03 - Mission Greenville

NORMAN’S POV~

My uncle was dead, the thought of it was unacceptable. I couldn’t believe it, we all couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t one to be empathetic but for some reason, I could feel the pain my dad felt. He would forever live with that scar, that guilt. After all, he was the one who let him go on that trip. He would never forgive himself.

I’m pretty sure Uncle Edgar and Cayce were loving it, seeing my father wrong. They warned him, they saw this coming and they warned him yet, he failed to listen. And I wonder where I got my inner stubbornness from when the source is very obvious.

Besides my uncle and Jane, the only thing Hector returned with was a knife. I heard it was mystical and that it belonged to the hunters. This whole mess was ridiculous and thinking about it even made me more mad. 

“This is so messed up; how did this happen?” My brother Niko asked me, as if I have a special vision or something.

“I don’t know Niko, last time I checked I was sitting on that dining table with you when our Mama dearest announced what Uncle Gerald volunteered to do.” I jeered all in one breath, he was starting to piss me off --everyone is. 

“It was just a simple question, Norman,” Nolan said bleakly then Niko thanked him.

Everyone had questions to throw at Hector, but he was still recuperating. We haven’t experienced or heard the death of a pack member by the hands of hunters since my grandmother. So it was hard for Hector, plus he was my uncle’s trusted hands. Eventually, Hector was ready to speak, then everyone gathered.

“It was dark, and sir Gerald had warned us about the south at nightfall. Nevertheless, he was determined to get those invitations through. We had approached the boarder when a sharp object stroke us. My guess was wolfsbane, lots of it.”

Soon, Hector began to sob, “Hector, if you can’t go on, it’s okay.” Nolan said to him softly. It's not easy to lose the one person that trusts you so much, I don't blame him too. 

After snivelling, Hector said, “No, no, no, where was I?”

“After losing my consciousness, I woke up to find myself tied up with a bewitched rope and to the hunter’s discussing. They said they were gonna kill us all. Then sir Gerald spoke to me, he told me what to do, and I did it. He saved my life.”

“What did he tell you to do?” Uncle Gerald’s angered wife asked Hector.

“After he was shot multiple times, he told me to run, run and don’t look back. I should have stayed with him, but he wanted me to get home safe, he knew the chnaces of him getting out was low so he let me escape while he served as a distraction.” Hector responded then he lowered his head in shame.

Angela, Gerald’s wife tried to bury her anger but she couldn’t,

“And you ran? Like a coward. And you say you’re his trusted hands.” She said with spite.

“Angela, please,” My mother placated, we know everyone was taking this hard and Angela taking it the hardest.

“My husband is dead! While yours is standing, alive, breathing! If he had just listened to Edgar and Cayce, my Gerald would have been standing here with us! So don’t try to hush me.” Angela retorted.

“He volunteered, don’t forget that.” My mother fired back, silencing Angela. We all know she was hurting but not enough to disrespect the throne. 

Tension sprouted, no one was at ease. It was then my father came out to address us.

“Everyone, can I get your attention.” He said. He was emotional but he didn’t let it get the best of him, “Today, today is a very sad day for us. We just lost a member of our beloved pack. A member who is or was, my brother. I loved Gerald so much and it breaks my heart to hear what happened to him. He wasn’t supposed to end like this, he was a good man.”

Then my father pointed at an empty space on the wall and he continued, “Look at that, do you all see that? That is where the heads of these hunters would be placed, in honor of my brother, and Jane.”

“If I may ask just who would be retrieving these heads?” Cayce asked my dad.

“Good question Cayce.” Edgar said with a short grin.

“I myself would go after those hunters. And I would rip the heart out of anyone in that town who dares desists me.” My father responded.

I wasn’t surprised by my father’s response, typical me. Swayed by my emotions, causing me to make drastic decisions.

“Once again brother, you fail me with your yet again prominent impulsive decisions. Isn’t our brother’s death enough, now you want to make the triplet’s fatherless?” My uncle Edgar said.

