Chapter 47
Braxton
I wanted to wait until we made it to the Pack lands to tell Levi about Ballian, but that went out the window quickly. His reaction was not what I expected, although I can’t blame him. I’m still getting used to Ballian being able to speak through me. Shit, I’ve never heard father’s wolf communicate through him before. Things just keep getting stranger and stranger by the minute. Hopefully, Elder Nelah will be able to shed some light on all of this.
“Alpha,” Levi calls as he stops at a red light. He glances over his shoulder at me. “When did this happen?"
“I initially felt Ballian’s presence in the conference room when I or should I say, we made Nyah’s wolf submit, then again when we were in our suite. I know this is a lot to take in, my friend, and I’m sure you have more questions, but I really don’t have the answers. This is the reason why we’re going to the Pack lands to talk with Elder Nelah.”
Levi nods before facing forward. He remains silent as the light turns green and pulls off.
“I can see why you chose him to be our Beta. He has a strong will and will lay down his life for you,” Ballian says in my head.
“Levi has always been loyal, and I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side, but the way things are going; I’m starting to wonder if I chose him or if the Gods did.” I return.
Ballian chuckles. “The Gods only chose your destined wolf. They leave it up to the Alpha’s to select their Betas.’ That way if you have a problem with your Beta, you can’t blame them. They expect you as an Alpha to make wise and smart decisions when you handpick your Beta, and in some cases, Omega.”
“Well, I know I made the right decision regarding Levi.”
“And I totally agree,” Ballian agrees as Nyah elbows me in the side. “Our mate is requesting your attention.”
As he fades away, I ask Nyah, “Yes, love?”
“Levi was talking to you.” She scrunches her brow, knowing I was having a mental conversation with Ballian.
“I’m sorry, Levi. What were you saying?”
Levi normally drives with one hand, but this time he looks like a student driver with his hands wrapped around the steering wheel at nine and three.
“I felt him, Alpha. I connected with...Ballian when you touched my shoulder. It was nothing that I ever experienced before. The power and strength that exuded from the two of you shot through me.” Levi shakes his head from side to side, having me think he has a problem with Ballian. “If I wasn’t driving, I would do this properly, but since I am, I’ll do it now.”
Levi turns into a gas station, then finds a place to park.
“Levi, we can wait to do this once we get to the Pack lands,” I told him.
“If we were basic Alpha and Beta, but we’re not,” he says, getting out.
As he walks around the back of the car, Nyah clutches my hand harder.
“Let him have this moment. He needs this moment.”
Levi opens my door as I bow my head to Nyah.
“Alpha, please step out,” he instructs.
I kiss the back of Nyah’s hand, before letting it go to step out of the car.
Levi and I stand face to face as if we’re sizing each other up, but I know differently. He has some shit he wants to get off his chest and I’m going to let him. That’s what a true Alpha will do.
“Braxton, I’ve been your Beta for years and your friend even longer. I’m not going to lie, hearing...Ballian speak through you freaked the shit out of me, but once you laid your hand on my shoulder, I felt a sense of calmness pour through me. The blended feeling of you and his aura let me know he wants what’s best for you, just as I do. So, with that being said, I pledged my life to you a long time ago, and now I give my pledge to you and Ballian, my Alphas.”
As I studied my Beta, best friend, and the person I consider as a brother with admiration and respect, he doesn’t flinch as my eyes change to Ballian’s and he says, “Thank you, Levi. I know Braxton has made a similar declaration when he named you as his Beta and I am doing the same; right here and now. You and I together will always protect him.”
“To the death,” Levi growls, holding his hand out.
Ballian takes this time to remove himself from the rest of the conversation.
I take Levi’s hand, gripping it firmly before shaking it. Pulling him into a brotherly hug, I tell him, “Thank you, Levi. And you know I feel the same way about you. We’ve laughed together, fought together, and made money together in the process. If I didn’t have you by my side, I wouldn’t want anyone else. I have younger siblings from my father who I love, but with the relationship we have in my eyes it has moved past the Alpha and Beta titles. I see you as my brother, Levi. I am a firm believer of the saying ‘Blood doesn’t always make family’ .” I wave my hand between the two of us. “You have always been my family; Levi and you know how I feel about family.”
“I do,” he responded as we continued to hug it out.
We take a step back when Nyah yells out the window. “As touching as this is, we need to get going. Daddy just called and said they are waiting for us at the cabin.”
“Who’s they?” Levi and I ask at the same time.
“He didn’t say,” Nyah replies.
Looking at Levi, I smirk. “Welcome to the unknown.”
I stared out the window as the question of ‘who’s they’ still echoed in my mind. Could they be our fathers, needing us to come back with news of the war? Maybe, they meant Alpha Lightfeather, father and the Pack wanting us to return to enjoy one of the Alpha’s meals. Who knows, I guess we would find out once we got there.
The ride was silent with Nyah, Levi, and I in deep thought. No doubt they were thinking the same as me. All we can do is speculate and hope for the best and pray that it’s nothing bad. We’ve seen enough blood shed for today, but if more needs to be spilled, I was ready for it.
