Chapter Fifty-Five
Ispent three hours sorting through the papers in the box.
My mind was full of codes of line and the random scribbled ideas that Rick had while building the security system.
I groaned when my alarm went off. I was nowhere near done sorting through everything and I had zero clue what I was even looking for.
I sat back on my heels and sighed. I jumped up from my bed and ran downstairs to grab a drink when there was a knock at the door.
I glanced at the time and saw I had three minutes to get back to my room for the call.
The knock sounded again, louder, impatient, and annoying.
I sighed as I made my way to the front door.
I opened it to see Brandon standing there with a basket of food and flower.
“Hello…” I stood in the doorway as he took a step to come in. “Brandon, what are you doing here?”
He smiled and tried to shove the flowers into my hands. “Hey baby, I came for dinner. I brought everything for us to have a picnic under the stars.” Something felt off.
I looked down at my watch and saw I was due upstairs in two minutes. “I told you today I had a call at nine and you wait until now to come here?” I raised my eyebrow. “For dinner?”
His smile grew a little tighter. “I forgot you had a call later. Can’t you reschedule?”
I sighed and crossed my arms as I leaned against the door frame.
“No, Brandon, I can’t reschedule. I’ve had this planned for weeks now, and I can’t back out a minute before the call because my boyfriend wants to have dinner under the stars.
” I looked at him. “Plus, I already told you, everything is off until you can figure out what to do about Shannon. Everyone is still talking about your mating ceremony in two weeks. Not ours. Yours.” I stepped back, but he jumped to the door frame.
“Brandon.” I nearly growled and lost my fucking mind. But I held back.
We can kill him in two weeks. Just hold it together. Megan’s tone was so dismissive, I nearly laughed.
“Amy please. I’m doing my best, it’s just going to take time.” He grabbed the door, trying to step into the house, and I caught a scent I recognized, but couldn’t place.
“I know you are, but I can’t allow your reputation to take another hit. I already explained it to your dad.” I grabbed the door and held it so that he couldn’t get past me. I heard the distant call from my computer screen of an incoming call. “I appreciate the picnic, but I have to go.”
“Wait!” He slammed his body into the door, crowding me and blocking my way from closing the door.
“Can’t I come in? I want to spend the night with you.
” He leaned in to me and drew in a sniff.
“You smelled fantastic today. Is that strawberry?” He tried to kiss me and I gave him a light peck before the chime from my computer went off again.
I pushed him back out the door. “I have to go. And I already told you, I’m saving myself for our mating ceremony.
So no, you can’t stay the night.” I grabbed the door as I looked across the street to see someone from the pack watching us.
“Look at Mrs. Cleroux. She is watching us and definitely judging us.” Which was true, but she judged everyone.
“Everyone is expecting you to mate Shannon now. And to keep your reputation, you should.” I looked sad.
“She loves you.” He opened his mouth. “I love you too. And I love you enough to want you to be happy with your decision. You keep rushing to me, telling me you want to be with me. But have you actually considered it? If she is what makes you happy, then be with Shannon. I won’t get in the way.
But if you want to be with me, you have to make it very clear to Shannon without being cruel. ”
“I understand.” He looked away.
“Do you? Because yet again here you are, rushing to convince me you want to be with me. But obviously, you haven’t spoken to Shannon since the pack still thinks you are together again.
” I gestured to Mrs. Cleroux, who was still staring at us.
“I don’t know why I have to keep repeating myself.
I deserve respect.” I heard the video call chime again and now I was getting angry.
“You keep acting like flowers, food, wine, or whatever else you have will solve everything, but it won’t.
The only thing that will solve all of our issues is if you actually take the time and deal with your feelings.
Shannon’s rumors, and figure out who you want to be with.
I refuse to share my mate. I refuse to be the other woman.
” Then I slammed the door in his face and locked it.
I went back to the stairs and hurried to my room. Then I jumped onto my bed, pulling my laptop onto my lap. I hit answer, then next time the call rang through. The screen lit up with my father’s face, one I haven’t seen in years, and I felt the tears jump to my eyes.
