An Alpha Twice Removed

Thomas pov 1994

             ******************JANUARY 1ST, 1994************************

*Thomas pov*

The guys decided to mind link me asking if maybe Diane has lost her mind. And honestly, at this point, I'm not really sure. I'm really trying to be the supportive mate and take a cautious approach with her but with everything going on its taking all the strength I have to keep me from running in that room and pulling my mate into my arms, I just really want her to know how much I care about her. And growing up the way she did in this castle.. It just about killed me finding her here all alone. She never even had a best friend to share it with, I couldn't even imagine what life would be like if Lewis and I never met Isaac and Albert back when we were pups. That first night by the fireplace just Diane and I sat talking for hours and hours. We spoke about everything, I told her all about my family back home and my annoying twin brother Lewis. She laughed a lot when I told her all the things I and Lewis got into as pups. Then suddenly she got really sad. And I didn't know why... My wolf Cyrus, on the other hand, was antsy pacing back and forth in my brain and after a while, it was getting hard to ignore. 

"Cyrus will you cut it out already"

Cyrus:*lays down and continues to whine*

"Diane.. is there something wrong?"

"No! no it's just that I was thinking about how close you guys are and how well you seem to know everything about each other. And I was just thinking you know .. It seems kind of nice. I don't mean to be weird it's just I didn't know many kids growing up." Diane replied. 

"Oh, my Goddess!  How could I be such an i***t ..Here I am rambling on and on about all this fun crap I do with my friends to a girl who never had friends. How could you let me make a fool of us like this Cyrus!" Thomas said to Cyrus * 

"…"

"Why are you acting so weird Cyrus?! What's going on? Talk to me!"

 "..."

"Cyrus! CYRUS! speak to me damn it, why are you shutting me out!"

(Ahem) *Diane cleared her throat. As to get Thomas out of his thoughts. 

"Oh... I'm sorry about that."

Diane raised a brow at him. With a knowing look.

"Conversations with your wolf?" she asked. 

Tom nodded in reply. 

"Not exactly..."

"He's been acting strange all night, honestly I think he's been acting like this ever since We met you,"  Thomas admitted. 

"You think maybe it's because I don't have a wolf yet?" Diane asked in a sad tone. 

"NO! absolutely not. Diane, why would you even say that?"

*Cyrus groans*

"Stop it Thomas spat back at his wolf"

"I'm sure Cyrus doesn't mind sharing a mate until you become of age and he can meet your wolf," Tom said in a reassuring tone. 

"Like that'll happen," she thought to herself.

With that said, Diane, pulled herself up on her feet and headed out of the elegant sitting room and off to her music room to think. Giving Young Thomas a few minutes alone and uninterrupted. Thomas plumped down on the large leather sofa taking in a great deep breath before starting. 

"What is going on Cyrus? Somethings up I can feel it."

"..."

"Speak damn it! What's wrong with you!! Acting like some ..Some.. Coward!"

"COWARD???" "SERIOUSLY THOMAS? ..ME??"

"OH, NOW HE SPEAKS!" Thomas mocked in an irritated voice.

"YOU DARE CALL ME A COWARD? ME? I HAVE BEEN CALLED STRONG, BIG, WISE, MEAN, WIDE EVEN, STUBBORN MAYBE BUT A COWARD!! NEVER! I HAVE NEVER BEEN A COWARD AND I WILL NEVER BE COMPARED TO ONE! AND OVER SOME .. SOME BEWITCHED SHE-WOLF!"

"DON'T YOU TALK THAT WAY ABOUT MY MATE! CYRUS"

"OUR MATE!!"

"DUDE YOU SERIOUSLY HAVE SOME ISSUES TO WORK OUT FOR REAL. ONE MINUTE YOUR SUSPICIOUS OF EVERYTHING DIANE SAYS OR DOES!, THE NEXT SHE'S "OUR MATE" YOU MUST BE BIPOLAR WOLF."

