Leyla
I had caught up with Uncle Reed and told him about my meeting with his father, my grandfather. I thought he would be surprised by the request his father made but he wasn't. He just nodded his head and looked at me differently. I can't quite work out what was running through his mind, he seemed troubled, like there was something bothering him. However, before I could even ask him if he was alright he walked off in the opposite direction. It was like he couldn't get away from me sooner. I thought I might be imagining things but Amira seemed to agree with my observation.
The only reaction that was predictable, was my mother's reaction. I could see a million emotions race through her eyes. It reminded me of Nona, she always said 'the eyes are the windows into the soul'. At first mother looked shocked at my request, then the slither of anger seeped in. I knew she was angry because she thought that her father had used me as a means to get her to speak with him but when I explained that it was a coincidence, she seemed to ease up. I could sense her reluctance at wanting to see and speak with her father more than she had already done but when I expressed that it seemed important, she agreed to attend. I also told her that Reed would be coming as well, she relaxed.
There was an innate need that wanted me to ask about my grandfather, about her family but something held me back. I didn't want to cause her more pain than she was already going through. I knew that it was a sensitive issue, especially after the small interaction I witnessed between her and her mother. It was weird that I didn't feel that connection with her that I felt with my grandfather, again it was unexplainable but Amira simply shooed the matter.
The sunlight started to settle, the darkness of the night started to enclose the land. I didn't have much to do, other than practice my new abilities. I knew that I could control water, but the land was parse and dry in the mountains. Although their was water in life, I didn't feel morally right to use that life to initiate my power. Amira too was hesitant, I couldn't help but remember Selene's advice that with power comes choice and how we use it is extremely important. Just because I held these gifts, didn't mean that I should use them.
My mind wondered to my actions to the battle between the Mallaper's and the Royal Army. That had been the first time that we had used fire, a part of me enjoyed the power and control I had but there was something unsettling about it. It was like I tasted the sweetest wine ever, the taste swirled around my mouth and flowed through my blood. I couldn't help but think about how the itch to burn something was simmering below the surface. A part of me wanted to talk to someone about it, but both me and Amira were weary in who knew about the powers we welded. How could we explain the pull to use and manipulate elements was something that rivalled the mate bond I shared with Ryan?
Since using my fire ability, Ryan had barely crossed my mind. It was like he was something insignificant, the pull of our mate bond seemed to diminish. I knew he was in the pack hospital being treated but I felt no need to be close to him, to check on his well-being. Before if he was in danger I would have run and jumped in front of silver bullet for him, but now it seemed like an obligation rather than a want. Even when I tapped into Amira's thoughts and feelings, she too felt the bond with Reginald snag.
Silently, the family of three made their way to the unusual stone gazebo. Honestly, I didn't know how to explain or describe the place where I met and spoke with my grandfather. Even though it was stone, it looked like marble. There was something illuminous about the place. Amira could feel the energy, the power that coursed through the structure. Everything about it was inexplainable to the average werewolf, I was curious about whether my mother and uncle had the same feeling.
"When will the Alpha be here?" My mother questioned. Reed seemed just as distracted as I was but simply replied. "Soon. I can't imagine father will leave us hanging here for long."
My mother's fingers ran along the intricate carvings. Her brow was furrowed but sometimes the corner of her lips would turn upwards, like she was reminiscing, remembering something in the corner of her mind.
"How did you find this place Leyla?" My mother sighed.
I simply shrugged my shoulders. "I don't really know. It's like this place found me." How do you explain that you felt tethered to a place you have never seen or been before.
"You remember this place don't you?" Reed stated.
"Of course. How can I forget this place? This was where we used to hide when we were in trouble. This was our childhood hideout, the place were all our adventures began." My mother replied with a soft smile. "It's weird being here. It feels like another lifetime." She shook her head.
"It was over two decades ago. We're not kids anymore." Reed lightly chuckled with a shake of his head. "The only question that is running through my mind is how did Dad know about this place and yet was never able to find us when Mom was looking for us?"
"Because I always knew where you were." A deep voice bellowed from afar.
It was then that the same man that caught me snooping earlier, made his way to the three of us. Although his steps were confident, there was something hesitant about his approach. As he got closer, face became clearer. It was the first time that I saw him in the same vicinity of Uncle Reed. It was then that I noticed that their facial features mirrored each other, the only difference was the age lines that dressed his face.
"Hello Father." Reed nonchalantly responded. Whereas my mother simply nodded her head in his direction. Her face that was slightly showing emotion was now cold and bland. I simply stood next to Mom and let my fingers twiddle, not wanting to interrupt an awkward family reunion.
"Son." He gives him a sad smile. It's then that he turns and eyes my mother with soft eyes. His face holds nothing but guilt and his shoulders hold the burden of the mistakes that he made abandoning his daughter. However, there seemed to be another emotion lingering in between.