“Daddy.” I smiled. “I’ve missed you so much.” I wanted to be on the other side of the screen in his arms. I felt my breathing stop for a second as his face broke into a smile.
“I’ve missed you too, baby girl.” A black box jumped into the call. “Thoth. Happy you could join us.” He smirked.
A deep voice chuckled, but it was warped. “I was here exactly at nine, but someone was late.” I couldn’t see his face, but I knew he was staring at me. “Why were you late?”
“Brandon.” All three of us growled.
“Why was he there?” Thoth questioned.
I rolled my eyes. “He came with flowers and a picnic. Said he wanted to ‘have dinner’ when in reality all he wanted to do was keep me from this call.” I sighed as I sat back. I pulled my computer with me and put it on the lap table top I had.
“You told him we were having this call?” I snorted at Thoth’s accusation.
“I’m not stupid.” I shook my head and sighed. “Before I jump into everything. I need to really lay everything out.”
“Sure baby girl.” My dad got up and shut a door. Then I heard him cast a silence spell. Nothing I said was going to get out. I looked at Thoth’s dark screen.
His voice came out warped and confusing to my ears. “I’m in the safe room you made me Gav.”
My dad nodded. “He’s in a safe space. No one will hear us. What about you?” He looked at me and I raise my brow.
“I’m talking to you, who’s supposed to be dead. I already made sure I was safe.” He snorted out a laugh.
“What’s on your mind, pup?” My father settled back into his chair like he always did when I needed to talk to him. The simple gesture made tears spring to my eyes.
“Goddess, I miss you, daddy.” My voice wavered and my dad looked away for a second.
“I miss you too, pretty girl. Soon.” He nodded and then gestured for me to continue.
I took a deep breath and then leveled him with a look. “I know Thoth is your friend, and I want to clarify this before I put my foot in my mouth. Thoth, I consider you a close friend, but since I have never seen you in person, I need to ask this.”
Thoth chuckled, and my lower belly clenched. Even with his voice being warped, it was enticing. “I understand.”
“Okay.” I turned back to my dad. “Do you trust Thoth? And I mean really trust him, because I have secrets I have to tell you. And he’s obviously going to hear everything I’m about to say.”
My dad paused, and I could see that he was thinking about it. Thoth cleared his throat and my dad smiled. “Yeah baby I do. I might not always like the man, but I trust him. He’s good.” His eyes shifted to my face. “What do you have to tell us?”
I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “How much do you know about mom’s family?”
My dad’s smile dropped away. “Enough.” He was defensive, but I waved him off.
“I wasn’t asking to get your back up. I honestly want to know.” I leaned into the screen. “It doesn’t matter.” I waved my hands.
My dad sighed. “Your mother talked about her mom at the cabin. I knew who her father was, his pack, but her mother’s line was more elusive.” His eyes met mine. “Why?”
I smiled. “Because…I have two wolves.” There was silence for a moment.
“What are you talking about?” He sat up.
I scratched the back of my neck. “Well…”
“That’s impossible.” Thoth cut in. His disbelief was easy to hear.
“But it is.” I pushed the laptop back and angled it to the side of my bed. My father leaned in.
“What are you doing?” He tried to get closer, and I chuckled.
“This.” I shifted into Nix. Her black fur shifted to a dark blue in my light of my lamp.
“Hello.” Her voice was strong, filled with power. Her golden eyes flashed as she leaned into the camera. “I’ve missed you.”
My dad’s eyes flashed to Loki’s. “I have missed you, pup.”
She tilted her head, and then we shifted again.
Our huge form shrinking into a normal sized wolf.
Grey and brown fur shone in the light. Grey eyes stared back at the screen.
“Hello. I’m Megan.” Her voice was softer, but held the edge.
“I’m Amy’s wolf and even though you never knew me.
I loved and missed you, father.” Her voice held a bit of hope.
Loki stared back at her, and his eyes softened. “I have neglected you, pup. When I see you again, I will rectify that.” He retreated. My father’s voice filled the screen. “Hello pup. If you’re Amy’s wolf, then who is Nix?”
