A/N: NOT EDITED... Some said their chapter was blank so this is just reposted. I contacted wattpad and mentioned that many people can't see it or some don't get notifications of updates. They told me that it might be because I update requently LOL.

So any guesses on who the Air Elemental is?

Chapter 44 – Gabriel POV

Different scenarios were running through my head, reasons that Ethan would even go as far as to call Logan. I hoped that it wasn’t a trap, I would hope it wasn’t… but… I knew that without me there, Ethan and Andrew would have to take over, one the pack, the other train as Don. Now we had Nonno while Dante was back home, I’m sure whatever was happening couldn’t have been healthy.



“Tell me everything.”



He waved his hand, “he called, was in a panic… I’m supposed to meet with them,” Logan informed me. I was on the fence with this entire situation happening, the wrong decision could so easily blow up in our faces. On the one hand for Logan to get that call just as we were given Robert Delaney seemed to easy, making me want to help Ethan. However they could be just bluffing, making it ease, reversing the game onto us.



“You think it’s the Elders trying to reach out us indirectly?”



Lips pursed, I nod.



“Why not contact Jay? He left… Ethan knows he can trust Jay, but he’s calling you?” Logan remained silent, I wasn’t insulting him but just stating the fact that Logan shouldn’t have been his first choice in calling. Jay was.



We already had Logan doing so much, he didn’t need anymore on his plate in my opinion, but again he was his own Alpha.



But you’re the Alpha, Max pointed out.



“I’m taking Jay and Wolf with me to the meeting spot I chose,” Logan said when I went quiet. I nodded, “Did you check this girl out?”



“Yeah, of course.”



“What’d you get?”



“Well her file is a bit fishy, she has no birth certificate on file, she’s intelligent. Was in the system and applied for a scholarship at a few different boarding schools so she could get out of the group home she was living in. Your brothers school as well as another school did give her entrance but only your brother’s school offered her a full scholarship,” I sat back listening.



“He hasn’t told her…” he stopped when my body stiffened, ‘you think George was going to actually let you two go off to Florida?’ I remember asking them months ago.



“How long?”



“What Universities did she apply too?” I demanded to know.



“She applied to two universities in Florida, Columbia, Northwestern, Brown and Yale-”



“She committed to UF,” I said matter-of-factly, Logan’s eyes widened as he nodded, “how?”



I shook my head, he’s known for months that she was his mate, his plans were always about her, knowing how my father felt about humans, them being below us, less than us.



“She’s reported as bi-racial-”



I snorted, all of Ethan’s secretive just making more and more sense as Logan spoke, “How if she has no birth certificate?”



“She’s – well I had to do a lot of digging but when she was thirteen she was taken into the system, living with some man that pretended to be her father, but turns out he saw her and took her from one of those safe haven drops-”



“What?”



He nodded sadly, his mind on Rainy.



“Yeah, she was almost three years old when he took her, according to him he saw a white woman drop the girl off and left her there. Majorie – that’s her name – she told social services that she remembers her mother being black, but nothing else.”



“Then how did she even get with the white woman?”



He shrugged his shoulders, “She didn’t say…” his words implying that she remembered but just wasn’t saying anything about it.



“What else did you get on her?”



“Well the only contact your brother has with her is she tutors him in physics’, she babysits for pocket money, her bank account has just over five grand, she filed for emancipation the minute she turned sixteen…”



I rubbed my hand over my face “She’s alone?”



Logan nodded, “From her schedule I’m not seeing when she has time for anything else. She lives in the boarding house on campus, she works as Saturdays and Sundays as a sitter, the family is home so she basically plays with the kids. She tutors on Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesdays for three hours; she’s on the debate team and… yeah-”



“Damn,” the curse muttered under his breath, “You’re father has two of his guys following her-”



“Where is Ethan?”



“I was supposed to meet him in two hours-” I shook my head, if my father had two men on this girl; she wasn’t going to make it the night.



I was on the fence, I jumped to my feet thinking this all over quickly, and I knew Logan did his homework, researching her in a way better than any federal or private agency, “Pick her up, and take Ethan as well… Oh – oh – he has a tracking chip,” Logan’s head dipped, I just rolled my eyes. And then I found myself alone; Ethan was much sneaker than I had ever given him credit for. He had to have known for months that she was his mate but he never said anything.



