I felt a lump in my throat, and my hands tightened around the beer. This was the part of my life that I had kept secret, a part I had been hiding from Hunter and the pack. The real reason I had left.
I looked deeply into Hunter's honey-colored eyes, seeing curiosity but also a hint of pain and resentment. I knew I had to be honest with him, but what I would say could change everything between us.
“Their father is a human,” I murmured, my voice barely audible. “A man I met after leaving the pack.”
The revelation hung in the air like a heavy, uncomfortable burden. Hunter's reaction was unpredictable, and my heart raced as I awaited his response. I was about to find out whether the choice I made to protect my children would be understood or condemned.
Hunter clenched his jaw tightly, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. With a restrained voice, he asked, “Does this human know you're a werewolf?”
I swallowed hard before answering, “No, he doesn't.”
A sound of contempt escaped from Hunter's throat, a slight cough that revealed his disapproval. He then asked, his gaze locked on me, “Did you even bother to teach your mixed-blood children about the wolf side? Do they know what they are and how to control their transformations?”
Nervously, I mumbled my response. “No, Hunter. They are too young to understand those things. I haven't had time to teach them.”
Hunter got up from the sofa, visibly angry, and began pacing back and forth. He was clearly furious with me and didn't care to hide it. In a raised voice, he asked, “How could you not have time to teach your children about their wolf heritage? You, of all people, should know the importance of that.”
I felt nervous, with a lump in my throat. “My children haven't manifested yet, Hunter. They live in human form all the time. I don't know when or if they will transform.”
Hunter continued to stare at me with accusing eyes, and his voice was filled with disgust as he questioned, “So, you're telling me there are mixed-blood werewolves out there, living in human form, not knowing who they are or how to control their nature? You're putting the entire pack at risk because of your inability to be a mother. Is that what I'm understanding?”
I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. Hunter's words were harsh, but he was right. I was aware that my inaction put not only my children but also the pack's safety at risk. However, facing the reality and acknowledging my shortcomings as a mother was almost unbearable.
With tears in my eyes, I said with a trembling voice, “I know I've failed, Hunter. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to help them. I just wanted to protect my children.”
Hunter looked at me with a disappointed look. “Fierce, you're not protecting your children; you're putting the pack at risk. They could be a threat if they don't learn to control their abilities and understand their nature.”
His anger was so intense that it seemed like he was about to transform into a wolf at any moment. He wasn't satisfied with the answers I had given about my mixed-blood children and their wolf abilities.
He approached me, his eyes filled with fury, and through clenched teeth, he asked with a voice full of anger, “Why didn't you track your children, Fierce? Why didn't you transform into your wolf form and use your senses to find them? As far as I know, you can track any werewolf for miles.”
The pressure of the situation was overwhelming, and I was aware that my choices had put the pack and everyone's safety at risk. I swallowed hard before responding, choosing my words carefully. “Hunter, it's better if you don't know why.”
Hunter came even closer, his face just inches from mine. His voice was sharp as he said, “Up to this point, my will was for the pack not to help you. But if you don't tell me what's going on, Fierce, I can't protect you.”
I hesitated but finally succumbed to the pressure and revealed the truth. “I can't connect with my wolf, Hunter. I can't transform.”
Hunter's eyes widened in surprise, and he looked at me as if I had said something unbelievable. He questioned aloud, incredulous, “You lost your wolf?!”
I shook my head and explained with a trembling voice, “No, Hunter, I haven't lost her. I just can't connect with her. The Moon Goddess spoke to me and told me it was my mission to return to the pack and deal with my issues. She sent me back.”
However, Hunter was not willing to believe me. He scoffed with disbelief, “That's a lie, Fierce! The Goddess would never speak to anyone, let alone a woman who lost her wolf. You're making excuses, and I won't accept that.”
My words fell on deaf ears, and Hunter's anger grew. He was not willing to believe an explanation that challenged our pack's traditional beliefs. However, I knew that the Moon Goddess had sent me back for a reason, and I was determined to face any challenges that came my way to protect my children.
I was aware of the pack's hierarchy, and Hunter was the Alpha. I should submit to him, but I also had the right to defend myself and protect my position when I deemed it necessary.
With a lump in my throat, I dared to challenge Hunter, knowing that I was risking his uncontrollable fury. “You don't believe me, Hunter. Consult the Moon Goddess, as you did when you chose your destined mate and rejected me after using me, as far as I remember.”
My words hit Hunter hard, and he was momentarily stunned. He, like me, had just touched on memories that had forever shaped the course of our lives.