Chapter 65: Waiting

Sarah stayed at the gym. We gave her a guest room upstairs. She said she wanted to be close while we waited for results.

Two days felt like two years.

We tried to act normal. Trained. Ate meals. Talked about small things.

But the tension was there. Under everything.

"What if we're not related?" Sarah asked on the first night. We sat in the common room. Just us. Everyone else had gone to bed.

"Then we're not. And that's okay."

"But you want us to be. I can tell."

"Yeah. I do." I looked at her. "I grew up thinking I had one brother. Then he died. Then I found out my father isn't my father. I feel like I don't belong anywhere."

"Except here. With the pack."

"Yeah. Except here." I smiled. "But blood family would be nice too. Someone who shares my history. My genes."

"I get that." Sarah pulled her knees up. "After my dad died, it was just me and my mom. She remarried. Nice guy. But not the same. I felt alone too."

"Did your mom know about my mother? About Seattle?"

"If she did, she never told me. But they divorced when I was ten. Maybe she knew and that's why." Sarah looked sad. "Maybe my dad cheated. Maybe that's the secret."

"Or maybe my mother left before anything happened. Before things got serious."

"Maybe."

We sat quiet for a while.

"Can I ask you something?" Sarah said.

"Sure."

"The gym. The people here. They're different. I can feel it. What's the deal?"

My stomach dropped. "What do you mean?"

"Everyone's too aware. Too coordinated. And they all look at you like you're royalty." She tilted her head. "Plus I saw one of them move a weight that should have taken three people. Just lifted it like nothing."

She noticed. Of course she noticed. She was smart.

"It's a close community. We train hard. That's all."

"Lita. I'm a nurse. I know human capability. What I saw wasn't normal human strength." She leaned forward. "I'm not going to tell anyone. I'm not scared. I'm just curious."

I looked at her. At my possible sister. Someone who might share my blood.

Could I tell her? Should I?

"If the test comes back positive," I said slowly. "If we're really sisters. I'll tell you everything. But not before. Some secrets are too big."

Sarah studied my face. Then nodded. "Fair. I can wait two days."

The next morning, Sarah joined us for training. She couldn't keep up with the wolves obviously. But she tried. And she was stronger than most humans.

"You have good instincts," Stacey said. "Ever fight before?"

"Self defense classes. Nothing serious." Sarah blocked a punch. Almost. "But I'm learning fast."

"You are. Natural talent maybe."

I watched Sarah train. The way she moved. The way she adapted.

Was it wolf blood? Did she have dormant genes like I did?

Or was I seeing what I wanted to see?

"Stop overthinking," Cole said beside me. "Two days. Then you'll know."

"I can't help it."

"I know." He kissed my head. "But worrying won't speed it up."

That afternoon, Derek showed up. The Alpha who broke our territory deal. Who attacked me.

He stood at the gate. Alone. Hands up. Submissive.

"I need to talk to the Luna," he called.

Alex went out. "She doesn't want to see you."

"Please. It's important. About Erica. About the attack at the motel."

I walked out. Sarah followed. Curious.

"Talk," I said to Derek.

"I didn't know. I swear. Some of my wolves helped Erica. But I didn't authorize it. Didn't know until after." He looked genuine. Scared even. "When I found out, I punished them. Kicked three out of my pack. The others are under house arrest."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because I'm here. Alone. Unarmed. Asking for forgiveness." He dropped to one knee. "I messed up. Challenged you. Broke the deal. But I didn't try to kill you. That was Erica and wolves acting without orders."

"You're asking me to trust you."

"I'm asking you to give me another chance. Let me prove I can follow pack law. Follow your leadership." He looked up. "Please, Luna. My pack needs this alliance. Needs your protection."

I looked at Cole. He shrugged. My call.

I looked at The Elder. She nodded slightly. She believed him.

"Six months probation," I said. "You follow every rule. Every order. You check in weekly. Any wolf from your pack steps out of line, you're done. All of you."

"Thank you, Luna. You won't regret this."

"I better not."

Derek left. Still submissive. Still scared.

"You're getting good at this," Sarah said. "The leader thing."

"I'm learning."

"It suits you."

That night, Andres got a call. The DNA lab. Results were ready.

Early. They rushed it.

Everyone gathered. Sarah. Me. Cole. The Elder. Alex. Stacey.

Andres opened his laptop. Pulled up the results. Read them.

His face changed.

"What?" I asked. "What does it say?"

He turned the laptop around.

"99.7% probability of half-sibling relationship."

Silence.

Then Sarah laughed. Happy. Relieved. "We're sisters. Actually sisters."

I couldn't speak. Just stared at the screen.

Sisters. I had a sister.

Sarah hugged me. Tight. "I have a sister. I always wanted a sister."

I hugged her back. Tears coming. "Me too."

The pack cheered. Happy for us.

Cole smiled. Proud.

But then my phone buzzed. Text from unknown number.

"Congratulations on finding your sister. Now find your other one. Yes, there are two. Your mother got around more than you thought. Happy hunting, Luna."

I stared at the text.

Another sister?

How many secrets did my mother keep?