.. And he would have been as bad as his old man.
Curtis was glad that his father had overlooked him, that his father had thought him as weak as a woman. He wouldn’t have been able to recognize himself if it had been the other way round.
But of course he gave out a crook smile, and cocked his head to the side as if to say that his father had really done a stupid job in choosing who to trust.
“You are truly my blood.” Arnold started, rearranging himself on the sofa, sitting upright now, for he had been reclining deeper in the sofa.
“And even though my discovery is quite late, I’m glad that I could see it at least today. We should work together from now on. What do you think?”
Curtis nodded his head. “Your wish is my command.”
There was a mock bow that had Arnold chuckling again, a chuckle that dried up, when he remembered something.
“What is the matter, father?” Curtis inquired, more curious than concerned.
“Your mother. How is she?”
Curtis shrugged his shoulders. “She is fine, just a bit angry with you.”
He knew that was an understatement but the old man didn’t have to know that.
“She wouldn’t understand you know. I tried explaining to her the reason, the best I could, but she wouldn’t get it , or rather she refused to. She had been my confidante for the longest time, had been aware of my activities all this while, and all of a sudden, she doesn’t want to have anything to do with me?”
Curtis maintained silence when his father paused in his rant. Talking will only divert this topic. He wanted to know more about his mother’s person.
“She had been aware of the break off, and yes at first she had been reluctant, but I had seen it at first in her eyes, that she wanted to be called Luna. She wanted to lead, and I had gone ahead with the plans. If at one time, she had discouraged me then, had acted out then, I don’t think I would have gone ahead with it. I had been so in love with her then…”
And you aren’t in love with her now? Curtis wanted to ask, but he kept muts. Let the old man talk.
“And I’m still head over heels with her, but now she wants me out to something that I can’t leave at the moment. I’m already knee deep in this path, I can’t part away from it. Our actions have created this war that will be happening soon, so shouldn’t it be better that we stay on the winning side? I know my acts have been mean before and after the segregation, but I don’t regret it. I just did what needed to be done. I won’t regret it. I’m actually happy I took this path. I don’t think I would have been happy under my brother. I wouldn’t have been able to stomach it, not for long. So, even if it hadn’t happened seven years ago, it would have still happened sometime in the future, maybe now.”
Curtis nodded his head as if he could understand the crazy notion. “Can I ask you a question, father. It might be sensitive, but I just want to know.”
Arnold exhaled softly and reclined into the chair again, folded his arms across his chest. “Go on. Let me hear it.”
“Your father, my grandfather…what was he like? Why did he choose my uncle over you, even though you were the rightful heir to the throne?”
Curtis watched his father’s face contort in fury, not at him, but at whatever memories that flowed through his head at the question. His old man was really angry with his grandfather whom he hadn’t gotten to speak to. Curtis couldn’t say if he was either happy or sad about that.
“He was a shameless prick.”
Curtis chuckled, his shoulders sagging. Arnold followed later.
“But he really was. He had pushed the throne to Peter because that one usually sucked up to him. I was the rascal, or rather the rebel. He wasn’t pleased with that. He wasn’t pleased with the No-s he got from me. So, he did whatever he wanted. Too bad for him though. I’m still an Alpha, and his favorite son might be dead soon.”
“Cheers to that.” Curtis said, lifting an imaginary glass to his father who laughed.
Arnold laughed because it seemed to him that he had finally found a backbone. Someone that will get his back when things go awry, someone that he would hand over his pack to.
“Well, that aside. Did your mother tell you anything?”
Curtis shrugged his shoulders again. “Nothing I haven’t heard off. Although she wants me to take her to the pack when I’m next going there.”
“And when will you be going there?”
Curtis was amazed at his father’s will. He had seen the flash of sadness and sorrow for a second in his father’s eyes just before the offhanded question that would sound like he wasn’t interested in the whereabouts of his mate anymore. It made him wonder if his father had ever, or still cared for his uncle, Peter.
“Tomorrow morning.”
Arnold furrowed his eyebrows. “Why so soon? Is there something happening tomorrow?”
“Well, tomorrow is the triplet’s birthday. Too bad Emma won’t be around for the party. It’s a private thing though. I’m sure they are still wary about what had happened at Derek’s.”
Arnold smiled, then got to his feet.
Curtis wondered where he was heading off to.
“That’s great then. Give me details when you get back. Those triplets are really something to behold. An anomaly, yet a specialty. Too bad they are caught in the wrong times.”
Curtis nodded. “Sure, father. Are you heading out?”
Arnold stopped in his movements. He had just gotten to the doorpost. He contemplated on whether it was a good idea revealing this fact to his son. Well, his fatherly side won over.
“Yes. I’m going out to see Leonarya. I need to discuss something with the witch. I will discuss it with you when I get back.”