Hidden Little Secret

Hello, my name is Chloe Phoenix and this is my story. I'm a half Mermaid, half Lynx shifter. When I was born I did not know what my other half was. As my mother explained it to me; my father human and was killed before I was born. There was not another word ever said about him, any time I asked that was the story. As I got older I stopped asking but I knew there was more to it. You see my mother still lived close enough to her birth pod that they allowed me to learn from them. It was rough and I could only go for half the day before I would have to leave and return home. My mermaid form was not stable enough for more than half a day. Almost all my life it was that way and I never was able to make friends in the pod. My life in human school was not much better. Everyone said I always smelt like fish when I would come to school. Eventually my mom agreed that I could go to human school first part of the day and then the pod the rest. That made things a bit easier in highschool. Still my mom said that Mermaids had a special bond that they would feel for someone when they became of age. That never came for me, I became of age at sixteen when my mermaid form stayed a bit more stable. I could stay under for a whole day finally and the pod was happy. Yet none of the mermen were my special bond. They called it a pearl. Your pearl, I have heard some of the wolves in the pack near the house mention their mates. I'm guessing its similar to that. The wolves went to human school as well and nobody knew anything different. The wolves knew I was part Mermaid and yet they knew something was off. They couldn't quite place it and so nobody ever said anything. The Alpha's son of the neighbor pack tended to protect me from the human bullies and I thought it was sweet. We dated for a few but he found his mate before long and I was understanding. That was his pearl technically and I would not get in the way of happiness. Eventually when I was home after highschool I started to be more curious about my father and while Iw as searching the attic found this box of his things. I never got to look in it as my mother quickly came up and found me. She never found that I had the box though and for years it traveled with me. When I went to human college in Florida and then when I found a job near the college. Things were going great. Now I was twenty two and found myself working and this god of a man walked into the coffee shop I was working at. I still went to college I just lived and worked off campus now. This man walked right over to me and it was absolutely crazy, he talked to me. Not many men had shown an interest in me at this College and I wasn't looking for a relationship anyway. One thing led to another and within a few months we were moving in together. More like he was moving in with me. I saw no red flags for years. Not even when he got a phone call one night and stormed out. Coming back an hour later fumming and starting to drink. He never explained what had happened for days just ignoring me and not coming home. I was confused and then got a text that said "I'm sorry about the other day. My ex called about the kids we have and things got heated." I was so confused about that. Not once had he mentioned he had children or an ex wife. Another red flag that I just waved off because I was niave and in love. I knew he wasn't my "pearl" but I wanted to make him my chosen one. He was a wolf himself but I could tell like me he was a bit more than wolf. I truley believed him to be good. Until my ex from back home messaged me. He was inviting me to his Alpha naming ceremony and hoped I could go. We started talking about old times and he was so excited about his mate becoming his Luna now that his father was retiring. Nothing bad, nothing flirty. Everything was purely innocent. Yet he came home drunk for the first time in months and I set my phone down for a minute to get a drink from the kitchen. That was the last time I did that, since I came back and it was thrown at my head. He started yelling and screaming throwing more things at me and I just retreated. My mom and her pearl never acted this way, my step dad was a nice man this was not how love was supposed to be. I knew that yet I felt stuck, I couldn't leave. He threatened to kill me if I left and if i ever talked to my ex again. I tried to defend myself and he threw me against a wall. I broke the wall and just stood there. Thankfully all I needed to do was go to the ocean. Since we lived on the beach it was rather easy to heal again. Mermaids healed faster in the water than on land, so for a whole day I was in the ocean. It only got worse as the months went on and just recently I felt off. Something was wrong. I took a test and boom, two little lines indicating my worst fear had came true. I had to find a way out for myself and my child. I had always wanted to be a mother but not like this, yet getting rid of it never crossed my mind. Instead I had a feeling I should look in my father's box, the one I kept in the back of my closet so Anthony would never see it. In the box I found a letter written to me. "Dear daughter If you are reading this then I hope you started to show signs of your lynx and your mother did the right thing. You see me and your mother were college sweethearts. I had yet to find my mate and she had yet to find her pearl. Yet the day we found out she was pregnant with you we both found our matches. It was absolutely crazy because they were a couple as well and we all just looked at each other. My mate was not currently pregnant but your mother was. Theres a special thing us Lynx shifters can do when we find our mate and they are newly pregnant. I cant explain it to you because its not been explained to me. The alpha and his family know and tell everyone stuck in that situation about this. Mermaids dont have that so your step father manned up and took her even though she was pregnant and it was against mermaid law to have a child with someone outside your pearl. He claimed you though, and nobody in your pod knew anything so your mom told me in the single letter she sent me. I am in a pack in Ohio if you ever end up in that area. If you are ever in trouble or even want to get to know your father and your other family send a letter here. I will come for you. Make sure to leave a return address, altough I can find you based on scent as well. I hope to hear from you soon my daughter." Tears were streaming down my face at the end of the letter. My mother lied to me all of my life, my step father too. Everyone in the pod had been utterly confused when me a daughter of two supposed mermaids couldn't maintain their form for very long. Then it came out I was half human and my mother had been shunned to live in the human world. I sent a letter with three words, "father please help" and the next