Chapter 52 #2
Jessica’s feet touch the floor. The swirling wind dies. Regret crosses her features as she surveys the room. She steps back, shaking her head. Choking back a sob, she runs out the door.
I move to follow her. With every new situation, a new magic power emerges, and with each new power, she always freaks out, panicked that she will accidentally hurt someone.
“Luke, stop.” I brace myself on the frame of the door. “Let her be. She needs time to find her bearings,” my father says.
Anders approaches my father. “Are you okay?”
He waves him off, and they both laugh. Did I miss something? My brothers turn to each other, confusion etched in their faces. Glad to know I’m not the only one out of the joke.
Jeremy elbows Justin. “I think she broke them,” he mutters. Justin nods, eyes still wide as Anders and my father chuckle.
My mother wraps her arms around herself. “Did you have to push her so hard?” she asks.
My father sighs. “I know you didn’t like it, sweetheart. It was hard for me, too.” She curls into his lap, and he rests his head against hers.
Anders uprights a chair and drops into it, blowing out a long breath. Running his hand through his hair, he finally speaks. “She knocked you on your ass. I don’t know if I am proud as hell… or terrified.”
Jeremy grumbles, “I hate it when you three talk in code.”
Justin sits next to Jeremy. “What the hell is so funny?” Warily, I take the seat opposite everyone. My parents watch Anders, waiting for him to answer.
“I needed to test her,” my father admits.
“We knew she was always a natural Alpha, but your mother felt there was more to Jessica than just inherited Alpha powers and white wolf magic. To test that theory, I took advantage of her heightened emotional state.” He shakes his head, smirking.
“But I didn’t expect that.” My mother mirrors his smile.
I clear my throat. “I don’t understand. What the hell did she do?”
“I told you. A mother knows her child,” my mother declares.
“I’m her fucking biological father, and I didn’t see that coming.” Anders runs a hand through his hair.
“Can you three please get to the damn point!” Justin bellows.
“Yeah, I’m not getting any younger here,” Jeremy chimes in.
“Only a true royal-blooded Alpha can challenge another royal-blooded Alpha, and a young one barely of age just knocked the Alpha King on his ass,” my mother answers proudly.
My head snaps up, and I make eye contact with my father. He smiles and nods.
“That doesn’t make sense. Jessica is adopted,” Jeremy mumbles.
“Think about it!” I snap. I watch him intently and wait for realization to strike.
The twins both bolt upright and, in unison, exclaim, “She’s the prophecy!”
“Alpha Agnus, Jessica’s biological great-grandmother, is of the original white wolf bloodline.
This whole time, I thought she acquired her title from her mate, who passed away.
This entire time, she was the true owner of Territory Seven.
She was never just any white wolf species.
She would have been the queen, if she hadn’t hidden her true identity,” I explain.
“If Alpha Agnus was supposed to be the true queen, doesn’t that make Anders the rightful king?” Justin asks.
Anders shakes his head. “The history books omitted the fact that the original White Wolf Alpha was a female. Only the women in my family line hold the title of queen and are born with that kind of powerful magic. But not every female…” He trails off and rubs his forehead.
“Not every female has that kind of power. We were not the line of the direct queen.”
Jeremy frowns. “I don’t follow.”
My father clarifies, “Alpha Agnus’s mother wasn’t the trueborn Alpha Queen. It was supposed to be her older sister, who allegedly was murdered or executed, depending on who tells the story.”
“So, your family line of three, maybe four, generations of women never possessed the true Alpha Queen’s powers until now?” I ask.
Anders gazes out the window. “Yes.”
“The original queen’s declarations are coming to fruition,” my father says softly. Anders nods his concurrence.
“Declarations?” Justin prompts.
“On the day of her death, she declared that she would return to take her rightful place as queen and seek revenge for being wronged, for her kind from being wronged. A few decades later, the great war happened. Some say the Resistance grew scared and was determined to kill every female in the royal bloodline. Then, the prophecy came to light, and they began the white hunt,” my mother explains.
Silence settles over us as we ponder this new revelation.
“Holy crap, Luke. Looks like you’re out of a job,” Jeremy snickers.
Our bloodline was only meant to hold this space as royals temporarily. I’m not sure how or when that agreement was made, but it’s why the secret of the true ruler of Territory Seven was kept in our family.
My Jessica is the rightful queen, a true Alpha Princess.
I should be angry, considering I have been groomed and prepared for the position of Alpha King my entire life.
I push my tongue up against the roof of my mouth, tasting this new reality.
A slow smile forms because it is not bitter at all.
I never really wanted the title, and the idea of being free of it thrills me.
“Jessica is the rightful ruler of the entire Luna Solar territory, the true Alpha Queen,” I announce to the group.
Anders nods and whispers, “If history doesn’t repeat itself.”