Chapter 40: Rejected To Be Your Second Chance: Chapter 40

”Where is she now?” My mother asked after I had encountered everything that had happened in their absence. My father stood there, massaging his temple with his eyes closed and his head bowed. ”That’s not all,” I said. I pinched the bridge of my nose and looked up at my mom. ”Layla’s an Emberclaw, and we believe that she’s with them right now.” My father’s head flew up and he and my mother shared a worried look.

”What?” I asked. She didn’t turn her head but instead she looked down on the floor.

”Honey, this is much worse than you realize,” she said, avoiding eye contact. Her eyes finally rose and my father went over to the bookcase and opened a hidden compartment. He took out a thick book that was unfamiliar to me, and I stepped away from the desk as he came to place it down.

”Why do you look so guilty?” I asked him.

He sighed and shook his head.

”because you should’ve known about this a long time ago, but we didn’t know how or if to tell you.” “We hoped—due to the silence, that they had either been unsuccessful or given up.—We know now that we were wrong.” He looked at my mother and opened the book. ”They were just waiting.”

The first page showed a wolf ending down and warning other men who stood in front of it. They were holding spears and their eyes were black.

”What is this?” I flipped the page and read the initial lines at the top.

’Regning in the beast in blue, they walked for miles, but few were left. Why did they come? Why did they hate so abundantly and why could they not live in peace away from those who did not wish to be subordinates?’

”Subordinates?” My father nodded his head.

”submisive,” he explained and I nodded my head.

”No, I know what it means but I don’t understand the implication. In all stories, it is said that the Emberclaws were the victims—captured, killed, and used for our gain. They left to seek a sanctuary, where they have been hiding ever since!” My voice gre louder, and my eyes narrowed as I looked at my fathers gaze. I could feel my wolf tryin to come out, eager to be let out. My eyes were narrowed on him and I felt my wolf stirring trying to get out.

I dug my nails into the palm of my hand.

”This book is bullshit. Why is it full of lies, and why the hell is it in this house?”

”They are the ones spreading lies!” Anna took a step back and my brother and sister both lowered their heads as his voice rose over mine and filled the room.

a soft hand circled its fingers over his shoulder and my mother stood by his side.

”They have been playing their own agenda for centuries, wanting their story out in the world for pity and protection. They never wanted peace and quiet, they were never hunted or used, they were the hunters.” Anna stepped up beside me and looked at my mom in shock.

”What do you mean? How are they the hunters?”

Another few pages were flipped over and Anna started reading it.

”A superior species born with more strength and less heart. What is this that mother nature believed our world to need? Was one beast not enough? Was the numerous creatures walking on this earth not enough? Was the hatred amongst werwolves, vampires, humans and all others that know of and know of not, not enough? with lesser heart and cravings for power they want to overthrow us; to take over packs and become the new, improved and superior race of werewolves. The Emberclaws are dangerous alone but together they are a threat. A threat that we do not know if we can go up against and win…no, we can not go up again them and win. Brewing in silence and hiding in the dark we have little idea of what they are planning but a plan there is. To protect my people, how do I do that when I do not know what I’m protecting them from? How to keep a pack safe when mighty Alphas call in wonder of the threats we are facing and I can not give them answers nor can they advise me…” she stopped readin but stared at the paper.

Her head quickly turned and her tear-filled eyes glistened.

”You have to find her. She doesn’t know any of this and if she’s with them they will be telling her their own story.”

”Their own truth,” my mother added. She looked at my father and nodded her head.

”There is more, son.” I groaned and grabbed my shoulder.

”Of course there is.”

”The leader, his name is Nathaniel Parkin. He is the latest in a line of leaders all from the same bloodline leading back to the first, and he is…” He pauses briefly, searching for the right word, but when he looked at me with darkened eyes I saw that there was no sugarcoating word that would make it sound better than it was. ”…a matter of manipulation who will do whatever it takes to continue this legacy.”

”And we think he has found the last piece of the puzzle.” I looked at my mom and got dizzy from looking back and forth between them whilst simultaneously trying to grasp the information that was leading me more and more into a dark pit of anger. My girl was out there oblivious to what was really happening, and I needed to find her.

’Which girl?’ Zeke was furious with me. He had barely spoken to me since Layla left, and though both him and I had two mates, the same mates, it was easier for him to know what was real.

”What do you mean about the final piece?” I inquired.

”It was said that the last Emberclaw wasn’t born yet, but when they were, the line would end. We don’t know if it’s true or a myth, but there hasn’t been a single Emberclaw born in decades. Not in regular packs. Now you’re telling us that Layla, your new mate, is an Emberclaw, and if they have her in their claws, then I think we’ll find out why very soon.”

”Will they hurt her?” Annas voice hitched as she cried out the words.

”As long as she plays her part in their machine, no.”

”And if she doesn’t?” I asked.

”They will do anything to assure their victory, including taking out those who stand against them or their fate.”

My fathers brows furrowed, and he looked quizzically at the book.

”What is the last name of your mate?”

”Lecruest, Layla Lecruest.”

He flipped through the pages whilst whispering incoherent words.

”There is…someting should be… I know that name…”

”Here!” He called and pointed with his fingers to a name written in the litteral stars of a picture. ”Lecruest,” i said.

”How is that name in there? Her family aren’t Emberclaws.” I exclaimed.

The atmosphere shifted, and my mother took a sharp breath. Mason and Cara stepped closer and stood around us, and my mother looked around at everyone before landing her narrowed gaze on mine.

”Perhaps not her parents, but a bloodline extends much further than that. There’s an Emerlcaw in her bloodline, a strong one, who left their mark in history and passed on the legacy to your mate.”