Rhett's Destiny

Havermouth, Present Time

“It was necessary to destroy the facilities,” August said grimly. “We fought a battle with the Van Helsings for control of the power station and lines of communication, and it became evident that we were both determined and evenly positioned to win. It was necessary to destroy them in order to prevent the Van Helsings from gaining control.”

“You fought a battle…” Rhett repeated slowly. “A battle. One battle with the Van Helsings, and because of that battle, you decided to deprive this entire area of power, internet and reliable phones?”

“You do not understand,” August snapped. “Someone who has never fought, who has no strategic training, cannot imagine the decisions being made, and the pressure under which they are being made.”

“Well,” Rhett drew in a breath, his continued obstinance in the face of the lead alpha’s irritation a display of his rogue nature. “I might not have fought in a battle against the Van Helsings, but I’m pretty sure I would have thought twice before taking an action that meant that every town from this point down on this side of the river HAS NO POWER and has no hope of getting it, until the infrastructure exists to repair the damage of your sabotage.”

“Rhett,” Phillip said cuttingly. “No one asked for your opinion.”

“Yeah, I know, I know,” Rhett rolled his eyes. “What I think doesn’t matter. I just exist to f-k she-wolves pregnant, right?”

“Hmph,” Lilith Boyston sneered.

“Did you have something to say?” Rhett leapt straight onto the derision, bristling.

She shrugged, not at all phased or bothered by his aggression, almost dismissive of it. “Well, it’s not like you can even do that right, is it, Rhett Salem?” She pointed out. “The only women you’ve f-ked pregnant have been human. Maybe it’s because you don’t want to be f-king she-wolves at all? Your preferences lie elsewhere, don’t they, after all?”

“Lilith!” Phillip snarled the name.

“Aislen’s pregnant,” Cameron said softly. “With the Triquetra’s baby.” The room fell silent.

“Well,” August rocked back in his chair. “Isn’t that interesting. It’s obvious what needs to happen then. We will collect Heath Gale and Aislen Carter, and bring you all back here, to safety, until we can relocate you to your own bunker.”

“A sound idea, August,” Phillip nodded solemnly. “Rhett and Cameron should remain here whilst Heath and Aislen are obtained.”

“Let’s get that done then,” August agreed. “We’ll have Rhett and Cameron taken to accommodation to wait. Jules, you are welcome to stay as well, of course. The rest of you,” he swept his eyes over the two vampires, Connery, and the woman and her children. “We will take to the warehouse.”

“What about Talen?” Cameron demanded, frowning. “You talked about getting Heath and Aislen, but not Talen. He’s our mate too.”

“There’s no f-king way,” Rhett added. “That Aislen’s going to want to come back here.”

“What are your plans, August?” Jules asked, cutting off the rising argument. “You were anticipating that this would happen, this Van Helsing uprising. What do you think they want, and what are you going to do in response?”

“A good question,” August’s smile was smug. “The Van Helsings want to decimate the supernatural population until we are few enough to be controlled and enslaved. They seek to recreate the world, with humans as rulers, starting with this country. They have positioned themselves within the major governmental departments, right through into parliament, and were just waiting for the right trigger to enable them to enact military control of a big enough part of the country to force the rest to its knees. The flood and the water-borne illness has provided them that opportunity.”

“For the past decade, I have been infiltrating the Van Helsings with my own spies,” August leaned forward, bracing his hands on the table, and rising to his feet. “Whilst also uniting with other packs, and many of the supernatural community, building our own resources, our own armies. We, too, have been waiting for the Van Helsings to make a move. Now that they have done so, we will retaliate. In just a matter of days, our forces will mobilize.”

“Why in a matter of days?” Jules wondered. “Why not now, August?”

“All parties needed to agree to mobilize,” August replied. “That is what I have been doing with the council in this bunker,” he gestured around the table. “Whilst sipping coffee and eating sandwich points,” he sneered. “I have been communicating with all the pack leaders, and leaders of the supernatural communities who have been party to this alliance, and we have been making our plans on how to retaliate. War is not just a simple matter of throwing soldiers with guns onto the streets. We need to decide key points to target, and a plan of action. We could not anticipate the Van Helsings’ until they revealed their plans.”

“There are still gaps,” he added. “Missing information which is why the Point Crest Triquetra is leading a team to try to capture Sparrow, the man who is leading the Van Helsings in Havermouth.”

“Sparrow isn’t in charge,” Meguitte said, sounding slightly surprised. “Or not of everything. He answers to Father Isaiah.” Everyone’s eyes went to her, and she paled, the color visibly draining from her skin. “I mean, that’s what I heard whilst I was a prisoner,” she added quietly, backtracking and obviously regretting haven spoken.

“We know of a Father Isaiah,” August replied. “Their religious counsel.”

“He’s more than that,” she replied. “Sparrow’s not really in charge, although I think that he would like to be.”

