneurysm.      

He gives one final yell before he collapses. Unconscious on the floor.    

All the men from the protective detail rolled over on the floor, panting. Reed ran through the door as I approached Nix. “Who the hell is this kid” I asked him. “Now you see why I called you?” He answered me.   

I went towards the bedroom door, the one Nix was protecting. “Don’t do that, Council Member.” I looked at the man speaking. “All of this was because we tried to go through that door, to speak to his mom. I dread to think what the kid would do if someone actually went through it. Or what is on the other side?”     

I don’t go through the door. I don’t need Nix being that angry at me when he wakes up, and I definitely wouldn’t want him hunting me down when he gets his wolf. Because he will be a force to be reckoned with. Which could be a problem.      

I know little about this boy, but I know I can’t let him stay here. How has he gone unnoticed all of this time and where is his mother?