Twenty minutes later, Levi is turning onto the road to the Pack lands. He slows the car down as two armed guards step out of the woods. It’s a good thing Alpha Lightfeather is taking precautions in ensuring the safety of the Pack.
“That’s Dakota and Lenny,” Nyah informs as we slowly near them.
Once we’re close enough, Levi lets the windows down so they can see that it’s us inside. The men bow their heads as Levi proceeds on.
“I would have thought your father would have had more than two guards posted,” Levi says to Nyah.
“Oh, he does. You only saw two but believe me there are more. Daddy always said let people see what they want to see until it’s time to reveal your true plan,” Nyah returns with a grin.
“True words of an Alpha,” I counter.
A few moments later, Levi is parking the car in front of the cabin. What’s surprising to us is that everyone is standing there as if they were awaiting our arrival. This cannot be good.
Not waiting for Levi or me to open her door, Nyah does it herself, then dashes to her father.
“Daddy, what’s wrong? Is Crown okay?”
Alpha Lightfeather hugs his daughter, replying, “Nothing is wrong, Nyah. Crown is off playing with some of the Pack children.”
Levi and I joined them.
“Alpha, we were on our way here when you called Nyah,” I say, “Why were you calling for us to come?”
He shifts his eyes to Elder Nelah who is dressed in what could be described as an Ancestral robe of our people.
She displays a soft, motherly smile before saying, “The two of you need to come with us.”
“Why?” Nyah questioned.
“And where?” I add.
Elder Nelah reaches out and places one hand on my cheek and the other on Nyah’s. Our eyes simultaneously close from her warm touch. Behind my eyelids Ballian’s yellow eyes stare back at me.
“Trust her,” he whispers as his eyes fade into the darkness.
When Nyah and I open our eyes, we glance at each other. Did she just experience the same thing as I did? My question is answered as she slowly moves her head up and down.
“I’m coming with,” Levi voices. “I am Braxton’s Beta, and I should be with him wherever you are about to take them.”
Elder Nelah’s smile never falters, withdrawing her hand from face. She then takes her other hand from my cheek and lays it on Levi’s as she faces him. “You are a formidable Beta Levi, and some would even go as far to say more than that, but this is only for Braxton, Nyah, and their fathers. One day you will understand.”
I don’t know what type of energy she’s passing through to Levi, but he blankly stares at her as if he’s in a trance. I go to remove her hand, but father stops me. As I start to ask him why, father whispers, “You never interfere with an Elder as they are sacredly speaking to another.”
Elder Nelah gently rubs Levi’s cheek before lowering her hand. Levi bows his head as he takes a step back. Kenia comes to his side, wrapping her arm around his waist. My Beta gives me one last look before the two of them along with James, walk towards the back of the cabin. What did Elder Nelah say or show him? I’m definitely going to find out after this little field trip she’s about to take us on.
“Follow me,” Elder Nelah says, moving as if she’s hovering over the ground towards the tree line.
Grasping Nyah’s hand, I pull her close to me. “Where is she taking us?”
“I don’t know,” she answered as we began to follow Elder Nelah with our fathers behind us.
I know a good thirty minutes have passed since we left the cabin and we’re now deep into the forest. So far in, the top of the trees is hiding the Sun leaving us with just a little amount of light to see in front of us.
“Nyah, do you know where we are?” I mentally ask her.
She looks around, then replies, “I know we went into the direction of the Elder’s cabin but at some point, we veered off. Braxton, I thought I knew these woods inside and out, but right now, I honestly don’t know where we are.”
Although Ballian said to trust Elder Nelah, the slight panic in my mate’s voice halts my steps.
“With all due respect Elder Nelah, my mate nor I will not go any further until you say where you’re taking us.”
“Braxton,” father chastises from behind.
Elder Nelah holds up her hand. “It’s fine, Alpha. We have made it to our destination.”
She points to her right. There stands a large wigwam that wasn’t there before.
“How? Where?” Nyah inquires, glancing at her father. “Daddy, did you know about this place? Why have I never come across it?”
Before Alpha Lightfeather can reply, Elder Nelah answers for him. “That is because this wigwam and the ground under it is blessed by our Ancestors. To keep others and Pack members from finding it, the Gods relocate it often. I am the only one who can find it. And the only time I come here is when they need me for their voice.”
“Voice for what?” I snarl.
Her gentle demeanor transforms into one that sends shivers down my spine. Her eyes grow cold, and her beautiful smile now unveils pointed fangs that could sliced through the toughest hides of leather.
“You will never speak to me like that, boy . I have been on this earth long enough to see my people killed, done things for the sake of my people, and continue to do what is necessary to keep my people alive. You are an Alpha in all aspects, but never forget that I am your Elder and should be shown the proper respect at all times.”
I don’t know if this was the persona she showed Levi, but at any rate, it’s enough to make me bow my head like he did.
And just like that, her calm, angelic demeanor reappeared.
“Let’s go inside.”