Broken Wings

Sacrifices

*Mel POV*

I don't know what to make of Creighton Bardeaux. He seems strangely familiar, but I am almost certain we have never met. I mean, I could be wrong, because I have met many people over the years. Maybe it was just a meeting in passing at a conference.

Dinner was amazing, and I don't believe I have eaten this much in one sitting in a very long time. I took Creighton's advice and ordered the seafood okra gumbo, a wedge salad with blue cheese instead of ranch dressing, and shrimp au vin with creamed spinach. I paired it with a sweet tea, and for dessert, a bowl of banana praline bread pudding with vanilla ice cream.

"Alpha Creighton, thank you and your family for dinner. It was lovely. I plan on bringing my mates here one night for dinner. My husband, Loki, would go crazy over this bread pudding, and Liam would eat a whole pot of this gumbo," I smiled.

His brother, Raiden, smiled and said we were welcomed anytime. We are all family now, and that getting together more would be nice.

Their kindness seemed genuine, but still, I was cautious of allowing myself or my family to get pulled in without doing some research. I wanted Sammi to be happy, but this threat that looms over her needs to be addressed before we go further.

I finally got the text from Sterling, and he informed me that he wasn't going to be able to come tonight. There were more strange people entering the pack, and he had them in custody for questioning.

I relayed the message to Samantha, and she started to bite the inside of her cheek. It was something she did as a coping mechanism when she was anxious.

"Are strangers entering the kingdom pack? How are they just waltzing in so freely?" Creighton asked. It was a valid question, but it was one I didn't have an answer to.

"Calm down. They aren't just waltzing into the pack. We have deliveries daily, and it's the only way we can think of. Sterling will get this handled quickly, and it won't be tolerated. The bigger question is who are they, and why are they asking about Zayden and me," Samantha replied.

Creighton took a drink of his coffee, and lit a cigar. The smell was horrendous, but it wasn't my place to complain.

"His name is Fernando Mullins. He is the son of a supernatural hunter. He is a human/wolf hybrid who is waiting for the day he can get his hands on Samantha. He had promised to leave our kind alone as long as I gave him my firstborn daughter to be his firstborn son's wife. That's why I sent Samantha, who was then named Yasmine, away. I figured if she wasn't linked to me growing up, she would be safe," Creighton admitted.

What? Dammit. So, he's promised Samantha to this bastard to save his packs ass. It will be a cold day in the underworld before I allow that hunter to take her for anything. She is my family now, and this man is about to learn what happens when you f**k with my family.

"You have got to be kidding me, right? YOU put my life up for grabs just so you could save your people? I'm your f*****g daughter! Would you have done it if it were one of your sons?" Samantha bellowed as she was losing her s**t.

"Samantha, it was a different time back then. I felt like I didn't have any other options. We were gravely outnumbered. Not just by humans, but any other species they could recruit to help them take us down. We were the dominant species, and it wasn't just humans that wanted us wiped out. It was the wolves, Fae and witches as well. The only species we didn't have much issue with were the vampires. I was fairly new in my position, and did what I thought I had to do. However, after laying my eyes on you, I knew I couldn't do it. That's why you went up for adoption. I've explained this," he snapped.

I jumped to my feet, and started to move towards the alpha. Asteria grabbed me before I could move too much further towards him.

"Listen here you pompous ass! Do NOT snap at her like that. She is trying to adjust to the mindfuck that is her life right now. She is dealing with the fact that she isn't who she thought she was, and the fact that her name isn't technically her name. How would you feel if the shoe were on the other foot? How about you answer her question? Would you make the same deal if it were one of your sons?" I asked.

His jaw tightened, and his son, Cain, stood up. "Please, let's not lose ourselves now. I'm sure he would have done it if it were any of us. If you knew anything about Lycans, you would know that we put our people first. If they can't rely on us for protection, who are they going to rely on? Samantha, with all due respect, wouldn't you do whatever it took to protect your people? Dad has regretted every single day that has passed without you with us. He regrets allowing your birth mom to leave with you. You were never unloved," he explained.

Samantha took a deep breath, and then answered her brother honestly.

"No, I wouldn't. I would never sacrifice my children or family for the sake of my pack. Without my whole family, there would be no pack. Sure, I love my people. I have formed bonds with a lot of them. Not just in my personal pack, but our other packs as well. I'm sorry I snapped, but listening to him talk, it makes me feel as if I never mattered. I was disposable. I understand he had my best interest at heart, but it's still a lot to hear. It feels a lot like abandonment," she replied.

The siblings stepped out of the room and talked among themselves. The only one who stayed with their father was Whitney, and I think it was because she was a definite daddy's girl.

By the time they returned, Samantha's demeanor was much softer, and she seemed a lot more comfortable. I asked her if she was alright, and she took my hand and told me that she was better than alright. She was finally understanding why things happened the way they did.

"Creigh... Dad, I don't hate you for what you did. I don't hate my mother either. I want to understand everything. However, I need to learn how to use my Lycan with my wolf. Then, I'll need to learn how to manage my three spirits together. Are you willing to help me? The Lycan/Wolf thing we can do anywhere. My elemental need to be tested at Ruby Meadows, Starlight Falls or Crescent Moon. So you will need to be flexible," she explained.

He explained he would be fully willing to help her however she needed him to. He even warned her that learning to use her Lycan was going to be very strenuous. It would take a lot out of her, and would change the way her body looked forever. She would become more muscular, even in her human form.

She told him she didn't care, this was who she was, and she needed to learn how to embrace it.

I was beyond proud of her at that moment. She took charge of her own destiny completely without fear. This was a new beginning for Sammi, and as her mate's grandmother, I would be there to protect and support her every step of the way.