A World Unknown

7. The Truth

*Tiara*

Friday. I’ve been anxious about this day all week since finding out what’s supposed to go down. Honestly, I was scared. I felt like Lilac only cared about shifting and not about how all this was going to change my life forever. All she would say is everything will be fine once we have our first shift. I just couldn’t see how that was possible. Eventually, I would have to leave Grandma and every time I thought about it tears would start forming.

|Uncle Ant

Hey, T. We’re almost there. See you tonight!

|Tiara

Yep! I’m so nervous!

|Uncle Ant

Don’t worry. You will have your family by your side. We are all excited to have you here!

Uncle Ant and I had been texting since I got the phone. It was better that he didn’t call in case I was with Grandma. I kept the phone on silent and never brought it out with me unless I was alone. His text gave me a little confidence. At least I wouldn’t have to go through this alone. He also sent pictures of my dad, Uncle Adrian, Aunt Tiana, and all my cousins. I could see myself in all of them. It made me feel like maybe being with this side of my family wouldn’t be so bad.

*Anthony*

I lie in bed with the phone on my chest. My mate, Charisse, was sleeping next to me. Her round belly was ripe with our little pup inside. Our first. She was due in a couple of weeks and I imagined the way I was feeling was how my brother felt when his mate was pregnant with Tiara. Ever since I found out I was going to be a dad, I couldn’t stop thinking about my brother. I started going to that old house every week, saying a prayer to Moon Goddess that I could find Tiara and bring her home. It was his dying wish. My eyes watered thinking about him, but the stirring of my mate snapped me back to reality. I leaned over her and kissed her forehead.

“Sweetie, are you awake?” I asked her. She mumbled a reply. I needed to get this out to her now.

“I don’t know how to say this, but, My brother Terrence had a child with his human mate. I was able to find her and I’m bringing her here. I want her to be with her family. It’s what my brother would have wanted.” She quickly sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

“What?! That’s why you’ve been M.I.A. for the past week? Why couldn’t you tell me before today?” she asked angrily.

She didn’t like not knowing what was going on. All week she had been questioning me. She could sense that I was hiding something, but I wasn’t ready to tell her.

“Babe, I’m sorry. You know I don’t like keeping anything from you, I just wanted to be sure of what was going to happen before I tell everyone. Especially my parents,” I replied.

“So, who else knows?” she asked.

“Just you and Tiana. I’m working up the nerve to tell my parents. I’m bringing Tiara here tonight for her first shift. We can make her an official member of the pack and be able to link her instead of relying on the phone. She’s living with her grandma now and I haven’t quite figured out how to get her away without her grandma trying to come after her. It’s just so complicated,” I said. Charisse’s hard face softened with compassion, and she gently rubbed my back. The sparks tingled and made me feel slightly relaxed.

“You were always such a sweet and thoughtful boy and I’m so lucky to have you as my mate. Our pup is so lucky to have you as a father. The way you fight for your family is one of the things I love the most about you,” she said. She pulled my face to hers and gently kissed my lips.

“My breath is kickin’ like Chuck Norris and I gotta pee,” she squealed as she hopped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. Even in serious times, she could always make me laugh.

“You ready to do this?” Tiana linked me.

“Yeah, I finally told Charisse. Let’s go while I still have the confidence,” I linked back.

***

Onyx Star pack land was massive. It’s obscure location in the forest was hard to reach for anyone not invited. We didn’t have to worry about human interaction at all, tucked away from any main road. There wasn’t any reason to leave, but many of the younger pack members were breaking from tradition, going to school and even finding work in the human cities.

My brother, Terrence, was one of those wolves that wanted out. After he turned seventeen and didn’t find his mate, he started applying to universities outside of the pack, against our parents’ wishes. He was expected to be a warrior, like our father. Had trained since he was five to join our warriors and protect the pack land from our enemies. Not a scholar. An artist, really. He loved to draw. This man of brute strength and pure muscle was most satisfied creating masterful pieces of art. Perhaps, if he hadn’t done that, he would have never met Grace, Tiara’s mom. I only saw her in person one time. He tried to introduce her to us all once and I’ll never forget that day. My parents were pissed! My sister too. Adrian and I were in awe. She was beautiful. Rich chocolate skin, like our mother, with a glow to her that you could see in the dark. He said she was his fated mate. No one believed him. He had marked her and everything. It was like they had eloped. He wanted to come back to the pack with her and take his place on the force. Our parents wouldn’t even consider speaking to Alpha Matthew and Luna Celeste about it. They wanted her gone and for him to give it more time to find his wolf mate. They couldn’t believe Moon Goddess would mate their son to a human. So he chose to come back to the pack, but keep her close. I was the only one he told.

I drove to Tiana’s house where she was waiting in her driveway, my niece, Jade, and my nephew, Terrell, running circles around her as she had a look of defeat on her face. They made me laugh. My sister and her mater, Harris, had some wild pups. I pulled up and got out of the car.

“Hey, you two! You’re gonna drive your mom crazy,” I said to them. They ran up to me and nearly knocked me over, tackling me with hugs and kisses.

