Her Awakening

Her Awakening Pt 5

Would you like to join in this conversation?” Reese growled down at Oriana. A smile lighting is face as she let out the cutest squeak and jumped in surprise. She sat her plate aside and tried standing, but he could tell she was wrung out from the events of this evening. When she stumbled, he reached out to catch and steady her. The shock of touching her skin was both electrifying and terrifying at the same time. He sensed her tense at his touch and immediately released her and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m sorry.” Was all he could manage to mumble before heading back in and slouching into the armchair by the fire. He was lost in his own thoughts about the mysterious creature who now sat across from him with her mother at her side.

Oriana looked anxiously from her mother to the man across from her. Had she really heard, right? Was this man her father? How could that be?

The man, Philip, cleared his throat and leaned forward towards her. “Oriana, your mother is speaking the truth. I am your father, and I am the Alpha of the of the Winter Moon Clan. The charming gentleman next to me is Reese, the future Alpha to our clan.” He gestured to the male who was now sulking and staring intently into the fire.

“I don’t understand.” Oriana whispered. “My father died in a raid after I was born. There’s a memorial for him and the others that didn’t make it back.” She turned to her mother. “Mom?”

“I had to protect you. I had no way of knowing what the outcome would be, but when you were slow to quicken, my suspicions grew, but I still hoped that you would follow in my path. I should have told you sooner, prepared you better for what happened tonight.” She looked away from Oriana, and a tear escaped her eye.

“ So you see,” said Philip. “You are special. You are a hybrid of witch and werewolf. And while your magic has yet to awaken, your wolf has, and she will be your greatest teacher. With time, your magic may also awaken, and that is what we must try to contain.”

“But I don’t understand why?” Oriana was still grasping for sense, for 2 and 2 to equal 4, but it was all a tangled mess.

“You’re a rarity.” Reese growled. “You are a 1 in a 1000, but also, you are reasonably sane. Most hybrids rarely make it past birth, and those that do end up losing their minds when they hit 13. It’s too much power, too much fear. It’s just too much.” He sighed. “If this gets out to other covens and clans, you will be a target, a tool they’ll want to use and abuse.” Different emotions were flashing across his face. His eyes seemed to glow in the dim light.

“But I can’t even use my magic! I have no magic!”

“Yet.” Philip injected.

“Your powers could awaken as your wolf grows stronger.” Melody added. “Only time will tell, but I will consult with the seers on this matter. They may have more, shall we say, outlook on this situation.”

“So, now what?” Oriana asked even though she had a vague idea of what may be the next step.

“You will come to live with me and my clan, or I should say our clan. You are my blood and, therefore, a member of the Winter Moon Clan.” He smiled then, a true genuine smile that sparked a warmth in her that she had never felt. “Not only are you a member of our clan, you are officially a princess in our court.”

Oriana stared at the Alpha sitting across from her. There was no way he was seriously, her, a princess? It was almost laughable.

“You’re not serious? You can’t be serious?” She shook her head in disbelief.

“I know you find all this hard to believe, but it is the truth. Your mother was devastated by the death of her first husband, and the twins were so young that she didn’t know where to turn, and the treaty between our two families has stood for generations. It seemed natural for her to call on my family for help and protection until she came into her own as the newest member of the counsel.” Philip reached across and gently placed his hand on Oriana’s. “It was never our intention for any of this to happen. It is so rare for our kind to reproduce with others that when we found out…Well to say we were shocked would be an understatement. We had no idea what to or how to plan. Even the seers hadn’t seen this coming. You are so rare and so special. You must be protected.”

There was a sincerity in his eyes, and she felt herself begin to trust him. Maybe her life could be better in the Winter Moon Clan. She already felt more accepted by this stranger than she ever had in the coven. And what if what they said was true. She would continue to shift, and that would not be easy to hide from the other members. As soon as reports of a giant wolf began to circle, the guards would be on high alert, and her strange power would set off the wards that had been placed around their borders. The more she thought about it, the better it was sounding. It was definitely better than being exiled and on her own. She could learn and grow her power and maybe even find her mate. Yet something else she had failed at since becoming an adult.

She signed and looked to her mother, “I….” She grabbed her mother’s hand. Melody looked at her with worry in her face. “I think Philip, erm, Dad is right. I need to learn about myself, and I can’t learn that staying here with the coven.”

Sadness and relief crossed her mother’s face. “I’m so sorry it had to come out like this. If I thought it through, I would have prepared you better.” A tear fell from her eye. She wiped it away and stood to grab a handkerchief from the side table.

“If there is anything you would like to bring with you, I will give you time to collect them, but I would encourage you to be quick. We need to return before daybreak.” Philip nodded to Oriana. “Reese, would you accompany Oriana to her room and help her get ready?”

And dark shadow passed across Reese’s eyes, but he stood and strolled from the room. Oriana hesitated ⁶a moment but rushed after him.