Secrets out.

After what feels like an eternity of my former classmates pretending to be happy for me, people who have barely spoken to me for years coming over to congratulate me. We are finally able to head home, my brain still trying to process the huge changes to my life in a few short hours.

'You did it, Armina' Aurora beams inside my head, 'This is who we have always meant to be' I try to agree by the doubt is still strong within me. Along with the fear. 'We did it' I remind her, 'While in my eyes mostly you' I laugh to her, she disagrees but we let it go as we walk.

Aiden is quiet on the walk, giving me time to process. He knows me well. Knows I have never been great with change and today has been overwhelming.

The moment he opens the door, I start walking towards the bathroom. A shower and a nap sound like the best plan to me, a chance to disconnect and absorb the day.

"I'm going to order some Chinese food, eat before your nap" I smile, unsurprised he knows my plan. "Beef and black bean." I smile, not breaking my stride. Aiden chuckles, "Wow, something new" he says sarcastically. I just smile opening the bathroom door and sighing in relief.

As I shut the door, I quickly turn the shower to scalding hot. Letting it heat as I strip off. It's done. No more being invisible. I would be assigned with protecting our pack, with training warriors to keep us alive. This is huge. I know I'm strong, but helping others be strong? Telling them what to do? Even the thought of that makes me feel like I'm going to throw up. These people have never liked me, some openly going out of their way to hurt me. How do I now expect them to respect me, and I them?

The hot water is heaven as I step in. The steam filling the bathroom until I can't see. Anyone else would be screaming in pain at the heat. But I've always loved it. My skin never burns, just blushes and feels warm. I've always had a higher tolerance to pain, which has helped me in may ways over the years. My skin not breaking as easily as other wolves, bruises not showing as deeply.

When I do get hurt I heal around 10 X faster than your normal wolf. Bruises healing in minutes. Deep cuts in under an hour. Aiden doesn't know about the deep cuts, doesn't know I tested this myself. He would have been furious if he knew half of what I have done over the years, trying to figure out exactly how different I am.

Aiden told me to keep the healing he was aware of to myself. Wanting to protect me from being studied, questioned and singled out. Aiden has always protected me in his way. I have to admit I'm glad the hate is public is over. No more glares. Laughing when I lose. Pretending not to notice me in public. We can finally be a normal family. Well, as normal as possible. Aiden and I are both a little broken. Our pasts haunting us.

The water does its job. My muscles finally relaxed. I hear the knock on the front door, ignoring it and focusing on the water burning away the day. I knew it wouldn't be for me, it never has been.

Focusing on the water I try to block out the voices. Unfortunately, wolves have amazing hearing, and Aiden has always thought mine was better than others.

"Why would you hide this Aiden?" Alpha Ethan's voice booms. "Keep your voice down, she's in the shower," Aiden says softly. "Why didn't you tell me?" He demands, his voice lower.

"I was protecting her, if anyone knew how much she meant to me, she would be a target," Aiden states. "I've always assumed that Aiden, I could see the way you looked at her when no one was watching" Ethan states, "I'm talking about her strength, her IQ, everything else. She's gifted Aiden, she could have helped so many times over the years. You stopped that" his voice becoming angry. 

"I've never tested her IQ but I know she's smart, as for the rest I was protecting her. She is still a child. Even now I will still protect her Ethan. She means more to me than anything else" a warning growl in his tone. "You wanted me to adopt a pup, did you think I wouldn't protect her above all else?"

 I smile. 

Aiden is not only my father, his always been my best friend too.

"You know the problems we still have with the Eclipse pack, war is inevitable. She could help with th.." SMASH.. I hear growing and move to turn the water off.

Moving faster than I ever have I am rush dried and dressed and in the lounge in under a minute.

Shock fills me as I find Ethan on the ground, Aiden on top of him. Holding his collar as he growls in his face. His claws out as he struggles not to turn. Dimitri is ready to show Ethan who the real Alpha male is.

"She will not be involved in that" Aiden growls. Ethan shocked; growls louder, "SUBMIT" he demands his alpha tone slipping. No pack member can resist when he uses it. Well, almost no pack member. Aiden fights against it but I see him losing. His anger evident as Ethan had always sworn never to use it on him. Their bond was always more important. At least, that is what Aiden believed.  

Ethan's fist swings, knocking Aiden to the ground while he struggles with the order. I don't think. Throwing myself forward my body flies through the air, my left leg catching Ethan in the face as I land near Aiden. I growl, Aurora and I both protecting him, no one touches Aiden. No one.

"Leave OUR home NOW," I demand of Ethan. Not caring in the slightest of his rank. Shocked and angry Ethan demands, "Submit Armina", he orders. "NEVER" I spit, throwing my right leg out and sending Ethan flying across the room, "This is OUR home, you come and lay hands-on Aiden. Then you are my enemy, LEAVE" I scream. The moment I scream I feel it, a force coming from me; throwing Ethan across the room towards the door without me physically touching him.

Aiden snaps out of the command and takes my hand. "Armina, calm down. I'm okay," he reassures. Shocked, he looks to Ethan, Ethan is looking between us. A mix of anger and confusion on his face. He slowly stands and the realisation of what I have done sinks in.

I attacked the Alpha. That is punishable by exile or death. Becoming a rouge is worse than death, so I'd take the latter. Worse than that, I had shown exactly how different I am. I have always known I had abilities, but I've never shown that kind of strength in them. I've always focused on hiding.

My breathing becomes heavy, "Breathe Armina, I'm here" Aiden reassures. Ethan looks between us again. "This never happened," Ethan states. Stepping into the room again. "I will not punish you for protecting your father" he states. Relief flows through my body and I bow slightly. Showing my respect while Aurora shudders. She doesn't believe we should bow to anyone.

"What was that?" Ethan asks, looking between us both. "I don't know" I state honestly. "That's never happened before". I am being honest. I knew I had power. I didn't know I could do that. 

Ethan looks carefully between us again. Seeing both of our confusion before nodding. "Let's keep that between us" he states. "This will make you conveted by every pack in the kingdom, we are not in a position to fight that right now" his voice bleak. I look to Aiden who looks relieved.

"Thank you Alpha" Aiden nods. "If she can do that you know there could be more Aiden, we need to look into this, help her control it" Aiden nods again.

"Between us" Aiden states. "Leon too" Ethan adds. "No" both me and Aiden try, "Leon has shown an interest in the ancient ways since he was a boy guys" the Alpha explains. "He would be able to assist us all in finding answers, how to control this, what else you can do Armina" Ethan implores us. You see the sincerity in his eyes, but something doesn't sit right.

Aiden nods and I try not to panic. Not Leon. The boy who isn't my mate but makes me feel strange on the inside. Tempted. Why does it have to be him?