" WE SHARE A BRAIN i***t! AND A HEART! I'M FORCED TO LOVE HER TOO DON'T YOU GET THAT?"

"WELL YOUR NOT ACTING LIKE IT! YOUR SOUR MOOD IS DRAGGING US DOWN AND YOU THINK SHE CAN'T SEE IT BUT SHE CAN!"

"BUT THE GIRL HAS NO WOLF! HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY KNOW SHE IS TRULY OUR MATE! AND THIS ISNT SOME TRICK! FOOLISH BOY!"

"CAN YOU STOP SHOUTING !!" Tom replied. Pausing to take a breath and calm down. He lowered his voice and spoke calmly.

"You are giving me a headache. Look I know Diane is my mate. I can feel it. And that smell... It's like warm brown sugar with a hint of vanilla it just carries on the wind emanating off every item every inch of this room. It's like her scent calls to me. Pulling me towards her every second of the day. All I can think about is Diane. I'm thinking about her right now. And I don't care if she's two years younger than me. She's my mate. And who are you to argue with the moon goddess herself Cyrus?! Her wolf will come one day be patient."

"She does have this energy radiating off of her when she's around but it isn't the pull of the mate bond I feel .. It's more like she's draining my energy. But I don't think she can control it."

"What?! what can I do?! Why haven't you told me? Is this why you are always resting lately?"

"She is strong that one. I sense great power in her but I fear she will make us grow weaker. Instead of stronger. Thomas, you need to be careful. She could be a spy sent to destroy us. I wouldn't put it past a witch."

"A WITCH? DIANE'S A WITCH? Bu ..bu.. but how? Is she, not a wolf?" Thomas asked.

"She's definitely a wolf.. a powerful one too. But she's hiding something and it must be big. Watch your back with that one. Something just feels off." Cyrus replied. 

With his senses out of control a defiant wolf and now with this new information on his strange but rather peculiar mate Thomas left with no other choice. Decided he needed answers. And he would find them now that has all alone. With Diane in the music room and Albert and Isaac exploring away in the castle kitchen.. Now was the perfect opportunity to take a look around. A quick scan of the room lead Thomas to a damp green book titled "Franklin family bones". Upon further inspection, He flipped the book over to the back, Showing a picture of a great white wolf with icy blue eyes. 

"MATE!!" Cyrus growled. 

"Mate? What? How could this old picture be of your mate Cyrus? ..We share the same mate!" 

"THAT'S MATE! TOMMY THAT'S MATE!"

"Gosh, Cyrus your acting like a love-sick pup! haha. But seriously man that's not our mate. Maybe a grandmother of aunt something like that." Thomas replied.

Flipping through the pages of the old damp book. Tom turned to a page about a franklin witch with long white hair and big blue eyes. Her name was Mildred L franklin. She looked fierce yet her eyes looked cold like she was lost in there somewhere. Tom stood staring at Mildred's portrait for a few moments more. He couldn't shake the look in her eyes. The next page was a slightly thicker more wicked-looking witch named Felicity Franklin she had white long tresses hanging past her shoulders and the most enchantingly deep blue eyes that you could just swim in all day. She had white tattoos leading down both of her legs that were just barely covered by a long flowy black dress split down the left and right leg. She had a crown on her head and a knowing look in her eyes but yet something about her too seemed familiar. She sported a golden wolf-shaped charm on her neck with a white pearl in the shape of the letter L. On the next page was another white-haired witch even prettier than the last. It said her name was Martha franklin born to felicity and Samuel franklin in 1887. Martha had long white curls and a big puffy blue evening gown on in her portrait. But she unlike the rest of the witch shifters in the book did not have a wolf drawn next to her portrait.

"But why? .and why do they all seem to have the same white wolf?" Tom thought. "Coincidence? I think not."

*Ahem* 

Thomas looked up startled by an Albert and Isaac entering the room with the brightest smiles he had ever seen on them. Holding bags of snacks and bottles of water. 

"I found the jackpot, Thomas!"

"And they have snowballs!" Isaac added whilst stuffing his face.

