Chapter 30

“We have already sent out the word for the next in line of each species royalty to report to the castle and they will be sworn in as they arrive. However, no one will be forced. If there are no royal bloodlines that want to step up and rule their species, then we will select the next in line until someone accepts,” Prince Deacon said.
That evening, they held a funeral, followed by Prince Deacon becoming King of the Lycan and the Supernatural world.
Back in Alaska…
“We didn’t know you were coming back home today,” Jessica’s parents said when she walked into the house.
“Hello to you too,” Jessica greeted her parents.
“Tell us all about your trip,” her mother said eagerly.
“It will have to wait. I am tired,” Jessica said, leaving her suitcase and backpack at the bottom of the staircase, willing herself to make her way up the staircase to get some rest and to cry over Wynn’s death.
‘My mom and dad won’t be perused, they are free, so I am stepping down as pack Alpha,’ Jessica mind linked Mr. Ondrink.
‘If you wish,’ Mr. Ondrink mind linked her back, but Jessica already left the pack, breaking her link with it.
The first thing that King Juno did as Alpha was ordered the spell wall to be taken down.
“I don’t understand why? It keeps the humans and us safe,” Mr. Ondrink objected.
“Prince Deacon is now King, and that means we fall under his demand. He has an alliance with the prehistoric vampires and the leader. I suppose the new Vampire King is calling Barrow his home,” King Juno said.
“From now on we are Alpha and Luna,” Alpha Juno said.
“I would like to stay in town so that we can get to know Jessica,” Luna Jovita said.
“We can apply at the hospital for some jobs,” Alpha Juno suggested.
“I was thinking more in the line,” Luna Jovita started, but got cut off.
“Jessica’s parents work at the hospital and it will open the door to become friends with them and, in that way, work ourselves into their lives. Who knows, perhaps we can even become her godparents,” Alpha Juno said, cutting Luna Jovita off.
“It will never work,” Mr. Ondrink objected.
“Why not?” Luna Jovita questioned.
“Because she is the split image of you,” Mr. Ondrink said bluntly.
“It will work. We will just have to do some research on their family tree and work me in as a tenth generation removed or so,” Luna Jovita said, with a smile.
“Guess we are doing house hunting then,” Alpha Juno said, slipping his hand into Luna Jovita’s.
“Honestly, you two look like twenty-year-olds, way too young to own property,” Mr. Ondrink said.
“You are so outdated, Ondrink,” Luna Jovita laughed.
“I will call King Deacon and ask him to send a vampire over with our belongings and you call our contact to set up our new identities,” Alpha Juno said.
“What if we talk to that prehistoric vampire and ask him to compel Jessica’s fake parents? I can be her long-lost cousin and Mr. Ondrink over here can be your uncle. We enroll in school,” Luna Jovita suggested excitedly.
“And be our daughter’s buddies?” Alpha Juno burst out laughing.
“I am not kidding,” Luna Jovita said, seriously.
“Don’t look at me, I know I don’t have a say in the matter,” Mr. Ondrink said when Alpha Juno looked at him for help.
“Then it is settled. Back to school with us, but I am starting at grade twelve,” Alpha Juno said.
“That is the whole idea,,” Luna Jovita laughed.
Alpha Juno pulled her in for a kiss.

Ann Willow’s house.
“All settled in?” Ann asked, walking into her room that she now shared with Ami, the were-owl princess.
“I am. Thank you for sharing your room with me,” Ami said.
“Don’t look so sad. We will end up being best friends; you wait and see,” Ann said, sitting next to Ami on the bed.
“Don’t you already have a best friend?” Ami asked.
“One I won’t see for a long time and besides, who says I cannot have more than one best friend?” Ann asked with a smile.
“I still cannot believe that they forced her to get married at the age of eighteen,” Ami said.
“I just hate the fact that my father caused me to miss out on her wedding,” Ann said, standing up from the bed.
“Are you looking forward to school?” Ami asked.
“I am, but it will be lonely without Jessica. You can be so lucky to be done with school already. Will you take a job or go to university? I guess since you’re a princess, you don’t really have to work,” Ann said, sitting at her vanity, rearranging it to make space for Ami.
“I was home-schooled so missed out on the whole going to school thing,’ Ami said with a sigh.
Ann walked into her closet and came out with a school uniform. “See if this fits you; you are starting school with me tomorrow.”
“My mom will never allow it. I doubt the school will allow it,” Ami laughed as the uniform land on her lap.
“You are eighteen, right? So, your mom has no say,” Ann said, laughing.
Ami looked at the uniform, biting her lip; wondering how much fun it could be.
Ami’s phone rang, and she picked it up, “mom? I was just thinking about you.”
“Ami, how are you, my dear?” Queen Amirah asked from the other side.
“I am good, just settling in,” Ami responded,, smiling.
“Call me if you need anything and check your purse; I left you a black bank card, it has no limit,” Queen Amirah said.
“What?! Why?” Ami asked, about to jump out of her skin.
“You never know what might happen and I want you to always be set and not have to contact me every time you need something. Also, don’t hesitate to buy yourself a car or a house if it does not work out with the Willows,” Queen Amirah informed her just how limitless the bank card was.
“Wow! Thank you, mom!” Ami said with a big smile on her face, slightly in shock.