Biding time until they were away from us, how did I miss this? Like you missed that your father was crooked, that your mother was pregnant… that the Elders were up to no good… that your father and mother weren’t true mates… that Samuel was in a cult… that Estelle bought two babies… should I continue? Max chirped. I mean it wasn’t until you met our mate that you finally…. I totally tuned him out, as a few pieces fell together for me more.



Until I met my mate.



Until Philip met his mate.



‘You can’t have your mate…’



Stumped I sat back thinking over Samuel, he rejected Jamie… because Jamie had loyalty to Chelsea more than to their mate bond, Max added already on point with my thoughts.



“What is it about having your mate that is forbidden? Why would that matter?” I asked out loud. Racking my brain trying to see why that was important.



Philip was devoted to them. Until he found his mate.



I followed my father somewhat blindly, until I found Chelsea.



The Elders have a good grip on your fathers balls, Max snorted; again, my mom wasn’t his true mate.



Nonno and Nona left the pack, one that they had been with since children… hundreds of years ago, but they are true mates…



I shook my head, I couldn’t be onto something here, it was too simple, especially when Wolf and his crew would be the perfect candidates for the Elders –



No, Max contradicted, Wolf had his mate –



“Not anymore though,” the words whispered.



Frustrated, could that be the key? Bonds? I scratched my head, “It can’t be that simple-”



“What can’t be that simple?” Marlon asked surprising me and Leland was there at his side, both changed and refreshed.



Shaking my head, “Chelsea was surprised to see you here,” I avoided their question putting my thoughts aside, “why?” his deep voice confused.



“How she handled your daughter-”



He snorted, but his eyes betrayed his anger, though it wasn’t at Chelsea, “I don’t know what Lola was thinking – or how we missed this. She – she’s much too old for me to even bend her over my knee but what Chelsea showed the group really was necessary.”



“No one here has been aware of what is going on out there, we had tried to tell many over the last month that it is time to bind together, not work against the Luna, but-”



“They needed to hear this from Chelsea, no one can be who she is meant to be, say what has to be said and do what needs to be done…” Leland interrupted.



Marlon nodded, “I – we – cannot rebel against what she is doing, we follow her and plan to help by leading by example. I cannot stand in her way when I have made grave mistakes of my own; she explained this so clearly to others. We have been here seeking refuge from persecution by the Elders, however we are not alone, there are more that are paying the price – family – everyone connected in some way,” Marlon spoke.



“Many have become complacent here but knowing that this is not the last stop has sure changed the tune I believe,” Leland said, “As for the children – many understand that we have been less authoritative than we should have been.”



They might be on this page, but I was a firm believer in actions speak louder than words, so I’d wait before I sighed in relief on this matter.

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Oakley POV

Anxious and ready for Kieran to wake up, I sat in his room, my ipad in my hand, reading softly glancing up every once in a while, needing to check to make sure he hadn’t opened his eyes and I missed it.



He didn’t.



So alone, but still not truly feeling that way because he’s here with me, I read and worry endlessly about his memory. When the door opens I figure it’s either Jack or Chris coming but Uncle Grant comes forward with a plate and glass on a tray, “You need to eat something,” he says placing it in front of me.



“You’ve gotten so much smaller since we’ve been here,” I nod in agreement.



It wasn’t that I didn’t eat, but that I was so much more physically active here, I walked everywhere, and was never in once place very long unless it was my bed at night.



“That sister of yours… man… I might need to train a bit more if I’m going to keep myself in shape,” he teased.



Laughing I tucked right into my eggs, humming.



Swallowing, “This is so good,” I continued shoveling food in.



“Whoa! Slow down there,” he goaded me playfully.



“How’s your head?”



“So – uch – hember” I mumble trying to say ‘so much better.’



“And this,” he chin points to Kieran, shrugging I don’t look up or say anything until I’ve cleaned my plate. It was a lot, I had been in the hospital here once but this was different – to me. Back in Middleburg I was once where Kieran was, but now I was in Dad’s spot. I was the one sitting next to the bed, waiting for someone I cared about to wake up. That uneasiness that grows as the waiting gets longer.