"What's that your reading Tom?" Albert asked. 

"Oh uh ..Nothing".

"Liar" Cyrus teased. 

"Shut up!" Tom responded. 

"First, your girls hearing voices waking me from my beauty sleep now you're looting an old castle. Please don't tell me alphas gone broke?!" Albert says with a chuckle.

"Nope, that's not it! I think we busted saint Thomas snooping about the castle!!" Isaac says  . *The boys laugh*

It was true, Thomas was snooping but what was it that he found sitting around the old dusty sitting room? perhaps all the answers he needed were right in the palm of his hands. However, Thomas had no clue what it even was that he found in that book. It's one thing to search but when one knows what he is searching for then maybe he will find the answers in which he seeks. 

"I wasn't snooping guys. Honest! It was just sitting here on an old shelf collecting dust. I just wondered if it was anything good to read." Thomas said with a shrug. 

"Was it? Something good to read?" Albert asks.

"Uhh.. No. Just some family photos" Tom admits.

"Photos!?" Came a voice from behind Thomas. 

Turning in the direction of the voice the boys spotted a small figure in the doorway. Stepping into the giant sitting room Diane looked directly over at Thomas asking once again. 

"What photos?" Diane asked.

"Do you smell that?" Cyrus asked.

"Smell what?" Tom replied.

"MATE!! TOM! ITS MATE!!" Cyrus said.

"Uh Duh dumbass its Diane" Tom said.

"Uh um These photos. Um, It's some sort of photo album. Maybe your family tree I think." Thomas says as he hands the book over to Diane. 

Diane looks over the front cover of the dusty green leather book-running her fingers over the wolf carved into the front cover of the old relic. She flipped the first page open and her eyes grew wide. Her beautiful icy orbs are on full display. She looked over the first mesmerizing witch to the next. Tears pooled her eyes as she turned to the last updated page.  

"It is your family history! Have you really never seen that before?" Albert asked.

"No!" Diane replied emotionally.

Sniffling as she wiped her nose turning to put the book down beside her. Diane turned to her new friends and mate looking full of pain and sorrow she bit down on her bottom lip, nervously took a deep breath, and began.

"You guys. I haven't had a chance to explain what happened between me and my wolf earlier this morning. And I feel I should further explain for your sake mostly Thomas." 

Looking Thomas's direction looking him in the eye she continued again. 

"Look Tom A few days ago I was all alone here in this castle with no thought of ever leaving it. And then out of nowhere in you came and turned my whole world upside down, In just 24hours I've met my mate and now I've met my wolf."

 "SHE SAID WOLF!!"

"I know I heard her."

"SHE GOT HER WOLF!" 

"Yes, Cyrus I know."

"YES!! ..WAIT A MINUTE!! ..how??"

"Dude who cares! you've got your mate too. now you can stop bellyaching." Tom replied. 

"No Thomas!! how could she have gotten her wolf before her moon day?"

"I don't know Cyrus!."

"AH YOU SEE I TOLD YOU ITS A TRAP!! I TOLD YOU SO! THOMAS!!"

"Cyrus shut up! so I can hear her explain!" Tom yelled.

*Cyrus - mutters something under his breath. *

(AHEM)...

Diane clears her throat. 

"Thomas! Thomas ..Tom are you listening.?" she asked. ( but he wasn't .)

"Sorry bout that Cy went a Bit nuts on me there. continue my love." 

Diane *blushes* "Right so where was I?." 

"You met your mate and your wolf." Isaac reminded.

