Chapter 22

CLAIRE'S POV

Erica never got scared or left me after telling her about our mother's story and how the magic powers and books have been passed on from generation to generation. She accepted and embraced it happily and was willing to learn some magical skills and I started teaching her. She was a smart and fast learner and had quickly adapted and learnt most simple magical words which was quite surprising.

Her baby bump is now visible to everyone who cares to look and I couldn't be any more happier and eager to welcome the new addition. She has greatly improved in magic and several times, I have caught her chanting magical spells and bringing dead plants and flowers back to life. The feeling is surreal and I can't be any more prouder of her.

I began to teach her how to heal with herbs and roots and she was so eager to learn. We were on our way going to find out a particular healing flower to make necklace for the new baby when I decided to strike a conversation with her about our Father. “Erica”, I called. “ What if I want you to meet father next week.. “ I said and trailed off knowing fully well that she would be very happy to meet father and on the other hand, sad that he had ‘abandoned’ her like she had said earlier. I knew she was eager to get answers to all her unanswered questions.

“Yes, why not?” She answered with anticipation boldly written on her face. “We have a lot to discuss about” she added with a distant look. “But.. is it safe?...to meet Father?” she asked and I could sense the fear in her voice. “Y-you know he's not really in his right frame…you know what I'm talking about sis” she said,hesistatedly. “Are you talking about the fact that he's a rogue wolf? Well he doesn't harm people, not us at least, he do enter the forest anytime the corruption takes over his mind and would only go back to his chamber when his mind is completely clear” I said to her.

“You mean no one in the Darkmoon pack knows that their Alpha is corrupted?” She asked again. “Just a few of them.. and I heard that these few are conniving with Alpha Logan to overthrow my father with the excuse that they don't want a rogue wolf as an Alpha” I replied, dejectedly. “I feel for Father, honestly and I don't know if he'd be strong enough to defend his pack when the enemies come” I sniffled.

“Oh no!” She exclaimed as if suddenly coming to realization. “Let's meet Father as soon as possible!, I'm sure Alpha Logan has deployed his strongest soldiers to look for me right now and if I'm caught, that's the end for Father because he's going to use me as a bait to take over the Darkmoon pack and Father would definitely fall for it because he was never aware of my existence” she said, sobbing loudly.

“Let's write a letter to him then, to inform him of our visit” I suggested.

“No problem sis, but.. can I ask you a question?” Erica hesitated, looking at me intently.

“Yes, why not? I mean just feel free to ask me anything “ I said to her, smiling.

“ Why don't you have a mate yet? I mean you are nineteen for goodness sake so how come?” She asked, looking at me with so much concern evident in her eyes.

“Well… I haven't found one, the last time we transformed during the full moon, no one recognized me as their mate nor did I recognize anyone-” I said, not wanting to remember the awkward moment.

“You don't mean it?, you mean in the whole Darkmoon pack there's none?, then I'm afraid you'll have to move to another pack then” she said again, more serious this time around.

“ There's no need for that Erica, I'm sure when the right time comes, the moon goddess would surely connect me to the right mate” I said to her, smiling sadly.

“What about you?How did you meet yours?” I asked her, trying to switch the discussion. Erica sighed sadly.

“Well.. my real mate was an Alpha in bluemoon pack but he rejected me publicly and disgraced me, he said I don't deserve to be his Luna and do you know the most painful part of all these? He chose Beatrice over me publicly, it was one of the lowest period of my life, it really hurts and still do, up till now, I was forced to reject him too as the custom demands and when my fragile heart couldn't take it anymore, I passed out publicly” she said, sniffling.

“It was a terrible experience sis, one you would never wish for your enemy and when I got back to my consciousness and still recovering from the shock of what happened, I learnt that my supposed Father, Alpha Arnold has sold me out to another Alpha-” she said and although she tried hard to hold her tears, they still managed to find their way down her cheeks.

“I can't believe my baby has gone through all these!” I said hugging her while trying to hold back my own tears.

“It's gonna be alright Erica” I said,trying to coax her.

“What happened afterwards?” I asked curiously.

“Well.. on getting to my supposed new husband's chamber my encounter with him was terrible, he was too harsh for my liking and looked down on me like I was a piece of shit, so I had no other option but to escape, somehow… and-and that was how I met Alpha Dante, his son.”

“Really?” I asked, surprised.

“Yes dear, the young guy has always lived in the shadows and no one,except maybe a few people, knew of his existence” she said with a distant look on her face.

“Now that's shocking, but why is he doing that to his own son and where's his mother?” I asked quickly.

“Well.. about that.. he hasn't said anything about it yet but one thing is certain, his father is a very wicked man and not fit to be an Alpha” she said dejectedly.