High Alpha's Risen Mate

Chapter 3: Truth

"There are far, far better things than any we leave behind."

- C.S. Lewis

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Chapter 3: The Truth

POV: Sierra

The first thing I feel when I wake up this morning is my head pounding. "Ugh, finally you're awake. I've been waiting for you to wake up for hours now." Someone says to me. I look around the room to see who is in my room. That's when I notice I'm not in my room. Where am I?

Everything from yesterday comes rushing into my head. The argument, the attack, the monsters, everything...

The last thing I remember is being dragged away by Devon. We left in a hurry. I wanted to question everything, but I found myself with no energy. I must have passed out after being put in the car.

A part of me is hoping it was some kind of dream. Maybe it was one of those vivid dream things. That can happen, right? "Nice try, but you certainly didn't imagine that." The unknown voice says. Giving the room one more scan to find who is talking to me, I find I am left alone.

"I guess I should have started with that. Hi, I'm Raya." The voice introduces itself. Confused, I speak to this Raya, wondering if I've gone insane and just hearing voices now. "Hello, Raya. Um, where are you, exactly?"

"I'm here with you, silly. I've been here all along. Don't worry, they will explain everything now that we have risen." Does she mean she's in my head? I really have lost my marbles, then, haven't I?

"Nope, not crazy, I'm you and you're me." Could she be any more cryptic? What does that even mean?

I hop out of bed with a newfound determination to find answers. I'm not waiting for my birthday any longer to know the truth. My family will tell me, and I'm not taking no for an answer this time.

"You go, girl." Raya encourages. "Are you reading my mind?" I ask. She keeps answering my thoughts. It's a little weird. "Yes, if you concentrate, you'll know what I'm thinking, too. We're one and the same." She answers.

As soon as I leave the room, I'm met by Archer. Was he waiting here the whole time? "You're awake." He states the obvious. "I am, and you all owe me some answers," I demand.

"In due time. Come eat and we'll talk." He nods his head towards the kitchen. My eyes narrow at him, "Fine." I stomp towards the kitchen.

"Good morning." Aunt Heather says as if nothing has changed. How can she be so chill about this? We were attacked by monsters.

"Let's not pretend everything is fine, shall we?" I say. Devon arches his brow, smirking toward me. "You should really cut them some slack. They were only doing what was best for us." Raya says to me. "Cut them some slack? Are you kidding me? They're the ones acting like nothing happened. What were those things? I know I'm not crazy even if I am hearing voices in my head." I snap.

"What's her name?" Landon asks, catching me off guard. "What?" My brows scrunch together in confusion. "You want answers, right? What's her name? My wolf's name is Reece." He asks again. Did he just say his wolf? "Yep, because he's a werewolf," Raya says. What?!

"Raya," I say slowly and full of confusion. "Sierra, sit down, sweetheart. I know this is a lot to take in, but I promise you, everything we did was for your protection." Aunt Heather says in a comforting manner.

I sit down at he round breakfast table with everyone else. "What am I?" I ask in fear. "Don't be afraid, Sierra. You are something amazing, and you are destined to do great things." Uncle Blake assures me.

"Do you remember the stories I told you growing up?" Aunt Heather asks. "Of course, how can I forget?" Of course, I remember them, it's not like she would let me forget them. "Well, there is a great deal of truth to those stories. You remember the story of the firebird and his sacrifice? That story was true. His name was Seddrick Fraye, and he was a phoenix just like you."

I'm a what? I'm a phoenix. How is that possible? The fire...

Realization crosses over me. The fire didn't burn. That's what a phoenix is: it's a firebird. The flames didn't leave one mark on my skin. In fact, I barely felt the heat, if at all. My parents. I was in the house with them and somehow got out without a scratch. The answers were there all along. I was just too blind to see it.

"I'm a phoenix?"

"Yes, and Raya is your phoenix form," Devon confirms. "You've risen, but not completely. You won't completely rise until Raya takes her form." Landon explains. "What does that mean?" I ask. So many questions run through my mind, and I want to ask them all at once. It takes everything in me not to ask them all.

"It might be easier if you show her. It's the same concept, only she's a bird while you're a mutt." Devon says to Landon. An animalistic growl comes from Landon. "Watch it, fire breather," Landon warns.

Uncle Blake stands up from his chair. "Don't be scared, Sierra. It's just me." The next thing I know is that where Uncle Blake was standing now stands a smoky gray wolf. A loud gasp leaves my lips from the shocking sight of the wolf that is now my uncle.

