Twisted Mate

Father's Love

Gabriel’s POV

I looked up as a knock sounded at the door; I called out for them to enter. I smiled as Elizabeth poked her head into the doorway.

“Is this a good time?” she asked me.

“Yea, of course, come on in. I wanted to talk to you about tonight and what you should expect. As you know, you should be completing your first shift at midnight tonight. Once you have completed your shift, I will be officially handing the title of Alpha over to you. Once that has been completed, the pack typically goes on a run together. Do you have any questions or concerns?”

I watch as Elizabeth shakes her head at me, “No, I think I understand how everything works.”

“I am sorry your father is not here to be passing the title to you. I know this is not what you expected. But I want you to know that I am proud of the woman you have become. I know you will lead the pack to great things.”

With that statement, I open my desk drawer; I have been holding onto this letter since the day Elizabeth was born. Benjamin and I both hoped that she would never need to receive it, but every werewolf writes this letter on the day of their child’s birth.

“It is time that I give this to you. I hope it brings you some peace Elizabeth; I know that your father loved you with all his heart.”

“Thank you, Alpha; I appreciate this. If you do not mind, I would like to go prepare for tonight.”

“Not at all, Elizabeth, and please, it is time that you start referring to me as Gabriel. I will not be your Alpha for much longer. I will see you an hour before the ceremony is to start.” With that, I tilt my head to the side slightly, indicating she may leave the room.

I feel a bit of a war beginning to wage in me. I have waited for this day for every minute of the last six years. I feel the thoughts I have been pushing to the corners of my mind for the last few years creeping to the surface.

I know it would be the cowards way out, but part of me wants to end it tonight. I want to see Olivia and our baby. I have been battling with these thoughts for some time. Conflicted with what my heart was yearning for and what my mind was trying to convince me of.

I gaze at Olivia’s picture on my desk, “sorry, my love, today is not the day. Someday soon, I believe we will be reunited at last.”

And with that I turn to my phone, I must ensure the final touches for tonight are in place. Usually, this would be the Luna’s job, but Adelaide rarely exits her room now. I hope for Elizabeth’s sake that she snaps out of her head soon.

Elizabeth’s POV

I stare down at the letter in my hands; I feel my rage beginning to boil and rise to the surface. I cannot believe Gabriel kept this from me. He saw me struggling to accept what happened, yet he chose to withhold this.

I turn the letter over in my hands, running my fingers on my name on the front of the letter. I recognize my father's handwriting, and I feel my guts knotting up.

I rush to my room, jarring the door open in my anger before I slam it shut behind me. I lean against the door, struggling to hold the tears at bay while I sink to the floor. I know that I need to read my father's letter.

I need to see his final words to me. I yank the letter open with my hands in my hast to read the letter. I stare at my hands, forcing myself to open it slowly, I would be devastated if I damaged his letter.

Taking a deep breath, I open the pages, imagining my father's soothing voice as I read his words to me.

My dearest Elizabeth,

I know that if you are reading this letter, I am no longer with you. It breaks my heart to think that someday you may find yourself reading this. I want you to know that I love you with all my heart baby girl. You were the greatest gift I have ever received. I hope that I will get to watch you grow into the amazing woman I know you will be, but if that is not meant to be, know that I will be watching over you always. I pray that your first shift happens peacefully and that you take over our pack with the grace I have worked to instill in you. Seek peace for our pack, my sweet little girl. I pray that the Moon Goddess leads you to your other half just as she led me to your mother. I pray that you love him with all of your heart and that you have an amazing life with him. I will always be watching over you and doing my best to protect you from the evils of this world. Please do not mourn me little one. Even if I am not there with you in person, I will always be in your heart. I will always be watching over you and guiding.

                                                                                               With all my love,

                                                                                                                  Daddy

I feel the tears pouring down my face, I know my father loved me, but it is so easy to forget that when he is gone. I hope that I am able to make his proud tonight.

My tears and my grief lull me into a hazy sleep-like state. I do not want to let my body succumb to the sleep entirely out of fear for the nightmares.

I awaken with a start; at some point, my body had given in to the need for sleep. I know something or someone held the nightmares at bay, and for that, I am grateful.

I look to my window and let out a shriek; I had somehow slept the entire day away curled up in front of my door. It was now pitch black outside. I knew I had not slept past the full moon as one of two things would have woken me up.

Gabriel or my body forcibly shifting for the first time. There is no escaping the first shift; it will happen whether we want it to or not. Thankfully after the first shift, we are able to control when we want to shift.

I stand up and walk over to my bed; I need to see the time and determine how long I have to get ready for tonight. I know it will not take me long to get prepared, but I also do not want to rush. I am becoming the Alpha of the Crystal Blood Pack tonight and do want to look my best.

I am shocked to find that it is already 10:00 pm, but I know that an hour will be plenty of time for me to get ready. I walk towards my bathroom, determined to take a quick shower. I know I did nothing strenuous today, but there is just something about being fresh out of the shower.

I do not allow myself to linger tonight, washing my body and hair quickly before exiting the shower. Wrapping one towel around my body, I begin to pull my hair through another towel as I walk towards the mirror.

I decided that I will take the time braid my hair and apply a little makeup for tonight. I typically avoid makeup, but I want to look my best tonight.

Once I am finished with my hair and makeup I walk over to my closet, I know that my dress for tonight will be hanging up waiting for me. It is the same dress that my mother wore the night she became Luna as well as the Luna before her and so forth.

I am the first female Alpha in our pack, but I wanted to continue the tradition my mother participated in since I will never be the Luna of my pack. I have no intention of turning my title over to my mate, whoever he may be, and if he thinks I will, he has another thing coming.

I slip the dress on over my head, originally the dress had buttons running down the back, but I had it altered slightly to suit me better. The back still has the buttons, but they have been sewn closed, and a zipper has been added to the side. This will allow me to get dressed without any additional help while maintaining the look of the dress.

I give myself one last look in the mirror before determining that I am as ready as I will ever be. As I am walking towards my door to leave for the ceremony, I hear a gentle knock on my door, pulling me from my thoughts.