Chapter 4

Kiera

It's dark, that's the first thing I notice as I open my eyes, It's dark and I'm lying on a bed, I try to move but groan as every nerve ending in my body flares in protest.

How did I get here?, I manage to slowly get to a sitting position and I look around the dark room.

It looks like I'm in a room in the Healer's Quarters?

Hmmm what happened? How did I get here? Is my room beside Father's? at the thought of him all the memories start rushing back, me leaving my father to sleep, going to meet Aiden, the maid Gracie coming to deliver the news of my father's death and shortly after that feeling nothing.

I must have fallen unconscious at the news.

No no no this can't be real I shriek, I push the covers away and try to stand but my head starts swimming and my vision gets blurry, I fall to the ground in pain.

"No no Father you can't leave me like this,"I cry in anguish.

"Mother abandoned me and now you too? how can I go on."

I'm still on the floor crying when Adelaide- my childhood friend and the closest thing I have to a sister, rushes in with a tray of what looks like food and some medicine.

She quickly sets the tray down and goes to the window to open the curtains.

"Kiera, kiera O goddess how did you fall,"she says as she gently lifts me to the bed.

"Are you in any pain",she says as she fusses over me and adjusts the covers, her blue eyes filled with concern.

"Addy Addy" I say holding her hands, "I'm fine but answer this question for me before I run mad, is father really gone?"

"K-k-kiera you need to eat something I brought you some breakfast",she says avoiding my gaze.

"Addy" I say in a low tone.

"You've not had anything to eat since yesterday," she protests as she tries to feed me some oats.

"Addy!"

At the sound of my voice she jumps slightly but looks me square in the face and says "Yes! he's dead, Uncle Kanan is gone" After her outburst her face crumples and she bursts into tears.

"Ohh",I reply and collapse onto the pillows, I knew deep down that he was dead and gone but I thought there was a possibility I had misheard Gracie.

"I'm so sorry Kiera, Aunty Ellie had given me strict orders not to tell you anything so you could recover", She says between sniffles and tears.

"It's OK Addy, it's not your fault I say in a gentle tone and wipe her tears with my fingertips, I already knew I just wanted to confirm it, how long have I been out for?"I ask.

"Well, you fainted yesterday afternoon and it's around 10 O'clock in the morning already so for more than 12 hours at least"

"Woww, what's happened since then." I ask eager to know more.

"I'll tell you only if you eat something," she replies with a mischievous smile.

"Fine, I'll eat,"I say as I try to grab the tray from her but the angle is wrong and my arms can't handle the weight and I almost upturn it but luckily Addy saves it just in time.

"Stop being so stubborn K I'll feed you breakfast, just open your mouth and swallow Okay?"

"Okay" I sigh and watch her grab the spoon there's Porridge oats, eggs, French toast, Orange juice and some Bacon on the food tray.

"I can't eat all that it's too much,"I tell her my stomach was already feeling queasy at the sight and smell of the food and I wasn't sure I could keep all that down.

"I'll give you just a little of each don't worry", She says in a patient and cajoling tone.

She feeds me a few spoons of the oats, a few bites of the toast and I take a sip of the juice.

"That's it I'm done I can't take anymore, I say and close my mouth firmly.

She tries to protest but at the obstinate shake of my head she sighs in defeat and gives my medicine. I down the bitter pills with some juice and turn to her, "it's your turn now so spill, what's happened since I fainted?"

" Nothing much has happened actually since you were brought here, we were very scared at first but Aunt Ellie assured us that you'd be fine in no time and that you had just fainted due to shock, the funeral dirge started and the howls lasted all night, everyone is sad and mourning and my dad and Aunt Ellie have been in charge and are trying to keep things running smoothly.

"Is there any talk of who's going to be the next Alpha of the pack?" I ask cautiously.

"That's a no brainer it's going to be Tyres, he's been training for it since he was literally a pup! , she says but at the sight of my expression she falters and asks "or is he not? what's going on Kiera"

I had to tell her at some point, well there's no time like the present.

"Addy", I sigh, "Can you please call Aiden, Uncle Boris and Aunt Eli here? I have something important to discuss with you all."

"Alright, I will be back soon, rest in the meantime," she pats my lap and leaves the room with the tray.

I try to relax and rest as she said but I can't and thoughts of my father keep coming, tears well in my eyes but I push them back.

Now is not the time to cry and mourn but to think of what to do next and to act fast.

I can't believe I forgot tyres was meant to be the next Alpha.

Everything is so complicated, I sigh and shut my eyes to sleep and I manage to sleep for a few minutes before I wake to voices talking in hushed tones and someone gently shaking me awake.

I open my eyes and blink rapidly trying to dispel the fatigue. I look around and find everyone here.

"Shh shh she's awake "Addy says and they all turn to look at me.

Uncle Boris pats my hand, "I'm so sorry child we're all sad and are mourning Kanan."

I look at his face seeing the familiar kind eyes and salt-and-pepper hair and I almost burst into tears again but I manage to control it and I just nod and sit up instead.

Aunt Ellie hurries to my side and holds me,

"Be careful dear you're still recovering" she chides.

"I'm fine, I feel better now," I assure her and I'm being honest, the medicine worked and I'm feeling much better than before, I only have a slight headache but that'll go on its own.

I clear my throat and start speaking,

" I'm sure you all are wondering why I called you here, well it's regarding the vacant Alpha position, I know you all think it should be Tyres and up until yesterday I thought so too but unfortunately it can't be him because there is someone's who is more deserving and has more right.

"Sorry to interrupt you K but who is this more deserving person," Aiden asks with a confused look on his face.

