Alethea
Seeing my boy again feels like the best thing in the world right now. I’ve missed him so much-missed telling him bedtime stories, tucking him into bed, and just being around him.
Seeing him again, I can’t help but compare his face to Asher’s. I’ve been so close to Asher that I’ve memorized every striking feature.
He clings to me with his tiny arms wrapped around my neck, I breathe in his scent. It calms me, easing the emotional storm I’ve been through back at Redwood.
It’s good to be home. But just as I’m sharing the moment with my son, I look up and notice Amelia stepping out of the house.
Her eyes darted from my dad to Selena, then back again, it’s filled with curiosity and something I can’t quite place.
I stop in my tracks, still holding my boy, and turn to see what’s going on.
My dad is staring directly at Amelia, with an intense look anyone will be uncomfortable with.
It’s like he’s trying to solve a puzzle that doesn’t fit. There’s something in his gaze that makes my heart skip a beat.
I glance back at Amelia, and I can see she’s uncomfortable under my dad’s scrutinizing stare.
That can only mean one thing-my dad knows something, Amelia doesn’t. My instincts kick in, and I turn to face him.
“What is it?” I ask cautiously, keeping my voice steady. I don’t want to startle my boy, still nestled in my arms.
My dad rushes toward Amelia, and she instinctively steps back, unsure of his intentions. I nod to her, trying to reassure her, but she doesn’t seem to catch on.
Selena notices the tension, too, and shifts her focus from my dad to Amelia. “Drake, are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she says, with a soft voice filled with concern.
That seems to snap him out of his daze. He turns to Selena, pointing at Amelia.
“Remember Alpha Roland’s breeder-the one I told you about?”
Selena nods, and her gaze snaps to me. Her expression makes me uneasy as if there’s a connection I’m missing.
I know I was supposed to be Xavier’s breeder, but that didn’t happen.
Yet, the way Selena is looking at me after my father mentions a breeder feels… suspicious.
What makes it even more confusing is that no one knows much about Alpha Roland’s breeder.
We only ever heard rumors that he loved his breeder more dearly than his Luna.
“She looks exactly like her,” my father says, pointing directly at Amelia.
Selena suddenly scans the surroundings, her posture tense as if she senses something.
After seeing her form a block of ice around one of the rogues earlier, I know I can’t fully comprehend the extent of her powers.
Without another word, we all make our way inside the house.
Amelia follows closely behind, clearly worried about whatever is unfolding.
She has every reason to be; her parents were werewolves who passed away, leaving her to be raised by a human who knows about her werewolf heritage.
So she was told, but it seems there’s more to it right now than she initially believed.
Once inside, we sit down, but the tension is palpable. My dad’s gaze is locked on Selena, and it’s clear they’re having a silent conversation.
Finally, my dad breaks the silence. “Alpha Roland’s breeder was killed,” he says, his eyes darting around like he is trying to conceal his emotions. “And seeing someone who looks exactly like her here… it’s like seeing a ghost.” he draws out and pauses for a while.
Amelia shifts uncomfortably under my father’s intense gaze. I can see the confusion and worry etched on her face.
Selena clears her throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Drake,” she says softly, “you need to explain. We can’t leave Amelia in the dark about something that involves her.”
My father nods. “Amelia,” he begins, with a gentle voice, “the woman you remind me of-Alpha Roland’s breeder-was someone very special.
She wasn’t just any breeder; she was his true mate, though he kept it hidden because of the politics in the pack. His Luna wasn’t his mate, but the breeder was.”
Amelia’s eyes widened, her hands gripping the edge of the couch. “I… I don’t understand. What does this have to do with me?”
Selena leans in slightly, her voice calm and reassuring. “Amelia, there’s a chance you’re connected to her. Whether by blood or something else, but I’m glad that we need to understand why your werewolf lineage was hidden from you.”
Amelia shakes her head, struggling to process the information. “But my parents… they never mentioned anything like this. They died when I was young, and the human who raised me only told me the basics about my werewolf origins.”
My father sighs, rubbing his hands together as if trying to piece together a puzzle.
“There’s more to your story, Amelia. And we need to uncover it, not just for your sake, but for all of us.”
“How is it connected to all of us?” I ask, with a firm voice. “I thought this should only concern Amelia so she can learn about her real parents.”
I can feel the tension in the room rising. My father isn’t telling us everything, and I can sense it.
There’s something crucial he’s holding back. Selena opens her mouth, ready to intervene, but I raise my hand, signaling her to stop.
She pauses, understanding that I need answers.
“Dad, we’re listening,” I pressed. “How is it connected to all of us?”
He looks down, clearly not expecting this turn of events. He can’t just show up out of nowhere, save Selena and me, and expect us to let it slide without questioning his intentions.
After a moment of silence, he clears his throat, his voice low and heavy. “Because I killed Alpha Roland’s breeder,” he says.
The room falls silent, and the only sound is the pounding of our hearts.
The atmosphere feels suffocating, as if the revelation has stolen all the oxygen, making it hard to breathe.
I stare at my father, trying to process what he just said. Did he kill Alpha Roland’s breeder?
Amelia’s voice snaps me back to reality “You… you killed her?” she whispers, her voice barely audible. I see her hands trembling slightly.
My father nods slowly, his face etched with guilt. “It was an accident,” he explains, but you could tell that he regrets it.
Selena places a hand on his shoulder. “Drake,” she says softly, “you need to tell Amelia everything. She deserves to know.”
“I was consumed by rage after Selena rejected our bond. My wolf took over, and in my fury, I attacked without thinking. I didn’t realize who she was until it was too late.”
He looks up at Amelia, with remorse in his eyes. “Amelia, I believe you might be her daughter. The resemblance is too strong, and if that’s true, it means you are of Alpha Roland’s bloodline. It explains your werewolf lineage, why you’ve been raised among humans.”
“Now are you telling me that my parents that died weren’t my real parents?” Amelia asks, visibly shaking from all the information.
“No,” my father says gently. “You were hidden to protect you, to keep you safe from those who might use your lineage for their gain.”
Amelia’s eyes fill with tears. “Why now? Why tell me this now?”
Selena steps forward, her voice steady. “Because now, more than ever, you need to know who you are, Amelia. Your heritage could be the key to understanding your place in our world.”
“And one more thing, Ally,” my father’s voice calls out, causing my heart to race faster than usual. A wave of dread washes over me, and I fear what he might say next.