The Alpha’s Dark Heritage

Chapter 3

***Nina***

I knocked on the door once, startled when it opened by itself.

“Come in, Nina,” Grandma Frances called from the other side, her voice accompanied by the sound of something clattering to the floor.

“Is everything alright?” I asked, pushing the door open wider.

“Yes, I believe it is. I’m just trying to find something,” she replied, her tone breezy but somewhat distracted.

“Did you need help? I can help you find whatever it is,” I offered, noticing she immediately froze, her expressions shifting.

“Oh,” she began, her brow furrowing in concentration. “That offer is great, but I don’t quite know what I’m looking for.” She looked at me with a seemingly lost expression.

I arched my brows in confusion. It was clear something was on her mind, and not just the task at hand. As she continued to scan the room, I wondered whether she might be under another forgotten spell. Just as I was about to voice that concern, she spoke again.

“Never mind what I’m looking for. I’m sure I’ll remember when I find it. You seem to be in need of my help. How can I help you?” Frances asked, as if she hadn't just forgotten what she was searching for.

“Um, my gift of sight,” I replied, deciding to tackle one issue at a time. “Did Grandma Alice ever see through the eyes of another? Maybe a sibling?” I questioned as she settled into the nearest chair.

“No, dear, she never had siblings. It was just me, her, and..” Frances trailed off, her expression turning vacant again.

“You, Alice, and who?” I prompted, encouraging her to continue.

“Oh, right. Just me and Alice. I, too, never had any siblings; we were all we had.” She added, “She never mentioned that her gift allowed her to see through another’s eyes, especially a sibling.”

A defeated sigh escaped me as she continued. “However, what you’re describing aligns with what the Gemini Coven can do. The twins within their coven possess the ability to see through each other’s eyes. It’s the reason why twin leaders merge on their coming-of-age. They’re known for channeling astrological events, but the leader channels the energy of their twin the moment they merge. Those twins who share the connection can act like spies before the merge of course.”

“The twin bond,” I echoed, processing her words. “That explains it,” I whispered to myself as I noticed her get up from her seat.

“If that’s all, I need to find something,” she said with a smile, moving towards a drawer.

“What exactly are you looking for?” I asked, unable to suppress my curiosity.

“Just something important to help me remember Alice,” she said, humming a tune as she rummaged through the drawer.

I studied her carefully. In the year I’d spent with her, I had never heard her hum a tune, nor had I seen her appear so forgetful.

“Are you alright? Do you need help?” I pressed, concern creeping into my voice. She shook her head.

“If it’s important to you, I can help,” I offered again.

“That won’t be necessary. It’s something I must find on my own.”

“How can you find something you can’t even identify?” I challenged gently, wanting to ensure she wasn’t losing her mind to age.

With a sigh, she looked up at me. “Since we undid the forgotten spell, I remember many things, but there are still blank pieces in my memory. Before you say it, I’ve considered the possibility of being under another forgotten spell. I’ve already tried to see if that was the case. I don’t know what it is, but I feel like something is missing. I will know what it is once I find it, Nina. I know that much.” She gave me a small, reassuring smile.

I walked over to her and took her hand in mine. “Okay. But if you do need help finding whatever it is, don’t hesitate to ask me.”

“I will. Oh, and you should get going. That mate of yours is waiting for you. He called me an hour ago; he’s worried that you haven’t called him back. Also, Why aren’t any of your brothers answering his calls? He did mentioned Nevins did this morning but hasn’t called him back after saying he would find you.” She raised an eyebrow, and I sighed.

“I believe they all have their own mate problems,” I admitted, keeping it honest.

“That makes sense. Summer left to fulfill her duties, and Asher is worried for her safety. Sally hasn’t spoken to Isaac for a year, which has him perpetually smelling like vodka nowadays. Has Nevins found his mate?” Frances’ eyes sparkled for a second; she understood the joy of finding a mate.

“I don’t know, but the last time I asked him a few weeks ago, I didn’t get a solid answer. But the aura radiating from him suggested otherwise,” I replied, feeling a hint of optimism.

“Ah, so the boys are all struggling in paradise,” she said before returning to her search of the drawers.

“We all have trouble in paradise,” I murmured to myself, remembering the secret council’s expectations that kept my mate and me apart.

The same would go for Isaac and Sally, should they ever reconcile. I wondered what Nevins’ situation was regarding his own mate as I stepped out of the room, leaving Grandma Frances lost in her search for an unknown object.