Oregon in the Fall - 22. Chapter Twenty-Two: Love

Present Day. The Strawberry Mountains, Oregon. The Belcore Pack.

My brother was breaking, and I was powerless to stop it. Mom took him to our house, his body limp in her arms. I wondered if dad would be waiting for us there.

As we followed her, the last rays of sunlight painted the sky with streaks of stubborn defiance against the encroaching night. The old ways stubbornly clinging on, but shadows of something new stretching longer every minute. With each step, I felt the hesitant and awkward rhythm of the pack shifting toward me. Even Mom walked differently, her steps lighter, her back straighter.

“Everything changed… How?” I said.

“You,” Chronos said simply.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You did everything and yet you continue to fail to understand your own significance, as well as the significance of your bond with Aten.”

“What now? Is it my bond with Dave, the Triad, or something else?”

“Yes.”

“I’m going to punch you so hard.”

Infuriating. We reached the house I grew up in. A wave of emotions hit me all at once: nostalgia, bittersweet memories, a prickling sense of unease. I couldn’t ignore how this house dragged out emotions I would rather keep buried.

“Home… let’s go,” I said, trying to inject a lightness into my voice that I didn’t quite feel. My pulse kicked up a notch as we reached the front door. As the door swung open, a breeze reminiscent of ozone and stillness brushed against my face. Like the air right after a thunderstorm. It was faint, but the unexpected tang of it made the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

The inside of the house held a strange stillness. At least Dad wasn’t here. “Make yourselves at home,” I said, gesturing vaguely at the dining table. Dave pulled out a chair and Chronos hovered beside him, while Clara dropped her backpack on the floor and drifted towards the windows. My mother met us halfway down the stairs, a hesitant smile touching her face.

“Sebastian’s in his room,” she whispered, looking at me, her voice catching with worry. “I think he needs you.”

I nodded, my heart clenching. “I’ll come with you.”

We climbed the stairs, their faded carpet seeming to swallow our footsteps. Sebastian’s room had always been his sanctuary, but I don’t even remember the last time I had been in his room. He turned to us with wide eyes that seemed to glow ever so slightly in the fading light.

“Grey!” A flicker of recognition sparked in his eyes, a spark I hadn’t seen in so long. But as I looked at him, I really struggled to push away the past—the homophobic slurs, the hatred, the jealousy. It wasn’t his fault. Wasn’t… his… fault.

I got closer and hugged him.

I felt the tension beneath his skin, the strange energy swirling beneath my hands. He was holding on. And he was failing.

I did… feel my pack. A hint of it. So I searched for Sebastian. If he was there, if I could reach out to him. Closing my eyes, I tried imaging the tethers to my pack members, to my family. I let my intuition guide me. Closing my eyes, I saw glimpses of my pack members, but their presence was shaky, and there was no way I could reach them.

I tightened my grip on my brother, rocking him ever so slightly. I saw one of the silhouettes in the dark glow a little brighter, with a yellowish hue to it. Was that him? I imagined reaching out to him, but how would that work? Reaching out with my mind, tendrils formed and began stretching toward Sebastian. Yes! They curved, retracted, then shot forth again, eventually making their way toward their destination.

When they reached what I thought had to be Sebastian, the silhouette filled in, and I recognized him just as much. In my embrace, I felt him drawing in several short breaths of air. But most of all, I felt him relax, just a tiny bit. Something shifted; the frantic energy within him began to soften, to harmonize. I didn’t understand what was happening, but when I opened my eyes again, the relief on his face was all that mattered.

I heard my mother gasp. Sebastian had fallen asleep, his head resting on my shoulder. I gently laid him on his bed. I didn’t think I healed anything, but I was able to establish a tether with my brother. The exact kind of tether that Beatrice had severed.

We gently tucked him in, leaving him to much-needed rest. When we stepped out, my mother’s face held a mix of wonder and exhaustion. “I knew you’d come back,” she said.

I pressed my lips together. “He’s going to be ok, for now.”

As we settled at the dining table, no one spoke at first. The simple act felt like a ritual, binding us together in the shared space of my family home. But where would I begin?

Either no one knew what to say, or they were all waiting for me to speak. New role and all that. The weight of it settled on my shoulders, not crushing, but nevertheless a constant reminder.

“Mom… are you ok?”

“I am now,” my mom said. Her voice cracked, a sound I’d never heard before. Was that relief, or just the aftershock of years of pent-up emotion finally breaking through?

“How, though? This is the first time I can feel you. As if a barrier has been broken.”

