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 just 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 with her, try to bury the lingering doubt I can't seem to bury completely. 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 doing 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 or slowing me down as much as it would anyone else.

When I do get hurt I heal around ten times 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. It was my way of having some control, some answers to who I was.

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 in public is over. No more glares. Laughing when I lose or pretending not to notice me around everyone else. We can finally be a normal loving family.

Well, as normal as possible. I figured out from a young age that Aiden and I are both a little broken. Our pasts haunting us and making us question where we belong in the world.

The water does its job. My muscles finally relaxing, the vision of storm blue eyes filling my mind as I close my mind and enjoy the water. The moment I see them, the sensation of needing to be touched grows, my legs clencing as I swear I feel hands massaging my body, a faint sensation of lips moving down my neck. My hand starts to move, trailing down my body when a sound breaks me out of my trance.

I hear the knock on the front door, ignoring it and focusing on the water burning away the day, wanting nothing more than the stormy eyes to return, instead I see nothing.

Sighing I focus on the water, trying to block out the voices coming from the lounge room. 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 prevented that, she could have saved lives" his voice becoming more angry with each word.

"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, make no mistake. 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 do anything I could to keep her out of harms way until she was old enough to make her own choices?"

I smile. A rush of love in my chest.

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 has felt inevitable over the years. She could help with th.." he doesn't get to finish his sentence.

SMASH..

I hear growing and move to turn the water off, instinct taking over.

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

Shocked to 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, Aiden's wolf 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 strong. No pack member can resist when he uses it. Well, almost no pack member. Aiden fights against it but I see him losing, he may be stronger but Ethan has the title; he can't fight it without issuing a challenge to be alpha. His body is shaking with anger, I know this is partly because Ethan had always sworn never to use the order on him. Their bond of friendship, loyalty and family was always supposed to be more important. At least on Aiden's side, Ethan has now broken that trust.

Ethan's fist swings, knocking Aiden to the ground while he continues to struggle against the order. I don't think, my body taking over as I throw myself forward. My body flies through the air, my left leg catching Ethan in the face as I land near protectively near Aiden with a growl, Aurora and I both ready to fight for him, no one touches Aiden. Ever.

"Leave OUR home NOW," I demand of Ethan. Not caring in the slightest of his rank. Shocked and angry Ethan demands, "Back off Armina" I growl again, "Submit Armina", he orders. "NEVER" I spit, throwing my right leg out and sending Ethan flying across the room, "This is OUR home" Aurora's voice joining mine as our power is on show for Ethan. The fear in his eyes increasing. "You come in here and lay hands on Aiden. That makes you an 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. Unable to hide his own shock, he looks to Ethan, Ethan is looking between us. A mix of anger and confusion on his face. He slowly stands as 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 power in them. I've always focused on hiding, not on building on it.

My breathing becomes heavy, "Breathe Armina, I'm here" Aiden reassures. Ethan looks between us again. "This never happened," Ethan states. Stepping forward slightly. "I will not punish you for protecting your father" he promises. The 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"

Ethan looks carefully between us again. Seeing both of our confusion and accepting my answer before nodding. "Let's keep that between us" he says hesitantly. "This will make you coveted by every pack in the kingdom, we are not in a position to fight back against that kind of force right now" his voice serious. 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 hesitantly, not wanting to continue that conversation.

"Between only us" Aiden states, seeking reassurance. "Leon too" Ethan adds. "NO!" both me and Aiden exclaim, "Leon has shown an interest in the ancient ways since he was a boy" the Alpha explains. "He would be able to assist us all in finding answers, how to control this, to find out what else you can do Armina" Ethan eyes almost begging as he tries to push his case. You see the sincerity in his eyes, but something doesn't sit right for me or Aurora. We don't want him involved in this.

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. Almost tempted by his attractiveness. Why does it have to be him?