Little Dove

Chapter 20

Emily's POV

After getting out of the shower I do my typical routine, even if it is evening. I needed it, to freshen myself up after being kidnapped and sitting in a medical bed over the past few days.

Brush my teeth, wash my face, apply moisturizer, concealer and mascara to brighten up my face a bit. I blow dry my hair and leave it down for once with natural waves. Going to our well equipped closet, thanks to Phoenix, I pull out a beautiful white tea length dress with short sleeves that flare out. Putting it on, it hugs me perfectly up top with a scoop neckline, its beautiful. Slipping on a pair of pale yellow flats I look in the mirror to get my own approval and walk out of the room.

"Ms. Grey" A voice I don't recognize startles me and I flinch. "Please don't be nervous. My name is Isaac, one of Prince Phoenix's warriors, and friend." He says with a beautiful smile. Isaac is tall... I mean they're all tall, muscular dressed in a black suit. His red hair is perfectly tamed and his green eyes sparkle under the lighting in here. "You're staring... are you in shock? Ms. Grey?" He's waving his hand in front of my face. Emily you're a moron.

"Oh... I'm sorry, I... just dazed out for a moment. You know...with everything that has been going on and all, and please.. call me Emily!" I give him a smile. It's really annoying and unfair how everyone looks like this here. "No problem, you have been through a lot! Come, Phoenix told me to wait for you and bring you down to the dining hall while he is talking to his Father."

"So how long have you known Phoenix?" I ask as we walk down the hall to the stairs. "About 120 years! We have been friends since childhood, my family has worked with his family for as long as I can remember." he says with a proud smile. 120 years, holy crap.

He laughs and looks at me, "You look shocked, Emily." "Yeah... well, 120 years... you know, it's a long time! I'm only 22.." I stop walking. "Shoot, what is the date today??" "Um, I believe it is June 12th! Is everything okay?" he asks looking concerned. "Yeah, it's fine. My birthday is just tomorrow." I mumble the last part. He looks at me and shock and then smiles. "Oh please, please, please Don't you dare tell Phoenix!!" He says nothing and continues to walk while laughing. "I'm serious Isaac!! Don't tell him!!" I grab his arm to stop him from walking but it does nothing. "Isaac!!"

"Don't tell me what?" I stop and turn around and gasp, as I quickly let go of Isaac's arm, which did not go unnoticed by Phoenix. His eyebrow raises and looks at me a little more serious. "Ahem, Emily here has a secret" Isaac says with a smirk on his face. Stupid Isaac, you trader!! Phoenix looks at Isaac and back to me, "Oh really little dove..." leaning down to my ear he whispers, "would you care to fill me in on this little secret of yours?" Instant chills run down my spine and my breathing gets heavy.

"Um... uh... not really, it's nothing really" I reply trying to get out something...anything. Isaac leans in to us both and whispers "Her birthday is tomorrow" "You jerk! I told you not to tell him!!" I try my best to push Isaac on his arm and like a Lycan statue, he goes nowhere. Both of them are in a fit of laugher while I stand with my arms crossed over my chest. Phoenix wraps his arm around my waist and we continue to walk

"So... Your birthday is tomorrow hmm" he taunts me. "Please Phoenix, don't do anything!!" I retort. "We'll talk about it later little dove." He stops walking and takes my hand to twirl me around and back into his arms. "You look stunning, my love. And you smell, incredible" he says as he breaths in my scent above my head.

We get into the dining hall, and clearly we are late as everyone else is already seated waiting for us. I spot my parents seated with an empty seat in between them, I know Phoenix notices as well and he insists I sit with them. He walks me to the table and my Father stands up and holds out his hand, I turn to look at Phoenix and he nods. Standing on my tippy toes I give him a light kiss and proceed to take my fathers hand.

He pulls out my chair and has me sit down. "You look so much better baby" Mom presses a kiss on my cheek. "I feel a hundred times better! Claire said my scar will fade over time, but my other wounds healed quickly, thanks to the Lycan bond!" "That's great to hear sweetheart" She says and she squeezes my hand on the counter lightly.

