“She didn’t at first, but eventually yes she did.”
“Was she a shifter too?”
“No she wasn’t, she was a human.” My dad responded.
“So does that mean I am human?” Keeping my head down not sure if I really want to hear the answer.
“Olivia, let me explain what I can and if you still have more questions you can ask them, okay.”
Relaxing my shoulders I nodded.
“An Alpha has special healing properties in their blood. A normal shape shifter has great capacity to heal oneself. An Alpha can heal anyone but all wolves can heal their mate. My blood was able to heal your mom from the fall.”
Taking a breath I asked, “So when you shared your blood with mom you were trying to help her?”
“Yes, I loved her. I couldn’t imagine living my life without her.”
“Then why did you bite her?” I asked, nervously twisting the end of my hair around my finger.
“I couldn’t see past all the blood and I was worried she wasn’t healing fast enough. I bit her to force a change. If she could change she could heal faster. However If an Alpha bites a human and they don’t have the shape shifter gene it kills them.”
Forcing my body to relax, I think about what he said. “But what if you were wrong and she had died?”
Running his hand through his hair, he explained, “ I was willing to take that chance. I thought I had already lost her.”
I traced the veins in Enoc’s hand letting it calm me. “What happened next?”
“Your mom healed but she never changed. Before you ask I don’t know why she didn’t change. Nor do I know why she didn’t die from the bite.”
Running what he just told me through my mind I repeated what I know. “Mom knew you were a shape shifter but only after the accident. Your blood healed her. You bit her because you thought she was already dead or close to it. After you bit her she didn’t change or die and you don’t know why. Did I get that right?” He nodded.
“What about me? Am I a shape shifter or human?” I asked rubbing my hand over the olive branch waitingfor the warmth to come and fill my soul.
“I don’t know for sure if you will change. You have my blood running through your veins but you have your mother’s also. Since she didn’t change it’s possible that you might not change.”
Wow is all I can think. “So you’re saying that if I were to be bitten I could change, maybe die or nothing might happen like with mom?”
Shifting on the couch, “Yes that’s what I am saying my little dove.”
I am taken back at the pet name he had given me when I was two. I hadn’t heard it in a while and it made me feel too much.
“Okay I need a moment.” I took a slow and steady breath trying not to pass out.
“It is okay Olivia, breathe” I heard Enoc tell me. I seem to be hearing that a lot lately. I kept replaying everything he just told me in my mind.
I blurt out, “I mean come on, how is this all possible?” My voice shook as I asked. I watched as he ran his hands through his messy brown hair again.
He asked me, “Do you remember what happened to you up at the spring?”
Catching me off guard I thought back to that day. “Yes Jeremy confronted me at the spring. He said someone wanted to talk to me and then he attacked me. I hit him with a branch and ran off. The next thing I knew a grey colored wolf…” I stopped speaking. I remember the similarities between Jeremy and the grey wolf. They both had the same gray beady eyes and smelled of cloves. “Jeremy is a wolf? He’s a shape shifter? He attacked me, why? Wait there was a black wolf too, he scared me but he fought off Jeremy.” I was completely stunned.
“Yes, the black wolf did protect you, and for that I am eternally grateful.” Dad kept looking at Enoc as he spoke. The words earlier spoken between Ruth and Amber came to my mind. Enoc promised James he would protect her. Me, I am her. They were talking about me. Enoc kept hold of my hand and continued to watch me. His magnificent blue gold eyes piercing mine, the same blue gold eyes as the large black wolf.
“Enoc is the giant black wolf!” I say with a puff of air under my breath. “You’re the black wolf! You’re a shifter?” I directed both my questions to Enoc.
“Yes, I am” he replied his voice deep with authority.
“This is just too much! You said you were Alpha of the Northern Pack. Is Enoc a part of your pack? And who else are shifters?”
Dad glanced at Enoc and Amber before he responded, “Enoc is the Alpha of the Eastern Pack and Amber is a part of my pack. She has been since she was a child.”
Looking over at Amber in shock, “But you have been my best friend since I was a child.”
I was looking at my dad when he spoke, “I know I assigned her to you to make sure you were safe. She was to report back to me if anything out of the ordinary happened.”
I look at Amber my eyes wide, “So was I just an assignment then? All those times we hung out, talked about boys, sleepovers. You were doing it to let my dad know about me? So when I thought he was dead you knew he was alive. Why didn’t you ever tell me? You saw how I mourned him. Why would you do that?”
Amber started to walk towards me but I held my hand up to tell her to stop. I could see the tears in her eyes.
Her voice trembled, “It wasn’t like that.”
My father interrupted her, “I ordered her not to say anything. If you want to be mad at anybody be mad at me.”
“Already there” I said.
He continued like I hadn’t even spoken. “Since I am the Alpha she follows my rules. She was bound by loyalty to obey. She wanted to tell you but I wouldn’t allow it. I couldn’t have you knowing. We were trying to keep you safe.”
“Keep me safe from what? Why did I need protecting?” I was daring my father to give me a good reason why I should have been kept in the dark.