So now I was worried about Kieran, but inside, “How could Dad just let me go with you Uncle Grant? He just gave up…” I whispered. Kieran wasn’t my child and he was just my friend but I had already decided that I wouldn’t give up on him.



I expected him to push me away, but I had my mind set, that I would be there in anyway I can… “Oak-”



“Is he awake yet?” Mrs. Ryan came into the room with a swoop her husband at her side. Three large steps and she was reaching for his hand, “Stop!” I jumped to my feet her hands stayed hovering Kieran’s.



“What do you think you’re doing?” her eyes hardened.



“He’s our son Oakley, we are well within our rights to touch-”



“Within your rights? If you touch him before that hand makes it to his, you’ll be against that wall in the same position I had Connor,” what was wrong with them? Just because he was unconscious they were going to touch him? When he didn’t like that? I didn’t even touch him while he was like this because – well because I didn’t think he would like it.



“You’re going to take advantage of him like this? He didn’t want you touching him when he was awake, why would you even think it was remotely okay to hold his hand now?”



“Oakley-” Uncle Grant stood next to me but my eyes were focused on the Ryans, shaking I watched as she went to place her hand on his and before that could happen, one hand clenched to my side. The other went straight out, the hum of electricity flowing around me, as Mrs. Ryan shrieked in agony and Gabriel, Marlon and Leland all rushed inside the room.



After no more than twenty seconds I let her fall to the ground fully, Mr. Ryan going to her immediately while my vision blurred and body shook uncontrollably.



“What the hell just happened?” Gabriel asked his eyes darting from me to them, but his voice sounded softer than the slight ring in my ears.



My teeth clenched tightly but I couldn’t stop the slight clattering, “He’s my boy… she – she used her gift on me – it’s been so long since he so much as touched us – I’m his mother-”



“He wouldn’t want them touching him Gabriel! Not without his permission!” I cried, “Why can’t you just think about him?” I turned to them now, “You want to touch him because you haven’t in so long? What about him? Why are you being so selfish? Why can’t you just – why can’t you just for once do what is right for me!” I shouted, crying.



“Oh… Oakley…” uncle Grant said pulling me against him, “No,” I pulled away a bit not done with them. Wiping my face I focus, “Its not like you’re doctors and you’re fixing him and need to touch him… You’re just doing it behind his back. He didn’t give you permission, you’re going against what he wants, it won’t mean a thing if you touch him, because it’s not what he wanted, you’re just as bad as those people that hurt him!” I said angrily.



“Did you see all those tubes he had around him? Chelsea was trying to keep him safe, you couldn’t even control Connor, and he hurt Kieran for no reason other than his mate is stupid! I’d never in my whole life do what Connor did to my brother but now I know that Connor isn’t the one to blame it’s you-”



“Oakley!” Gabriel snapped shutting me up, “calm down, go splash some water on your face,” I was going to object, “I won’t let them touch Kieran,” he assured me.



Nodding slowly, I went into the bathroom, tears still coming angrily, my chest was aching and a shiver took over my whole body as I sank to the ground, I didn’t even know why I was crying now, or why I was so angry.



It’s okay Oakley, you’re okay, my wolf whined in my mind.



The air around me hummed, a low crackle in my ears, I tried to calm, inhaling deeply and exhaling, as I listened to the conversation outside the door.



“Look… I get you’re his parents, I do. I know you want to touch him, but really, Oakley has a point, why would you want to do something that in your heart you know would only make him pull further away from you. You’re parents for fuck’s sake, act like it. You’ve already pushed him past the idea that he was even wanted by your family. For months he hasn’t had anyone touching him, and you’re thinking about how you feel? What about him?” Gabriel whispered and then I was shocked to hear uncle Grant.



“Can you guys even come to comprehend that for months, he hasn’t touched a single person? He hasn’t initiated that contact with anyone?”



I don’t hear a response, but I do hear the door click after a few moments, “Oakley, you okay?” Gabriel said his voice much closer now, and looking down to my right I can see his shadow a bit.



“I’m okay,” I mumbled scrambling to my feet, then over to the sink, splashing water on my face before opening the door to reveal Gabriel and Kieran, everyone else gone.



