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No matter what happened behind him, Ethan forced himself forward, leaving the echoes of his deceased wife and child in the distance as he and Shaun ran through the forest. Away from the Knights who charged their way with the intent to kill. He wasn’t a malicious Lycan, taking up a pacifist life of eating animals instead of slaughtering humans. Ethan taught his children those ways, and his wife accepted Ethan and their children as if they weren’t monsters. She wasn’t afraid of him when they transformed inside the safety of their basement, staying with them throughout the night instead of retreating into the safety of her room.
Grace
loved
Ethan. She
loved
her Lycan children and encouraged them that one day, they may be the ones to show the world that not every Lycan lusts for bloodshed.
And now she paid the price for her unfaltering dedication to her family, taking a bullet for Jason before the Knights ensured their deaths with silver knives.
To whatever god above, please keep my son safe.
Ethan pleaded to any higher deity that would listen, his prayer answered immediately by the pained yelp that voiced beside him. He turned to his left to find Shaun limping over his own paws, whimpering in excruciating pain as he softly barked for his father. Ethan briskly padded over, quickly analyzing the bullet wound on his hip.
Shaun would live but was unable to outrun the Knights.
The sounds of triumphant voices in the distance confirmed the mark of a sniper, intending to take another shot. Without a moment to spare, Ethan carefully searched for the extra fat of skin on Shaun’s nape before clamping down to secure him. He rushed off once again, the Lycan pup obediently scrunching himself up into a ball to make it easier for his father to carry him. Soft whimpers were emitted every so often, almost silent beneath the labored breathing of Ethan and the bushes switching past them.
Before he could proceed further in a direction, another Lycan jumped from the adjacent bushes to stop him. Heterochromia eyes met blue ones, bowing to show Ethan no harm. Ethan gruffed in both confusion and gratitude, the other Lycan pointing his muzzle to his right. Ethan was hesitant to follow a stranger while fleeing for their lives, deciding that this outcome would hopefully be more beneficial than being caught by Knights.
When the Knights reached their position, Ethan was already a mile away at the heels of a generous Lycan.
Transforming out of Lycan form was uncomfortable, but never painful. This time was different from previous transformations, his hands and feet aching from the strenuous running and knees swollen from the intensity. Ethan forced himself to push away how uncomfortable he was to be exposed in front of strangers, focusing on Shaun as the child howled in pain when trying to shift out of his Lycan form.
“Unless that bullet is taken care of, he won’t be able to change back.” a blond informed beside him, immediately motioning for another man to lift Shaun onto a nearby table.
“I’ll do anything to show my gratitude, just please, save my son.” Ethan begged as the Lycan from before shifted back to his human form. Others immediately brought him clothes and Ethan a blanket to shroud himself in, thanking them before wrapping it around himself. Ethan assumed that if they expected his arrival, they would have spare clothes for him at the ready. “I have no idea how to repay you for saving us.”
“Saving you was by accident while patrolling the territory, but I’m thankful I listened to my intuition.” The man admitted with a soft smile, sliding on his pants before extending a hand. “I’m Markus, the man fixing your son is Simon, and the others here will ensure your safety.”
“Thank you, Markus.” Ethan smiled, offering a firm shake before taking his hand away. “My name’s Ethan and Shaun’s my son.”
Cerulean hues darted towards the Lycan pup when he wailed in agony, watching as Simon attempted to comfort Shaun by patting his head. Ethan stepped over to him and soothed him with gentle hushes, running his hand over his head as hazel eyes glistened with tears. Markus finished dressing before politely asking someone to give Ethan some of his spare clothes.
“You’re gonna be okay, Shaun, I promise. I won’t let anything happen to you.” Ethan vowed as the Lycan huffed in acceptance, suppressing another wine as Simon spread the wound open with two fingers.
“It’s lodged in deep, we’ll have to sedate him.” Simon reported with a tight frown, handing Ethan a bottle and cloth. “I’ll let you be the one to administer it.”
“If that’s what’s best.” Ethan reluctantly agreed, carefully opening the bottle and pouring some anesthesia on the cloth. Shaun gazed at him with bright eyes wide in terror, whimpering in fear before Ethan smoothed back his fur. “Shhh, it’s okay, Shaun, it’s okay. I’ll be right here the entire time he operates.”
With a few blinks of approval, he stilled himself long enough for Ethan to sedate him, offering quiet assurances of his love before Shaun fell unconscious. It was going to be a long night and Ethan prayed that his son would see another sunrise.
At some point in the night, Shaun had transformed back into his human self after Simon was done operating, curled up to his father in a spare room inside Jericho. Ethan needed to ground himself, make sure that he was awake and not dreaming of a better tomorrow, combing his fingers through brunette locks. It pained him to see so much of Grace reflected in Shaun’s appearance, but it was a reminder of her promise to be there until the end. Tears welled in his eyes as the father cradled his son’s head against his chest, thankful that they had made it into another day.
