"She's awake."
I heard a voice say as soon as I blinked my eyes open before I was crowded by three bodies peering down into my face. What had happened? Where was I? I shook my head a little then winced as my temples banged in pain.
"Are you okay, Kathy?"
Lucas' cute face was looking worriedly into mine.
"Y-yes."
My mouth was heavy and my voice was hoarse, not ignoring the fact that my throat was in much desperate need of a liquid. My tongue too, it felt drier that the desert, even spittle was scarce in my oral cavity.
"Having trouble speaking, darling?"
Mom was there too. She looked quite weak but she was putting on a strong front.
"Water."
"Melissa, come get her some water."
Lucas ordered my personal maid. Soon a cup of water was placed in my hands, my hands shook as they held the water. Lucas guided them to my mouth and practically fed me the water. I took big gulps like I had never taken water before in my entire existence.
"Take it easy so you don't choke."
Another voice gently warned. That was the voice of my stepfather. He was the third person that had been peering into my face. Immediately he said, I began to cough and in the process, spluttered water. Mom had her hand rubbing my back, Lucas took the cup away from me signaling I was done. I did not bother arguing with him, he would not let me have it until later.
Few minutes later, after several choking coughs and acquiring a red, teary eyes in my process, I had gotten my bearing back but was still considerably weak.
"Are you fine now?"
The Alpha asked. I could not quite get used to calling him stepfather or father yet. Though I was aware he was my stepfather, I'll always see him as an Alpha and give him the respect deserving of one despite what he had told me about the title calling.
"Yes."
I nodded.
"But still weak."
"Yes. Some."
"Alright, you'll need all the rest you can get but I'll need to see you later, you hear me?"
"Yes, Alpha." He gave me a pointed stare that held meaning. "I'm sorry. Yes, David."
The he came close to pat my hair affectionately, threw me a smile and turned to his wife, my mother.
"You're ready to go? You know you need to rest too. You both haven't had any rest since you left your pack."
"Yes, but let me give her a kiss and a hug first."
She came to me, and hugged me tight. Though it was not the tightest, I knew because I was used to her tight hugs which were usually very tight, almost rib-crushing. She was still weak. She placed a kiss on my forehead.
"Be strong soon, okay?"
I nodded. "You too mom. You need rest. I've missed your rib-crushing hugs."
She chuckled at that. "Don't worry, by the time I get that rest and return, young lady, you'll be begging to be free from my embrace."
"Don't make me regret bringing it up."
"Too late to regret."
We beamed. Within me, I was delighted. Elated that this new family had not tried to take my mother away from me neither did I feel like running for the hills. It was okay here and I hope it would only get better.
"Please take care of her, Luke."
"You have nothing to worry about, mom."
She was pleased, she caressed his cheek. Then hooked her arm around her mate's offered one and left.
"Now, it's just you and I, step sissy."
Lucas joined me on my bed, and as usual making himself at home.
"How did it go?"
I nervously asked. Hoping I had not fumbled or done anything wrong, the Alpha had said he wanted to see me later, I wondered why. It only heightened my fear that I might have done something I was not meant to do. Maybe Lucas was the right person to tell me. He was a witness, he was there and had watched everything happen.
"If you're talking about the ceremony, it went great. You and your mother are now officially part of the family. No going back, so if you're having a rethink, expel it from your mind."
He concluded dramatically.
"Of course not. Why would I be having a rethink? I have you. You're better than a rethink."
"Damn! That was some crazy lines. I could use that on a girl, you know?"
"Well, without pickup lines, girls would certainly heed over heels for you."
His grin widened.
"Yes, I am. You're cute."
He frowned. "Eh? Me? Cute? I'm not a bunny, only bunnies are cute."
"Okay sorry, you're handsome."
"Exactly. I'm handsome."
"Now, handsome dude, tell me what happened last night. Or this morning. Whichever."
"Nothing much. It's just I overheard the Beta and my dad discussing your own initiation. Your scream and pain was worse than our mom's. Even worse than we'd ever seen."
He was already calling my mom, our mom. The guy really was an easygoing person who really had no qualms about me and mom spontaneously waltzing into their life. But that was not the issue at hand now.
"What were they discussing?"
"They were wondering if you had any wolf."
My heart skipped many beats. My mouth became dry instantly. I hope it would not ruin the new life we were settling into already. This had made my mom and I outcasts in our previous pack. I did not want the same fate for my mother again.
"Why would they think that? Did something happen?"
"Your wolf did not appear."
"Is she supposed to?"
"Not like the full transformation but the color of your wolf's eyes must flash through yours. That's how the initiation goes. It's not just about welcoming you, it's also bonding you to the pack and the royal family of Salvatore."
"You're Salvatore?"
He looked offended. "You did not know?"
"I came in just yesterday, cut me some slack."
He seemed to ponder on that, then he shrugged. "I guess you're right."
"So what next?"
"Nothing. The initiation is done, you're permanently part of us now."