Chapter 10: Forbidden Territory

Gideon starts to climb out of the window, trusting Daniel would cover for him while he’s away, until he hears him shout at him.

“Hey!  Bathe, dude.  You look like crap.”  He nods and rushes to the bathroom.

That makes sense.  After all, he was on a mission to find out everything he needed to know, but from her pack.  “Make a good impression.”  Daniel echoes from the bedroom.

He puts on his least ragged clothes; the closest he’s got that didn’t have more than three holes.  He even combed his signature messy hair.  Daniel watched his nephew fuss about in the room trying to look presentable to the pack of the girl he loves.  It was amusing.  Reminded him of his older brother, Idris, when he was cheering his brother on the side to talk to Hailey.   It was refreshing to see the good side of history repeat itself, but he also couldn’t help but worry.  Daniel knew about the family he was about to meet.  The father of the girl his nephew was in love with used to be his friend, but since they left he was just a mere memory.  Enoch was a close family friend.   He was even there when Enoch met Samantha.  Technically, Daniel was there eavesdropping on them when the couple met.  He smiles at the memory, his attention changed to his nephew climbing the window. 

“Use the door, bonehead.” He sighs.

“No.  If I do, they’ll ask.  Grandma knows about Leora.  I’m not wasting any more time just by talking to them.” He climbs out and runs towards the forest.

“This is why I am not having kids.” He closes the window. “This and who else do I talk to? Me. That’s who.  This is just sad.”  He talks to himself while shaking his head from side to side leaving Giddy’s room.

Running through the woods, but remembering he had to make a good impression, he slowed down.   “I shouldn’t look so dirty.  I’m meeting her pack.”  He clears his throat and walks calmly.  He sensed a presence, a heavy feeling in his chest, so heavy it caused him to stop walking and bow.  Heavy footsteps come towards him, followed by a familiar voice.

“Hey! It’s you!” Cora exclaims.  Gideon looks up to see Leora’s aunt’s face.  Beside her was a big man.  A man who looked mightier than his uncle Daniel.  A body sculpted to rip heads apart from the mouth, eyes that knew no kindness glowed with anger at the intruder.  Enoch knew this presence, it was new yet familiar.  He didn't like what this would entail for his family, the boy's presence enough was screaming trouble.

“Who are you?” Enoch’s voice commanded answers to be spilled immediately.   A true Alpha’s presence made all cower and obey, yet he had a hint of weakness and vulnerability.  This is not their Alpha.

“Oh, calm down E, he’s Leora’s guest.”  Cora crouches to where Gideon is bowing from, “Roll with me if you want to make it all the way to Leora.” A hint of fear was both in their eyes.  Gideon nods and stands upright. 

“Yes, I am.  My name is Gideon and I’m a friend of your daughter’s.”  Cora smiles approvingly.

“See, I told you we didn’t have to patrol the forest just because you felt something off.”  She teases and nudges him.  “Come on let’s go home.  I bet Leora is excited to see this boy.”  Cora pulled Gideon to walk beside her while Enoch walked behind them scowling. 

“What brings you to this side of the bridge?” Cora asks, keeping the mood light.

“I – I’m here to see Leora.” Gideon nervously answers.  ‘No, I should not act meek to him.  I know what brought me here and what will keep me here,’ he thinks to himself. 

“Actually, sir, I’m here to learn more about Leora’s curse.” Taken aback, Enoch’s eyes glow bright yellow, growls, and huffs shallowly almost turning into his wolf form, but Cora punches him in the face before he can even turn.

“Don’t”, she growls.  “I know about him and Leora.  He’s a good kid, E.  Hear him out.”

“You knew?” Enoch shouts.

“The fact that you didn’t despite being her father means you partially failed your only duty”, Cora stands her ground. “Father?” Gideon whispers to himself.   Cora continues to speak.

“Hear. Him. Out.” She stresses each word.

