Chapter 12: My Mother's Secret

My parents arrived twelve minutes later.

Mom looked exhausted.

Dad looked furious.

Not at me.

At Rowan.

The moment Dad saw him, his expression hardened.

"Vale."

Rowan straightened.

"Mr. Arden."

I looked between them.

"You know each other?"

"Not personally," Dad answered.

Mom's gaze moved to the pendant around Rowan's neck.

All color disappeared from her face.

"You kept it."

Rowan went still.

"You recognize this?"

Mom closed her eyes.

"Of course I recognize it."

My heart started racing.

"Mom."

She looked at me.

For the first time in my life, my mother seemed afraid of me asking questions.

"You promised you'd tell me everything."

"I know."

We moved into a private study room in the old library.

Dad checked the hallway before closing the door.

Rowan stayed near the window.

Mom sat opposite me.

"My maiden name isn't Arden," she began.

"I know. Rowan found Lunaire on an old record."

Her eyes flicked toward him.

"Lunaire was fabricated."

"Then what's your real name?"

She hesitated.

"Selene Lunaris."

The room went completely silent.

Even though Rowan had suspected it, hearing the name confirmed changed everything.

"So I'm..."

"Part Lunaris."

My hands went cold.

"You told me your family died."

"Most of them did."

"How?"

Dad reached for Mom's hand.

She gripped it tightly.

"The Lunaris Pack wasn't large, but our bloodline was ancient. Our wolves carried unusual affinity with Alpha bonds, Pack authority, and mate connections."

"What does that mean?"

Rowan answered carefully.

"Historically, Lunaris Lunas could strengthen an Alpha's connection to an entire Pack."

Mom nodded.

"That made our bloodline valuable."

"Valuable to who?"

"Everyone."

Her voice was bitter.

"Powerful Packs wanted marriages. Rival Packs wanted us weakened. Some wanted control of the bloodline itself."

A cold feeling settled in my stomach.

"What happened twenty years ago?"

Mom looked toward the table.

"There was an attack."

"By who?"

"Officially, rogues."

"And unofficially?"

She remained silent.

Dad answered.

"Nobody knows."

Rowan's jaw tightened.

"Nightvale suspected internal Pack involvement."

Mom looked sharply at him.

"Your father suspected many things."

"He spent years investigating."

"And found nothing."

The hostility between them surprised me.

"Wait. Supreme Alpha Vale knew?"

Mom nodded reluctantly.

"Nightvale helped survivors disappear."

"Including you."

"Yes."

My mind raced.

"Then why did Rowan meet me as a child?"

Mom closed her eyes again.

"Because I made a mistake."

"What mistake?"

"Your grandmother was dying."

Her voice cracked.

"She wanted to see you once."

I softened.

"So you took me to that gathering."

"It wasn't supposed to be dangerous. Nightvale controlled security."

Rowan's expression darkened.

"But something happened."

Mom nodded.

"Someone recognized the Lunaris markings when you partially shifted."

My breath caught.

"The boys Rowan mentioned?"

"One of their fathers saw you afterward."

"Who?"

Mom hesitated.

"A Stormridge advisor."

Every muscle in Rowan's body went rigid.

"Stormridge?"

I thought immediately of Knox.

"You mean Knox's Pack?"

"Yes."

Dad interrupted.

"That doesn't mean Knox knows anything."

"I know."

But suspicion had already taken root.

Mom continued.

"We left that same night. Your records were changed again. We settled permanently in Willowmere and never discussed Lunaris."

"And you hid everything from me."

"To protect you."

"You let me believe there was nothing unusual about our family."

"Because there shouldn't have been."

Her voice broke.

"I wanted you to have a normal life."

I laughed weakly.

"That seems to have failed spectacularly."

Mom almost smiled.

Then her expression became serious.

"Your wolf markings becoming visible means your Lunaris traits are awakening."

"Why now?"

Rowan and Mom exchanged a look.

I immediately hated it.

"No. Don't do that. Say it."

Mom sighed.

"Possibly because you found your fated mate."

I looked at Rowan.

"The bond triggered it?"

"It may have," he said.

"Lunaris wolves historically changed after meeting a compatible Alpha."

"Compatible Alpha," I repeated.

Rowan looked uncomfortable.

Mom was less subtle.

"A Supreme Alpha heir is about as compatible as it gets."

Fantastic.

My life had officially become impossible.

"So what happens now?"

Dad answered immediately.

"You come home."

"No."

"Nessa."

"I'm not abandoning university."

"Your identity may already be spreading."

"Then hiding won't undo it."

Mom looked at me carefully.

"She's right."

Dad turned toward her.

"Selene."

"We hid for eighteen years. Look where we are."

Her gaze returned to me.

"Maybe hiding isn't the answer anymore."

Rowan remained quiet until I looked at him.

"What do you think?"

"I think the decision is yours."

Dad gave him a suspicious look.

"That's surprisingly reasonable."

"I'm trying very hard to impress you, sir."

I stared at Rowan.

Dad almost smiled despite himself.

Before anyone could say more, Rowan's phone rang.

He checked the screen.

His expression immediately changed.

"It's my father."

Mom stiffened.

"Why is the Supreme Alpha calling you now?"

Rowan answered.

"Father."

We could only hear Rowan's side.

"Yes."

"I'm with her now."

His eyes shifted toward me.

"Yes, it's confirmed."

Pause.

"How did you know?"

Rowan's face went cold.

"When?"

Another pause.

"Send it to me."

He ended the call.

"What happened?" I asked.

Rowan looked at Mom.

"Someone tried accessing sealed Nightvale records last night."

Mom went pale.

"Which records?"

"Lunaris."

My stomach dropped.

"Who?"

Rowan's jaw tightened.

"The request came through an old Stormridge authorization code."