“Her love for you broke it,” Chronos chimed in.

“When you ran away because of what dad did to you—because of what all of us did to you—I was at my most desperate. My wolf howled in protest, a sound I’d stifled for so long it felt like my throat was raw. Something in me wanted to break out, to be a real mother to you, but I couldn’t. And when you left…” she said.

“Your desperation was the key for breaking…”

“…the curse”, mom completed his sentece.

Chronos, ever the enigmatic presence, interlaced his fingers, leaning forward. “What you call the curse is merely a symptom,” he said, his voice low, compelling everyone’s attention. “A manifestation of a deeper imbalance that has festered in the fabric of reality itself, exacerbated by Theodore’s meddling.”

Clara, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. “So, it’s not just about breaking a curse. It’s about restoring balance, not just to your pack, Grey, but to the very essence of reality.”

“How and when did this imbalance come to be?” mom asked.

I looked over at Chronos. “Can you just tell everything, please? No riddles.”

“I’ll try.”

“Start from the very beginning,” I said.

He nodded. “As you know, I am Chronos. I am one of the Custodians overseeing the Seventh Construct, The Sheet of Time.”

Mom’s eyes flung open, her mouth hanging open.

“It appears you know what Constructs are, lady Luna?”

“It’s just a myth. The Seven Piers of Origination,” she said, keeping her mouth open.

“I’m pleased that you know that much. We exist to create. You live in the Prime reality, created to be the testing grounds for all else that is. And the Constructs felt it necessary to intervene.”

“Just give us everything,” Clara jumped in.

“I will,” Chronos said, nodding at her. “The world was in a state of disarray. A very long time ago we had decided that the influence of gods was to cease. And so no more gods were born and humanity flourished. But they did so at a rate we hadn’t anticipated. Some in our ranks felt that humans were a threat to the Prime, others did not. But we did ultimately agree that superhumans—like everyone in this very room—are too hidden to exert any meaningful influence.”

“Hidden? For good reason!” my mom said.

“That was not the plan, however. We designed nature with superhumans in place to keep things in check. And look where we are. 2000 years ago, there were 200 million humans. Now we’re sitting at just over 8 billion. The rate was unexpected, the fallout unacceptable. So we decided to bring the gods back. Starting with your son,” Chronos said, looking my mother directly in the eye.

“What?”

“21 years ago, Wepwawet returned to the Prime.”

Mom then looked at me. “Grey?” I nodded, smiling at her.

Chronos continued, “I have to apologize, especially since I should have seen it coming. But unexpectedly, the one you may know as Theodore used the thinning veil between the Prime and the Constructs to siphon power from us. A veil that grew thinner by the birth of your son, and his connection to us. It threw everything out of balance. This is what you experience as the curse. So to fix that, we brought the Triad back. The brothers and Wepwawet form the Triad.”

“Theodore? What brothers? Is it Sebastian…?” mom wanted to know.

“No, mom. Theodore is father to our former pack shaman Beatrice’s sons. She had two sons. Dave,” I said, looking over to Dave and taking his hand, “and… Mark.”

“Mark… Mark was human?” she said.

“Yes. And I think dad helped turn him. Did you know?”

“No… oh god.”

Chronos continued, “I have to apologize. It was not my idea to bring the brothers into this. The Constructs agreed on having Theodore’s sons be the answer to the problems he caused. It was in fact your other aspect, Grey, that insisted on it.”

What the fuck is an aspect? “Aspect?

“Yes. We imbued the Triad with two Construct powers each. Your aspects are time and harmony, Wepwawet. The Seventh and Fourth Construct respectively.”

“And me?” Dave wanted to know.

“Kinetic and Fire. The First and Fifth Construct, Aten.”

“Aten?” mom said, a little too loudly. “Is your mate a god, too?”

“Yes,” Chronos stated matter-of-factly.

“And Mark, who is scattered across time ways as of this moment, holds reign over emotion and teleportation. The Third and Sixth Construct.”

“Inari!” Clara exclaimed.

“Yes. They are the Custodian of Passage. I had hoped that Mark—Osiris—would be able to harness his power to come back to us, but it’s either more complicated or he doesn’t know of his power yet.”

Clara looked lost in thought. “The Second Construct… what is their purpose?”

“You seem to be able to count. Nice. The Second Construct is the Center of Truth. Your… friends Edna and Karl are the Custodians of Veracity and Artifice. They imbued you with their power.”

“What!”

“Yes, Sekhmet.”

“So all of you gave one of us some sort of power. What’s your strategy? Throw things at the wall and see what sticks?”

