Lost

Caleb (Ch. 6)

They say nothing in life prepares you for when you finally meet your fated. I definitely wasn't ready. I had no need for a mate. Why would I when all they did was cause you pain. Take my uncle ralph, his fated is dead. He came across her once in his life, but she was with someone else at the time and his duties as beta stopped him from causing a war between vampires and shifters. Plus, as my father's best friend he was trusted to guard my mother. To keep her safe. Keeping her safe, cost him, his only chance at bonding. I watched him turn himself inside out. He even left the pack, because looking at my mother and his alpha just brought too much pain to him. He's only recently come back, and you can still see the sorrow that haunts his eyes.

I refuse to end up like him. It's why I didn't really travel out of state or go with my father to other packs in the country. But I did know if I wanted to be Alpha I would eventually need to take a mate. I just wanted it to be one of my choosing.

"I'm still trying to understand what a vampire was doing with a couple of fae?" Travis's musing pulls me from my thoughts.

"Like I said before, I don't think it was solely vampire. He or she is of mixed heritage. Their scent is both familiar yet foreign. But I'm positive I smelt it before," Ralph tells us, he was lucky. The bonded never grew between him and his fated or else we would have lost him also.

"So, let me understand. Two fated fae and a vampire mutt, were driving around in this s**t storm going 200mph and crashed into the guardrail. The fae died by a pole impaling them and the mutt is now running lose in our territory. We also have an increase in fae activity here because their King's son is as they put it 'looking into a master's program'. Did I leave anything out?" I say.

"Nope," Christian grumbles, pissed that this meeting ruined him and Damian's graduation night.

A knock at the door, breaks up the conversation. "Enter," dad says. When my mother comes inside, my father softens a bit. Looking at us all I can feel the unease coming off her.

"You have some visitors. They told Charles it's very important that they speak with you now," staring my father directly in his eyes. I know they are continuing the conversation in private. After a few moments, mom rushes out, while dad yells for Charles.

"I didn't want to let them into the manor with Aria exposed," he explains. Completely in the dark, I look around the room trying to understand why my mother being around would cause an issue for our unexpected guests. The twins look ready to murder someone. I've never seen them like this, but then again. They probably know the big secret going around. Turning to Travis, he looks nervous and keeps glancing at father. With a nod from him Travis rushes out of the office too.

"What the f**k, don't I know."

"Your mother will explain later. Now is not the time and besides it's her story to tell anyways," father says, "You can send our guests in."

A few minutes later, a bunch of fae walk through the door. The way they walked into the office was like they owned it. Their nothing but a bunch of self-entitled p*****s. Couldn't even show an ounce of respect to my father, in his own damn house. Once Charles closes the door, the hostility rises. None of us move or say anything to make them more comfortable. They came here needing something. They should be the ones to make the first move. The silence stretches and stretches. I'm about to say something, when one of them moves to the side and another comes forward. He has fading scars on his face and bruises too.

"I'm sorry for the intrusion. I'm Tobias, King Illyric's son. It's important that I speak to you alone," he says glancing at the rest of us before looking back at my father. None of us budge, "Alright, well what I want to talk about is very sensitive information and I would appreciate if what is said stays in this room," Tobias urges.

"Whatever you say here will not leave this room or this house," father answers him. Nodding to his men, Tobias takes the seat my brother vacated.

"I guess I should start by apologizing on behalf of the King. He lied about the reason I was here to begin with on my behalf. We're actually here looking for my fiancée. I'm not sure if any of you have seen her around but," pulling out a photo he passes it to my father, "If you have, I caution you on being careful. As you can see," gesturing to his face, "She can be quite violent."

Passing to Ralph, "I'm sorry but if she was around here, I'm sure I would've heard about her," father says.