day while Anthony was at work a knock came. I was scared but eventually opened the door. The gentleman was tall and muscular, he said he was the Delta of the pack and he had come to bring me to my father. I packed very few things since most of this had turned into his things. Then with my two suitcases and a backpack we loaded up into his car. I could almost see as we pulled away Anthony getting home. My phone was blowing up for the next few hours as we drove to my father's pack. Eventually I just threw the phone out the window as I would not need it again. I could get a new one and get all my numbers back. The only thing I had was my tablet that I wrote and drew on which is how I also made extra income. I had turned it on airplane mode till I can move all my important stuff and wipe it clean so he can't track it. I fully believed he would try and find me, he was crazy after all and he probaly knew I was hiding something. He had not been home since I found out which had been a blessing. Out for a work trip. The trip lasted a few days with a few stops to sleep at night. Once we passed the border to the pack my breathing hitched. The omega stopped the car and pulled my arm from my chest. He bit his finger and then cut my wrist with his nail. Putting his blood into my own body and my breathing calmed down. "It won't be a permanet solution unless the alpha accepts you to the pack. However It will help you not feel overwhelmed. Outsiders that come into the pack often find themselves heavy with the power our alphas hold. They made the border so any outsiders would feel heavy and hard to breathe. Makes it easier to find them." I nodded as he continued to drive and it was easier to breathe. The explaination was helpful and I was thankful for it. Eventually we made it to what the Delta said was the pack house. "This is where your father and his family stay. Which is your family as well now, he has already explained the situation to the Alpha. Who is new by the way." Sounded like my ex just taking over his pack. I wonder if they knew the wolf packs in California. They were after all as my father said it Lynx Shifters. Well most of them, some of the shifters have their mates from other shifter packs, which are other animals. They all live happily here since most packs dont accept each other if they are different species. At least thats what the Delta had explained on the way here. I got out of the car and was immediately hit with something and as I looked down it was a girl about six with the same Red hair I had. My mother and step father had black hair but I had auburn hair which I now know comes from my father. "Dad it's her! My sister! I have an actual sister! I can smell she is part mermaid! dad you didn't tell us that! I have a mermaid for a sister????" My half sister said after pulling herself off me. I couldn't help but chuckle. "That is not all I can smell my dear Primrose." A man said walking out of the pack house. He was tall muscular and had tattoos on both arms. He looked identical to the pickture I saw in the box. I couldn't help it as my legs pulled me towards him and my eyes filled with tears. I lunged myself into his arms and he wrapped his own around me. I took in his scent, something I now know I could do because I was part Lynx shifter. "I can tell you have my grandkit growing inside you. I cant smell what hybrid it is but It's going to be strong. Things will get better maybe your pearl or mate will be here. We have a mermaid pod not far from us by the shore. They own a fishing company and the pod leader is about to retire like our alpha just did." My father said as the Delta got my stuff from the car. "Not much packed is there more coming later?" "No that's everything I didnt have much and needed to get out of that house before..... he came home." Wait I just knew his name a minute ago what happened. "Before who came home?" My father asked and I just shook my head. "I can't remember his name all of a sudden." My father took in my words and somehow understood. "No need! Things will be sorted out he cant get here anyway. I will introduce you to the Alpha in the morning, he is out hunting right now. Said he felt something was off and needed to vent some anger. Not sure but he is a new alpha and thus prone to worry and anger. I am his current beta till my son comes of age to take over. Although if the Alpha accepts you into the pack and I train you, you could become beta. You are my eldest after all." As we walked through the pack house I tried to take everything in. The first floor was the common area where all the pack mingled. The second floor was for the maids and omega's that were unmated. Mated couples had their own homes away from the pack house. Technically my father also had his own house outside of the pack house, but they also had a floor in the pack house. That was the fourth floor, the third being for the Delta. Most if the time my father's floor was used for training he said. I took it all in and finally was told the top floor is for the Alpha and his family. The previous Alpha just left the pack house to stay with his Luna in their own house. The top floor belonged to the Alpha and his siblings now. "Right now here is your room." My father said with a smile as he opened a door on his floor. The room was a little bare but I did only just send my letter yesterday. It was quite fast for him to show up, I assumed the post office would take a few days. "This is your room. It's a little bare but It was short notice. You said help I sent the Delta. You don't have to tell me now but I do need to know tomorrow morning before you meet with the Alpha. You can roam around town if you would like nobody will mess with you. I can tell the Delta gave you his scent but here." My father came over and did the same thing the Delta did to me. "This should help more. I'm a bit closer to the Alpha but nobody will mess with you. Take some time and get settled in. The night life here is crazy everyone is always busy." With that my father basically dragged my little sister out of the room. I took my bag and suitcase and put them on the queen sized bed. It had a black sheet on it and a few pillows. I was just happy for things that did not have... his scent on it. I'm so angry that I cant remember his name now. I could picture his face perfectly but not his name. How was that possible? After putting my stuff down and getting my tablet out I sat at the desk which was in front of a big window. The town was gorgeous and I could see how happy everyone was. My room overlooked the town instead of being on the otherside overlooking a courtyard. Or so dad explained, he wanted me to see the city more so than the courtyard. Well I could figure out my tablet stuff later. It wouldn't hurt to roam the town would it? And with that I put my boots back on and left the pack house.