Deacon - Nicholas Bella Page 0,69

hit when you looked at how many wolves were a century or older and still alive. Most were younger than I was or around my age. This war would go down as a failure in our history, and I wondered how long would it take for us to recoup?

“Deacon, what if we come upon challenges in America. The wolf packs there will not take kindly to us landing upon their shores,” Charlene said.

I removed a chest from the carriage and shrugged. “We have no choice, darling. We have to put faith in our Alpha that negotiations were made.”

“How, Sir?” Elliot asked.

I noticed how he was trying to get used to calling me “Sir” to show respect for my title as Capo. I hadn’t much enforced it because so little time had passed between him being turned and where we were at this point. But the fact that he was showing such initiative was a good sign.

“Julie should have sent off letters to pack ambassadors and to those of vampires and dragons, asking for safe passage. If they believe we are no threat, then we should be able to travel unmolested,” I said. At least, that was how I’d been told such matters worked. “Take this onto the ship,” I commanded Elliot.

I loaded my belongings onto the ship, along with the rest of my pack. While on board, I took a look around, marveling at the sheer beauty of the design. Such things humans created, and it was a wonder something so heavy would float on water. I entered my cabin. Seeing as I was a Capo, I had one of the officer’s cabins, which was nicer than where the rest of the pack would be staying. The bed was big enough for Charlene and I to sleep comfortably. We also had a dining area and living area seating. Our chests were stacked up in one corner of the room and I sat down to rest after such a trying day.

Charlene joined me, sitting on the sofa beside me, and rested her head on my shoulder. “I’m afraid,” she said.

“Of our future?” I asked as I turned and kissed the top of her head.

She nodded. “We do not know what we will face in America.”

I put my arm around her. “No matter what, I will make sure no harm comes to you, my darling. We will survive.” I wasn’t sure if I was making a promise to my wife that I could keep, but I would try. Elliot wasn’t with us, as he had to find his own lodging deeper in the ship’s decks. Good thing was, we had plenty of food to last on this voyage. I decided to take one last look at my mother country before our ship set sail. I stood on the deck, my hands gripping the wood railing as wolves hurried around me, pulling up anchors and lowering sails. It was expected to take three weeks for us to reach America’s shores. I watched as the lights of the city faded the farther out to sea our ship traveled. The dock grew smaller and smaller, and it was a realization I had to accept. I might never see England again.

~*~

I was miserable as the ship rode the waves of an unforgiving and unrelenting ocean. Oh my God, I had never felt so sick in my entire life. My stomach rolled with each up and down motion of the ship, and I’d purged into the basin Charlene held under my face. Elliot came over and placed a cold cloth on my forehead as I lay back against the pillow, sweating and moaning. I didn’t think I had anything else to vomit, nor did I have an appetite.

Charlene handed the basin to Elliot to empty and she stroked my sweat-soaked hair with all the love a wife could have for her husband. “My poor darling, such a delicate constitution.” Though the words seemed sincere on the surface, her expression told a different story. A part of her was enjoying my sickness and she was teasing me a bit. I was too sick at the moment to care much, though.

For fuck’s sake, the nausea was constant and had been going on for days. I didn’t know how much more I could take. I only wanted to sleep through the entire voyage, but Charlene insisted I eat to keep up my strength. Broth was all I had been given, that and bread, which was all I could tolerate. No