Sitting on the opposite side of the bed, I lower to my seat, “I’m not sorry,” I say with a bit too much attitude even to my own ears, my eyes widen. “Sorry,” I apologize quickly, “It’s just that,” I don’t even know what to say, “I just felt like – in my heart,” I lifted my hand up to my heart, “he wouldn’t have liked that,” I sigh.



“You care about him a lot, don’t you?” He asked and under his gaze, my face heated, but I nodded, “Yeah, I feel… at ease, like I don’t have to be anything, like happy or sad, or even pretend or hold my feelings inside. Like I can say anything and he never looks at me funny or says what I say is stupid,” and surprisingly Gabriel nods.



“I feel like that with Chelsea too, I know that she protects me and no matter what I can go to her with anything… I don’t have to pretend, I can be sad and let her know I’m hurting instead of keeping my feelings inside.” My head bobbed, I understood him and he did me.



My eyes left Gabriel and I looked at Kieran, his hair and even the shaved parts where he once had a bolt and tubes and blood, and now, not even much time had gone by and he was starting to look like himself again. He still had bruises, and the only tube was a bag of Chelsea’s blood that would help him heal faster completely. I went down to his neck, all the way until my eyes stopped on his hand on top of the covers.



“You didn’t touch him?” Gabriel broke the silence, not that I had forgotten he was here, but I shook my head, pursing my lips. He could read my mind, I smiled, coolest gift ever.



“Why not?” I exhaled heavily, “it’s stupid but… it wouldn’t mean as much I guess. He let me hold his hand last time; I don’t think it’ll feel the same trying to be sneaky about it. I wouldn’t even – I mean maybe he hates it now… I know it’s not normal you know to never let anyone touch you, not even hold your hand or give you a hug, but they – his parents – wanted to do it against what he would probably want. I don’t think he’s only supposed to hold my hand and never touch anyone else, I mean I touch other people all the time… Kieran should too, so he knows nothing bad will happen…” I rambled, rubbing my head because I was sure I wasn’t making much sense right now.



But Gabriel shook his head, “No it makes sense, doing something against his will wouldn’t feel good, as knowing you had permission and he wanted it,” he said without meeting my eyes.



He’s waking up, my eyes darted back over to Kieran, my stomach in knots, churning uncomfortably… please remember me…



Oakley? Gabriel called me and it took all my effort to meet his gaze when he didn’t continue, when I finally did they were very serious, he wasn’t even smiling, you be there for Kieran, like I know Chelsea is there for me, I nodded with wide eyes. After looking at me for a bit, he left his chair and exited the room leaving it just Kieran and I, the way I liked it.



“umph-” Kieran groaned slightly, turning his head to the right then, to his left to my face, blinking until I think I came into focus. My hand on my lap was shaking, because well… he wasn’t smiling, or saying anything…



My shoulders sagged in defeat when he didn’t say anything or seem to remember me, “Hi… I’m Oakley…”



“uhg – I know who you are Oakley – where?” he stopped looking around.



“Let me get Gabriel or Chelsea-” his eyes widened and his color drained when I mentioned her name, Gabriel! Come back he’s awake… something is wrong though, I said Chelsea’s name and then its like last night!



“What’s wrong?” I asked as he began shaking his head, his eyes the worst part of all of this. They began so empty, just like – like he had given up…



“Kieran what’s wrong, you aren’t in trouble, that’s not why you’re here… someone hit you and you had to have surgery after you walked me home…”



“Kieran,” I said a bit louder, and waited for him to turn to face me again, I stood, but not close enough to even reach for his hand.



“You aren’t in trouble, Chelsea isn’t mad, she didn’t hurt you. That’s not why you’re here,” I repeated the words over and over again, getting worried until finally he blinked and I could see that maybe he was coming back.



“She’s – she’s not mad?” he whispered his voice shaking. “No… I’m not mad Kieran it was an accident,” Chelsea said before I could answer him, she slowly came into the room standing near the wall.



“It wasn’t done purposely, I have no reason to be angry with you Kieran,” she assured him, and after a few beats, he nodded his head.