Enoch was a man of reason. Empathy was not in the cards for him, that’s his wife’s job.  He looked at Gideon in his defensive stance and his sister who was in front of the boy blocking the outsider from him.

“Speak.”

Gideon, not releasing himself from his defensive stance in case Enoch charges at him, starts to explain where and when he met his daughter. 

“Why’d she tell you about the curse?” Enoch asks.  Now standing in a more relaxed manner.  His eyes not glowing anymore, but Cora still standing in between them.

“Because she and I—“

“What are you doing here?”  the conversation gets cut by Leora.   “Mom’s looking for both of you .  What’s going on here?” Her eyes dart from her father, aunt, and Gideon.

“Leora! Right on time” Cora happily says. “Let’s all go home.  Gideon here came all this way to know more about you.  Let’s welcome him the Celes way.  Come.”

Gideon's eyes soften as she walks to him and leans in for a hug.  They walk hand in hand as Enoch watches how the pair walks away with Cora leading the way home.  He didn’t like Gideon, but he knew what it felt like to want to keep someone precious to you safe.  His determination to want to be with her only meant one thing. 

“They’re mates.” He says to himself.  The wind blows towards him as if it were a sign that his statement was agreed by nature.  He watches them leaning towards each other for comfort, smiling at each other filled with adoration and peace.  His little girl has found someone who wants to protect her like he did.  A glimpse of himself and Samantha flashes before his eyes.  He shakes his head sideway, chuckles at the absurdity that despite what's about to happen to her she still managed to find love.  He surrenders to the image.  He walks forward but gives them a bit of distance for whatever they’re talking about.  He looks up to the sky.

“He better save her, Mom,” Enoch says to the wind.  Drawing his eyes to his daughter and mate, “The gods know this boy is their hell.”

“So, what were you talking about with my dad?”  Leora whispers knowing well that her father could be listening. 

“I told him everything.”

“Everything?” Leora gasped, gripping Gideon’s hands a little too tight.

“Yeah, everything.  I told him the gist of what you told me.” She exhales in relief.  As much as she wanted the truth to be out she still felt embarrassed about her father finding out about him this way.

“I wanted to tell him about you, but this seems okay too.” She looks back to where her father follows them, she smiles sweetly at him.  “I think he likes you.”

“I don’t think he does.”

“Of course he does.  You’re still alive!” She laughs. Gideon laughs along with her finally relaxing beside her.  The tension upon meeting her father was washed away the moment she came.

“I just hope he doesn’t take my breathing privileges away.” He jokes.

“I won’t, for now,” Enoch says from behind.

“We’re here!” Cora shouts.  The family comes together walking towards the house.  The place looked very pleasing and warm.  A large house of two stories was built in the center of the land. On the right, there was a cabin with a few rows of plantations of potatoes, tomatoes, and other vegetables his mother taught him, but he never distinguished the difference unless they were above ground.  On the left side, a stack of wood, a bunch of axes, and a makeshift training ground.  A garden of beautiful flowers was found at the front of the home.  The hydrangeas bloomed and smelled exquisitely as they passed by them.

 “My family and I live on the cabin over there.”  Leora points to the cabin on the right.  “The rest live in here.” She enters first and spreads her arms presenting her home to him.  The large home was even warmer.  They entered the home with a lot of busybodies walking around.   Samantha, in the middle of a messy kitchen, runs over to them and welcomes Gideon. 

“Hi, I sensed you coming.  Well, I saw you.” She laughs. “And you, I told you to call your father because I needed his help.”  

“I was a little busy,” Enoch replies pointing his eyes at Gideon.

“Well, you’re here now.  Now, help me with preparing the food.”  Enoch kisses his wife on the lips and continues to the kitchen. “You too, Cora!” She shouts.

Cora flinches as she tries to sneak away, but gets blocked by Larkin who’s holding a basket full of vegetables. “Hey, help out,” he says passing the basket to her.

“And who is this?” Larkin teases.  He circles Gideon, scanning him, and smells him.  

