My Mother's Secret

Chapter 5

Isabella

I stared at my hands.

They were shaking.

A few minutes ago, I had been standing outside Blackwood University's library, and now there was a strange creature lying several feet away from me.

A creature with glowing red eyes.

A creature that had called me the daughter of the Moon Queen.

What did that even mean?

"Isabella!"

Adrian's voice reached my ears.

I looked up.

He was standing in front of me, his clothes torn, his breathing uneven, and his eyes glowing an unnatural gold.

"Are you hurt?"

I shook my head.

"What just happened?"

He glanced at the unconscious creature.

"That's what we're going to find out."

"Adrian, I'm serious!"

"So am I."

He reached for my hand, but I stepped backward.

"Don't touch me."

His expression changed.

"Isabella..."

"Your eyes! That creature! The things it said! What is happening?"

Before he could answer, Alexander and Sebastian appeared.

Alexander immediately examined me.

"Are you injured?"

"No!"

"Did it touch you?"

"No!"

"Then get in the car. Now."

I stared at him.

"Stop giving me orders!"

His jaw tightened.

Sebastian stepped between us.

"Alexander, calm down. She's frightened."

I almost laughed.

Frightened?

I was terrified.

And nobody seemed interested in explaining anything.

---

The journey back to Blackwood Mansion was unbearable.

Nobody spoke.

Alexander sat in the front, making several phone calls. Sebastian kept looking through the rear window, while Adrian sat beside me.

I stared outside, trying to convince myself that everything had been a terrible dream.

But I could still remember the creature's voice.

The daughter of the Moon Queen.

And the strangest part?

When it called me that, something inside me had responded.

Something powerful.

Something that didn't feel entirely human.

"Adrian?"

He turned toward me.

"Yes?"

"What am I?"

His expression softened.

"I don't know yet."

I looked at him.

"You're lying."

He sighed.

"Okay. I know you're not ordinary. But I don't know exactly what you are."

That wasn't comforting.

Not even a little.

---

The moment we entered the mansion, Richard was waiting in the living room.

My mother stood beside him.

Her eyes widened when she saw me.

"Isabella!"

She hurried toward me and pulled me into a hug.

"Are you alright? They told me something happened at the university."

I hugged her tightly.

"Mom, what is happening?"

She pulled away.

"What do you mean?"

"That creature called me the daughter of the Moon Queen."

Her face went pale.

I noticed.

And suddenly, I didn't like what I was seeing.

"Mom?"

She looked toward Richard.

He closed his eyes briefly.

"Isabella, we need to talk."

"No. I need answers."

Alexander walked toward his father.

"She deserves to know."

Richard nodded reluctantly.

"Sit down, Isabella."

I remained standing.

"Just tell me the truth."

My mother reached for my hand.

"Sweetheart, there are things about your father that I never told you."

I swallowed.

"My father?"

She nodded.

"You were very young when he disappeared from our lives."

I frowned.

"You told me he died."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"I know."

My stomach twisted.

"What?"

"I didn't know how else to explain his absence."

I pulled my hand away.

"So you lied to me?"

"Isabella, please..."

"Who was he?"

Silence.

Richard finally spoke.

"Your biological father was not human."

I stared at him.

Then I laughed.

Not because it was funny.

Because I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"You're joking."

Nobody laughed.

Richard continued.

"He belonged to an ancient werewolf bloodline. A bloodline that was believed to have disappeared many years ago."

I shook my head.

"This is ridiculous."

"Isabella," Alexander said quietly.

I turned toward him.

"Don't. Just don't."

My mother began crying.

"Your father was a powerful Alpha. His name was Lucian."

The room went silent.

Richard's expression changed.

"Lucian?"

He looked at my mother sharply.

"You knew his name?"

She nodded.

"Of course I did. He was Isabella's father."

Richard took a step backward.

For the first time, the powerful billionaire looked genuinely afraid.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted to protect my daughter."

"Protect her from what?"

My mother looked at me.

"From the people who wanted to use her."

My throat tightened.

"Use me for what?"

She wiped her tears.

"Your father was known as the last Alpha of the Moon Bloodline. He possessed abilities no other werewolf had."

I looked at my hands again.

The golden light.

The creature flying backward.

The strange voices.

Was that what I had inherited?

"Where is he now?" I asked.

My mother didn't answer.

Instead, Richard approached the fireplace.

"Lucian disappeared nineteen years ago. His pack was destroyed, and everyone believed his bloodline had ended with him."

"Then how am I here?"

Richard turned toward me.

"That's exactly what we need to find out."

Alexander exchanged a glance with his brothers.

Sebastian looked unusually serious.

Adrian stood beside me, his usual playful expression completely gone.

Then Richard said something that made my heart stop.

"There's another problem."

I looked at him.

"What problem?"

He took a deep breath.

"The creature that attacked you belongs to the Nightfang pack. They've been searching for the Moon Bloodline for years."

"Why?"

"Because whoever possesses your blood can challenge the authority of every Alpha in existence."

My knees nearly gave way.

I grabbed the back of a chair.

"You're saying people want to kill me?"

"Some will want to kill you. Others will want to control you."

I stared at my mother.

"Is that why you married him? Because you knew something like this would happen?"

She shook her head quickly.

"No, sweetheart. I married Richard because I love him."

I wanted to believe her.

But I didn't know what to believe anymore.

---

Later that evening, I was in my bedroom when someone knocked.

"Come in."

Alexander entered.

He had changed into a black shirt, and his expression was as unreadable as ever.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like my entire life is a lie."

He didn't respond.

I sat on the edge of my bed.

"Why didn't your father tell me?"

"He's trying to understand the situation."

"Well, I'm tired of everyone trying to understand things while I'm the one suffering."

Alexander looked at me for a moment.

Then he walked closer.

"Listen carefully, Isabella. Until we understand what happened today, you won't leave this mansion without one of us."

I frowned.

"You're joking."

"I'm not."

"I'm going to university."

"We'll discuss that."

"There's nothing to discuss!"

His jaw tightened.

"Someone tried to take you today."

"And I survived!"

"Because you were lucky."

I stood up.

"I don't need three overprotective billionaires following me everywhere!"

His eyes flashed gold.

For a moment, neither of us moved.

Then he spoke in a low voice.

"Maybe you should start understanding that this isn't about what you need. It's about keeping you alive."

He turned and walked toward the door.

"Alexander?"

He stopped.

"Yes?"

I hesitated.

"That creature called me the daughter of the Moon Queen. What does that mean?"

His expression darkened.

"I don't know."

Then he left.

I stared at the closed door.

Something about his answer bothered me.

Because I was beginning to suspect that Alexander Blackwood knew much more than he was willing to admit.

My phone suddenly vibrated.

An unknown number.

I opened the message.

Your mother has lied to you about everything.

My heartbeat quickened.

Another message arrived.

Lucian isn't dead, Isabella.

I stopped breathing.

A third message appeared.

And if you want to find your father, ask Richard Blackwood what happened nineteen years ago.

I slowly lowered my phone.

Then I heard a soft knock.

"Isabella?"

It was my mother's voice.

I quickly locked my phone.

"Yes, Mom?"

She opened the door and smiled nervously.

"Can we talk?"

I looked at her.

For the first time in my life, I wondered whether I truly knew the woman who had raised me.

Because someone was lying.

And I was going to find out who.

Even if it destroyed my new family.