Chapter 220
Iris is perfect. It’s like holding a copy of Ayrie in my arms all over again. From her head full of hair, her lime green eyes, and the teeny tiny body that refuses to uncurl. Knight and Ansley convinced me to come to Knightly’s main house for a weekend so I can get away from the pack stress before the baby came and she decided that this is where she wanted to be born.
Like everything else Arnold Knightly builds, this house is magnificent. He said he didn’t want an old house. He isn’t old money. He wanted something brand new that showed the blood on his hands as well as what he’s bled to obtain his goals.
It’s very open. Everything both looks like it was pulled straight out of a catalogue but also shows bits and pieces of him. The modern art, the comfy but oddly shaped furniture, and let’s not forget the monumental portraits of him and his hoard of offspring.
All of which are disoriented at the moment. I can see and feel the bundle in my arms, but I know it’s not Iris. She’s eight days old. The blanket I am holding is the one she was delivered in and I put it in my suitcase after it was washed so that I can put it away with the blankets the twins were born into.
I’m starting to recognize when I’m dreaming. For the past four days, I’ve had this same dream. Nothing happens. Derek and I have come to realize that nothing will happen unless I myself open the door. I continue rocking in the chair holding the bundle in my arms knowing that it’s not my baby in there.
The problem with all of this is that when I wake up, it feels like I haven’t gotten a lick of sleep. Everyone is worried. So, I make up my mind and stand to put the bundle into the bassinet. I’m not sure why I look down at what I am wearing. Maybe it’s a habit. It’s something I do when I’m getting ready.
I am wearing the dress I arrived in the day before Iris wanted out. The only exception is that there’s no bump to fill it and it’s quite loose. I pass my hand over the front and approach the door hoping the find the woman who calls herself my mother on the other side. Maybe even the creepy room from when she summoned both Derek and myself.
To my surprise, I walk out onto the back porch at our beach house. Not far is the gazebo that leads down to the beach. It’s night and even from where I’m standing I can see the tide. I glance back at the bundle and with a heavy heart, I close the door and make my way down to the gazebo.
There’s a man and woman talking. As I approach, the two of them stop and glance back at me. The woman I know, but the man is new. The two of them stand to face me. I don’t need anyone to tell me that the man in front of me is my father. I know those dark mischievous eyes anywhere. Perry looks just like him down to the silver hair.
“You’re stubborn,” he smiles.
“I hear Nelsons all have that in common,” I nod.
“Unfortunately,” he chuckles.
“How are you here?” I ask glancing over at her.
“I’m a Lycan. My affinity is to be able to borrow power from others with skin to skin contact.”
“Gross,” I grimace looking between them once more. The two of them laugh.
“You jump to conclusions.”
“I have five full blooded siblings and two mates. Hell yeah, I do.”
“Fair enough,” he nods.
“You’re not here to introduce yourself, are you?”
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Chapter 220
“No, I’ve never needed an introduction. I hear another thing we have in common is getting straight the point.”
“You hear right.”
I don’t like the heavy sigh he lets out. He turns around to face the darkness beyond the water.
“I thought you were dead,” he begins. “I died looking for you. I wanted to in the very least find your body and bring it home. Your mother is not very maternal, but I happen to love being a father.”
“From what I hear, you suck at it.”
“You were raised by a species that lost touch with their primal instincts. A species that could never appreciate the power of a female leader.
happy with your life because you were groomed to be under a man. To cook, clean, breed, and raise children.”
You are
“Wolves are no different. In fact, you have laws to keep women from becoming rightful heirs to packs and ranked status.”
“That’s traditionalist politics. The world is much bigger than the Kings. A whole lot more complex than you can believe. Your mate and your sister have forced themselves into something that the rest of us have been pulled into.
“It’s more than impressive and the first time it’s ever been done. They say the second borns always aim to please and boy has she achieved more than I thought she ever could. However, none of it was meant to be hers. She wasn’t the one who inherited the Silverback. You are the alpha. Circumstance has changed, but it doesn’t change your fate.”
“I gave up being the alpha.” I shake my head.
“No, Baby. That’s not what I’m talking about. The packs don’t matter. Ansley Knightly can keep the title. I’m talking about something much bigger than all of this.”
“The sectors.”
“Correct,” he turns around to face me.
“I don’t really know anything about that. I don’t want to know anything about it.”
“Your sector was run by an alpha Wraith. One of the rarest shifters known to man. Perry killed him and stole his power. It’s what kept her alive long enough for her to transition. I did it as well.” I jump back when he takes a step forward and is suddenly in front of me. “Midnight is a very unique wolf.”
