Chapter 22: Chapter 22

All these thoughts about keeping Clara under a spell forever made Xander happy. He liked Clara even more now that she was an obedient puppy.

Meanwhile, a certain someone watched in shock from the other side of the street as Xander and Clara drove away from the apartment. Shocked to see the striking resemblance between Clara and the late queen but what shocked her the most was seeing the young girl in the company of a werewolf. They even wore matching outfits. Mary was in great disbelief. Mere looking at Clara from afar she could already tell that girl was yet to cultivate her powers.

She waited on the spot for a long time before leaving as she needed to report back to her people. Mary hailed a cab and left the area. After about a thirty minutes drive, Mary highlighted the cab and walked her way toward the tall and massive building that stood majestically in the middle of other houses. Tall trees and well trimmed flowers surrounded the building. The limestone, flint and granite walls stood firm even though one could tell how old the building was with just a glance. Mary walked towards the entrance, pushing one of the huge double doors and entered into the building. She passed an empty ballroom, walked through a long passage before coming to stand in front of another door. She paused to take a breath before pushing the door and going in. To her surprise, everyone was present in the room and they stared eagerly at her, wanting to know the outcome of her findings, except for Nimue who looked as if she had all the time in the world.

"Please come and take a seat". Nimue waved at Mary to come over and take a seat In one of the empty chairs in the room. Mary walked over and took her seat before looking up at the people present in the room.

"She had emerald green eyes and dark silky long hair," Mary announced. Gasps alongside low whispers could be heard among the people who were seated in the room.

"And?" Said Nimue, signaling Mary to speak up.

"She's in the company of a werewolf," said Mary. Anger flashed through Nimue's eyes

"Those filthy creatures. what werewolf?" she asked.

"I can't tell," Mary shrugs, biting her inner cheek. Nimue stood up from her seat and went to stand on a slightly higher floor so that all present could hear her loud and clear. She cleared her throat before speaking.

"My people, the time has finally come for us to step out of the shadows. We have been asleep for too long. we have a queen and the broken link shall be restored".

"But, we must first protect our own from the other creatures. We must not allow history to play us a second time". Nimue admonished her people.

Climbing down from the higher floor, Nimue signaled for a guy to come over. She whispered something into his ears and the young man left the room immediately.

"Now that all is said. we have to figure out a way to bring her back home, her power is still dormant. It wouldn't go down well if her power is triggered prematurely,"said a voice from amongst the people.

"I agree with you, Rufus. This is definitely something to worry about,``said Nimue, nodding her head in agreement.

In the meantime, Xander had driven into the pack's territory but he parked his car in an open field just a few meters away from the pack house. They remained inside the car, just sitting there in silence until Xander broke the silence.

He cleared his throat before turning to face Clara whose eyes seemed a little distant, she sat still like a mannequin, her eyes dull and void of her usual cheerfulness. She craned her neck to the side and stared back at Xander as he grabbed her left hand and toyed with her fingers.

"Clara, I have something to tell you," Xander said and his wolf sneered at him.

"Are you kidding? She would do whatever we say Xander. she's under a spell" Bardulf said"

"It doesn't matter," Xander growled at him. "Foolish human" Bardulf growled back at him.

"Clara!"

"My father runs a family business. I have Just taken over the business and my dad is hosting a party in this regard. I would like you to accompany me". Said Xander as he watched Clara intently.

Clara stared at him for a few moments and nodded with a smile. She was more like a mindless vessel. The potion has Clara's mind trapped, robbing away her free will. She would agree to anything and do anything to please Xander.

Xander smiled back at her, letting go of the hand. Xander turned on the engine and drove towards the pack house without telling Clara where they were headed. He didn't need to. She was his puppet and he would leave it that way.

Xander parked his car behind the pack house. He grabbed the black leather jacket from the back seat and gave it to Clara.

"Put that on"

Not because he cared for her or anything but simply because the butterfly birthmark on her lower neck would give her away and he couldn't risk anyone knowing what she was, not today at least.

He watched intently as Clara obediently wore the jacket on, then his eyes traveled to her neck that has been completely covered by the jacket. He nodded.

"Come, let me introduce you to my father.".

Clara stepped down from the car and walked to stand next to him. Xander took her hands in his and led her into the pack house. He walked her through the very busy passage where pack members walked to and fro as they tried to put things in order before the ceremony. They gave Xander slight bows as they walked past Clara and him.

They came to stand In front of a wooden double door that had little carvings. Xander pushed open the door and he led Clara inside. The large throne room was beautifully decorated with paintings, carvings and portraits. Thick curtains hung down from the windows. Exotic chandelier hung down from the ceiling. Chairs were arranged in two opposite rows with a throne standing higher and taller away from the other chairs. The room was nothing short of splendor. But of course, Clara's mind was too fuzzy to focus on or notice anything.

"Father" Xander called out.

Pius was standing in front of the window, staring into space when he heard Xander call out to him. He turned around and his eyes landed on the girl that stood next to Xander. Her raven dark hair and green eyes reminded him of someone but he shook off the idea. One look at the girl, he could already tell she was a young adult. Her eyes read innocence, naivety and something else he couldn't place his finger on.

"I see you have finally brought your mate" Pius said as he strode over to them.