“We are werewolves for goodness sakes brother! We are strong, mighty and fierce. If I remember quite vividly, the humans are the one frightened by us, not the other way round.” My father stressed.

I watched my brothers while our father spoke, and he was right. We are werewolves, we are strong, mighty and fierce. Shortly, Nolan said,

“Father, might I suggest something,”

NOLAN’S POV~

I didn’t know what I was thinking when I said that. All I knew was that I wasn’t gonna be fatherless at 18. Although it was partly my father’s fault, at least we, his children had to make amends for him.

“Go on son,” My father said.

I spluttered but eventually, my words were firm,

“Father, if Greenville is as dangerous as they say, why not be stealth. Plus, I’m sure they are a town with governing authorities like ours, don’t you think that there would be some sort of rules or ethics that’ll be against what you’re planning to do.”

“I don’t care about their rules or ethics neither do I care about being stealth. Where were their so called ethics and secrecy when they killed my brother?!”

“Edward, please listen to Nolan.” My mother said calmly.

“Father you’re getting things misconstrued. You don’t know these hunters,”

“I’ll find them,” He responded almost immediately.

“Where? It’s not like they wear a tag on their foreheads.” I retorted.

“Edward, I’ll advise you to listen to what your son has to say,” My uncle Cayce said softly.

I continued after my father gave me the signal,

“We need a plan and this plan will not involve you, father.” I said, then I looked at my brothers. I could see confusion in their eyes, almost as if they knew where I was getting at.

“Where are you getting at son?” My dad asked me.

“You’re the king, this is your kingdom. Leaving it to seek vengeance on your brother in a town contaminated with dispatchers, don’t you think it’s a bad idea?”

After a while of awkward silence, my uncle Edgar said,

“The boy’s right. This is not a one man’s mission.”

In pursuit of a solution, my father sought deliberation. He then said,

“Hector at dawn, take with you Kaleb and my brother Edgar to retrieve Gerald and Jane’s bodies. We’re gonna give them a befitting burial. Also, anything you find that could help us unmask these killers quickly, do well in bringing it for me.” Immediately, my uncle and Hector agreed, then he turned to I and my brothers, saying,

“My sons, please come close.” We came close and then my father continued,

“Death is inevitable, and just like your uncle Gerald, I will cease to exist one day. Therefore there would be a need for one of my sons to take up the position as the king. It could be you, Nolan, or you, Norman, or even you, Niko.”

I was lost, where was my father driving at?

“There is a school in Greenville, a highschool where you three would enroll. I’ll have Syd do all the paperwork you three need not worry.”

A highschool? What?

“But father,” I tried to intervene for me and my brothers but King Edwards immediately cut me short by saying,

“You wanted stealth, you’ll have it.” Then he continued, “When you’ve settled down and gotten used to your new environment, your mission begins.”

“What mission?” Niko asked him.

“Kill all hunters that pose a threat to our community. They killed Jane, your grandmother, and now your uncle, I’d like to think that’ll be the last of us they’ll kill.”

“What about the space on the wall?” Norman asked our father.

“It’s not a befitting tribute for your uncle. A space on the wall? Ridiculous! Instead, I would dedicate a whole room to the hearts of these hunters. Kill them and bring me their hearts. Then and only then, would you be able to ascend the throne.”

“Edward, you’re sending the triplets on a death mission!” My mum was not in accordance with my father’s wishes.

“Oh for goodness sake Saloma! They’re werewolves!” My agitated father said while I and my brothers completed his statement saying,

“Strong, mighty and fierce.”

Then my father said, “You leave for school first thing at dawn. Be safe, and most of all, be smart.” He said all of this without looking at us in the eye. He knew it was a dangerous mission, but he believed in us and I trusted him.

I and my brothers didn’t know what hell of a ride we were marching into, but we sure knew that it was going to be thrilling.