The shock that enveloped the group in the sitting room was almost suffocating, a thick blanket of disbelief settling over them as Claire nervously revealed herself, her invisibility power deactivated. It was as if the very air had been charged with electricity, crackling with tension as the implications of her revelation sank in.
Margo, who had been on the verge of speaking before Nathan had sensed Claire’s presence, felt a surge of conflicting emotions wash over her. Surprise mingled with a deep-seated sense of familiarity as she struggled to reconcile the image of the girl before her with the Claire she thought she knew.
During one of her secret visits to Emma, she had come across the girl in a heated conversation with her mother, but Margo hadn’t really thought to listen in, but she never forgot a face.
Margo remembered Claire, and the confusion that never left her face during the discussion with the older woman. She had known her as the beta’s daughter-she had done enough research, but she didn’t think the girl would be a hybrid werewolf as Sheila. Who then had she gotten the gene from? From her mother or father.
How long had the girl been hiding this secret from her family? And why? Who was she spying for? Her parents? Was the Beta working in cahoots with Arnold?
Melvina, her hand flying to her mouth in shock, couldn’t tear her gaze away from Claire. She had always been the skeptic of the beta’s family, but Peter usually dismissed her thoughts, relegating to overthinking. Yet here, standing before her, was undeniable proof that she had been right all along.
The realization sent a shiver down her spine, a newfound sense of wonder tinged with the sting of betrayal. They were working with Arnold. No doubt!
Her eyes strayed to Clem, at that point, whose facial expression told her that the latter was totally unaware of the development. Poor boy.
Clem, Claire’s twin, felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under him. How could he have been so blind to the truth? Claire was his other half, his closest confidante, and yet she had kept this secret from him for so long. The sense of betrayal cut deep, overshadowing the connection they had shared since birth.
His frown deepened as her gaze connected to his.
‘I’m sorry. I’ve always wanted to tell you…’
Clem cut the connection. He thought it late for explanations, not with a few of the ancients looking at him like that.
What other secrets had she been keeping? He wondered, refusing to balk under the preening gaze of Shane. And what did her sudden appearance mean for their tightly knit circle? With each passing moment, the once familiar confines of the sitting room seemed to shrink, replaced by an uncertainty that threatened to unravel everything he thought he knew.
“Who are you?” Nathan asked, breaking the overly stretched silence.
Kane’s expression echoed the same question.
Claire looked around the group, feeling their distrusting eyes on her. She knew she had to explain. “I’m not a spy for my parents,” She blurted out, her voice shaky but determined.
“The Prince asked for your name. No one is accusing you yet.” Yodah enthused, folding his arms across his chest, a bit amused over Freya and Maya’s amazement.
“I’m Claire. I’m the Beta’s daughter. Clem is my twin.”
Nathan soughed, and reclined deeply on the sofa. “Alpha, you seem to have a lot of questionable subordinates.”
Peter opened his mouth, then shut it. He didn’t know what to say.
Kane perused Claire all over again. “So, you are a strong werewolf. How do you have magic then? And why are you spying on us?”
Claire took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. “I discovered it a few months ago,” She admitted. “After my shift, we had gone to a party. During the party, my emotions had gotten the best of me, and …” She shrugged her shoulders. “It just happened. My parents are aware of that. However, they are not aware that I am here. They believe I am asleep. I was actually, until I heard the movements of people. I came out then.”
Dobah piqued his eyebrow.
‘The girl must be strong if she had heard you all looking for Eva.’
Dobah mused at Blenda’s words, but his lifemate was right.
“So, did your parents tell you where your magic came from?”
Claire shook her head to Dobah’s question. “They don’t seem to know. They think it is a gift from the gods.”
Yodah laughed. Gift indeed. The girl’s mother had probably slept with a wizard. He looked at Clem then, pity filling his eyes when he saw that Clem seemed to think the same. He sighed when he watched the latter bow his head in shame. Poor boy.
