With so many things happening so quickly, Dominic lost track of his team.
'Damnit, Raphael and Phoenix, I don't remember seeing them' he thought to himself.
"I have never left my men behind".
Julius didn't know what to say to make it better.
All he could see was desperation on Dominic's face.
Dominic was spiraling.
"What if something happened to them while that man distracted me"?
It made him wonder if Mason knew something.
The tone Mason held, the matter-of-fact way he spoke, gave them a sense that he did.
Had he been tricked by the one man who could stand toe to toe with him?
More than that, Dominic had a weakness now, more than just his men.
Mason knew about his son.
How could Dominic keep his own son safe with so many things being in such disarray?
Panic was new to the grumpy old general, but he was feeling it again.
Dominic started rubbing his forehead harshly.
"I can help if you tell me what you need" Julius asked.
Dominic was quick to respond, in a low, helpless voice.
"You would have to trust me for that. We need to wait for that to happen over time" he said, walking away toward the crowded club.
Julius couldn't believe the words that had just been spoken to him.
He was giving the old man the benefit of the doubt, yet he said no.
Did he mean that much to Dominic?
If he were trying to use him, that would have been the prime time, right?
What if Ayla was right and he was trying to trick or trap him?
He would have been able to right then and there, so she had to be wrong about him.
Not sure what to do, Julius threw himself against the wall to hold him up, pushing his head into it.
Finding his father was something he never thought he would do.
Now, his father was walking away from him.
This was supposed to be a happy time.
A time for celebration and discovering who each other was.
The details of his life had been unknown for so long.
Could he really just sit there and let him walk away?
Was that what was for the best for him, for Ayla?
Why was it so important to put Ayla's needs before his own?
Then the thought occurred to him, there was a reason Dominic walked away.
He was a smart man.
Dominic standing with Julius would probably put a target on his and his friends' backs in the long run.
Should he stay in the back, out of sight, to protect his friends, Dominic, and the crew he had?
That was what he felt Dominic was trying to do by walking away.
He really was cursed.
Is that how Ayla was feeling the night before?
Suddenly, he felt bad for how he made her feel.
It wasn't him that was cursed, and he knew it.
Ayla was the cursed one, and he had to go through this to know how she felt.
To feel sympathy for Ayla and the curse she held.
There were too many unknown pieces on the board, and he needed to figure them out.
Dominic was right.
That gave Julius an idea.
His office wasn't far, and he had camera monitors hidden in his desk.
One way to get an advantage was invisible eyes.
Julius was ready to take away some of the unknowns.
Quickly, he jetted off down the hall to the welcoming office and headed for his desk.
With a press of a hand toward the edge of his desk, a TV appeared to come out of the surface of his desk, and the monitors presented themselves.
Suddenly, Julius's eyes were scanning the crowds looking for the two men.
It wasn't obvious at first who these two men were whom Mason had spotted entering the club.
As Julius searched through the crowds, he noticed Dominic and Mason seated back on their stools.
It was like nothing had happened.
Now he wondered if there was even a real threat.
Unclear what it was that they were saying, Julius zoomed in on them, concentrating on just them.
He noticed two men glance at each other not too far away.
They had similar builds to the two men at the bar, except they appeared slightly smaller and just a little bit younger.
The two young men wore similar clothing to what Dominic and his men had worn the night before, and it interested Julius.
He knew it was the men in question by that, and when they started toward them, smirking.
Julius focused his ears on the conversation more intently.
"What brings you two to a place like this" one of them sneered, sporting a military style cut.
His very light brown hair just barely present as it thickened slightly on the top of his head.
He was modestly attractive with his strong jaw and manly features, blue eyes glued to his face.
A straight, somewhat thin nose was planted above his lush lips, all surrounded but stubble.
"I could ask you the same" Dominic fired back, "Clearly, we are dressed for two separate events".
The two men looked like they had just stepped off a military base, but without the typical uniform.
Tight black shirts showing off their defined muscles, black cargo pants, and black boots.
It was clear they were on a mission, just as Dominic was the night before.
While sitting at the bar, Dominic and Mason had clearly decided to enjoy their time.
They had loose, leisurely button-down shirts on and khaki shorts, with flip flops, of all things.
"I wasn't aware your Alpha had approved vacation time" one of the men said sharply toward Mason.
"He didn't" Mason snapped back.
Mason had replied as sarcastically as he could, realizing that he had decided to add a little more.
"Sometimes, when you know the mission is a failure, you have to make choices for yourself" he smiled.
Julius knew that none of them were aware he was listening to them through the cameras that were undetectable.
