Gavin looked up to see Shepard standing in the doorway with Professor Okeeba next to him. Shepard looked tired and exhausted. He had dark bags under his eyes and his clothes were a crumpled mess as he strode in. Professor Okeeba, meanwhile, looked immaculate as always with his clean clothes and fresh shave on his old dark face. Ever the image of complete sophistication.
"It's good to see you up and about, Gavin," Principal Shepard called out. His voice was laced with weariness as he took the chair offered by Helena. His lips curled into a faint smile as he nodded towards her. Professor Okeeba opted to remain standing by Principal Shepard's side.
"Grandpa, you're here," Gavin whispered in shock and appreciation. He didn't expect him to show up at the hospital. He figured there were too many things for him to take care of following the attack at the academy. However, the sight of his grandfather, weary and tired, still brought a smile to Gavin's worried face.
Shepard chuckled as he reached out a hand and gripped Gavin's in a comforting grip. "Where else would I be boy?" he asked him with amusement in his eyes. He was thrilled to see his grandson up and about. No doubt that violent surge of mana he witnessed moments ago came from Gavin, though it seemed he calmed down since his outburst. "Now, explain to me why you decided to destroy the hospital that is responsible for keeping you alive?" he asked Gavin, his soft voice turning stern with the question.
Gavin had the good sense to look away bashfully at the question. "Um, well. You know how things go, waking up in an unfamiliar place, PTSD and all that," Gavin said as he tried to divert the real reason for Gavin's outburst.
Shepard narrowed his eyes at Gavin. It was clear that the old man didn't believe his grandson. "Now that you got the bull out of your system. Tell me the real reason," he chastised his grandson.
Gavin sighed as he looked at his grandfather. He took a deep breath as the memories came back to him. He explained his conversation with Koray and that Gavin already knew Erza was missing and kidnapped. "I have to find her. Koray, the god I spoke of, said you would have a lead," Gavin replied. His voice was soft but ominous as his aura sparked around him. He may appear to be calm, cool and collected, but he was one bad conversation away from burning down the city of Allario itself to find his mate.
"I do indeed have a few leads available," Principal Shepard replied as he folded his hands in his lap.
"The authorities ran facial recognition on everyone from the attack they could. It turns out a few hits came back on known names," Principal Shepard continued. He noticed that he had their undivided attention. "The man you and I fought against, the supposed leader of the True Lords Army, is Xenon Deluge. He is a wealthy businessman in the public eye. Always gives back to his employees, donates to all kinds of charities, the whole works," Principal Shepard said.
Gavin leaned forward, his eyes glowed red at the news. "So, we know who he is? Then where the fuck is he?" Gavin snarled out, his anger already increasing at the information. His voice dropped a few octaves as he demanded more information.
Professor Okeeba raised an eyebrow and stepped forward. "Remember your place, young Gavin. Do not allow your emotions to cloud your judgement. I know I trained you better than this," Professor Okeeba reprimanded him, his voice was deep and soothing as he locked eyes with Gavin.
"My mate has been missing for days now. Instead of finding and rescuing her, you bother wasting time coming to tell me. Why aren't you out there hunting them, finding their base and rescuing my mate?!" he demanded. He would not back down to Professor Okeeba, not now when his mate and child are out there in danger.
Helena and Jackson stepped closer to his bed to offer what support they could. "Gavin, you need to take a breath and relax buddy," Jackson called out as he placed his hand on his friend's shoulder.
Gavin shrugged it off. "Don't tell me what to do, Jackson," Gavin snapped as he shrugged off Jackson's hold. His body was visibly shaking with tremors as he fought to contain his rage. His wolf was starving for war, blood and death. He wanted to kill everyone in his path until he rescued his best friend, mate and mother of his unborn child. He noticed but chose to ignore the hurt look in Jackson's eyes as his Beta stepped back dutifully.