Chronos shrugged. “Yes.”

Dave reached for my hand under the table, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “And what about Mark? Sebastian’s state is a testament to how deeply this curse, this imbalance, affects us all personally. Finding Mark is not just about reuniting brothers; it’s about mending a fracture in our reality.”

Chronos nodded solemnly. “Osiris holds the key to the emotional aspect of this healing. His return is paramount. But be warned, the path to him is fraught with challenges that will test you in ways you cannot yet comprehend.”

“No no no. You did so well so far, Chronos. Ways we cannot yet comprehend is unacceptable. More explaining, please.”

“Maybe I should’ve said I don’t comprehend yet either. I’m sorry. I believe he has the teleportation power to come back to us on his own, but he might be lost in time. We need to find a way to connect to him, and I had hoped that with my power over time this would be Grey. But…”

“But?” I looked at him, pleadingly.

“I fear your connection to him is… frail.”

I dropped my head. I had pushed Mark away.

The front door opened. It was Fiona. Oh god. Her son.

“Fiona!” mom said, standing up.

“Luna, may I come in? I brought a casserole.”

I looked at mom, and she nodded at me. “Of course, Fiona, please come in.”

Fiona was a wonderful woman, but I hadn’t talked to her in years. Not since the incident with Mark. She closed the door behind her and walked toward the table we were sitting at. She placed the casserole in the center. It smelled of broccoli.

“I felt you return, Grey. I felt it! You know me, I immediately went to cooking,” she said, chuckling. She looked around the table, smiling slightly. “Hello everyone, I am Fiona. I may not know most of you, but I feel that your presence here is just right. It is just right. I had… hoped…”

I got up. “Mark…”

It was so difficult to look into her eyes. “We will bring him back.”

“I had hoped he would be with you. He planned to find you.”

“I know. It’s very complicated. We lost him on the way here, but we will bring him back.”

“Lost him?”

“It’s complicated, Fiona. Please trust me.”

I looked at Chronos. “I think my brother can find him if I help him. I found my tether with him again, and he has the closest connection to Mark. It has to work.”

“Love is powerful. It is a magic that not even Constructs rule over,” Chronos said. “It could work.”

“So you know…” Fiona said.

“Yes. And I’m happy for them,” I said, smiling at her. I walked over to Fiona and gave her a big hug. She smelled like Mark.

“Thank you, Grey. My, you’ve grown in such a short time. How?”

“Again, it’s complicated,” I said.

“Hang on…” she said and broke my embrace. “Are you? You’re my Alpha now? Is this why I feel so good? Your father, his… thread is gone.”

“I’m sorry there wasn’t a big ceremony. Everything that happened in the past week was rather unusual. Fiona, would you like to meet my Consort?”

I didn’t even need to tell her about Dave. Her confusion had waned, and she knew who he was. Instantly.

“Oh my…” she said, a panicked expression on her face. She bared her neck towards him and bowed. “Consort.”

“Oh, there is no need to…” Dave said swiftly, but I sent a thought to him, ‘Let her show her respect,’ and he shut up immediately. “Thank you.”

Then Fiona directed her attention toward my mom. “Luna, you seem so much better. What happened?”

“I was in a haze for decades, but I am finally free. My son is back.”

“And I thought my family were the only sane ones here.”

“I think you were. Truly.”

“Your connection to your son, Mark, was what kept you balanced,” Chronos said to Fiona.

“And who are you?” Fiona said.

“I am Chronos,” he responded.

“You gathered a bunch of attractive friends there, Grey. I am so glad you are back. So, where is my son and how do we get him back?”

Chronos had the answer. “You have to guide your brother across the time ways, Grey. His mind has to connect with Mark. And as I said, I believe he will be able to return on his own. He has just to be told how.”

“That sounds awfully simple,” I said.

“It isn’t. You’re guiding someone without powers, and you have to be cautious not to lose him.”

“Ok?” I said. That didn’t sound too promising.

“And if Sebastian wasn’t a mortal, we could shout at Inari to take us back to the Constructs. But that is not an option. We have to do it from here, from the Prime. And I don’t know what the consequences will be. We still have to do it and hope.”

“Hope? You create realities, and hope is your solution?” Clara said.

“Yes.”

Well, that’s going to solve everything then, won’t it? As the weight of the revelations settled upon us like a heavy fog, my gaze drifted to the steaming casserole dish sitting at the center of the table. I remembered Fiona’s meals from times past. Times when I felt like Mark’s family was a beacon of hope in this place.

