JULIUS

 

Cutting through Fierce wolf territory made our journey shorter than it would’ve been had we been forced to go around. But making our way through the forest was still a tiresome endeavor.

Even though we made our way early in the morning, there was still so much ground to cover. We made our way along the trail. We moved past all of the brush and trees. We bathed in the sun rays. Every now and then we would stop and catch our breath. Sitting on the grass didn’t last for very long though. Everybody was eager to continue our journey despite our dangerous destination far out to the east.

We walked for the entire day. The sky grew dark and the time neared for us to set up camp for another day.

“I don’t know these woods very well,” Goro said. “We’re so far away from the city and even Kai’s sleuth.”

“That’s not very reassuring…” Tristan muttered.

“Rest easy, Omega. We will find a place to rest. I’m sure of it. Either a clearing or a spot by a lake. Maybe even a place next to a waterfall.”

“A waterfall. That sounds nice. We make it to a waterfall and that alone will make the trip worth it.”

“Don’t get your hopes up,” I said with a laugh. “If there was a waterfall nearby we would hear the water.”

Tristan eyeballed me with an eyebrow raised.

“We won’t make it to the waterfall with that kind of attitude,” he said.

We all shared a laugh as we continued down the trail. The trail grew so dark that it was pitch black between the trees that surrounded us. I narrowed my eyes and could barely see something ahead of us in the darkness.

“There’s something there,” I said. “Up ahead.”

I kept moving and saw the light shining ahead grow brighter.

“Come on. I’ll take the lead.”

Tristan stayed right behind me with the others keeping a close eye on him. I walked through the trees until I could eventually make out what was in front of me.

There were people there. A forest clearing with a few bonfires burning. There were several tents that housed them. At first glance, they didn’t appear to be a large group.

I stopped in my tracks and put my hand up.

“Slowly,” I said. “Whoever they are, we don’t want to startle them.”

“They’ll know we come in peace,” Tristan said. “I’m sure of it.”

I nodded to him then moved forward into the clearing. I only took a few steps until I was greeted by someone.

A lean man with fair skin approached me with his hands up. His hair was long and blond. His eyes were as blue as any I’d ever seen.

“Who are you?” the man announced.

“My name is Julius. This is Tristan. These men and I are on an expedition.”

The man took a step toward me and sniffed the air.

“You’re from the city,” he said.

“That’s right,” I said with a nod.

“You’re a long way from the city.”

“It’s a long expedition.”

I smiled at the man, hoping that he would see I wanted to make peace with him. His hardened face eventually softened with a smirk.

“My name is Knox,” he said. “I am the lead Alpha of this herd.”

“Herd?” Tristan asked.

“We are deer. Well… Most of us are, anyway. You’re welcome to stay in our camp, though I can’t promise you much.”

“We don’t need anything from you,” I said. “We are only looking for a place to make camp for the night before we continue our journey.”

“I see…”

Knox looked over my shoulder at all of the big men standing behind me. It was easy to understand why he had reservations with more than 20 bears standing so close.

“You have nothing to fear from them,” I said. “Bears are friendly people.”

“I know,” he said with a nod. “We have a bear in our camp.”

“Do you?”

I couldn’t hold back my surprise at the suggestion.

“This way,” Knox said.

We walked through the clearing and gathered the attention from the others in the herd. They stared wide-eyed at us. Some of them were filled with wonder. Others appeared unnerved.

Knox walked right up to a tent and peered into it. I could hear him speaking but couldn’t make out the words he was saying. Then he turned to me with a smirk on his face.

“Just a second,” he said to me.

A few moments later, a man as big as Goro emerged from the tent. His hair was dark and shaggy on his head. His beard was thick.

He looked at me then turned his attention to Goro. His brow twisted in confusion suddenly.

“Goro?” the man said. “Is that really you?”

I turned to Goro and saw that he was more confused than anybody.

“…Vesper?” Goro said.

“Yes,” the man said with a smile.

“Vesper, what are you doing out here?”

All of the bears started laughing as the man walked forward. They greeted him with giant hugs that would’ve crushed a smaller man.

“I live out here,” the man they called Vesper said.

“I knew you left the sleuth,” Goro said. “I never imagined that you would be so far east living among a deer herd.”

“We’re tied to the ones we’re fated to.”

“I see… Vesper, I want you to meet Julius and Tristan. Guys, this is Vesper. He used to be a member of Kai’s sleuth.”

“That was a long time ago,” Vesper said as he shook my hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said.

“Julius is the mayor of Dirge,” Goro explained. “The leader that all of the people in the city selected.”

Vesper raised an eyebrow at me. I knew he was a bear just from the way he smirked at me.

“Is that right?” Vesper said.

“My standing in the city isn’t relevant right now,” I said. “I’m here on a journey to get something done.”

“I see…”

“Come!” Knox said. “Sit! Make yourselves comfortable! Treat the camp as your own!”

Knox’s proclamation eased any tension that might have remained in the camp. The others in the herd quickly welcomed the entire expedition.

