Deacon - Nicholas Bella Page 0,20

about that.” He walked away toward his cloak and tossed it over his shoulders. “The Alpha will want you to bring Elias in the year of his twentieth birthday. By then, he wants him to know about our pack, to have a desire to be a part of it. So that when he is turned, we can avoid forcing his hand to benefit our pack.”

“Why not turn him now, Sir?” I asked, not really wanting to dedicate years of my life to preparing Elias to become a wolf. Something I still desired, yet had to wait for nature to take its course.

“Once one becomes a wolf, it is for all time. He is seventeen now, he will be stronger at twenty. And he will also look the part of a man. Haven’t you noticed that there are no child wolves in our pack? Or younglings like yourself?”

“I always thought you were waiting for me to reach my age of maturity, Sir.”

“For a natural-born like you, yes. Your time will come. But we do not turn humans of a certain age. They would be considered too weak to survive the transformation. And even if they did, they would always have problems being taken seriously. Appearances count, Deacon. Concentrate on the plan and when it’s time, bring him into the pack,” Winston said, then he left.

I thought about what he’d said, and on some level, it made sense to me. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was more of a test for me. I was forced to accept their pack after they slaughtered mine, so I knew if Connor really wanted to bend Elias to his will, he’d have no problem doing so. He wouldn’t need him to already be pliable. I’d seen them force humans into the pack, those who weren’t given a choice. What made Elias different? Was this really about Elias at all?

I cleared my mind of thoughts and prepared to leave. It would take me a few hours to get to Elias’ home, and by that time, it would be in the early hours of morning. The dark of night would give me the cover I’d need to get in and get out after the deed was done. I climbed onto my horse, making sure my face was covered as I traveled. I stopped only to relieve myself and drink some wine to keep me warm. When I reached the mansion, most of the rooms were dark and very few candles were lit, which was good. Seeing as his home held many valuables and he himself was an important London elite, Augustus Longwood had hired security and had servants on the premises, but I knew how to avoid them.

I reached Elias’ window and climbed up the lattice work with its twining vines until I reached his window. As we had planned, it was open, and when I climbed through, he leaped from the bed to come to me.

“I thought you would not come, that you were having conflicting thoughts,” he said, then kissed me.

I shook my head. “I would be with you. Nothing will stand in my way.”

“You must think me a monster to put this burden on you,” he said and pulled back.

I took his face into my hands. “It is a burden that would be worse had it been yours. I have no love for your father. I only have love for you,” I half-lied. Truth was, I didn’t give a shit about his father. But I also didn’t have love for Elias. I did, however, love his wealth and his companionship. I’d be lying if I didn’t feel some kinship with him.

Still, it was words he needed to hear, and his face brightened as he kissed me again. “I love you, too.”

I ushered him over to his bed and urged him to get in it. “You must be fast asleep if anyone should happen to check on you.”

He climbed under the covers. “Make sure he doesn’t suffer.”

“I will be merciful,” I promised. Truth was, a quick death would be the best way to end his father’s life.

I walked over to the door and pressed my ear to it first to make sure the hallway was clear of servants and patrol. I then cracked it open to take a look. The corridor was lit with candles, the flames dancing as they illuminated the way. I dashed out of Elias’ room and tiptoed to his father’s room, which happened to be halfway down the corridor.