Right so as I was saying ..As you all know I awoke suddenly this morning startled by a voice I didn't recognize. If you may recall, however, the voice I heard was in my own head so to speak. You see in order to understand id have to start from the beginning, bear with me now. okay. In My Family, the Franklins carry special genes that are passed down into the next generation of franklin females. Each woman is born with special powers. That started way back when my great-great-grandmother Mildred L Franklin was born. I believe from my earlier conversation with my wolf Lisbon and the information I've gathered from this family ledger is that Mildred was the first of my family to be born a half-witch half-wolf hybrid. She was said to be the Bravest Franklin Queen Alive!! and her husband and mate Ronald Dubois were rumored to be the first Man Mated to a Franklin woman, to share the ability to channel her power even when they were apart. However, it says here Mildred died at the age of 28 years young and left behind 2 kids with her husband Ronald Dubois. A Daughter Felicity Francesca Franklin and a Son Fidel Ronald Franklin. Felicity being the eldest child of king Ronald and the eldest child of Mildred franklin. Felicity was naturally awarded the title of First Born heir to the crescent wolf throne. I remember hearing bedtime stories from my mother about Felicity's rule and the wars she won on behalf of the human people. She was said to be the kindest wolf ever known to care about the dealings of humans. freeing enslaved humans from the vampires in the battle of the bloodsuckers. She was quite extraordinary. Felicity married young at the age of 18 to her mate a Samuel franklin. however, Samuels life was cut short due to an abrupt avalanche during a pack scouting trip up the mountain. He and the 14 other wolves he set off with, bodies were never found. Leaving Felicity a pregnant widow at just 20 years old. Felicity went off to lead one of the strongest packs of wolves on the continent. With non-stop training and nothing to distract her, she ended up forcing early labor, giving birth to a beautiful baby girl with curly locks white as snow and the brightest roundest icy blue eyes as big as saucers. Felicity named her Martha after her late husband Sam's mother. however, Felicity would soon be viciously murdered in a castle ambush leaving Martha to be raised alone by the castle staff and her loyal pack members. Martha was my mother... She was 18 in the photo in that book..  The book however has not been updated about Martha's story. Diane admitted. 

"Well that's kind of harsh!" said, Albert. 

"Yea, why wouldn't they update the book?" asked Isaac. 

"Uhm. Well, I guess there was no one left to update it after my parents passed on." Diane added. 

"And what happened to her brother?" asked Tom. 

"What brother?" Diane asked. 

"Yea Felicity's brother! what happened to him?" Albert added. 

"Hmm.. " 

*Flipping through pages* 

"I'm not sure.. the book doesn't say"...Diane answered.

"That's really strange." Diane thought to herself.

"Hmm. . . I guess your great uncle really was great and getting lost." Lisbon chuckles*

"What?" Diane asks.

"What does that even mean?" she added.

"Oh, nothing. I was just picking fun." Lisbon said.**

"No, you weren't Lisbon please! just be honest. no more games!. we have to be able to trust each other!"

"Ugh, fine child! but must you pester me so? sheesh. Lisbon said with irritation in her voice".

"Felicity was not the eldest child born to Ronald and Mildred however she was the more capable and more responsible second-born child. After Mildred's untimely death their Father insisted Felicity inherits the crown over her eldest brother Fidel, however, Fidel wasn't very happy about his Fathers abrupt decision and vowed to leave and never return no matter how much many times Felicity Failed. He stormed out of the caste nearly 40 years ago leaving his father heartbroken losing a wife and now his eldest child. 3 short weeks after Ronald was found ripped to shreds just 4 miles off the pack's territory line, the late alphas murder was classified under a bear attack the first of many around or near the territory line. Leaving Felicity truly on her own." Lisbon admitted.

"So in all this time no one has seen or heard from Fidel? not even his own sister?! wow that's insane. It's insane ..how could you just leave and never come home even when his sister died leaving no family to look after his niece! its... it's CRUEL! that's what it is!" Diane argued.

"Sooo . . . what did she say?" Thomas asked in a knowing voice. 

"Huh? what did who say?" Diane asked.

"Your wolf," Tom replied. 

"Yeah, we assumed you got all quiet because you were consulting with your wolf," Isaac added.

