SPENCER
Miranda? Who’s Miranda? Does he think that she’s someone else?But Mom didn’t seem to mind and only sneered in response.
“I’m surprised you recognized me,” she looked him in the eyes.
“You haven’t changed much.” He raised a brow. “Just as beau . . .” He cleared his throat.
Mom scoffed. “You haven’t changed at all. Almost nineteen years and look at you.” Her gaze moved down his body, then found his eyes again. “The same Marcus, only with longer hair.”
“Miranda, what the hell are you doing here?” His tone changed, becoming rough. “And using magic? Here? I sensed it, but I didn’t think that any witch would be crazy enough to show up in my pack. What the fuck?”
“That was the only way I could get inside.”
“Inside my house? Why? To see me?”
Mom smirked, shaking her head. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Then it means you need something. What? What is so important that you would risk your life?” He stepped toward Mom. “There are three alphas here right now, and if they find out that there’s a witch in my territory—”
“I’m glad you still care. Or do you? Or maybe you’re afraid for your reputation?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, you know what it means.”
“Miranda, don’t push me. Just tell me what you need, and we’ll see what happens.”
“Marcus.” Mom drew closer to him too. “Listen carefully. If you try to send any warning to anyone through your mind connection, I warn you, I’m not alone here. There are wolves and a witch in these woods waiting for me to get back to them with what I came here for, and if I don’t come out of here alive and unharmed, they’ll kill your wife and your son.”
My hands flew to my mouth to suppress the chuckle. I love your creative mind, Mom.
But the next second, it hit me. She knew him, and she never said a word to any of us. She planned everything before we came here.
Nineteen years ago. God, I’m stupid. They knew each other nineteen years ago. Right before she got pregnant.
I recalled the expression on Marcus’s face, that soft look the moment he recognized her. I stared at him. At his strawberry blond hair. At his blue eyes. I can’t believe this. Is that why his scent felt so familiar? He’s my . . . He is not dead.
My heartbeat was rising, and I knew if he listened, he would hear it, he would know that there was someone else in the room.
“How dare you threaten me?” He glared at Mom. “Don’t make me kill you right here, right now.” He grabbed Mom around her throat, pushed her against the desk, and leaned in. His eyes glowed as the red glow appeared around his blue pupils. “If a single hair falls from my kid's head—”
With a wave of my hand, I removed the cloaking spell.
“Which kid?” I glared at him.
“Spencer, no,” Mom gaped at me horrified.
Marcus growled. I pointed my hand at his throat and squeezed my fingers. “Let her go, or I’ll choke you to death!”
Coughing, he let go of Mom and staggered back. As he caught his breath, he gazed at me.
“Another witch. Great.” He turned to Mom. “Miranda, what the bloody hell are you trying to do?”
“I told you I’m not alone, Marcus,” Mom rushed to change the subject.
“Wait a minute? What did she say? Which kid? What did she mean?”
“Mom?” I shook my head in disappointment. “You said he’s dead and . . .” But I was too overwhelmed, and my voice shook.
“Mom? So she’s your . . .” Marcus gaped at her. “Miranda, what’s going on?”
Mom ignored him.
“Honey, I’m sorry, okay?” she spread her hands in frustration. “I was protecting you. Don’t you see? He’s the biggest threat to you.”
“This can’t be true.” Marcus stared at me. “I thought I smelled a familiar scent when I walked here . . . She even looks like me. But this can’t be true. Miranda!” he shouted, “Tell me this isn’t what I think it is.”
All confused, Mom seemed to have a hard time finding the words and just looked at us from one to another. I could tell that my finding out the truth wasn't part of her plan. Not yet anyway.
“Is she ours?” Marcus pointed his finger at me. “She’s a witch, Miranda. And must be nearly eighteen. You realize what that means, don’t you?”
“Where did you get that nearly from?” Mom scowled at him.
“What did you say?” His eyebrows crushed into each other, and his eyes lost focus for a moment.
“Marcus if you dare,” Mom hissed at him, suspecting that he was speaking to someone in his mind. “If anyone comes near her, I swear to God, I’ll kill your son myself.”
Mom stepped to the desk and picked up the box with the compass. “We need a bag. We can’t carry them like this.” She put the box down again and threw a searching look around the room. She saw a case next to the chair. When she was about to pick it up, Marcus pushed her aside.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
“I’m saving our daughter's life. Step away or I’ll hex you.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
I had enough. I aimed my hands at them and punched the air. Both of them flew back. Mom hit the shelves, and Marcus the windows.
“Thank you for such a cozy family reunion,” I snapped. “You,” I glared at Marcus. “You could at least pretend to be a father for five minutes to compensate for your absence for the last eighteen years. But no. The first thought that crossed your mind was to set your dogs on me.”
“I didn’t. Not yet anyway.”
My blood was boiling. My wolf surfaced and I snarled at him.
“What the . . . How is this possible?” He asked Mom, his wide eyes still fixed on me. “How did she make it?”
“She made it because she is a strong, brave, and determined girl.”
“And guess who I got it from.” He gazed at me expectantly. I scoffed. “I got it from my mother.”
He rolled his eyes up at the ceiling.
“Marcus, you know what’s going to happen if she doesn’t fulfill her task. I’m not asking you to help us, just don’t tell anyone. Believe me, you don’t want us as your enemy.”
“You seriously think I’ll tell anyone? She’s the heir of Great Alpha, for God’s sake.” With his hands on his hips, he started pacing. “Think about what will happen if they find out she’s my daughter.”