That told him Mason had to be telling some part of the truth.
The conversation was itching a scratch on his brain that Julius needed it.
One of the mystery men looked concerned by his response.
As the one who hadn't spoken yet took a small step forward, wearing slightly longer hair on the top of his head, the same shade of light brown, he decided it was his turn to speak.
He's facial features were more manly, with green eyes set on the generals.
This man was slightly more intimidating to Julius, as he stood behind the bar, watching and listening.
He was just a bit larger in stature, too, by a hair, just as his muscles were a bit bigger.
A deep, but smooth voice flowed.
"What do you mean"?
Mason had no trouble explaining it to him.
"I mean, I want to ask you a question that is eating away at me. Your answer is very important. What did Alpha Declan and Luna Cressida say about the mission and that girl"?
The two men looked at each other, not sure why they had been asked that question.
"Not much" the one with the longer hair, who had stepped forward, said.
"I might know a little" the other added.
The closest to the trio was now looking at the man with the shortest hair behind him.
Neither man wanted to speak, and Julius was on the edge of his seat.
The one in the front, more like the middle, began to answer.
"We were just told to get her. My Alpha never spoke to us about any details. There are rumors, but..." he was stopped.
The other man spoke up.
"Orion, my alpha, did say things to me. He said it was important not to tell anyone that she was his daughter. More importantly, Alpha Declan said we only had a few days to bring her home" the young man finished with his head down.
Orion, as he had been called, was looking at his partner, confused.
"Damnit, Shaw. Why didn't you say anything? Why would your Alpha hide things like that from me, and why would you? We are supposed to be a team" Orion finished lightly slapping the man's shoulder.
Shaw dropped his head in shame before responding to his partner.
"I wasn't allowed to. We only have permission to do the scouting together. Other than that, I can't tell you anything. I wish I could" Shaw said with a tone of sadness.
They were clearly younger than Dominic and Mason.
That was even easier to pick up after listening to them talk.
Were they the same age as Julius and the new couple?
Couldn't be.
There had to be at least a handful of years between them.
Something was telling about their conversation that caught everyone's attention.
They seemed really close, but something was off.
"You two only scout together" Dominic asked.
The two men nodded in sync.
"Wait, does my Alpha know"? Orion asked.
Shaw's face was filled with concern.
"You cannot say anything to your Alpha. None of you can say anything. Please" Shaw begged.
Noses hit the air as they took in the scents that swirled around them.
More questions than answers entered their nostrils.
A mix of hints of honey, maybe a hint of orange blossom, and cedar hit the air.
'Different packs? Scouting together' They thought in unison.
This had to be because time was running out.
"Where are your generals" Mason asked.
"There is a tip that is circulating that the girl was spotted a good two to three days from here. Closer to the Black Forest towns. Most generals, I assumed, were following that" Orion said as he shrugged his shoulders.
Both Generals had the sudden urge to swallow, but it was hard to do it.
Shaw suddenly had a question of his own.
"That being said, what are two Generals like you still doing here" Shaw asked with an eyebrow raised.
They knew the question was coming.
"I was feeling a little under the weather and needed a day or two to recover" Dominic lied quickly.
Mason let out a little cough.
"Must be contagious because I started feeling it too" Mason added.
The two young men didn't look amused.
"Well, we were sent to see why you stopped here. If it was enough to make you visit, Alpha Seff, Alpha Ulfric, and Alpha Declan wanted to know why. Plus, we don't get sick. Come up with a better lie" Shaw scolded as he went to leave.
If Julius wasn't petrified, he would be laughing uncontrollably.
They knew that Dominic and Mason were lying, and they would probably stick around to find out why.
Unfortunately, Julius worried now more than ever about his friend's safety.
"BBUUUZZZZZ" he hit a buzzer on his desk.
A young bartender came walking in shortly after.
"Ask the two gentlemen right here to come to my office. That one knows where it is" he pointed.
"Yes, sir" she said as she left through the door.
As he waited, he just kept telling himself that the night was almost over.
'That's right, you just have to hang on a little bit longer' he told himself.
Sitting there and doing nothing wasn't an option.
While he waited, he decided to be productive.
He was quickly rolling the tape back, looking for Phoenix and Raphael.
Julius needed to know what happened to them so he could rest a little easier.
Just as the two men walked through the door, he caught a glimpse of the lost lambs exiting the club.
He let out a desperate sigh of relief.
When did he become the freaking shepherd?
Phoenix and Raphael were not alone when they left, either.
They could have said something.
