The Pack Survives

[6] The First Night

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Celeste's POV

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    The silence was going to kill me. I know we are immortal, so time is irrelevant, but I am getting uncomfortable. I did the only thing I know how to do in uncomfortable situations, joke.

    "Wait, am I adopted?" 

    "OH! Celeste, please! This is no time for joking!" my mother says, pleading with me. 

    "Ok then! Tell me what is going on! Out with it!" I demand, standing up from the bench where I was seated next to my father. My instinct, naturally, is to seek my mate out for comfort. So there I stood in his arms, breathing in his scent. The smell of the woods after a storm. My favorite smell since childhood. My father took a breath and began to tell me the truth about my lineage, a story so incomprehensible, so life altering, that I could barely breath. 

    He began, "You are already aware of the story of how your mother and I came across you, at the old hospital. That you were brought there by your human parents who were of old age and ill equip to handle anything beyond feeding and bathing you." he said with such venom, it caught me off guard. "Yes, it was not their fault, and yes I despised them for years after we changed you. But once you began to tell us why you were put there, about the voice in your head, and we saw it personally, we sought out answers. We wanted to be the parents that could care for you, unlike them. You showed characteristics, in your young life, that were far too controlled to be a newborn vampire. You exhibited many traits that were neither human nor vampire. You could do things that even elders, including your mother and I, couldn't dream of doing. We feared that those in power would try to take that and abuse it, and some had. Micha, for instance, and his never ending quest to gain power, thought to make you his bride. I don't doubt he had an affection for you, but he was more attracted to the power, as you agree. To be glad that he is not your mate, is an understatement. He got so close, and we vowed never to let that happen again, so we sought to teach ourselves the most that we could"

    "So we thought, why not start searching where we found you?" My mother interjected. "While you were out training the new round of warriors a decade ago - or so -  we returned here, " she said waving her arms around to show she meant Lambertville. "looking for some answers. We searched for the old home you came from and though it still stood, it was in ruins. The last to live there were your human parents. To the human eye, you'd never be able to find the house, so over grown in vines, the earth almost trying to swallow it whole, to hide it. In the home we found a blanket. Though it had been so long, it still held a scent. With your dads tracking ability's, we ran for the scent. It took us up the mountain and into a valley. We saw the foundations of homes lost to a fire, it seemed to be a village of sorts. At the very end of the village, was the largest home so we started there." she finished, looking at me with, what, pity? What is this? 

    "Ok so my parents used to live in that village? Is that what you mean?" I said, starting to shake. Their body language told me they were on the verge of rocking my entire world. I leaned into my wolfy, him swallowing me in his arms. I could feel his chest rumbling and I knew his wolf was growling. He didn't appreciate his mate being hurt, and this story was going to hurt me. 

    My father took over for my mother saying, "We searched through the debris but there was really nothing left. We could tell a fight took place there, and no mortal fight either, there was magic in the ground. I placed my hands in the dirt and saw it all. I saw the memory of what happened when that village was torn down. It was the Tinicum Coven. The witch and wolf colony, long forgotten in our history, but I remember. They were the first mixed colony and the strongest. Word spread through our magical world about the mate bonding between witches and wolves. We didn't particularly care, as the business of other species, unless a direct threat, is none of our business. We went to New Hope to speak to the elder witch, your Emily's great-great grandmother. We asked her what happened there. She took out a book and read through, explaining how the first hunters attacked the village, looking for one girl. One baby, no more than a few years of age."

    "Thomas and Amelia, Alpha of the pack and High Priestess of the witches, had married, uniting their two families. This enraged the hunters and they sought to destroy them all for fear of the mixed breeds having unimaginable power. They attacked, killing mothers, fathers and children even. It was thought, hoped, that the Alpha and Priestess's daughter lived, as a body was never recovered. She had silver hair, one blue eye and one green. Already powerful in spells, almost ready for her first shift. They were able to shift at a young age, as they were the last remaining of the pure blooded wolves.. The witches were of the first as well, strongest out there. The remains of the mother, Amelia, were later found further down the hill, near the home of and elderly couple, Joseph and Susan."

