Narrated by Elizabeth
I awaken as the car halts in front of a mansion, the first thing I do is to check if my friend is still by my side, he's still asleep, and little Matheus too. Mr. Vicenzo opens the door and invites me out. I wake Samuel and hold the little one in my arms. We exit the car, and I find myself staring at the entrance with a feeling that I recognize the place; I've seen it in several dreams I had about Athos.
"This is your home, it has always been and always will be," Vicenzo says warmly.
"I'm not sure I can believe what you say yet," I reply as I gaze at the house. I see a woman approaching, and when her eyes meet mine, it looks like she's seen a ghost.
"Elizabeth, this is Mel, your stepmother and the mother of little Matheus," I greet her and hand over the little one to her arms, feeling a sentiment that I can't quite trust her.
"Sir, I'm tired," I say, catching his attention.
"Follow me, I'll take you to your room," he invites. I grasp Samuel's hand and bring him along, he's the only one I trust at this moment, and I don't wish him to be far from me.
"This has been your room since you were a baby," he says, his eyes moist. I enter and feel as if I've been here before. Scattered toys and an unmade bed surround me, the scent is familiar. I see a blue rabbit on the bed, pick it up, and inhale; it smells like home. I can't yet trust anyone, but everything here is so familiar and comforting. I hope that this time it's real.
I request a mat for Samuel, he gets upset so I argue,
"I'm confused with everything that's happened and don't want to be away from the one person who has been honest with me until now," I plead. He nods in understanding and soon they bring what I've requested.
"Samuel, I don't want you to be far from me, okay?" He draws near and responds,
"I will never leave your side." That reassures me.
"I feel like I know this room," Samuel observes.
"Perhaps everything he said is the truth," he suggests, continuing to look around the room.
I explore the quarters and find a box filled with picture frames housing photos of me as a child.
"How do they have these pictures of me from childhood?" I ask, addressing Samuel.
"Maybe it's all true, but you just have to remember," he advises me seriously.
"Until I know who ripped me from my home, I won't trust anyone," I say, sitting on the bed, weary from the journey.
"Then sleep, my lovely. I'll stay by your side and watch over you," Samuel is a sweetheart. I lie down and soon, sleep carries me away...
Narrated by Samuel
After Elizabeth falls asleep, I wander to the living room looking for the Alpha but can't find him. I visit the kitchen to grab a snack for my beloved and encounter the guy who claims to be Elizabeth's mate. I greet him and ask the maid to prepare something for her.
"You're Athos?" I ask just to confirm.
"Yes, I shall be Elizabeth's beta, so leave her life once and for all," he says arrogantly. It becomes clear we'll have issues; he appears to care for Elizabeth, too.
"I'll only leave when she tells me she no longer wants me in her life," I retort and pick up the tray with Elizabeth's meal, leaving Athos to talk to himself. When I enter her room, she's still sleeping peacefully, I don't awaken her knowing she must be overwhelmed and exhausted. My father with my stepmother will arrive tomorrow morning.
She stirs and I stay close so she won't be frightened,
"Where am I?" she asks hesitantly, I hesitate before answering,
"You're at the Alpha's house—your father's," she looks at me with lost eyes, as if my words don't make sense.
"Eat, it's been a while since your last meal," she sits up and devours everything on her tray, hugs me, and I can't say I dislike it since I'm in love with her. She tells me she would have lost her sanity if it weren't for my support. I'm happy to be part of her life.
She gets up and moves to the bathroom. I lay her clothes out on her bed, leave the room, and wait seated on the floor by her door. The Alpha walks by; I bow my head respectfully and keep waiting for her to get ready.
When she's done, she calls me in; I arrange my mat beside her bed. I watch her before falling asleep, then I give in to slumber.
Narrated by Elizabeth
I wake up a bit dazed, unsure of my whereabouts. Looking to the floor, I see Samuel on a mat by my bed, then it clicks—I'm not at home, but at the Alpha's house, who claims to be my father. I rise and attend to my morning hygiene. When I return to the bedroom, I wake Samuel. He gets up and heads to the bathroom as I notice little Matheus entering the room.
"Good morning, sister," he greets with a smile; he must feel lonely, accepting a sister he didn't know he had. I reply with a broad smile,
"Good morning, my handsome little brother." Though I still doubt everything I'm told, he's so lovely and I don't want him to be disappointed in me. I already love him, even if I'm not sure if he's really my brother.
I embrace him and we head to the kitchen. Despite my suspicions, I believe in the child before me. I take what I presume is my seat, Matheus sits beside me, watching me eat. Soon, Samuel and Athos join the table. Their presence makes me uncomfortable, so I choose to focus on young Matheus.
"Do you go to school, Matheus?" I inquire, trying not to notice the hostile stares between Athos and Samuel.