Better than that, though, they left with plenty enough time that they weren't noticed by the two men who had talked with Dominic and Mason.
"Your men are safe" Julius said as the two men entered his office.
The words were said with enough confidence that he was sure Dominic would understand.
Dominic gave a reassuring nod as a way to thank him.
With the nod, Julius knew he had done well, and the weight was gone from both their chests.
"Is that why you called us here" Mason asked.
Julius looked at Mason, raising an eyebrow, and spoke without hesitation.
"No".
Mason was waiting for him to continue.
"I was watching and listening to your conversation. I have one question".
Eyebrows were raised toward him because neither man could sense his presence.
"Is she safe"?
Mason lifted his lip and one side and looked at him with arrogance.
"NO. Quite simply, she won't be as long as wolves keep popping up. She doesn't know who she is, and that's her biggest weakness. I think the truth is, everyone wants her before she realizes who she is" Mason smirked.
"What does that mean" he asked for clarification.
Mason cleared his throat like he had something important to say before speaking.
"She doesn't know anything about herself, boy. That means she doesn't know she is a wolf, period. She is vulnerable. Once she knows she is one of us, she will be impossible to catch and control. Plus, her mate will be able to find her more easily."
Julius stifled a laugh that tried desperately to come out.
"You clearly don't know anything about her if you think she is vulnerable. For entertainment purposes, let's say she does know she is a wolf. Does that change people wanting to kidnap her? Is that one less unknown we have to worry about"?
Mason didn't think anything about it before he started talking.
"Probably not. I wouldn't know that details. It would make it a lot harder to get her. Wait, does she...If you do, then...are you..."?
The wheels in Mason's head started spinning.
He actually thought that Julius was her fated mate.
A knowing smirk landed on Julius's face as he clasped his hands together and crossed his legs behind his desk.
Julius liked the idea of pulling the wool over the eyes of the old wolf.
"Again, does any of it matter"?
In his mind, it didn't matter if it was himself or Alexander that the man was pairing with Ayla, as long as it took the threat away from her.
To him, the answer would be the same.
The longer he could keep his friend's role a secret, the better, especially while gathering information.
Mason realized he was right to give up on his mission and stay behind.
The tone in his voice sounded defeated as Mason answered.
"I don't know. I gave up on my mission. That doesn't mean others will do the same" Mason said with finality in his tone.
Mason turned to leave the office.
"Good luck keeping her safe. You're going to need it".
With that, the old man proceeded to walk out of the office, head held high.
Julius could see him through the camera as he walked through the club and out the front door.
Mason had no intention of moving against Dominic, and he had a feeling going after Ayla now meant doing just that.
It wasn't just that.
There was a whole damn chain.
It was like he had actually built a wall around Ayla.
Going against Ayla meant going against Julius, then, in turn, meant going against Dominic.
That was just too much.
"He's still an unknown" Dominic stated after the door closed.
"So, are his men" Julius added, "Am I a fool for trying to keep this girl safe"?
Dominic's eyes looked sad as he looked at Julius.
"Probably. His men may or may not come back, but is she worth it" Dominic asked, like any father would.
Julius didn't know how to answer that question.
"We...The thing is..."
"You aren't mates" Dominic interrupted.
Julius's absent look confirmed his suspicions as Dominic continued.
"I know. You weren't the one who jumped off the waterfall with her. Do you think I'm that stupid or senile"?
Julius's ears dropped, and he started to speak in his defense.
"NO, I would never" he started, but Dominic started laughing.
Julius was confused.
"You knew the whole time"?
Dominic had to calm his laughter down to talk to Julius.
"Not the whole time. At first, I wasn't sure. Why did you ask if it mattered if she knew about being a wolf? Did something happen"?
Julius was starting to wonder just how much he had in common with his father.
"That I'm aware of, no. Knowing Alexander and his way of finding trouble, especially with Ayla, probably".
Dominic pinched his lips to the side before speaking.
"What do you mean? Wait! So, I was right! There are more of you. Who is Alexander" he probed.
Julius didn't know if it was okay to say anything or how much to say.
This was his father, though.
Julius had to learn to trust him at some point, so it was now or never.
It was his turn to take a leap of faith.
"Long story short, the one who jumped off the waterfall. Also, the one who was hiding behind the bar with Ayla the other night, when she shouldn't have been in here. That girl is a magnet for trouble, I swear. Cursed if you ask me. I really want to know how she managed to keep away from you for so long. Anyway, he is another person who has the same exact story as me".
He was raising his shoulders as he let the last line out.