    Everyone held their breath. My mates arms are like a vice grip around my body. I can see my mother staring at me after her last bit of information. But I am not connecting the dots.

    "So what exactly are you saying? Mother? Father? Just, please, what is going on?" I begged, my voice is starting to fail me. Hot tears are welling in my eyes. I don't know what is going on. It was my mother who spoke next. 

    "The name on your door at the hospital read Celeste Tinicum. In werewolf culture, as I am sure sweet Evan will attest to, the surname is of the Pack name. Alpha Evan Blackwater, of Blackwater Pack. The witch came to us for a visit, to meet you, to confirm our suspicions. You couldn't have cared less about our visitor, but she was there to see if you were the sole survivor of the Tinicum m******e. The daughter of Alpha Thomas, and High Priestess Amelia. She confirmed as much to us, but sensed a spell wrapped around you. When we introduced you to her, and you shook hands, that was all she needed to read the spell." my mother explained. 

    I can feel my legs giving out. Did she just SLIP in there that it was confirmed? That I AM the famed lost daughter? The 'birth right' as they call her? My mates voice shook me out of my head.

    "What did the witch say? What spell? What is going on?!" he roared. His voice shook the earth and we could hear our group from earlier approaching us with trepidation, curious and cautious, to see if there is a threat. 

    "The witch said the spell is a protection spell. To keep her powers hidden until a certain time. She is a half witch half wolf hybrid. But the spell made her powers, and her wolf, dormant. The spell will only be broken when she has completed her mating process. The witch read the spell from her mother. That she was to be protected until she found a mate, a mate that could take the burden of protecting her. To protect her from forces out to harm her or use her for her powers. For being of pure blood. For being a hybrid. But Celeste, you are unique. There's never been a hybrid like you. We didn't know this when we turned you. Because of the spell, your wolf and witch were laying dormant. If you had successfully mated and THEN someone attempted to turn you into a vampire, you would have died." my father explained. 

    "It was as if the Goddess above had allowed it to happen that way. That you could be turned, at that precise time, to allow you to live through that process, and your wolf and witch powers remain. My love, you were never of ill-mind. The voice in your head, is probably your wolf trying to break through the spell. My theory, is once Evan was born, or his wolf even, the voice got stronger, trying to get to her mate." mom said gently, reaching out to caress my face. I leaned into it, tears at this point pouring down my face. 

    I looked up at Evan, fearful that he would have a look of disgust on his face. I am a monster. I am a hybrid. A Thry-brid? Is that even a word? What am I? Who am I? I start panicking, looking at everyone's faces, scared that they are going to hurt me. I try backing up but Evan is holding me. His face, which was just recently filled with pride and love at his rare mate, is now filled with worry. His lips are moving, but I can't hear a word he's saying. Everything is quiet, fuzzy. My legs begin to give out. The only thing I hear is the voice.

    "Hang in there C, I will see you soon." as I fall to the ground. 

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Evan's POV

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    I just stood there in shock, unable to do more than hold my mate tight as her parents revealed her true identity. I had grown up hearing the stories of the famed Tinicum Clan, the first mixed species group, living peacefully together, mating, and then being massacred. The hunters wiping them off the face of the earth. We knew little except the Alpha fought hard, his mate, the High Priestess, the strongest witch, had fought valiantly as well. They did what they could to protect their people, but in the end, were out numbered and defeated. There were rumors that the daughter of the Alpha lived, but it was almost like a ghost story, a myth, a warning. It was a bed time story my parents told us growing up, warning of the hunters. Unbeknownst to them, they would have the same fate. 

    My father was named after the mythical Alpha Jonathan, and I carried his name as my middle name. I just couldn't believe that this myth, was my mate. I can see the wheels turning in her mind. Her eyes are shifting from green, to blue, to black. I can feel her body shaking, trembling into me. Her eyes go wide as if she had heard something, though we were silent, and the weight of her body fell into my arms.

