Chapter 6
Elijah ushers me into the pack house, and anxiety begins to rise within me. He is calm, patient, and appears to accept me without judgment. Although he’s not pressuring me, I can’t be sure if the rest of his pack will act the same way.
The living area is mostly silent, yet I catch the faint noises coming from what I assume is the kitchen nearby. Since it’s nearly time for dinner, it makes sense that someone would be preparing a meal.
I find myself wondering if the pack usually dines together as a group or if everyone is left to manage for themselves. When I was a child, my family always joined the others for meals.
Even though we weren’t all related by blood, there was a sense of unity. Those early years stand out as the happiest of my life. But gradually, people started to drift apart, and eventually, we stopped gathering for meals. I never really understood why things changed. My parents kept me out of the serious discussions about the pack’s management.
“Are you all right?” Elijah’s question snaps me out of my reverie.
I give a quick nod. “Yes, I’m still trying to take it all in.”
“It won’t always feel this overwhelming.” Elijah squeezes my hand more firmly, providing an unexpected sense of comfort. He heads for the staircase. “Dr. Isabella’s office is upstairs. She’s expecting us. Let’s see if she can give you some clarity.”
I press my lips together in an attempt to smile, but it’s clear to anyone watching that it isn’t genuine. We ascend the stairs and take a left. Returning to this house is almost surreal. I was so weak and disoriented during my escape that most details escaped me, yet somehow, everything looks familiar
now.
Elijah raps his knuckles on the door. “It’s me, Bella.”
“Come in, Alpha,” a muffled reply comes from inside.
We enter a room overflowing with books and scattered documents. Behind a desk sits Dr. Isabella, her reading glasses slipping down her nose, dressed in a white lab coat and absorbed in a book. She doesn’t glance up as we approach.
Elijah signals for me to take a seat in one of the chairs in front of her desk. I choose the chair furthest away, while Elijah sits beside me, releasing my hand as we settle in.
“Have you” Elijah starts to speak.
Dr. Isabella raises a finger to interrupt him. “Give me just a moment, I’m nearly finished.”
I glance at Elijah, who offers an apologetic smile, as though to say this is typical behavior for Dr. Isabella. After an awkward pause, she finally sets her book aside and fixes her gaze on me.
“Now that I’m done, let’s talk about you, Miss Escapee. Do you have any idea how reckless it was to try to leave in your condition?” Dr. Isabella’s tone is nearly flat, but there’s a trace of irritation in her words.
“That’s not helping,” Elijah interjects quickly.
“I’m simply saying she could barely stay on her feet. We were trying to assist her. Leaving was not a wise decision.” Dr. Isabella’s frown grows more pronounced.
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“I don’t owe you an explanation for what I did,” I tell her. “Still, just so you know, I found myself waking up somewhere unfamiliar, surrounded by werewolves I’d never met before. There are some vicious packs out there, and I had no idea who you were. I don’t like being judged for making choices I thought would keep me safe.”
A hint of a smirk appears at the edge of the doctor’s mouth. “She’s got fire. I like that. Alpha, you’ve made a great choice in a mate.”
Her words leave me momentarily speechless, and I can’t find a response.
“Elijah’s voice cuts in, carrying a hint of warning. “Let’s keep our attention on what matters most. Someone tried to murder Charlotte.”
“Of course.” Dr. Isabella sifts through some documents and eventually pulls out one for me. She passes it across the desk-it’s filled with unfamiliar terms and numbers. “Do you notice this figure here?” She leans forward and indicates a particular value with her finger.
“I see it,” I reply.
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“That’s the measurement of wolfsbane in your system. A typical wolf wouldn’t survive that dose. Only a powerful alpha or someone with mixed blood could pull through.”
I swallow, feeling uneasy. “Is that why you suspect I’m not a full-blooded wolf?”
Dr. Isabella confirms with a nod, then hands over another sheet. “That, and this. This document shows the genetic analysis of your blood. These indicators are found in wolves,” she says, pointing to one area, “but these other ones shouldn’t appear in a wolf’s DNA.”
I place the files on the table, but they don’t really clarify anything for me. “So, what does that make me?”
The doctor leans back, pressing her lips together thoughtfully. “I’m certain it isn’t human, but I can’t say what else is in your blood. I lack the means to compare your DNA with that of other supernatural beings. Most other species prefer to keep to themselves, so information about them is hard for wolves to come by.”
“Is there any way to discover the truth?” I ask, the idea of not being a pure wolf feels strange, even though I don’t feel different.
“Do you happen to know who your biological parents are?” Dr. Isabella inquires.
I bite my lip before I answer. “I always believed my parents were the alpha and luna of the Brown pack.”
She shuffles her papers together. “It’s possible that your father isn’t your biological father, and your mother had an affair that resulted in you.”
Elijah’s reaction is sharp. “Bella! That’s a serious accusation.”
The doctor blinks calmly, “I’m only offering my theory. The alternative is that one of her parents is simply pretending to be a wolf.”
As the doctor continues, my mind drifts back to my sixteenth birthday. I remember the way my father looked at me that day, as if he despised me. Before that, he had always been caring, which made it all the more confusing.
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But if I’m not a pure werewolf, maybe whatever else I carry revealed itself when I turned sixteen. That’s how it works for us-our wolves appear at age ten, and our abilities grow stronger at certain ages. Perhaps sixteen is one of those milestones. Still, why was I kept in the dark? Didn’t I have the right to know what I really am?
“Are there any alternative ways to uncover the truth?” I inquire.
Elijah faces me. “Is there a possibility your family might assist?”
I immediately shake my head. “They warned me to leave and never come back, or else they would end my life.”
A look of horror crosses Elijah’s face. “What kind of parents would treat their daughter that way?”
I lower my gaze to my lap. “Perhaps Dr. Isabella is correct. Maybe I’m not truly my father’s child.”
“When did your father force you out?” the doctor asks.
“At sixteen.” I can’t bring myself to meet her eyes.
“And you’ve survived alone ever since?” Elijah’s tone is thick with disgust.
I give a silent nod, and suddenly, Elijah’s fingers lace together with mine. I glance upward and meet his gaze. Concern softens his expression. “It’s alright. I’ve managed well enough. So, does this mean we’re out of options?” I turn my attention to Dr. Isabella.
“There is someone I know who might have more information,” she says, glancing at Elijah with a hint of unease.
Elijah stiffens at her words. “Is that really the only path left?”
“It’s the quickest, simplest, and most certain way. I’ll let you decide, Alpha.”
I observe Elijah closely, sensing there’s more to the story. His jaw is set, and he looks conflicted. I finally break the silence. “Does it matter what my heritage is? I never realized I wasn’t a pureblood, and it hasn’t affected my life.”
Dr. Isabella considers this before responding. “It’s not urgent now, but knowing could be useful in the future. If whoever’s after you learns what you are, they might use something specific to harm you. We could create an antidote in case the worst happens.”
Elijah goes still at her suggestion. “I’ll arrange a meeting with my former pack.” His tone leaves no room for argument.