"Damn. Well, you should still know that her and her parents ran away from our community after she attacked me," the photo finally reaches me, my world seems to slow. The conversation becomes white noise. The girl in this picture captivates me; she's like nothing I've ever seen. Staring back at me are deep gray eyes, it's like they see straight through to my soul. She leaves me breathless. From her long deep red curly hair to her luminous smile. It doesn't her that she has the perfect build. She is the ultimate package.

"We would be happy to help you find her. If she is in my territory, she couldn't have gotten far," father's statement breaks me out of my trance. A low growl is the only indication I have of my wolf rising. Staring at me over Tobias's shoulder, my father uses he's alpha powers to make him submit. My wolf backs down for now but we both know that there is no way I will be handing her over to Tobias.

"Thank you. My father will be very happy to hear of this minor alliance."

Speaking for the first time I ask, "What's her name?"

"Nadia Domino," he says before him, and his men leave.

Nadia, rolling her name around in my head. It suits her, this girl my fated. The things he said about her doesn't match the smiling face in this picture. Father follows them to make sure they left. When he comes back mom and Travis join him. Without saying anything I reluctantly pass the picture to him. Travis is our best tracker. He was born with the sight and ever since then has been training with mom because she also has the sight.

"I can't sense her or see her. But she was at the accident before she just disappeared," he passes the picture to mom, in hopes she'll have a stronger reaction then him.

"Leila," she gasps, looking away from the picture, "Where did you get this," she demands, slamming the picture on the desk, "Have the Fae been keeping her prisoner!"

The more enraged she gets a red glow forms around her, never have I seen my mother like this. Walking around the desk, my father gathers her in his arms, "Aria, baby, that girl's name is Nadia."

"What? No, that can't be," looking bewildered, "but she looks just like her." Wilting in his arms, we all watch as my mother's anger dissipates, and she starts crying. Holding her close, my father whispers in her ear—nodding she, collects herself. Bring her around the desk, he pulls out the chair for her.

"I'm sorry. It's just she looks so much like an old friend of mine," we don't miss the look of sorrow our mother gives Ralph. Watching him it's like it finally connects for him who this girls' mother is, snatching the picture again he looks at my fated. Anger, pain, and loss mere his face, before his expression goes blank.

"Uh, for those of us that don't know what's going on," I say, "care to explain." I look at everyone, cause to me it seems I'm the only one who doesn't know what is going on. Which isn't right if I'm supposed to be Alpha someday, I should be privy to all things.

"Well?"

"Don't be angry with your father, Caleb. I asked him not to tell you. I wanted to be the one to explain. Your brothers know some but not everything. I guess I should start at the beginning," she says getting a little flustered. Father brings her a glass of water. After taking a sip, she begins. "Before living here, I lived in Brazil within a village filled with Goddesses and demi-goddesses. Our leader was a Goddess named Leila, she was the product of an affair between Ares and Aphrodite. Over the years she went by many different names, Gaia and Harmonia to name a few. When Aphrodite realized, she was going to have a daughter, and not another son for Ares. She fled Olympia and went into hiding in the sss. She feared what Ares's mother Hera would do to her. So, she left her in the care of the people living in the rain forest. Safe from her father and herself." Taking another sip of water, she catches her breath before continuing.

"After some time, Aphrodite would come to visit, bringing with her a new goddess each time. Some of them were Leila's sisters and cousins. While some were the products of affairs between other gods. Like my mother Tatiana, was found by Aphrodite and brought to the village."

Interrupting her I ask, "Who are your mothers' parents?"

"My mother was born from a union between Zeus and a woman from Greece. My mother was running for her life, because Hera found out and as punishment wanted to kill my mother for Zeus's continued infidelity. That's when she ran into Aphrodite, Zeus knew she was hiding goddesses and demi-goddesses, but he didn't know how or where, and he asked her to save her life. Over the centuries some left the village forming smaller ones around the world. Which made it easier to keep everyone hidden," smiling to herself, she glances at father.