    She had fainted and I scooped her up. I looked at everyone around us. By this time, my beta and gamma were here, with Norah and Emily, Clarence and a few other's. They had all been entranced with the story that Celeste's parents were telling, drawn into this special being in our presence. As soon as she hit the ground, they all jumped in. People were yelling to each other, barking orders, no one was listening. Already my pack was protecting their Luna, I was profoundly proud of them for it.     

    "Stop! I am taking her to the pack hospital. Everyone except Mr. and Mrs. Benevenetti, wait for me in my office." I growled, holding Celeste in my arms, cradling her head in the crook of my elbow. Her parents, who were huddled around us protectively, nodded in agreement. It was too far for me to run with her in my arms, and I couldn't put her on my wolf's back, so we piled in our huge SUV. It was a 2020 Black GMC Yukon, blacked out windows, huge tires for getting through the woods, and most importantly, fast. 

    Brian got behind the wheel with Eric in the front. I slid in the middle with Celeste still in my arms and her parents on either side. Norah, Emily, Erin and Clarence hopped in the other SUV, Brian handing over the keys to him without question and for that I was grateful. I had no time to think. We flew down the driveway and out onto River Road that runs directly against the river. In no time we had climbed the mountain and were entering my territory. I could feel her parents tensing up next to me so I tried to give them comforting looks. I sent out a pack wide mind link explaining our visitors and the need for privacy. They all responded with agreement. We were not the largest pack in the US. No, that was not the kind of end-game I had in mind. I wanted the strongest pack, not just in fighting, but in heart, loyalty, and joy. I wanted my pack to be cared for, and loyal to one another's well being. If someone threatened us, we would respond with force, sure, but our goal was never to seek trouble. 

    We arrived at the pack hospital and the doctor's were outside with a gurney, which I breezed right past and into the first available room. The second SUV driven by Clarence, headed off to my office. We rushed in and I laid her down gently on the table. My 2 pack doctors, Jeff and Lisa Warren, a mated couple, stood there stunned at first. A vampire in my arms, two elder vampires right next to us... then I saw it click in their heads. Had it taken them another second to remember my mate I would have screamed. They shooed us away to examine her and hooked her up to some machines to check her pulse and oxygen levels. Everything looked normal to me, but what do I know?

    After a little bit, her parents turned to me. "Evan, the spell her mother cast on her, we have no clue what is beyond the spell. Once it's broken, once you'e been mated, and you've marked her, she will become something none of us have experience with. The Moon Goddess chose you as her mate, as she saw fit you were the strongest and most capable to help her survive this. I have never been too kind to wolves, I have to admit. I never went out of my way to make their lives hard, but I can see that you are an honorable man. Please take care of my little girl. We are only a phone call away. We will help in anyway we can." Her father said, and I was stunned. He was an honest man, and he deserved some credit for that. 

    "Thank you, Sir. If my father were here, I would like to think you guys would have gotten along." I replied. Isabelle rested her hand on mine and gave me a kind smile, no doubt because she felt sorrow that my parents are not here with me. I was getting really anxious, and her small gesture went a long way to relax me. I am sure she put a little bit of her power in there to relax me. 

    I felt my heart fluttering and knew Celeste was awake. I jumped up and rushed into the room, barging through the door and found her sitting up drinking water. She looked paler than normal but she smiled at me. "Hi Wolfy!!" she beamed. 

    "Oh, Celeste. I was so scared. Are you ok? What happened? Are you hurt?" I started panicking. I know she seems ok but I had to be sure. She laughed and swatted at me to get off her. "I am fine, I think I just fainted." 

    "That you did, Luna." Jeff spoke, the tablet in his hand with her vitals. "Everything else is stable, I think you just needed to process some emotions, and something inside of you just shut you down. Almost in a way to protect your mind. Much like a wolf, Alpha, will push you to the back and take over. That is the only way to describe it." he explained. 

