Alpha's Heart Ana's Fate

CHAPTER 16: Echoes OF HOME

I stared at the woman. For a moment, I forgot about Greenwood. I Forgot about Corvin. I Forgot about the meeting.

I Forgot about the fear that had settled over the pack these past few days.

All I could think about were her words.

"But I knew your mother."

The woman stood patiently, giving me time to process them. "Please," I finally said, stepping aside. "Come in."

She nodded and entered my room. I closed the door behind us. The room suddenly felt smaller.

Not uncomfortable.Just full.

Full of questions. I sat across from her.

For several seconds neither of us spoke.

I studied her carefully. She had silver hair.

Kind eyes and age lines around her face.

Nothing threatening.Nothing unusual.

Yet somehow she carried pieces of my past. Pieces I didn't have.

“And you’ve been here ever since?”

“Yes.” she said. I leaned back. Attempting to picture this.

Someone who knew my family. Someone who knew my parents. Someone who led two different lives. And is present in mine. Hmm it was too good to be true.

“So you did know my mother?” “I did.” she said. There was no uncertainty in the way she said it.

For a while, we both remained silent. But then I asked what needed to be asked.

“What was she like?” The look on Mara’s face shifted instantly. Not sadness instead

It was warmth.

The type of warmth reserved for the person whom one loves very much.

“Oh, she was lovingly troublesome.”

I blinked. “What?” She smiled.

“She was quite a handful.” I stared at her.

This was definitely not what I was expecting.

“My mother?” “Yes.”

“You’re kidding me?”

“Nope, I’m dead serious.”

I couldn’t help but grin.

Mara proceeded to say more about my mother.

“She was unique and free with everybody.”

I was filled with excitement as I heard this.

“Nah.” “Yes.”

“Everybody?”

“Absolutely everybody.”

The smile that appeared on Mara’s face grew wider. “Elders.” “Warriors.” “Healers.”

“Even your own father.” I chuckled.

That was definitely not the image of my mother, It didn't fit the Luna I remembered.

The elegant luna, serene and fireless leader my mom was. To me she was a lady whom everyone admired.

Mara shook her head. "They remember the person that she used to be."

Silence."But not the person she became..."

It was this sentence that resonated deeply with me. Because somehow I realized how much I did not know my mom.

I knew my mother as Luna. As a leader.

As an icon. But not as a young girl.

Not as a friend. But as a daughter.

For a whole hour after that, Mara recounted tales. Short tales. Tales which were amusing of my Mom and Dad.

Tales which wouldn't make the history books. Tales of how my mother sneaked out of class.

Tales of my parents racing each other in the forest. Of my mom climbing up the tree and refusing to get down.

Of my mom, fighting warriors twice her size. Every tale was a present. A part of her. A part that I had never known before.

There were moments where I laughed so hard that tears rolled down my face.

Then there were other times where I looked away because I suddenly missed my mom too much.

Mara noticed this. But she said nothing, she let me feel it.. Soon we heard a knock on my door.

The knocking came without warning. I looked at the door. Seconds later it swung open.

Kieran entered the room. His gaze fell immediately on Mara. Then it changed.

There was a recognition. "Mara." He said.

She smiled. "Alpha Kieran." She said.

I looked from one to the other. "You two know each other?" Mara chuckled.

"I knew him when he was younger and shorter."

Kieran groaned instantly. I looked at him, surprised. "You were once short?"

"Don't encourage her Mara." Mara giggled.

"He used to hate being the shortest boy in Greenwood."

I gaped at him. "You really wow. I giggled loudly as I covered my mouth in a laugh."

"Not another word." That just made me laugh even harder. In the next few minutes, Mara regaled me with embarrassing tales about Kieran.

None of them really mattered. They were just human. And for the first time in days, I saw Kieran truly relax.

Not as an alpha. Not as a protector.

Just Kieran. Looking outside my room through the window, Greenwood looked happy and went on with its day.

Children raced down the paths.Warriors practiced. Workers carried goods..Life went on.

Not because everything was perfect.

But because life always goes on after chaos.

"I almost forgot.” Mara said as she reached into a small cloth bag she carried with her.

She took something out very carefully.

It was a bracelet. Simple.Hand-made.

And well-worn.

I gazed at it. “What is that?” Mara gave me a smile. “It belongs to your mother.”

I gasped.

I reached out for it slowly. As though it would vanish. The bracelet seemed light in my hands.

Weightless and yet somehow heavier than anything I'd ever held in many years.

“She made it herself.” Mara said. I traced my finger on it. Trying to picture my mom's hands when making it.

“since when did you have this?” I asked

Mara gave me a soft smile. “The summer before I left Cirgee.”

There was silence for a few seconds.

I just stared at the bracelet. Trying to imagine seeing my mom wearing it.

Trying to imagine all those years before my existence. All those years that shaped her into what she became.

Finally Mara rose. “I should go now.”

I felt disappointed. I was not ready to have her leave.

Not yet. But I knew. She had already done much more than I hoped. I took her towards the door, and we walked slowly. Kieran followed.

The night had become rather quiet outside. Lanterns lit the way. Whispers came from Greenwood.

Gentle but peaceful. Mara stopped for a moment before going out and smiled.

"Your father was a powerful Alpha."

I nodded. She continued talking..

"People were frightened of him."

Mara smiled again. "People respected him." "People despised him."

I listened intently. Everything was important to me now. Every little bit of it.

Mara suddenly chuckled. Then continued. "There was only one time when I saw your father truly frightened."

Immediately, I leaned forward. My father?

Frightened? That seemed impossible.

Even Kieran looked curious now.

"What happened?" I asked. Mara drew a breath slowly.

Her smile vanished a little.Then she said,

"It was the day he discovered that.."