The Blood Moon Twins
Chapter 54

REMY

My head felt foggy, like there were memories that had faded away. As people talked and gushed around me, I smiled and nodded away while I searched my memories of whatever it was that was missing. No matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn't remember the thing that was tugging at the back of my head, and it was driving me crazy.

When I saw Caulder enter the room, my hands started to shake. I just wanted everyone else to leave the room so I could hug him. When I had seen the creature trying to kill Caulder, I hadn't thought. I just knew I needed to save him and acted. Kill Caulder...

A memory flashed through my head, making a sharp pain attack my brain. I looked at Caulder, but he was looking at his phone. Something told me he was still in danger, but I couldn't figure out why.

It was too long before Caulder and I were finally by ourselves, but when we finally were, I had a hard time letting him go. I had seen the exhaustion in his eyes, and I knew he had been struggling. I had been out for almost a week, and I know I would have been a total mess if the roles were reversed.

When we finally did part, Caulder sat on the bed with me. The bags under his eyes looked even worse up close, and I wondered if he had slept at all.

"Okay, so I need you to fill me in on everything that went on while I was out, starting with why you are getting punished." I raised my eyes. I was surprised when I heard our mom mention discussing a punishment. Caulder was not the type to get in trouble. He was always the perfect child, so I couldn't comprehend what could have happened.

Caulder took a deep breath, and I could see how much the stress was really affecting him. "Before I get into the details, there are two things I need to tell you."

My heart raced when he paused. The anticipation made my mind go to the worst-case scenario.

"There's something I never told you," he continued. He paused and took a deep breath, and I could tell he was nervous. "I don't have a wolf."

"What do you mean?" I had had my wolf for years now, so surely Caulder had his. He could shift into his wolf and everything.

Caulder shrugged and looked away. "My wolf never spoke to me. It feels like I'm alone in here." He tapped his head. "I thought maybe it was just delayed, since my wolf abilities are lacking compared to a normal werewolf, but even after our eighteenth birthday, it's been silent."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" This was a big secret Caulder had been keeping, and I didn't understand why he had kept it alone. He didn't need to. I was here for him no matter what.

Caulder looked off to the side and avoided eye contact. "I was ashamed. I still am a little. I'm supposed to be the future alpha, but I don't even have a wolf. What kind of alpha would that make me?"

I grabbed Caulder's hand and held it tight. "Not having a wolf doesn't make you any less. It doesn't matter if your wolf abilities aren't as strong as other wolves, because you have other abilities that make up for it. You are an incredible sorcerer, and your powers aren't even done growing. When you turn twenty-one, you're going to get another surge of power when you come of age as a sorcerer. Wolf or not, you'll make an amazing leader."

I never wanted Caulder to feel less than he was. When I looked at him, I looked up to him. He was amazing, and I worked as hard as I could so I wouldn't fall completely in his shadow. Even with his abilities, he never bragged about them or used them for ill gain. He was funny and confident, and the best brother someone could ask for.

"That brings me to the other thing I wanted to tell you." Caulder squeezed my hand and finally looked at me. "I told dad I don't want to be the alpha. I told him you should do it."

"You did what?" My mouth fell open. I had only confessed to Caulder that it was a dream of mine to make an impact on the pack and lead it, but I never wanted to admit it to anyone else. I didn't want anyone to laugh at me. Girls couldn't take the role of alpha. The biology of it didn't work. I didn't have the alpha gene and never would.

Caulder grabbed my hand with his other hand and held it tightly. "Remy, you are one of the most capable people I know. If you want to lead this pack one day, I have full faith in you. I don't want to lead this pack, but you do. It's about time we started telling our truths."

-

Now that I was recovered and on my feet again, my parents asked to have a talk with Caulder and me, and my stomach was in knots. Caulder had explained to me that he and Harper had been sneaking out to train with Blade at night and how they got caught coming back. As far as he knew, my parents didn't know the truth about meeting with a vampire. However, Caulder had also explained that Blade's wound wasn't healing and now it was infected.

Caulder wanted to tell our parents the truth about what had been going on with Blade and get him the help he needed with his injuries. I hated the idea, already knowing it was going to be a risk, but Blade needed help, and we had to do something. Plus, all of these secrets weren't doing any of us any good.

I hoped my parents would hear us and understand that Blade wasn't dangerous to the pack. Then my mother could heal Blade, and Blade could train our pack. All would be good, and then I could live happily ever after with him.

I feared the worst. I feared my parents would be stubborn in their ways and hunt down Blade, ending all possibilities of a future with him.

I wished I had been able to see Blade one last time before we went to our parents to reveal his presence, but Caulder insisted we couldn't wait. Blade needed the help as soon as possible, and now that our parents knew that Caulder had snuck out, there would probably be more eyes on him.

Whatever happened when we entered the room to tell our parents the truth, I decided I would see Blade tonight.

I met Caulder at the door of our dad's office, and he looked just as nervous as me, but he had also been caught sneaking out, so he was actually in trouble. He gave me a quick nod, and then I knocked on the door. "Come in," our dad called out.

I opened the door and then quickly wiped my sweaty palms on my pants. I was the first to enter, and Caulder followed after. Both of our parents were already in the room, waiting for us. We sat down, and waited for our parents to start the conversation. I had my fingers intertwined to distract me.

It felt like it took way too long for my dad to speak. "Your mother and I have been talking about what Caulder said to us, and first of all, I just want to make sure what was said was the truth and not just something said in the heat of the moment." He turned to Caulder. "Do you really not want to be the alpha?"

Caulder glanced at me, and I gave him a nod of encouragement. "I don't want to be the alpha. I don't feel like a strong wolf, and it's too much pressure."

My dad nodded slowly, trying to accept what he heard. I was sure it wasn't easy to accept that Caulder didn't want to be the alpha. Ever since he was born, Caulder held the "future alpha" title, and that wouldn't be an easy thing to change. Next, my dad turned to me. "And you do want to run this pack?"

I shrugged my shoulders. I had never wanted to be the alpha exactly, but I wanted to stand side by side with Caulder as his equal. "I care about this pack. I want to help it be successful in every way possible, and I would do whatever it takes to make that happen." My heart raced as I told my truth. "I don't want to live in the shadows as just another pack member. I want to do my part."

"Why didn't you both tell us this sooner?" my mother said. She seemed disappointed or sad, and I wasn't sure which. Maybe it was both.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I didn't think saying something would change anything. We're talking about werewolf tradition here."

"It is unconventional to say the least," my dad said. He scratched the stubble on his chin. "But our pack isn't exactly the most conventional. We are the only pack with a sorcerer who lives in the pack house, and the luna is half werewolf. If this is really how the two of you feel, then we can talk about Remy taking over instead of Caulder."

I furrowed my eyebrows. That wasn't what I was expecting to hear. "Are you pulling a prank on us?"

My mom laughed at this. "Of course not. Remy, I know you don't think we see your potential, and I'm sorry about that, but we really do think highly of you. We know you are strong, and we'll be here to guide you if you need it." My dad looked back at Caulder. "Now that that is sorted out, it's time to discuss your punishment."

Caulder looked at me, but this time I didn't give him a nod of approval. I knew he wanted to bring Blade up now, and the thought made me sick. I still didn't like it, but I knew we couldn't put it off for any longer.

"Before we get into that, there's something we need to tell you," Caulder said, gathering our parents' attention. "The real reason I snuck out of the pack house that night is because I was meeting up with a vampire."