“I hope you won’t resent me if I tell you why I am here, Amanda.” She said and I simply pressed her hands too and nod my head.
Silence means yes.
She tried to hold her tears again. She held her breath deeply. I can feel her shivering hands holding at me. She’s hiding something scary I guess.
“Tell me, I’m here to listen, mom!” I told her.
“I killed your adopted parents. I was the one who attacks them! It’s an accident. I tried to help them but they thought I will kill them.” She finally told me everything.
But still, I can’t understand what she meant.
” What? Can you please tell me vividly, please!” I told her.
Her eyes shifted on me full of guilt.
She didn’t reply.
Instead of answering me, my eyes stretch wide open when her form gradually changes into a wolf-like mine.
Anika’s mom is a shapeshifter too!
A loud growl echoed inside her room.
The year 1870
Anika POV as Ariana
This place is a new atmosphere for me. The people here look friendly and humble. I welcome the day by strolling around the outside of the palace. It’s been hard for me to just sit there as nothing happened with my life. The clock is ticking and my time here will expire soon. If both of us can’t finish our mission, both of us will never go back to our bodies again, and I’ll be the Ariana Ferrer of Regeddon Packs forever. While I’m on my way back to the palace, the peripheral part of my eyes saw someone hiding on the wall beside the entrance. She was covering her face with her cape. I lead her to the storage room of the palace so that I can catch her. When I felt that she’s near behind me, I quickly look back and pulled her hands, and locked her against me by clasping her neck with my arms.
“Who are you? Why are you following me?” I said behind her ears.
“I’ll tell you if you let go of me!” She answered back so I loosened my grip on her neck and let her go.
She slowly took off the cover from her face. She’s a middle-aged woman and I don’t recognize her.
“Who are you? I don’t know you? Are you a spy?” I said while looking at her carefully.
“You can’t recognize me? How come?” She quickly went closer and hold my face. She checks if I got a fever or amnesia.
“Your name is Ariana, right? Why can’t you remember your mother!” Annie burst into tears.
I was stunned and speechless at this moment. So this is Annie, Ariana’s mom!
“Are you Annie Ferrer, Ariana’s mom?” I asked her to confirm it myself.
She nods her head and pulled me closer to her. She hugs me tightly.
“I know he will find you. I followed King Theus’ armies to see if he look for you and I am glad that he found you, my dear Ariana.” She murmured but I slowly pushed her away from me.
I know this is a bad idea but I’ll tell her the truth that I am not her daughter that Ariana and I switch places.
“Lady, I know this may sound strange but I am not your daughter Ariana. My name is Anika Perez, and I am one of the powerful females in my time.” I told her but she won’t believe me.
“What? How? I know you’re lying! You know I’ve been through hell just to find you! When I heard that the Arcadia Kingdom was been attacked, I went there to take you home but I saw dead bodies, and you’ve already gone!” Annie said.
I took a deep breath and hold her shoulders.
“I am not Ariana. She’s in the present time. She’s in my ear. If our mission will be a success then you can see the real her!” I added and I saw the sadness in her eyes. She can’t believe that it’s happening. It’s hard to accept the fact that I stayed here for over one month and nothing happened. I hope Ergo will appear soon. We need his judgment.
We both heard someone came in and I told her to hide. I saw Arem coming with Karl. I bet they’re looking for me.
“Anika, what are you doing here? King Theus is looking for you. He had an announcement!” Karl said while Arem only nods his head.
I check where Annie is hiding before we left. I hope she will come out safely. I don’t know why she’s hiding from the King if the King is looking for her too.
She’s Ariana’s mother, she’s the King’s first love so why she didn’t want to reveal herself to anybody here inside the palace?
We went back inside the palace. The crowd was being gathered inside the palace. King Theus was sitting at the center of his throne. He saw me and called me to come towards him.
I am a bit hesitant since I am not his real daughter but to him, I am Ariana so I went closer and sat on the other empty chair.
“Arem, my son come here too!” He called Arem, Ariana’s husband.
He was hesitant too because I am not his wife and the real Ariana is there in the year 2021.
As we both came and sat beside him he stood up and start his announcement. I’m not ready for this one since it’s our first time coming here.
“Everyone, I proclaimed today that I already found my daughter Ariana, your Luna!” To hear this unexpected news was surprising but it’s okay since my mission is to find her parents and to rule the Cana Kingdom fairly.
I stood up and simply smiled. The King isn’t young anymore and to know that Rogues are lurking at night and preparing a good time to attack them, is a bit scary. I’ll do everything to protect Ariana’s Kingdom. This is my last mission and I have to finish this by the end.
Everyone clapped their hands to welcome me as their new Luna. While standing in front of the crowd that I even don’t recognize each one of them made me think about my people in the present time. I felt sorry for all the people I harmed when I was the Anika in my time.
I realized that maybe I didn’t treat them too harshly. I stamp anyone’s ego too. I remember Argus Mateo if what is he doing right now. What if he falls for Ariana and she decided to stay there and forget about our mission?
While everyone is enjoying, one of the soldiers came forward with someone I knew.
“My Lord, we found an intruder!” He said and take the person in the middle of the crowd.
The King first approach the person who was covering her face with a black cloth.
“Reveal yourself, intruder!” He ordered and when Annie take off the cover, King Theus’s eyes widened.
“Annie?” His voice trembled as Annie revealed her face to see his former lover and Ariana’s mother.
The year 1995
Amanda was held tightly by Corazon to protect her from the savage rogues. Her sister Alena is with her husband inside the car who was glaring fiercely at her.
Her daughter is very precious to her so if anyone hurts her, they will kill her first. She can’t let them gave her to the enemies?
“Hand over that girl or else, we will attack and kill you?” One of the rogues shouted at her.
She looked around and saw many of them. Can she protect her? Can she save the only Luna of the packs?
Alena and Harold stepped outside the car.
“Don’t be stubborn my sister! It’s for both of us? She is Lucas’ daughter so why not give it to him?” She told her older sister.
Corazon gritted her teeth and wrapped her daughter Amanda tightly.
“No! I thought you’re my sister! You lied to me!” Corazon tells at them.
Harold laughed at her.
“Look, there’s no way out. Give her to Lucas and everything will be fine. Rogues won’t hurt us anymore!” Alena added.
Corazon can’t do it. He’s a monster and he will do everything to take her child with him. She must protect her only daughter. Anika or Amanda will protect her. If she knew from the start that her sister will betray her, maybe she didn’t let her adopt Amanda.
“Then if you’re too selfish, let’s start the war!” Her sister screamed.
In just an instant, both of them shifted in their true form. They became grey wolves. Rogues are there to attack her too.
One over many. How can she fight them? Her daughter is crying. She doesn’t know her.