-4- The first weekend of summer

Opening my eyes I groan, as the sun glares through the window lighting up my entire room, I knew I should have closed the curtains before I fell asleep.

I try burying my head in the pillows wishing I could just fall back to sleep, but it was no good. I'm awake.

Sitting up I glance at the alarm clock on the bedside draws next to me, 9:58am. How was it so late in the morning already? And why hadn't any of the boys been in to wake me up yet? Not that I was complaining, this was the best lay in I'd had in years!

I hop out of bed with a stretch and walk into my en-suite for my usual morning routing, quick pee and a shower.

I decide to take some time with my hair this morning and actually dry it rather than just plaiting it wet or putting it in a messy bun. I take a seat on the fluffy sheep skin rug that sat in front of the floor length mirror in the corner of my room. I make a start at separating, brushing and drying it before throwing some loose curls in too and pulling it up into a ponytail. Having such long hair meant that just simply drying and styling it like this took at least 40 minutes.

When I've finished with my hair i reach for my make up bag, I was never big on make up, just the basics were fine by me, a little mascara for my already long lashes, a touch of concealer where needed and a little bronzer, not that it was needed thanks to my already beautifully tanned skin.

I guess to look at me you'd think I was one of the popular Barbie bitch bimbos, but that really wasn't me at all. I didn't have time to care about popularity or any of that, I was more focused on my studies and training, not that I had a choice but I didn't mind it.

Once I was happy with my face and hair I made my way to the wardrobe, grabbing my sky blue gym leggings and matching long sleeved crop top. I had no plans for today so I decided to keep it casual, besides after such a long sleep it wasn't just Alma that was itching for a run.

Leaving my room I suddenly realise just how quiet it is. Too quiet.

I made my way slowly and quietly down the stairs, my werewolf senses on high alert. The house being this quiet on a Saturday was not normal. Where the hell was everyone?!

Searching the downstairs I found that no one was home. Strange.

'Helloooooo, clearly nobodies home, did you forget about me or what?' I ask with a chuckle through the family link.

'Morning sweetie, we did try to wake you but you were in such a deep sleep that we decided to let you lay in. We're at Uncle Nico's, come join us when you're ready' mums voice replied sounding a loving as always.

'Yeahhh, lazy bitch! Get your arse here!' Kash chimes in a sarcastic tone, I laugh knowing he's about to get a slap for his language

'Yep, mum got him good!' Kairo added, clearly knowing exactly what I was thinking.

I close the family link, grab an apple from the fruit bowl on the counter and make my way out of the front door. I was hoping for a run but I guess a quick jog to the Alphas house will have to do for now.

Although I can't shift yet, Alma still appreciates a run in my human form, anything to release some of her energy. I do sometimes wonder how long she'll have us running when we do finally shift. Hours? Days? Weeks? Well I guess I'll find out a few months time.

As the Alpha house comes into view I slow my pace, walking the last fifty meters or so. I was in no real rush to get here anyway, other than the fact it was now 11:50am and I was counting on Auntie Cece to of cooked something yummy for lunch. Sleeping through breakfast was not a clever move.

I didn't bother to knock on the door, I just let myself in. They're expecting me anyway and let's face it Alpha Nico is my father. Well..technically uncle as far as everyone was aware, but still family.

Walking through the hall towards the dining room, I was in a world of my own flicking through property listings on my phone. I didn't want anything too fancy, just a place to call my own. As much as I loved living at home, being the only girl could be exhausting at times and those boys gave zero fucks about personal space, belongings.. or privacy!

Just as I lock the phone and go to slip it into the thigh pocket of my gym leggings, I walk into the double doors sending the phone flying from my hand and me across the floor on my now rather sore bum.. or at least I thought it was a door, until a hand reached down to help me back on my feet. And who's face should I see when I look up to the owner of this hand.. of course, Landon.

I furrow my brows at him glaring at his out stretch hand before slapping it away and getting myself to my feet

"Arghh!! Why don't you watch where you're going fuckface?! Can't you see I'm walking here?! Hello, I look like a fucking smurf, can't exactly miss me!!" I growl out at him as I pick my phone up from the floor and push past him to the dining room.

I hear him sigh in defeat as he walks away, leaving the house. Good!

Walking into the room I find all eyes on me.

'What did you do? Why are they all staring?' I hear Almas voice, barely a whisper in my mind, not that they could hear her. She was worried, we both were.

'What? Why do you instantly think I did something? How about, what did you do?' I snap back before she finally goes quiet.

'What's going on?' I ask Kairo through the link. If anyone was going to tell me, it was him or at least I thought he would, but nothing. I send a questioning glance around the room at everyone.

