Willow From The Ashes (Children Of The Moon Book 1)

by Amelia Harding

  Say it I command needing to know.

  When the one inside opened the door I caught a glimpse of his ring. A dragon wrapped in a thorny rose with a ruby in the center he answers plainly but the implication hits hard and I have to take a second to come to term with what that could possibly mean.

  Is that supposed to mean something? David asks clearly not knowing what the symbol represents and I'm not surprised as many don't anymore.

  It is the symbol of vampire royalty Kane explains after a pause.

  It has not been seen since the last great war when the Wolf King and his men sacrificed themselves to kill the vampires' royal bloodline and end the war I finish off and the silence that follows is heavy.

  The tragedy that saw the King die along with all of the werewolf royals is not talked about often. After that, the council was established. Not even the fate of the Kings children was known.

  The grief of the werewolf race was so deep that the events of the war have been left in the past. Most of the wolves my age and younger know little to nothing about it. Some are young enough that they have never known a time before the council.

  The sacrifice that was made on that day ushered in a time of peace for our kind without the threat of vampires.

  To think that some of the Royals may have survived and that we will once again face them but without the leadership of the great King, it is indeed a foreboding thought.

  They are headed Westward into more secluded territory David cuts through my thoughts.

  Turn back I order.

  We may be able to stay on their trail if we are cautious replies Kane.

  No, return home. With what we have found out it would be a risk to have you confronted on your own in an isolated area. If there really is a royal there, they will catch on to you. It is time to come home.

  Any relief I thought I would gain from getting answers is nonexistent. The knowledge is important but it is also confirmation that this issue is infinitely more complicated than anything we had imagined.

  The danger is more real than we had thought. We got a clue as to who although not anyone specifically but we are still missing the why.

  The princess line could be real or a ploy to distract us from whatever the real objective is. Now we are left with more questions than answers.

  I stand firmly in place with the group of trusted Enforcers I had readied just in case. I will not send them off until Carter, David and Kane arrive.

  The night has a chill that digs into your flesh. The usual comforting caress of the moon now feels ominous and cold. So many worries fly through my mind that I struggle to quiet them all.

  Now is not the time to let the uncertainty get to me. We will face this head-on as we have always faced any challenge, threat or adversity placed in our path.

  I find myself centered once again by the time the men arrive. They look serious and there is a storm brewing behind Carter's crystal eyes but I nod at them and congratulate them on a successful mission and job well done. We may not like what we found out but they carried out their task and got us the clue we needed.

  Telling them we will meet after they get some sleep I send them off to eat and rest with morning fast approaching.

  Needing to quiet my thoughts I find my feet unconsciously taking me to Hopes room. I know damn well she has to be asleep but still, I slip into the room needing the calm that her presence provides.

  My original intention was to stay for a minute or two then leave unnoticed. Unfortunately, that was ruined when I reached down to stroke Hopes hair. I turn to go before she rouses but I'm too late.

  I feel her delicate fingers grasp onto mine and I look back to see her still laying but trying to blink the sleep away and focus.

  "Did everything go well?" Hope mumbles still trying to break through the fog of sleep.

  "I have no idea what you mean, we just had a routine training" I say while squatting down by the bed so I'm closer to her eye level. My fingers now playing lazily with hers.

  "I'm young, not dumb. I can read Carter pretty well" Hope whispers now a little more awake.

  "Few people have ever been able to read Carter. We put a plan into motion. Everyone is fine and resting now" her body melts with relief and I feel a swell of emotion at the genuine care and concern she has for my men and our pack.

  Leaning forward I place a kiss on her forehead and go to leave but Hopes hand stops me once again. I raise an eyebrow questioningly and she scoots back making space and pulls the covers back. Without a word, I take the silent invitation and remove my shoes before sliding in.

  I lay down and pull Hope to me. No more than thirty seconds later she is slumbering peacefully. Letting all the tension fall away I enjoy the feel of my mate in my arms.

  I wonder if she'll remember any of this? either way, I'll take it because I needed this more than I could admit. With Hope in my arms, I'm able to momentarily shut everything out and get some real sleep before having to deal with this new information.

  Chapter 62

  Hope

  The scent of Maximus is the first thing that hits me when I start to wake. Prying my eyes I open I see he is gone which I fully expected. He looked so wound up that I couldn't let him leave. Max confirmed no one was hurt but something obviously had him on edge.

  A dull ring finally registers and I turn to see the notification light on my phone flashing. Unlocking it I see a ton of text messages.

  Staring at the time it reads 9:59 am and I keep watching until it hits ten. I am now officially eighteen years old and I'm almost sad Maximus wasn't here so I could touch him and find out the truth about our connection.

