25. Uncertain Future

*Jade’s POV*

I noticed Julian stepping towards me when the words came out of my mouth. He suddenly went down on his knees and let out an agonizing cry.

I just stood there frozen. While he was suffering with an immense amount of pain, I just felt discomfort in my chest.

Everyone stared at me with wide eyes not understanding, why I was not in pain like Julian was.

Julian was just staring at me with a look of hurt and regret.

Well, it was too late to regret everything now, what’s done is done. I suddenly feel Esme stirring in my mind and wonder if this is affecting her.

‘Don't start worrying about me Jade, I am fine. I told you that male was not our mate since the beginning.’

‘How can we both just be okay, while he is hurting so much. I almost feel bad for him.’

‘I honestly don’t know, this bond with him was strange since the beginning and you even felt it. It was never strong, like a mate bond should be.’

I am brought out of the conversation with my wolf when the Alpha clears his throat.

“Well, since all of that is done, I think we should all go back and maybe you can continue the conversation with your parents.”

I still haven't had a chance to fully process what was said to me earlier. My real family abandoned me, it was supposedly for my protection, but still, it hurts.

I feel a buildup of tears forming in my eyes. But I immediately stop myself from crying. I cannot show anyone weakness in a time like this.

They all lied to me. Yes, they were loving and kind, but then I can't help my mind from having wondering thoughts.

Did they treat me the way they did just because of who I truly am? Was their love and affection real or were they just playing a role to be in the good side of the royal pack.

I see the Alpha help Julian up and they start heading out. Leaving me alone with my fake parents.

I mask my expression and close myself off to them. They notice the change in my demeanor and I just hear my mom let out a sob.

With a cold tone I say “Well, I guess there is a lot to discuss we should get going.”

When I make my way out, I see that Levi, Liam, and Ava are waiting in the living room.

Right away Levi walks towards me and asks, “Is everything okay?”

I nod my head and say, “I will talk to you later, right now there are some things I have to talk about with my family.”

Levi nods his head in response, while Ava and Liam give me a confused look.

I don’t know why but after hearing the information that I was given; I feel like Levi is the person I could trust the most.

I almost feel a connection building with him in some way and by his demeanor I know he feels it too.

Not being able to make out what this means, I try to ignore it because there are more serious topics that I have to cover with my family.

I leave making my way straight back home bring followed by the whole Beta family.

After knowing what I know now I cannot bring myself to call them my family anymore. I need to find out what happened from them.

We arrive home soon and all of us sit around the living room. I stare expectantly at the beta and beta female.

Before they can begin, Liam asks, “What is going on, why can I sense a lot of tension between the three of you?”

I ask, “Do they now know?”

Beta Henry, shakes his head in response. While Grace (Beta-female) starts to speak up.

“Only the Alpha, Luna, Emilio, and we know about who you truly are.”

I interrupt her from continuing, “Wait, Emilio was aware about it too?” I can't help but feel betrayed by him.

She continues, “Darling, Emilio is only here because of you. Do you really think that a royal warrior with his talents would be here for no reason in particular.”

Ava then speaks up, “Who she truly is? Mom what are you talking about she is part of us. She is my sister.”

Grace looks at Ava with tears in her eyes and says, “That may be what we told you while raising the three of you. But the truth is that she is not biologically ours.”

I can tell this has shocked Ava and Liam. The one that seems the most affected by the news is Liam.

Liam immediately takes a seat next to me and engulfs me in a hug.

What he says next, makes me start to break the wall I just created to mask my feelings.

“I don’t care about that. She will always be my baby sister. We will get through this as a family, like we always have.”

I see Ava nodding in agreement and I can’t hold the tears I have been holding back. I know there is no way I could avoid what is bound to happen.

I hear Beta Henry say, “Sadly, now that Jade knows the truth, we can't control the decisions her biological family make.”

Levi shakes his head in denial, “Thats bullshit. What right do they have over her, she is part of our family. They lost any right over her the moment they left her under our care.”

Henry just shakes his head and gives me a sad look. “Sadly, we have no say because Jade is no ordinary wolf. The only reason she was under out care was for her protection.”

Liam squints his eyes at him and asks, “Who is her family? I imagine it has to be someone more powerful than our pack for you to be this lenient.”

The older Beta just responds, “Of course it's someone powerful. They are actually from the most powerful pack around. Jade is daughter of the King and Queen of the Royal Moon Pack.”

All I see is shock in Ava’s and Liam’s faces. Ava then stares at Grace for some reason with her face full of confusion.

“But mom, you were pregnant. I remember you had a growing belly.”

A look of pain passes through Grace’s face. She responds, “I was. I don’t know if you remember your father and I were involved in an accident and I had gone into early labor?”

Liam and Ava nod their heads.

“Well, you see. That baby was a stillborn, she didn’t make it. Your father and I were then approached by the royal family. They explained the danger Jade was in and she was just a defenseless pup at the time. I decided to accept their offer and give her all the love, I would have given my daughter.”

By now my vision is blurry, due to all the tears streaming down my eye. Just by her voice I can feel the pain and truth behind what she said.

“Mom, I’m sorry. I should have heard what happened from your point of view before I judged you.”

I wipe my eyes and see her giving me a sad smile.

“I don’t blame you for feeling like you felt when finding out sweety. I just don’t want you doubt our love for you, because it is genuine.”

I nod my head. She continues.

“After finding out about the death of our baby and I couldn’t have any more children, I was broken. But when I carried you for the first time and your beautiful green eyes stared back at me, I felt that the pieces that had broken were getting put back together.”

I go to hug her and say, “No matter what happens you will always be my mom, all of you will always be my family."

I then go to hug her and we are soon joined by my father, brother, and sister.

A soon as the hug ended, I heard Liam ask, “So, what's going to happen now?”

My father sighed, “Well, the plan was for Jade to meet the royal family on her 18th birthday, but something had happened that made us delay the meeting.”

I hear my mom sob, probably because she knows that my departure is unavoidable at this point. Dad continued speaking.

“After the meeting, it was planned for Jade to leave and take her rightful place at the Royal Moon Pack. I imagine that the King and Queen are going to want to come meet Jade.”

I look at all of their faces and I know mine reflects the same emotion as theirs. Sadness and despair.

Although I was planning on leaving, I never imagined that I would be leaving knowing that I was leaving my family behind forever.

I have to try and find a positive side to all of this because right now I feel as if I am losing it all.

Before my 18th birthday when I imagined my future everything was so clear and simple. I would find my mate, build my life with him.

My parents and siblings would be proud of me for being one of the best warriors. But now, my future seems so uncertain.

Something inside me is telling me that nothing will ever be the same with them, my family.