Can You Tell Me About My Father Please?

Dragana POV

“Why did you let her talk to us that way?????!!!!”, I heard both Aisha's and Vasilla's unhappy voices in unison. “Roman is OUR mate, she is faking the bond, yet she DARES call us names and talk down to us!!!”, they yammered, both displeased to say the least. “Mate defended us, did you see??” Aisha was purring happily away. I knew they would not be happy about this, and truth be told, initially I was caught offguard. However, the words of my great grandfather came back to me, as did the knowledge of Roman being our mate. What possible game was Alice playing here? Something was seriously off about all this, and I had this foreboding feeling of things going to be worse, much worse, before and if they got any better. I could not deny the dark magic I felt in her, it was pulsating her whole being and carried the trace of magic I felt when I saw my grandfather, the Dark Lord Khor. However, there was something else, something around her which was even darker, more primal. Regardless of what I was going to decide about Roman, I sensed on a different level that he may be in danger, and for that, we needed to find out Alice’s motives and the reason a she-wolf with no magical training is doused in dark magic.

I knew just the person to talk to. Knocking on Lady Asma’s door, I tried to appease my wolf and my Lycan. “Ladies, did you not see the darkness around her??? We need to be smart about this. We need to figure out why she possesses the magic of our grandfather and for what purpose. Isn’t it coincidental that he tried to abduct me, and then she shows up, faking the bond with Roman of all people? We must be brave. A few insults will not break us, but we must find the truth”, I mused to them. They both agreed and promised their support. Vasilla in particular was extremely anxious. “There is something about that magic she has Dragana, Cali has shown me through her memories some things before Jasmine went to the Lady of the Lake”, she continued. “Death is around her too, I could feel it”, Aisha said supporting her. “What is interesting, I could not feel her wolf”, Aisha further continued.

“She is not our mate, of course we cannot….” I tried to reason with her. “No, you do not understand. We are the descendants of the Elder Tribe, heirs to the werewolf kingdom. We can sense and feel every wolf. I have just been quiet about it, as I know you do not want my presence known just now”, Aisha continued in a small voice. A pang of guilt hit me. I knew it was unfair that I hid her from others, but at this time, I could not let Roman know we were mates.

The door opened and the beautiful face of my aunt, beaming at me, welcomed me into a giant hug. For somebody so short and tiny, she had tremendous, very surprising, strength. “And??? Did you talk to him??? What did he say?”, she rushed straight into it, before I even made it into her room fully. “I have put on some tea, we need to talk, but you must tell me everything about Roman. I …” she mumbled on, rushing over to quickly prepare aromatic tea for us, with a beautiful rosy mint fragrance. “Lady Asma… “I began… “Nonsense dear, call me Aunt or Asma, we are family after all child”, she said, her gregarious voice echoing everywhere. I looked at her smile, she reminded me so much of mom, they had the same dimples and youthful face. They looked almost identical in their features and body shape, yet my mother had brown hair and silver eyes, whilst Lady Asma was a blonde with hazel eyes. I was observing her when she somehow figured out my thoughts. “It is a trait of what magic we are gifted with child. My children do not all carry mine or my mate’s traits. The color of the eyes of our tribes signifies magic. Mine is more Earth bound, more natural. You and your mother, on the other hand….” She started the explanation. I chuckled, feeling at ease, even though some things were still bothering me. I was alone all my life, alone and trapped, yet none of them ever came looking for me before, none even acknowledged my existence.

“We need to work on building your guards, child. Your thoughts are echoing in my head very clearly”, she said, stealing her eyes from me, clearly ashamed. “Auntie, I am sorry. It is just my life…..” She came over, her soft scent around me, and pulled me into another hug. “I know sweetie, I know. Your mother was trying to protect your life. We could not be in direct contact or see you; we were afraid of letting your enemies know about your whereabouts. She sent us pictures though through secure portals from time to time…” she said, kissing my forehead, her eyes full of tears. I felt awkward, a lump forming in my throat. The last thing I wanted to do is upset her, but I needed to know, I needed explanations.

“It is all forgiven, Auntie. I may not understand the whole picture, but I have seen so many people die because of me.. Look at what is happening to Jasmine?? This is the second time she has been nearly dead because of me…..If something happened to you or any other family because of me….. I … I .. I could not bare it, I …”, I tried to explain, my voice breaking, yet I had to summon my strength the best I could. I had to let her know why I was feeling like this, and to let her know that I wanted to protect my family. I meant that with every ounce of my being, I could not bear it. Just the thought of everything Jasmine had gone through, of Cybela nearly dying, Art nearly dying… I felt this tremendous pressure, tremendous guilt. All I wanted was freedom and life, and to learn who I was. To accept who I am and be happy. I was not setting out hurting anyone – why did people deliberately wish for my demise, I thought to myself. My aunt looked at me, her tears streaming down her eyes. “You remind me so much of your father too. You look like your mother, but your heart, your fierce, selfless heart, is there to put everyone else first, just like he did”, she but whispered, tears streaming down her face.

“And let me tell you another thing young lady!”, she tried to compose herself, pouring me some tea. “We are family. And NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING, will come between us, dark magic be damned! Now that we can reveal ourselves to you, I just hope you will accept us in your life – please. I hope we can start fresh”, she said firmly. “Most importantly child, I want you to know, no matter what happens, you are not alone! As much as you want to protect us, we will all protect you, with every beat of our hearts, until there is life no more, and even then, from the other world, from the halls of the ancestors”, she said, causing my heart to twitch, and my own tears to stream like a waterfall now. I forgot what it meant to have a real family. I forgot what it meant to be included, loved, protected. I lost that when I lost my mother, and somewhere, deep inside, a new flicker of hope came after hearing her.

I hugged her tightly and held on to her, inhaling her familiar scent, allowing my heart to open. Before she could continue, I had but one question for her.


“Can you tell me about my father please?”