“What will kill you is your very own.” Ivan repeated the words Mercedes had told her months ago at the company anniversary party.
Mercedes had said those very words, and realising it now raised a lot of questions. Was she a sage then, or was it just a premonition? She would never know, and Mercedes was not here anymore, so she could not ask her. It made little sense then, but with everything that had happened so far, it made much sense.
She would not survive this. Perhaps her death will come at the hands of the sages, terrorising the peace experienced by the packs for hundreds of years.
The day that followed came with a lot of shock for many people. Aaron received a lot of calls with questions and demands for why he stepped down without prior information. Aaron apologised and told them he couldn’t wait. It had to be known, and he cited family as the main reason behind this great move. Using family as the reason behind this major, unexpected decision calmed the wave that the storm would have brought his way, and instead of being tagged as a horrible businessman, he was tagged as a family man, putting his family before everything else. He got applause and commendation. In his withdrawal, he worked behind the scenes, doing all the work and businesses on the estate. He had to cancel any events or activities that would require him to step out of the estate unless they were important.
Diya, who had called the night of the attack after getting home, called again after getting the news of Aaron stepping back. She asked if she had anything to do with the decision. Zera assured her it had nothing to do with her, but she didn’t seem very convinced about that and said nothing more.
Daniel arrived at the Pack estate after over two years of being gone. Ivan had believed what had happened to Lionel, although he couldn’t remember, had to do with the awakening of his hunter blood. If anyone would recognise it, it would be another hunter.
Daniel’s presence surprised Zera the most because she knew how much he resented being at the estate over two years ago. Perhaps the change was because time had gone by or because Lionel’s awakening meant he wasn’t the last hunter alive anymore. If there was anything he could do to preserve the bloodlines of hunters, then he would do it.
It didn’t matter to Zera; she was just happy to have him here.
“It has been a while,” he said, stepping towards her.
“Too long; I never thought you would come back.” She smiled warmly.
“Well, I didn’t think I would be back. But it is nice to know you’re in one piece. Aaron kept to his promise of taking care of you. I hope Zion is in the equation.” This was him keeping an eye out for her.
“He is well taken care of, I promise.” She assured him.
“Any plans to make him an older brother soon?”
Her smile reduced, yet it stayed on her face. “I can’t have children as a sage.”
His eyes dropped. “I’m sorry, then; I shouldn’t have gone there.”
“It’s fine; you didn’t know.”
She heard footsteps approaching, and her head moved in the direction. She found Lionel standing there with a confused look on his face, and beside him stood Ivan.
Daniel turned around to face him after noticing the look on her face.
“Hey, Lionel.”
“Hey, Daniel,” he replied, moving his gaze to Zera. “Why is he here?” he asked.
She hadn’t really told him anything when he woke up; she didn’t get the chance to. She had gotten a call from Aaron to come to the office, and she had left Ivan in charge of him, but Ivan also had to leave him in the end. After returning to the estate, she didn’t go to him and pushed the explanation to today.
It would make sense for him to be confused and need answers. She owed him a lot of it, and sadly, she had little of it to give.
“He’s here to help.” Zera answered.
“How is he going to help me?” Lionel demanded, but before she could answer, Daniel did.
“Because you’re a hunter, just like me.”
Lionel’s eyes narrowed at Daniel, but he said nothing. Maybe a part of him believed him, and if he didn’t, he said nothing.
Daniel stepped towards him. “I think deep down you are not like you used to be, and you have a lot of questions. I am here to answer them and also to train you to control yourself and to know your enemies. If you do not learn how to control your powers, your powers will control you.”
Lionel must have believed the words Daniel told him because he didn’t dispute them and just nodded. “When do we begin?” he asked.
“We already have, and that is why I am here. Now, you will come with me, and we will train.” Daniel answered.
Zera didn’t expect Daniel to take Lionel away, but she never asked where they would train on how to control his powers; she just assumed that since the pack estate was large enough, he wouldn’t mind training him here. She should have known.
“Do you have any objections to it? I see your eyes betraying your words.”
She recovered herself and shook her head. “No, I don’t. I trust you.”
His eyes narrowed at her, and a mischievous look crossed his face. “You are sure about that? It’s been two years since you last saw me. A lot could have happened since then. Are you willing to put the life of your brother in my hands?”
“I know you.” She answered in confidence, “I’d like to think you need him more than I do.”
The mischievous look vanished from his face, confirming Zera’s words, “Fine, I will have him back here-a different man than he is now. As for the Lionel you used to know, I do not think I can promise a safe return.”
She didn’t care; as long as she got Lionel, her brother, she would be content. She was going to protect the new just as much as she did the old.
Daniel and Lionel departed, and Zera could do nothing but watch them go, and she couldn’t help wondering how much different Lionel would be.
“He will be back.” Ivan said, reading into her worried-filled voice.
“He will be different.” She added, revealing her fear.
“Yes, but you won’t be.”
That was the most important thing.