“Uncle Ant! We missed you,” Jade said.

“Yeah we haven’t seen you in forever,” Terrell replied as well.

I felt bad for how distant I have been, but it was all for a good cause. I knew they would be excited to meet a new cousin and have someone else to wrestle with.

“They’re Harris’s problem now. Harris! I’m heading out with Anthony!” she yelled to the open front door. She wrestled a hug out of the little ones and we hopped in the car and drove off.

It was only about a five minute drive to our parent’s house. My palms were getting sweaty and I was getting really nervous about the whole thing.

“I know we’ve talked about the different ways this could all go down, but I’m just…I’m just not sure I can do this,” I said to Tiana.

“It’s going to be alright,” she said, “I’ve got your back. Tiara is a wolf like us and they’re going to have accept that unless they want her blood on their hands too.”

I was a little surprised to see how much her attitude had changed about Terrence and his human mate. I guess becoming a mother softened her a bit. Plus, she loved Terrence. How could she not love his child as well? We pulled into the driveway of our parent’s house. I unbuckled my seat belt and let out a heavy sigh. Tiana squeezed my knee and gave me a little smile. She was worried too, but we were in this together.

We stepped out of the car. Our pack leaders were a generous pair and gave all the retired warriors beautiful homes as part of their retirement. The landscaping was lush with flowers and fruit trees leading up to the grand estate. Tiana and I walked up to the door and it flung open before I could ring the bell. Mom was standing there with a big smile. She pulled us both in for a hug.

“My babies!” Mom exclaimed. “You never come visit me! To what do I owe this surprise?”

Tiana and I exchanged glances. I thought we should get inside and get comfortable before I shared the news.

“Well, mom, you say we never come to see you so here we are!” I said as convincingly as possible. Tiana snickered and we each kissed mom as we walked into the foyer. They house was always immaculate and I could smell something cooking in the kitchen.

“You came on a good day. I’m making some oxtail stew! It will be ready soon! Your father is out at the training grounds. I don’t think he knows he’s retired” Mom told us. I sure did miss her cooking. I mean, my mate, Charisse, knew her way around the kitchen but I grew up on my Mom’s food. Nothing could really compare.

Tiana and I sat down in the living room on the giant leather sectional. All around the room were pictures of all of us siblings and my sister’s pups. As far as Mom knew, Tiana was the only one with children. I had one on the way and my younger brother, Adrian, was just enjoying being mated. He told me he didn’t know if he’d ever be ready for children. I was becoming increasingly more nervous as I sat there. My palms and armpits were sweaty. I had to get this over with.

“Mom, can you join us in here? I need to talk to you about something important,” I said, my voice a little shaky. I had never been so nervous in my life. Mom sauntered into the living room with a sweet smile. It faltered slightly when she saw my face.

“What is it, baby? Did something happen?” She asked with worry in her eyes.

“Well,” I started, “something did happen…about 13 years ago.”

Mom quickly turned to Tiana and back to me.

“What are you talking about?” she asked. “I don’t like riddles so just spill it!”

“Mom, Terrence has a daughter. Her name is Tiara. I found her recently and have been trying to find the right way to tell you. So, there it is,” I told her. Relief washed over me instantly and I felt the blood returning to my extremities. Tiana squeezed my hand a gave me a nod of solidarity. Mom was speechless. She cupped her open mouth with both hands and tears began to well in her eyes.

“Mom, please say something,” Tiana begged.

After a painful silence, she looked at me and asked, “How long have you known?”

I didn’t want to tell anymore lies so I came clean.

“Since the day she was born. Terrence made me promise never to tell anyone. He trusted me. He didn’t want any harm to come to Tiara.”

She gasped upon hearing her name and looked at Tiana. Tiana was fighting to hold back the tears.

“Oh, goddess, how could I have been so naïve!” Mom yelled. She fell to her knees and sobbed uncontrollably. Tiana and I got down on the floor with her and held her in our embrace. Mom wailed for her son. Asking Moon Goddess why he kept this from her.

“Mom, I’m just as shocked as you are,” Tiana said, trying to comfort our mom through her tears. “But we don’t have a lot of time to wallow in our emotions.”

“What do you mean?” Mom asked Tiana.

“Mom, she’s a wolf, just like us. She just turned thirteen this week and we need to bring her here to help her with her first shift,” I said.

Mom wiped her tears. Tiana and I got up and helped Mom to her feet. I could tell she wasn’t even over the initial shock, but there was no time to wait for her to be OK. I made up my mind that I was going to take care of Tiara. It’s what my brother would have wanted.

“Where is she? Is her mother coming too?” Mom asked.

“Her mom died last year. I’m sure it had a lot to do with her bond to Terrence. She’s living with her grandma and can only come for the night. I have to get her back home before her grandma wakes up,” I explained to her. Even though Mom had no sympathy for humans, she wasn’t heartless. That was Tiara’s mom and losing a parent is hard, let alone two.

“Well,” Mom said, “It’s time to bring my grandpup home.”