"When I first met your father, I was 16," she chuckles, "I was also heavily pregnant for the beta of the Brazilian pack. I was walking through the manor when his scent hit me like a ton of bricks. That same day I ran back to my village to tell Leila. I couldn't understand why she was so happy for me, while I was devastated. Here I was pregnant for another, who even though had a fated out there didn't want to wait for her and wanted to mate with me, when I stumbled upon my own. Leila promised me it would be okay. She was also pregnant for the Alpha. We were due around the same time. She said she would fix this, and everything would work itself out,"

"At the time your father was here with your grandfather, doing a tour to meet the other alphas that sat on the council. The night before they were leaving a huge feast was planned and everyone was to attend," pausing a bit, "You see the Brazil pack, even though we never asked them to, always protected us from those we didn't wish to meet with," she pauses again looking at my dad.

Nodding her head, my dad continues, "That was the first time I saw her. I scented her before then, but my father told me I was mistaken. That he didn't smell anything. I'll never forget it. She smelled of a wild thunderstorm in an orchard of oranges. I had search everywhere, hoping that I would catch the scent again. But I never did, until I walked into that dining room. When I saw her sitting next to the beta, he was sniffing her. My wolf was furious, kept fighting me to get to her. It wasn't until I saw his hand rubbing her huge belly did, I understand. Even though I knew she was mine and mine alone. She was still with someone else. My father noticed my behavior and it finally clicked for him. He had asked the alpha who the other females in attendance were," mother picks up the story while he takes a drink of water.

"The Alpha at the time, told your grandfather that we were goddesses. The shock on his face at hearing that was funny. He had heard stories, but he never believed they were true until he saw all of us with his own eyes. Being at that dinner was so hard. I kept feeling the pull between your father and myself. So much so that my discomfort was noticed by the beta and Leila, who was watching me closely all night. After the dinner she explained to the alpha what was happened because his beta demanded to know why I was acting so strange. A deal was struck and since then the deal has remained."

"What was the deal?" Damian asks her.

Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. "You don't have to continue," father soothes her, rubbing her back.

Shaking her head, "It's okay, they should know. That night a deal was made stating that no goddess can only be the mate of their fated and no other. That any sons she bore would live and grown with their father and that and girls born from the union would stay with their mother," exhaling, "It was a good deal, but my intended didn't want to give up his claim to me, I was the one he wanted and after years of courtship didn't want to just give me up so easily." A single tear slides down her face.

"He said the only way he would renounce our engagement is if I left my child with him whether I bore a girl or boy, and to have no contact with my child unless they showed signs of goddess powers. Leila was pissed. We left that night and never returned until the children were born. I think it wouldn't have been so hard if I had birthed a boy, but I had a girl. She had his jet-black hair and tan skin, but she had my blue eyes. I begged him to let me keep her even for a little while, but he refused. I had to watch as a she-wolf nursed my baby and care for her. It wasn't until she was 2 that I got to meet her," she smiles fondly, "She threw a tantrum and in the middle of being disciplined she created a lightning storm and attacked the she-wolf. Her father had no choice but to bring her to me for training. From there her powers grew and a relationship between us formed."

"A year after that your father came back on his own, he was lost inside the sss. Against his father's wishes he came searching for me, instead of finding me. I had found him. That night Leila preformed the Bonding Ceremony, but she could only allow him to stay until morning. Because if the other pack found him, they would kill him for entering without proper access," looking at the twins, "That same night the twins were conceived. I was 20, by the time the boys were born. I didn't know what to do. Leila and I had no way of contacting him and we couldn't risk our fragile arrangement with the Brazil pack." Opening up a drawer, she pulls out a picture. In it are the twins as toddlers and a girl around 11 or 13.

"Grace was so happy. She wanted to tell everyone, but Leila and I made her swear to never tell anyone not even her father. He was still upset about losing me to another, and we didn't want him assuming I went running to another as soon as I got the chance. She kept it a secret for as long as she could. When she met her fated that all changed; she was 14 when she ran into the alpha's 16year old son, Azul. He was visiting our village with his father because he started showing some goddess traits. It's rare but sometimes a son will gain a few skills from his mother. Leila had passed on her skill to dream walk. Leila was so happy. When she told Azul's father what had happened. He too was excited, so excited that Leila used that moment to convince him to share their location with those he trusted," tapping the picture on the desk, she passes it over to Christian.

