Chapter 4: Truth

Lacey tried to calm her nerves as she slipped into her beige dress, even though it was a hand-m-down, not having enough time to shop for anything new. Then she started on her hair.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. When Lacey opened it, her sister, Marissa, was standing there, one of her six siblings. "Marissa."

Marissa looked Lacey up and down and then plastered a smile on her face. "Well! I'm glad to see that you're putting my old dress to good use."

Lacey lifted her chin, refusing to let her stepsister get under her skin, as usual. Like it or not, this was her Pledging Ceremony and she wasn't going to let anyone ruin it. "It's expected... since today is my Pledging Ceremony, you know. But don't worry...." Lacey patted her arm. "It'll happen for you one day, too."

Marissa, along with her other half-siblings, had treated her horribly over the years, since their father hadn't kept Lacey's paternity a secret. In fact, Thorn had all but encouraged the poor behavior toward her, not only from her siblings, but from the staff, as well.

Marissa's famous fake smile spread across her lips. "Well, at least my pledge won't be a sadistic... cold... cruel Alpha." She sighed, her voice suddenly low. "Also, I hear your Alpha likes it a bit rough, if you know what I mean."

"What are you talking about?" Lacey hadn't been this angry at her sister in years... which was saying something.

Marissa let out an exasperated sigh, enjoying Lacey's reaction a bit too much. "Well, I heard that he is the best, strongest Alpha in the world... the Alpha's Alpha, if you will." A grin spread across her face. "He takes no garbage, no defiance, from anyone." She gave Lacey's hand a squeeze, and a sympathetic look. "And I know how hard it is for you to... obey."

Lacey smiled. "The word's not even in my vocabulary."

"I know." Marissa sighed, feigning sympathy. "Well, I just hope he doesn't break you."

Lacey took a step closer, her smile disappearing. "He should be the one to be worried." Then Lacey took a step back, smoothing her dress as she lifted her chin. "Now. If you don't mind, my pledge is waiting."

Marissa nodded, but her smile was gone as she turned and walked out, without saying another word.

When she was gone, Lacey sighed. One good thing about being pledged so suddenly was that she wouldn't have to put up with the likes of Marissa and her other siblings anymore. And when she ever had children, she would treat them all the same... no matter their paternity. After all, it wasn't her fault that her mother had an affair with another man that resulted in her birth. Why should she be the one to pay for it?

She fixing her hair when there was another knock on the door. Lacey sighed, letting her hands drop to her sides. "Marissa, if you're back to gloat some more, then you may as well leave me alone." Lacey marched toward the door and yanked it open, but her mother was standing in the doorway, not any of her siblings.

"May I come in?" Lacey's mother, Camari, asked, her eyes filled with tears.

Lacey stepped back. "Sure, Mom. What's wrong?" Once she was in the room, Lacey quickly closed the door.

Her mother took her hands, looking into her eyes as tears spilled down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry that you have to do this... that your father treated you this way."

Lacey sighed. "He's not my father. He's made it very clear my whole life."

Camari nodded. "Yes. And that was my fault. I should have stood up to him long ago, told him not to treat you this way. And now, you're being pledged to a man that's worse than him." She swiped a finger under both eyes. "When Julien approached your father about a mate, your father had offered him Marissa, but Julien had insisted upon taking you." She shook her head. "I'm not sure why. Anyway, don't let your guard down around this man. I've heard that he's terrible and cruel. Just be careful. And try to be obedient."

Lacey smiled. "Mom, I'll never be obedient." She pulled her in for a hug and then pulled back to look into her eyes. "If he wanted a lap dog, then he should adopt one. Even though I may not technically be an Alpha's daughter, I am in my heart."

Her mother took a step closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Your real father was an Alpha, too. So yes, you are the daughter of an Alpha." Camari sighed. "Just not the one you thought."

A crease formed between Lacey's eyes. "Who is my real father, then?"

"His name is Arkin Emerson of The Shadow Pack." Her mother smiled. "I'll tell you about him... some other time."

Lacey scoffed. "Why didn't you tell me about him before now? I would have had some place to go besides here." Camari rubbed Lacey's arm, but Lacey pulled away. "Mom, you should have told me—"

"I tried to... hundreds of times," her mother took a step closer, but Lacey stepped away.

Lacey shook her head, unable to believe what she was hearing. "Does he even know about me?"

Camari nodded, smiling through a fresh wave of tears. "Yes, he does."

"Then he's dead to me," Lacey replied, gathering her hair into a messy bun on the top of her head, showing off her long, slender neck. It was getting late and she didn't have much time for anything else.

"Why would you ever say such a thing?" Shock was prominent on her mother's face.

Lacey picked up the bouquet of beige flowers that Julien had sent. "Because he never tried to contact me. All these years, never once." She pulled her mother in for one last hug and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I love you, Mom."

Camari placed a hand on her cheek. "I love you, too, sweetheart. And I'm sorry for having caused you so much pain."

"Mom, I'm not mad. You gave me a life." She kissed her mother's cheek once more and then headed toward the door. "See you downstairs?"

"Yes, of course." Camari nodded, her eyes still misty. "You look beautiful, darling."

Lacey smiled. "Thanks, Mom." Then she walked out the door, headed toward her new life... wondering what it would be.