Chapter 18

Gideon (Leo’s Wolf)

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“I want to thank you for everything you've done for us. It hasn’t been easy to sit back and watch and feel all the suffering Leo has been through. He's tough and has had to overcome some difficult obstacles in his life. Please excuse me for a moment, he's freaking out.”

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Gideon, answer me!!! I don’t like this. What’s going on? Why can’t I do anything? Did you take over my body? This is NOT cool! (Leo)

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Now you know how I've felt! Calm down! When one of us is in control, the other is still there. I’ll give control back to you soon, you've had it forever, time to share. At some point, it won’t be so strange. But for now, I need you to be patient. Now, please, quiet down so I can continue. (Gideon)

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“Sorry. Leo is having some difficulty adjusting to all of this.”

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Some difficulty? Try massive difficulty! (Leo)

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“Honestly, I think we all are,” Lucas says. “How are you doing this? How are you in control while in human form?”

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“I was paired with Leo from the time he was born, and I stayed silent for a very long time. It wasn't easy, but my mother told me that Leo was going to be raised as a human, and if I would have come forward it would make the situation far worse. He certainly would have been treated as mentally unstable, possibly medicated for hearing voices or having an imaginary friend. The human world can be very unkind."

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“Your mother? Wait...Is he able to take control when you are in your wolf form?” Roman asks.

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“I don’t really know, I assume he will be able to. We need to wait until he turns eighteen to find out.” The three are staring at me like I'm an alien, and I realize I need to give them more of an explanation, but I don’t feel comfortable talking out in the open like this. “Can we continue somewhere more private?”

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“Of course, are you okay if my wife joins us?” he asks as we head from the training grounds and back to the pack house.

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“It would be my pleasure to meet her.”

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Elise holds my hand as we walk back, and I can feel the sparks run through our skin. I can’t help but let out a growl as my primal side begins to surface. I want to mark her and have her as mine, and I struggle to push the feelings away.

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“This door here.” Roman opens his office door and a beautiful woman is standing in the room.

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“My dear, may I introduce you to Gideon, Leo’s wolf,” he says and her eyes dart up at me in surprise. “We were quite surprised as well.”

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“Gideon, it is truly a pleasure. How exactly is this possible?” she asks, her blue eyes wide and curious.

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We all sit and get comfortable and I try to explain things, it will be the first time Leo learns of who he really is as well, so this might get difficult.

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“The Moon Goddess chose me for him because she knew Leo is special. She knew he would one day rule both the North and the South, bringing them together, and she knew he would need a strong warrior to go up against Eric if there was any chance of survival. He is completely out of his mind.”

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You can’t be serious!? My God, two weeks ago I was eating fried chicken in the school gym and now I have to battle my psychotic uncle? This can’t be real. I must be dreaming. Sleep paralysis, that’s what this is. (Leo)

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Quiet down Leo. (Gideon)

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“You have a very interesting name, are you named after the Moon Goddess's son?” Anna asks.

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“Not exactly, Luna. I am her son.” I see Roman’s eyes fly open wide and they are all looking at me like I have grown another head.

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“Doesn't the Moon Goddess have three sons? Gideon, Alrick, and Tassilo. Alrick rules by his mother’s side and Tassilo is her spiritual guide. Gideon is a warrior and isn't he-” I cut Elise off before she can finish.

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“Yes, I know the stories too. It's been said I'm a free spirit and also quite mischievous and sometimes very annoying, a troublemaker even. You seem to know your history well Elise. You should know that I hold my brothers in the highest regard, and I am very loyal to them.”

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“You - you’re...” Elise can’t get words out and Roman and Lucas seem to be mind-linking each other. Anna, on the other hand, is keeping calm.

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“Gideon, your mother, our Goddess, has made a great sacrifice to allow you to be paired with Leo. He must be a remarkable individual for her to allow such a thing." Anna says.

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"I was paired with Leo because she thought it would be good for both of us." I say as Lucas taps on the table.

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“Is this why you are able to come forward?” Lucas asks.

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“Yes.” I reply and get another question fired back.

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“Was it you or Leo that threw me across the training grounds?” he continues, hungry for an answer.

