Reading Between the Lies

Chapter 7

Alaric’s POV

What… a… f***ing… night. I had absolutely ZERO f***ing clue that she was unaware of who she truly was. I can’t help but feel responsible for all of this. I also had no idea about the history with my father. Why didn’t he tell me about any of this? I should have been made aware of this before I took over for him. All he basically said to me was “oh hey there was a war… I took care of it though.” Like it was some normal Tuesday to him. I’ve got to do some digging on everything. I still feel like I’m not getting the full picture.

“Alpha, can I get clearance for my men to come onto the pack lands? They have been staying in the city.”

“Sure thing, I’ll contact the gate and patrols and let them know of their arrival. I’ll have one of the maids prepare some rooms as well.”

“Thank you.” I replied and headed for my room to meet the guys.

In my room I can’t help but pace back and forth. She has to be beside herself at this point. I just want more than anything to be there with her. She said she wants to be alone, and I respect that. I just don’t like it. I have this urge inside me to go to her and ease any pain she is feeling. I hate how our meeting happened. She deserved better than that. As much as I want to blame it all on the mutt, I have to take some responsibility. I was so deep in thought I almost missed the change in the air when a portal opened.

“Dude, what the hell did you do?” Said my right hand man, Hollis, not even trying to hide the little chuckle nor his amusement at my misery.

Hollis has been my best friend since I can remember. His father was a part of my fathers council during his reign, so incidentally we trained together. He was the only one in our class who came close to matching my skill, and I was the only one that would put up with his crap. Thus, a friendship was born.

“Don’t even start right now - I really don’t need a lecture from the moral high ground.”

“Hey… that’s Mr. Moral high ground to you. Anyway I wasn’t going to give you a lecture. Just trying to wrap my mind around it all. I mean you were the one who said over and over and over - we are not here to make a spectacle, the wolves are already going to be expecting the worse by our mere presence. Let’s not give reason to stereotype” he replied in a mocking manner. I could see the struggle not to roll his eyes.

“I know, I know. I just saw what that mutt did to her, without her knowledge might I add, then he started to reach for her again and I just saw red. I just…”

“Hey” he interrupted with his hands up in a surrendering stance “no shame in the game brother man. If it were me, dude would be a statue. Oh… no no no no no better yet, I would …”

“Okay let’s just stop before you go down a dark path.”

“Damn buzzkill.”

We laughed. Then I get a knock on my door. I open it to see Jace and Pierce. They are my most trusted warriors and friends. I started to get worried when I see a pained and worried look on both of their faces. I instantly know it’s about Mia. I run to her room. There is a crowd surrounding her bed. Her parents, brother , beta…the mutt… and another older man who I assume is the pack dr.

“What happened!” I yell as I walk up to her bedside. The dr is still looking over her and I notice she is pale and her eyes are clouded over. She looks almost frozen.

“Your majesty, she suffered a seizure then remained in this state afterwards. I want to take her down to my office to run some more tests.” The dr replied.

“A seizure?how the hell did she have a seizure?” I look around and see Isaac looks a little guilty. “What happened?” I say as I walk over to him.

“I-I- I don’t know. I came in to check on her and she was fine. I mean she was very upset with everything going on. She went through the envelope and was reading the letter. There was a necklace on her bed from the envelope and I put in on her. She smiled but then next thing I knew, her eyes rolled back and she just started having a seizure.”

“There was a letter? In the envelope from her mother?” I asked still very anxious.

“Yeah she said her mother wrote her a letter about her being meant for Great things. Then there was the necklace sitting on the bed and I thought it might cheer her up so I put it on her.”

“What the hell” I said in between breaths running my fingers through my hair and over my face “none of this makes sense she can’t… wait… wait a damn minute.” I walk over to her. I have a hunch. I kneel down by her bed and grab the necklace and clap it in my hands. I can feel power radiating through it.

“Revela os teus segredos, ostende quid abscondis” I begin reciting a spell to figure out the magic in the necklace.

“Wait wait wait- what is he doing?” I can sense Isaac move closer to me.

“Dude uh uh get back! Let the man work! He’s trying to figure out what the hell is going on!” I hear Hollis snap at him.

“Revela os teus segredos, ostende quid abscondis - Revela os teus segredos, ostende quid abscondis - “Revela os teus segredos, ostende quid……” I start to see something. It doesn’t make any sense. Then feel myself get sucked in.

