Chapter 6: Love that never repeats itself

The next day, the whole family gathered for breakfast. Ian was happy and sad at the same time. As he watched his family congregate at the table, a lump formed in his throat. How much longer would it be before they got together like this again? He remembered that the watch he had won also took pictures discreetly, but he didn't want or need to be discreet there, and asking everyone to look in his direction, he stood up and took a picture with his cell phone of his whole family gathered together. He would have it framed and hung on his bedside wall in the United States.

After hugging everyone, he left with Adam for the airfield where Adam's private jet was located, along with nine other jets that he had inherited from his grandfather.

The journey was uneventful and Ian stepped off the jet onto the land where he intended to live and call home for the next few years.

He had been carrying his dreams and plans in his luggage, but he didn't know that many surprises awaited him.

As soon as they arrived at his father's mansion, several men were there, and they greeted Ian with a party and with their guns firing in the air. There were many men, and Ian recognized almost all of them, as he saw each one who arrived to work with his father every time he traveled there for his vacations. He avoided using his ability to see through their eyes. It happened rarely, and spontaneously.

His suitcases were taken inside, and he saw the car his father had given him. It was a Rolls-Royce Droptail. The car he had wanted. His eyes filled with tears, and he wished he could hide to cry, but it wasn't possible. Not at that moment, when everyone made a point of hugging him and taking his hand. The men and werewolves made him feel loved, respected and welcome. But Ian couldn't get it out of his head that his two fathers, Adam and Maxwell, had made his dreams come true. He was at a loss for words. He greeted everyone politely and by name, as his grandfather had taught him and Adam had reinforced throughout his childhood. People liked to feel important, and one of the ways to do that was to call them by their name.

They had a big feast in the garden, ate barbecue and drank werewolf beer until they were drunk. Adam and Ian refrained from drinking too much and each had just one glass of beer to show the men they were with. Ian thought about the retribution he was preparing for his parents. He would hand Dester or his head over to them on a platter. Ian knew that the brothers Maxwell and Adam had been united before, but their greatest desire was now merged, ever since their uncle Dester had killed Luna's son. And he wouldn't rest until he found him.

When everyone was exhausted and gone, Adam entered the mansion and Ian smiled when he saw Lian. He was Aunt Kate's son with Uncle Caricature. They were friends, and hugged each other with sincere smiles. They talked about everything that had happened to them before that day and then went to bed. Lian agreed to be Ian's trusted man and was given a room in the mansion. His parents, Anna and Maxwell, were proud of their son, but they didn't take it very well when he decided that he was going to live in another city, in another country, far away from them, and this fact worried Ian during the eight years that he attended law school, but that ended the moment he went to bed that night in his room.

...

Adam lay down, happy to finally have his son living with him for good. He closed his eyes to go to sleep, but memories of the night he spent at Maxwell's mansion invaded his thoughts. Anna was his punishment. He lived in silence about it, but the truth was that she had never ceased to be a torment in his life. He remembered, as if he had been a spectator that night.

Anna opened the door to the guest room and Adam was standing with his back to her. She approached with some folded clothes on her arm and reached out to touch his shoulder, but Adam turned to her so quickly that she took a step back, startled. He looked even stronger, and even though he had aged, his appearance was that of a man of thirty-five. His cold, piercing eyes were inquisitive. She realized she had been watching him too long, and reached for the clothes on his arm.

“These are Max's clothes. I hope they fit...” She said, blushing violently.

Adam didn't take the clothes, and didn't look away from her.

“If that's all you came for...” He said and gestured with his hand, inviting her to leave.

Anna's eyes lit up, as if she had been challenged. She went to the bed and left her clothes there. She thought about leaving, but turned back to Adam.

“I thought we were friends...”

“We are, Anna. When we video chat. I don't want you alone in a room with me.

Anna lowered her eyes to his chest, reached up and touched the wolf tattoo, frowning.

“I saw a tattoo like that on Ian, in the same place... What does it mean?”

Adam removed her hand from his body.

“Don't you recognize a wolf, Anna?”

She turned red. It really was a stupid question. She looked at the bedroom door.

“It's a pleasure to welcome you again. I'll let you rest.” She said and walked to the door, but Adam was quick, and crossed his arms in front of the door, looking at her.

“What if I want you to stay?”

“No, Adam.”

“You could have had those rags sent to you by one of the house staff. They would have suited me... in every way.”

“That's why I made a point of bringing them myself.”

“I don't think you could resist. Your desire is evident in your eyes.”

“I don't need to deny that, wolf. But my husband fulfills all my desires.”

Adam stood sideways in the doorway and pointed to the exit with his chin.

“Does he?”

Anna felt insulted, but left the room with her head held high and the pride of a queen.

Adam couldn't sleep that night.