    "She needs to feed, rest and she will be just fine. Jeff?" Lisa said, gesturing for Jeff to come with her. I thanked them profusely and they left the room, leaving Celeste, her parents and I alone. They were fussing over her and she was waving them off like she did me, not wanting nor needing the attention. 

    "Guys, guys I am fine. I was just taken aback. I just.. it's just... it is a lot to take in. All this time I thought I was crazy. The voice in my head, the whimpering. The dreams of a life I never had. I feel as though in the last decade they have increased. Evan, it feel like, once you were born, my wolf was trying to break free, to find you." She said, her eyebrows scrunched up in though. Dmitri was dancing in my head, so proud that his mate had been waiting for him, busting at the seams to get to him. 

    "And I, my dear, have waited my whole life for you." I whispered, placing a kiss on each eyebrow until they relaxed. I explained to her a couple of wolf traits that might make sense to her, with some things she may have been experiencing, and that seemed to help ease her a little bit. Shortly after I received a mind link that our guests were still waiting for us. I helped Celeste up and all 4 of us made our way to my office. Her parents continued to fawn all over her, making sure she wasn't mad at them. Goddess bless her, she wasn't the slightest upset at them, actually understanding they had a tough job holding that in all these years. She was so empathetic, she was going to make a great Luna. 

    We through my home and some of my staff scurried off, trying to avoid confrontation. Some of them were nervous about the vampires, some I suspect, were jealous. I had always deflected the advances of the she-wolves in my pack as they were not my mate. I have had my fun, sure, but never within my pack. Well, once. Her name was Anna, and she was just out for power. It was short lived, right after I became Alpha. I had thought I was in love, but soon found out she had been treating my omegas like dirt and demanding they call her Luna. I ended it pretty quick and she took it hard. She stalked me for some time, but eventually stopped. I rarely see her around, and when I do, she avoids eye contact at all costs. 

    We got to my office and everyone was waiting for us, rushing to Celeste with concern, even my damn Beta and Gamma were worried for her. For that, I was grateful. "She is fine guys, truly, she was just shocked. Her health is impeccable." I said with pride. No one was listening though, Erin was especially sniffing her over, protective already. Not over her new Luna, no, over her new sister. 

    "I hate to break up this love fest, truly, seeing my daughter with her new family warms my cold dead heart but we have some things to discuss. Digest, if you will?" Edmond said. I have learned that he has quite a sick sense of humor and is constantly embarrassing his wife and daughter with it. I personally find it hilarious. I let out a deep chuckle that brought the room to a halt. Before today, I don't think I have smiled or laughed so much.     

    "Edmond is right. The Hunter's are back and we need to find them. They are attacking more and more in recent years and they are certainly after something. We have to stop them. I need to know where they are basing their operation out of and who is in control." I said. 

    A phone started ringing and we all looked up and saw Isabelle looking at us with an apologetic look on her face. "I am so so sorry my dears, please, it is Stella and Mario, no doubt checking on the status of the Lambertville home." she said and answered the call. So help me Goddess it was a facetime call.     

    "Dearest Isabelle!" A cold, wavering voice spoke in a thick Italian accent. "We are calling to see how things are transpiring at our beloved home?" 

    "Oh Mario, it is truly devastating. The home was destroyed. There were no survivors. Well, except for Clarice. I know how you adored her. I am sorry to say she later succumbed to her injuries." Isabelle said. She was so heartbroken having to relay this news to the other elders, but the voice on the other line was oddly angry at that news.

    "WHAT? Survivors?? What do you mean!? I was told that they all perished!" He roared, causing Isabelle to flinch and Edmond to rip the phone from her hand, his fangs protruding. 

    "Learn your place, brother! Do not ever speak to my mate, my wife like that again!" He screamed back, causing the man to begin begging forgiveness for his outburst. 