“I love you, my dearest daughter,” Queen Amirah said.
“I love you to mom,” Ami said before hanging up and looking for her handbag.
“You seem awfully happy?” Ann asked, wondering what was going on.
“My mom just told me I have a black bank card in my purse, and it is limitless!” Ami said, taking her purse out of her handbag to have a look.
“Oooh, nice,” Ann said, looking at the bank card that Ami just took out of her purse.
“Better not ever lose this,” Ami said, putting it back in her purse. At least now I have money to pay for school fees.”
“Fantastic!” Ann said, excited.
“Don’t get too excited. I am not going to school, but I will further my studies at the local university,” Ami said, falling back onto the bed with a big smile on her face.
“I cannot wait to finish school and go to varsity. Somewhere where it is warm!” Ann said, falling next to Ami on the bed.
“Dinner is ready,” they heard Ann’s mom calling from downstairs.
***
That evening at the Steel residence, Michael paid them a visit and before Jessica’s fake parents knew what hit them, Luna Jovita moved in as a cousin whose parents died and left Jessica’s fake parents as guardians.
“Jessica is not feeling too well, so you will meet her later. I think you are going to be quite shocked when you meet her,” Mrs. Steel said, taking Jovita to her bedroom.
“Why is that Mrs. Steel?” Jovita asked, pretending not to know.
“You two look like you could have been twins,” Mrs. Steel said, opening a bedroom door.
“Really?” Jovita said, smiling.
“Yes, really. This is you. I will take you girls shopping tomorrow for new décor items. Jessica’s room can also do with a makeover,” Mrs. Steel said.
“I thought school starts tomorrow?” Jovita questioned.
“If you like, you can go to school tomorrow, but Jessica might not be going as she is still tired from a trip she got back from this morning,” Mrs. Steel said.
“I will wait to go to school with Jessica then. My parents left me a fortune so I will pay my own way and just say how much you need for rent,” Jovita offered.
“Your parents left us a fortune as well, but we do have our own money, so we will put all the money they gave us into a trust fund for you,” Mrs. Steel said, smiling.
‘Mr. Ondrink knew what he was doing when he gave our baby girl to this couple,’ Jovita thought to herself, “please don’t put it away for me. I promise you I will never ever need it. The amount of money they gave me is enough to buy a planet.” Jovita was telling the truth as alongside her twin sister that got killed eighteen years ago, her parents and Alpha Juno’s parents got killed and all their money got passed down to them.
“Very well then, but you will not be paying rent or for anything, while you live under our roof,” Mrs. Steel said with the kindest smile Jovita has ever seen.
“A very nice roof indeed,” Jovita complemented.
“Thank you. We have dinner at seven, which is in ten minutes,” Mrs. Steel said, looking at her fit-bit on her wrist.
“Thank you. See you in a bit,” Jovita said. Once Mrs. Steel left and shut the door behind her, Jovita could not help but jump up and down, filled with joy. ‘I just hope that Jessica is not going to be angry about the arrangements,’ she thought, sitting on the bed, ‘will have to buy a better mattress.’
Mrs. Steel walked over to Jessica’s room and knocked on the door, “honey, dinner is in ten minutes.”
“I am not hungry,” she heard Jessica says.
Mrs. Steel opened the door, “honey you have not eaten all day, are you ok?” Mrs. Steel saw the used tissues piled next to Jessica on her bed, “honey, what is the matter?” She ran over and sat next to Jessica on the bed.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Jessica said, her eyes red from crying.
“I wish you would, my darling,” Mrs. Steel pleaded, laying slightly over Jessica and giving her a hug, “what happened?”
“Mom, please,” Jessica protested.
“I am here if you want to talk. I am not going to force you to come to have dinner with us, but I should let you know that we have a very special guest, and she will be staying with us indefinitely,” Mrs. Steel said.
“A guest?” Jessica asked.
“A cousin from your father's side’s daughter. Both her parents died and for some crazy reason, we were named her legal guardians,” Mrs. Steel said, stroking Jessica’s hair.
“Ok,” Jessica said.
“You won’t believe how much the two of you look alike. She is in the same grade as you as well,” Mrs. Steel said, standing up from the bed.
“What?” Jessica asked, sitting up, knowing it was not possible for anyone from her family to look almost like her. ‘What are my real parents up to,’ Jessica thought to herself.
“I will bring your dinner up for you in a moment,” Mrs. Steel said, standing up from the bed.
“I will come down to meet this so-called cousin. Give me a few minutes to clean up,” Jessica said, standing up from her bed and walking to her bathroom.
“You are always such a trooper, putting others' needs before your own. Think it will be good for her. Perhaps it will distract her from the death of her parents,” Mrs. Steel said, proud of her daughter.
‘Sure,’ Jessica thought, the anger boiling inside of her.
Mr. and Mrs. Steel and Jovita were already sitting at the dinner table, waiting for Jessica when she walked into the dining room, “sorry for keeping you waiting.”
“This is your cousin, Jovita. She is from New York,” Mrs. Steel introduced them.
“Hi,” they say at the same time; Jovita smiling warmly and Jessica giving her a stiff, fake smile with eyes clearly asking, ‘what the hell are you doing here?’
Jessica took her seat across from Jovita and mind linked her, ‘what do you think you are doing?’