“Exactly. I’m glad we’re on the same page now. Spencer, you can release us.”
“Behave,” I glared at Marcus before removing the spell.
“I need a bag.” Mom reached for the scroll.
“Are you listening?” Marcus grabbed her hand. “I just told you there are three other alphas here. You know why? They’re here because every five years this scroll and the compass pass from one alpha to another for safekeeping. It’s a tradition. And right now, they’re waiting for me to start the ritual and hand them over to . . .” He gritted his teeth to stop himself from revealing the name of the next keeper of the relics. “Imagine what will happen if I tell them they’re missing. You ambushed me here, and I know that the two of you can overpower me with your magic. But if you take this . . .” he pointed at the boxes. “I wouldn’t risk my and my son’s future. I will tell them what happened, and then I’ll chase you down and kill you myself before anyone finds out the truth about your, or her,” he nodded in my direction, “connection to me.”
My heart fell. “You would kill me to protect your son's future?” I asked quietly.
“Just leave, and no one will get hurt.”
“Is that so?” I released a short, ironic laugh. “You know that’s not true. You know even if you don’t, they will find and kill me eventually. The compass will make sure of that.”
“Listen . . . It’s Spencer, right?” He lowered his voice. “Listen, Spencer, I mean you no harm. But you two are the ones who came here to ruin my whole life. Alphas protected those items for nearly three hundred years, so if by any chance the heir survives, we would be able to find and eliminate the threat to wolves and witch communities, and if you don’t leave right now, then . . . it’s my duty to report who stole the relics to the council, and you will have four packs at your tail to—”
“I heard enough,” I hissed at him. “You know?” I sighed. “I asked Mom so many questions about you. I wished I had a father my entire life. I thought you were dead, and I wished I had known you, at least for a little while, so I would have some memories of you. And here you are. Alive, strong, and handsome. And now, when I look at you, all I want is to wipe every second of this moment out of my mind.” I gave him a cold, furious look. “But instead, we’ll have to wipe it from yours.”
“Don’t you dare use magic on me again or I will—”
“What?” I cut him off. “Do you realize who you’re talking to?” He snarled, and in return, I glared at him with my wolf eyes. “When the day comes, you will see what a huge mistake you just made. You could’ve chosen your daughter's side, and helped her survive, but it seems your alpha ego is much bigger and your power over others is more important to you than your flesh and blood.” His wolf's canines stuck out from under his curled-up lips. I growled and stepped closer. “I’m the heir of the Great Alpha and when I collect my powers, I’ll bring back your memory of this moment and I’ll make you pay, Marcus. But for now,” I glanced back at Mom, “let’s send him into oblivion.”
He reached for my throat, but I slammed my palm to his chest, sucking the strength out of him. His body became limp, and I pushed him down to his knees.
Mom glanced at the relics, then at the case on the floor.
“We can’t,” I slowly shook my head. “They’ll chase us down.” I looked at Marcus. “Who is the next keeper of the relics?”
“That is secret information,” he said, panting from fury.
“Okay, we’ll do it the hard way.”
“You want to torture me with your magic? Go on. I’m not telling you a thing.”
“I don’t have to.” I sat down on my heels in front of him. “Look at me,” I demanded.
He snarled as he glared at me from under his eyebrows. I fixed my eyes on his. The second he realized what I was about to do, he tried to look away, or close his eyes, but he couldn’t, he was already under my compulsion.
“Who is the next keeper of the relics?” I asked again, piercing him with my gaze. “Don’t fight it, you have no choice,” I added as I watched him swallow hard to stop words from coming out.
“It’s . . . it’s Aaron,” he finally breathed out.
“You don’t say,” I smirked as I threw a sideways look at Mom. “And his son Eric, I assume?”
“Yes.”
I pulled myself up. “He’s all yours,” I said to Mom, stepping aside.
She drew closer, pressed her fingers to his temples, and started chanting. A moment later, Marcus fell to his side, his eyes closed.
I stood staring at him.
Mom took my hand. “We better go,” she cloaked us and dragged me to the door.
That was my father, the thought pulsed in my head.
When we reached the woods and Mom was about to remove the cloaking spell, I heard a car approach Marcus’s house.
“Not yet,” I stopped her. “Someone is coming. Let’s get a bit farther.”
I couldn’t think straight, and I couldn’t see where I was going.
That was my father. He’s alive. Has been all this time. Mom lied to me, and I was right about the tough breakup.
“Mom, why did he call you Miranda?”
“Honey, we’ll talk.” I heard the bitterness in her whisper. “But not now. We need to be quiet.”
Hot tears burned my eyes. I couldn’t stand the pain in my chest, the anger, and the severe disappointment any longer.
“You stay cloaked,” I threw to Mom as I sliced the air between us with the side of my palm, separating myself from her.
With a wave of my hand, I removed my cloak. Then I leaped forward and shifted, sending the shreds of my clothes flying around, and ran.
When I reached the road, I saw that Liam and James were there too. They stood together with Finn and Alister, all four of them shirtless, wearing only sweatpants, ready to turn at first notice and fight if they had to.
My heart ached even more when I saw Finn run toward me. I hid behind a thick tree before I shifted back and sat on the ground. He got on his knees next to me, and as he pulled my naked body into his arms, I dropped my head on his chest and sobbed.
“Spencer, what happened?” He asked, pressing his lips to my temple. “Speak to me.”
“He’s alive,” I breathed out between sobs. “Marcus. He is . . . He’s my father. . . And he hates me.”