“So… what do you remember? I mean besides that you accidently bumped into me?” she asked and I was dying to know the answer to that question myself. More than a bit worried that he wouldn’t remember, and majorly concerned that he would remember but think that he should still stay away from me.



I didn’t like being away from him though. Hanging out with Kieran, or Chelsea or Ben, or Tera were the best parts of my day. It was different with him; I didn’t have so much worry about if he wanted me around or if I was bothering him. I know he told me to go away or that he doesn’t want to be my friend but at the same time he wasn’t firm on that so I think maybe he liked being around me as well.



Then there was the fact that… it wasn’t just about me, I liked being with him but maybe if people saw that I was hanging out with him, they’d give him a chance too. In Middleburg, no one had done that for me, not care what rumors were set and just be there for me.



“Oakley!” Chelsea said sharply, my head snapped to her direction, “Are you okay? Is it your head?”



“What’s wrong with her head?” Kieran asked before I could answer. I shook my head, “No, I’m fine I was just thinking-”



You know what I’m thinking Chelsea-



“Did he hit you too?” Kieran asked confused, a slight edge and sadness to his voice, “No, he didn’t hit me too, because you got me home safely Kieran,” he looked at me blinking, before focusing on his hands in his laps.



My eyes darted back and forth between Chelsea and Kieran, when no one says anything and the lull becomes stifling – to me at least – I move on, “You’re sister is going to be back in a few minutes,” I told him and watched as he gave me that confused eyebrows knitted together stare.



“Why?” with wide eyes, I’m left a bit speechless; because of that one three letter word.

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Chris POV

I trudge along heading home and hoping to catch some sleep but I’m met at the porch by Juliet and Shavon – our children’s’ therapists – their eyes sorrowful.



“You heard about last night?” I ask tiredly sitting on one of the outdoor chairs.



Nodding, Shavon answered, “Yeah… last night was rough, Kayla seeing what she had, it’s left her a bit confused, as well as jumpier than we’ve seen her Chris,” I nodded expecting that.



“She wasn’t ready to talk, and she didn’t sleep at all, I mean she spent most of the night in the bathroom,” I closed my eyes willing myself to relax, holding onto that string of calmness.



“Chris… you knew it would happen… she hasn’t been exposed to that since she was found in that basement prison. Seeing it now, it’s bound to be messing with her head.”



“She had such a good day yesterday, I mean she had a panic attack and her terrors but, she napped for nearly four hours, cuddled up to that boy and her wolf toy.” The shakiness in my voice grows.



“You guys should have seen how she woke up… I – I don’t think I’ve ever seen her wake so peacefully; there was no fear in her eyes. She just sat up, looked around and she – it was so – just so amazing to watch. I want that for all of them, but I – those moments are so fleeting with her.”



I was fighting for control of my emotions, as the door was pushed to the side and Kayla came out, her hair loose, striped cotton pants and a thin long sleeve. “Morning,” I greeted her brightly, but my hand is on my lap in a fist, curling and then opening.



Nodding she comes out, and I take notice of the items in her hand, two juice boxes, two bags of cereal, her wolf and tablet. “Is all that for you?” I joke.



“No papa,” her reply whispered.



Silently when I realize whom it’s for, I curse myself.



“Honey…” I say not wanting to disappoint her, “I’m not sure that Ben will come today… his sisters friend was hurt last night and he was up until maybe two hours ago,” her shoulders deflate, she nods and crawls inside her pod on the porch without a word.

__________________________

so is Gabe onto something?

and Oakley...? some people said that she needs to find out that she's his mate so they can mark each other, and things get romantic... **SMH** my answer: No. If you guys have forgotten Oakley is 13. nuff said.

I'm not sure but have you guys heard of books where they begin a really unhealthy type of relationship that is just a disaster for any young girl to be in, but the writer calls it a 'dominant alpha male personality' when in reality it's an abusive relationship? Yet the writer goes out of their way to make you want more of guys treating girls like doormats... taking out their anger on the girls... and the girls? well they're always there to get more of the lovely treatment...

You've heard of them right? that instead of working on their issues they push it aside to let the anger build up until both individuals are casualties.

well this isn't going to be one of those. sorry.

and for those that asked, Kieran is 15 years old.

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