Wolf’s Bane

“I’m sorry to say this, father, but your mistakes are not mine.”

Virgil listened once again to that story that happened a few years before he took the lead of the pack and the related businesses. Once again, he listened carefully, but again too, was convinced of his motivations to agree with the business proposal that the Governor, the same man that had cost millions to SilverClaw and many others, years before, had discussed with him earlier that same day.

“What is that supposed to mean, Virgil?” Henkjan walked a step closer to his son, still looking at him with the same cold stare.

“If I tell you that I have not only strong reasons to go through with this business but have more intentions behind it, would you trust me and be calmer?”

V said this as an answer, but in his mind, there was not only business, but a few other things that in recent times he’s been holding against his father, whom he once admired blindly.

The question hit the older man hard, but there was no response. After all, that was the reaction that Virgil expected.

“I’m not doing what you requested. The business has to go forward so we can work the plan as we intend to finish.”

“Who is that ‘we’ that you’re mentioning?” Henkjan said, suspicious, but this time it was his son who did not give an answer. “Virgil, I can’t trust your actions with that man. And I definitely do not have any confidence in him or his intentions either. I can’t let you make the same mistake I made in the past.”

“So, you see that much of a fool in me? Do you think that I just think this time will be different because I’m some kind of exceptionally lucky guy? It was his mistake to try to do the same thing to the same people twice, and I will use it in our favor. I don’t need your approval, but I would appreciate it that we have peace over this matter. Besides, there are many things that I’m making sure not to do as you have.”

“This is the second time that you said that in less than five minutes, Virgil. If you have something to say, just say it at once!”

“I meant that I’M NOT LOSING WHAT’S LEFT OF MY FAMILY!”

V was tired, but even if he was the Alpha, Henkjan was his father.

The senior Camden crossed the room in two steps, and standing before his son, raised his hand and slapped him.

Hard…

But V barely moved…

“You can keep at this the whole night if you want, that won’t change the fact that mom left you and that you’re letting your own youngest son be alone while running for his life. That also doesn’t change the fact that you make mistakes like the rest of us, and are too proud to recognize them. Come on, keep hitting me until you’re completely satisfied and satiate your conscience, but that won’t change a thing!”

“Your brother chose his own destiny! I will not help him because he got himself in that mess!”

“What was he supposed to do? Stay here listening to you praise me in front of him, and only in front of him, because I was never enough for you either? Stay even if you keep telling him how much of a failure he was, for things that he couldn’t even change? You wanted him to endure your continuous humiliations until you thought it was sufficient, even if it never even was? You lost a son, and your mate, and that’s not adequate for you to see what you’re doing?”

“That is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!” The older man shouted, still face to face with the present Alpha.

Henkjan was so enraged that his face was completely red, so red that it seemed it would explode at any second. Meanwhile, his eldest was looking at him silently… even calmly.

“Well…” Virgil said after a pause. “Your life might be none of my business since those are your choices, but my mother is, and my brother… my ONLY brother, is my business, and I will do whatever I can to give him his life back. And that is the last time that I will discuss with you anything that’s connected with the deal that I have with Governor Edward Kahlagu.”

“So that’s why… Are you trying to buy his freedom? Are you putting our name once again on the line for that ungrateful son of mine?”

“Heh… I hope you can hear yourself… I hope at some point what you just said haunts you back to sanity. It’s been a long time since the man who was our father had disappeared, and I will treat you as such due to this. Former Alpha Henkjan, rest assured that the company is safe. Although I would not hesitate to exchange it to get my brother back, I will still fulfill my responsibilities to all the people who depend on it. I will always remember my duties, so you have nothing to worry about. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think this talk is already redundant and I’m going back to the woman I love. I would never forgive myself if, for any reason, she would find herself with motives to leave me, especially if it involves you. Good night,” Virgil stated grimly, now in a low, monotone voice, knowing very well which buttons he pushed with each and every word he said.

He slightly bowed his head, not breaking eye contact with Henkjan, then turned and walked towards the double doors.

“Virgil…”

V heard his name called from behind, but he Didn’t stop. He Didn’t want to wait or pay attention anymore.

His hands rested once more, for just a second, on the doorknobs, then turned them, and without looking back, he opened the doors, exited his office and closed the doors behind him, leaving the proud man who once was loving and caring, alone with himself in the large space of the office. As far as V was concerned, it was empty if not for the books and furniture, all very expensive, but heartless just like him…

Or was it?

“If you ask me, you deserved it.”

“But I didn’t ask, Tabashir.”

“Ok then, I stand corrected. You deserve every word your kid said to you.”

“I said… I didn’t ask.”

“I think you forget that I’m not under your command. I am your wolf, and you’re my human, I can say whatever I want WHEN I want, and you should be thankful that I have decided to talk to you once again.”

“I know you have been silent since she left. I don’t care. That was her choice, and that was yours. If everybody leaves because I’m trying to do the right thing for the company and the pack, then SO BE IT!”

“You fool yourself… I know what you’re feeling. I know that you miss being your children’s dad. I know that you’re worried about Eron, so much that you can’t sleep at night, and I know that you miss our mate so much so that you don’t know how to be a decent human being anymore without her. I also know that the slap that you gave your eldest was more for yourself than for him. You don’t understand that he’s the only family you have left and that even with him, you might lose any time. Also, I’m completely sure that even if you know all that, you won’t do anything about it, so I’ll leave you alone again, exactly the way you like it.”

And with that, the voice in his head went quiet once more, and he could feel how his presence was less and less strong until, like a candle, it went out.

The lonely man hit the mahogany executive desk in front of him, once and twice, and until his knuckles bled and the wood fractured.

“I’m doing the right thing,” he said to himself. “I’M DOING THE RIGHT THING!” he yelled at the top of his lungs, followed by a heartbreaking bellow that would have been heard through the whole, extensive packhouse, if not for the special soundproofing treatment that most of the rooms had.

He fell on his knees, and with his bleeding hands started hitting the floor, trying to make the emotional pain turn physical, into something he could have some control over, but even if he was in a lot of physical pain, he couldn’t avoid the tears that burned their way out his eyes.Têxt © NôvelDrama.Org.

His chest felt tight, and with each drop that rolled down his cheeks, he felt angrier at himself, angrier for losing control, enraged for doubting himself, and the resolutions that he chose to follow no matter what happened.

He was furious…

Furious, because his son was right, and he was no longer man enough to accept it.

Silently, he stayed there on the floor, on his knees.

Buried under a mountain of undealt emotions, his heart hardened once more…

“I’m. Doing. The. Right. Thing.”