Fiona noticed me eyeing the casserole and took the initiative. “Please, everyone, help yourselves,” Fiona said, her voice carrying a gentle reassurance. Mom rose from her seat and fetched plates and cutlery for everyone.

I took a deep breath, letting the aroma of the broccoli casserole fill my senses. It was a familiar scent, comforting in its simplicity. I reached for the serving spoon, scooping a generous portion onto my plate before passing it along.

The clinking of utensils against ceramic mingled with the soft murmur of conversation as everyone served themselves. Clara’s eyes brightened as she took a spoonful, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“I haven’t had proper food in days. This smells delicious, Fiona,” I said, offering her a grateful smile.

Fiona returned the smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Thank you, Grey. It’s a recipe I’ve been perfecting for years.”

‘I got you a rabbit, you know. That was proper food!’ Dave echoed in my mind.

‘That was more of a mating ritual than dinner,’ I echoed back. His face turned red.

He hurriedly nodded in agreement, his expression mirroring my sentiment. “It’s wonderful, Fiona. Thank you for thinking of us.”

Fiona’s cheeks flushed with pleasure at our praise. “It’s the least I could do. You’ve all been through so much.”

The tension in the air seemed to ease with each bite, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and shared understanding. We may not have had all the answers yet, but at this moment, surrounded by the warmth of Fiona’s hospitality and the comfort of good food, we found solace in each other’s company.

As we ate, conversation flowed more freely, laughter punctuating the air like tiny bursts of light in the darkness. For a brief moment, we were simply a family, bound together by love, resilience, and a shared meal.

You know, I’m a solitary kind of guy. But now I had found my place among the most unlikely of characters.

My eyes wandered to Fiona. She had always been kind. Her and Dan’s love for Mark was something special to me, simply because it was the only love I had ever known while growing up. When everyone else felt off or wrong, their home had been a sanctuary. Maybe this is what drew me to Mark in the first place? A longing for normalcy… But it doesn’t matter now. We had to get our friend back. We had to. Fiona must’ve seen the resolve in me, and she nodded knowingly, lips pressed together.

Then I looked at Clara. Strong, magnificent Clara. She was timeless, exuding the strength of a god—literally—mixed with the youthfulness of a young woman. Her love for Dave is what pulled her along for the ride, I’m sure. Can’t be that she saw something in me, too, can it? She caught my gaze and shrugged her shoulders as if saying, ’What are you looking at?’ I just shrugged back, smirking. It seemed appropriate. She pursed her lips, giving me a silent kiss. I beamed at her.

I looked at the man next to me. Dave’s hand was occasionally squeezing mine under the table—a small gesture that spoke volumes about his support and love. Dave the bartender. Just a few days ago, that was all he was. I usually don’t dwell on physical descriptions, but at this moment it became apparent to me how much he had changed. I found the bartender attractive, with his unassuming grace that belied the strength simmering beneath the surface. Now his muscles had filled out, adapting to the new wolf powers that thrummed through his veins… and more. Each line of muscle seemed to pulse with kinetic energy, a visible sign of the First Construct that cursed through him. What did that mean, anyway?

Before I got too carried away, my eyes shifted to Chronos, the enigmatic being whose knowledge of time and reality had guided us to this point. Despite his often cryptic words, there was an undeniable sincerity in his commitment to right the wrongs his kind had inadvertently caused. Perhaps there was more to him than the aloofness of a Construct. I appreciated his willingness to bridge the gap between his world and ours, even if him being with us hadn’t been his plan in the first place. The power dynamics among the Constructs was something we had to explore. At a later time.

Lastly, I turned to my mother, Luna, who had undergone her own transformation. The shadows that had once clouded her spirit had lifted, revealing a strength I had never fully appreciated. She had found herself again, but most of all, she had found me. She would always remain the pack mother, and she could truly live up to the task now with her spirit untainted. I had my mom back. She looked at me, eyes bright and slightly moist. I looked back and everything was alright for a moment.

The meal continued in a mix of light-hearted chatter and profound silence, each of us lost in our thoughts but together in spirit. The challenges ahead were daunting, but at this moment of unity, I felt an unshakeable confidence. With each person's presence and commitment, the path forward seemed a little less treacherous. We were bound by more than circumstance. We were bound by a shared destiny, each of us playing a crucial role in the unfolding saga of our lives. As the evening wore on, the weight of our shared burden felt lighter, tempered by the strength of our unity. And as I savored each bite of Fiona’s broccoli casserole, I found strength in the simple act of being together.