“For you to understand that you need to know a little history of the packs. There are four packs in this area. Like I said earlier, I lead The Northern Pack and Enoc leads The Eastern Pack. The Southern Pack is led by a good man named William. The Western Pack is the most brutal of all the packs. It is led by Jeremy’s father Caleb. Each Alpha leads and protects his pack. Each pack is also subject to the law of the council, which is made up of the four Alphas. The council makes sure that all are obedient to the shifter laws. The laws are in place to protect our society from the outside world. If someone breaks those laws we deal out the punishments.”
“So you were protecting me from Jeremy? Why would Jeremy want me? I mean I am no one really. Yes I am your daughter but that doesn’t seem like enough. Plus he doesn’t even know me. I don’t want anything to do with him.”
I can tell they are nervous by the way my father gets up from the couch and starts pacing the floor running his hand through his brown hair, and the way Amber is avoiding eye contact.
“What aren’t you telling me?” I asked, looking at my father, my best friend and the man I can’t keep my mind off of.
“Look you need to know that Jeremy isn’t the one we’re really worried about, it’s his father Caleb. Caleb is the worst shifter out there. I know from personal experience that he has an extremely short temper. He is strong and clever. There have been some shifters who’ve left his pack and sought safety in other packs. Most don’t get away, they’re reported missing and are later found dead. He has violated the women of his pack and rules with the old traditions of the fathers. He uses force to make his pack obey. There was even talk that he killed his mate. It was never proven and most refused to believe it to be true. The idea of killing one’s mate is just so hard for others to fathom.”
“So why doesn’t the counsel step in? It is your job right?”
He nods, “It just isn’t that simple. It’s his pack, he can lead them how he chooses and if no one goes against him, nothing can be done.”
I watched the sofa indent as my father sat down. “So what is the plan? Can’t we just tell him I don’t want to go wit
h him?”
Letting go of Enoc’s hand I reach for the water next to the bed. I take a drink just so my hands have something to do.
“He won’t listen. You don’t have to go but that’s not to say they won’t try to take you, again. If they capture you they will bite you to force a change or worse”--- letting his sentence drop.
“What could be worse than being bitten by force?” Looking around the room trying to get an idea of what they’re talking about. I can see tension in Enoc’s shoulders. He looks at me and I know what could be worse. It is written all over his face.
“So they want to not only change but mate with me.” I can’t believe I am talking like them already. This is all so strange and I want to wake up in my bed like this is all a bad dream. “Why would they want me especially if I don’t want them?”
My father walks over to me grabbing my hand. “It is because of my bloodline. If they can force you to have a child, my lineage, our lineage will run in the veins of his child.”
“Ahhhh!!! How is that not against the council laws?” My body stiffens in anger.
“It is an old law, if an Alpha chooses to take someone as his mate and is strong enough to do so then it is considered the good of the pack. Most Alphas wait for their true mate however there are still those who choose the old law. After you were born the council had considered the idea that my child should join the Western pack and mate with Jeremy. It was a way to free the pack from the tyranny of Caleb and at the same time strengthen the Western Pack. Before the council could vote Caleb decided that he didn’t want to step down from his pack and let Jeremy lead. He wanted you and your bloodline to mix with his. Shortly after was when his mate died. I knew that he would do whatever it took to make you his. I did the only thing I could; I left and hid you and your mom from all the packs. Marie knew that the Western Pack was after you. She knew that I was still alive and it broke her heart us being apart. We did it because we love you and wanted to keep you safe.”
“Dad, I have a million questions but this is a lot to process. Could we talk about this some more tomorrow?”
“Olivia I know this is difficult and you have a lot on your mind but just remember we are here for you. We will protect you and keep you safe.”
“So that means I will be staying here? What about my life, my things, schooling?”
James once again looked sad, “I’ve already had all your things moved here to Amber’s cabin. Everything in your old life is gone. You can still attend school with Amber if you choose but my first priority is keeping you safe.
I want to believe him, I just couldn’t. My life was just thrown upside down. I had been lied to most my life. I was attacked and already hurt because of this whole shifter mess. I nodded my head anyways just to acknowledge that I had heard him. I was so angry but I had missed my dad.
With what little strength I had left I asked, “Dad before you leave, could I have a hug? I would get up but I don’t have the strength.”
Before I had finished my sentence his arms wrapped around my shoulders. My heart broke because even though he lied and I don’t know what is going to happen he is my father. I can feel that he loves and missed me as much as I love and missed him.
I can feel his chest shaking my body as he cried into my shoulder. “I love you my little dove and I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you too daddy. But I am still mad too, I said wiping tears from my red swollen eyes. I couldn’t help but glance at Enoc as he gives me an understanding look
As my father opened the door to leave I saw Enoc follow him. Enoc said nothing but watched me. A part of me wants him to stay but another wants to be left alone. I give him a small smile before he closed the door.
I see that Amber has stayed; she lies on the couch taking the quilt and pulling it over her body. “If you need me for anything Olivia or if you have any questions please just ask I will answer what I can.”
“Thanks Amber I appreciate it, I just need some time to think.”