Julius expected Dominic to be shocked, surprised even, but he was curious more than anything.
"Elaborate".
That was all he said, and Julius did just that.
"Alexander doesn't know anything about his past. That's why we bonded so well at a young age. Orphans together. We co-own this club, among other places, together. Live together..."
Julius thought about what he was saying.
His hand was reaching for the middle of his forehead.
"Probably shouldn't have said that".
Dominic shook his head.
"It's fine. I don't have to know where you live if that makes you feel better. If it keeps Ayla safer, don't tell me".
Julius nodded.
"When I was home, I can't remember what happened exactly, but I noticed her eyes".
Dominic didn't understand what Julius was so concerned about.
"You noticed Ayla's eyes. What does that have to do with Alexander"?
Julius was getting impatient with the interruptions.
"Give me a minute to get there. I pulled him away and asked him about it. He was hesitant, so long story short, I showed him mine, realized he was like us, shifted, and boom, so did he".
Julius was speaking so quickly it was hard to keep up, but he was afraid to be interrupted again.
Dominic was sitting in his chair, trying to process the rushed synopsis of what had just been told to him.
"That girl has two werewolves protecting her, currently" he said, rubbing his forehead again, "and she doesn't even know she is a wolf yet".
Julius reminded Dominic of what he said earlier.
"Speaking of unknowns, I would keep her knowing she is a wolf as an unknown status. I said I'm not sure she doesn't know. Alexander can be an impatient guy. He doesn't like secrets, and he gets really excited. He knows what she is, and he will want to tell her, if he hasn't already".
Dominic smiled.
"I look forward to meeting this Alexander one day, just as much as meeting Ayla. Like you said, she has bested me for years. Shaking the hand of a formidable opponent will be the highlight of my life. For tonight, too many people have an idea that you might have a connection to her. I will help make sure you are not followed home. You need to do your part to make sure you aren't followed".
He desperately wanted to tell his son everything he knew, about the curse, about Ayla, all the kids, the witches, but he was terrified it would be too much for him this soon.
For now, he would wait.
Unknown to them, those weren't the only issues brewing in the wind.
The run the night before had kicked up dust that Dominic wasn't expecting.
As the men in the club were discussing the infamous Ayla, she was sleeping, blissfully unaware due to the exhaustion from the day's events.
Running out of fear was one thing, but running for pleasure was amazing.
Both, however, were exhausting.
She and Alexander had finally made it back inside and were nestled away in their bed, sleeping soundly.
Not once could she remember feeling so peaceful.
After the rooftop, she felt like there was a sort of invisible string connecting the two of them.
Like their mind, bodies, and souls had connected, making them one.
Just across town from them, in the suite with Phoenix and Raphael, there was no sleeping going on.
The two men had found the same two women from before and couldn't be happier.
They were taking a few trips to Pound Town as they stayed segregated in their own rooms, completely oblivious to the world around them.
Phoenix was infatuated with the redhead, with plump breasts that smelled of a warm, sweet scent that was almost like almonds or vanilla, that floated freely through his nostrils as he kissed her with nothing but lust pouring on to her lips, and every inch of her skin.
Her lotion made her skin soft and like butter to his touch.
At that point, he never wanted to leave the human town they stumbled into.
That man was willing to do whatever she asked, without a second thought.
Across the hall, Raphael was enjoying the opposite approach.
He enjoyed taking the lead, as he showed his dark-haired beauty just who was in control.
His woman, reminding him of home, with a mix of the ocean with a hint of fir trees, somehow lifted from her skin, making her smell delectable.
Raphael had no problem acting on his instincts, as he did what came naturally and ate her up.
The suite smelled strongly of sex and desire, mixed fragrances, and neither of the four people in the rooms could care less.
Dominic was finishing up with following Julius home, so the bomb of aromas was about to come crashing into him.
He felt as if he followed Julius in the shadows, from a safe distance, things would be fine.
Nothing seemed out a place or worrisome, so Dominic would sleep easily that night.
High spirits resided within him as he opened the door of the suite.
Suddenly, he felt like he couldn't breathe, like he was hit with an air freshener that had been supercharged with too many fragrances.
The only problem was that it wasn't a smell that you would buy.
He refused to open his nostrils, only wanting to get to his room for shelter.
Squeezing his nose, he made a beeline for his room.
"SLAM".
'Maybe it was a mistake to come to this human town' he thought to himself again.
'All I'm doing is torturing myself, digging my hole deeper, and theirs' he sighed as he stepped onto the balcony.
The biggest unknown they had was what their future held now, and who else knew about Julius?