In Search of the Truth (complete)

Chapter 8

When I became aware of my surroundings I go to stand up and stumble. I look down and realize I see paws. I look around and notice many familiar faces just staring at me. I hear them whispering about a color of some wolf and figure they must mean me. I look down and notice I have 2 black and 2 white paws.

I look back up still confused. All the sudden I see Angela and Gio transform into wolves, and approach me slowly. They nudge me and I hear them say, "it's ok Joan. There is nothing to be afraid of. Someone in your family must of been a wolf. When you came of age you transformed."

I looked at Angela, "but I am older than you. How come your able to turn?"

"In my family we were able to start turning once we hit puberty, but different wolf packs seem to do it differently. This pack which is the Silverado Pack they do it at age 16. However, my great grandparents came over here from Italy just before the Great War. The Cassidys took them into their pack and they started the Pizzeria. What ever pack you came from must of done it at age 18. That will help us track down your family. We will find out what packs transform at age 18.  How would you like to run?"

"I feel like running, but I am also feeling a pull. I am feeling something trying to draw me toward something."

Gio says, "today's been a rough day. Let's just run tonight. Then tomorrow we will search for answers. Why don't you lead us on your first run."

"I don't know this area. Where do I lead you guys?"

Gio takes me to a trail, "let's follow this trail. It does have some forks- just take which ever one you want. They all will gradually lead to a lake. Then when we hit the lake we run around the perimeter and head back here."

I take off and soon I have them and many other wolves following me. It was thrilling to be running. When we got to the lake we ran around it. I stopped on the far side and many wolves went down to get a drink. I looked up into the hills and once again felt a stronger pull. I then felt a pain and passed out.

When I woke up I realized I was in the hospital. I heard a nurse call out, "Dr Niles she's awake." Then off to the other side I hear a bunch of shuffling feet and turn toward it. I see the Martinez and Cassidys standing by me. Then a man whom I presume is a doctor comes in along with another nurse.

He starts to examine me. "Do you know what caused you to scream in pain and pass out?"

I look at him, "who are you?"

"Forgive my manners. I am Dr Stacy Niles, the pack doctor. Now what hurt to cause the scream of pain?"

"I don't know. I felt that pull stronger while by the lake. I looked up toward the hills and then got a severe stomach pain as though I was being hit by something hot. I don't remember anything after that."

"If Luna hadn't told us your family was dead and you hadn't found your mate yet. I would swear you acted like someone with a twin or mate."

Gio says, "Why the hell didn't I connect it before. That's why I feel drawn to her, but not attracted to her. She has an identical twin and her twin is my mate."

Just then Darren walks in with his parents. His dad says, "Actually she had two identical sisters. She was one of a set of triplets."

We all turn and look at him. Darren replies, "hi Joan. Remember me? This is my parents, Mathew and Emily Grayson."

Mathew says, "Just call me Matt, but I am shocked to see you. I was the first responder to the accident. I got there right after it happened. When I came to the hospital I brought you a torn wolf I found by the wreck. I handed it to you. You called him wolfy. Then you asked me my name. I told you Mr Grayson. We visited for a while and I left. When I came back to visit you I had been told you had passed away."

Darren look at me and then at his dad, "are you saying she is one of the girls in that picture you carry in your wallet?"

He pulls out his wallet and gets the photo out. He hands it to her. "I grew up right under your nose and you never knew?"

"You smell different now than you did back then. Plus it threw me off at first when I was asked about you.  Your name isn't Joan Reese, but was Joan Rice. Your sisters were name Jean and Jane. You kept asking for them. I was there when your brothers were born through an emergency c-section. I took pictures of their birth. Since I knew your names I was asked if I knew what the parents plan to call them. I told the nurse Jack and Jace- I just kept the 4 letter 'J' names going. Then they were whisked away to an NICU UNIT at another hospital. I was told later on that they passed away.

Alpha Cassidy all the sudden said, "SHIT. Now it f***en makes since. I remember that accident and we did the burial for that family. They were moving from their pack. Your dad was an alpha from the Somerset Pack  and your mom was a hybrid. She actually came from a witch and fae parents.  They were buried locally. I can show you the cemetery, but it was a closed coffin affair. Our pack hosted the memorial. Your grandparents from both sides came but not your uncle. He was the one who had your dad removed as a leader.  Your grandparents actually stayed with our pack until your uncle had a pup. Then they went back to be part of his life."

"I have more family?"

"More?"

I look over at the Martinez, "yes more. Ma and Pa are my first family. We might not be blood, but they stepped up when I needed someone. On more than one occasion they did try to get me to their house and tried to even adopt me once."

Pa spoke up then, "now that you are 18," he looked at his daughter and me, "Vomit, can no longer block it. We would still like to adopt you. That would make you officially a pack member. With you being wolf we could adopt you the wolf way immediately and file for it the human way."

I was so overcome with emotion that I burst into tears. Ma and Pa came over and wrapped their arms around me. When I calmed down, "I would like that, but would it hurt you to say I would like to also contact my grandparents? I am not interest in my uncle or old pack?"

Alpha then spoke up, "I cannot have you contact them yet, but I will do the adoption  if you like."

I looked hurt and asked, "why?"

"We have to prove you are whom we think you are. We have to figure a way to get some DNA to prove you are their granddaughter."

Matt spoke then, "that case was never closed. It was listed as suspicious accident, but never enough proof. What if the responding officer gets transferred to COLD CASES, and I open the case back up. Then request family DNA to compare to DNA found at the scene?"

I looked at him and ask, "how could you get that transfer?"

He replied, "you met Gary the other day. He is our pack Beta. We get the Alpha to request it."

Then another voice at the door replies, "or you just turn around and ask him if he will create a new department in the police department. If I do that you will find about a dozen unsolved cases there that you would work also. We don't have room in our small space, so would need to find a place for you to set up."

Mr. Martinez replies, "we just painted and added flooring to a 2 bedroom apartment upstairs. It's across from where Joan is. He could use that."

Officer/Beta Gary replied, "we would have to place alarms on that apartment to secure the evidence for when the state comes to inspect."

"You know the type you need. We will get what you need for we are in search of the truth."