    "Sir, I do apologize, this news, OH it just takes away all my humanity. Please.... do tell.... what did Clarice have to say? Did she see who attacked?" he asked. The way he asked, something was wrong. He wasn't asking to learn the last moments of a coven member's life. No there was something else about it. I am not one for conspiracy theories, but this man sounded up to something. 

    "Mario, she said it was the hunters. They had witches, warlocks and rogue wolves. I could also smell the scents of other vampires in the area where they escaped from but their scents vanished a few miles from the property. Most likely because of the witches magic. We have the witches of the nearest coven working on tracing that spell to see who could have cast it." Edmond explained. It was true, we had Emily and her family at the New Hope coven running tracing spells. There is something each witch emits when casting a spell that is unique to them, so that no matter what spell they cast, it can be traced back to them. 

    The mention of rogues had my men letting off growls. Again, we weren't out to be the biggest pack in the world, but we wanted our lands safe and sacred, and rogues even off our territory lines was too close. We felt we had failed. The coven there wasn't ours, but it was close enough to our lands and it happened right under our noses. It might as well have happened to us. We didn't protect the region, and we would forever feel that guilt. 

    The man on the other line started to talk and Edmond cut him off. "We believe there is someone behind these attacks. Someone stronger. They are after something, these are not attacks solely to rid the world of us, no, not if they are USING our species. We are going to find the one behind all of this I assure you."

    Mario replied "B-but, brother. Surely there a-are more i-important matters t-to focus on, yes?" Edmond shut him down quickly arguing that this is of the utmost importance, and nothing would deter their attention, less it be another attack. Isabelle got on the line with Mario's wife, who's name I didn't catch, when a mind link came through. 

    "Alpha, that didn't seem right. That man was hiding something. Should we ask Edmond about it?" It was Brian. Nothing gets past him. I glanced around the room and saw that everyone from my pack was looking at me, even Celeste looked uncomfortable with that conversation. Edmond seemed oblivious for the time being and that was ok. We could use that to our advantage. Just then a shriek came through the phone and we all jumped. Isabelle had just told Mario's wife that Celeste found her mate. 

    "Isn't it lovely my dear?" Isabelle said into her phone.

    "Hang up the phone!" That Mario guy began yelling and the phone went dead. 

    "Huh, well that was rude. Certainly good news after some horrible news, is not the way to cheer them up. They probably have to grieve the loss of our coven members before being more receptive." Edmond said, rubbing his wife's shoulders to cheer her up. She offered a weak smile but it didn't take away the confusion from her face. That phone call didn't sit right with me. I had no right to judge a family dynamic that I have no part of, but I was uncomfortable. I glanced back at Celeste and she was shifting uncomfortably back and forth on her feet. It seems the only ones oblivious are her own parents. 

    "Ok, let us all retire to our rooms for the night. Edmond, Isabelle. You and your coven members who chose to stay, are welcome to my homes spare rooms. Anything you need is at your disposal. Let us eat and rest and reconvene tomorrow, hopefully come up with some more information and maybe even a game plan. I want something in place before their next attack." Everyone nodded their heads, her parents thanking me for the rooms, and they all started leaving my office. I had mind linked some of my pack members to help set up the rooms a while ago and they had come to escort them. Celeste and I are the only ones who remained in my office. 

    "What is it my love? What is bothering you, I mean, besides the obvious." I said with a chuckle, hoping to pull her out of the trance that took her hostage since her mom's phone call. 

    "I don't know. Something is not right. I know that Mario and his family have been close with ours for centuries, but I feel like....." she stopped as a yawn took over. I smiled and scooped her up in my arms. 

    "We can go grab some food and eat in my bed, if you'd like?" I offered. I know we are mates, but I don't want to rush anything. I want her to be comfortable but I don't want to leave her side. I smiled gently at her, hoping she could see the sincerity in my eyes. She nodded her head in agreement. 

    "That sounds great. What are you hungry for?" she asked.

            "You!" my mate growled in my head. "Shut up Dmitri, do not ruin this!!!" I scolded.

