Chapter 5

From the way his shoulders slumped in defeat, he knew what was coming. I had a small amount of satisfaction in that, at least.

“Alaric!” The alpha shouted.

In mere seconds, a tall, broad shouldered man stood next to us.

“Alaric, please show her highness Seraphina to her chambers. After such a long journey, a rest and a freshen up must be your only tasks today.”

He bowed deeply again. Then gestured for Papi and myself to leave with Alaric. I still clung on to my grandfathers arm. But we followed him nonetheless.

After walking for a few minutes, I was led to the second floor of the pack house. I let out a soft snort as the thought ‘castle, more like.’ entered my mind. I gave a small frown. I had not been thinking that. Then it was suddenly there.

The door in front of us opened. I walked into the most lavish suite of rooms I had ever been in. I looked all around at the splendour of it all.

The door gave a soft click, I turned and found myself alone with my grandfather and my two ‘handmaidens’.

“Speak!” Was all I said. Grandfather looked more tired than I had ever seen him. He gestured for me to sit in one of the chairs by a huge open fireplace.

I sat.

Then glared.

“It’s time for the truth. Don’t you think so? Grandfather?”

He slumped back in his chair and let out a long low breath he had been holding.

“All right. All right. I will tell you all that I know. But there will be some questions I will not be able to answer. You must accept that before I start. If you do, I will tell you what you need to know.”

I stared at him for a long time. He waved his hand in gesture for the handmaidens to leave the room. They did. I stared some more. The silence in the room seemed to stretch on for hours, although I knew, logically, that it was mere seconds.

“Phina.” He spoke. So softly I almost missed it.

He looked at me with eyes that were once a brilliant blue colour. Now they seemed grey to look at, almost foggy.

My heart gave a little spike when a thought just occurred to me.

“You are dying. Aren’t you?” I asked softly. Grandfather gave a small smile. He nodded his head and I felt hot tears sting my eyes. I tried in vain to hold the tears from falling onto my cheeks. I took a slow breath in. Then looked back at him.

“Tell me, Papi. Please. I need to know as much as you can tell me.”

The solemn look in his eyes made my breath catch in my throat. I swallow, hard. I didn’t know what I was about to hear.

I was only sure that whatever it was, it was about to blow my whole life wide open.

“Papi, please. Tell me.”

I watched as he nodded, then lift his head up so he was looking straight at me.

“My darling girl. Sending you back here is the hardest thing I have ever done. And it has truly broken my heart. I know that you have been reborn. And I know that you must face the people who killed you and stole my great grandson.”

I gasped. What? How did he know?

“Papi?”

I couldn’t string words together fast enough.

“You Know? Papi. How do you know all of that?”

He gave me a small smile. Then, as if he was stiffening his resolve he launched into his explanation.

“As you know, I am very old. Where we are from, grants us longevity. We age slower than any other. Werewolves have the same age longevity, that was why you were placed with me in the other realm.”

My mind was a whirlwind of confusion.

“Placed with you? How can that be true? You are my grandfather. After my parents disappeared, you were the only family I had.”

Grandfather raised both hands, gesturing for me to listen and not speak.

I sat back in the chair and allowed Papi to speak.

“When you were born, it was clear that you were the reincarnation of the elemental wolf. A powerful bloodline that no one has seen in a millennium. The prophecy was very clear that the reincarnation of the elemental wolf had to die. Only then, would your true power be activated. And allow you to take revenge on the people who hurt you the most.”

I was stunned. I could only stare at him.

He continued;

“Although you lived and trained in the other realm, you are in-fact, a wolf.

The most powerful wolf that has been seen in generations. When you were born, your mother and father knew you were the chosen one. They sat beneath a spirit tree for two days and nights. The moon goddess heard them, and agreed to open a portal. So they could go to another realm, one that they knew you would be safe in.

Once you arrived, the elders had to manipulate your mind. They had to make false memories for you. You were made to believe that your parents disappeared.”

As he said this, I watched a lone tear track down the soft wrinkles of his face.

He looked so sad in this moment, I could not hold any anger towards him.

“Papi?” I asked him, softly. Once again he held up his clasped hands, pleading to continue. I went silent and nodded for him to carry on.

“Seraphina. On your twenty-first birthday, your wolf will awaken. This is going to be essential for your revenge. You did not have a wolf in your last life. The prophecy had not been fulfilled. But this time. This time you will have your destined power that only the elemental wolf carries.