Part 3

I retrieved Kiran’s pen from the floor and placed it back on his desk. His features softened a little and I looked closely at him. There were new lines around his eyes and he looked a bit more exhausted than normal. He still didn’t look his age, for a man nearing seventy, he easily passed for a man in his fifties.

“I want to talk to you about your inheritance,” he said.

“My inheritance?” I asked him.

“Yes, you need to sign these documents. It’s the transfer of the house to your name, it just makes things easier, for in case, you know,” he said.

“Don’t talk like you’re dying, you can still live a hundred years,” I said as he smiled at me.

“It doesn’t matter, Christian. Malachi did this with me when I was eighteen, I did the same with Saga since Kai ran off and became a St. Claire,” he said and I laughed. He never got over Kai taking the St. Claire name.

“You need to stick around for a few more years. I still have to impregnate a human, run away from home, join an underground gang, go kick some ass around the world, fight evil witches and kick your ass,” I said as he roared with laughter.

“Don’t let Adara hear you say that,” he said as I smiled.

“I don’t let Adara hear a lot of things,” I said.

“Wise move, she might not look it, but damn, when that woman’s pissed off….” he said and his voice faltered at the end as the door opened.

“Dinner’s ready,” she said.

“You didn’t knock,” Kiran said.

“It’s not like you’re discussing trade secrets in here,” she said and left his office. “I won’t call you two again!”

“He was giving me a sex talk!” I yelled as Kiran stared at me in disbelief.

“Kiran!” She yelled back.

“I wasn’t!” He yelled.

“Gave me lots of tips!” I yelled. 

“Dinner! Now!” Adara yelled one last time.

“You won’t be telling her what to do,” I said as Kiran switched his attention to me.

“Most times no, but I can still tell you what to do, you little shit,” he said and I stood up quickly and ran after Adara.

Kiran joined us ten minutes later, placing the documents and a pen on the table in front of my chair. I had helped Adara set the table and she was busy dishing up for us as I looked at the transfer document. This house would one day be mine, I did love living here although I wasn’t sure if I would stay in Seward forever.

“Just sign it,” Kiran said.

I didn’t read the contents of the document and signed on the dotted line where my name was printed. I didn’t want to think of a life where he wasn’t in it. In my eyes he wasn’t that old yet, he could never be that old.

“You know we love you,” Kiran began and I felt trepidation fill me.

“I love you guys too,” I said.

“My time here’s nearly up, Christian. I’ve spent the last few days getting my affairs in order. There’s one last thing I want to do before we go,” he said as I frowned and looked at him.

“What are you talking about? Are you dying?” I asked him.

“Death visited me. It’s my time, I’ve had a long life, a really good life,” he said and I looked at Adara.

“You can’t leave me!” I said angrily.

“You’ve got a good head on your shoulders. You’re smart and tough, you’ll be okay,” he said.

“No, I won’t,” I said to him.

“You will, Christian, just know that we love you. You gave our lives meaning and purpose, both times,” he said.

“When?” I asked him.

“A few days,” he said.

“You’re going with him, aren’t you?” I asked Adara.

“I can’t live without him, Christian. You have your whole life ahead of you, do great things with it. We will always love you and watch over you, but Kiran’s right, we’ve had a very good life together, especially with you in it,” she said.

“What does Kai say about this?” I asked him and his gaze never wavered from mine.

“Kai doesn’t know, he doesn’t need to know,” Kiran said as I shook my head.

“I’m not ready to lose you,” I said, looking down as I felt tears in my eyes.

“I’ll always be a part of you,” he said and walked over to me as he pulled me into a hug.

That night I couldn’t really sleep. I couldn’t imagine my life without Kiran in it, even Adara. They had taken me in and raised me, given me everything, loved me and now they’d just be gone. Tears slid over my cheeks silently and I wanted to scream it all out.

I jumped from my window, landing on the grass below. I took my clothes off and shifted into my wolf form and ran for the mountain. I didn’t stop until I reached the summit and I howled at the moon in pain. Even I could hear the sadness in my howls and it choked me up.

It didn’t even matter now that Ashley had just used me. I couldn’t care less. I needed Kiran to stay, I needed Adara to stay. I wasn’t ready, I’d never be ready and somehow knowing that I only had a few days, only made it worse.

I didn’t know what to do with the emotions inside me, I wanted to curse the gods for allowing Death so much power, so I cursed him instead. I hated Death with every fiber of my being. He had taken me before my time, he had broken Kiran’s spirit a little with my death.

‘I hate you!’ I yelled inside my mind as I stood on that mountain looking at the moon. I swear I could hear faint laughter as I made my way down the mountain. It was an eerie sound that made the hairs on the back of my neck rise.