“I am aware.”
“Good. She was my wolf before she was passed on to you. Did you know that?”
“No, we’re still getting to know one another.”
“She likes to play games. She likes to test her vessels. The fact that she’s only been let out twice means she trusts you. That’s excellent work, Phoebe. Let me tell you where she originates from.”
“I think that should be left to her to decide.”
“Midnight is the daughter of Selene the Goddess of the moon. She is a deity cursed to remain mortal until she earns forgiveness.”
“You’re an asshole.” I glare at him.
“I am,” he nods.
“What the fuck did you want with a child that could inherit that power?” I ask. He turns back to look at my mother with a smile.
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08:28 Thu, 14 Aug
Chapter 220
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“Is it not obvious, Baby girl? We want to destroy F.A.T.E. We’re not the people we are because we wanted to be,” he turns around again to take a seat where Knight and usually sit together. Against my better judgement, I sit beside him. “Nelsons have been hunted for a very long time. Not just to kill us either,” he lifts his black sleeve to show me a barcode on is wrist. “This was the tag the King placed on me.
“They said it was to make it easier for us to be identified, but it’s so much more than that. I didn’t become an assassin by choice. I forced into it. Like you and your siblings, I had a knack for killing. The problem was that with every person I killed, it made me that much stronger.
“Alphas and Kings don’t like that. It’s in our genetic code to need to be the best. That’s what the barcode was for. To ensure that the slave never surpassed the master. Just ask your father in law. He hides his under a four million dollar watch.”
“I don’t understand what any of this has to do with me.”
“There will come a time when you and Perry will fight for dominance of the sector. Your mating is incomplete, but once it’s done, you and your mates will be stronger than the false King and the Wolf Bait.”
“I don’t think I can ever fight with her. She’s my little sister.”
“I know. Which is why I am telling you now. It’s up to you to decide what you want to do with that information.”
“That’s it? That’s all you wanted to say to me?”
He turns to face me. There are tears in his eyes. He reaches out and I flinch when I feel the warmth of his hand. Eliza sits to my right and takes my hand.
“I’m sorry, firefly,” the nickname catches me off guard. I’ve heard it before. “I’m sorry I never came back for you. I’m sorry for all the bad shit those cats did to you. Fuck, I’m sorry for how lost you’ve been your entire life.” the sounds of his broken laughter makes my chest feel very tight. “I’m here, in your favorite place,” he motions around us. “And I still can’t believe you’re real. It was only ever supposed to be you. Everyone else was just my attempt to recreate what we lost. I want you to know that I’ve never stopped thinking about you and even
08:59 Thu 11 Aug
Chapter 220
“Is it not obvious, Baby girl? We want to destroy F.A.T.E. We’re not the people we are because we wanted to be,” he turris around again to take a seat where Knight and usually sit together. Against my better judgement, I sit beside him. “Nelsons have been hunted for a very long time Not just to kill us either,” he lifts his black sleeve to show me a barcode on is wrist. “This was the tag the King placed on me.
“They said it was to make it easier for us to be identified, but it’s so much more than that. I didn’t become an assassin by choice. I forced into it. Like you and your siblings, I had a knack for killing. The problem was that with every person I killed, it made me that much stronger.
“Alphas and Kings don’t like that. It’s in our genetic code to need to be the best. That’s what the barcode was for. To ensure that the slave never surpassed the master. Just ask your father in law. He hides his under a four million dollar watch.”
“I don’t understand what any of this has to do with me.”
“There will come a time when you and Perry will fight for dominance of the sector. Your mating is incomplete, but once it’s done, you and your mates will be stronger than the false King and the Wolf Bait.”
“I don’t think I can ever fight with her. She’s my little sister.”
“I know. Which is why I am telling you now. It’s up to you to decide what you want to do with that information.”
“That’s it? That’s all you wanted to say to me?”
He turns to face me. There are tears in his eyes. He reaches out and I flinch when I feel the warmth of his hand. Eliza sits to my right and takes my hand.
“I’m sorry, firefly,” the nickname catches me off guard. I’ve heard it before. “I’m sorry I never came back for you. I’m sorry for all the bad shit those cats did to you. Fuck, I’m sorry for how lost you’ve been your entire life.” the sounds of his broken laughter makes my chest feel very tight. “I’m here, in your favorite place,” he motions around us. “And I still can’t believe you’re real. It was only ever supposed to be you. Everyone else was just my attempt to recreate what we lost. I want you to know that I’ve never stopped thinking about you and even knowing you’re alive and well. I never will.”
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