"It's just Blake. He's a werewolf, like me and Heather." Landon explains. So I'm going to shift my body into a giant bird of fire? "Werewolves? A-and you and Archer?" I stutter. "I'm a dragon, which is why I didn't shift. We have enough problems as it is." Devon answers.

I look over to Archer for his answers. He seems unsure whether to tell me. "A Hellhound. Devon and I have fire elemental powers just like you, but each one of us is different. Those monsters, as you called them, were hellhounds as well, but they work for someone else. I pledged my loyalty to you."

That's a little scary. I wonder if he's the one who attacked that other hellhound. Uncle Blake leaves the room for a brief moment. When he comes back, he is now in his human form. "Sierra, we are not your family the way you think. Landon, Devon, and Archer aren't even brothers as you've been led to believe. I'm not your aunt, and Blake is not your uncle."

Then where is my family? I'm starting to regret wanting to know the truth. How can they not be my family? "We are what is called The Order of the Flame. We are sworn to the phoenix. The order has served the phoenix for millennia. It is our sacred duty to serve you," Devon explains.

"Why?" I ask. Why is all of this happening? "A phoenix is a symbol of rebirth and renewal. You're a symbol of hope in all factions. Our job is to guide and prepare you for your destiny. The order's duty is to raise the phoenix to its great potential." Heather answers.

This is all too much. I'm getting a little overwhelmed. The sad part is, I don't think they've even scratched the surface yet. "Trust me, they haven't, but it's ok. Go slow. You don't have to take it all in at once." Raya assures me. Her voice is comforting. I'm beginning to feel a comforting warmth just knowing she's with me.

I feel like, as long as she's here, I can take whatever my family throws at me. They may not be my true family, but they are my family. I don't care what anyone thinks, this is my family.

In the story about Seddrick Fraye, he sacrificed himself so the next phoenix could do what he could not. Am I the next phoenix? "What is my destiny?" I ask. I need to know what they expect me to do.

"Your destiny is to assemble the Phoenix Heart Stone. It keeps the world in balance and is a symbol of hope for the factions. Its power is not hope but life and death. It can create life or take it. The stone is both light and dark, maintaining the balance. You cannot have light without darkness and vice versa."

"Over 5,000 years ago, the stone was taken. Only a phoenix can touch the stone, so when it was taken, the stone broke into five stones- Moonstone, firestone, balance stone, sunstone, and obsidian. Each stone represents something."

"Moonstone, the moon. Fire stone, fire. Balance stone, balance. Sunstone, light. Obsidian, darkness. These are all elements that make up the stone. They must be assembled in order."

"The first stone you must find is the moonstone."

"Many people want to find these stones for their own gain. Lucian, the Demon King, is after you. Seddrick put a barrier up separating humans from the supernatural creatures, but Lucian has found a way through. He has been sending his demons, shadows, and hellhounds after you."

"It is imperative you find the stones before he does and never fall for his charms. As long as the stones are out there, the balance and fate of the world are at great risk."

They all take turns explaining the grand importance of the Phoenix Heart stone to me. I thought I was overwhelmed before, but I was wrong. Now, I'm overwhelmed. "And when is this supposed to happen?" I ask.

"The stone can only be fully assembled during a total planet alignment during a full moon. We will be taking you across the barrier to Valenwood when Raya has taken her form." Uncle Blake answers my question.

"We couldn't be sure when Raya would rise. Though we knew it would be by the time you turned nineteen. The sphinx, Raphael foretold it." Archer explains. "Sphinx?" I question. What the hell else exists?

"Yes, a sphinx. The sphinx are oracals. They're usually tasked with politics. Councils use them to communicate with the gods. Almost every royal family is allied with one." Landon provides. "So, I'll turn into a giant flaming bird on my birthday?" I ask, unsure how to feel about all of this. It's a lot to take in.

"That's what we assume will happen, yes. Sierra, you must gloss over this information. The stone is needed, and you are what sets the balance straight." Aunt Heather says as if finding this stone will be the most important thing I could ever do. It definitely put a lot of pressure on my mind. I'm not sure I can even do this.

"Why can't we just go now?" I ask, wondering why I have to wait for Raya to take her true form. "Because you can only cross over the barrier without consequence once you have fully shifted." They explain.

"Then how will you cross?" I've always been a very curious one and a sucker for details. Even now, with all the craziness and overwhelming amount of information, I still need those details. "When you cross over the barrier will weaken. Once it is weakened, we can pass through." Landon answers.

It seems like the fate of the world rests solely on my shoulders. Talk about pressure. I feel like there are people out there better qualified for this. I'm just a girl who has done nothing with her life. Can I even do this?