    "Uhh.." - I said uneasily- "My cooks can make pizza, chicken, steak..."     

    "Oh margarita pizza??" she said with a huge grin on her face. I smiled back at her and mind linked the cooks to get in it. We reached my room and I brought her in, placing her on my bed. It was a large king size bed, deep wooden head and foot boards. The comforter was a dark gray that matched the curtains. The windows are floor to ceiling in here and open to a balcony. I have a small table underneath the 65" TV that is mounted on my wall. On the table is a few pictures of my parents, sister and I. There is a picture of me, Brian, Matt and my sister a few years after I was made alpha. The last picture is of my parents on their Union Ceremony. That is where my mother was officially made Luna of the pack and the elders blessed the mate bond. They were so young, my mom's smile was radiating out of the frame. That smile, so alive, it's easy to forget she is gone. 

    "Evan? What is it?" Celeste asked, taking me out of my thoughts. 

    "I am so sorry. I was just thinking of my mother." I replied, picking up the picture of her and my dad and walking back over to sit next to her on the bed. I handed her the frame and she smiled. See? My mom's smile is contagious. "Wow, she is stunning Evan. I know you look a lot like your father, clearly, but the best of you comes from your mother. I can tell. I have heard about her and how incredible she was. I am so sorry." 

    I bent down and buried my face in the crook of her neck. I could feel my body shaking, remembering their death, thinking of them being near us today. Thinking of protecting my mate from them. My special, unique mate. I kept breathing in her scent until I felt relaxed, then there was a knock at the door. I looked up at her and smiled, gently placing a kiss on her forehead and hopping out of bed. 

    "It's- a- pizza- time!" I said- in what was probably the worst impression of someone who is Italian- ever. She, however, started cracking up and just wouldn't stop. I opened the door and the cook was startled, glancing frantically over my shoulder at the Vampire who is in my bed dying and choking on air, from laughing so hard. I let a small growl escape my lip and yanked the tray with the pizza, plates, and soda on it and watched as he ran for dear life back down to the kitchen. 

    We sat and ate pizza and talked for hours. Eventually after we finished the pizza we snuck to the kitchen, my kitchen, and got some ice cream. We resumed talking and she poured her heart out to me. She explained to me how she felt learning about her true identity and how that scared her. How she feared the unknown and what she would become. She told me about her past, when she was full of blood lust and all the regret she had over the people she killed. She told me about her parents, Edmond and Isabelle and how they saved her, how great they were to her, and how funny they actually are. She looked up to them, not for their seat of power, but their friendship and love that they shared. They were, as she said, 'couples goals', constantly pranking each other and also sharing sweet moments together. They stood, in power, side by side, and tried to make the world right. 

    I shared with her my hopes for my pack, for my future. I explained to her that my parents set out to separate themselves from other packs. Trying not to be the largest but the strongest in loyalty and care. That they made this pack stronger by bonding them, giving them a life worth living, pushing each member to achieve personal goals. I told her how, I too, was scared of what she was. Not that I was scared of her, but that there were those out there that would try to hurt her, take her from me, or abuse her powers. We shared everything.She even told me about that prick Micah, and what he did to her. 

    I was less than thrilled realizing that was the son of Mario, the man on the phone tonight. I still had a bad feeling about it. I asked Celeste, "What was Mario's deal tonight? Why was he defending the hunters? It's like he doesn't really see any reason to go after them." 

    She looked thoughtful for a few moments, her lips pursed and she was biting a finger nail. She looked so damn cute I couldn't focus. Finally she said, "You know, I just can't tell. I can't confirm it but he knows more than he's leading on. I want to talk to my father about it in the morning."     

    I looked at the clock and it was 3 am. I rolled over and wrapped my arms around her waist and kissed her neck. The same spot I would be marking her. The spot that would change her into the unknown. She shivered in response and turned her head around, her eyes blazing. Her fangs protruding, she hissed at me.

    "Kiss me..."