"Not yet, I'm starting next year," Matheus replies, brimming with enthusiasm.
There's still so much for me to learn about this world that seemed imaginary. After breakfast, I accompany Athos and Samuel for a stroll in the village where many bow to me. Could I truly be special? The thought lingers.
Athos halts our walk and offers me ice cream to beat the heat, which I accept. I notice Samuel clench his jaw, and I reassure him,
"Don't be jealous, I'm just hot." He gazes at me fondly and moves closer than he should, giving me a peck.
"You shouldn't do this in public." Guilty pleasure aside, I am still a preteen with much to learn.
"Forgive me, I love you and can't wait to be of age to marry you." I like him but with such turmoil in my life, I'm unsure how to return his affections. Athos approaches us with the ice cream, hands it to me, and maintains his distance.
"I'm not giving up," he declares, and then pulls away.
I don't understand his intentions, but I'm not too concerned now; I want to know how I fit into this world and how I'll cope with reality. Today, Samuel's father and stepmother are arriving; Vicenzo has arranged a house for them. He told me his stepmother is human, which is why he and his father were exiled from their pack—an unjust fate, as no one chooses who they fall for.
I return to Vicenzo's home and find him in the dining room. Summoning courage, I ask about my uncles.
"What will you do with my uncles?" I question. He looks at me calmly,
"As you are very attached to them, I'll only keep them locked up until they confess who ordered them to take you away," he says regretfully.
"I was happy with them, I don't want them mistreated," I assert.
"I know they just acted on orders, but I still want to discover who wanted you away from me," he says, disappointment shading his tone.
"But the essential part is that I'm here now, right?" My plea seems to be enough for him to reconsider and spare the people I love from any more trouble.
"If you're ready to forgive, I'm fine with that. All I want is for you not to disappear again." I nod and our conversation continues. Vicenzo explains that I'm part werewolf and will undergo my sole transformation at age 13, which would render me unconscious and cause me to kill anything in my path. He plans to chain me in a basement the night before and keep me there until the full moon wanes to prevent harm. I agree with this precautionary measure, and return to my room, a little bewildered by the day's revelations.
I am stunned by my own acceptance of the situation.
Young Matheus enters my room, fixating on the blue rabbit. He seems to want it,
"If you'd like, you can have it, but you must promise to take care of it!" His smile radiates as he clutches the stuffed animal. Watching him smile makes me happy; I think I've accepted him as my sweet younger brother.
"Thank you, Eliz," he takes the rabbit, and soon his mother appears at the door, her gaze hiding a beast behind her smile.
"Come, dear, it's bedtime," she calls him. He gives me a cheek kiss and darts to his room. He has truly accepted me as part of his family. Athos brings me historical books; I'm going to study what I truly am, and it's starting to scare me.
A month in, and I'm growing accustomed to the idea that I'm indeed part of a pack. Samuel has moved to his father's house; I suspect Vicenzo disliked him in my room and close to me—I chuckle to myself. Hasn't he realized I'm nearly still a child? This seems like paternal jealousy.
Vicenzo decides it's best for me to fall back into the routine I had when I was younger; maybe it'll jog my memory. With so much crammed into my brain, though, it seems unlikely my memories will return. I visit my ‘uncles' in their confinement. They were like family when they raised me, and I'm persuading Vicenzo to release them, especially now that I've learned Emmy is pregnant.
They're locked in a house guarded by ten Omegas. At my arrival, I'm promptly let in.
"Hi," Emmy rushes to embrace me. Each visit, she apologizes for deceiving me; I've repeatedly told her I've forgiven her. I stay over an hour, enjoying cake and ice cream. They still won't say who took me, but it doesn't much matter—I have no memories to reclaim, just a drastic life change.
On my way back, I stop by Samuel's. His father's teaching at the pack school while Samuel's in the backyard with his little sister, newly discovered upon his father's arrival. She's also part werewolf.
"Hi Samuel, hi Samantha," her eyes are green, her hair almost white, and she's astute, though she doesn't speak yet at just one year old.
"Hey, I'll take Sam to mom and be right back," he lifts her and goes inside.
I settle into a chair, watching the trees sway with the wind.
"Want a walk?" I jump when Samuel speaks behind me.
"No, I'd rather just sit and talk," I say. He joins me, producing a deck of cards. We play and chat for a while, then Samuel sees me home but I'm late for dinner. Vicenzo insists we dine as a family, but I'd rather eat alone in my room—I don't like Mel's stares.
After getting scolded for tardiness, I finish my meal and retire to my room. Following my nightly routine, Vicenzo comes to wish me goodnight, and later, Matheus sneaks in to sleep in my bed, fearful of his own room. Once he's asleep, I carry him back to his bed and drift off again...
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