Page 12 of Moonlit Bonds

KIERAN

“What do you mean you can’t help me?” Indignation has me yelling at Rico, my brother, in response to the denial of my BOLO request. “Are you out of your mind? That’s your job!”

He brings his hand down on my shoulder as if to give me a consolatory pat and then thinks better of it, withdrawing his arm.“Like I said, brother, the elders have stated that we can’t assist with anything that has to do with Seraphina.”

“I’m the Alpha. I’m the one in charge,” I sputter. Yeah, I’ll play the card if it’s necessary.

His dark eyes meet mine, full of sorrow and regret and a little bit of ire. I expect all of it and it definitely doesn’t help me find Seraphina. “You might be, yes, but the elders said that Fate will decide,” he replies. He lifts his hands to his sides in a shrug as if to apologize.

“And you’re going to leave your brother hanging?” I push up from my chair.

“No.I’ve…I’vecalled Dad for you, Kieran.” He weathers my glare. “He’s your only choice, since he’s living outside of pack law.”

Although I’d had the same thought and planned to find our sire regardless, I wanted it to be on my terms. Not about needing him. Not about having Rico step in. None of those things. The man had cared about his sons so little, he only sent birthday cards in the mail, each with a wrinkled $5 bill stuffed inside.

Communication never came but those cards did.

How did Rico even get Dad’s number?

The hierarchies of the pack means that although I am Alpha, I have to work in conjunction with the elders and their rites and rules. In fact, all of the pack does, no matter their job within the social construct —everything must work in tandem with the universe and its laws. Even me.

Now, I’m about to step outside the boundaries for the first time in my life.

“Is he expecting me?” I finally ask.

Rico nods solemnly. “If you hurry, you’ll catch him before he turns in for the night—you know the routine.”

I huff out a laugh. “Some things never change.”

Dad’s been going to bed at 7 p.m. for years, early to rise at 2 a.m. to start his day. He’s predictable that way. Always has been.

“Good luck brother, as this is your test alone.” Rico reaches for my hand to shake and no matter how frustrated I am, no matter how angry this situation makes me, I clasp my palm to his.

It takes 60-minutes for that 35-minute trip. Driving up dad’s dirt road toward my childhood home, I pause. There are so many things that need to be said. And as I grow older, I’m not sure I have the ability to clear the air entirely.

Too much time has passed since he left, too many words unsaid and with the passage of time, I’m not even sure I’ll be able to order my thoughts.

I’ve got to try. What other choice do I have?

I pull the car to a stop just in front of the porch, staring at the old place with the engine clicking and cooling.

The wood cabin has seen better days, but it’s still maintained. Of course, mom and dad living so far away, still quite isolated although they don’t have to, is something I’d once tried to talk to my parents about. I’d begged them to move closer to pack land in case something should happen to them, god forbid. There was no easy way to get to them in case of an emergency. But they’d always refused.

Then Dad had walked out on us, only returning once Mom got sick.

Forcing myself out of the car, my footsteps fall heavy, and I rap on the door frame. Within seconds, the porch light springs to life.

The tall, giant of a man stands on the other side of the screen door, just as muscular and tough as he’d always been, the years showing up only on his wrinkled face and graying hair.

“You’re late.” He picks up his coat hanging from the hook. No hello, no greeting of any kind. Hardly any eye contact.

“You’re not going to invite me in?”

“And worry your mother even more? No. Let her rest. She’ll be happy to know we talked, even if she wasn’t there to listen in.” He shoots me a smile, his eyes dancing with a bit of joy.

Despite all they’d been through, mom and dad had found a way back to each other. I might not have a relationship with the man but that, his devotion to her, I appreciate.

We must have made too much noise, because I hear mom’s footsteps on the stairs and her voice call, “John? Are you heading out?”

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