Hidden Secrets

Chapter 12: Painful Goodbyes

Stella's POV

I don't know how he did it but he did. I'm packing all of my clothes and heading to Italy. I know I wanted to go there but under very different circumstances.

"Are you excited to meet my family? cause they seem excited about you," Damon said leaning against the door

"I'm excited too, more scared than anything I don't know how to act like a lady, I'm just a human, s**t, do they even know I'm human?" Damon just pulls me into a hug drawing small circles on my back

"Shh, they will love you for who you are," he said, which he avoided the question, but I guess we can cross that bridge when we get there. There was a knock on the door and we both look to she Sophia standing there holding a box

"Can I talk to Stella alone please," Damon nodded leaving the room "I want you to know something before you leave, and it's very important," She lead me to the bed where we both sat down

"I know you are a hybrid and don't worry I'm not going to tell anyone," I was shocked but I guess deep down I knew she did "I have known for a while now and you are very powerful to have hidden your scent for this long, I only caught a glimpse of your other half, that beast will come out one day when the time is right and I want you to embrace it with everything or it could cause you more damage than good," I mean that's the most information I have gotten on what I am, but it feels weird coming from Sophia. She reached for the box that was sitting on the bed and pulled out a beautiful locket necklace.

"This was your mothers,"

"What? you knew my mother?"

"Believe it or not on the day of her death we were the ones that were supposed to raise you but by the time I got to you the Blood Howlers had already taken you," I could feel the guilt and pain in her words.

"You are my mother,” I said taking her hand in mine, “you may not know it, Sophia, but you and Stefano did raise me and the blood howlers just taught me how to hide," Now it was Sophia's turn to cry, we hugged it out and then she pulled back she put the necklace around my neck clipping it.

"How? why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"You mother was my best friend the last time I saw you was when you were born so when I first met you I had no idea who you were, but that one day you let your shield down and I could sense your mothers presence then I noticed you had your mother green eyes... eye haha," wiping away my tears she then pulled me back into a hug, "I knew you were in hiding I didn't want you to feel like you were at risk of being caught so I didn't tell you,"

She isn't wrong if she did tell me I most likely would have run away further out of the state to hide, so I'm grateful that she didn't tell me, "Do you think I should tell Damon?"

"He is bound to find out sooner or later, it's just up to you how you tell him," She said

"I'm going to miss you, Sophia," I cried giving her another hug "I know so will I, my dear," she replied clinging tighter to me

"Hey, what am I chopped liver?" Stefano asked by the door, which I only ran into his arms and crying into his chest

"I'm going to miss you too, thank you so much for everything you have done for me,"

Damon's POV

I leave the room even if I didn't want to. I know how much Sophia and Stefano mean to her so it's best that I give them some space. I walk into the kitchen and sit down reaching for my phone dialing my mother.

"Damon?" My mother's voice sounded raspy

"I'm sorry did I wake you?"

"No, it is fine, how are you? where are you?"

"I'm in the US, California to be precise. I wanted to let you know that I'm coming home,"

"You are! Wait, does that mean?"

"Sì, l'ho trovata," I said (Yes, I found her)

"What is her name? What kind of werewolf is she? Is she coming with you?"

"Stella Whitewater, yes she is coming with me, and about the werewolf thing mom, I need you to promise me not to tell dad or anyone for that matter,"

"What is it, honey? Prometto alla dea della luna che non dirò una parola," (I promise on the moon goddess that I won't say a word) I took a deep breath and let it out

"Lei è umana," (she is human) I can only hear a gasp on the other end of the phone, "mamma?"

"Non è mai successo, sei sicuro che sia una buona idea portarla qui?" (That has never happened are you sure that it's a good idea to bring her here?)

"sì, anche se è umana, può combattere, ho i lividi per dimostrarlo," (yes, even if she is human she can fight I have the bruises to prove it) I laughed to myself as my head remembers the pain from the lamp.

"If she can handle you then I look forward to meeting her, but just so you know the council won't be too happy about this,"

"Yeah well, they can kiss my hairy ass for all I care,"

"haha, your father would have said the same thing haha, when are you planning on leaving?"

"Later tonight so we will see you tomorrow night, and how's dad by the way,"

"Well he is better now that we made him stop drinking tea and eating during the council meetings so we know for sure that someone is targeting your father, just please get home safely,"

"Si, mamma I'll see you soon," I hang up the phone and see that Stefano is standing by the door,

"You shouldn't let her tiny size fool you, I have taught her a lot of how to fight back,"

"Did you teach her how to throw a lamp?!"

"haha I heard about that, how does your head feel?"

"It's fine still stings a bit, but other than that it’s ok,"

"Good, Damon I want you to know that Stella has had a bad life before she got to us, her mother was our friend, her father had to stay away to keep them safe, her mother than died which lead her to the Blood Howlers so please go easy on her if she lies to you, this is the first time anyone has expressed care to her other than Sophia and I," He took a deep breath pinching his nose, "Just know that what she does it is to protect herself and her loved ones,"

I really hate to think about the fact that Stella had to go through all that pain by herself, but that is all in the past. I'm her future now. I don't get why Stefano is telling me all of this but I just nod. Stefano then walks away to Stella's room.

"What am I chopped liver?"

I stand in the hallway looking at her cry into her family's arms, Don't worry Stella I won't let anyone hurt you ever again.