“Well,” Connery said, putting his arm around Meguitte. “I think we’ve told you everything that you need to know, and Cameron and Rhett are eager to return to their mates, so we’d best be off. Come along, Meguitte,” he added, turning them towards the door. “Let’s go find Talen.”

“Where is Abigail?” Jules did not move.

“Abigail,” August sighed heavily. “Had an unfortunate encounter with the Van Helsings. She was rescued and is under medical care, but it will be quite some time, if ever, that she will be able to resume her role with the pack.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Jules murmured. “Abigail is a good woman. Give her my best wishes. Come, Cameron, Rhett, everyone,” he turned from the table. “Let us continue to the warehouse. We have done our duty by the pack and reported what we know. It is now time to reunite you with your mates and family.”

Rhett turned, but he could feel the tension in the air. August and Phillip had agreed to retain Cameron and Rhett, but Jules had countermanded their decision. Would August demand that they stay, or would he let them go?

“Escort them to the warehouse, but bring them back here afterwards,” August said to Greg. “All of them, including these vampires and Talen Gawaine.”

A temporary win, Rhett thought, his eyes on the elder Edison. He saw a subtle relax in the stretch of fabric over Jules’ shoulders. Jules was relieved that the battle for his son’s freedom would be delayed. It would be a battle, Rhett thought grimly, as August had ordered their return and charged Greg to ensure it.

“Rhett,” Phillip Salem rose to his feet. “A word before you leave.”

Rhett grimaced, exchanging a look with Cameron. His red-haired mate gave a subtle nod that he would not leave Rhett’s side.

“We’ll see you soon,” August called out as they stepped out of the meeting room into the business of the outer chamber. “Very soon.”

“This way, Rhett,” Phillip said as the doors were closed behind them. He gestured for Rhett to follow him towards a small office against the far wall. He did not protest when Jules and Cameron followed. As Phillip closed the office door, through the window, Rhett saw Connery and Harry huddle around Meguitte, the three whispering urgently amongst themselves, and the Point Crest Triquetra trying to eavesdrop on their conversation.

“Well?” Rhett demanded. “What is it?”

“I guess privacy was too much to expect?” Phillip raised his eyebrows at Jules and Cameron. “I would not intrude on your conversation with your son, Jules.”

“Get on with it, Phillip,” Jules leaned back against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. “We have places to be and people to see.”

“Rhett, you need to stay,” Phillip decided to ignore the Edisons, and addressed Rhett directly. “I would prefer to say this in private, but I trust that it will not leave the room, as Cameron is part of your Triquetra, and the Edisons look after their own.”

“That we do,” Jules’ tone implied that he did not think the same of Phillip.

“Our pack, the Rideten pack,” Phillip said to Rhett, ignoring Jules. “Has always worked well with the witches of Rideten and when you were young, my role was as an ambassador between the pack and the covens. I became friends with many of the witches, and when you were born, as a gift, they had their most talented witch cast a prophecy spell for you, in which she saw glimpses of your future.”

“Right, I bet that was disappointing for you,” Rhett smirked gesturing out with his hands to indicate his appearance.

“Hmm,” Phillip sneered as he ran his eye over his son. “This was not mentioned as part of the prophecy. What she did say was that you would be a rogue, but more specifically, that in being a rogue, you were a wildcard. That you could forge your own path and change the future. She saw two futures for you. One, where we remained in Rideten with our current pack, and you would eventually be cast out. And the other, where in Havermouth, you would eventually lead the pack.”

“Me?” Rhett’s jaw dropped. “Was she hallucinating?”

“Yes, actually,” Phillip smile was wry. “It’s part of the spell. But her prophecy spells have proven very accurate. She saw you leading the pack, Rhett, and I threw away everything to make that happen for you. I made the connection with August, and through him, we were accepted into Havermouth and the Les Guerriers Sanctifies. I possibly destroyed my marriage in doing so,” he added softly. “As my perceived betrayal resulting in your mother… But whatever,” he refocused on his son. “I have always told you that everything I have done, I have done for you.”

“Are you sure she wasn’t confusing me with Heath?” Rhett wondered. “I mean, he’s the more likely candidate.”

“Fate and the goddess have a sense of humor, for sure,” Phillip agreed. “Heath is rather more what I expected from my son. But we work with the materials we are given. Regardless, Rhett, your time is now. This is the opportunity, I am sure of it, for you to take hold of your destiny. If you are not here, with the pack, when this happens, everything I have done, everything I have sacrificed, will be for nothing. That future will not eventuate.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Jules pushed himself off the wall. “This isn’t the pack, Phillip, not here in this bunker. This is August’s version of the pack. The pack is out there, in danger. If Rhett’s destiny is to lead the pack, then he won’t do it sitting in a bunker under August’s thumb, he’ll do it out there, with his mates.”