The Alpha's Lost Daughter

Chapter6

Inside the ballroom, there are several tables where people can sit. A table meant for the Alpha and Beta family to sit is elevated and off to the side. In the front of the room is a dance floor, with a stage and room for a classical quartet playing softly.

Pack members dance and socialize. The unmated men are watching the unmated females hoping to catch a whiff of their fated mate.

After some time, Talia notices someone at her side. She turns and looks up to find Damon Blackburn extending his hand. Talia looks to her father who nods his approval.

“Care to dance?” He asks, offering his hand.

Talia looks at him, and smirks. “Sure. I guess even the Alpha’s son needs a dance partner.” She accepts his offer reluctantly and takes the hand he offered.

“If she plays her cards right, she could be the next luna.” Mick says. His wife looks at him. She is only 17 and hasn’t got her wolf yet. Let her grow up before you try to marry her off.” Elaine chides.

As Talia follows Damon to the dance floor, she inhales the scent of coffee and her knees practically buckle. She feels a dull spark run up her arm as he touches her hand. He smiles as he inhales her intoxicating scent.

Talia and Damon face each other and waltz to the music. “You are a fine dancer.” He says looking at her.

“I am sure, you had your pick of better company.” She replies, wondering why he chose her to ask.

“None, that is as beautiful as you. And none that I would rather spend my time with.” He says feeling the electricity of fate run up his arms.

The song and tempo changes, and Damon puts his arm around her, resting his hand at the small of her back and holding her other hand. They dance close, and his breath turns her neck into gooseflesh. She can feel the sparks, and inhales his scent. The two of them dance as if nobody else is in the room, and it’s just the two of them.

“Attenion. Attention, everyone.” Luna Lorraine calls as she taps a champagne flute lightly with a fork. The entire room turns to look at her as the band pauses their entertainment.

“As you all know, my wonderful son is being elevated to Alpha when his father decides he is ready to step down. Our daughter is coming of age very soon. This party is also to introduce our daughter, a future Luna, into our society.” She says and then looks over to her daughter and raises her glass, “May she capture the heart of a strong Alpha and rule at his side.” Lorraine says and the music begins again.

“Mother. She is not my mother.And that girl is not my sister.” Damon says in disgust. Talia looks up at him. “What is that about?” She asks, looking at him with concern in her eyes.

“She is my step mother. My father was having an affair with her around the time my mother was killed in an attack.” He says. Talia can feel heat radiating off of him. She places her hand on his arm and he immediately starts to feel calmer.

“They claim my sister died too, but I have my doubts about that.” He is still angry but no longer wanting to rip anyone's arms and legs off.

“You don’t mean Heather?” She asks.

“No, Heather is a spoiled princess. But she only shares half of my blood. I had a sister before her. She would’ve been around 4 years old when she was killed or lost. I was away in boarding school. Early Alpha training.” He explains.

Talia’s mind races thinking about Kat, wondering if her friend is safe, and for how long. “My mother was your mother’s best friend. If you have questions, she might know something. But, be careful of Luna.”

“As soon as I am Alpha I am opening an investigation into my mother’s death. I will get the answers I seek.” He says.

“I hope you get those answers. And I hope you find your lost sister.” He says lifting her hand to his mouth and lightly kisses it. “Thank you for the dance and the ear.” He says letting her go.

Katarina sleeps fitfully. Her head is moving and a pained look is on her face. A bead of sweat slides down the side of her head.

Katarina walks through a forest, following the silver haired woman. Suddenly, she is in a clearing in the forest. She recognizes the area as the spot on the edge of town. Leads to the mansion on the hill. She sees a young woman holding the hand of a small child, maybe 4 years old. The woman pins something to the child’s clothes and leans down to say something quiet. Then the girl, a small child with ginger curls, the same hair as the woman. Suddenly the girl turns and runs, but is hit by a creature running at them fast. The girl is knocked to the ground, and doesn’t get back up.

The woman looks at the girl, and lets out a growl so loud it startles the birds from the trees.

Katarina notices the creature looks like a wolf, but larger than she’d seen in nature photos. Then to her surprise she watches the woman transform into a wolf herself, and the two creatures fight. The first wolf swipes its claws against the second’s throat. Slashing it, and the wolf falls, her blood pooling on the ground beneath her.

Before Katarina can recover from the scene, she is walking in the forest again behind the woman with silver hair. “Who are you? What was that?” She asks only for the woman to continue walking as if she didn’t hear.

Suddenly Katarina wakes up, covered in sweat and shaking. She sees grey light filtering through her thin curtains over the window. She gets up on shaky legs and walks to the window and pushes the edge of the cloth away to see through the dingy glass. She looks out to see the sun rising leaving a golden hue through the trees behind the house.

“What in the world was that? Wolves, people turning into wolves. Who was that woman and why was she killed?” She silently wonders as she watches the sun wake up the world.

She walks over and picks up her phone and unlocks the screen. She sees a text from Talia.

“What happened? Are you ok? Meet you at the place.”

Katarina locks her phone again and sets it down on the makeshift night stand. She walks to her small dresser and pulls out some clothes before heading to her small bathroom and showers.