"Okaaaayyy... why are you all looking at me like that?" I nervously ask, finding my eyes resting at my father, Alpha Nico, sitting at the head of the table.

"Please, take a seat. We'll talk while we eat" Alpha Nico said while he gestures towards an empty chair at the opposite end of the table to him, giving me a clear view of everyone around the table. I made my way to the chair and pulled it out before slowly sitting, taking another look around the table at everyone. Seriously, what in goddess name was going on?

As expected Auntie Cece had cooked an incredible meal, one of my favourites actually. Grilled chicken breast, wrapped in bacon, topped with cheese and bbq sauce along size macaroni cheese and southern fried curly chips. I stomach growled at the sight of it as I licked my lips and picked up my knife and fork ready to dig in.

Wait.. this is my favourite meal!

Suddenly all of my senses flew into high alert. Slamming the knife and fork back down I stood up angrily send my chair flying onto the ground.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" I shouted across the table, staring the Alpha dead in the eyes, my voice demanding attention.

'Did you just use your Alpha tone? I didn't think you could do that till we shifted?!' Alma quickly asks, shock evident in her voice.

"Aurora, you need to calm down. Take some deep breaths, sit back down and let me explain" Alpha Nico shows no emotions in his tone of voice but his facial expression tell me he's growing impatient and perhaps.. scared?

I just stand there glaring at him, breathing heavily, my anger taking over at the lack of answers.

"Don't make me tell you again Aurora" he raises an eye brow at me while clasping his hands together in front of him.

Whimpering all around me snaps me out of my stare. Shit! What happened?!

All three of the boys, Auntie Cece, Uncle Mac along with two of the house staff are all whimpering with their heads bowed and necks bared toward me in submission.

Shit! Did I do that?

"Release your command. The longer you hold it, the longer they hurt" Alpha Nico states, very matter of fact.

I look up at him once more "how?!" I failed to keep the panic from my voice.

Sure we'd covered a lot in my secret Alpha training, but I'd never even thought to ask how to put an end to the Alpha tone.

"Just lose the attitude. Drop the tone and it's done" he waves a hand sarcastically in front of him as if it's magical.

I can't help rolling my eyes at him. Closing my eyes I take a few deep breaths. Finally I feel something within me settle and the whimpering stops. I slowly open my eyes, looking around the table at each them, as I feel a lone tear slide down my cheek.

"I'm so sorry" I whispered as I lowered my head looking towards the floor, before turning to retrieve my chair and sitting down quietly.

I managed a few mouthfuls of lunch but frankly my appetite had disappeared. I still had no idea what was going on, no one had said a single word throughout the rest of the meal.

The silence was driving me insane, it wasn't just awkward, it was terrifying.

Just as I thought I couldn't take any more, Alpha Nico clears his throat, gaining my attention. "So, as you would by now realise, this isn't just an ordinary lunch" I just stare silently at him willing him to get to the point.

"It's seems that due to our.. fight, yesterday. Or more the fact that you didn't technically lose. Our pack has gained some unwanted attention" he pauses for a moment and I can see he's trying to control his wolf. "A group of unknown wolves have been seen around our borders. One of their men attempted to cross. He failed. But he held in his hand.. a message" he shifts nervously in his seat, this time he's waiting for me to acknowledge what he's said.

"Okayyy.. and what exactly is this message" I slowly ask, my curiosity peaking even though I feel Almas nervousness seeping through.

'This is not going to be good. No one sends good news by hand. Good news doesn't come from unknown wolves' she rambling to herself, pacing back and forward through my mind.

He sighs running his hand through his already messy hair. Whatever this is it must be bad, even as the Alpha I've never seen him look so worried. He reached under him plate, retrieving a folded piece of paper covered in blood splatters, before standing and walking towards me.

"They know, Talia" he says while handing me the paper.

He just called me Talia. All three boys are here and he just called me Talia, in front of them!

"They know too" he says nodding towards the boys, as if reading my mind.

I look up at his deep blue eyes as I accept the paper from his hand, before turning to look at each of the boys. Tears filled my eyes. Betrayal, confusion and sadness filled theirs.

"I'm sorry, it wasn't a decision I had the choice to even make, I was just a baby and my mother had just died and Auntie Cec.." I sob as Kash cuts in.

"JUST STOP! Stop your pathetic bitch tears, save them for somebody else" he spits out angrily, then his face softens "because we don't need them. We have you. Our sister. And we do not blame you!"

Fresh tears appear as I hurry around the table to give him the biggest cuddle, with Kane and Kairo bundling in. That's all I wanted, all I needed in this moment, a cuddle from MY brothers.

A throat clears at the table making us all turn our heads, to find the three adults looking at us. Right, the message.

