The First Chimera.

Chapter 3

Xander's POV

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I have gone through school on auto-pilot, Zane's words from this morning on loop in my head, and even Erebus has been quiet.

We've both been watching how our peers treat Ria, and I'm ashamed of myself that he's right.

All throughout the day I've kept an eye on her, seen how she's degraded and humiliated by her peers. Lunch was an eye opening experience as I watched my sister, Jayla, Tao, Orianna, Dakota's little sister, and Sam's younger brother's Slade and Nero, shun Ria.

I'd watched as Ria had walked into the cafetiere, the stench of at least five she-wolves clinging to her, fresh scratch marks and bruises across her cheeks, on her neck and down her arms, she grabbed a sandwich and bottle of water before she walked back out. She didn't stop by to speak to anyone, no one called out to her, no friends called her over to sit with them. None of our siblings even took notice of her, and Kota had to physically restrain Zane when he too spotted the marks.

The guilt I've carried for six years grew heavier, because Zane was right. I gave everyone permission to bully her. I outted her as a mix-breed, a secret our Beta has kept closely guarded.

Now, I'm standing outside my father's office.

"Time to face the music," I tell Erebus who sighs. He doesn't need to reply, I can already feel his shame just as I feel mine. I knock twice and wait, I can scent Beta Chase, Gamma Austin and Delta Kyle inside and stifle a groan.

"Come in Xander," my father's deep voice rumbles and opening the door, I close it behind me. The four men who protect our kingdom look up at me from a map splayed out across the large mahogany desk.

"Is now a bad time?" I ask, hoping they'll say yes, what with Ria's celebration tonight.

"No, we're not getting anywhere new, and Rai's party isn't for another..." my father checks his watch and smiles, his genuine love for his best friend's adopted daughter shining through.

"Three hours Zav, my little girl's growing up" Beta Chase chuckles getting up to grab everyone a glass of whiskey from the mini bar in the furthest corner of my father's office. An office that'll be mine one day.

"Right, ah, I need to talk about Ria actually," a look passes between the four men and my dad waves me over to one side of his office and an armchair. Beta Chase hands me a glass, and then passes everyone else's theirs before sitting in front of me, his expression serious.

"What about my daughter?" I take a sip of my drink, my throat as dry as a desert.

"She's getting bullied," I say, and my dad frowns, his lips pressing into a hard line.

"And what reason do they have for bullying my pup," Espen growls, Chase's eyes now amber instead of hazel.

"Easy Espen, let my son speak," Dad says, I go to open my mouth, the words on the tip of my tongue when my father's and his units eyes glaze over with a mind-link.

Erebus tenses when all four emmit low threatening growls. Beta Chase's next words stun us both into silence.

"When will that Alpha learn my daughter, Is, Not, For, SELL!" He bellows, both him and his beast enraged.

"Austin stay here with Chase, Kyle your with me. Let's go talk some sense into Alpha Rowan." My father snarls, his wolf, Comet, on the surface as he knocks back his whisky and stalks out the room. Delta Kyle hot on his heels as my father's aura crackles in the air, a living entity that blankets the packhouse, possibly the entire pack, with his displeasure.

"What's happening?" I ask, glancing between the two men left behind. Gamma Austin glances at our Beta, who paces dad's office growling, his eyes flashing between hazel and amber.

"Alpha Rown of the Crimson Moon Pack has claimed Ria is his mate, even though she's only sixteen. He's sunk low enough to offer "compensation" for claiming her so young. Your father has been handling it, but even the threat of being stripped of his rank and pack hasn't been enough to get the man to see sense. He'll probably be finding himself as a guest in our dungeons soon enough," a slight smirk tugs at the corner of his lips. Beta Chase chuckles, and grins.

"I'll make sure he enjoys his stay. No one claims my daughters, not without being claimed by them in return. A slimy Alpha like Rowan isn't worthy of a mate," The venom that drips off each word spoken sends a shiver down my spine.

"What were you looking at on the maps?" I ask in a bid to distract myself and Beta Chase from talk of his daughter.

"A group of rouges have been attacking random packs throughout the different kingdoms. We've been able to discern that the group is made up of rouges from each of the different races," Gamma Austin starts when Beta Chase cuts in.

"We don't know if Phoenix's are involved, nor Fae. We have learnt that there's no Sirens among the group thankfully," he frowns at the map and explains.

"The pins shows which races among the rogues attacked which area's and we have evidence that connects the group to your attempted kidnapping six years ago," a low rumbling growl fills the air and it takes me a moment to realise its coming from me.

"The group that tortured Ria?" Erebus asks somehow having pushed me back without me even noticing.

"Yes, we're attempting to discover the group's leader's identity and what their goal is. Your father has been in peace talks with the other races for the past ten years just so we can eradicate this one group. Unfortunately those peace talks haven't gone anywhere," Gamma Austin sighs and takes me through what they know already, and how the peace talks are proceeding while Beta Chase glares daggers at the map.

