Heavenly Poison

Damien Gray

“An alliance? You want an alliance?” I asked Layton.

“Whether you want it or not, the position is going to be yours. When Anthony finds out what you are and what you can do, he won’t question you.”

“Is that supposed to be reassuring?”

Cassidy must have picked up on my tone, because she stood in front of Layton.

“I’m not going to hurt him,” I told her.

Layton cocked an eyebrow, looking slowly between Cassidy and me.

“What is it with your kind and thinking you’re stronger than anything?” Layton asked.

“Our kind? You thought Cassidy was the only Legen out there. You don’t seem to know much of my kind,” I replied.

“An alliance would be good for everyone. You can take the Alpha position. Anyone who questions you about it can come to me. They won’t bother you,” Layton stated, dismissing my comment.

“Yes, when Rogues are attacking I’ll tell them that another Alpha will respond for the pack and me,” I muttered sarcastically.

“I’m talking about the other Alphas. Do you think they’ll be happy having a kid who isn’t even a Werewolf leading one of the packs? All the packs might not along, but that doesn’t mean we’re not brothers.”

His words made me sigh audibly. I lowered my forehead to the table, which felt cool against my skin. A headache was kicking in with the new information Layton was giving me.

“So it’s not just the Rogues I have to worry about? It’s also the other packs?”

Layton replied with a nod.

The more Layton explained, the more I wanted to get away from anything that involved Werewolves.

“An alliance with you, what would that entail?” I asked, not sure if I wanted to hear his answer.

“I have an alliance with the neighboring pack- New Elite. Later on, you’ll learn about the packs. You will need to know that before you become Alpha.”

“Why do you have an alliance with them? And why do you want one with me?”

“The Alpha next door is in love with my mate.” Layton’s voice hardened when he said that. I raised my eyebrows and looked between Cassidy and Layton.

I didn’t expect him to bluntly say something like that.

“He isn’t in love with me. He’s my best friend,” Cassidy said, sounding annoyed.

Layton’s words seemed to really tick her off because she gave him a hard look and walked out of the dining room.

“Should you go after her…?” I asked, unsure of how their relationship worked.

Layton was staring off in the direction where Cassidy had left to.

“No, I’ll probably make it worse,” he said, sighing and slumping himself in a chair.

“So…”

“Legens are complicated.”

I kept quiet because I didn’t think Layton was talking to me.

“Stick around long enough and you’ll see what I mean with the neighboring Alpha and Cassidy,” Layton said.

“My mate cheated on me. I don’t think it gets worse than that,” I shrugged.

My words seemed to snap Layton out of his self-pitying state.

“Your mate cheated on you? Anthony’s daughter? I doubt it,” Layton stated.

“I saw it.”

“Cheated on you how?”

When he asked that, I almost wanted to burst out laughing. It felt strange to be discussing that with him of all people.

“The Alpha said I either had a kid who became Alpha or Emilia mated with this punk named Luke. I declined the offer. The next day, they were making out in the mall.”

“Damn, that’s harsh.”

“Gossiping now, Layton? You keep surprising me today,” Cassidy commented.

“You’re back,” I said, giving her a bright smile.

“It’s not fair that I leave when Layton’s being a jerk. Besides, it’s not every day I meet another Legen.”

“So the alliance,” I told Layton, wanting him to explain more about that.

“It’s simple,” he said, pausing to look at Cassidy.

“We should meet with Zeverus, the other Alpha. He practically molded himself with my pack with how much time he spends here. It’ll be you, him, and me.”

“You talk like you don’t like the guy but you want to give him in on this?” I asked, cocking an eyebrow.

Layton frowned at me, before looking away.

“It doesn’t seem fair to have an alliance with him and make one with you behind his back,” Layton said, sounding uncomfortable.

“Don’t worry Damien. Layton just likes to pretend he doesn’t like Zev,” Cassidy said in a teasing tone.

“We won’t get into that discussion again,” Layton told Cassidy, giving her a pointed look.