Jackson looked around at the group of people in the room. He felt the raw emotion from Gavin through the ancient magical link that connected them as pack. He squared his shoulders and stepped back to face Gavin. "Hey, knock it off. We are not the enemy, Gavin. We all want her rescued and brought home safe," he snapped at him. He wouldn't take that kind of snotty attitude from anyone. Gavin may be his Alpha through this weird pack magic, but Jackson would still slap some sense into the wolf boy when it was called for.
Gavin gritted his teeth. He knew he was acting like a child. Angry, throwing a tantrum because he wasn't getting his way. Gavin winced as if he was struck by Jackson's words. The man was right, and Gavin knew it. He was being irrational due to his fear and anger. He hung his head as he looked at the others. "You're right man. You're absolutely right. I can't think straight," he began saying before he ran his hand through his curly black hair. "All I can think of right now is burning this city to the ground to find her. Leaving nothing left unturned in the attempt," Gavin said, his voice a hoarse whisper of admission.
"What is wrong with me?" he finally asked as he looked at his grandfather and much older were-wolf mentor. "Why do I feel so much rage and hatred?" he asked him.
Principal Shepard nodded in understanding. "The magic that binds were mates together is strange and powerful. It connects two separate living souls into one. It's a connection that goes beyond simple words as love, loyalty or duty," Principal Shepard began to explain.
"You're thoughts, emotions, good and bad are connected on a primal level with each other. It becomes so strong that when you are apart for any length of time, it can often feel like you are missing part of yourself. That you can't think, or function on your own after you find your mate." Principal Shepard explained.
"I am probably doing a poor job of explaining this. My own mate, your late grandmother, would have found a way to explain it easily and effortlessly. What I'm trying to say, dear boy. Is that she is the very air you breathe, correct?" he asked his grandson. His voice was soft and gentle as he spoke.
Gavin nodded. "I've been in love with her and wanted nothing but to be the reason she smiles since I met her almost a decade ago," Gavin admitted quietly. His voice was soft as he recalled the time they first met and the way she stole his breath as she walked into his house.
"We are getting off topic. The point is, the reason you feel so aggressive and angry is due to the feelings of desperation to ensure she is alive and alright," Principal Shepard said with a nod before he continued. "The reason we haven't launched any offensives yet against Xenon Deluge and the True Lord's Army is simple. With his financial access as a businessman, there could be any of a thousand different places he has access to that he could have taken her to. That's just the amount of places that have a public connection to him or his business," Principal Shepard said.
Professor Okeeba nodded. "We are slowly narrowing down the likelihood of places thanks to a few well-placed allies in their ranks," Professor Okeeba said, his voice whisper quiet. He honestly wasn't sure if Gavin was ready to hear this next part, but he owed the boy for protecting the students and wouldn't treat him with kid gloves.
That got Gavin's attention. "Allies? When did you place spies in their ranks? How did you manage that?" Gavin launched a series of rapid-fire questions. None of that made any sense to him. How long had his grandfather been tracking the enemy forces while he was teaching at the academy? If he had spies in their ranks, why didn't we get any kind of heads up about the attacks? So many things didn't add up in Gavin's young and weary mind.
Principal Shepard lifted his hands to quiet Gavin. "Calm down, son. I will explain," Principal Shepard began. "We have been keeping an eye on them for far longer than you could imagine," Shepard told him.
"I have been hunting these people for decades. I have called in every favor I have acquired over the years at the academy to help track down your mate and child. In doing so, some of the sleeper spies that joined their ranks in more, administrative roles have been passing on information to me when they can safely do so. Rest assured, they will not get away with taking my future granddaughter-in-law" Principal Shepard said with his eyes a vibrant red.
Before Gavin could ask another question. He felt a burning sensation in his right thigh. The pain caused him to cry out as he threw back the covers and inspected his leg. There was no wound, no reason for him to feel like someone was slicing his skin open with a hot knife. That's when he realized. It wasn't his pain he was feeling.