“We still need to wipe her memory,” Julius suddenly said, speaking up for the first time in a long while. “She must have heard a lot. She might even be lying. It doesn’t help that she has a bad record in the pack.”
Nathan piqued his eyebrow, looking at Claire, when nobody in the room negated Julius’ statement, not even her brother. “A black sheep, huh?”
Panic gripped Claire as she realized what might happen if she didn’t play her cards right. She couldn’t lose her memories.
“No!” She cried, her voice filled with desperation.. “Please, don’t do this. I’m aware that I am not the best of persons considering my actions these past months…”
“Try years…” Maya interrupted with a sneer on her lips.
Claire hung her shoulders in shame. “I’m sorry. But I want in, in whatever you all are planning to win this upcoming war. After all, I am mated to an Alpha.”
Curtis’ heart beat slowed, just at the same time that Freya scoffed.
“Are you seriously playing that card now? You are dumber than I thought. Get out of here.”
Claire stood her ground. “I wasn’t talking about Derek. I know he isn’t mine.”
A second silence, where everyone looked at everyone.
“Who are you talking about then?” Melvina asked, curiosity filling every note of her voice.
“I’m talking about Curtis. Soon to be Alpha of Wind Winders Pack.”
***
As Legardo sat in his office and pondered his next move, his thoughts turned to his daughter, Diana.
Yes, he had decided to reach out to Leonarya, and Arnold. But those two could be stupid and dumb. He thought, remembering the case of the spy demons, and the case of Curtis, Arnold’s son. The Alpha couldn’t even do a little thing as convince his son to mate with another. What then can the man do?
Legardo soughed, and got to his feet. Would including Diana in his next plan be worth it? Could he trust her? Would she be able to bypass the matebond, and do the work that he will give her?
Legardo paced from one side of the room to the other.
He knew that Diana held a unique position of influence, one that could potentially tip the scales in his favor. With her abilities and connections, she could be a powerful ally in his quest for dominance.
But as he considered his options, a sense of unease settled over him. He knew that involving Diana in his schemes could put her in danger, and he hesitated to drag her into his web of deceit and manipulation. And if Diana is in danger, then he would have Noah to contend with.
Legardo rubbed his hands all over his face in tiredness. He didn’t understand how the gods could give him children that were out of his control. At least Diana listens to him sometimes. Noah was another case. Not to mention Eli. The latter wasn’t his son, but he could be used as a puppet. Sadly, Eli had no reasonable powers, apart from getting drunk and flirting with women.
Could he convince Diana and Noah?
As Legardo weighed the risks and rewards of this option, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he needed to act swiftly and decisively. The game was afoot, and he needed every advantage he could get if he hoped to come out on top.
With a determined heart, he made his decision. He would reach out to Diana, subtly weaving her into his plans without putting her directly in harm’s way. It was a risky gambit, but one that he was willing to take in his pursuit of power and control.
A knock sounded on the door.
“Come in.”
He sighed again, when Diana sauntered into the room. Speak of the devil…
“Hey Dad, why are you still awake? I was about heading back to sleep, and noticed your light on.”
Diana spoke, suddenly by her father’s side. But her speed was no longer a thing of surprise to her father.
“Just thinking, my dear.”
“Anything I can help you with?”
Legardo rested his back on the wall. This was it.
“Diana, I need your help with something,”
Diana looked up to her father, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “What is it, Dad?”
Her voice was tinged with caution.
“I need you to place a bug in Clem during class next week,” Legardo said bluntly, getting straight to the point.
Diana’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? Why would you want me to do that?” She exclaimed, shaking her head in disbelief.
“It’s for the greater good, Diana,” Legardo insisted, his voice as steel. “We need to keep an eye on the pack. Clem is our best bet.”
But Diana wasn’t convinced. “I can’t do that, Dad,” She said firmly. “I won’t bug my mate.”