Letting everything I’ve just learned sink in. I closed my eyes praying that my dreams take me away for a while. To a time when life was so much easier, before when my mom was still alive. Mom I wish you were here. I rubbed my necklace letting the warmth of it fill my soul as I drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 4
Two weeks later my body had finally healed. I spent most of my time with Amber, Ruth and her family. I learned a lot about the Northern Pack. During that time I was introduced to most of the pack members. Ruth’s daughter, Grace, became quick friends with Amber and me. She was an amazing healer just like her mother. Her brother Ryan was my father’s Beta, his first in command.
The main log cabin looked more like a resort, than the pack’s headquarters. The stone around the home helped create a beautiful landscape. The landscape was decorated with a variety of wild flowers. Many of them were my favorites. Lilly of the valley, sweet peas, blue bells, forget me nots, yellow snow buttercups and white marigolds. The beauty of it captivated my full attention. It reminded me of one of the cabins in those fancy magazines. I loved how the pine trees and bushes surrounded the home. The back of the cabin had a massive deck that overlooked the swimming pool. You could also see a trail that lead to the small lake below. It was amazing.
The main cabin was filled with windows. There were so many it felt like you were standing outside. I loved it. The inside was decorated beautifully. Amber told me the home had been decorated by Emily, one of the pack members. A professional decorator and man was she fantastic. The home was gorgeous. The large kitchen had two stainless steel stoves and two double ovens. It also included three fridges that were built into the cabinets. The way it could hold twelve to fifteen people daily was astonishing. A large granite stone fireplace was the focus of the gathering room. There were three leather sofas, and a few chairs situated throughout. This was where the pack visited and had meetings. The cabin had a master bedroom and six extra guest rooms, including six bathrooms. Of course my father resigned in the master bedroom while Ryan occupied another. A couple of pack members resided in two other rooms. Leaving two rooms open, one for Enoc and one vacant.
There was also a recreational room in the basement. It had everything from a pool table, laundry room with six Maytag extra-large capacity washer and dryers, a theatre room with a sixty inch flat screen TV, a gym and even a bowling alley. Seriously, who has a bowling alley? Ha, my dad does that’s who, I think smiling to myself. Around the resort down through the forest were seven other small log cabins. Their layouts were similar to Ruth’s cabin. Different trails lead to each individual cabin. Some were a mile or two away from the main building. They were usually for those who had children, or even like Ruth who did a lot of work out of her home. They all had jobs and played a part in the maintenance and safety of the pack.
I could tell they loved James and were very loyal to him. My father would always say loyalty is the true form of love. I remember when I was growing up he would tell me a Bible story about loyalty. Two women went before a King. Each claiming the infant in front of them was theirs. They both lived in the same home alone. The first woman had her baby first. Three days later the other woman had her baby. The first said that when she awoke in the morning to feed her child the baby would not wake because it was dead. She said that when she looked down at the baby, she knew that it wasn’t the baby she’d given birth to. The first claimed that the second lady had smothered and killed her baby by laying on it at night and the second woman snuck into her room switching her live baby with the dead baby. The second woman claimed that the dead baby was the first woman’s and the live baby was hers. This is what they told the King. After thinking about it for a while the king asked his servant for a sword. He said he would divide the child into two. He then said he would give half to one, and half to the other. The first woman begged the King not to slay the child but to let the second woman keep the child. The second woman said, don’t give it to her or me but divide it. The King then sa
id give the living child to the first for she is the mother. My father always said that the King knew that the mother would be loyal to her child because she loved him. Even if she had to give him up and never see him again she would do what was best for the infant. That is loyalty: love and sacrifice. If someone really loved you and was loyal to you, they would sacrifice their own free will to protect you.
My dad explained that when it came to the pack it was an equal amount of respect. When the pack was loyal to him, he couldn’t help the desire to protect and serve them. I knew he would sacrifice his life for anyone of them and in return they loved him. These past two weeks I heard countless stories about the pack and each time his eyes would light up with joy and respect for them. Even though my Father was the leader he served and loved them. Because of this they loved and served the pack for him in return.
Ever since my first day here Enoc had kept his distance. I have never felt so confused and embarrassed. I really felt a strong connection to him when we first met. Maybe he was just being supportive. He would observe us but always from a distance. Amber, Grace and I spent time searching for herbs to replenish Ruth's supply. After a week we started running a couple times a day. They would run in wolf form and I would run next to them. Amber was a beautiful earth brown wolf. She has always been more beautiful than me. Her eyes were still the same chocolate brown. I learned a little bit more about the wolves while watching them while we ran. I observed that when they shift the person is in control of the wolf. Shifters also have the ability to shift partially. They can hear, see and smell better. The wolf is smart and takes on the personality of the shifter. In reality they’re one. When they are in wolf form they have the same instincts as a real wolf. The chase, hunt and kill are priorities for the wolf along with being territorial. They are very loyal to one another. Amber explained that if a shifter lets go of their humanity the wolf would take control. If that happened they could lose themselves. They would be unable to shift back and they would remain a wolf indefinitely.
The Choice (The Choice Series Book 1) Page 4
