Joseph Fletcher
***XANDER MARION***
He always thought back to the night his father bit him. The anguish he was strung upon. The way his father casually showed up the next morning in his robe to help him up. The older master Marion must have left Xander out here alone in the dark. He never thought to take him inside for shelter and warmth even after the moon curse subsided. He looked into James’s eyes and saw nothing but Self-fulfillment. If James wanted anything in this world, it was to see Xander grow as a wolf.
“Take my hand, Xander.”
Xander crawled back away from his father on the ground.
“Get away from me.”
James crouched in from of him and smiled.
“I see you are not clinging on to your hurting arm.”
Xander still felt the stiffening pain in his left arm. The wound was stung as much as he was displeased with his father. He took up a spike in his left arm and stood up against his father.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.
“You are cruel. You are a very cruel man,” Xander gnashed his teeth. The pain and courage intertwined. “What kind of father would hurt their child?”
James pushed his palms on his knees and jolted upright with a sigh.
“You have confidence, I’ll give you that”, James had his arms akimbo. “But what do you want to do, poke me with a stick to death?”
Xander tossed the stick in the bushes and held on to his wounded arm.
“Just let me go. I don’t want to live your legacy or carry your name,” Xander shook his head and inched forward. “I am Joseph Fletcher. Xander Marion is an obsessive fixation of yours. Go fetch yourself another boy,” Xander spat on the ground with disdain and turned away.
“Not so fast boy,” James clamored his fists.
“What do you want old man?”
Xander looked back and was met with a grip on his neck. James pushed him up against a tree. Choking the young man for his wayward contempt. James never took things lightly. He sure as hell wasn’t going to let Xander walk all over him.
“You think you can just walk away from the life I have chosen… for you,” James forehead creased. His arms were veiny and muscled. “I gave you meaning boy.”
Xander could not fight it. No matter how hard he tried to hit away Master Marion’s grip, it was futile. He saw the vicious look in James’s eyes.
“I’m sorry. Please I’m sorry.” Xander wheezed.
“Sorry won’t cut it,” James’ tightened his grip. Xander’s head was breaking the tree bark. “I guess we are going to do this the hard way.”
Xander lost consciousness. James let him drop flat to the ground. James lowered and pulled Xander by the head. Xander’s neck was bruised and reddened.
“If you don’t want to believe, you will have to be convinced,” James placed his palms on Xander’s temple.
In the mind of the young Marion. The memories of staying at the group home were plucked out, one by one. The faces of Maurice, the mistress, and all the other kids. The coffee shop crumbled into dust. The glass window shattered and the shards faded into thin air.
He was ten years old again. The name ‘Joseph Fletcher’ was a myth. He was in a room with luxurious furniture. A fireplace down by the end. A painting of a burning man was hung up, above it. The room beheld intriguing antics, a fragrance of whiskey by the bar, and perfumed leather.
The man in the voguish cut suit and the high-class Oxford shoes was his father. He sat on the couch legs crossed, with a smoking pipe in his hand. The young boy ran to him. He clung on to his father and never let go. The maiden came to entice him with delicious crusty treats and creamy delights.
He looked up to the woman and left his father. She was like a nurturing mother. She smelled of sweet jelly comfort. Belly rubbed before he went to bed. She told him stories and later on he read her stories. She was sick on her bed, and he was a straightened young man.
He gave her a kiss on her forehead. She closed her eyes and let out a soft breath. He resumed with his father. They hunted down animals in the woods. He could go on for days hunting. He was strong and had a will. His father never praised him for his accomplishments, so he did more and pushed himself to the edge.
His father was feared and respected among others. The same mannerism was given to him. He was always a step behind his father. When they faced off the pale-skinned creatures. They were very fast on their feet, they barely made footsteps. Their fangs were not to be missed. Xander conquered. He had a great feat in foes alike and foes of another kind.
His father had grown old in the flesh but not the mind. He was more arrogant and had no care in him. The witches were cast away. James sought a massacre. This led quite a few to resent James Marion. He made enemies everywhere he went. Xander still loved his father. Tough love at that. His father was second most trusted, after Henry, Drew. Drew took the mantle after Henry’s demise that Xander could not bring himself to remember.
Drew was like an older brother. All were married and well till James was stabbed in the back. Drew was seen as an assailant in the compromise. He disappeared into the night with a few others. The ratchet claw. They were loyal to a witch. Mayfair.
Xander stepped up as the Alpha. He had used two decades of his life in servitude. The time had come to proclaim his destiny. He took the Alpha pack by the reins and wiped the misdeeds of his father. He made peace with other factions of werewolves. He got a few of the witches back into the community. A few of the wolves opposed but Xander was more convincing.
Half a decade had passed and the Alpha was stronger than ever. He had built up his ranks. Betas and Deltas in numbers, loyal to him. Drew returned and was accepted into the community. Xander held grudges but not to heart. For the better life of the pack, he let his mind not waver in revenge.
Drew had a pack of his own, the Omega Pack. They were unusual and not quick on taking heed to orders of the council. Drew thought to offer up his daughter. Other Alphas took no interest in Dahlia. She was then mated with Xander.
Xander came down the stairs. Drew leaned at the stairwell.
“You wanted to see me, why?” Xander stood by the balustrade.
Drew leaned off the stairwell. He pranced to the living room sofa and made himself comfortable.
“All my life… I wanted to be like your father,” Drew rubbed his chin. “You gave me the honor of watching him lead all over again. I see his prowess flowing through you.”
“I am nothing like my father,” Xander frowned making the last few steps to the floorboards. “State your business, Drew,” Xander pressed his hands on the back of a sofa Drew sat on.
“Hear me out Xander,” Drew conceded with his palms over his head and turned to his feet. “In lieu of Henry. May his soul rest in peace,” Drew placed his arms over his chest. “He was your father’s first beta. And I can be yours, in the absence of a wolf yet to be held. My daughter-
Xander walked around the sofa to face Drew, “How dare you come here making demands,” Xander grimaced. “Do not provoke my intentions. I have made peace with you but still see you from a distance. Trust cannot so easily be regained.”
“I understand you Xander, but-
Xander confronted, “What?! What is it you want from me, Drew?!”
Drew stepped back with a lopsided smile, I thought you might say that. The thing is, it’s not what I want. It’s what they want,” he brought a letter. “This was from the elders. The council at large. You see I have made myself accountable for my actions in the past. It was rash and going against your father’s wishes was what needed to be done. The man was going make Xander,” Drew inched forward with a palm of appeal.
Xander crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Drew with a smug on his face, “I personally wish you had died by my father’s hands. Whether or not he was fighting a good cause or a bad one.” Xander smacked his lips, “I just want you to know that.”
Drew handed Xander the letter. The grey wolf emblem made it clear as an official letter. Xander refused to take it from him. The Alpha just stared at him with utter disdain. He took pride in his stance. Drew carefully placed the letter on the sofa.
“I really want us to be on good terms Xander. I am always around if you need me,” he tried to pat the Alpha on the shoulder. Xander stiffened. The omega pack Alpha withdrew his hand and took his leave.
Xander took the letter from the sofa as soon as Drew stepped out. He ripped the seal off in a jiffy and opened his wide to read.
Xander dropped down to the couch to sit. He was tensed by the contents of the letter.
He palmed his forehead, “What the hell is this?”
…And if the Alpha refuses to have Drew as his first beta, then he must take Dahlia the daughter of Drew as his lawful mate. This has been mandated by the Council of Elders…