Megan retreated, and Nix came back. She shook her black fur and smiled as she stretched out. “I’m her Lycan.”
“LYCAN!” My father surged to his feet and there was a thud that came from Thoth’s side.
Nix stood there in all her glory. “Did you not find it weird that I was almost twice the size of a normal wolf?”
My dad bent at his waist to look at the camera. “You’re my pup and you’re strong. I expected you to be big.” I shifted back to my body. His eyes widened, and he pointed a finger. “How did I never notice you keep your clothes? What the hell.”
I laughed. “It’s a Lycan thing. It has nothing to do with power, or strength, like we were led to believe.” I sat back down and pulled the laptop to my lap. My father dropped into the chair. “Are you okay?”
“Wait…” His eyes grew hazy for a minute. “You get your witch’s power from me, and your Lycan power from your mother?” His eyes snapped to mine and I nodded. “Son of a biscuit. That’s why she never told me.”
“What, why?” I was confused.
My dad sat back. “The same reason my mom never told my dad that her line was the first family. He was obsessed with that stuff. My grandmother had a dalliance with a wolf and had my father. But she raised him as a witch until his wolf showed up. But he was a lone wolf, technically. My mom’s pack was Silvermoon.
Her father commanded her to keep it a secret from my father, said he was untrustworthy to know the truth. My grandmother agreed.”
“Really?” I leaned down and put my head on my fist. I glanced at Thoth’s black screen and realized I hated that I didn’t get to see his face. “Why?”
“Because she said she saw something growing in my dad. Something she didn’t like. My mom was a cool woman, but she loved me in her way. But my father, he was something else.” He shook his head. “But it doesn’t matter.” He shook himself. “He’s dead. Good riddance.”
I gave my father a sad smile. “Thankfully, you grew to be nothing like him.”
He smiled back at me. “My grandmother taught me how to love properly. You have her to thank for making me the loveable man you know and love.” We both laughed.
Thoth finally spoke up. “You are a wolf, witch, and Lycan hybrid?”
I thought for a minute, then nodded. “But it is more than that.”
Thoth sighed. “How?”
I sat back. “So. My wolf is a direct descendant of the first family, and my witch’s line comes from the oldest in the area. Actually.” I closed my eyes and remembered the memory. “The first family of wolves was created by the son of the witch.”
“What?” My dad cut in.
“Grandma’s witch's line is traced back to an ancient line that lived in the woods. There was a mother and a son. She raised him to take her place worshipping the three faced Goddess. But he was attacked by my wolves, the animals protected by the MMoon Goddess. The wolves confused him for another and attacked, nearly killing him. The witch prayed for her Goddess to save him, but she refused. The MMoon Goddess granted him the shift as a repayment. His life was saved, but forever changed. So our witch’s line, and our wolfs line have been intertwined since the beginning.
But my Lycan line…” My eyes snapped open.
“Is descended from the Goddess herself.”
Thoth huffed out a breath. “All Lycans descended from the Goddess.”
I nodded. “The first Lycan was born from her blood. But my family was born from her flesh.”
“That’s impossible.” Thoth cut in.
I lifted a brow. “Do you know how lycans came to be?”
“Yes…do you?” Thoth sounded skeptical. “The actual story, not the bullshit that was taught in school.”
“When the Goddess was young, she saw a man in a mountain who was dying. But she was trapped in the night sky. He prayed to the moon in the sky the last thing he could see, and she felt for him. She cut herself and allowed her blood to drip into his mouth, transforming him. Her blood changed him into the first Lycan.”
“Yeah.” I heard him reposition himself. “That’s actually right. But where did you hear the story from?”
“The Goddess.” I shrugged. “And she didn’t tell me.
She showed me.” I sat back. “She told me later about how my line came to be.” I picked at my nail bed.
“When the Goddess was finally strong enough to leave the sky, she came down and fell in love with one descendant of the first Lycan. She became his wife, had his pups, and then he betrayed her with another Lycan. She retreated to the sky and watched over her children. The ones she created and the ones she bore.”