Angelina’s POV:
“Oh my, you are up early,” my mother said when she entered the kitchen in her wheelchair.
“Yep, I rarely oversleep,” I answered, then kept quiet, thinking back on my encounter with Roxanne.
Was she hot? Totally! Was she my type? Obviously.
I was a full-on lesbian, or at least that’s what I thought. Although I had no interest in men, that didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate a good-looking one.
I cared more for women because of the level of understanding we shared. Not only did they treat me like a queen, but our bond was top-level. We shared a lot of things in common and spent most of our time in peace. I felt for them hard and held on even harder. No one in my pack knew about my preference, and I was planning to keep it that way. My mother and father would not only flip, but they would force me out of the pack with their words.
As much as I feared them, I just couldn’t control myself. I was so scared of hurting their feelings, but at the same time, I hated pretending to be someone else.
During those years I was in human territory, I dated a few women and worked extra hard to live up to my parents’ expectations. Now that I was back home, I was trying to show them my skills and have them praise me.
“Sooner or later, you will have to tell them. You can’t hide your preference forever,” my wolf whispered.
She was so happy about the fact that I was back in the pack, and she felt and knew how scared I was about coming out of the closet. My wolf was full-time bisexual, but she preferred men to women, mostly because (according to her) men handled their shit and emotions better than women.
I completely disagreed with that, but I chose to respect her views as she did mine. In all our years, we had only allowed one man to be with us, and that was when I first entered human college. He was a vampire, but he was so sweet and nice, so why wouldn’t I give him my virgin self on a plate? But after I did that, the dude thought we were dating, and it became so troublesome that I had to change my college and number.
In that new college, I learned about my feelings and how comfortable I was around women. Since then, I had never been with any man and I preferred to keep it that way forever.
“Honey, is there something you want to tell me?” my mother asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Something, like what?” I asked as I tried hard to compose myself.
My heart was beating rapidly, and my throat was dry. Sweat was beginning to form on my forehead, and my hands were slightly shaking.
“You look so deep in thought. Are you perhaps still angry at your cousin for saying those mean words at the pack house?” she asked as I sighed in relief.
“Of course not. It was actually fun hearing her say that,” I answered, then frowned deeply upon remembering something I had noticed.
“Mother, I don’t know if this will sound strange to you, but…” I trailed off and went down to one knee, facing her on the wheelchair.
“Something isn’t right with Roxanne,” I said as she widened her eyes.
“What do you mean?” she asked in concern.
I stood up and moved my hand to my waist.
“Ever since I started learning about medicine, herbs, and the human body, my healer abilities have increased greatly. It doesn’t matter if it’s one’s scent or another, I can easily pick it up if they are hanging out with powerful supernatural beings or dangerous ones. Roxanne did give off a strong aura of dominance because she is an Alpha queen, but beneath all that, there was a different aura I have never come across. It was so strong, like she was in contact with a powerful supernatural being,” I answered.
She sighed softly, then smiled.
“That’s because she is,” she answered, surprising me.
“Mother, what do you mean?” I asked seriously.
“I didn’t want to be the one to tell you this, but your cousin is already mated,” she said as I folded my arms.
“What?” I asked, so she could repeat her words.
“Roxanne already has a mate, and he is in this pack with her,” she answered.
I quickly turned and turned off the stove, then looked back at her.
“Are you serious?” I asked loudly.
“I am, dear,” she answered calmly.
“Wait, is her mate an Alpha king?” I asked because the aura on her was stronger.
“No, dear. Her mate is a hybrid,” she answered simply.
“A what?” I asked louder.
“A hybrid,” she repeated.
“A hybrid of what? What exactly is he?” I asked seriously.
“He is half vampire and half lycan,” she answered as I widened my eyes in disbelief.
Vampires were our mortal enemies by instinct.
What the hell was going on in my absence? Was it the moon goddess’s way of punishing Uncle Ian for his past behaviors?
“Mother, vampires are our mortal enemies by instinct. Yes, I agree not all vampires are bad because Aunt Samantha is kind as well as hot, but that doesn’t mean all are. Come on!” I exclaimed.
“I know what you mean, and believe me when I say we were uncomfortable around him. But then your cousin’s heart lies with him. She’s so madly in love with him that she is willing to give it all up for him,” she answered as I brushed my hand through my hair.
“You’re joking, right?” I asked.
“I don’t joke about such things, kid. By now, you should know that,” she answered.
I moved to the kitchen table and weakly sat down on a chair.
“Was he sired when he was already a lycan?” I asked, without looking at her.
“No, he was born from an elder vampire and a lycan,” she answered, shocking me.
“Mother, do you even realize that he could take down half of our pack single-handedly?” I asked.
“I know, dear, but there is nothing we can do. Moreover, Amelia and Ian have welcomed him wholeheartedly into our pack. In the next few days, they will be going to ambush the coven with him,” she answered, confusing me.
“Mother, what exactly are you saying?” I asked.
“Where do I start?” she whispered to herself, then rolled her wheelchair closer to where I was.
“I guess I’ll start with the party that was being held by Felix. Tamara had just turned sixteen, and we were all happy to attend the party and wish her well,” she began and went on to tell me the whole story that not only shocked me but was also very hard to swallow.