I wipe my eyes before returning to my seat and opening the folded paper.

'PRETTY PRINCESS NOT SO DEAD'

"That's it?" I ask flipping the paper over to see if there was anything on the other side. Nothing.

I look up to my father confused "So what? Someone has an idea that I may be your long dead baby?."

Wrong choice of words Rory! Wrong fucking choice of words, I mentally slap myself as my fathers eyes flash instantly from blue to black. Cyrus!

"Watch your damn mouth child!" He says through gritted teeth slamming both fists down on the table.

"You realise that I am that dead baby right?" I ask sarcastically raising a brow at him.

"You better hope you are or I'll take your life without a second thought" he snaps back at me.

With that my face drops. What does he mean I'd better hope I am? I am, aren't I?

His eyes quickly change back to blue, his face now worried and regretful.

"What did Cyrus mean?" I ask, not knowing if I really want the answer to that.

"Forget it. Ignore him, you know how he gets sometimes" he tries brushing it off like it nothing.

"Tell me. What. Did. Cyrus. Mean?!" I ask again this time putting emphasis into each word while staring him in the eye. Fear written all over his face, he swallows hard making his adams apple move up and down dramatically, running both hands through his hair as he began pacing the room, but still he didn't say a word.

"Sweetie, maybe we should take this into the living room. I should imagine you're going to want somewhere soft to sit once this is all out" Auntie Cece gently places a hand on my shoulder pulling attention away from the still pacing Alpha.

I simply nod and follow her lead.

We all take a seat around the living room, it had three large soft cream sofas placed in a U shape facing towards the huge television that was cleverly hidden within the mirror on the wall.

Although Alpha Nico had taken a seat he still hadn't said a word or even looked in any direction but the floor.

'Rory?' Alma says sounding almost childlike through nervousness 'I don't like this. I don't like this at all' she whimpers as she cowers herself as low as possible to the floor of my mind.

'You and me both Alma, just stay with me okay. We'll find out and get through this together' I assure her

Auntie Cece takes a shaking breath beside me as she turns to face me while taking my hands in hers. "Ror.. Talia" she takes another deep breath "Talia, you know that we all truly love you. But I'm afraid we haven't been completely honest with you" she pauses again as guilt washes over her face and tears pool in her eyes.

I stay silent, confusion driving me insane along with a thousand questions.

"When they found your.." she pauses again, taking another breath to compose herself. "When they found your mother, you weren't laid by her side as we told you. You were no where to be seen"

I look up into her eyes, tears now running down her cheeks.

"What do you mean I was no where to be seen? She gave birth and they found me next to her." I state confused and annoyed by what she was saying, pulling my hands back from within hers.

She takes another deep breath before looking towards my father who was now silently watching us, his eyes riddle with guilt, pain and tears.

"Talia.. your mother didn't die from giving birth to you. She was murdered" I look my father in the eye as he speaks praying to see some evidence that he's lying but there was none.

"W-wh-what?" I stuttered out, as fresh tears fall from my eyes. He stares back at me, eyes begging for forgiveness.

"I'm sorry Talia, I should have told you sooner" he says his voice once again full of guilt.

"How?" I ask, shocking myself and him.

Did I really want to know?

"They.. took you from her" he looked at the floor as a stray tear falls "they cut you out of her and.. they just left her.. left her there to die. Alone" a growl followed by more tears "and you.. you were just gone. I hunted high and low for a week before I found you" a small smile appeared on his lips as he remembered finding me after thinking I was lost forever.

I feel my heart shatter as my breath catches in my throat at the sudden realisation of what I've just been told.

My mother was murdered, I was taken from her womb. They killed her because of me. Now I know why my father couldn't bring himself to raise me.

"But.. how do you know I'm me? How can you be sure that I am her? If you weren't there when they took me, then you'd never even had the chance to even see me. How do you know that I'm your daughter?" I hurriedly ask the questions running through my mind, my whole body shaking as I hold back the tears staring at my father, waiting for some kind of explanation.

"I know, because you bare my family's birth mark. Each Alpha family has their own birth mark unique to their blood line. Please.. tell me that you do" he pulled up his shirt revealing a small brown smudge. Only on closer inspection it wasn't a smudge, it was a light brown blood moon eclipse with a wolf silhouette in the forefront.

It was almost identical to the one I know I held on the back of my right calf, that appeared on my 13th birthday when Alma awoke and I'd hidden ever since. 

Although mine was much clearer to see. It held a clear blood moon eclipse with a lone silhouette wolf stood before it. If anyone had seen it they'd probably think it was a some sort of henna tattoo.

"You are my daughter Talia, that I am sure of. Please, tell me I'm not wrong" his eye begging me as tears ran down his face