The golden sun hangs high in the clear morning sky, its warm rays filtering through the lush canopy and casting dappled shadows across the forest clearing where Mom and I train. The earthy scent of pine needles and rich soil fills my nostrils as I inhale deeply, relishing the crisp autumn air. For the past month, she’s been patiently guiding me, helping me harness and master the powers that course through my veins – the same awe-inspiring abilities as my aunt, the power to shield and protect my fellow werewolves.
In our sleek wolf forms, we move with fluid grace and agility, our glossy black fur shimmering like obsidian in the honeyed light. Though I didn’t inherit my father’s russet coat, I wear my own with pride. It feels exhilarating and freeing to embrace my wolf side again after so long, my muscles rippling beneath my fur as we dance through our rigorous training session. Jane stands in the open field with us, her presence crucial for the training. The soft susurration of the breeze through the turning leaves provides a soothing backdrop.
“Focus, Aura,” Mom’s gentle yet firm voice echoes in my mind. “A witch’s attack can come swiftly and without warning. You must be prepared to defend yourself and your packmates at a moment’s notice.”
I nod, my heart thundering against my ribcage with a potent mix of exhilaration and the weight of responsibility. Mom’s faith in me is both uplifting and daunting, a constant reminder of the expectations I must strive to meet.
“Remember my teachings,” Mom urges, her tone patient and encouraging. I allow my eyelids to flutter closed, my thick lashes brushing against my furry cheeks. “Visualize your shield as an impenetrable force, vibrating with unshakable strength and resilience.” I follow her instructions, pouring all my concentration into manifesting a mental barrier around us, imagining it as a solid, unwavering wall of protection. I imbue it with every ounce of my determination, knowing that only my own will can shatter its defenses.
“Your shield is an extension of your resolve, Aura. Trust in your power,” Mom reminds me, her words bolstering my confidence. I cling to that thought like a lifeline as I hold the image of the shield firmly in my mind.
“Attack!” Mom’s sudden shout jolts me back to the present, my eyes flying open just in time to see a gust of wind hurtling towards us, conjured by Jane’s outstretched hands.
“Hold steady,” Mom commands, her voice ringing with authority. I grit my teeth, every muscle in my body tensing as I pour my energy into maintaining the shimmering shield around us. For a breathless moment, it seems to be working – the barrier holds strong, deflecting Jane’s magical assault. Pride swells in my chest, a flicker of hope igniting within me.
“Jane, intensify your attack,” Mom demands, her tone unyielding. Jane complies without hesitation. The wind howls with renewed force, slamming against my shield like a battering ram. I strain against the onslaught, my legs trembling with the effort to keep the barrier intact. But despite my valiant efforts, I am not yet strong enough. With a sickening crack, the shield shatters, and the gale-force winds send Mom and me careening into the sturdy trunks of the nearby trees.
As I collide with the rough bark, the air rushes from my lungs in a pained huff, my heart plummeting with the bitter sting of failure. Frustration and guilt claw at my insides, knowing that Jane was holding back, not even attempting to truly harm me. If I can’t withstand the restrained attacks of a friend, how can I hope to protect my pack from the deadly onslaught of Henrietta?
“Aura, Lisa, are you alright?” Jane’s concerned voice reaches my ears as she hurries to our side, her brow furrowed with worry.
I haul myself to my paws, giving Jane a reassuring nod before turning my attention to Mom. Relief washes over me as I see her rising unscathed, her obsidian fur unruffled.
“I failed again, Mom,” I whisper, my voice cracking with the weight of my disappointment. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, threatening to spill down my furry cheeks. “I can’t seem to master this power, no matter how hard I try.”
Mom’s warm muzzle nuzzles against my face, her touch a soothing balm to my battered spirit. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, my darling. You’re learning and growing every day. Have faith in yourself and the journey.”
“But so many are depending on me, Mom. I can’t bear the thought of letting them down.” The words taste bitter on my tongue, the weight of responsibility crushing.
“You won’t disappoint them, Aura. Trust in the process and your own strength. Your power will bloom when the time is right.” Mom’s unwavering belief in me is a beacon of hope, but the seeds of doubt have already taken root in my heart.