  The thought is quickly dismissed knowing I will see him at the party. Now sifting through the messages I see ones from Bai, Kaida, Alesha, and David wishing me a happy birthday which brings a huge smile to my face.

  A knock at the door diverts my attention and I call them in recognizing their scent anywhere. Entering are my parents who jump into the bed with me smothering me in hugs and kisses.

  "Happy birthday baby" Mom squeezes me. "My little willow is getting old now" Dad teases and I push him playfully.

  "If I'm old then you're ancient" I shoot back making my mom laugh and he pretends to be hurt.

  "Are you excited for the party?" Mom asks enthusiastically.

  "Yeah, it's gonna be fun and it'll be nice to finally be let in on everything".

  "If we are there, things are always fun" Dad says matter of factly, making mom roll her eyes and shake her head.

  "Well, I have been tasked by the ladies to instruct you to stay in your room until Bailey comes to get you. You are to be ready and have your dancing shoes on. Apparently, things are arriving and being set up and they don't want you sneaking a peek. Someone will be dropping food off soon".

  I really want to go out and take a look but after all the planning and care Bailey and the rest have to put into it I can't ruin it for them.

  No one has ever done anything this big for me and it is kind of overwhelming. I don't know how I will ever express to them how much this all means to me.

  Not because of the things or the celebration itself but because it shows how much they care and appreciate me and our friendship.

  That, is what means the most to me. While I chat with my parents a cooler with food and refreshments for the day is brought in.

  Hugging my parents with all my strength I say goodbye until we all see each other at the party tonight. I can not wait to see mom done up in her dress, dad is gonna be left speechless which is incredibly rare if not nearly impossible.

  Before doing anything else I take out my shoes, dress, and accessories setting them out on the bed. Being able to see it all makes me giddy. In a few hours, I will be getting ready but until then I have time to kill.

  After having the fruit and egg, cheese and sausage scramble bowl that was delivered I take a nice long bath with music softly playing. I really don't mind having the day to myself in the room.

  After a
while, I climb out and throw a comfy t-shirt and some leggings on. Grabbing the journal I had been wanting to continue reading I jump into the oversized chair in the corner of the room.

  I'm engrossed in the book just letting the day pass by. I'm finally halfway into the book when I turn a page and immediately freeze. The page is torn in half whether deliberate or unintentional its hard to tell. That isn't what makes me freeze.

  What is on the remaining chunk of paper is what sends shockwaves through my system. It is a drawing of an emblem.

  Even from the small piece, I could still recognize that design anywhere. Fishing out the pendant that always hangs around my neck hidden under my clothes I compare them.

  There is no denying it, they match up perfectly even without having all of the drawing intact. I reread the page before but it offers no information on it.

  So, I turn to the page after but I can now see the following page had been ripped out completely. Whatever explanation there was for the symbol on this page is impossible to read with almost all of it missing and the one after isn't even there.

  For nearly ten minutes I just sit there trying to figure out what this could mean. Looking down at it once more I tuck the necklace back in and yank the piece of page out walking to the closet to hide the journal.

  With the page folded securely in my hand, I slide on some sneakers and leave my room quietly.

  The only people who will have answers are the same ones that had told me to hide the pendant all along. I was supposed to stay in my room but the party is taking a backseat at this moment.

  I have been ignoring so much lately, I can't keep doing that. I need to know the truth. I'm careful to not be seen and track my parents down.

  They have a suite in the same area as Alpha Jamison and his wife. It consists of a private common area for them that branches off into their room and a big balcony.

  I see them talking as they enter their suite and I take a deep breath trying to steady my shaking hands.

  Knocking on their door it is my mother that opens and looks surprised to see me but gives a beaming smile. That is until she takes in what I assume to be a serious look on my face. "Is everything alright honey?" She asks concernedly. "I need to talk to you guys" is my only response.

  Moving aside she lets me in and I see my dads worried face. Closing the door mom goes to sit beside dad but I remain standing. "Did something happen sweetheart?" Dad asks carefully.

  "You tell me" I say while unfolding the page and thrusting it out to them and taking my necklace out from under my shirt. "What aren't you guys telling me?" My voice sounds accusatory but I can't help it.

  Dad gently grabs the page and a sigh bigger and heavier than I had ever heard escapes his lips. "Sit down baby" mom says gently with a sad smile. I hesitate but sit anyways needing to hear what they are going to say. "I was hoping this would never come up" dad admits solemnly.

  "What does this symbol mean? why do I have it? please, I need to know" I plead with him and he nods.

