Her True Identity

[Tatiana’s POV]

The sun is setting by the time the car I’m currently in stops in front of a large mansion with a black fence with barbed wire on it to keep whoever lives there in and those who aren’t welcome out.

A shiver races down my spine as the man who had bought me gets out of the car and comes around to my side. As he opens the door, I scurry to the other side and watch with wide eyes as he leans over and stares at me.

"You don’t have to be afraid," Giovani announces gently. "I am not going to hurt you."

Not hurt me? How could he say such a thing and expect me to believe it after he branded me with his mark and bought me? What the hell else did he intend to do?

"Please, once you come inside, everything will be explained," he continues when I don’t move. "There’s a lot you don’t know," he sighs. "And a lot to be made up for."

Frowning, I feel something in me twitch, just like when this man first approached me. Something in me felt like maybe he could be trusted, but that something was very tiny, and I didn’t have a death wish.

"I’d rather not have to fetch you by force," he continues, clearly growing impatient with my act. "I think it would make things better all around if you came of your own accord."

Slowly, I find myself realizing that whether I fought it or not, I would end up being taken, and he was right. If I went on my own, force wouldn’t be needed.

"Alright," I whisper, beginning to crawl across the seat. "But remember your word."

"Of course," he beams. "If anything, I am a man of my word."

Nodding, I climb out of the car and begin to follow the man up the long trail to the gates, where he stops and begins to search his pocket. Soon he produces a key, shoves it into the lock, and twists it so it unlatches with a clang.

"You can’t ever be too cautious in our world," he explains, pulling one side of the gate so it slides open, allowing us access.

His world? Did he mean the world of the wolves, or was he referring to something more? I didn’t know, and I didn’t dare ask. So I simply nodded and waited as he locked the gate again and then continued leading the way into the mansion.

Inside, dazzling light attacks my eyes. Blinking a few times, I take in the space around me and feel my eyes grow wide as a single portrait of a young girl with wild red hair and silver eyes stares at me.

With confusion growing, I turn and examine Giovani who is watching me expectantly.

"Do you recognize her?" he asks.

"She’s…" I begin, still not fully able to make sense of this. "Who is she?"

"You," he announces. "At least, the you that you were when you disappeared from here you were so young that you probably don’t remember, but we’ve been searching for you every day since then."

I don’t speak or respond as my heart begins to pound in my chest and my head spins. What exactly was going on here?

"Did you…"

"Know it was you when I bid for you?" He finishes for me. "I did. I received an anonymous hint, and in the end it came out to be true, but I couldn’t simply storm up into Hunters Moon and take you, as it would do you more harm than good. As the daughter of the Don of the Onyx River pack, there are many out there vying to find you."

"Onyx River?" I repeat, raising a brow. "Isn’t that…"

"That’s correct," he responds. "One of the strongest syndicates to exist, and you are the future heir of it," he continues. "And as such, that makes you my niece."

Still unable to fully believe any of this was real, I turn and take in Giovani again and find that his eyes and even his features somewhat resemble mine.

"Then my parents," I whisper. "Where are they?"

"Your father passed away shortly after your disappearance, and I have been in charge of taking care of the pack and the syndicate until you came back to take over."

"And my mother?" I ask, feeling my heart constrict painfully over knowing I’d never be able to meet the man who helped create me. "Where is she?"

"She killed herself after your fathers death."

"So neither of my parents are alive," I murmur.

Knowing this leaves an ache in my heart since I now know that they died without knowing what truly happened to their child.

"Could you tell me how it happened?" I ask, turning my full attention to my uncle. "How I ended up disappearing, I mean."

"Of course, but first, allow me to show you around."

"Alright."

Beaming, Giovani begins to move, leading me further into the mansion and toward a large staircase that sits in the middle of the building itself.

When we reach, he heads upstairs and then leads me to a room to the right. After opening the door, he steps aside and motions for me to enter.

For a moment, I don’t move, but after he gives a reassuring smile, I slowly enter and then feel shock rush through me.

In front of me sits a large bed with a white billowy canopy, a blood-red blanket, and pillows. A few dolls rest against the pillows, along with a teddy bear that looks like it hasn’t been touched in years.

To the side is a nightstand with star stickers attached to it. A single lamp sits atop it, as does a small diary, but the thing that keeps my attention is a single photo that sits beside the diary and the three people that smile brightly in it.

Moving a little closer, I take in the man and woman and the small girl that sits in the man's arms. I didn't need to ask who they were as I knew that it was my parents and I.

Feeling my heart squeeze, I tear my gaze away so that I can keep from breaking down.

As I let my eyes continue to take everything in, I start to get a feeling of nostalgia as I continue to look around taking in the fuzzy white carpet and a desk that has books and weapons sitting on it. 

Stepping further in, I head to the closet and yank it open to take in the dresses and suits that rest within. All are tiny and wouldn’t fit me now, but I just knew they were mine from when I was a child, and this place that I was being shown was my room.

"Your father couldn’t bear to touch it until you returned," Giovani explains. "Now that you’re back, you’re more than welcome to style it to your own taste."

"Rather than that," I begin, not being able to bear the thought of changing the place so soon since it held so many clues toward who I was before I ended up in that cage. "Is there possibly another room I could use instead?"

"Of course," he responds. "I’ll show you to it, and once you’ve given the servants your requests for it, I will answer any and all questions you may have."

"Thanks," I respond, trying to force a smile. "Then please show the way."