66
NIRVANA
“Who?” I asked.
“He said he knows you both. A werewolf from Portland.”
Knight and I shared a look.
“What is going on, guys?”
We shifted our gaze to Kailin.
“It’s Dylan.”
“Who’s Dylan?”
“Long story short, he’s my distant cousin. Let’s go and see why he’s here.”
We rushed the ride to the tasting room. Dust covered the Hammer behind us. Now that another player could be in the game, the guys took our safety seriously.
I instantly saw Dylan pacing before the counter. He seemed worried or scared. He hugged the backpack into his chest as if protecting it with his dear life. The moment he saw us, he came to us, but the guys went forward to stop him.
“Whoa, guys.” He raised both hands. “I mean no harm.”
“It’s okay, guys. I know him.”
“We can’t guarantee his words, Luna,” Tucker said.
“I swear. I’m not here to cause trouble. In fact, I came here if you could give me a place to lie low.”
“What’s wrong?” Knight said, gesturing for the guys to calm down.
“Alpha, how do we know he’s not a bad guy taking this guy’s body?” Maddox had a point, but I knew this was Dylan.
“Mad is right,” North seconded.
“That’s absurd. He’s my distant cousin.”
“It’s me. You came to my house days ago. I took you to the attic, and you opened my grandmother’s box.”
“That’s him.”
“I’m not convinced.”
I rolled my eyes at West. The twins were really alike, but I got it. They were just trying to protect us.
“Guys, enough!” Knight glared at them before facing Dylan. “What did you tell me when we left Nirvana in the attic?”
His cheeks turned red, grimacing. “I told you that I found my mate, but she rejected me because I belonged to a low-class family, and she’s after demigods. And then you laughed and told me I did the same when I met your cousin, but it fucking hurt; it made me insane. When I was given a second chance, I proved to myself that I was more than just a jerk of an alpha, and she was more than just my mate. She’s my everything.”
While Dylan was saying those words, I didn’t know I was smiling.
“Damn it, Dylan. You don’t have to tell them the details.” I felt the shame in Knight’s voice as he stepped forward to shake Dylan’s hand. “Why are you here? Are you alone?”NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
“Long story.”
“Well, we got time. Come with us.”
“You didn’t turn rogue, did you?” I hugged him, making Knight groan. It probably mostly came from his wolf. I felt his anxiousness, and I thought he was hiding something and leaving that vital detail to himself.
“No, but kinda. Maybe I’m already rogue, but I have reasons.”
“Anyway, meet Maddox and Tucker. North and West are our annoying twins. The guy who has been shooting you glares is Luka. And my best friend, Kailin.” I raised a brow at my mate. What was that all about? “Okay. Let’s go to the pack house.”
Once the car pulled over at the driveway, I linked Knight. “Take him to the office where there’s a spell. I think he’s hiding something from us. I want you to grill him.”
“You’re not coming with me?” He held my hand, allowing the guys with Dylan to go first inside the house.
“Oh, I will.” I told Luka, “Luka, grab the backpack from him once he’s in Knight’s office.”
“Noted, Vana,” said Luka.
Then I realized something. “Wait. Where’s Grandpa?”
He groaned. “Damn it. I forgot to tell you. I let him stay with his pack for a while. There, they can protect him. I informed Alpha Grayson of what happened to the restaurant. I left some details. Don’t worry.”
“Thanks.” I kissed him on the lips.
Humor flooded in his eyes. “What was that for?”
“For taking care of my grandfather and what you said to Dylan back in Portland.”
“I know I was an asshole, and I will be making it up to you for the rest of my life for the pain I’ve caused.”
“Don’t be dramatic. Let’s go and find out what secret he’s been keeping from us.”
“You can’t take that.” At the office, Dylan looked terrified when Luka snatched the backpack away.
I felt like he was trying hard to control his wolf from coming out.
“And why is that?” Knight locked the door.
“What’s going on, Nirvana? I thought we were cousins and we were supposed to protect each other. Why are you treating me like some kind of bad guy?” He shifted his terrified gaze at everyone in the room.
“Good question, Dylan. We’re cousins, but I didn’t even know about you three days ago. Tell me what you’re keeping from us, or I swear I will put you in the cell.” I looked at Knight. “We have a prison cell here, have we?”
“Yes, Luna. A dungeon. I should give you a tour. Let me know when you’re free.”
“Thanks, Luka. I’d like that.” I glared down at Dylan, sitting on the chair surrounded by these feral werewolves.
“I left Portland yesterday. I told Kol, Niko, and Phin I’m leaving to find a family.”
“And who might that be?” Knight asked, showing no hint of emotion.
I looked at him, terrified. How could a warm and loving man turn off his emotions in a snap?
“Her grandfather, but I was too late.” He swallowed hard. Guilt filled his eyes.
“Why are you looking for my grandfather, Dylan?”
Finally, he looked me in the eye confidently. “Am I allowed to say before your men?”
“North, West, out,” Knight ordered. Tucker stayed at the Tasting room.
Once they were out, Luka raised his hand. “Forgive me for the interruption, Alpha, but why are we trusting his words? Maybe he came here, spying on us. Maybe there was a third man in-” He shrugged.
“I wanna hear his side, Luka. Talk.” One word, Dylan dropped his gaze.
“Case is tasked with keeping the sword at all costs, but I have a feeling he doesn’t even know the purpose.”
“Shit. He knows,” I told Knight telepathically. “Let’s hear him out.”
“And then?”
“My grandmother told me to remember what she said before she died. Only a bloodline of Katzius can find and open my journal.”
“I say this is bullshit,” Kailin reacted.
“If you don’t believe me, I’m going.” He shrugged. “I hope you set me free.”
“What do you know about the sword, Dylan?”
“Not much, Alpha, but if Nirvana could read the content of the journal and not gibberish like how I saw it, then she would have the blood of Katzius, and I have a feeling she knows what the sword is used for.”
“You were at the restaurant?”
“Yeah. I got to the back door. I know those guys. They were from one of the New York packs.”
“What pack?”
“Horizon pack. They’re a group of rogues who formed a new pack. They think they’re badasses. I guess someone asked them to steal the sword and paid them a hefty amount. That’s what they do.”
“So they have the sword?”
Dylan smiled. “Not really. They stole it with the glass and broke it, but it was laced with a spell. Unlucky for them, they’re not our blood relatives.”
“They can’t touch it,” Knight said.
“Yes. It burned their hands. I mean, it literally lit up. While they cried in pain, I picked it up, and I swear, I felt it vibrated in my hand.”
“Where is it now?”
He smiled again. “Somewhere safe. You were there with Case, weren’t you?”
“No. Knight and Grandpa.”
“So what now? Do you want money? You’re selling the sword to us?”
“Are you kidding me?” He looked offended. “There are lives, probably millions of lives are at stake here. I don’t give a damn about money. Whether you like it or not, you need me. There are people tasked to keep these secrets called the keepers and the wielder of the secret weapon, aside from our bloodline.”
“And you didn’t tell me about this while we were in Portland?”
“I just wanna make sure you are my cousin, but you both were able to get in the house without harming yourself.”
I looked at Knight, and he was looking at me in surprise.
“The house is protected?” I stared at Dylan in disbelief.
“You both have good intentions, but yes.”
“Shit.”
“You need all the help you can get. My grandmother and hers did not fulfill their destiny, so, as her cousin, I’m here to help Nirvana fulfill it for them.”