"Oh! yeah ..yes I was. sorry, I'm still getting used to that. But yes she, Lisbon said that Ronald covered up the fact that Felicity wasn't the firstborn child but rather the 2nd in line for the throne, however, he did not believe his firstborn Fidel would be worthy of the seat so he awarded Felicity as Queen of the Crescent ice pack after her mother's unexpected demise. leaving poor Fidel's heartbroken. He swore to leave and never return again. and apparently, he has never been seen or heard of again. It's no telling what happened to Young Fidel after leaving the pack. His father died shortly after he left leaving Felicity to rule on her own until she met Samuel." Diane explained. 

"Woah! your family is so wickedly AWESOME!!" Albert squealed. 

"Idk everything about this castle and your family kind of just makes me sad," Isaac said in a low tone. 

"HEY!" Thomas scolded him. 

"It's alright guys. I understand... It's cool .. Tom. ..Really. My family has had a lot of unfortunate disasters and a ton of heartache." Diane admitted. 

She was feeling lower than she has ever felt in her long lonely days in the castle without Ruth or anyone else to talk to. just roaming the halls doing the same routine every day from bed to the kitchen to the library room then music room to practice violin before bed. she spent countless hours alone bored practicing and self-taught on every instrument that filled the 7-foot tall music room her parents had specially built for her. back then whenever her emotions got out of control she would lock herself away in the music room and focus on whatever instrument she was learning at that time. After all that Diane has discovered about her family's past and even her future lately. she just really didn't feel like running down the hall and shutting herself away in her big old music room .this time.. this time was different. Diane didn't feel the need to run or hide she wasn't afraid of being seen vulnerable and broken. this time the only thing Diane wanted to do was run over to Thomas wrapping her small frame into Thomas's big strong arms. thee only place she's felt truly safe and loved. and she did just that. running past Albert and Isaac bickering over who smells the sweatiest and over to Thomas sitting on the big leather sofa, she leaped into his arms peppering his face with small kisses. 

"Whoa! what's wrong my love?" Thomas asked with a chuckle.

"Oh nothing," Diane replied. I just really needed that she said. 

"Well then feel free to tackle me anytime kitty." Tom replied with a charming smile. 

Their love may be new and still in its awkward prime stages but there is something about Thomas that brings comfort to Diane in her darkest hours. And Young Thomas would do anything to make Diane smile. Little did they know what life fate had in store...

There the four of them sat in the big dusty sitting room Diane and Thomas cuddled up on one leather sofa and Isaac and Albert on the other bickering back and forth as they do. Thomas was telling Diane stories about Isaac and Albert always dragging him around the castle getting into all sorts of trouble. And how his older brother Lewis was the tattletale. "OH OH OH!" this one time my Brother Lewis and I got into this big fight about who was the fastest, ill never forget how he use to cheat every single time we raced through the castle halls to see who could reach the kitchen the fastest. And every time my brother Lewis and I would race he would trip me or push me over knocking me into all sorts of things. See Lewis was a bit of a sore loser. Still is. He could never get over me being an inch taller a bit faster or a lot stronger for the Younger brother . . . But only by a few minutes. Thomas added. .. Anyway, anyway Lewis and I were running like two bats out of hell, speeding down the halls .Passing the laundry room I swerved soon as the door busted open trying to avoid the old omega walking out holding a fresh load of laundry. as I passed her I looked back at Lewis to see he was gaining on me to my right. turning around to focus on where I was going. I ended up running right smack into the Omega staff carrying the dinner trays out for supper. Before I could stop my fall I went crashing down on top of one of the oldest omegas on the kitchen staff. Hahaha haa ha ill never forget her face! she was like "AHHHRGH"  he chocked out in between laughs. We collapsed to the floor! "Glasses shattering to the left of me! , food everywhere! AND I MEAN EVERYWHERE!!" he explained. 

The room is engulfed in laughter as everyone lounges around the sitting room sitting back enjoying the vibe of their last night in the Antarctic. Returning home tomorrow with a bit extra baggage and a new mate for the second green land heir. back to their quiet little village in Greenland. This would be a really big change for Diane but for some reason, I get the feeling she's ready for anything life throws her way. I mean once a franklin always a franklin right.