Chapter 53 A Tale of Two Sisters, Part II

Chapter 53 A Tale of Two Sisters, Part II
“It’s surprising for someone to have interests in the archives this old library held,” Tigris, the town elder of Sunfolk, said as he pushed the doors open, revealing a dusty, dimly lit library with towering shelves filled with books hidden inside.

Kieran gently gave me a handkerchief as coughs erupted in my throat, the dust hitting my still-weakened body.

Uncle Reuben protested earlier when he saw me running about. He said that after my divine powers almost got drained, the last thing I should be doing was going on a wild goose chase over something an old woman said.

But deep in my heart, something tells me that I really should look. That I really should investigate.

Tigris smiled as he looked at Kieran and me. “Are you mates? It seems as if this young man cares for you a lot, my dear.”

“Yes, she’s my mate,” Kieran replied as he wrapped a possessive arm around my waist. “And I want to help her learn about her past.”

He didn’t protest when I told him that I wanted to know the truth. Whether it was a lie or not, every ounce of information might be useful against my Father and Medea.

And this old, forgotten library in the middle of Sunfolk Town might be our first step.

Tigris stepped inside, lighting a gas lamp along the way. “I’m not sure if I would be of any help, but if you need anything, I would be sitting outside the door. Take your time roaming around. The books might tell you their secrets if you only know how to read.”

The doors shut behind Tigris, leaving us alone in the middle of the room. Kieran let out a deep breath and removed his belt and heavy axes to lay on a table nearby.

“Just so you know, my Queen, I’m not very fond of reading,” he jokingly said as he picked up a book. “You might’ve picked the wrong mate to bring today.”

I rolled my eyes at him. I knew he was still seething over the incident with Castiel. Even if Kieran didn’t say a thing about it, I could feel his wolf and how his aura reeked of jealousy through our Divine Link.

“You’ll do just fine,” I replied, reaching for a book. “Besides, Castiel can’t come. He’s trapped in the Temple, presiding over the Council as they decide on my fate.”

When he saw the look on my face, Kieran decided not to press any further. “You’re really doing this, huh?”

I sighed, looking up at him. “I just… feel like I need to know something. As if something’s been hidden from me and now I need to uncover it.”

“Or maybe your brain’s just looking for excuses for all of the favoritism you endured before,” Kieran argued. “We can’t trust her words. We don’t even know her.”

I nodded. “I know… but at least, let me do this, okay? If this leads nowhere, I’ll stop. I promise.”

Hour upon hour passed as we scanned the massive library. At some point, Tigris even left some food, telling us that he would tuck in early that night.

Even Kieran, who seemed unwilling and bored earlier, had found a small nook for himself and began to browse archives upon archives.

And yet, despite our eagerness, the very thing we had been looking for seemed… elusive.

Exhausted, I laid in the middle of the room, staring at the library's ceiling. I could hear Kieran's soft snoring from the corner.

Aside from that, the area was quiet. Too peaceful, even.

I glanced at my wristwatch. It was half past three in the morning. I got up, deciding to continue my search after a good nap, when a shiny book cover caught my eye.

“Weird,” I thought to myself as I took the book from its shelf. “Have I read this before?”

My eyes burned as I sat beside the gas lamp once more, my body almost moving on its own.

Something told me to open the book. And as the fingers brushed against the yellowed paper, I noticed a name on it.

Alpha Hakim, direct descendant of Mother Goddess.

My forehead creased as I tried to rack my mind of that name. He was definitely not in the current Lycan Council.

Besides, there's no way a Lycan with as divine bloodline as him wouldn't hold a good position in the council. He might even become the head of the Temple just like Castiel.

What happened to you?

I browsed through a few more pages, each one containing photos of various Alphas under a clan named Aurora.

I've known each Lycan house by heart. After all, when I was still studying for the Queen selection competition, we were taught which house we could ask for support.

The house of Aurora was never mentioned. Let alone whispered. So if this Alpha truly existed, then…

The last page struck me like lightning. There, a family portrait was printed, showing a beautiful Lycan family of four. A Luna, an Alpha…

And their twin daughters.

It was undeniable. From the face, the eye color, the red hair… That child was me. And the other must be my twin sister.

Her face was scratched up, and all I could make out was her reddish brown hair. Alpha Hakim held me in his arms, his lips beaming with pride and joy.

His Luna held my twin, her smile gentle and calm.

And she wasn't Luna Cassandra. She wasn't the mother that I knew and grew up knowing.

My heart was almost beating out of my chest as I scrambled to go and wake up Kieran. But before I could even reach him, I saw one name that made me stop on my tracks.

Mera. Luna Mera.

“Then… I'm not a Locke? What about Medea? Are we really even twins? But… the Temple tests—”

A small thud echoed in the large room. My feet went on autopilot and walked towards the noise, my feet and hands shaking uncontrollably.

There, in between two older bookcases that had been gathering dust, laid a small diary.

A diary o f the man I desperately tried to please for all of my life.

Alpha Heron Locke.