Page 70

The meal was uneventful. Bears and wolves got along, sharing tales from each pack and clan.

Laughter erupted now and then, and the tension that had blanketed the air earlier had dissipated.

Sasha and I had shared knowing looks. Things would work out.

Sasha’s pack and I forming an alliance could lead to the Silverfang pack being more welcoming to the Stoneclaw clan.

A frown touched my brow as I thought back to the hostile looks thrown our way upon entering the den.

Our packs had been at war for so long, it wouldn’t be easy to forget old wounds and past hurts. But with Sasha by my side, we’d pave the way to a new world. The Dark Fae would need to be done away with first.

Another wave of laughter ended. Nick turned to me, a solemn look stealing across his features. “The reason for your visit isn’t to meet the family, is it?”

I set down my fork and shook my head. Sasha exchanged a glance with me. Her eyes shone with sadness. I nodded at her. This revelation about her heritage. It was hers to be shared—to be revealed.

Sasha faced her family. “Mom, Dad…” Her gaze slid to her siblings. “Ty, Sky.”

They all watched Sasha with rapt attention.

“I am part Light Fae.”

Silence blanketed the table. Sasha’s father frowned in confusion, while her mother gaped at her. Her siblings were no better off, for their brows rose in pure astonishment. Even my sentinels were stunned speechless.

“What?” Sasha’s Beta Garret whispered.

Sasha’s mother, Lara, shook her head. “What did you mean, Sasha? It’s impossible for you to be any part of a Light Fae. You’re a werewolf.”

“Sauce,” Ty called, using my childhood nickname, “The Light Fae are all dead. Wiped out, remember. They gave their lives to protect us all in the Great War with the Dark Fae.”

Sky nodded. “And sacrificed themselves to gain our freedom. There is no way that they exist for you to be—I mean…” Both Sky and her brother looked toward their parents. Raw suspicion along with betrayal shone in their eyes.

I blinked. Wait…they think…

Sasha gasped. “No! Oh, no,” she exclaimed, throwing out her hands. “I don’t mean to imply that one of our parents cheated on the other. I’m saying that one of our great ancestors was Light Fae, and I inherited the power from her, way down the bloodlines.”

“How is that possible?” her father asked.

“Sasha has told me about her curse as a babe,” I said. “How she was meant to die.” The family turned their gaze to me, puzzlement etched across their faces. “You know that your omega healer saved Sasha’s life by killing her latent wolf.” I looked at Sasha. “She isn’t wholly latent.”

Sasha noted my nod of encouragement. She closed her eyes, as if she were uttering a prayer, and her tight curly hair rose as if on invisible wind currents.

Her hair whipped about her shoulders in a building phantom wind.

Lara flinched. Ty and Sky rose from their chairs, their claws sliced out, a look of horror and wonderment on their faces.

My sentinels jumped back, their chairs crashing to the ground.

Garett scrambled away, the latent sentinel following.

Only Nick sat still in his chair, a look of wonder but also with a resigned glint in his hazel eyes.

Then a glow peeked out from behind her closed eyelids. The room hummed with energy; it crackled with the might of it. Sasha’s eyes flew open, her pupils absent, as a pale aura filled her eyes. A collective gasp from her mother and siblings rose. Yet, the father remained unmoved.

I narrowed my eyes on him.

Interesting…

Then a flare of light burst through the room. I threw up my arm, shielding my eyes. The light dimmed. I lowered my arm. And a wolf made out of waves of light stood in the middle of the living room.

“My god,” Lara breathed.

“What the fuck?” Garret whispered.

“Goddamn,” whispered my sentinels.

Nick rose from his seat. The wolf’s gaze swung to him. Her eyes slitted, hackles slightly raised. She didn’t understand whether he was friend or foe. Sasha rose from her chair as well when her father took a step toward the wolf.

“Dad,” Sasha cautioned.

Her father held up his hand, and Sasha’s words died in her throat. I placed a hand on her arm, rubbing my thumb across her flesh. She was unaware of my comfort, her worried eyes fastened on Nick.

Her father lowered his hands and stepped toward the wolf.

He paused right before its muzzle. The wolf watched him for a long, tension-filled moment.

Everyone held their breath. The room held its breath.

No one on this earth had been able to study light magic.

It was an unknown thing, and though Sasha wielded the Light Wolf, it seemed to have a mind of its own as well.

It gave a slow blink and dipped its broad head, its ears flopped down at the sides.