“I could set up the meeting. I just need to make some arrangements. You should go back and talk to Anthony about this. After all, you will be inheriting the pack, whether you like it or not.” The certainty in his voice made me frown.

“You didn’t say how the alliance will help.”

“Zeverus and I will back you up when it comes to the other packs. Right now, we aren’t the only ones make alliances. Having a three way alliance between Mountain Peak, New Elite, and Blue Bloods would be beneficial for the three packs. We can clear out the exact details in the meeting, if you agree to it.”

“I don’t want a pack.”

“It’s not about what you want, not anymore,” Cassidy added quietly.

“I have to admit that the main appeal to bring our packs together is because you’re a Legen. You’re the first Cassidy’s come across. I’m sure you two want to compare notes on that,” Layton said.

I burrowed Cassidy’s phone to call Sebastian. I was in the living room, while Cassidy and Layton waited in the kitchen.

They were trying to give me privacy, not that it was possible with a Legen and a Werewolf in the house. If they wanted, they’d be able to hear my entire conversation.

Sebastian picked up the phone after one ring.

“Damien?”

“It’s me,” I said.

Sebastian remained quiet after I spoke. I was starting to think he might have hung up on me.

“Are you mad?” I asked, not knowing what to expect from him.

I had never done a disappearing act. I felt like a dick because I’d done it to Sebastian, who really didn’t deserve that shit from me.

“Are you okay?” He asked, keeping his voice guarded.

I wasn’t used to Sebastian using that tone with me.

“I’m fine. I stumbled into something, sort of. It’s hard to explain.”

“Hard enough that you couldn’t phone or text?”

“I broke my phone,” I admitted, though it didn’t relief the guilt I was feeling for not checking in.

“Where are you? I’ll pick you up.”

He was trying to sound calm, but I could tell he was far from. There was worry in his voice, which would probably remain until he got a good look at me and made sure I was safe.

“I’m not exactly close.”

“Where?”

“I accidentally trespassed another pack’s territory.”

“What? Are you okay? Did they hurt you?” His questions were the first sign of alarm I’d heard from him since he answered my call.

A part of me was actually happy that even though he was still ticked off with me, he still cared.

Of course he cared. Sebastian’s the only one who does care. I thought to myself.

“I’m fine but we need to talk. Do you think you can come over?”

“Come over?” He repeated my words like if I’d gone crazy.

“It’s more complicated than that. They’re not kidnapping me or anything. But you’ll definitely want to be here for this,” I told him, feeling the excitement in my voice.

Now, being able to speak alone with Sebastian, I allowed myself to think of Cassidy.

Another Legen.

Thinking about her made me wonder if there were more of us out there and we just didn’t know.

“You need to come back Damy. You can show me whatever you want after you return. But right now I need you to come back,” he said.

His words, the way his tone had darkened, it was really unlike Sebastian.

“Something’s wrong,” I commented, more for the benefit of getting it out in the open.

“I don’t want to tell you through the phone,” was all he said.

“Is she okay?” I didn’t have to say her name for Sebastian to know I was talking about Emilia.

“No.”

I had to take a seat on the couch with how fast my heart was pounding. The entire situation was crazy because I shouldn’t have cared. We were over. She made it clear by going out with that dog.

“Is she hurt?”

“Not physically. I can’t explain it. Just, come back. I’ll go get you if you want. It’s not safe for you to be flying alone,” Sebastian said in a chastising tone, sounding like himself once again.

“Tell me what’s wrong with her?”

“I don’t know anything. I just know something’s wrong. The dumbass dog pointed out that you’d seen them kiss and Emilia just about lost it. She left the apartment a while ago. She was…”

Sebastian didn’t continue and I made no attempt to say anything. I had nothing to say. Now I wanted to see her. I wanted to make sure she was fine.

“Come back and talk to her. I don’t care if you stay with her or you break it off- just do something final. I was stupid to think that messing with Wolves would be easy,” Sebastian said, his voice sounding full of regret.

“You okay?” I asked, now starting to worry for him instead.

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t sound like it,” I muttered.

