The restaurant we went to was somewhat of a melting pot for pretty much anything or anyone that wasn't human.
As we walked inside Kieran placed his hand on my waist, causing me to look up at him in confusion, but he tilted his head up and I looked up to see heads following us, watching Alina and I as we passed and I saw Daniel was holding Alina in a similar fashion and something told me not to question it. I was more stunned at the warm feeling it caused to bud in my belly though, recognizing them as the faint sparks of desire and I rejected the thought as soon as it entered my mind.
We came to a private room where I saw Elise and James greeting a tall man and woman, and three younger males, all seeming to be in their teens despite the fact that they looked like nearly grown men.
I knew it was him without having to see his face.
I turned when I heard a gasp, and saw my mother frozen next to me in shock and she gripped my arm, steadying herself as she stared at her old lover.
They all turned at the sound, eyes landing on us.
His identical blue-green hues eyes fell on my mother first.
"Cara." He said and made to move towards her and I held my hand up to stop him as my mother shrank away from him.
"No. You don't get to do that to her. You don't get to act like you're innocent in all of this. You still left her." I spoke, positioning myself in front of my mother.
I watched as his gaze fell on me and his features softened as he nodded, but his eyes scanned my face and I could see the moment it connected for him.
"You must be Charlotte." He whispered in awe as he continued to just look at me.
I nodded and walked forward quietly, but I gripped Kieran's hand and I suddenly grew nervous, pulling him along with me. I did not know this man and I would employ Kieran in mine and my mothers safety.
I shook my father's hand softly, unsure of what to do and a smile grew on his face.
"Would you like to meet your brothers, Charlotte?" He asked me.
I grinned, I had detested being an only child nearly my entire life and knowing I had siblings instantly had me ecstatic.
"This is Nathaniel, Everen, and Cyrus. Your younger brothers." He said.
They all had our familiar eyes, and greeted me with a smile and a hug. They definitely weren't younger looking, they were built like grown men, each of them far taller than myself, though it didn't take much for anyone to be taller than me thanks to my mother's genetics.
I heard a woman clear her throat and my father turned toward a woman, introducing her as his Luna.
I stiffened slightly as she held out her hand and I shook it lightly.
"I'm Emma." She said, eyes running down my frame.
"Charlotte." I said drawing back.
I sighed as my mother walked toward us, her hand out, attempting to make amends and fix this for my sake and I felt pride swell in me at her humility.
Emma looked down at my mother's hand and scoffed.
"I will not shake hands with whore omega filth." She spat.
I growled at her words.
"And yet I shook hands with high ranked filth. We're all doing things we do not wish to do." I said in defense.
She growled at me and looked at my father who stared at the woman in disdain.
"Emma, If you cannot be mature about this, you can go wait in the car. I will sit and dine with my daughter." He said strongly.
Emma growled and turned, storming out the restaurant.
My father motioned towards Emma and my brothers each hugged me before excusing themselves and making sure their mother didn't get herself killed.
"Please, sit." James said breaking the now awkward silence between us all.
I sat between my mother and Kieran, my father across from us next to Daniel and Alina.
I watched as my father stole glances continuously at my mother as a waiter ordered another round of drinks and appetizers and I couldn't help the pity that formed in my stomach as I watched the both of them.
I could plainly see the love he still had for her. You could see it in the way he looked at her.
I cleared my throat and my fathers eyes snapped toward me, smiling shyly at being caught as he muffled it with a sip of his water.
"So, tell me how you've been. What pack were you in? You seem happy." He said to us after he placed his water down. I looked at my mother who suddenly wasn't able to tear her eyes from
I sighed out, thinking of how to explain this without it sound as harsh as it's been. Did he really think we lived a great life? People constantly badgered us and prodded my mother for answers about who my father was and what had happened to him. People had tried to wager for the both of us, we'd been robbed, and the list continued on.
"We bounced around a lot if I'm being honest. We had to tell people my father was dead so that they would pity us enough to let us in their pack, because who wants extra mouths to feed, right? I was never allowed to shift because it would give away who my father was, so I had to sit back and do nothing for years. I had to sit back and hear my mother giver herself to an abusive pervert, just so we could have a bed to call our own. It was never happy." I said.
I didn't mean to be cold, but it was the truth and I was tired of hiding it or watering it down.
My father turned toward my mother, a sad expression on his face.
"I'm so sorry, Cara. If you had told me th-
"No, you left me. Why would I subject my daughter to the pain you caused me? The only reason we are here now is because she's able to make her own decisions as a grown woman. You said you loved me and we marked each other as mates. You were everything to me and then you took it all back. You're are nothing but a liar to me. I would not have my daughter around someone who chose rank over his mate and child." My mother said.
"I understand there is nothing I can say that will undo what I did, and for that I am sorry. I'm truly sorry to the both of you. Emma is only cruel because she knows my heart has always been with you." He said.
"Then why did you not at least make sure she was cared for? Samuels was so cruel to her." I said.
My fathers eyes darkened to the pitch black orbs of his wolf as I mentioned the poor excuse of a man and I could see his fist clenching as they sat on the table.
"What hap-
"He's dead. He put his hands on Charlotte, I ripped his heart out." Said Kieran nonchalantly.
My father went slack jawed in disbelief, but have a nod of approval.
"He deserved it. I wasn't the only one he was hurting. He hurt your daughter and was planning on worse." My mother said.
My father flinched at her words, but made no comment as he took a much needed drink of his water. My mothers hand gripped mine under the table and I knew she was trying her best to keep herself rooted and I squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"Agreed, he deserved it. And now? How are you fairing? Well, I hope." He asked as he stared between Kieran and I.
Well I wasn't dead, surprisingly enough.
"Well, actually yes. We're figuring things out." I said honestly.
My father smiled as he sighed with relief.
"And you Cara?" He asked.
"Your mate is going to be infuriated with you." My mother responded as she ignored his question.
"She's been sleeping with my Beta for three years now. I'm sure I have every right to ask the woman I actually care for, a question about her well being. I just wished I realized what I had in front of me before I lost it all. I was so stupid." He admitted lowly.
The table silenced at his statement and I immediately felt bad for how I treated him initially. You could see how hurt he was and he was trying now at least. He was just as broken and it was clear. My mother had only shown me her claim once and it was actually by accident when I was eight. She chastised my questions and I hadn't asked of it since, but it was somewhat odd now putting a face to the man who my mother had loved with her whole heart.
"You guys should go talk." I said.
My father stood up slowly, holding his hand out across the table to help my mother up. She stared up at him and I could see her fighting tears as she stared at my father stubbornly before she took it slowly and they walked out the room. He cast her a smile and she tried to hide her blush and grin as she looked away from him, but he caught her chin and turned her face up towards him.
I grinned at them. They loved each other, that was clear enough, but it was messy and they definitely had things to sort between them.
"But just talk! I don't need another sibling!" I yelled.