Chapter 16 - Realization

Erik’s P.O.V

“Alpha please, just take a moment to calm yourself.”

Herman, our pack doctor stood in front of my office’s front door refusing to let me leave. I was more than pissed. How could any child of mine act so… so maliciously? Did her mother never teach her restraint or manners? My nose and jaw had already healed, honestly, it hurt more than my own flesh and blood would attack me.

“Move. Herman.”

I spoke letting the authority of my Alpha blood seep through, only other Alphas could refuse a command. He bowed his head, stepping aside but speaking directly through the mind link.

“Take a moment to think critically please Alpha. She has never met you before, she doesn’t know our life or your intentions.”

I scoffed back at him before closing the mind link. I was still her father and if her mother would not teach her responsibly I would. What on earth had Freya been teaching her? What, did she just let her roam? Or did she teach her to hate me? Did Freya hate me that much? I stormed towards our floor where she should be. Thoughts of chewing out the ungrateful girl had clouded my sight as my mother ran into me. I growled looking at what had once been a beautiful face now covered in wrinkles. Her once bright hazel eyes now dulled.

“Michelle. Why are you here? I told you, you are not welcome on this floor.”

I growled, apprehensive wondering if she was trying to track down Freya to berate her.

“Now son, why do you always take that tone with me?”

She seemed shocked, but she knew very well why.

“You have not been my mother for a long time. A mother is supposed to love and care for her child.”

My voice was venomous as she rolled her eyes at me before patting my shoulder.

“Now stop that. I’m leaving now. I just wanted to see what that whore brought with her.”

The years of anger and hatred built up inside of me from this woman were hard to ignore. I stiffen as Kaelb was ready to explode in anger possibly killing her.

“Don’t you dare call Freya that? She is your Luna.”

“I will call that thing whatever I want, and her disgraceful offspring too.”

She emphasized ‘thing’ while maintaining a sweet tone. I pushed Kaelb down, I would not attack this wretched woman. That’s what she wanted.

“How could you call your granddaughter and future Alpha disgraceful?”

She smirked noticing my clenched fists, knowing she was getting to me.

“Disgusting.”

She shook her finger in my face as one would do to a young child that was being silly. I let Kaelb growl in warning at her as I clenched my teeth.

“Leave.”

She smugly looked at me fanning innocence as Rodrik approached us.

“Alpha, Michelle.”

He greeted both of us, he too was tense knowing just how cruel my mother could be.

“Oh the Alpha is a little upset today Rod, please much sure my boy gets a bit more rest.”

Her tone was sickly sweet, making my stomach turn in disgust. Rodrik grimaced at the pet name she used for him, he hated being called that and she knew it. But he would never say anything to her directly, she had been his Luna once before. His loyalty was strong. He nodded in response to her before looking at me. His eyes were serious, as he said through the pack link “vampires”.

“I’m sorry Michelle, there is urgent business the Alpha needs to attend.”

Rodrik had not broken eye contact as he tried to dismiss my mother.

“Oh that’s fine dear, I was just on my way to see the pups anyway”

I hated that she acted too sweetly to everyone, trying to maintain an image of the perfect mother figure. She was anything but. Selfish, cruel, and almost evil. My pack would never believe such things about her though. Once Freya had left all those years ago I tried to banish her. My pack was horrified. Even after explaining how their new Luna leaving was her fault. She had them convinced everyone it was a mistake on her part. That she was just trying to look out for them. It was horrible knowing the real woman when no one else believed you.

“Alpha… I’m sorry but this is serious. There was an attack last night.”

Rodrik called through the mind link. It was serious indeed for him to not discuss out loud. Another rule I had created when I took over, I hated how my father had only spoken within the mind link. He had always said it was to keep from prying ears as it was always one on one. It took away that feeling of being in a family though, like if humans were to only whisper constantly. I nodded and waited for him to continue. He gave me the same pained look he always did when he was about to say something I would not like.

“They attacked Damon, Alpha Darren’s boy.”

Kaelb and I both groaned before pinching the bridge of my nose. Great. I did not want to see either of them until Sera and I had properly spoken.

