CHAPTER 3

“Mom and dad are going to kill us” Peter says. As he paces the living room in agitation.

“Do you think we broke her?” Camilla asks. “Is she dead? I don’t think she is but she’s unconscious”

“I checked the internet and it says she fainted, that's something humans do” Peter responds.

Afew seconds pass and I feel water droplets fall on my skin and then slowly but surely consciousness finds me again. I blink up at Camilla who looks completely and utterly relieved that I am alive.

“Jessica, are you okay?” she asks.

“I'm fine I think” I say turning to look at Peter he’s wearing shorts now. I remember him transforming into a wolf out of the blue, and slowly everything they told me starts coming back and I lean against a wall.

“So you guys are really werewolves” I say. “How is this even possible”

“Everything’s possible Jes”

“So if you guys are werewolves what does that make me?” I ask more confused than I have ever been.

Peter and Camilla share a look. “We’re not exactly sure”

Huh, I don’t even know what to say to that statement. I'm practically speechless which isn’t something I have ever been before. I look at the twins once more. I have so many questions but one seems to be at the forefront.

“What about my parents?”

Camila sighs, “Your dad was a werewolf, but your mom was human”

More secrets. Even from the afterlife they have ways of screwing me over.

“It’s one of the reasons he left the pack”

I look at Camilla with confusion. “My dad left because my moms human but that’s preposterous”

Camilla looks like she wants to say more but she doesn't; she just closes her mouth and shakes her head.

“There’s a lot to unpack if I’m being honest, and I don’t think this is the right time besides you must be tired and you have the eulogy to give tomorrow” Camilla says, as she gets up and pulls me to my feet.

“Cam’s right you should get some rest” Peter adds.

I want to argue with them. I want to shout at them and make them tell me everything but from the looks on their faces I have a feeling that it would all be futile if they've told me enough as it is. And as much as I’d like to argue I don’t think that will be possible.

I sigh and walk up the stairs to my designated room and get ready to bed. A million thoughts swirl through my mind. I don't even know how I’m going to survive all of this if I’m being honest with myself but I just breathe and try to accept it. It’s going to be fine. I say to myself. And I pray it’s enough because it seems as though my life turns even more upside down whenever I think it can’t.

***

The morning of my parents funeral comes quicker than I had anticipated. It’s crazy how death affects us all, no matter how horrible a person was to you, there’s a little part of your heart that clenches when ever you realize that they’re gone for real.

And all those experiences be it the positive or the negative will never be mimicked or recreated because they’ve been finally cut off.

I never really had a good relationship with my parents but a little part of me feels almost disappointed that I’m never going to see them again.

I shake my head and pick out the outfit my Aunt had laid out for me. It was a long black gown that reached past my knees with a mini lace jacket. I tie my hair up in a pony tail. I feel this urge to pick up my black boots but I fight it and wear the sleek black heels instead.

I have to pay my respects to the dead in someway dont I.

I walk quietly down the stairs to the dinning room, it’s practically empty except for my Aunt.

“Good morning” I say as I take a seat beside her.

She smiles. “Jessica how are you feeling I know today can’t be an easy day for you”

I nod.

“Just listen it’s going to be okay, I understand that Camilla and Peter told you some things last night?”

I nod. “Please tell me they were just trying to prank me badly, and it was all just a big joke”

Aunt Viv smiles whistfully. “I wish I could but it’s not.”

I sigh. “I asked them yesterday if I was one too and they said they didn’t know.”

Aunt Viv nods. “Honestly we don’t know that you are one, it’s because of your parents”

Great another way they ruined my life.

“But Camilla told me you could access the pack link”

“Yeah it was weird I could here you and-“ I pause and look up at her.

Aunt Viv looks reserved. “I’m sorry you heard all that”

“It’s fine you aren’t the first couple that didn’t want me” I smile.

My aunt looks horrified. “Oh my sweet child why would you say that” she then pulls me into a hug that’s meant to be comforting but instead feels awkward and shocking. Is this what a loving parent is supposed to be like?

I let out a strange laugh at that thought.

Aunt Viv breaks the hug and looks at me again, still seeming worried. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“I always am. After all what choice do I have”

My aunt looks like she wants to say something but doesn’t instead she stands, and gets ready to leave. I follow suit.

I wanted to drive my car to the place where the service would be conducted, but my Aunt said it didn’t matter if we all drove together.

It wasn’t a long ride; the pack house was a huge building that resembled a community center.

I stayed behind walking with Camilla as we went to take our seats. There weren’t a lot of people but quite a few strangers came to pay their respects.

“Are they all werewolves?” I asked Camilla.

She nodded. “the pack house is only for wolves”

“Then why am I here?”

Camilla remains silent. I realize that I’m a very sensitive topic, and truthfully I’m not even supposed to be here. Maybe that’s why my parents tried their best to hide me away from this place. I laugh at that thought.

After my uncle speaks to the priest we all sit quietly as the service begins, I see two large urns that have been kept in front, holding my parents dead bodies. It’s crazy how those two are now nothing but ashes.

Ashes that will be spread by me.

The service starts and after a moment I’m asked to give me a eulogy. I give the little excuse of a farewell speech I can.

“Thankyou Jessica, that was beautiful,” The priest says “you may take your seat?”

I nod but just as I’m about to leave the doors to the service open up widely. And a man stands before it, he’s impossibly handsome.

He has thick brown hair that seems to fall down his face in thick waves, and the most gorgeous set of brown eyes I have ever seen.

For a moment I’m breathless as I look into his eyes and then I realize he’s looking directly at me, with an emotion I can’t seem to grasp.

He looks angry but beyond that anger there seems to be something else. Recognition, but this isn’t a recognition like any other ancient primal.

His eyes darken as he looks at me and then he lets out a soft growl.

The room falls into a distinct silence, with nothing but the pulsing tension of our gaze.

Without warning a voice speaks in my head and then the words fall from my lips in unison with his.

“Mate”

The hall quickly erupts in a series of whispers as I’m brought back to reality.

The man walks quickly and goes to my uncle.

“Beta Coleman” His strong voice thunders, “I thought I told you that your brother and his progeny are not to be accepted back into the pack”

“Chris he’s dead and-”

“It’s Alpha Beck” The man says haughtily.

I quickly take the mental note to not like this asshole, seriously who he thinks he is.

“Alpha Beck apologies” My uncle concedes and I look at him incredulously.

“Trust me I am going to handle it”

Alpha Beck still looks unconvinced.

“You better fix it”

“Don’t talk to him like that” I say without thinking. “Didn’t anyone teach you about manners?”

The room goes silent and the blood drains from my uncle's face as Alpha Beck slowly turns to look at me.

“Is she a wolf?” He asks as he moves to stand dangerously close to me.

No one answers.

Then he looks at me, this time more fiercely.

“Answer me, is she a wolf?” He asks louder this time.

“We don’t know yet,” My aunt Vivian says.

He scoffs. “This must be one of your tricks then”

“What the hell are you on about” I respond angrily and he looks shocked then he shakes his head.

And makes me leave.

“I want her out of this pack by sunset.” He says and turns to leave.

“You can’t kick out Luna” Camilla says from nowhere.

“I just did, I don't know what witchcraft she has done but she’s not my mate and will never be Luna” he says and then slams the door leaving me feeling both rejected and furious.