"Surprisingly he did. He started with the vampires. Hoping that this could settle some of the distrust they had for one another. That was when she met Marcel. He came to her for a reading, hoping that he would eventually find his fated mate. She told him he would, but before he met her, he would have a daughter by another that would either save or destroy the world," picking up Nadia's picture,

"Two nights later, she slept with him. After the vampires left that's when the wolves were allowed to come around, your grandfather was still alpha, but he brought your father, his beta, and his beta's son, Ralph. It was also the first time the twins met their father. Your grandfather was pissed at your dad. Demanding why he would risk his life and their alliance instead of just waiting. That same week Leila contacted Marcel to tell him she was pregnant. He had told her that he found his fate and that she too was pregnant. Leila told him she understood, but that when the time comes, she would call on him to protect their child. She made him swear it and then she made his mate swear that if the time came, she would care for her child the way she would her son."

"With the help of Leila's son, Grace and your grandfather we were able to sneak the twins back to the manor without the other pack knowing. That's when Ralph scented Leila. He never saw her, and she kept it that way. She also kept her distance. After they left, I stayed behind to help her with her pregnancy and she, me; when you were born Caleb, your dad came for us, and I never returned."

Standing she places Nadia's picture back on the desk, her fingers turning it as she walks around the desk, "The last time I spoke to Leila, she told me to not comeback. That Azul would keep Grace hidden and safe and that I should stay clear of the fae, especially those of the royal lines," moving away from the desk, "She said they were going to kill us all. They were the one race we couldn't conceive for and that angered the King, he wanted a powerful heir. She only had one request of me, I told her I would do anything for her. She was my best friend, my chosen sister. She asked me to train Nadia when the time came. She also wished to see Ralph."

Confused he asks, "What do you mean," pointing to the picture, "I've never met a woman that looked or resembled her."

"That's because Leila changed her features a bit. She came her with a package. Travis was just a baby at the time. She laid with you, started the Bonding Ceremony but while you were sleeping, she left. When I drove her back to the airport, she said she couldn't tie you to her soul. That she didn't know if she would live through the slaughter that was to come. She also feared that because she was with you that she might become pregnant. I asked her to stay but she said she couldn't leave Nadia, that Azul wasn't strong enough yet to protect her on his own, even with Grace's help. And she made me swear not to say anything to you Ralph because she didn't want you to live with the fact that you might have lost not only your fated but your child too."

"W—was she pregnant? Please tell me," he begs.

"I don't know. I sent a letter with her to give to Grace explaining I wouldn't contact her again until I knew the time was right," looking a bit shameful, "I spoke to Grace for the first time 3 months ago. She nor Azul mentioned anything about Leila or if she had a child. But Azul asked if I'd seen pequena deusa, his nickname for Nadia."

Upset Ralph leaves. We all feel for him. He's been lied to this whole time about never meeting his fated only to find out that he did and to make matters worse he doesn't even know if she had his child or if both of them died. It's tragic and solidifies my reasons for not wanting a fated mate. Once you're bonded with them, that's it. If they die, you die and vice versa. If I chose a mate, it wouldn't be like that. Yes, we would be bonded but if either of us died, the other would be able to move on with their life. As much as I wanted to find Nadia, I feared the bond more.

"So, let me get this straight. Mom is a goddess; our great-grandfather is Zeus. We have a sister named Grace, Uncle Ralph's fated mate is Nadia's mother, and Nadia is Azul's sister and Marcel's daughter. Oh, and to make things worse, Uncle Ralph may or may not have a child out there," frustrated I look everyone in their eyes. "And this whole time I've been left in the dark. So, what can Travis really do? What power's does Grace have? What powers do you have," I say, turning to my mom.