“Are you—you can’t be.  Are you a new in-law?”  He wiggles his brows at Leora and nudges Gideon’s side.  “Shut up, Uncle Larkin.” Leora pushes her uncle away and pulls Gideon to the living room where there’s less chaos.  They sat on the sofa and chatted more.  Gideon felt right at home.  Leora’s family was big, like his. He understood the messes, the loudness, the overwhelming feeling of being part of a pack.

“Your uncle seems amused by me.” They both turn to look at him in the kitchen playing with a carrot and using it to poke Cora on the forehead while she peels potatoes.

“He’s amused by a lot of things.  But that,” Leora points at Larkin, “is his natural state.” Gideon didn’t sense any malice in any of them who were in the kitchen.  He genuinely thought he was welcomed.

More of the family came by the time evening was rolling in.  Salma and Jacob, along with their kid, Blake, came.  Salma was a little weary of Gideon’s presence, she knew where she’d smelled him before.  All too familiar old friends.  However, she felt that it was unfair of her to judge him without really hearing him out, so instead she acted accordingly and welcomed him politely. The gathering was becoming lively until he felt the heaviest presence enter.  An authoritative presence, a heavy ache came over him but he couldn’t show it.  Thazar, the Alpha of the pack had arrived.

The intense feeling Gideon was getting the best of him.  He grabbed Leora’s hand for comfort and reassurance.  She notices right away the aura her grandfather gives and covers his hand with hers.  She leans forward, “It’s okay.  Grandpa won’t do anything to you.  I promise.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.  You’re still unharmed.  My dad would’ve already, but ta-dah, you’re still good.”  Leora confidently kisses him on the cheek, where her uncle Larkin throws a balled-up paper at them.

“Do that outside!” he shouts and laughs.  Cora immediately smacks her brother on the head and shoves a balled-up paper in his mouth right before he can even say ‘What?’

Gideon stands as Thazar sits by a chair adjacent to them.  Thazar raises his hand, a weak wave and a sweet smile towards them.  He exhales in relief of comfort as his back hits the cushion.

“Hello, there young man.  I don’t think we’ve met before.”  He says finally relaxing on his chair.

“Yes, sir.  My name is Gideon—“

“It’s all right, boy.  I know whose grandson you are.  You look just like him. Also, call me Thazar, please.”  Thazar smiles at the similarities his old friend Gideon Sr. had with his grandson, including his name.

“What brings you here?” He leans forward with genuine curiosity.

“I—“ Gideon clears his throat. “I came here to learn more about Leora’s… condition.”

A small ‘ah’ came on Thazar’s lips realizing that this boy is not just a guest, he’s planning to be more. 

“I can tell you more about it in private.  But let me ask you this first, does your grandmother know you’re here?”

Stunned by the question, he stutters for an answer. “I—I—no, sir.  Only my uncle Daniel does.”

Thazar nods his head in silent understanding, ‘he was already warned yet here he was.’

“Food’s ready!” Cora shouts.

“It’s best we speak of heavy topics after a meal,” he smiles. 

Emilio enters the home tired from training Elena, Leora's younger sister.  He passes Gideon and Leora without a second glance.  He goes straight to the table starving, while Elena goes straight to Leora about to tell her how her day went when she spots Gideon beside her.  Her eyes widen and a grin plays on her face.  Leora scowls and mouths 'please don't'.   She giggles and gives her grandpa a short greeting and leave the room.   Samantha calls for the family to come to the table.  It was full of food that seemed more for a festival than a usual dinner.  The food prepared was so good even Gideon started to drool.  The seats were filled and the food was eaten.   Everyone exchanged stories of how their day went and stories they wanted to share with Gideon.  He felt like a missing piece of a puzzle finally fitting in and completing a great picture.  Laughter and a joyous aura hung in the air when suddenly a knock interrupted the night.

All eyes look directly at the living room door.

Enoch stands and opens the door cautiously.

“Aunt Oliviana?”