Chapter 4

"You were just a child, Val," said Mrs. Gomez…

"One born with problems," I said. "And look what it manifested into.

"This is her first heartbreak, she's not taking it well," said Mrs. Gomez to her husband.

"Was this how you took yours?"

"I… I felt lost and abandoned, but not like this."

"Probably because of what's at stake," said Mr. Gomez.

"Her chance to be queen?" Mr. Gomez nodded, and she said, "Oh, dear."

"It isn't the crown I'm hungry for," I said. "I just didn't see myself getting dumped this way. With the townspeople looking at me like there's something wrong with me, and Killian making subtle confirmations. Now that it's happened, how do you think people would see me? Like they had been all right after all."

Mother and father exchanged glances. It was an awkward situation for us. "What did you want to tell me, mother?" I asked after I suddenly remembered the other reason she had called for my father.

Suddenly, it was my mother's turn to start crying.

*********

I found out who my real parents were, and Mr. and Mrs. Gomez were not. I had only borne their name for over twenty-three years. Living a false identity, with surrogate parents. This brought all these to one simple conclusion, and the answer to my problems. I wasn't a werewolf. I was human.

"What about my real parents?" I asked, unable to see clearly through the tears. "Are they still alive?"

"We don't know for sure, Val," said Mrs. Gomez. "But you should know that we loved you as if you were our child. We did not discriminate nor did we ostracize you from Jack or ourselves because you were different. Telling this to you was just to make you understand that there was nothing wrong with you, nothing wrong in being different.."

"Being human," interjected Mr. Gomez.

"It makes no difference."

"It does," I rebutted. "It means I don't belong with him."

To this, they said nothing, and I had to believe it was the truth. An Alpha wolf cannot successfully mate with a human. Eventually, the difference would be too glaring.

"How did it happen? How did I end up with you?"

"We found you, Val."

“Found me, how? Where?"

"Well, it was Jack who found you, rather. He led us right to you when we visited one of the old museums for your father's research. You were wrapped up quite well as if the person who left you there really wanted you alive for the next eyes. Mission accomplished."

"Well, it all makes sense now. Why did Killian look at me with scorn? Does he know?"

"He doesn't."

"But he said the problem was from my parents, which meant you two. Then," I added.

"Nothing has changed the fact that we are still your parents and that Jack is still your brother."

"He could have been my husband," I said, as I remembered all the love and attention he had shown to me. Nevertheless, he had known, immaturely, but yes. My mind was swirling with thoughts. It was like a radio, repeatedly changing channels, but my mind was on a channel with a song on it, and I didn't even know what was playing.

I rose from the bed and drank down Mother's drink in one gulp. It was wine, but it slapped the sides of my jaw with disappointment. Then I headed for the door.

"Where are you going, Val?" called Mrs. Gomez.

"I am going to fix this," I said, without turning back.

**********

Jack and I met on the long balcony which overlooked the courtyard of the manor. I remember our conversation clearly.

"Val, why are you crying?" asked Jack, and he looked at where I had come out from. "Mother?"

"Family," I said.

"What do you mean?"

"Saw Killian making love to a file of women in his study today. He wants nothing to do with me anymore."

"He told you that?"

"In parts of speech."

"But he's going to be crowned Alpha King next week," protested Jack.

"He is."

"He can't just leave you," said Jack.

"Why not? Not as if I'm anything like him. Or you rather."

"What?"

"Mother and father just told me that they aren't my real parents which makes me human. Regardless of how shocking it sounded, I realized I had been wasting my time on Killian Romero. He must have felt it and treated me differently. Did you know about it?" I asked.

Jack looked beyond the railing, avoiding my face. I was sure the hurt of mine made him feel somewhat guilty. "I did. I'm sorry, Val. Sure they must have told you how I found you?"

"They did," I said, and wiped my face. "And you know something?

"No. What?"

"Right now, there's a part of me considering a possible scenario where you shouldn't have."

"But that wouldn't be my choice to make, as it wasn't mine then. I just stumbled upon you, Val. Someone had wrapped you up and placed you in a cart. Whatever brought me to you that evening, Val, I cannot fault nor criticize it."

I nodded. Like I completely understood what he meant by those words. But I didn't. My mind was elsewhere, thinking about how to fix things.

"Thank you, Jack, for being a wonderful brother to me," I said. "But I have to go now."

"Let me accompany you," offered Jack.

You should go to Mother," I waived. "She looks worse than I do."

It was only after I walked to the end of the balcony that Jack ran in the direction of Mother's chambers.

Family.

**********

Fixing involved a lot of plans. In the end, I came to a final cut. One that would solve all my problems in one fatal motion.

Night had fallen in the manor, so I grabbed a torch from the main wall, walked past the stables, and whispered things to my horse. Turned out later that it was only a waste of time and words, but I knew the animal didn't feel that way. Then I proceeded to the gates.

"Who comes afore?" asked one of the guards.

"Friend to this ground," I replied and walked into the light. Another foot appeared by his side and lifted my hood.

"My lady?"

"I need to go out. A promise to a friend I need to fulfill."

"Surely, my lady," said the guard, and he opened the gates. As I walked out that night, it was the last time I ever went through those gates.

I trekked through the meadow I had run across in the day and listened to the memory of myself crying and yelling at Debra to get away from me. Somehow, I began to blame her. It was her fault. If she hadn't made me see what Killian did with those ladies in his study, I wouldn't be in such a miserable state. If she had meant well for me, then it was an irony. However, I never found out what Debra's real intentions were.

The road I took led onto the woods, and to a cliff. I made some stops on the way, however. Plucked my favorite flower and scattered its petals on the forest floor. Removed my outer garment and draped it over the stump of a tree, which used to be my sitting place. A clearing where the pack wolves gathered whenever there was newly turned. A place I thought I never belonged.

At the cliff, I put out the fire and stood facing the horizon. The sun had set, but I could still see its bloody rays sneaking out of the earth on the far side. To me, this was a sign that blood was about to spill.

And I had no doubt whose it would be.

Mine.

I knew it was dark down there, but I decided not to look. I knew what waited for anyone down there, but I tried not to let that picture seep into my head. I had to do it.

My legs took pressure, left the air, and I plummeted.