Chapter 298

I remember my father fondly but his choices were one sided, putting faith where there should have been none, when the Chosen One has defeated the Elders, many things will be returned to what they once were. Shifters that have been given gifts will only inherit and keep their gifts if the Chosen One sees fit – the job my father had. By killing him, the Elders were able to syphon the gifts and energy from shifters if they showed signs of having one, collecting not only the good but also the bad. My mind immediately went to Nonno’s sister, Mylene – the Elders had removed her wolf, but how was she still alive? I wondered, and then, even Audrey crossed my mind, it was something that had bothered me. I had three wolves, while she had none, but was that because she didn’t have one or because the Elders had taken hers away? There are many things that no shifter knows about the Elders, wisdom that they would prefer me dead for before I were to pass on that knowledge. They are unable to read the minds of humans; they can force one to reveal thoughts but cannot hear them. When syphoning a gift or power the way they have, they kill the whole body just to take that gift. If they kill the wolf spirit it will not be given to another and the human lives. It is when they try to take the residual energy or gift without killing the spirit, does the human die. I was able to put my own energy into the violins, which is why I can no longer search for the fifth ring; I am at my weakest now, just waiting for my animal spirit to tell me when the time has come to go to our mate. Animal spirit? ‘Anya never shifted when she lived with us, she remained in human form at all times and while we could tell that she was a shifter we could not tell what her shifter form was – but we respected that…’ Greta had told me, when she gave me my mothers belongings. A smile crept up on my face when it hit me that Oakley and Ben would probably love speaking with Greta, out of anyone she was the person who had spent the most time with Anya – Norine. Sighing I went on. In giving up my power I was able to keep my gift, and luckily my memories. From before my father said every man has a weakness – I happen to know what the weakness of Elder Caelum is… unlike the other Elders who have no heirs or descendants, Elder Caelum hid that information from my father. I do believe that two children one born in 1901 a little girl named Abigail Clément and in 1904 a boy named Marshall Clément are his kin. The possibilities we had been given with that last sentence was unbelievable, granted Elder Caelums children could have been dead, but these two names meant there was something he wanted to protect, his weak spots were what he had kept hidden from – from my grandfather, “Huh,” I’m sure Remy and Logan could check this little information out and see if my mothers hunch was in fact, correct. While I am unsure… from what I had witnessed Caelum always had too much attention placed on that family. The research I had done, sent me in that direction. I have made sure that the energy and such is protected and you my children are keys within yourself. Since you’re all reading this I want you to know, I’ve done everything and will continue to do what has to be done, because of you children. If I’m not around to tell you this, you all were my reason for everything, just the chance to be your mother – knowing I would be, gave me the courage to push on. I haven’t met any of you yet but I want you all to know how much I truly love each of you and I hope that I was able to tell you all those words repeatedly before, Overcome with love darlings, Your mother. Hit by a car, thrown in the way of a train, then being run over by said train and finally catching fire would explain how I felt after reading my mothers letter. Tossed, turned and repeat. Twice. “She – there’s another child out there? Older? Younger?” I asked myself out loud. We are unsure child, my third wolf answered and my body instantly stilled. I couldn’t even begin to make sense of this. I had already found out that she was royal, then an Elder, but to go on and do so much after she lost her whole family? To be around the Elders… the same ones that conspired to kill her family off? She still went to be with them, gathering information, not once until the end killing any of them? I snorted at how completely different we were. I couldn’t even stomach to be around Jay – and he caused my pain indirectly. Shaking my head I read the letter once, then again, and one more time before finally setting it down, taking the four rings into my hand, delicate prized jewels. She hid them so well, did all this and she – Anya didn’t know anything, not really when I thought it over. She knew there would be a Chosen One, yet she didn’t know it was me. She moved on with her life, had Oakley then Ben. Would – what if I hadn’t – do they tell me something about how she felt about me? She wrote this before even meeting Jay, did that mean her intentions would have been to always come back? Or if she lived would she have just had a third child, preparing them to help the Chosen One? Pieces were falling into place for me, I could for a minute see why Anya didn’t return to Jay, or put up more of a fight. However I didn’t understand why she’d leave Audrey and I with Jay – if that were where she thought I was – when the Elders were basically that packs leader. They were very closely connected; didn’t she feel that Audrey and I were in danger? I didn’t understand and worst of all, how could I let Oakley or Ben read this letter? Oakley had been told and remembered a woman that wanted to be her mother and while this letter was somewhat proof of that. There was more here that could lead one to believe that it wasn’t about being a mother but producing enough children so that they could release the stored energy. I stared down at my findings, the rings and scrolls and all I could feel was utterly confused. Closing my eyes I leaned my head back, reaching out I removed the block listening to thoughts again, but for the most part concentrating on Gabriel and Lux. Who do these people think they are? Gabriel thought and a stray memory caught my attention, but more so the sheer terror of the owner as past and present seemed to be colliding. ‘You aren’t old enough to go on a date, you're only thirteen years old honey’ – ‘There’ll be more dances sweetheart…’ my wolves went into an uproar, you cannot let this – I was instantly on my feet, teleporting from the safe to Gabriel’s computer checking before I reacted. When the mans picture popped up on the screen, a low growl was released from my mouth. Stumbling back I started at the pictures, the two side by side. How – I swallowed the bile creeping up my throat, as my skin prickled and disgust washed over me – could my father bring such a man here? My hands balled up, fisted at my side as my blood boiled. Closing my eyes I went to Rainy.