1 QUANTUM LEAP

Cadmus was so busy reading the documents on his table but he got interrupted by the loud noise coming from the phone that was on his other side. He was inside his office on the second floor of his mansion in the Black Forest Territory and it was definitely one of his busy days. He let out a deep sigh and decided to ignore the noisy phone.

He once again focused his full attention on what he was reading but it seems like the caller have no intention of stopping the phone from ringing because it kept making noise. And, it was so distressing so before he becomes completely deaf, Cadmus decided to answer the call.

He picked up the phone from the holder and put it to his ear only to be disturbed by a shrill voice from the other line.

'Seriously? Does she have to shout?'

"Brother!" Cristina's voice was loud as her three vexatious kids who seemed to be playing next to his sister.

Cadmus irritatedly rubbed his temple. He felt like the pain in his head increased even more because of the noise that was caused by his sister's kids.

"Do you have to shout, Cristina?" Cadmus inquired to his sister in a cold voice who just countered him with a displeasing laugh.

He wants to regret his decision that he let her marry Shade. Cristina seemingly got worse since the day she married the Alpha of ShadowStone.

"Brother, can you come over, please?" Cristina queried from the other line after a while. "Shade isn't here right now. We don't have anyone else in the house besides Cordelia." She added up, referring to the governess of the triplets.

"Why, where is your husband?" He asked before leaning back in the swivel chair to stretch his swaying back.

"He's not around, Cad. Just please come over," Cristina pleads with Cadmus. "Besides, the kids are missing you already." she tacks on before putting the phone down without even saying goodbye.

Cadmus' nose wrinkled, his lips part open as he stared at the phone he was holding. Did she just hang upon him? His jaws dropped. He put the phone back in its holder and waggled his head because of annoyance. It looks like his sister took advantage of him again. Cristina knows very well when to use her kids as bait to get him to agree.

Cadmus looked at his wristwatch and snorted. It was already past three in the afternoon and he still has to drive for a couple of hours before he could arrive at ShadowStone territory, the pack that Shade Umbra rules, his sister's husband.

He once again jiggle his head as he picked up the leather jacket that was lying on the swivel chair. He slung it over his left shoulder and decided to leave the office. He went directly to the driveway and walked towards his car. He was about to board when suddenly someone called to him.

"Alpha!"

Cadmus stopped on his track as he was about to open the car door and turned to the source of the voice. It was Finn, his Beta.

"What is it?" he inquired, brows furrowed.

"Are you leaving?" Finn queried while looking at his car.

"I'll be going to ShadowStone so you take care of the territory while I'm not around." He said before he finally opened the car door. He started the engine and didn't bother to wait for Finn's answer. He leaves without saying anything, living his Beta shrugging his shoulders.

Cadmus was the exact opposite of his sister. Christina was always noisy to the point that she already seemed like she never runs out of words while he was the serious type. He talks less. When their parents died, he took on all the responsibility of raising her sister. Cadmus went through so many ups and downs before he finally got everything that he wanted. From becoming a mother and father to Cristina to reclaiming the Black Forest down to—

Cadmus shook his head as the memories of the past suddenly flashed out of his mind. The things that he doesn’t want to go back to because of the unparalleled pain it gave them. And it taught him how to be resilient and strong. Cadmus' hands tightened their grip on the steering wheel as he tried his best to shake the memories off from his head. He decided to pull the car to the side of the road and open the window to breathe some fresh air.

After a while, he resumed driving again. He still has a long way to go. He opened his car stereo and started to listen to his favorite song.

He had been driving for almost three hours when his cellphone suddenly rang on the dashboard of the car. Cadmus bent out to reach for the cellphone.

He frowned when he saw the registered name on the screen.

"Hey," he greeted after tapping the answer button.

"Where are you? I called in your mansion. Finn said that you left hours ago."

Cadmus smirked. "Didn't he also tell you where I was going?" he raised a question annoyingly to the person he was talking to.

It was Seventh D'Seven. The Alpha of the Seventhstone Territory.

Cadmus heard Seventh release a loud laugh from the other line, causing him to frown. That was weird. Seventh was once known for being ruthless. The feared beast of Seventhstone.

Not until he met his Luna.

"C'mon, man," Seventh muttered after a while. "relax and have some fun, okay?" he added up and once again laughed.

Cadmus snorted.

"Shut the hell up, D'Seven!" Cadmus commanded.

"Anyway, we'll be in Quantum Leap tonight. Care to join us?" Seventh inquired, not minding what Cadmus said.

Cadmus raised an eyebrow when he heard what Seventh said. "I don't think that I can, Seventh. I'm on my way to ShadowStone now—in case you don't know." He declared while keeping his eyes focused on the front as he continued driving.

"Slow down a little, man. Why are you so rude?" Seventh appealed to Cadmus while chuckling. "I'm telling you, I was once an Alpha like you, dude and it ain't no good. Just wait 'till you meet your woman." he pronounced that made Cadmus pause.

And, in just a blink of an eye, a girl with a sweet and innocent smile appeared at the back of his mind. Cadmus' eyes dimmed as he remembered the girl that he met years ago.

"Hey man, are you still there?"

Cadmus snapped back on his senses as he heard Seventh's voice from the other line.

"Okay, but I can't promise," he replied as he waggle his head, trying his best to get the woman out of his mind.

"Oh, that's good!" Seventh mumbled merrily. "See you there, then. And, hey! Sun and Chann will be joining us too." he announced before finally saying goodbye.

After returning the cellphone to the dashboard, Cadmus turned his attention back to the road. A few minutes later, his cellphone rang again. He looked at the screen to find out who was calling and he couldn’t help but wince. It was his good sister.

Cadmus tapped the answer button and turned on the speaker. It is better to be safe than to be sorry. He might turn himself completely deaf because of Cristina's ear-piercing voice.

"I'm on my way now, Cristina," Cadmus promptly declared. He hissed as he heard his sister laugh. "What ?!" He exclaimed.

"Hey, Cad, you can go back home. Shade is now on his way back. His business deal didn't go through, that's why." Cristina casually explained.

Cadmus unconsciously hit the break out of distress. Just when he's already close to ShadowStone ?! Is she even serious?

"Are you freaking making fun of me, Cristina ?!" Cadmus inquired, almost snarling.

"No, brother..."

Cadmus heave a deep sigh and growled lowly in annoyance.

"Okay, fine!" he replied before forthwith ending the conversation.

Damn it but it feels like he's having a headache right now because of his good sister. Cadmus released a sigh before he decided to take a U-Turn, going back to the Black Forest. He is going to Quantum Leap to meet his friends. He owns the club, anyway.