As much as Serena had hoped to teach Grace how to be a wolf herself, after 6 months she finally realised it wasn’t going to work. The only other person she could have gone to for help was Adam.
Adam didn’t think it was strange really. His kids would often ask for his help with things that they wanted to keep secret. Secret from Eve or from their other siblings. He’d gotten pretty good at keeping a mental diary of who knew about what and what he needed to keep secret. Serena had asked for help but she wouldn’t explain who, what or why. That’s how he found himself back at their previous residence before the move to Europe. Serena met him at the specified time and they began their walk. Which in itself was strange because Serena didn’t like nature and she sure as hell wouldn’t volunteer for a walk through the woods.
It took a few hours to reach their destination. Serena took that time to explain everything to Adam as they walked together, arm in arm. She explained how she had found Grace wandering and dazed in the woods some months back. Grace had told her that Eve was responsible for her death. Adam had assumed as much but had kept that to himself. It would have only driven more of a wedge between Kai and himself. Grace was having trouble controlling her change and the hunger. She often had sleepless nights and woke beside a half eaten deer carcass covered in blood. Thats if she was lucky. Twice she had woken beside human hunters.
When they arrived at Graces quaint little cottage in the mountains She was sat on the step sharping a set of hunting knives. She had turned 18 a few weeks previous and celebrated on her own. She’d visited a small waterfall with a large lake, it held a special place in her heart. One of the places she could visit to be close to Kai. She smelt Serena coming a mile off, the strong perfume gave her away. The small she carried with her was softer, older… almost dusty.
Adam and Serena came in to view and Grace smiled her most genuine smile since she last saw Kai. Jumping to her feet and rushing to wrap her arms around Adam. “I wasn’t sure you would come” she whispered against his chest.
Adam held her close and sighed heavily against her hair “I made a promise to Kai a long time ago about protecting you Gracie. I’ve already failed once” he slowly shook his head and kissed the top of graces head. “I wont make that failure again” he promised her..
Serena smiled between them and made her way up the path “All that walking has made me tired, you don’t mind If i rest do you?” she said, not waiting for Graces answer.
A few miles south a human hunter was stalking a stag, and made the perfect kill shot. Grace could smell it carry on the wind and her eyes flashed icy blue, her breath came in rasps and she gripped Adams arms tight “It’s happening again” she breathed.
Adam gripped Graces arm with one hand and raised the other to her cheek, forcing her to look at him “serenas explained whats happening, I need you to concentrate for me, can you do that” he said softly.
Grace wriggled and whined, trying to get the smell out of her head.
Adams eyes flashed white and he sat Grace down on the floor with him “You aren’t a normal wolf Grace. You have more of Kais essence than a normal werewolf would have” he said.
Grace looked up at him, feeling herself calm in his presence “W-What do you mean?” she asked.
Adam loosened his grip slightly “ When the alphas turn someone, it works by giving them a part of their own essence. The further away from the original you get, the weaker that part becomes. Kai has only ever turned a few wolfs, he’s not needed to turn more. Eve made sure the need to hunt would be so strong that the werewolves would turn enough without Kai to create the army Eve is planning for. After a few more were created, Eve returned and she killed the ones who had Kais bite” Adam explained. He could See grace was concentrating more on his words now so let his hands slid away from her.
“At the moment you are only one of three that have Kais bite. That makes you incredibly powerful, and very dangerous. But that doesn’t mean you can’t control yourself. A person Essence can be passed more than just one way and I think Kai may have already given you a pretty big part of his”
Grace suddenly blushed as she put together Adams subtle clues “You mean… I already had some of his soul in me before he bit me?” she queried. Adam answered with a nod. “I think that’s why you survived Grace. You didn’t turn right away because you were for all purposes dead. But you fought so hard, and Kais essence was already there in you. It brought you back enough for the bite to then take effect” Adam explained.
Grace took in his words and played them in his head over and over. “I really can’t ever go back to him again can I?” she muttered. “I had to live forever knowing that Kais out there living and doesn’t know I’m alive” she whimpered, tears making their way down her cheeks. Adam answered yet again with a small nod, pulling her closer in to a hug.
“I’ll be here for you though” he whispered, rubbing circles on her back. “We will work on your control and your hunger. And I’ll help you learn about how everything changes for you. You have to stay up here though” he instructed, pulling her out to look her in the eye. “you can’t leave here, at least not for a while” he said sternly. “You need to stay away from Kai. If he was to call out to the wolves, you wouldn’t be able to resist your alpha calling. And that’s the last thing we need” he frowned.
“Are you staying for a while?” Grace asked, feeling anxious about his answer.
Adam huffed a little chuckle and nodded “I can stay for a few weeks yes. Eve doesn’t expect my return for another season yet” he explained. “We’ll get this sorted” he smiled.
Grace smiled back and she knew she could trust Adam. The man she grew up calling grandpa would help her through this