“Are you coming back or do you want me to pick you up? It’s fine if you’re far away. I think I might need the fly over to clear up my mind.”

“How bad are things- with her?”

His silence did nothing to reassure me.

“I’ll pick you up,” Sebastian replied instead.

“No, I can leave right now. I will get there in a few hours.”

“You’re not flying this late,” Sebastian said in a warning tone.

“I’ll see you in a bit,” I said before ending the call.

Sebastian kept calling me back, but I simply ignored each of the calls.

Layton was showing some papers to Cassidy when I walked into the dining room.

“I need to go.”

“Go?” Cassidy said, sounding confused.

“Sebastian needs me back home. I’ll come back though, to continue this talk,” I said, looking at Layton when I spoke.

“You need to talk with Anthony,” he told me, his expression serious.

“I doubt they’ll want me back, but I’ll see what I can do about it. I’m not exactly on good terms with Emilia after what happened,” I said, feeling myself cringe at the memory of Emilia with Luke.

“You two will get back together,” Cassidy said, giving me a warm smile.

“I don’t know about that. I need to go right now though. I’ll be back with Sebastian. If things don’t work out over there, would it be cool if we crash in your pack for a while?”

While Layton nodded, Cassidy let out a loud “Yeah!”

I grinned at her enthusiasm, mainly because that same connection with us was still present. It was like pure energy, and I felt it even when we weren’t touching.

“It’s up to you, but it would be better if you worked things out with Anthony and your mate. A Wolf always wants their mate,” Layton said, as he wrapped his arm around Cassidy.

They seemed to have it so easy. I felt envious of them, of their relationship.

My thoughts during the fly back circled around Layton’s proposition for the pack. Accepting an alliance or thinking about accepting it meant I was planning to stay with Emilia.

Just her name brought the image of Luke and her kissing. It played over and over in my mind, clouding my flight.

It was early Sunday morning when I landed on the roof of the apartments. The sky was still dark and it was fresh outside. Light rainfall made the air colder.

Sebastian was sitting down on the couch, his arms crossed and his eyes closed.

“Hey,” I said, taking a seat next to him.

He was awake.

“You hung up on me,” Sebastian said without opening his eyes.

“It would have taken longer to get back if you had gone to pick me up. I’m here now,” I said, shrugging at him.

“You haven’t slept?”

“I was flying,” I replied flatly.

Sebastian grinned and he opened his eyes this time.

“It’s good to have you back, but I’m still going to kick your ass for leaving,” he said, throwing one of his arms around my shoulders and squeezing the back of my neck.

“I’ll let you win this time then,” I said, grinning back at him.

“Where did you go? I looked for you everywhere. I thought you might have gone back to New York.”

I shook my head, wondering how I was going to break the news about Cassidy.

“I just took off. I wasn’t planning to go as far as I did,” I replied.

“Wolves saw you, I’m assuming. You said you trespassed. Did you kill anyone?” Those were normal questions for him to ask.

My beliefs didn’t change from one visit to Cassidy, but she did make me think about the killings Sebastian and I had done in the past.

“It wasn’t necessary. They didn’t hurt me. You won’t believe me, so I’ll have to show you. I promised we’d go back once I fixed this thing with- with her.”

The apartment usually felt colder in the mornings and at night. The silence that settled between Sebastian and I was more than welcome.

I didn’t have anything to say. I was sure he had plenty to say, he probably just didn’t know where to start.

“What are you going to do?”

“Why did you call me over?” I replied with a question of my own.

“You needed to come back. If you want to move, I won’t try to change your mind this time. I just think you need to talk with Emilia,” he said, that solemn tone returning to his voice.

“Have you talked to her?”

“She stuck to me all afternoon yesterday. She thought you would come back and ignore her so she didn’t want to leave my side. Tania told her off pretty bad. I didn’t think Emilia would stick around after that, but she did. I made her leave when it started getting late.”

“When did you go to New York?”

“Right after I got rid of Emilia. I told Tania she should go home to. She was worried about you.”

