The Alpha's Lost Daughter

Chapter 5

Talia walks into the decorated packhouse with soft playing music that wafts through the rooms and welcomes guests through the front double doors. She looks around with wide eyes and her thoughts go back to Katarina working at the diner and how much she would rather be there making money. Instead of here, dressed in this fru-fru costume trapped at a fancy party.

“Welcome, Collins family.” Alpha Luke Blackburn says warmly.

“Thank you, Alpha Luke.” Mick Collins replies.

“Luna Lorraine has done a beautiful job. The house looks beautiful.” Elaine says and then looks at her daughter.

“Thank you for including us, Alpha Luke.” Talia says.

“How is school going? Aren’t you in Heather’s class?” He asks.

“Yes, Alpha. I have a few classes with Miss Heather. And school is going well. We graduate this year.” She replies.

“Enjoy the party.” The Alpha replies and turns to welcome the next guest.

“Do try to smile a little tonight, Talia. It is supposed to be a party.”

Talia and her parents separate her to a quiet corner near where the other teens are hanging. Heather Blackburn saunters over and sighs loudly.

“Where is the foster trash you usually have attached to your hip?”

“Good evening to you too, Heather.” Talia replies dryly and not hiding her annoyance.

“It’s not like she will ever attend a party like this. Poor human foster trash. You’re a Beta, why do you lower yourself to her level?” She says condescendingly.

“She is far richer than you. She has something you can never achieve or ever have enough money to buy. It takes more than money and being a spoiled brat. You will be poor forever.” Talia says as a smirk lands on her face.

Heather’s mouth opens as if she were to say something but just closes and then opens again. Much like a fish out of water trying to gasp for a breath. She turns, red faced and in a huff she storms off to her clique.

The group of mean girls all turn to glare at Talia, and turn their attention back to Heather.

She remains in her quiet spot and watches everyone for a moment. She hears a low chuckle from behind her. She turns to see Damon standing there watching the party. “It takes a special talent to render my spoiled sister speechless. I think you might have broken her.” He says and walks out of the shadows.

“Who was she talking about? This ‘foster trash’ as she put it.” He asks.

Talia’s eyes narrow to angry slits. “She means Katarina Blackburn, my best friend. She was orphaned as a young child and has grown up in foster care. She is also Heather’s favorite target at school.”

“Curious, she has our family name. She is human?” He asks.

Talia listens to his questions, but is distracted by the scent of coffee and peppermint.

“I can’t answer.” She says pushing herself to her feet and walks away with hurried steps. Her mind races, “s**t. Kat doesn’t even know she is a werewolf, let alone they are real. If I answer I betray her, and on the other hand I can’t lie to my future alpha. And Goddess what was that smell.”

“Our mate! Isn’t he delicious looking?” She hears the sound coming from all directions. Talia stops. Her shoes slid on the polished stone floor. She looks around after she regains her balance. Then she smiles. “What is your name?” She asks.

“I am Seline. Now what are we going to do about our mate?” She asks.

“Mate? I can’t have a mate. I haven’t even shifted yet. He is the Alpha’s son. The future Alpha. This party is to announce him. I can’t be the future Alpha’s mate.” She mutters.

Damon watches her walk away, and sniffs the air. He grins before getting up. He walks to the hallways and sees where she went to, and sees she stopped and seems confused. He inhales the scent of cherries and vanilla. “Fitting, she smells like dessert.” He says grinning to himself.

Katarina sits in her room, taking advantage of the time the house is quiet and just thinks as she looks out of her window.

“When you get closer to your eighteenth birthday, we will shift.” Jade interrupts Katarina’s thoughts.

“I must be going crazy. This can’t be real.”

“It is very real.” Jade replies.

“If I am a werewolf, why do I live here? Why not with my ‘own kind’ so to speak?” She asks.

“Because something terrible happened and you lost your mother.” Jade replies.

“I lost both parents. At least that is what I was told. Nobody ever came looking for me. I am an orphan.” Katarina says flatly.

“That is not true. There is much for you to learn.” Jade says before disappearing back into Katarina’s mind.

Kat picks up her phone and frantically punches buttons.

“Tal, call me when you get home. Very important!” She texts.

Katarina starts pacing her room, back and forth, stopping to look out of the window into the dark before resuming her pacing.

Soon she hears heavy footsteps muffled on the carpet outside of her room. A heavy bang lands on her door. “Keep it down in there! The little ones are sleeping. Lights out in an hour! If I catch you making noise anymore tonight, I’ll put you out myself.” Mrs. Stanton angrily grunts through the door that is so thin it is useless to keep out noise.

Katarina groans, and then walks into her tiny bathroom. She changes into an oversized t-shirt and a pair of plaid sleep pants. After returning to her room she pulls back the thin blanket on her bed and climbs in. She turns out the lamp and lays in the dark. After a few moments, she picks up her phone and checks the screen. She sighs seeing no messages.

She starts a new text, but deletes it. Starts another one, and deletes that too before setting her phone down. Eventually she drifts off to sleep.

Talia blots the corners of mouth before placing her napkin on her plate and pushing her plate away from her a bit. Her skin shivers and she looks down and sees her arm erupt in gooseflesh, She feels her heart rate elevate and her breath catches. Her mother notices and looks in the direction of her daughter’s attention. She sees Luke looking at her from the Alpha table where Luke Blackburn is holding eye contact with her.

“I said to make friends, not get a mate.” Her mother says stifling a small chuckle. She turns to her own mate.

“I think our only pup found her mate, and it’s the future Alpha.” She says.

“That’s our girl.” He replies, then looks at his wife. “Did she shift yet?” He asks almost in a panic.

Elaine chuckles, “I think you would know if your own child shifted.” she says her voice taking on just a slight lilt.

Alpha Luke stands and the room quiets and settles waiting to hear what he has to say.

“Tonight, we have come together to celebrate the future. To announce your future Alpha, of course after he is trained up a bit and I am in no hurry to go anywhere.” Luke says and then looks over at his son and waits for him to rise.

Damon rises and looks out at the pack members. He smiles. “I have grown up with some of you, some of you I have learned from with wise lessons. I look forward to ensuring the pack’s future, safety and happiness in the future. Learning by my father’s and Beta Logan's side will give me guidance and the knowledge to lead both powerfully, and fairly.” Damon says looking at his parents the beta couple fondly.

“Also, my mother who has served as Luna for this pack along with Beta Ellen will continue as they guide and teach my future Luna.” He says looking at Talia lovingly. “With such guidance, we can’t go wrong.” He says while looking out at the pack and then sits back down.

“There are drinks and music in the ballroom. Please join us in celebration. I believe Luna Lorraine has another announcement later in the evening.” Luke says motioning for the guests to filter into the ballroom.