I’m in a dark void. It feels like a place between the real world and the beyond. I feel like I’m attached to the earth but floating away at the same time. I look around and yell after Amelia, hoping she is in the same place.

“Hello Alaric.” I hear a voice. It sounds like Mia, but no quite. I turn and see a woman standing in front of me. She feels familiar.

“Who are you?”I ask. She then gives me a gentle smile and a soft chuckle that I almost missed.

“I’m to understand you are my daughter’s mate?”

No f***ing way!

“Natalie? How - how is this possible?”

“When your father muted her wolf and vampirism, he placed them into the necklace. We had to conceal them in a place no one would know about. There are too many evils lurking. Some hiding in plane sight.” She said with a pained expression. “Ideally her powers should have been placed by a witch to ease the transition. But…looks like she’s doing it the hard way.”

“What do you mean hard way. What’s going on?”

“When Isaac placed the necklace around her, that broke the seal of the spell , now her wolf and vampirism are finding their way back to her. You need to help guide her through it. The fact that you are her mate will make for an even smoother transition. She is in this state because it’s all too much for her body to handle, so it just shut down.”

“My father never mentioned anything. He died along side with you. I had no knowledge of any of this. How can I….” She held her hand up to me to stop.

“You know what needs to be done. It’s a basic transfer spell. I have taught you well.” Tears threaten to coke out when I hear a painfully familiar voice. My father. I turn behind me and give him a hug, not wanting to let go.

“I’m sorry I left with no warning. It had to be done. The cause was too great, the consequences were greater.”

“I understand, I just don’t want to lose her, I just found her.”

“You can do this.” He gave me a knowing look. I do know what I need to do. She may just hate me after.

“Okay thank you, but I have one last question. If you died… why are you here?”

She looked up at me and chuckled. She walked over to me and grabbed my hands into hers.

“Go to her, help her through this.”

She starts to walk away.

“But wait you didn’t answer my…”

My father swings his hand around and moves it toward me in a pushing motion. I’m suddenly blown by a gust of wind and bright back to real time. The first face I see so Hollis hovering over me with a concerned look. I look around the room and it looks unfamiliar.

“Where am I?” I ask confused.

“He lives!” Is the response I get from him “bro I have no idea what’s going on but your and your mate are perfect for each other.

“What do you mean?” I ask furrowing my brows.

“Dude your eyes got all cloudy and swirly like Mia’s. The dr wanted to bring you to the pack hospital. Mia is right next door.”

“Oh s**t! Mia!”

I took off running to her room. She still lays in the same state she was before. I know what I need to do now. Her mother walks up to me.

“Do you know what’s happening?

“I do… the necklace contained her wolf and vampirism. When the necklace was placed on her all of that came rushing back to her. Her body is going into shock. It’s too much all at once. I can get her out of it, but I need the room. It’s going to be a pretty big spell. And then…another big thing”

…………………………………………………

Mia’s POV

Okay…this is creepy.

“Hello… anyone there!” I yell. I think I’m alone. I’m in a black void. It’s so quiet I can here my own heart beating. I walk around hoping to find something or someone. I feel like I’ve been here for hours. I’m going to go insane.

I walk a little further and I see a light. Holy crap! Am I dead?!

“No sweetheart you’re not dead.” I hear a soft voice and a chuckle.

“Who is that?!” Okay…officially creeped out now! I feel a hand lay on my shoulder. It’s a warm and familiar touch. I slowly turn around and I’m not even sure what I’m seeing is true.

“Aunt Natalie?!” She smiles “ Mother?” I correct myself. She nods.

“Listen child” she places both hands on either side of my arms “ I need you to listen. Alaric is going to wake you up in just a few moments. You are getting your wolf and vampirism back. You need to be careful who you trust about who you are. No one can be trusted. You are destined for great things. I know it.” She brushed the tears I didn’t know I had shed off of my face.

“Mom, I’m scared.”

“Shh shh shh I know, I know. This is a lot. But you can handle it. Alaric will be by your side and help you through it all.” She kisses my forehead and suddenly I’m blown away by a gust of wind. I open my eyes and see Alarics Face. It’s like I’m seeing him for the first time.

I feel and energy push through me. Then a growl erupts from my mouth along with the words

“MINE!”