“I’ll call her later on.”

“It’s cool, I texted her when you hung up on me last night,” Sebastian said.

“Sorry about that and about leaving.”

“It’s fine. We should catch up on some sleep. You can go and talk with Emilia later,” he said.

I was confused when we got upstairs and Sebastian followed me to my room.

“I’m not taking off again,” I told Sebastian, while he looked through my closet.

I didn’t really know what he was looking for.

“I know,” he replied, not paying much attention to me.

It wasn’t until he had some blanks and pillows, that I realized what he was doing.

“You’re sleeping here?” I asked.

He was fixing the blankets on the ground.

He shrugged and got under the covers of the make-shift bed he’d made right next to my bed.

“You’re seriously going to sleep on the floor,” I asked, still staring at him.

He turned the other way and threw the blanket over his head.

“Goodnight,” I heard him say after a while.

I was still smiling after a few minutes. I hadn’t been able to look away from Sebastian. He was exaggerating by camping out on my floor. I guess he thought I might take off if he didn’t keep an eye on me.

The curtains were drawn in my room, but the digital clock on my night stand reminded me that minutes were passing by and I hadn’t slept.

When the numbers hit nine in the morning, I gave up on sleeping at all.

I was searching through the fridge for something to eat, when loud knocking on the door got my attention.

I wasn’t sure if not sleeping at all had gotten my senses on alert, but I felt Emilia’s presence from all the way in the kitchen.

Luke barked in that direction, but he made no attempt to leave.

I considered ignoring her until she was gone, but then I remembered she was a Werewolf. If I was around, chances were she would notice.

The banging on the door became more insistent, to the point where the door shook when she knocked. A little more and she would have broken the door down.

As soon as I opened the door, Emilia jumped on me.

Her arms wrapped tightly around my neck. I practically held on to all her weight as she clung on to me.

“You’re here, you’re safe. I’m sorry.” Emilia spoke in whispers, but her voice sounded desperate.

“I didn’t want Luke to kiss me. I didn’t think he would. I wasn’t going to get with him, I swear,” she said, strengthening her hold on me.

Somehow she’d managed to wrap her legs around my waist.

I shut the front door and began walking us to the living room.

“You seem awfully excited to see me,” I said, trying to place her on the couch.

Emilia didn’t let go of the hold she had on my neck and she tightened her legs around my waist.

“Let go,” I told her.

I placed my hands over her waist and tried to get her off me.

It didn’t do anything.

“Will you let me explain?” She asked.

I laughed at her actions more than her words. I was more or less used to her behavior, but literally clinging on to me seemed too much, even for her.

“You were with him,” I told her.

My voice sounded harsh, and I felt her cringe when I spoke.

She finally loosened her hold on me, and I took the opportunity to pry her off and sit her on the couch. Emilia didn’t seem to mind, although she grabbed my hand and made me sit next to her.

I could have moved away or made her sit in place. I didn’t because I couldn’t.

Having her sitting next to me, I clearly saw her face for the first time since I’d opened the door.

She had been crying. Her eyes were red and puffy, her cheeks were blotchy, and her eyes were rimmed with red. The area under her eyes had taken a light purple color. Her hair was picked up in a messy bun, but some of it was sticking out.

“I didn’t kiss him, he kissed me. I swear. I had no idea Luke was going to do that. I talked to my dad. He said if you come to the pack, he’ll kick Luke out.”

She grabbed my arm and hugged it, leaning her body closer to mine.

“If you hadn’t been with him at the mall, this wouldn’t have happen.”

“My friends thought it would be good if I went. After what happened yesterday with us, I sort of agreed. I didn’t know Luke would be there.”

“But you stayed.”

“I couldn’t exactly leave. Luke is part of the pack. Everyone would have made a big deal about it.”

“You’re their future Alpha. Don’t you have the power over these things?”

She remained quiet after that, but she rested her forehead against my shoulder.

“If you hadn’t been there, this wouldn’t have happened. But, we were over. It’s not like I can exactly blame you.” Those were my words, but it was far from what I was really feeling.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized, snuggling closer to me and nestling her head in the crook of my neck.