"Clara, meet my father, Pius Ethelwulf. Father, this is Clara Michael my mate," Xander introduced with great pride.

"Nice to meet you Mr Ethelwulf," said Clara with a smile while extending her arms out for a hand shake.

"You can call me Pius' ' he said as he returned the hand shake, then he faced Xander. " show her around the pack house and let her get familiar with it". Xander gave his father a bow and ushered Clara away from the throne room.

Pius set his gaze on the two people as they walked out of the throne room. A frown settled on his forehead. He worried for the human girl. He doubted if Xander could love something as young and fragile as her. He had known Xander since birth and he could very well tell that his son can be blinded by pride, greed and envy. A trait that any leader should never have. But here he was, willingly giving the throne of the Lycans and the Mystic Shadow pack to him. Oh! How he wished he knew the whereabouts of Skyler, the one the moon goddess had chosen to rule. His thoughts traveled back to when his twins were little.

12 years ago in mystic falls.

Voices could be heard from within the dining room. The Alpha and Luna and their handsome twins were seated around the large table. The twins fisted only on the roast meat, leaving aside the vegetables.

"Don't just eat the meat, eat the veggies too" Luna said. The two boys grumbled under their breath. They didn't like to eat veggies. But their mother would always force them to.

"It is good for your health, it will aid quick digestion" Alpha Pius chipped in. He watched as the boys ate the veggies with a sulking expression. He couldn't help but smile. He hated veggies too but he had no choice but to eat it, to avoid being nagged to death by his mate.

"Skyler, Xander" he called and the boys looked up from their dishes and focused on him. Skyler had ocean blue eyes like their mother while Xander had dark blue. Eyes that reminded him of himself when he was still young. He had watched them grow from a baby into adolescence. Having twins was a rare occurrence in their world especially in the Alpha bloodline. But he couldn't question the moon goddess. She always seems to know what's best for all her werewolves and he wouldn't trade his sons for anything in the world.

"Your 13th birthday is tomorrow which means you will be having your first shift and you know what it means to have your first shift,".

The boys nodded." I finally get to meet my wolf" Skyler smiled. " And I get to be the next Alpha". Said Xander seriously.

"We don't know that yet, Xander. That is for the moon goddess to decide. you should rather focus more on meeting your wolf," Luna said. Xander nodded unhappily at his mother's words. He was convinced that he was going to be the chosen one. He was the strongest and fastest while Skyler only knows nothing but play.

"Are you throwing us a party?" ask Skyler.

"My babies are turning into men, of course I will throw you a party,". She smiled sweetly at her boys. Alpha Pius internally rolled his eyes at his mate who would always jump at the slightest excuse to throw a party.

"Quickly eat up, you don't want to be late for school" said Pius.

After eating the boys set aside the cutleries and stood up from the chair. They kissed the alpha and Luna before running out of the dinner room to meet up with the other pack children who were waiting for the school bus to take them to the pack's school. The Alpha never gave anyone in his pack special treatment including his pups.

In the evening of the next day. The pack house was filled with pack members who came to celebrate the 13th birthday of the Alpha's pups. Everyone was eager to know who among the twins would be their next Alpha.

At the same time, Alpha Pius stood in the woods with his two sons. It was time for them to shift. As the Alpha and father, he had the obligations to see them through their first shift. It would also lessen the pain as every first shift came with an excruciating pain.

The boys stood in the woods next to each other when Suddenly, Xanders let out a piercing scream, scaring Skyler who stood next to him. He watched Xander with great panic as he groaned painfully on the ground with broken bones. He turned to his father to ask for help.

"Father, please help..….. ahh" he screamed, falling on the ground with a thud.

Pius watched as his two boys rolled and groaned in pain. He could hear the sound of bones breaking.

"Let go, Skyler. Give your wolf control" Pius' silver eyes glowed as he uses his Alpha's voice to force Skyler to shift. Skyler somehow was having difficulty in shifting compared to Xander who was almost fully shifted.

"Imagine your wolf and let him take control" he said, crouching next to Skyler whose transformation was already taking place.

After a few more minutes the twins had successfully shifted. They laid on the ground, eyes closed with labored breath.

A smile curved Pius lips as he watched his pups. Xander's wolf was golden brown while Skyler's wolf was midnight black. They both were equal in size so Pius was yet to know which amongst them will be the next Alpha.

He gave them enough time to rest, he wasn't in a rush to know who the next Alpha would be. Right now he was only a father who cared for his sons.

After twenty minutes of good rest. Xander stood on all four paws, stretching himself and playfully, he ran around his father in circles. Skyler too got on all four paws and both the pups pounced on their father, making him lose his balance and fell with his back on the floor. Skyler ran his tongue along his father's face playfully.

Surprise filled Pius when he met Skyler's silver eyes. He craned his neck to see Xander, his eyes a shade of light orange. He cared less about what eye color they had. They were his pups and he loved them equally. Pius shifted and all three went for a run in the woods before shifting back to humans.

"What are your wolf names? He asked them

"His name is Bardulf," Xander said. Pius nodded before turning to face Skyler who was yet to fasten his waist belt.

"My wolf's name is Moon," Skyler replied.

Back to the present.

Pius sighed, his pups were such lovely boys. What then happened?. he shook his head and walked back to stand in front of the window and went back to stare at space.