"I'm not a full goddess, I'm also part shifter. I can shift into a wolf and a sparrow. I can call on thunder and lightning, I can see 2-3 days into the future, if I have someone's scent or see them, I can track them with the sight," she explains, "Grace, can only shift into a wolf and she can only call forth thunder. Travis has the sight and can shift into a wolf and a sparrow. He sometimes can see 6hrs into the future but that is it.

Uncle Ralph comes back into the room, nodding to my dad that he's okay. While mom continues to fill us in, "I don't know what powers Nadia would have, but Leila could be lethal when crossed. I've witnessed her mend broken souls, create new life where there once was scorched land. She saw things that none of the other goddesses could see. Her sight surpassed my own, even her mothers'. When she slept or rested it was like you could still feel her in the room, walking around you. She told me it was how she knew everyone's secrets," she looks lost in a memory of another time, "I believe she always knew what would happen to our village. I think she knew the first time her mother brought her there. She kept it from everyone, shouldering that burden on her own. Those in which she chose to have children for," giggling, "She planned it so well. I can't believe I didn't notice it until now."

"Notice what dear?" father asks her.

"Everything, she was going to wait for her fated. But as time went on, she became more secluded. I was the only goddess she would speak with. The sister of her choosing. When her sisters asked to leave to start smaller tribes, it was like she knew. That letting them go would protect them. They thought she hated them, but she didn't. When the beta from Brazil started courting me, she never protested, she only told me a day will come when my fated will make me regret my decision to say yes and that she will help me right my wrong. That same day she started sleeping with the alpha. When she told me, she was pregnant I asked her why she would do this, that she didn't need to be in the same boat as me; she touched my belly and said, my child would need an ally, someone to protect them for when I was no longer around. When we no longer lived," looking at Uncle Ralph apologetically, "When the vampires came, she saw Marcel and told me, he will be king one day, he will have many sons and a few daughters, but the daughter that matters the most is the one he'll have with me. She will either save us all or destroy us."

Cupping my face, "Her children are pawns placed to protect what matters most. Our world," before she leaves the room, "Out of curiosity, what did she do to Tobias?"

"He said her whole body glowed white, her nails elongated, her eyes were almost white, and her k-9s lengthened like a vampire. That she was stronger and faster than him. But what scared him, and his guards was when she told him she would destroy him and his whole race after she tore into his whole body with her hands," Uncle Ralph tells her.

"Uh. Well, she sure is her mother's daughter."

"What do you mean?" I ask her before she closes the door.

"I'm assuming something appalling happened to her, because the white eyes and glowing body are the signs you are going to meet your death. The nails and teeth are from her father's side. I suggest when you find her tread carefully. We don't know what happened to her or how her life was." She leaves the room with Travis behind her asking more questions about Grace and life in the village.

None of us know what to say, we sit in silence for a while. Each of us with our thoughts somewhere else. I'd never seen my mother glow red. Heck I've never seen her glow at all. She's always been the calm one, while our father was hot headed.

"Has mother ever glowed before?"

"She told me about it once. Each goddess has a breaking point in their rage. The brighter the color the more destruction they could create," father says, pouring a of us a glass of whiskey.

"Tobias said Nadia glowed white," Damian muses, sipping his drink.

"He did," father states, passing me a glass.

"Mom's glowed red and her eyes were bright amber," Christian says staring at his glass, while he rolls it back and forth in his hand.

"She did," Uncle Ralph says, tossing back his drink.

What can we possibly make of all this. Things are changing we can all feel it in the air. Whether it's for the best or not, I just don't know. An hour or so later Travis comes back telling us mom made an early breakfast. The only thing that's still on my mind is how someone can just disappear out of thin air. Seeing my mom's smiling face, I don't want to ruin that by asking more things that might upset her. Father goes over to her and wraps her in his arms, before they join the rest of us, they have a small conversation. Joining us we all dig into the spread mom made.