We train till the sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky in a breathtaking array of pinks and oranges; we call an end to our training for the day. Stars begin to wink into existence, diamonds scattered across the indigo expanse. I bid Mom and Jane goodnight, trudging back to my room with a heavy heart and a mind awhirl with turbulent thoughts. I can’t help but reflect on the events that led me here – the day Henrietta first attacked the Sky Pack and the shocking revelation of Alice’s betrayal.
I stand from the chair and walk downstairs, leaving Sharon crying on her knees. I don’t attempt to help her to her feet, knowing she will only lash out at me in her distraught state.
As I reach the lobby where Mom and Alex stand waiting, I see someone who causes my brow to furrow in confusion. What is he doing here?
“Alex,” I call out as I approach them, and they all turn to face me. “Is everything alright?” I ask, coming to stand beside him while eyeing the man I vaguely recall seeing once at the castle when Alex and I were invited.
“Your uncle learned of my reappearance in the werewolf world and has asked for us to come to the castle,” Mom explains, her voice tinged with apprehension.
“My uncle?” The words tumble from my lips, laced with disbelief as I stare at my mother.
“Yes, your uncle. The king.” Her confirmation hangs heavy in the air between us.
My jaw goes slack, and my mouth agapes as I gawk at Mom, stunned. Could my life possibly get any more complicated than it already is?
Alex’ hand finds the small of my back, gently guiding me forward as we follow the king’s emissary out to an awaiting car. The ride to the castle passes in a daze, my mind reeling. I knew I was royalty; snippets of childhood memories had revealed as much, but the reality of it had never fully sunk in until now. Pulling up to the grand estate, it dawns on me that my younger self had been correct in assuming Grandfather was the Alpha King. But then what happened? Why did he turn us away that fateful night we sought his aid? The unanswered questions swirl in my head as we’re escorted inside.
“The king will be with you shortly,” the emissary informs us, showing us to a plush sitting room before taking his leave.
“Thank you,” Alex replies with a nod as the man departs.
The click of the door closing behind him seems to break the spell of silence. I whirl on my mother, eyes flashing. “Mom, you have a lot of explaining to do.”
She sighs, shoulders slumping under the weight of long-held secrets. “I know, sweetie. I promise I’ll tell you everything once we’re finished here with your uncle.”
I open my mouth to protest, to demand answers now, but the door swings open, cutting me off. The Alpha King strides in, eyes shining with unshed tears as they land on Mom. He rushes forward, pulling her into a fierce embrace, and she returns just as ardently.
“Lisa,” he breathes, voice thick with emotion. “My dear sister.”
“Fredrick,” Mom whispers, tears now freely flowing down her cheeks. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Witnessing my mother address the Alpha King by his given name, the familial bond between them is so palpable that it steals the breath from my lungs. They eventually separate, holding each other at arm’s length as they drink in the sight of one another.
“How have you been?” Mom asks softly, reaching up to cup his cheek.
“Well enough,” he replies with a wistful smile. “And you?”
“The same.” They share a look rife with unspoken history, gazes locked and unwavering.
I clear my throat pointedly, shattering the moment. “I don’t suppose now would be a good time for that explanation?” I raise a brow, my tone dripping with sarcasm.
The Alpha King chuckles, turning his attention to me. “Of course. Come, let us sit. There is much to discuss, but first, allow me to shed some light on our family’s complicated past.”
He leads us over to the plush sofas, waiting for us to settle in before beginning the tale that will finally fill in the missing pieces of my heritage.
“I suppose I should start at the beginning,” he muses, steepling his fingers. “Your mother, Aura, was once a princess. Before, our father cruelly disowned her, stripping away her title and birthright. But in doing so, he could not erase the royal blood that flows through her veins. The same blood that now courses through yours, making you a princess by right as well.”
I sit in stunned silence, absorbing this revelation as he continues.
“Our father was greedy, forever seeking to expand his power and influence. He believed he’d found the perfect opportunity to do so through Lisa.” The Alpha King’s face twists with old anger and sorrow.