"Dad, did you get the card I sent in the mail, last week?" My dad and I have always shared the love of funny cards. "I did, yes, thank you." He says in somewhat of a sad tone as he pats my shoulder and looks down at his dinner. I chose to leave him be for now. He is a silent brooding type of man, but he also takes things hard.

We finish up dinner, everything went smooth, lots of talking throughout the Lycan warriors about their perimeter runs and trying to locate Alison. There were moments where I saw Phoenix talking to Jaxon but couldn't make out what he was discussing. We get up and Phoenix walks over to take my hand and looks at my parents, "If it is okay, my parents asked if we could all reside to the living room to talk more privately." My Mom and Dad both nod and follow behind us.

The living room is beautiful. High coffered ceilings like the rest of the house with a stunning chandelier fixated right above a silver coffee table. An oversized stacked stone fireplace right in the center of the wall and large grey couches surrounding the coffee table. Clearly Claire designed this room as well, she has incredible taste! We sit down and get comfortable, while Phoenix's parents join us shortly after.

Mr. Sterling comes in and holds out his hand as my parents both stand. "King James, very nice to meet you." My dad says as he shakes his hand. "Please Leo, no need to be so formal in my home, call me James!" My dad gives a small smile to him and nods greeting Claire. James walks to my mom and shakes her hand, "I see where Emily gets her beautiful green eyes from." Mom smiles "Thank you, James. It is great to meet you both" she says as she hugs Claire.

Everyone sits and there is a moment of silence, until my Father breaks it. "Emily... my beautiful daughter. There are so many things we haven't told you and have kept from you. It hurts me, knowing I betrayed you, but you have to believe me when I say that we did it to protect you." he says with his hands on my mothers, looking down to the floor with pinched eyebrows.

"Dad...Daddy!" He looks up at me and I smile. "I know you wouldn't do anything to intentionally hurt me, ever. But I need to know why..... can you please tell me why?"

Silence...I know he is trying to gather his thoughts, as he takes a deep breath in. Everyone still, and quiet waiting for his response, and my Mother stirs in her seat, clearly feeling uncomfortable for what is coming.

"You come from an Alpha bloodline, Emily." The look of shock crosses my face, "What??" "I was the Alpha of White Moon Pack. A small pack in Washington." "I remember that pack so many years ago. You were attacked, weren't you?" James speaks up. "Yes, we were. My pack was small but loyal. Our land was vast with little on it. We had everything we needed and wanted, but the rogues attacked. They wanted our land and they were ready to take it by force. We were outnumbered by far." he takes another deep breath.

"You know, your Uncle Greg, isn't blood, right?" he asks me seriously as I look in his eyes. "Yes of course, I know that, but he is still my Uncle Greggy" I smile, thinking about how much I miss him. "Well, he was my Beta, my right hand and still is. He was the only one that knew your mother was pregnant at the time, our little pup. He vowed to protect her and you. He took your mother and our unborn child to Utah away from the madness. I stayed and tried to fight, but I failed. I failed everyone, they were all lost or ran away."

"When I came to Utah, we found an apartment to temporarily stay in. I felt defeated Emily" My mother starts rubbing his back. "All I knew is I didn't want that life for you, the danger, the hate, the fighting. When you were 4 years old, you started throwing tantrums that made your eyes glow that beautiful gold color. I loved them, but knew I needed to keep you away from that world."

"I found a pack outside of town and purchased wolfsbane in capsule form to keep your wolf at bay. I'm.... so sorry Emily." His head falls into his hands with his elbows propped up by his knees. My mom rubbing his back, looking down to the floor.

I'm in complete body shock. "No wonder Emily is such a strong girl. She comes from a strong family" Claire says proudly while she looks at me and smiles. "Keeping her from who she was meant to be was wrong, however if I had to endure the pain of losing an entire pack, I may have made the same decision Leo." James adds while my father nods his head.

"I forgive you both, you did what you felt was right." Phoenix squeezes my hand lightly. "But please don't take this away from me now. I need this." I look at Phoenix and touch his face with the palm of my hand, "I need him, I love him"