  "The symbol on that pendant is meant to be a forgotten one. It was once the emblem of our race but with time it was replaced. It was removed from our history and meant to be special.

  It is supposed to be used solely by the King and his children. It is a mark of their heritage that has not been publicly used for centuries. Unless you were in the Kings inner circle, odds are you would never see it or know of its existence".

  "Then how do you know about it? Why do I have it? I have no reason to be connected with any King especially since I was barely alive when the last one died". Mom takes dads hand intertwining their fingers giving him a reassuring nod.

  "No one knows this but, I was one of the last Kings Enforcers. King Kyril Lykos the warrior King of the werewolf race. I considered him a brother and I think he thought of me as the same.

  When the last war with the vampires started, the King sent his young children off. His oldest was a boy named Christoffe and his youngest was a beautiful little girl named Willow" For a second dad stops and I wait patiently for him to continue.

  "The boy and girl fled and ultimately ended up being separated somehow. I am not entirely sure what happened to the boy. I survived the battle and took off in search of them knowing they were still in danger.

  Despite our win, the King was still dead and any of the surviving Vampires could go after them. Greedy wolves who wanted to take advantage of the chaos could also find and use them.

  It took days but I found the young princess and took her back home with me. We changed her name and took her as our own vowing to never reveal the truth to anyone. We kept using Willow as a nickname out of affection and a small way to keep you tied to your beginnings without the truth ever being known.

  If anyone found out who you really are you would be in danger and all we wanted was to protect you. We ended up in the White Thorn pack where my old friend Jamison offered me the position as his Beta but even he doesn't know that you weren't born to us. That you are the last princess of the werewolf race".

  I suck in a deep breath with tears stinging my eyes. Dropping my head to my hands I try not to hyperventilate. My brain has stopped functioning, all of it is too much to process. I can't bring myself to think anything.

  At the moment I don't even know what I'm feeling.

  "We love you so so much Hope. You are our world regardless of whatever blood runs through your veins. We wanted to be able to share stories with you of your parents.

  To tell you the amazing people they were but your safety outweighed all of that. I hope you can forgive us, we just wanted to raise you feeling loved and protected" I barely register my mothers' soft words thickened by emotion.

  I'm in a daze when I stand and turn to walk out. "I need to think" is all I manage to whisper. I know we need to talk about this but the room feels so hot and claustrophobic that I need to get out.

  I can't explain all the thoughts and emotions circling like a tornado in my mind. I need fresh air, I need to breathe. So many things are clicking into place but it is only deepening my turmoil.

  For some reason the urgent need to find Carter hits me. He recognized the pendant the time it fell out in the library. I need to talk t him, I need his unwavering steady guidance.

  I'm so lost in my internal war that I don't register the ever watching gaze that has followed me since yesterday. I fail to react quickly enough when I am grabbed from behind. I try to struggle but the grip is too strong and the hand firmly over my mouth keeps me from screaming.

  "I knew it when I saw those ribbons but eavesdropping on the heart to heart with your parents confirmed it. You're the little princess bitch. All you do is cause trouble. Once you are gone everything will be alright and my brother will love me. Enjoy the trip I set up for you princess".

  Through the muddled mess of confusion, I clearly recognize Daniels' voice. My brain hasn't even fully registered what the hell is going on when I am hit and fall into the dark depths of unconsciousness.

  Chapter 63

  Maximus

  This day has been non-stop. From the moment I woke up in Hopes room, I had to get going. Leaving her side was difficult but I had a duty to carry out that could not be put off.

  In a perfect world, I would have stayed by her side until she awoke and was finally able to recognize me as her mate in the privacy of her room, not the packed ballroom tonight.

  This is not a perfect world and the longer I put off the necessary meetings the more danger everyone is put in. This is now beyond just our packs well being. This will involve our race as a whole if we don't get ahead of it.

  From discussing every possible detail David, Carter and Kane had gleaned to back to back talks with council members, I hardly got a moment to breathe.

  This was serious and it was being given the highest priority level. Senior council members would be deployed soon to come here.

  Aside from that, all the Alphas of every major pack would be alerted. We had to cast an information net as far as was possible
.

  The more we know the better position we will be in. We can not risk being caught off guard in this situation, there are too many who could get hurt or killed.

  Despite all of that, I feel the excitement in the air. Tonight, we will come together and celebrate. The large ballroom is being used and so many are filing in. From what I was told by Alesha, Bailey Reid made the invite list and chose the people Hope got along with.

  Walking into the ballroom full of anticipation in a crisp navy blue three-piece suit, I am pleasantly surprised to see so many guests from my pack. In fact, they are almost all Onyx Moon pack members with the exception of maybe a hand full at most.