" Dont worry I'll get to that in a minute, so as I was saying there's someone else who has a right to be the Alpha and Uncle Boris, Aunt Elli I'm sure you're both familiar with the name Lumina?"

Aunt Ellie gasps in shock and Uncle Boris' face becomes even sadder if that was posisible.

" Yes we are child," he replies and at Aiden and Addy's confused faces he clarifies,

"She was the former Luna to Alpha Xavier and and a very close friend of mine, we were all devastated by her death, most especially Kanan he still blamed himself for her death even after almost 20 years."

"What if I tell you she didn't die but she gave birth to a son and that he's the rightful heir?"

"Really! Wow! that is very good news I was so sad that Xavier's bloodline died out in such a miserable way but hearing this news has made me very happy child", he replies looking truly happy and joyful at the news.

Aunty Elith on the other hand looks gobsmacked and she's mumbling to herself "she can't be alive, Lumina is dead, she must be dead, I made sure of it".

"What !" I exclaim as I turn to face her "you made sure of it?"

"No no dear that's not what I said, You misheard me I meant to say I'm sure she died we haven't heard from her in ages,what's all this about a lost heir and that Tyres can't be the Alpha , where did you get this information Huh?

"Well Father himself told me yesterday that Lumina didn't die and that she left pregnant with her son and that he promised to find her and bring her back here and make him the Alpha.

"Then why didn't he tell us from the start then , why now after all these years? Addy asks in a bewildered tone.

"He promised her that he would not reveal her secret until her son was of age and I guess he'll be 19 very soon, so that's why he just told me now."

"Does that answer all your questions? Anyways the second reason I called you all here was to tell you I plan on going to bring him back to the pack very soon and that you should prepare for his arrival."

"What! So soon?" Addy exclaims.

"Do you plan on going there alone?" this is from Aiden.

"Yes it's going to be much faster and easier to do it alone and to answer your question Addy, I have to go there now because like I said he'll soon be 19 and will undergo change anytime and it could be very dangerous to the humans around him.

"Well I can't let you do that!" Aunt Ellie says in her firm no nonsense tone that usually was enough to scare me into submission.

But it's different now, Father entrusted this mission to me as his dying wish and I can't disappoint him.

I look her square in the face and tell her, "I'm not asking your permission Aunt Ellie, I'm just informing you of my plans out of courtesy not for permission. Father trusted me to bring him back and that's what I'm going to do with or without your consent". I maintain the eye contact and don't turn away and she finally relents and turns to Uncle Boris for help.

"Please talk to her, this is too dangerous and unnecessary, convince her to let him stay where he is and allow Tyres become the Alpha as planned, this would affect so many lives," she pleads wringing her hands in distress, her face scrunched up with worry and looking at her with her child-like features, she resembled a child begging for a treat and not the Powerful Healer she is.

"Yes Dad Tell her to stop being stubborn, it's too dangerous, you know she listens to you, pleaseee Dad," Addy also joins Aunt Ellie in begging Uncle Boris.

I roll my eyes at their theatrics and look at Uncle Boris who had been silent all this while, he watches me with a piercing gaze that makes me shiver while stroking his full beard and he finally breaks his silence by asking,

"Are you absolutely certain about this, child?"

"Y..Y..Yes I am Uncle, It was Father's dying wish to -"

"Yes..Yes I know, for you to bring him back and all that, but that's not what I'm asking, are you sure you can find him and get back here safely? And where exactly are you going to find Lumina and her son."

" Well Father said she had told him she was heading to California as it's one of the biggest werewolf settlements outside our Ranch, so I'll start my search there, I'll be fine, I'm feeling much better and it won't take me long to find him."

"You're safety is my priority right now and the only way I'd allow you to go on this mission is if you went with Aiden." He says, and from the tone I can tell he will not change his mind.

"What are you saying Boris!?" Auntie Ellie exclaims.

"Dad?" Addy looks like she has more to say but at the sight of her Father's face she swallows it down.

"No buts from anyone and as the Beta of this pack I've made my decision, Are we clear!"He says in a tone that he rarely used except when he wants to exercise his authority. He turns to me and says in a gentler tone, "that's the only way I would allow you leave this Pack, if not forget about it someone else would go"

"Fine, Aiden can come with me", I reply. The faster I agree the sooner we can leave.

"Okay, since that's sorted we'll leave you to rest and recuperate, we still have a lot to do, goodbye child" he says and smiles at me warmly. He reminds me so much of my Father that it's too painful to look at him and I avert my eyes.

"Fine I'll leave, I don't want to be a part of this madness anyways!" Auntie Ellie shouts and storms out of the room.

Uncle Boris stands up from his chair and ushers the rest of them out, Addy protests but he gently pushes her out.

Aiden is the last to leave and he gives my hand a gentle squeeze and says," Let me know when you're ready to leave, I pack light so I'm always prepared."

" I will send a message, Thank you Aiden". And I mean it, Aiden coming too would be a great help as he's a better hunter and has sharper instincts than I do.

"It's alright K no need to thank me, we're family remember, Get some rest and don't forget to send a message."

I nod my head in assent and he leaves and I'm finally alone.

I take a deep breath, exhale slowly and finally relax my tense shoulders. I adjust the covers and turn to my side to sleep.

I try to fall asleep but my mind keeps drifting to Lumina and her son, I wonder what they are like?, he's almost 19 so he's just a year older than I am,Is he cocky and arrogant because he's the heir, are they even still alive, Did she remarry and settle down, Does he even know about The Silver Tooth Pack?

Well I guess I'll have to find them first to get my answers.