Relief. Amira whispered in the back of my mind.
Relief? I questioned.
Yes. He is relieved that his daughter is alive. Even if she won't acknowledge him as a father. He is happy that she is alive and well. That emotion is simply relief and hope that he can make things right. Amira explained.
"I'm guessing you are wondering why we are all here, why I wanted to speak with the three of you." My grandfather rhetorically asked as he was met with silence. "This place will only reveal itself to those who are worthy. Those who are a part of our bloodline. The bloodline of the first werewolves to roam this earth."
My mother scoffed at his words. "Worthy? How can a man who abandon his daughter be considered worthy." She muttered.
My grandfather does not seem shocked by her words but there is a layer of hurt in his eyes but he ignores her words and continued to speak. "Werewolves have been around for centuries. Our bloodline is one of the most ancient of them all. Our family tree backdates to Ancient Greece. The stories that you were both told as children were never bedtime stories but our family history."
"The story of Selene the Moon Goddess is one that everyone has heard. I'm sure that Nona told you about the origins. I can't imagine a well informed wolf Nona didn't mince your history lesson." I simply nodded my head. "However, I'm sure my children will tell you that the story they heard was slightly...different from the one that is recorded in history." My grandfather explained. Uncle Reed and my mother simply exchange a look. "I presume you haven't told your daughter and niece of our history."
"No, I haven't and neither has Lily. We have had bigger problems to deal with rather than talk about some bedtime story you used to tell us as children." Uncle Reed replied. My mother simply ignored them both and walked away rolling her eyes into the back of her head.
"Leyla the Moon Goddess created us. She created what we are. Everyone knows the story but there are variations in how it was told to us. The Moon Goddess had a daughter, Pandora. She was believed to be a god who walked amongst us. It was said that she fell from the heavens of the Gods because she was punished. Her mother, Selene was broken and hurt from the separation of her daughter. She couldn't bare to watch her daughter roam the earth as a mortal. So she blessed her with the gift of the wolf. It was believed to be the most beautiful wolf anyone had ever seen."
"Selene believed that with this blessing, her daughter would have the best chance of survival, a chance to live a life similar to the one she lived in Olympus." She paused and took a deep breath. "However, she soon realised that her blessing came with a curse. People didn't value her in the way that she wanted, they didn't love her like the family she had left behind. They coveted her and her powers. It was then that she realised how selfish humans could be."
"She approached the God's of fate and begged them to intervene, believing that she would suffer pain and heartbreak from being taken advantage of. So the God's wove her a destiny with someone who would love her unconditionally and protect her from harm. That was the first mate bond created."
"Although she had friendships with the humans, she felt empty and incomplete. So she travelled far and wide, searching for something that gave her meaning, that gave her purpose. It was believed that she travelled to what is now known as the Nightingale lands where she met a doctor who was working with the sick. It was believed that her heart beat so hard that she was scared it was going to fall out of her chest. It was when she introduced herself and touched his hand for the first time that her body lit up like the stars in the night sky. She had finally found her purpose."
"I'm surprised that you remembered it so well Lily." My grandfather stated with a soft smile.
"As a little girl it was my favourite story." My mother wistfully said as she dismissively brushed her hand in the air.
"It was believed that both lived a good life and had many children who travelled far and wide to find their purpose, their meaning of life. Thus the race of the werewolves began." My mother finished.
"That was the story with the happy ending but as we all know, happy endings don't exist." Mother bitterly explained.
My grandfather let out a sad chuckle, I see him watch his daughter as he wipes his eyes. "Your very cynical. I never wanted this life for you." He sighed.
"Can you blame me? When the world has only ever shown me bitterness, betrayal and hatred?" My mother spits.
Once again, grandfather ignored her words and finished wiping his eyes. "Reec- Reed, Could you tell her the real ending, the truth of what has been passed down from generation to generation?"
He sighed deeply. "The part of Pandora and her mate having many children is true. They did go on to reproduce and carry on the werewolf gene. However, Pandora and her husband did not get the happily ever after that was believed."
"The Fates had worked with Selene to give her happiness but didn't tell her it would be at a price. People became jealous of Selene and her husband's prosperous life. Men coveted a woman that was not theirs. So they killed her husband in spite and jealousy. Our Legend has it that her tears were cursed, their bond created was tarnished and wrecked havoc on the world. No one knows why the Fates cursed her but she was gifted a box, one that would contain her pain, her heartbreak."
"To save those who killed her purpose, her love, her life, she did the most ultimate act of selflessness. She turned her back on the children she loved more than her own life and buried herself and her box of chaos away from the world. Somewhere no one would ever be able to find." He finished.
"...And that is the story of Pandora. Pandora the first of our kind. Pandora, the daughter of Selene. Pandora, the first of our bloodline."