Then it padded to him until its broad head rested on his shoulder.

Her father smiled and swept a palm into the light aura waves that wafted from its body.

“Hello, friend.”

“D-Dear,” Lara called. “Are you familiar with this… this creature?”

Nick turned, his gaze taking in his family. He gave a brief nod. His head turned to his youngest, Sasha. “It’s time I revealed to you your heritage.”

My brows shot up. The bears at the table blinked in rapid confusion.

My heart tripped and stumbled, creating a momentary jolt of unease.

Nick straightened. He lifted his chin in a proud gesture. “My great-grandmother was a Light Fae.”

“What?” Sasha exclaimed.

Lara all but collapsed in her seat.

Exclamations resounded within the room. I could see Nick was getting agitated with the bombardment of questions.

“All of you, be silent!” I glared around the room, frowning.

A hush descended.

Everyone gazed at me in shock. I turned to Nick and nodded for him to continue.

He gave a brief dip of his head in thanks—an acknowledgement between Alpha and Beta.

“My great-grandmother mated with my grandfather—a werewolf.”

“But… it’s… it’s a—” Lara stammered.

“Sin?” Nick finished for his mate.

He sighed. “Yes, it is in the eyes of Werekind and fae.” His features turned contemplative.

“Yet, how could such a love be abhorrent? My great-grandmother loved her mate. In the end, she gave her life so that he wouldn’t die from a fatal wound he incurred from a rogue panther who’d lost his sanity.

He was bleeding out, unable to heal from the venom incurred by the tainted werepanther.

She healed him with her life force.” Nick glanced down.

“Or at least, that’s what my grandfather said.

He used to tell me stories about his mother.

She died when he was fourteen years old. ”

Nick sighed, looking at all three of his children. “I had hoped and prayed that none of you would ever gain her powers. I knew there was a risk you’d be in danger. Especially after they poisoned you, Sasha.”

I watched her swallow.

Nick’s eyes grew moist. “It’s my fault you lost your inner wolf. I should’ve told Lara, warned her… been more vigilant. Now you're latent, because of me.”

Sasha shook her head. “No, Father.” She smiled and gestured toward the light wolf at his side.

The enormous wolf slipped its head and nuzzled into Nick’s side.

“I have a wolf. And an inner wolf that lives in my mind. She’s feisty and has a mind of her own.

” Sasha glanced at her light wolf. “But perhaps she’s manifested outside my body through the Light Fae power. ”

Everyone turned to stare at the translucent wolf. She slumped her head.

“You understand why I’ve kept this a secret for weeks, right?

” Sasha asked, her gaze spanning to each family member.

She then offered an imploring gaze to her beta and sentinel.

“I didn’t want to reveal my newfound powers in case they heaped more danger upon me. Especially after the werebear attack?—”

“Werebear attack?” Ty snarled. He narrowed an eye at me, as if I had something to do with any harm befalling Sasha.

I curled my upper lip back, revealing wicked fangs.

Sasha, upon seeing the volatile situation getting ready to unfold, cleared her throat. “It’s a long story, Ty.” She glared at him, and after a pause, he tore his glare from me. Though his lips still trembled with a muffled snarl.

“The point is… I couldn’t tell you,” Sasha explained once more. Despair shone in her gaze. “No matter how much I wanted to.”

“We understand, sweetie.” Lara dabbed at her eyes.

The female werewolf had seemed to have regained some of her coloring and appeared at ease despite the light wolf nearby. “You do not have to hope, nor ask for our forgiveness.”

Sasha turned to her father and siblings. They all nodded, grinning at her.

“Plus, the light wolf is so badass!” Sky exclaimed. “I wish I could do that, instead of just shifting into a regular old wolf.”

A small giggle escaped Sasha’s lips. She closed her eyes, and the light wolf disappeared, its aura fading like fog at the first rays of early dawn. “You keep your wolf, Sky. Don’t wish for this type of danger.”

A knock at the front door brought a hush to the room. Nick Havens’s brow furrowed. He padded to the door. Opening the door, Nick straightened and dipped his head in greeting at Alpha Ryan on the other side. The alpha werewolf nodded in return before his gaze flicked to Sasha and I.

His shoulders heaved on a sigh. “You are right. There’s no known substance from this realm in the vial. Our analysts could only conclude it was from the Fae Realm.” He jutted his chin, determination flashing across his features. “Silverfang will join you in fighting the Dark Fae.”