The Alpha's Daughter Part 1
1037 Words
Silence.
The entire courtyard fell silent.
Hundreds of wolves stood frozen as Alpha Alexander Blackwood stared at Amelia from the top of the grand staircase.
"My daughter."
The words echoed through the estate.
Amelia couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
Couldn't think.
For nineteen years she had imagined this moment.
Sometimes her parents were heroes.
Sometimes they were villains.
Sometimes they were ghosts she would never meet.
But she had never imagined this.
Standing in front of hundreds of strangers.
Her entire life exposed.
Her gaze locked on Alexander.
The resemblance was impossible to ignore now.
The same hazel eyes hidden beneath his icy Alpha stare.
The same auburn highlights mixed through dark hair.
The same stubborn jawline.
The same determined expression.
A painful realization hit her.
She looked like him.
The realization made something inside her c***k.
For a moment nobody moved.
Then another voice broke the silence.
"Amelia."
A woman stepped forward.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Dark hair flowed over her shoulders.
Silver eyes shimmered with tears.
Luna Evelyn Blackwood.
Her mother.
The woman from the letter.
The woman who had kissed her forehead nineteen years ago.
The woman who had looked at the moon every night.
Amelia's chest tightened painfully.
Evelyn looked as though she might collapse.
Her hands trembled.
Tears rolled freely down her cheeks.
For a long moment she simply stared.
As though afraid Amelia might disappear if she blinked.
"You're beautiful."
The words came out broken.
Barely above a whisper.
Amelia felt her own eyes sting.
The entire crowd faded away.
The Alphas.
The guests.
The whispers.
Everything disappeared.
Only the woman remained.
The woman who had written:
I hope I see you again someday.
For one terrible moment Amelia wanted to run into her arms.
For another terrible moment she wanted to scream.
Both feelings collided violently.
Leaving her frozen.
Confused.
Hurting.
Evelyn took a cautious step forward.
Then stopped.
As though she didn't believe she'd earned the right to come closer.
And honestly?
Maybe she hadn't.
Not yet.
Not after nineteen years.
The silence stretched.
Finally Amelia spoke.
One question.
One simple question.
"Why?"
The word shattered whatever composure remained.
Evelyn broke.
Tears streamed freely.
Alexander's face twisted with pain.
The entire courtyard watched.
Because no one had ever seen the mighty Alpha and Luna look helpless before.
Yet here they stood.
Powerless.
Before their daughter.
Far across the courtyard, Kieran remained completely forgotten.
Not by his wolf.
Definitely not by his wolf.
But by everyone else.
Including Amelia.
Which irritated Onyx greatly.
Mate.
"Not now."
Mate.
"I know."
Mine.
Kieran rubbed his temples.
His wolf was not helping.
At all.
Jace appeared beside him.
"You okay?"
"No."
"Fair."
Jace looked toward Amelia.
Then toward the Blackwoods.
Then back to Kieran.
"You picked an interesting mate."
Kieran snorted.
"I didn't pick anything."
"Fair point."
At the base of the stairs, Amelia waited.
Alexander finally spoke.
"We never stopped loving you."
The answer immediately angered her.
Her emotions surprised her.
Good.
She should be angry.
Nineteen years of questions deserved anger.
"Love isn't watching from a distance."
The words came out sharper than she intended.
Alexander flinched.
Actually flinched.
Several nearby Alphas looked stunned.
No one spoke to Alexander Blackwood that way.
Amelia clearly didn't care.
"You left me."
"No."
Evelyn shook her head.
"We saved you."
"There it is again."
Amelia laughed bitterly.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
"Because it's true."
The Luna's voice broke.
"You were hunted."
Amelia crossed her arms.
"By who?"
Silence.
Not good silence.
Dangerous silence.
Several Alphas exchanged glances.
Victor Bloodfang smiled from across the courtyard.
Amelia noticed.
The smile made her skin crawl.
And for some reason...
Nyx growled.
Loudly.
The sound echoed inside her mind.
Ancient.
Protective.
Dangerous.
Amelia looked toward the stranger.
Their eyes met.
Victor's smile widened.
Immediately every instinct she possessed screamed.
Danger.
Predator.
Enemy.
The feeling hit so hard she actually took a step backward.
Alexander noticed.
His expression darkened instantly.
He moved between Amelia and Victor without hesitation.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The Alpha had positioned himself protectively.
Like a father.
The realization confused her more than she wanted to admit.
The tension broke when Nightfall's Alpha finally stepped forward.
Alpha Damon Nightfall.
Kieran's father.
A massive man with dark hair and commanding presence.
His voice carried easily across the courtyard.
"Perhaps this reunion should happen somewhere more private."
A few nervous laughs followed.
The crowd immediately looked relieved.
Alexander nodded.
For once.
The powerful Alpha seemed grateful.
"Agreed."
Before anyone could move, however, another voice interrupted.
Female.
Sharp.
Annoyed.
"Absolutely not."
Everyone turned.
A beautiful red-haired woman stepped forward.
Scarlett Thorn.
Daughter of Alpha Magnus Thorn.
One of the wealthiest packs in the region.
And one of the most spoiled.
Her eyes narrowed as she looked Amelia up and down.
The gesture wasn't subtle.
Nor was the judgment.
Amelia immediately disliked her.
Owen appeared beside Amelia.
"She's pretty."
Amelia rolled her eyes.
"You're hopeless."
"Just observing."
"Observe quietly."
Scarlett folded her arms.
"We're supposed to believe this?"
The courtyard grew tense again.
Scarlett pointed directly at Amelia.
"That she's Alpha Blackwood's daughter?"
Amelia's eyebrow twitched.
She'd met this woman for thirty seconds.
Already exhausted.
Scarlett continued.
"She arrived with Tinder Paw."
More whispers followed.
Amelia could practically hear the gossip spreading.
Scarlett smiled.
Victorious.
"Where's the proof?"
Now Amelia was annoyed.
Very annoyed.
Unfortunately for Scarlett...
Annoyed Amelia rarely stayed quiet.
"You know..."
Amelia stepped forward.
"...if I was planning to impersonate someone important..."
The crowd leaned in.
"...I would've picked someone taller."
A few nearby warriors choked on laughter.
Owen nearly fell over.
Kieran outright laughed.
Scarlett's face turned bright red.
Amelia shrugged.
"Just seems like a weird choice."
Several guests quickly looked away to hide their smiles.
Even Alpha Damon looked amused.
The only person trying not to laugh harder than Owen...
Was Kieran.
Amelia noticed.
For the first time since seeing him.
Really noticed him.
Golden eyes.
Dark hair.
Broad shoulders.
The same man she'd felt across mountains.
The same man who couldn't stop staring at her.
Heat unexpectedly crept into her cheeks.
His eyes softened.
The bond immediately tightened.
The sensation nearly stole her breath.
Oh.
That was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Nyx practically purred.
Mate.
"Shut up."
Never.
- Writer