I couldn’t find it in me to push her away.

She felt so good pressed against me. Even with how disheveled her clothes and hair was she looked so beautiful.

And this is what she does to me.

“Stay with the pack. My dad said that we don’t have to have a baby or anything. He wants to talk to you. That is, if you want to take me back,” she said, lowering her voice.

She managed to crawl onto my lap. I could feel the smile playing on my lips, more out of amusement than anything.

“Damien!” I heard Sebastian yell upstairs.

He came running down the stairs, faster than he should have.

“I’m here,” I told him, although he’d already seen us.

He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest.

“What is Emilia doing here?” He asked.

His tone was hostile, and Emilia hid her face in my neck.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

I couldn’t exactly ignore that Sebastian was glaring at Emilia and she was practically trying to hide herself from him.

Sebastian had told me that she’d spent all afternoon here, so the tension between them didn’t make sense.

“Why don’t you tell Damy what’s going on Emilia,” Sebastian said, keeping his hard stare on her.

“It’s why I asked you to come and talk it out with her,” Sebastian said, directing his gaze toward me.

“I didn’t mean that. You don’t know how things are. I love Damien,” Emilia told Sebastian.

“I know you’re a Wolf and I know what your words meant,” Sebastian blurted out.

“You told him?” Emilia asked, looking at me accusingly.

Sebastian didn’t even seem affected by her tone.

“What if I did? At least I didn’t cheat on you.” My words were cruel. I knew it while I was saying it, but I couldn’t stop them from slipping out.

Emilia pulled away from me, but she didn’t try to defend herself.

“I said I was sorry about that,” Emilia said, but her voice sounded weak.

“It’s easy to say sorry after the deed is done.”

I closed my eyes for a few seconds. It was another slip up I hadn’t meant to come out.

I didn’t stick around after that. I walked upstairs and away from Emilia and Sebastian.

“She’s gone,” Sebastian said after he walked into my room.

I was lying down on the bed, thinking. It seemed like most of my time lately was spent thinking.

“Yeah,” I said.

“We should leave Damy.” He took a seat next to me on the bed.

“Sometimes I feel like I hate her.”

“That’s good isn’t it? Leaving will be easier.”

I shook my head, and it seemed like Sebastian could already guess what I was going to say.

“But I want her.”

Sebastian sighed loudly, a sigh that made me feel he had something in his mind I probably didn’t want to hear.

“Emilia didn’t get to tell you everything that happened yesterday,” Sebastian said, his voice picking up a bitter tone.

“What is it?”

“I overheard a conversation with her friend yesterday when she was here. I tried to kick them out but the friend wouldn’t leave. Trust me- I pulled off all kinds of rude. Tania finally got both of them out when she started telling Emilia off.”

“What did you hear?”

“The Alpha apparently saw that his little girl was suffering too much.”

“Okay?”

“They came up with another genius plan. You know, since Mountain Peak seems to be so full of those,” Sebastian sarcastically remarked.

I had to chuckle at that, and Sebastian gave in to a grin.

“They’re a bunch of softies with stupid ideas. You’d be doing them a favor by taking over that pack,” he said, getting sidetracked.

“Basically, the Alpha came up with this. Emilia and Luke take over, they play at being mates, and Emilia has you on the side.”

“That’s pretty sick.”

“This pack is making the Rogues look like saints. They’re a bunch of psychos.”

Sebastian kept going on and on about the faults of the pack. I could only think about her.

What Sebastian had just said should have been enough to drive me away. But it wasn’t. I was angry, but I wasn’t sure with whom.

“Where are you going?” Sebastian asked.

I’d been numbly paying attention to everything he’d been saying. Most of it included bashing Emilia’s pack.

“I’m going to talk with the Alpha.” It was the first thing that came to my mind. After I said it, I realized it was where I wanted to be.

Whether I took the pack or not, Layton was right. I needed to clear things up with Emilia’s dad.