“You see, while silver wolves like you are known for our benevolence and unique gifts, we have a dark counterpart – the ruthless raven wolves, equal in might and blessed with destructive abilities. Father sought to strengthen his reign through marriage, betrothing Lisa to the raven wolves’ Alpha at the time.”
Mom’s hands curl into fists, knuckles white with tension. “But I was already mated to your father, Aura. I refused the arrangement, and Father cast us out in his fury. Banished us from the only home we’d ever known.”
“I had no idea,” I breathe, heart aching for the pain and injustice they endured. “I’m so sorry you both went through that.”
The Alpha King reaches over to squeeze Mom’s hand in solidarity before turning back to me, ancient grief etched into the lines of his face.
“What Lisa likely won’t tell you herself is that our father is the reason your father died, Aura. His death is on the late king’s hands, as surely as if he’d wielded the blade himself.”
“What?” The word is strangled, barely audible past the lump in my throat. Beside me, Alex tenses, pulling me protectively into his side.
Mom shakes her head vehemently. “We can’t be certain of that, Fredrick. It’s merely speculation-”
“No,” the Alpha King cuts her off, tone brooking no argument. “I’m sure of it, Lisa. There was no need for Father to send your mate to investigate Henrietta. He knew she would target Williams, that it would end in tragedy. He all but signed his death warrant.”
“Can someone please explain this properly?” Alex interjects, frustration lacing his words. “Are you saying Henrietta’s obsession with Williams was orchestrated by your father?”
The Alpha King nods grimly. “In a way, yes. Henrietta had long been suspected of dabbling in dark magic, but the witch council could never prove it, could never gather enough evidence to bring her to trial.”
He sighs heavily, rubbing a hand over his haggard face. “The Queen of Witches and our father were close allies at the time. She confided in him her suspicions about Henrietta, and he seized the opportunity it presented. He ordered Williams to get close to her, to pretend to return her affections, all so he could uncover the truth of her forbidden practices.”
Bile rises in my throat as understanding dawns, harsh and unforgiving. “But she wasn’t practicing dark magic then, was she? Not yet.”
“No,” Mom whispers brokenly. “Williams realized Henrietta was innocent, that it had all been for naught, and so he ended things and left her. But we all know how poorly she took the rejection. It was exactly the outcome Father had hoped for, had been banking on. He wanted her to spiral, to turn to darkness in her despair.”
“And when you came to him for help, for protection from her wrath, he denied you,” I surmise, voice hard as granite. “Because his ploy hadn’t gone as planned. He’d hoped to drive you back into his clutches, but not with a child in tow.”
“Precisely,” the Alpha King confirms, ancient rage simmering in his eyes. “Father gambled with your lives and lost. He cared nothing for the suffering he wrought, so long as it served his own selfish agenda in the end.”
I sit in horrified silence, tears streaming down my face as the true depths of my grandfather’s cruelty and manipulations are laid bare. To know that my father’s blood is on his hands, that he orchestrated the events that led to our desperate flight and subsequent years of torment… it’s too much to bear.
Mom reaches over to take my hand, her own tears mirroring my own. “I’m so sorry, baby. I never wanted you to carry the burden of this knowledge. But you deserve the truth, painful as it is.”
The Alpha King clears his throat, drawing our attention back to him. “What’s done is done. We cannot change the past; we only learn from it and endeavor to shape a better future. Which is why I’ve called you here today, Aura. Why I need your help.”
I swipe at my tears, forcing myself to focus despite the maelstrom of emotions raging inside me. “My help? With what?”
“Jeremy has sought assistance from Henrietta to overthrow me and claim the throne,” the Alpha King says, his jaw clenched with barely contained rage. “We all need the power that lies dormant within your blood.”
“But I can’t access them. I haven’t tried, but I don’t feel anything coursing through my veins.”
“Don’t worry, I will teach you,” Mom assures me, squeezing my hand.
“She doesn’t know?” The Alpha King turns to Mom, brows raised in question.
Mom sighs, looking suddenly weary beyond her years. “No. She’s never had cause to use her abilities before now.”
I nod numbly, scarcely able to wrap my mind around the enormity of what they’re asking of me. The fate of our people, of those I love most, all resting on my shoulders. On a gift I’ve never even touched, much less learned to control.