I wish Jason could’ve been here.
Ethan breathed through the knot in his throat, carefully grabbing the spare blanket to cover Shaun’s bare form.
I wish we could’ve been together as a family.
Tears painted his cheeks as he quietly wept, bowing his head in mourning as his only son slept peacefully in his arms. Ethan mourned over the loss of his beloved wife and firstborn child, a bitter truth that he wouldn’t spend a day in Jericho’s refuge with them. Beggars can’t be choosers and Ethan was thankful he was able to save one of his loved ones from the Knights’ grasp.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Norman wanted to pretend that he didn’t watch Jodie hastily strip in a corner before her body contorted and expanded into a Lycan.
Norman didn’t want to believe that the young woman he nurtured and mentored was one of those beasts.
But he didn’t have time to debate if Jodie was in control of her Lycan form.
He was out of time.
The Lycan’s claws increased their pressure over Norman’s neck, watching the beast snarl in delight as it found its next meal. Jodie lunged at the Lycan, ensuring Norman was out of its grasp before throwing it across the room. He dropped to the floor with a groan, knocking his head back onto the concrete when his arms were too weak to soften the blow.
He stirred in and out of consciousness, watching as Jodie took on an Elder by herself. Granted that she was in Lycan form, she held her ground as she would as a human. Jodie was steadfast and quick on her feet, now more than ever as she battled for both of their lives. When Norman had finally retained consciousness, his blood ran cold when he watched the opposing Lycan clamp down on her neck and shake her like a ragdoll.
“Jodie!” Norman cried, stumbling to his feet and grabbing the battle-ax from the ground. He rushed up to it and swung hard into its back, relieved when it dropped Jodie and directed its focus on him. Norman allowed himself to give in to his fear and anger, swinging the ax into its side and kicking it down when it limped. He brought the blade down on its neck until it was severed, tossing it aside before rushing over to Jodie.
She had transformed back into a human, lying on her side with blood pooling from her neck. Norman yanked the Blackwater vial from around his neck, knowing it would be faster to use his resources than shift through her clothes to find her vial. He tilted her head back for her to drink the water, carefully pouring it into her mouth before putting the vial aside.
“Jodie, come back to me.” Norman demanded softly, feeling his stomach bubble anxiously when the young woman was silent. “
Jodie!
”
Coughs sputtered from her lips moments later, eyes fluttering open as she took her first breath of air. Her wounds slowly faded away under the effects of the Blackwater, but he could only imagine the agony she experienced. Norman sighed in relief as he brushed dark locks from her eyes, meeting her brown eyes in a mix of relief and bewilderment.
“Oh thank the Lord.” Norman breathed, his relief fading when Jodie’s lips quivered in fear.
“Are you going to kill me?” Jodie whimpered, tears glistening in her eyes.
“
No.
No, no, Jodie, I’d never hurt you.” Norman denied with a shake of the head.
“But I’m one of
them
.” Jodie protested, hiccupping back a sob. “Aren’t you scared of me?”
“If you hadn’t just saved my life…If I hadn’t known you…I honestly can’t say for sure. But you risked your life for me, that’s all I need to know.” Norman reasoned as he reached for her clothes. “Let’s get you dressed and we’ll leave.”
Jodie was visibly distressed about someone seeing her exposed, even more so being a grown man, but she placed her trust in Norman despite the situation. He dressed her with gentle movements, careful not to disturb any other wounds while they healed. Once dressed, he tentatively slid his arms under her and stood.
“You know...I can’t tell if you’re my father or brother.” Jodie laughed under her breath, weakly blinking as she leaned into his arms. “I wish I had more time in this world to figure that out. Lord, this hurts so much...”
“Don’t say that, save your strength.” Norman encouraged, guiding her through the doorway and leading them towards the exit before she spoke.
“Wait...down the hall, on the left. There’s something you need to see.” Jodie instructed, falling limp in his arms promptly after. At first, panic surged through him when she was motionless, but when soft breaths left her lips he laid her down on a nearby bed. Norman didn’t want to leave her side in case of any unseen injuries, but he knew that their mission was just as important as her life.
He took the time to investigate the room, turning over every nook and cranny before unlocking the door painted red. Inside he found coats of their guards without patches, forewarning of a Rebel attack on their group and Lord Perry. Once he searched the rest of the room, he returned to Jodie’s position to find her sluggishly sitting upright.
“Careful now.” Norman chided, beginning to help her stand.
“How long was I out?” Jodie inquired softly, groaning as she stood on her full weight.
“Five minutes give or take.” Norman answered as he put her arm over his shoulder, allowing her to use him as a crutch as they left for the exit.
Silence passed between them, wavering between underlying tension and relief lifting the weight off their shoulders. Before they opened the doors to leave, Jodie eased herself off of Norman to stand on her own. He didn’t need words to see how quickly she had healed, observing her neck to find three scratch marks left behind from the Elder Lycan.
