Chapter 4: Alpha's daughter
1268 Words
Velora's lashes fluttered open slowly, but she squeezed her eyes, shutting the blinding sunlight out. Sunlight? Her mind processed, wasn't she at the… She jerked up instantly, surveying her environment.
She was inside a room five times bigger than the one she stayed in at Bastian's place. Bastian, that name made her stomach turn. The walls were etched with symbols she had never seen before. The bed was fluffy, literally covered on furs. And the air reeked of warm blood mixed with fresh roses.
Suddenly, she began hearing voices and they seemed to be heading towards her. Her mind flipped. Was it the huge wolf? Are they going to kill her? What—
The door burst open before she could move and two figures walked in, a man and a woman.
Velora's pupils flared as she moved back, the man's red eyes felt familiar, so oddly familiar.
“You're finally awake,” the woman cooed, walking towards her.
Velora jumped off the bed instantly, moving backwards, her heart pounding.
The woman was poker-faced. “I'm Velmira, the Luna of Solvryn pack.”
Velora's heart stopped for a second. Solvryn? The ancient red wolf pack that is known for its ruthlessness and immersed strength. What was she doing here? Why did they bring her here?
“We know you have a lot of questions, Velora,” the man added. “And we're going to answer them all.”
That voice and those eyes… recognition dawned on Velora's face. He was the red wolf from earlier. Her heart instantly jumped into her mouth as she crumbled to her knees. “Please… please, don't kill me. I'm just a rogue wolf,” she pleaded.
A deep laughter rolled out of the man's throat as he glanced towards Velmira. “Kill you? How can I kill my own daughter?”
Velora's eyes went round. “Daughter?”
Velmira didn't move to help her. “We have a lot to talk about. Whether you kneel or stand is your choice.”
Velora didn't even hesitate, her lips pressed together as she sat down, scared that one mistake would turn their smile into a smirk.
“This is Sigurd, Alpha of Solvryn pack,” Velmira introduced. “And your father.”
Velora's head was already lowered. “Greetings Alpha.” Her gaze immediately lifted as Velmira’s last sentence dawned on her. “Father?”
Sigurd nodded, the corners of his lips facing down. “Yes. You were taken from us shortly after you were born.”
Velora's forehead creased. “You've… You've got the wrong person. I’m…I'm…”
Velmira stood up, letting the outer covering of her clothes fall off to expose a very pale skin almost white. “Your skin colour isn't weird. You just weren't part of their pack. This is your pack now.”
Velora shook her head, refusing to believe her ear. One second she was the daughter of the Beta of Moonfang pack and the other she was now the daughter of the strongest Alpha. This has to be some kind of joke.
Sigurd took her hand slowly. “I know it is hard to believe, but it is true. We can take a blood test,” he suggested.
Velora swallowed the last blood test she took, stole everything from her. Is she ready to risk it all again?
Velmira signalled the omegas outside the door when she said nothing and shortly after a bowl of water was brought in. Then, she slit her palm and dropped her blood inside the bowl, and so did Sigurd.
“Give it a try,” Ashina whispered. “He is my Alpha, so it's likely you've found your family.”
Velora held her breath as she slit her palm, dropping the blood into the bowl. For a second, she hoped it was true at least with their powerful backing, no one could step on them again.
Slowly, the blood mixed together and in a twinkle of an eye, it became one. A huge smile spread across Sigurd's face. “Do you believe us now?”
Velora stared at the bowl long after the blood had mixed, her fingers trembling slightly. “This… this doesn't prove anything,” she whispered, even though her voice lacked conviction.
Velmira didn't move closer nor reach out for her. “Believe it or not,” she said coldly. “It doesn't change the truth.”
Velora's chest rose and fell unevenly. She had begged to belong once, and it didn't end well. Her lips parted… then closed again. “I need time.”
“You don't need time to train. So prepare your mind,” Velmira stated, heading towards the door.
Sigurd spared her a brief glance, his eyes burning with something she already believed didn't exist.
***
Days passed… but not gently. Velora was dragged from sleep before dawn, thrown into training she could barely survive. She bled, fell and failed under the moon. And each time, Velmira would order her to begin again without comfort.
One night, Velora was lying on her bed staring at the full moon outside the room when she suddenly heard voices. At first it felt distant, but when she focused it was clearly Velmira's voice.
“Why shouldn't I tell her?” she said, anger visible in her voice. “Isn't that the reason you brought her back?”
Sigurd signed. “She's still our daughter no matter…”
“We don't have a daughter, Sigurd.” Velmira spat. “We can only have a son.”
Velora felt like a knife had been pierced into her chest countless times as tears began welling in her eyes, but before it could fall, the door burst open and Velmira walked in.
“Velora, are you sleeping?” Velmira asked calmly, but the anger was still visible in her voice.
Velora quickly sniffed back her tears, sitting up just as Sigurd walked in, down cast.
“There are things you need to know,” Velmira said, stepping further into the room. “And I won’t repeat myself.”
Velora's chest tightened. “Can't it wait till tomorrow? I'm a bit tired,” she yawned, afraid whatever she had to say might break what was left of her heart.
Sigurd backed her up. “Let's leave it till tomorrow, Luna.”
Velmira’s gaze didn’t soften. “You were not born alone.”
Velora’s brows pulled together. “What do you mean?”
“You have a twin,” Velmira said, without blinking.
Velora's eyes dilated. “Twin… Brother?”
“But he was attacked with wolfsbane at the pack's border and won't last for a month,” she continued.
Velora felt the air leave her lungs. A laugh… or was it a sob? She couldn’t tell. “So… that’s it?” Her eyes lifted slowly. “You didn’t come for me… you came because you needed a replacement.”
Velmira nodded. “It's good you realized.”
She faked her smile, refusing to break before them. “Why did he go out to find me?”
“To become Alpha.” Velmira’s jaw tightened.
“What?” Velora's jaw slacked, confusion overriding pain. “The Alpha is still alive.”
“He has lived for five centuries,” Velmira replied. “A new Alpha has to take over when the blood moon rises.”
Velora frowned. “So a female can—”
“No.” Velmira cut her off sharply. “You will not rule as my daughter.” she paused, her eyes hardening. “You will rule as my son.”
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