"We know what their goal is, we just don't know why," he mutters softly, so softly that even Erebus struggled to pick it up.

****

Rai's POV

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The celebration is just starting, and I'm standing beside Zane, our parents, Jayla and Tao as we greet pack members who wish me luck. The elderly pack members even commenting how the goddesses will bless me with a special wolf. Theia puffs her chest out a little at that and I giggle at her, smoothing down the dark blue dress that clings to my curves before falling in soft layers to below my knees, highlighting the outline of my breasts while still being modest.

"Want to sneak out to our lake tonight?" Zane asks and I have to school my expression to keep the excitement bubbling in my chest hidden.

"Please, we've not had fun like that in nearly a year," which is true. Zane nods and I contain my girlish squeal, my beasts excitement of finally being able to be let out, to be free to be ourselves buzzing through my veins.

Dad smiles at me, his expression a little stiff while mom wipes tears from her eyes.

"Mom, dad are you OK?" I step over to them, only for our whole family to smush me in a group hug.

"We just love you is all sweetheart. My, you've grown into such a beautiful young woman," Mom says, cupping my cheeks and looking into my eyes, Freya purrs softly and my beasts, unable to stop themselves, purr back at the woman who raised us with so much love and care.

"Let me see your pretty eyes sweetheart, don't hide yourself from your family," she whispers and I release the glamma, keeping it in reach should I need it as my beasts push forwards. I stiffen at noticing how my skin shimmers, my magic trying to escape again.

"There's our beautiful girl," dad smiles at me, pride so evident in his eyes my beasts purr slightly louder.

"We get to finally see your wolf run around the pack freely now sissy," Jayla grins at me. Both her and Tao have never understood why I must hide what I am from the pack. They accepted it, but never understood it.

"I wish it was the same for all of you," Tao sighs sadly. Selkie pushes forwards, her siren purr causing shivers to travel through my family members.

"One day, brother," she promises him before retreating. Tao grins, out of my family he loves to swim with Selkie the most, and is the most adventurous with her games in the water. It was Selkie who taught both Jayla and Tao to swim when our parents took us away to a lake one year during the summer holidays.

As time passes, my nerves kick up and I fidget when Alpha King Zavior gains everyone's attention for a speech.

Yet it isn't the Alpha who gives the speech, it's dad who steps forward.

"Thank you everyone for joining our family in celebrating our eldest daughter's sixteenth birthday and the meeting of her wolf." He begins, and the pack quietens down to listen. Xander watches from beside his father, his expression troubled although I'm grateful he has restrained himself so I may celebrate with my family one pure wolf tradition.

"I cannot put into words how proud I am of Kimaria, she has brought so much joy into our lives. The day we adopted you, Ria, was one of the best days of our lives little one. Your mother fell in love with you the moment she saw you, and the moment your tiny hand gripped my finger I knew you were meant to be our child." He grins at me and I swallow back the tears as me and my beasts feel pure parental and sibling love flow to us through our bond.

" Zane and you have been a inseparable duo of giggling trouble, and when Jayla and later Tao came into our lives you took on the role of older sister with a childish seriousness that only bloomed over the years. I am sure your wolf will be as beautiful as you are and I can't wait for everyone to meet her," he finishes and mom hugs me.

"I bet your wolf is beautiful," Zane says before mom and Luna Queen Annabelle take me behind a screen so I can strip and shift without the eyes of teenage boys on me.

Mom runs her fingers down my spine tracing my birthmarks. The Luna cycle branded into my skin.

"The goddesses are with you sweetheart, your birthmarks are glowing brighter than normal," Luna Annabelle says softly and then we make a show for the gathered crowd.

Shifting is as easy as breathing for me, always has been, so pretending to cry out in pain as my mom creates noises that sounds like breaking bones makes me want to giggle.

Theia pushes forwards, the shift ripples through me like water until I'm peering through Theia's eyes, surrounded by the other parts of me.

Theia steps out from behind the screen, and the pack gasps in surprise. I know why, Theia is an Albino wolf, only a faint marking can be seen over her right eye outlined in silver fur, a crescent moon and star. Her eyes a sparking red, her nose, and pawpads pink, and she's as big as Alpha King Zavior's wolf, Comet.

Theia turns to look at the Alpha King and bows her head in respect. We don't submit, we can never submit, but we respect the man who has protected my secret, and loved me as an uncle.

"You are a beautiful wolf," he steps up and runs his fingers through my fur, Xander staring at me in shock.

Zane's Wolf, Kakoa nips Theia's ear and runs off. Not to be outdone, Theia gives chase, Espen and Freya joining us in a moment of family bonding.

That connection to the goddesses vibrates through my blood, through every cell in my body as a mind-link opens.

"Happy Birthday daughter of the moon." Three female voices I've known since birth whisper through the link, pride and love filling my chest as Theia throws her head back and lets out a howl of pure happiness.