“Are you sure you’ll be alright?” Norman inquired, earning a confident nod from Jodie.
“Yes, I’ll be fine. If you waited a moment longer I wouldn’t be standing with you.” Jodie admitted with a soft smile, turning to meet Norman’s eyes. “I trust this secret will stay between us.”
“You have my word.” Norman vowed, returning the smile as they left the hospital and regrouped with their fellow Knights.
“After dinner, meet me in my room. There’s something else you need to know.” Jodie whispered to Norman as they followed the Knights into the dining hall, keeping close to him as they filled out the table with friendly greetings. Norman chose his spot beside Connor as Jodie chose the seat beside him, exchanging their stories from the day before Manfred joined them at the head. They collectively grew silent before Manfred chuckled and lowered his hands dismissively, telling them to continue as dinner was served.
It was a soothing way to end a stressful--and uneventful--day, the Knights joining hands in prayer before beginning their meal. Norman could feel the tension leave his chest under the comforting vibrations of others, smiling and joining in on teasings or stories. Jodie chimed in as well, grinning when she had out-sassed Sir Blake in their trivial disputes. He was thankful that after such an event happened, she was back to her normal self. They spoke of Henry and how he was fairing, eliciting amused eye-rolls from the Anderson twins as they told of Henry’s new identity, Hank, and how he still wanted to assist the Knights without ever verbally admitting so.
As magnificent as Connor’s smile was, Norman felt wrong for taking comfort in it. Men caring for another man romantically meant that they were deathly ill in the brain and Norman wasn’t about to admit his death sentence for feeling so.
Once dinner subsided, Jodie took her leave as a few other Knights remained in the dining hall to converse. Norman spoke with Manfred before the older gentleman excused himself for the night, exiting the hall to meet with Jodie as Sir Clayton joined him on his walk back to the quarters.
“You seem more chipper than usual, Sir Jayden.” Ryan began with a teasing smile, coaxing Norman into speaking as they walked.
“After nearly losing Jodie earlier, I’m content knowing she’s still with us,” Norman confessed with a smile, slowing his footsteps to a stop when they reached the fork in the hallway. Ryan smirked and stood in front of him, eyeing him mischievously.
“Are you hiding the truth?” Sir Clayton prompted, eliciting a confused stare from his fellow Knight. “She was determined to show you
something
earlier. Was it horizontal refreshment?”
“If you believe that I would lay with the woman I raised since birth, you’ve mistaken me for another man.” Norman snipped with a low growl, warning him to not make another implication as he clocked his shoulder on the way past.
“Every man is subject to passion, Norman. Including those who distance themselves.” Ryan reminded, saluting him with two fingers as he departed to the opposite hallway.
“Perhaps to men that show no restraint.” Norman retorted with a sneer, refusing to give Ryan the satisfaction of turning to face him. He could imagine the deep frown that had settled on the man’s face as he stepped further down the hallway, finding himself at Jodie’s door before knocking.
“It’s just me.” He assured, a moment passing by before Jodie welcomed him inside.
“Thanks for coming.” Jodie smiled gently, apparent that she was rehearsing something in her mind. Norman entered and made himself comfortable next to her desk, remaining silent for her to compose her words. Emerald hues watched her fidget with her fingers as she visibly fretted over her words. When she spoke it was hesitant and certain, her fingers hovered over the buttons of her blouse.
“Jodie-” Norman discouraged, being stopped when she clenched her jaw and unfastened the first three buttons.
“The Elder told me something that might be the key to finding my family.” Jodie protested, revealing the birthmark over her left breast. Norman held her gaze, hesitant to look despite being instructed to. His eyes lowered, intrigued by the perfect shape of flames branding her skin. When Norman met her eyes again, he found hope and anxiety swirl inside dark hues. “He snarled and said, ‘You damn Mars. I thought those Knights took your line out.’ We have to find out who he was talking about.”
While that may be true, what if the rest of your bloodline is dead?” Norman addressed with a soft frown. “I’ll dig up anything I can about any Mars surnames, but I can’t make any promises.”
“I know. I’m afraid I won’t be able to find my family. I just want answers.” Jodie breathed as she buttoned her blouse back, meeting his eyes with a touch of desperation behind them. “What happens if the Council knows what I am? They’ll kill me, Norman. They won’t give me a chance to prove them wrong.”
“I don’t know, kid.” Norman acknowledged, lowering his head in thought. “But I do know that I won’t hand you over no matter what. No matter what we find on your bloodline, I have your back. We’ll find a way to convince them.”
“Thank you, Norman.” Jodie smiled, throwing herself into his arms and sighing when he held her just as tight. “You’ll still be a father to me, whether we find my father or not.”
“And you’ll always be my daughter, Jo.” Norman returned warmly, laying a kiss on her crown. “The Council will have to go through me first.”