The bears scattered around the clearing and made themselves comfortable around the bonfires that burned. I took my place next to Tristan with Goro sitting across from us. Vesper was right next to him. The two of them could have passed for brothers with how similar they looked.

“Eat!” Vesper said. “I’m sure you’ve had a long journey.”

He passed sticks around the campfire with fish skewered onto them. I followed Vesper’s lead and stuck the piece of fish into the fire in front of me. The steam rose from the flames and up into the night sky. The smell of the roasting meat reminded me of just how hungry I was.

“You’re far away from the city,” Vesper said. “There’s not much out here for a city-dweller.”

“But there is something out here,” Goro said. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t be out here.”

Vesper turned his attention to the tent that Knox called him out of. I watched as a younger man stepped out. A small child cradled in his arms, the blond man stepped forward and took a seat next to Vesper.

“This is Julius… Tristan… Goro,” Vesper said. “Everybody, this is my husband, Rudy.”

Rudy smiled and nodded to all of us. His hair was blond and just as unkempt as everybody else in the camp. His green eyes shimmered from the firelight that reflected in his eyes.

“Welcome to the camp,” Rudy said, softly rocking his child in his arms.

“You’ve found your mate,” Goro said to Vesper. “I’m proud of you. And to think you left camp just so you could live by yourself.”

“I was eager to live on my own,” Vesper said. “Now I realize that Rudy and my daughter Cassie are more important than my life now.”

“Then you’ll understand why we’re out here,” I said.

Everybody turned their attention to me.

“Ah, yes,” Vesper said. “An expedition east all the way from the city. I’m sure you have something interesting to tell me.”

“Interesting is one way of putting it,” Tristan said.

“We’re heading farther east,” I said.

“Farther east?” Vesper said. “There’s nothing to the east. Nothing but…”

His words trailed off. The look in his eyes told me he already knew what was out there.

I looked at Rudy and he appeared just as curious as his husband. Since they already knew what I was getting at, I figured there was no point in hiding it from them.

“I’m going to speak to the Primals,” I said. “I’m going to negotiate with them.”

“The Primals are not human like you or me,” Vesper said. “You don’t negotiate with them.”

“They are men. They may lose themselves to their instincts. But they can be spoken to.”

“I’ve seen it for myself,” Goro said. “Donovan bested one of them in combat. They honor the same codes of the Timberlands that everybody else does.”

“All right,” Vesper said with a nod. “What is it you wish to negotiate with them?”

“Dirge is changing,” I said. “The city is large enough with all of the resources it needs to take care of more than its citizens. There are Omegas out here in the woods. Those who have been shunned by their packs.”

“It’s a sad story,” Rudy said. “I wish there was something I could do for those outcasts.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do. If I can speak to the Primals and convince them to give safe passage to any Omega who wants to get to the city, then we’ll have all of the Timberlands covered.”

“No Omega will be left behind,” Tristan said. “Everybody will have a home, regardless of their standing.”

Vesper looked at his husband. Rudy sighed a deep breath through his nose, turning down to his daughter in his arms.

“I know what it’s like to be an Omega,” Rudy said. “To be relegated to a life and having no way of changing it.”

“I’m offering hope to those out here,” I said. “When we establish peaceful relations with everybody in the Timberlands, then no Omega will have to suffer.”

“I’ve spoken to one of Donovan’s friends,” Vesper said. “He talked about brokering peaceful relations between the city and the Timberlands. This must be what he was talking about.”

“Then you agree.”

“I agree with the sentiment.”

“I also agree,” Rudy said. “But I don’t think the task will be so simple.”

“Julius tamed the Fierce wolves,” Tristan said. “I watched him make the lead Alpha bend. He’s agreed to grant safe passage to any Omega who needs it.”

Both Rudy and Vesper looked at me in surprise.

“Then you truly are a man of your word,” Vesper said.

“I try to be,” I said.

“Very well. Nobody goes east. There isn’t much reason to with nothing but the Primals out there. I’ve lived out here a long time. Long enough to become familiar with these parts. I will take you.”’

“What?” Rudy explained. “Vesper, you can’t—”

“These men are here to make peace. It’s not just about you or me. I can’t be selfish because I’ve already found my Omega. The Omegas they intend to save deserve their opportunity as well.”

Rudy sighed at his husband, knowing that he didn’t have much of a choice.

“Just make sure you make it back to me,” Rudy said.

“Nothing will stop me from staying by your side when you need me,” Vesper replied.

Vesper leaned forward and kissed him on the head then turned to Tristan and me.

“I know these woods better than even Goro,” Vesper said to us. “I will guide you to Primal territory to confront them. Now… Let’s not speak any further of this. It’s rare that we have guests here. Tonight should be a celebration.”

Despite the circumstances, everybody around the fire managed to laugh.

The fish was warm and tender. The conversation was lively. The clearing was full of laughter and celebration.

The Primals were looming in the darkness to the east but you wouldn’t have known it from how happy everybody was. I didn’t know what was going to happen when we encountered them. The only thing I knew for sure was that I would be ready.