章 33: Taking care of family

Author's note: This is from Seraphina's point of view

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Luca left with Duke to discuss apartment accommodations and logistics about shadowing Ash at the Eclipse, leaving me and Zoe in the study and I noticed that Zoe didn't show any intention to get up from her seat.

"Is there anything on your mind, dear?", I asked Zoe.

Zoe puffed her cheeks. "Ash can read minds, Luca is going to London, and what about me?"

I realized from where her unhappiness came, and I felt bad for the girl. This was not just about reading minds and going away for a week, but about her feeling like a loser.

After all, all three of them came from the same place, grew up in similar conditions, they are close in age, and Zoe was always a leader among the three, yet for the last two years, both Luca and Ash can shift into their wolf forms while Zoe can't. Whenever Luca and Ash went to train in their wolf forms or on patrol, Zoe was left behind, and she was suppressing her emotions until now, but it seems she had enough.

"I know it's hard." I really did. "For more than twenty years I thought of myself as below average in everything. And then I met my father who showed me that I'm a lot of things, but average is not one of them."

"You are saying that I need to be patient.", Zoe said dejectedly, and I could see tears at the corners of her eyes. "Luca and Ash can shift and talk to their wolves for years and I'm tired of standing on the side. You don't know how it feels. They all gather and talk about plans that involve everyone except for me. I thought that Luca has my back, but now he is leaving me also."

"It's just for a week, Zoe. He will be back. And for the rest, instead of focusing on what you are lacking, focus on the things you have.", I tried to sound wise.

Zoe let out a sharp breath. "I have my brother. Or is it better to say, I HAD a brother because he is leaving. Luca never mentioned going to London. I just heard about it as he made a group announcement. He always talked to me first about things, or at least that's what I thought. He is leaving me behind, like everyone else."

My heart cracked. I knew that her mother abandoned her, and she grew up with a horrible father in a bad pack, with only Luca by her side. They came to me like moths to a flame and instead of taking care of them, I left them at Fynn's place with a bunch of werewolves who don't have parental instincts, and they treated them as grownups. I thought that the teens were doing fine, but only recently I found out that they were bullied, but they kept it in so that they don't worry me.

I failed them.

Zoe suffered a lot, and she has abandonment issues. Luca announcing his desire to go to London hit her hard, regardless of if he really wants to learn about finances or to prepare a birthday surprise for her.

I went to Zoe and pulled her into a hug. "Luca is not leaving you, Zoe. You have him and Ash and me and Drago. We might not be together all the time, but we have each other's back. Even if we are a thousand kilometers away, if you need us, we will come. That's what family does. Think of this as an opportunity. I know that you are used to Luca's presence and that you are relying on him, but this is your chance to do things without him and test your boundaries. See how much you can do without Luca and without Ash. It will help you understand yourself and maybe figure out how capable you are. I taught you meditation, whenever you miss Luca, I want you to practice. That will help you strengthen the bond with your wolf."

Zoe forced a smile. She was obviously not pleased with this, but she decided to suck it up, at least in front of me.

I pinched her nose. "If you are angry at Luca, go and tell him. Don't keep it in. Yes, he is leaving for one week, but he is my precious assistant and I will make sure he comes back. Until then, there is a lot of work to be done, and I will be relying on you. On top of everything we have going on, your birthday is coming. Sergio offered to conduct a coming of age ceremony for you, and this villa will be done by then. Did you prepare the guest list? We need to know if we have enough bedrooms or if some guests will share rooms…"

With the topic shifting toward Zoe's birthday, she cheered up a bit.

Of course, she had the guest list ready, but she was waiting for an OK from me that her party can be held in this villa.

With the forest and everything else nature can provide, this is the perfect spot for werewolf birthday parties.

I thought of keeping this place off-limits until all security is in place, but at this point, no one is aware of Duke's identity and this will be just a bunch of teens.

I wanted my three fosterlings to feel at home here. After all, this is their home as well.

Ah, it will be a fun party! Werewolf style.

Music, good food (meat mostly), they will go hunting in the forest, and swimming in the lake, and... I wondered if I should invite Mona. She will definitely have ideas for entertainment.

…

"Come in…", Ash called when I knocked on the door of his bedroom.

He was waiting for me to discuss his newfound ability.

His room was a suite with a living room that had a dining area and a small kitchen, and the double door in front opened up to the balcony which overlooks the garden below, and forest and mountains in the distance. The door on the left opens up to office space, and the door on the right provides access to a bedroom with a bathroom and a walk-in closet.

Luca's and Zoe's suites are about the same, providing them personal space and privacy.

We sat in the living room and Ash offered me a drink, like a true host.

I was not really thirsty, but I still asked for flavored water.

He moved through the kitchen with ease and I could see that the months he spent in London taught him independence. I approved.

"OK." Ash rubbed his hands together while taking a seat on the sofa chair. "What can you tell me about this mind-reading? I can't wait to try it out during a meeting, or in any situation, actually."

His enthusiasm was adorable, but my first task was to burst his bubble. "Do you know what will happen to you if someone finds out that you can read minds?"

Ash froze and I continued, "The best outcome for you is that they employ protection, so your ability becomes useless. Imagine if you want to figure out what someone is thinking, yet he has the means to deceive you. As someone who can read minds, you are a threat. Just how Luca and Zoe reacted, no one will remain indifferent because everyone has secrets, and people will be divided into a group who wants to use you and a group who wants to eliminate you as a threat. Do you understand?"

Ash nodded stiffly. "In which group do you fit?"

I nodded in approval. He was finally using his head.

"Skepticism will keep you safe, Ash. Always question people and their motives. There is no such thing as free lunch in this world. As for where I fit, that's in the group who wants to use you."

I stifled a laugh when Ash grimaced.

"We are a family, Ash. Just how you are relying on me, Drago, Luca, and Zoe, we are relying on you as well. In crude terms, we are using each other, but in reality, we are making sure that each of us prospers. I hope that you will use your ability to keep yourself and your family safe. Is that acceptable?"

Ash nodded and I was relieved to see that he was serious about this.

"Good. The first rule is that unless you trust someone with your life, that person shouldn't know about your abilities. I know that it's tempting to show off but don't. Just don't. There are many ways to make people talk against their will. The only safe secret is the one that no one knows, and whenever you are tempted to impress someone, I want you to imagine yourself chained in a dungeon after that person spilled your secret."

Ash was listening intently, and then he asked. "You mentioned people who can be immune to the mindreading. Is that why I couldn't pick up anything from you?"

I confirmed and decided to push the topic back on Ash and his ability. "I will help you understand your ability, but I can only show you the ropes. Once the training wheels are off, you will be on your own and it will be up to you how much of your ability you want to share with me or anyone else. Now let's discuss your ability and how you can practice it without getting caught..."

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