Our Family Bond

Charleza’s p.o.v.

Finding out my family is bigger than I expected has been an adjustment in itself.

Yoanie calls to ask how my day was, while Thurian drops by to tell me about my family from before I was born.

I haven’t met my cousins yet, and Thurian hasn’t told them about me yet either. He wanted to wait a few more weeks so he could introduce me to everyone at the same time.

Once a year, the entire family gathers to celebrate birthdays and remember those they have lost.

“Nervous?” Ealish asks as I power down my laptop.

“You can say that again. A part of me fears that they might treat me like Aler and Calyree did.” I answer.

“They won’t. I can’t tell you why your parents did what they did, but you are not responsible for any of it.” I hear Thurian say.

He wraps his arms around me and pulls me against his chest, as he has done several times after telling me about the family.

“Charleza, what Aler and Calyree did was wrong. However, Rozena raising you was the best outcome.” Yoanie’s voice sounds from behind Thurian.

I had discussed with Yoanie whether adoption would have been better, but she made sure I understood that a future with adoptive parents could have been worse than the years I lived on the Beta floor.

Grandma Rozena gave her ultimatum to Aler for a reason. Yoanie couldn’t tell me the entire story because she didn’t know it, but she knew it had happened before in our family history.

“If anyone has the guts to make you feel uncomfortable, they will deal with me.” Yoanie growls.

I look up at Thurian, who is biting down on his underlip while looking out the window. He does anything he can to keep from laughing.

“Thurian, are you making fun of me?” Yoanie asks.

Azura is hiding her head under her paws as Thurian shakes his head, afraid to make a sound.

I look at the 5’3” woman and realize that Thurian is hiding his expression for good reason. Her hands are on her hips while tapping one foot and staring at her mate with a murderous look.

“You need some time alone with him?” I ask while winking at Yoanie.

I feel Thurian’s body stiffen under my hands when she hums affirmatively, and he grips me a little tighter.

“Sorry, my love. I know you will protect Charleza as if she were ours, but I doubt most will actually fear you.” Thurian says as he pulls out of our hug.

“That's what I am counting on.” Yoanie steps into his arms with a smirk on her face.

Damn, that woman scares me. I  will think twice about crossing her.

Milian, their son, and Izolda, their daughter, are spending the night with their Grandparents, while I am staying with Yoanie and Thurian.

“We have been gathering here for at least the past forty years. The space is enormous without feeling too big, and the owners know how to decorate the place and which furniture to use.” Thurian says as we drive to the venue.

“They use different furniture?” I ask because that wasn’t something I had expected.

Yoanie shows me pictures from previous years, and I am surprised to see the different decorations and furniture used each year.

“Has the same family owned the venue all these years?” I am really curious to find out, and maybe I will contact them in the future, with a tiny idea forming in the back of my mind.

“Yes. The Willowbeam family has actually owned it for nearly three hundred years, and many Alphas have used it for parties and ceremonies.” Yoanie answers.

The venue is a three-hundred-and-fifty-year-old mansion built for an Elder who wanted to impress his mate. Unfortunately, she died a few years after it was finished, and after it sat empty for years, the Elder sold it.

The three-story building is surrounded by an enormous garden with paths leading in different directions.

“Wow, do you think Uncle Thurian maintains those gardens?” Azura asks as we both look at the shaped bushes, wildflowers, and other flowers.

I chuckle at the use of Uncle, because he isn’t, but to Azura, his lycan feels like that, and she refuses to call him anything else.

My eyes get drawn to the building, and I see soft golden light pouring from the windows as the sound of Celtic music floats through the air.

“You’ll be fine.” Yoanie loops her arm through mine and guides me inside.

“Oh, my Goddess. No way.” A young woman, I guess, is Izolda, calls out when she sees me at Yoanie’s arm.

Izolda walks closer to us, searching my face for something I don’t know. A smile spreads across her face as she gets closer.

“I told you.” Thurian whispers, and I have to search my brain for what he might be referring to.

It takes me a minute to remember one of the first stories he told me about our family, and even though I hadn’t said anything, I hadn’t completely believed him at that time.

Izolda loops her arm through mine on the other side, and the three of us walk toward the living room where the rest of the family is gathered.

“You look so much like our great-grandmother. Everyone is going to be in shock.” Izolda whispers as we stop near the living room. “I would like to know how we are related, but I will wait to hear it with the rest of the family.”

She releases my arm and walks into the living room, while Yoanie and Thurian stand next to me; after another deep breath, I nod.

“Ready as I will ever be,” I say, then grab Thurian’s arm for support as I prepare myself.

People are sitting around the living room on couches, armchairs, and some even on the floor.

Those who see me enter stop talking to other relatives and try to reach for whoever is closest without looking, failing in their attempt to warn them to look around.

I know I am looking at Thurian’s mother, because the woman is covering her mouth with both hands as she whispers softly, “How is this possible?”

“Mom, this is Aler’s youngest daughter, Charleza. She was raised by Rozena.” Thurian doesn’t give her any more information, and I doubt she would have heard him.

Her arms wrap around me as she sobs into my chest, her shoulders shaking. I feel a bond form, like the one I once had with Grandma Rozena, and I didn’t realize how much I missed it until today.

“You will never be alone again, my child. Not as long as there are Ironshields left in this Kingdom.” Malane says, taking a small step back.

“Okay, please tell me that not all men in this family resemble Aler,” I growl as I look at Milian.

“Technically, Aler looks like me. I am the oldest; I am Gilbrid, Thurian’s brother.” I turn to look at Thurian’s brother, and he looks just like Thurian and Aler.

“Good to know. I can’t stand the idiot.” I mumble as I disappear in his arms.

Tonight is going to be exhausting with bonds forming with the rest of my family, and I can already feel another bond pulling. Not every bond will be as strong as the others, but they will be there nonetheless.

“Charleza, sit down here. Everyone will sit with you, one at a time, tonight. Forming those family bonds will be easier this way.” Malane says as she guides me to a couch.

From where I sit, I have a clear view of the entire room, and I smile as Malane sits in an armchair to my right. Izolda sits on the floor in front of me, and Milian joins her. Our bonds will be stronger because Azura considers Thurian her uncle.

Gilbrid introduces his mate and their two daughters, and though I feel the bonds forming, they aren't as strong as the one forming with Milian and Izolda.

Malane reminds us of Grandma Rozena, and I know she feels the bond forming between us is different from what it should be.