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“Well, it was both of us, but the ability to invoke it is in Leo’s hands. Leo controls it. When you were training with him, you provoked him. You pushed him so that the only emotion he had was anger. It was laser focused and when he can channel his thoughts into a single point, we are capable of harnessing great power. Any distractions, however, will break the ability to concentrate. He is going to need to learn how to keep his mind from wandering or being influenced by other things.”

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"Why haven't you shifted?" Lucas continues his questions.

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"We can't until Leo turns 18. It's a spell that the coven placed on us when they hid us. It was to protect us so that we didn't shift when we were younger in human territory. As Leo got older, our watcher, Frank, was keeping an eye on us. I assume that they always intended to tell Leo the truth before the spell expired."

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I notice that Elise has gotten very quiet and she has moved away from me.

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“Elise, I need to you know that who I am changes nothing about us. I have never had a mate until now, until you and Lily. I am completely in love with you and if I had my way I would have marked you that day in the pawn shop.”

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She looks at me and kisses my cheek as Roman and Lucas stand.

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“Well, Gideon, do I call you that? Do I call you Lord Gideon? I have no idea how to address the son of a Goddess.” Lucas says and it makes me laugh.

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“Gideon is fine. I’m going to give him back to you now if there are no other questions.”

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"I have a million questions," Lucas says, but Roman shuts him down for the time being.

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“We have a council meeting tonight where we plan to introduce Leo. We will not be exposing any of this to them. Lucas, you can ask as many questions as you want later.”

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I can feel the energy begin to drain as I return control to Leo, and I settle back and rest as the weight of carrying this secret for so long is lifted.

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Leo's POV

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I'm more than happy to have control of my body returned to me and my mind reels with all the information I just heard.

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“Welcome back.” Elise pulls me into a tight embrace and I try to return it but my arms just feel so heavy. When she releases me I sit there and I can’t stop processing everything. I think about my mother and Angie, and Frank. I feel my chest tighten and I can’t seem to take a proper breath. I can feel myself involuntarily start to shake and I feel like the room is closing in on me. I need to get out of here. I need some fresh air. I try to stand but my legs collapse beneath me and the next thing I know, Luna Anna is holding me in her arms.

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“I think he’s having an anxiety attack,” I hear her say, “I’m going to try and help calm you down okay?”

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I nod and she places her hand on my chest and slowly, after a few minutes, I feel my breathing start to slow down, and the trembling stops.

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Lucas and Roman help get me back on the couch and Elise sits beside me like glue, her arm wrapped around mine and holding my hand.

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“Soooo, that was interesting,” Lucas says as he pulls a chair over and plants it across from me, and sits down. “A lot to unpack there, you okay?”

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“I wasn’t expecting any of that,” I say with my head down. "I feel like every ounce of energy has been sucked out of me. I feel really weak."

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"It may be a side effect from his wolf taking control," Roman comments to Lucas.

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“He needs to get some rest,” Anna says and I couldn’t agree with her more. I can barely keep my eyes open. “Elise, honey, could you run ahead of us and get the clothes moved off his bed? Lucas, can you help Leo to his room? Roman and I need to prepare for the council meeting tonight. Elise honey, Leo’s clothes for tonight are hanging on the wardrobe. Can you both meet us in the board room at six?”

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“Yes. I’ll meet you upstairs Leo.” She pecks me on the cheek and heads out the door. I try and stand again, but my legs feel like jello and I can’t find the strength to walk on them.

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“Come on, up we go,” Lucas props his shoulder under my arm and all but carries me out and back to my room. He gets me on the bed and before he leaves he turns to me.

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“Leo, the things I said on the training grounds. I didn’t mean them. I was trying to get you mad and I went too far. Please forgive me and know that I will protect you as I do Roman and if you need anything, even just to talk, I am always here for you.”

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“No need to be sorry. I knew what you were doing, I never expected what happened. I’m sorry I threw you like that. You’re not hurt are you?” I ask, genuinely concerned.

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“A couple of aspirin and I’ll be just fine,” he smiles. “Elise, take care of your mate! Oh! And some of the gang is going to meet you guys after the council meeting tonight to hang out. That is, if you’re both up for it.”

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I try and stay awake, but I think I fell asleep before Lucas leaves the room.