“Okay, get me updated”

I responded back to him turning around to go to the guest floor. Kaelb and I mentally preparing for the wrath of Alpha Darren. After all his son was attacked near my land.

After hearing the events from Rodrik we discussed the best way to proceed. A male vampire was dead, a female escaped but what was worrying was that they had a child with them. Vampires could not procreate by breeding normally, only those from ancient bloodlines could. Regular vampires were essentially sterile meaning that they were either extremely powerful vampires near my land or they had changed a human child. Either scenario made my stomach churn.

Rodrik opened the door to the room Alpha Darren was staying in, a familiar smell surprised me. Freya. I stared at her beautiful blue eyes as they locked onto mine. Why was she in here? Kaelb growled jealous of the idea. Alpha Darren chuckled looking in-between us.

“The lovely Luna was keeping us company while we waited for you.”

Freya broke our eye contact glancing at Alpha Darren and his son, who I had only just noticed was passed out on the bed. He looked horrible. He was black and blue.

“Ah, yes my son.”

Alpha Darren’s voice swiftly changed to a serious yet angry tone.

“Herman has already been to see him, it seems they broke his back legs and spine.”

Sighing he looked back at me, allowing a grin to form.

“He will be fine, now we can get down to business!”

I raised my eyebrow looking at Freya confused as I saw her frown as well.

“The vampire attack?”

I asked glancing at Rodrik as he was excusing himself from the room, a look of guilt across his face.

“I’ll sort out the tracking of them”

He mumbled as he closed the door. I looked back at Freya, she sighed putting her face in her hands. Alpha Darren’s wide grin stayed his eyes on mine.

“So… Freya has allowed Damon to court Sera for this week. Due to her upbringing, we think it would be better to allow her to take things slow. But we do need to discuss when the ceremony can take place!”

I stared at Alpha Darren not understanding at first, but then it clicked. Anger seeped from me. Darren either did not notice or care as he continued.

“Plus we need to discuss lands and how the packs will be run in the future. We both have only 1 child so I think it would be best for the packs to become one great big one.”

I opened my mouth to argue, to tell him to stop but he continued.

“Oh and the ceremony itself! Where should we host it? If it’s here I will have to get my pack to begin travel now. Maybe it would be better to have it at my pack?”

“Darren shut up please.”

Freya chimed in, annoyance clear in her voice.

“I came here to confirm my suspicions that Damon is Sera’s, destined mate. Not to plan anything.”

Darren and I looked at her, confusion was evident on his face.

“As I just finished explaining to you, Sera has never experienced anything to do with pack life. She hasn’t even met her wolf yet!”

Darren gasped as I widened my eyes shocked.

“She’s never had a change? Never even met her spirit wolf?”

Kaelb asked just as shocked as me, I could feel his pity towards our daughter.

“Why didn’t you tell me this Freya?”

She looked at me hate clear in her eyes.

“I told you just now. Look. We are here because I don’t know how to help her. I am not here for you.”

Both Kaelb and I were taken aback by her hateful tone, Kaelb whimpered as my heart broke. I sucked it up refusing to let it show on my face. Alpha Darren cleared his throat.

“Well… that changes… well.”

He sat down next to Damon, looking at him with pity.

“That makes this a bit… different.”

He finished, turning to look at me.

“Alpha Erik, I’ll talk to Damon about taking things slow with her. It’s going to be tough as I am sure you understand.”

I looked at the boy with pity in my heart. At that moment I wasn’t thinking about protecting my daughter. Remembering that anger in her punches this morning I honestly feared for him. Sera was not a little girl, I felt regret wash through me. How could I have expected her to react to me any other way? I was a stranger to her.

“Let me call Herman and Cindy.”

I kept my tone formal, not wanting any more hatred to come from Freya. She stiffened before asking,

“Why Cindy?”

“Because I don’t know if it’s her wolf blood or witch blood causing this trouble.”

I looked at her questioningly as her eyes widened. Something clicking in her head.

“Oh no…”

She whispered to herself, confusion and fear clouding her eyes.

“What…”

I started to ask her what was wrong but she bolted from the room, before I could, Darren and I shared a look before I ran after her.