Page 89 of A Female Alpha for the Lycan Prince

I would be a shitty alpha if I didn’t.

Harmony and I finally make it out of Silverlake and are on our way back to Moon Blood. There is one stop we have to make first, though. I tell Harmony to drive by the cottage in the woods, well, as close as we can drive. We have to go by foot down the last section of the path. When my grandfather opens the door, I don’t leave any room for discussion. “I need you, Grandpa,” I tell him with emphasis. “I’m not asking you to live with me. But I need you to come with me to the pack and stand next to me when I tell everyone I’m a hybrid.”

He looks at me in surprise. “You have embraced it?”

“It’s what I am,” I say, surprised by my own words. Honestly, I thought that discovering my heritage would be a bigger shock to me. But rather than feeling shocked, I feel relief from finally having some answers. My mother was a wonderful person, and my grandfather was nothing but kind to me. I’m not ashamed of them, so why should I hide who I am?

Grandpa nods. “How could I deny you such a wish?” he whispers. “My beautiful, strong granddaughter.” When I lead him to the car, he acknowledges Harmony. “Another strong and beautiful woman,” he smiles.

“Mr. Carmine, you’re a charmer,” she chuckles.

He winks at her. “Call me Justus, child.”

On our way home, I link my father. He’s the only one I don’t want going into this pack meeting unprepared. I only give him the basic info, the rest he will hear during the pack meeting.

When we arrive at the pack house, everyone is still up and clearly nervous about today’s events. I had a feeling it would be like this, which is why I don’t want to postpone my announcement. Everyone gathers together in front of the pack house, I note how some of the older wolves—my father included—are surprised to see my grandfather.

I step onto the little podium so that everyone can see me. “What I am about to tell you,” I start. “Is something I’ve only recently discovered. Rest reassured, that today’s happenings have nothing to do with this news. What happened today was an attack aimed at a member of our pack. I value each and every one of you equally, and I will not sit back and allow anyone to attack this pack or the members of this pack!”

The pack members nod in agreement as they clap and cheer.

“Over the last few months, I have been searching for information on the intruders whose campfires were found at the bottom of the mountains on the edge of pack lands. They appear to have been spying on one or more members of this pack, and now they have openly attacked us at an event earlier this evening. During my research into this group, I also uncovered some information concerning our pack.

“You all know that my grandfather, who reigned over this pack before my father, would not allow mixed marriages or matings between wolves and other species. He reigned without mercy and was adamant they were never going to live in this pack.

“Well, I have discovered that mixed matings did, in fact, happen during my grandfather’s reign and without his knowledge or permission. Some of the wolves that you all know and love in our pack, are, in fact, hybrids.”

“Of course,” Garret jumps in instantly. He always does it during tense situations as he’s extremely good at reading the mood. “A few of our pack members found their mates within other species. It’s normal.”

“Yes, but it wasn’t considered normal back then, so those relationships had to remain hidden. So much so, that we may never know the full extent of whose family was hiding their heritage.”

My father nods his agreement.

“But I have recently learned of one in particular. My mother was a half-blood wolf,” I state.

The crowd falls silent, and my father stares at me shocked. “What?”

“She didn’t even know it herself,” I explain. “And although she had half-witch blood, she didn’t inherit witch powers. However, I’ve recently discovered that I do have some witch power because the genes were passed down a third generation.” I turn to look at my grandfather. “Some of you might know my mother’s father, my grandfather. He stays away from the pack because he’s afraid we won’t want him here. He was my grandmother’s fated mate and a witch’s son.”

“So that’s why,” my father mutters. “I always wondered why you preferred that tiny cottage in the middle of nowhere.”

“The fact that it is possible to inherit genes as a third-generation wolf mix could mean that there are more families with hybrids living amongst us. If anyone suspects they may be a hybrid or have family members that could be hybrids, you are welcome to come and speak with me at any time. I am happy to assist in researching your family tree so that I can help you connect with your roots. Don’t worry; most of the gifts you saw me develop are gifts I have as a wolf. Only a small percentage of what I can do is from witch blood. However, I am aware that my being a white wolf, along with the color of my eyes, and my ability to use nature’s elements in my favor, come directly from my witch ancestry.”

“So that’s why!” Garret sighs. “I swear…. I knew something was different about you. I mean, that day when we ran through the forest, and it was raining… we were all soaked, yet you remained dry!”

“And you weren’t surprised!?” Elias asks in disbelief.

“I thought she ran so fast that she outran the rain,” Garret argues.

Some pack members laugh at Garret while Elias sighs and rolls his eyes. “She’s a werewolf, not The Flash,” he says.

More laughter roars through the crowd.

“You never know!” Garret says with conviction, ignoring Elias’s slightly pissed expression. The crowd, however, continues to laugh even louder.

I feel a sense of relief flood through me as I notice the tension subsiding. “I wanted to tell everyone and be honest about who and what I am.” I look directly at the pack members, wanting them to see my sincerity. “Nothing has changed for me. The pack comes first, as always. And I intend to nurture my witch gifts, now that I know what they are, to further strengthen the pack.”

Harmony looks back at me, “I, for one, don’t mind who or what you are. I know that you will continue to lead this pack with fairness and strength. You’ve never let us down. You could be half alien, and I wouldn’t mind.”