\[Serenity’s POV\]
“My blood is special.” I announce, deciding that this was the best place to start. “So special that...” Growing quiet, I look around me, taking in the newly transformed twins and then Maverick. “That it turns wolves human.”
Nodding, Uncle William considers what I’ve said while his gaze shifts from one person to another.
“And why hasn’t your father ever told me of this?” He asks slowly, seeming annoyed. “This is actually something that someone he enlisted to take care of his precious daughter should know.”
“That’s because…” I begin, realizing that what I say next could cause one of two things. “He doesn’t know.”
Shit. What would Uncle William say to this? Would he keep this a secret, or would he tell my parents? If they found out, I was positive my father would pull me out of The Academy and lock me away in Emerald Moon.
“Please,” I squeak, unable to ignore the anxiety that is starting to grow with each passing minute of silence from Uncle William. “Don’t tell him. I know that it was wrong to not tell him or my mother from the beginning, but…”
“But you feared being trapped in your own home.” Uncle William finishes for me, taking me by complete surprise.
“Yeah.” I say quietly. “You of all people know how protective my father is.”
My dad was an arrogant and protective man. If he so much as got a whiff of something threatening those he cared for, he would do everything in his power to make sure that they would be protected, especially me, since...
Feeling my heart squeeze painfully, I look down at the serpent birthmark that mars my wrist. Since I was young, I was aware of what this mark meant and what happened because of it.
“It wasn’t your fault.” Uncle William says gently, catching onto my train of thought.
Swallowing, I lift my gaze to his and am instantly met with the pain that he is feeling. Of course, he understood what it was that I was feeling since it was because of this mark that he, my father, and even my mother lost people who meant a lot to them.
“Anyway,” Uncle William continues, clearly wanting to change the topic. “Although I understand your reasoning for not wanting to tell your father about what your blood can do, I don’t think it is a good idea to keep it hidden. What if someone else found out and used you because of it? It’s too dangerous, and...”
“That won’t happen!” I gasp. “My friend created a serum for me that nullifies the gene that causes it.”
“Your friend.” Uncle William repeats. “Who is that?”
“Uh…”
Tearing my gaze from Uncle William's, I look in the direction of the one who spoke and find the twins silently watching us.
“Sorry to interrupt, but could someone explain what is happening?” The male twin asks. “Where the hell are we, and why can’t I remember anything?”
“That’s because you were a rogue.” Maverick asks, finally joining the conversation. “I’m not sure why, but being in that state eliminated who and what you were before you were those creatures.”
“And why should I believe you?”
“Because I was like you.” Maverick responds quietly. “I too didn’t have an identity or a past until I saw the light and became human.”
“Dammit.” Uncle William sighs, breaking the silence that is beginning to fall around us. “Although it’s frustrating, we are going to have to put our current conversation on hold and figure out what to do with these two.”
“Do with us?” The female twin growls, baring her teeth. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” Uncle William responds calmly. “We need to give you identities.”
At his words, the twins’ eyes widen, and they look at one another.
“Names?” The female repeats. “What will you name us?”
For a moment, Uncle William doesn’t speak as he looks from one twin to the other.
“Trinity and Tyrone.” Uncle William offers. “What do you think?”
Growing quiet, he waits as the twins look at each other and seem to communicate silently.
“Well?” Uncle William pushes when they continue to remain silent. “Will you accept these names?”
Instantly, the twins nod in unison, but before anything else can be said, a snarl rips from outside of the room, and I’m reminded that there was one more rogue amongst them.
“Shit,” Uncle William hisses, preparing to move, but stopping as Maverick races into action.
Eyes widening, I begin to follow him out of the room and into the living room, where the final rogue stands, baring its teeth.
“Stay back.” Maverick says, holding up an arm to stop me from going closer.
“But it needs to bite me.” I counter, ducking beneath his makeshift shield and moving forward.
Gritting my teeth, I hold out my arm and wait as the rogue lounges toward me, and when its teeth wrap around my skin, I want to scream.
“That’s enough!” Maverick snarls when the rogue continues to hold onto me.
Reaching out, he grabs it by the scruff of its neck and pulls, yanking the rogue free and throwing it across the room and into Uncle William’s TV.
“What the hell?” Uncle William snaps, rushing to join us and take in the scene. “Do you know how much that cost me?”
“More than your niece's safety?” Maverick snaps, shooting Uncle William a glare. “You can easily replace monetary things.”
Opening his mouth, Uncle William prepares to argue but stops as the unmoving rogue begins to whine before it starts to shift into its human form. However, unlike Maverick and the twins, this one takes not only me but also Uncle William by surprise, as it almost resembles my mother perfectly.
“That…” I hiss, eyes widening.
“Elise?” Uncle William whispers, moving forward and gathering the rogue into his arms. “Can it be?”
Elise… Was he saying that this rogue was my aunt Elise?
As this question hits me, the woman’s face comes into view, and I let out a gasp over what I’m seeing. Although she does look identical to my mother and most likely my aunt Elise, her face is terribly scarred, and one of her eyes is foggy. Even the edges of her lips are cut, giving her a terrifying grin.
“What the hell?” Maverick growls, mirroring my feelings. “What the hell happened to her?”
“I don’t know.” I admit, continuing to take her in.
I was certain that she too wouldn’t know what happened to her since, just like the others, her memories would be gone.
“There has to be a way to find out more about your past.” I murmur, looking over at Maverick. “I’m sure if we can do that, then we will learn more about all of you, but where to begin?”