F O U R T Y - F I V E

Author's Note: This Chapter is dedicated to my beloved cat Wacky...Your family...especially your brother Whiskey will miss you beyond words. May your little adventurous soul rest in peace baby. I promise to never forget you or your little vampire teeth. Until we meet again little brother.

Love Always,

Your sister.

NOVA

"Where are we?" I asked as I leaned over Atlas in the backseat of Phoenix's luxury SUV to look at the grand estate in front of us "And who's following behind us?".

Phoenix glanced back at me, one hand on the wheel as he drove up the winding path leading towards the estate.

"The Butcher Twins" he said "And a few Royal Guards loyal to us, including Xólo."

"And we're going...?" I trailed off.

"The Lupine Estate" Kassian said softly, gripping my hand and rubbing his thumb against the back of my skin "The most secure Estate out of all the other estates."

"What?" My eyes widened "We're going to the...Lupine Estate?"

I barely wheezed out the words before an uneasy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach.

This would be the first time I've visited anything remotely related to the Lupine family since arriving at Crescent Academy.

And while I was scared out of my mind at the prospect of another one of those monsterous creatures out on the loose, hunting me down like the prey I was, I was more nervous at the moment about entering the leering Mansion in front of me.

"How is it more secure than the others?" I swallowed roughly "Wouldn't this be the first place that someone would look for us?"

Atlas shook his head while Phoenix parked the car "No one would ever think to look here."

"Why not?" I asked as I followed them out of the car.

"Because this place hasn't been touched in nineteen years." A familiar voice said from behind me.

I turned to find Nico and Teo leaning against their car, an awed look on his face as he drifted towards his brother's side.

"How do you know it hasn't been touched in nineteen years?" I asked, clearly looking at the manicured lawns in suspicion "It looks like it's been maintained quite well."

"It should look that way" Nico said, coming to stop in front of me "It's been purposely preserved by magik."

Atlas whistled low as Phoenix sucked in a sharp breath "How in the hell did you manage that?"

"Our father did" Nico said softly, never once taking his eyes off of me "Once it was confirmed that Alpha Lupine was...gone, our father took it upon himself to ensure that only someone from the Lupine bloodline could access the Estate."

"How?" I blinked up at him "And if that's true, then how is anyone else here with me?"

"Our father made sure that the only other bloodline that could access the Estate would be ours" Teo followed up "Just in case."

"But that doesn't explain the rest of them," My eyes skimmed the three men standing protectively behind the twins, each listening intently to their words despite the small scowls gracing their faces at Nico's close presence "How are the guys and Xólo here?"

His lips pursed as his eyes slid towards his brother.

"We think it's because you drove here with them" Teo said quickly "And since Xólo drove here with us, the property's spell adapted to your intentions."

"It can do that?"

"Of course" Nico said "The Witch our father hired was very skilled in her craft. It took her nearly a year to complete the Estates entirety, including the additional acres acquired before our father's death."

I nodded, his words making sense considering that it was the only possible explanation why everyone besides the Twins and I were able to enter the premises.

"The Estates completely protective?" I asked.

"It was the first thing secured by our father" Teo said "And is subsequently resecured every two months when we do our annual safety checks."

I nodded absentmindedly, turning towards the looming estate in front of me, my nerves making me want to simultaneously puke and run away at the same time.

A warm body sidled up to me "You know we can go somewhere else if you'd like?" Kassian murmured softly to me.

I looked up at him, our eyes locking.

His were full of sorrow, anxiousness, and...regret?

"Was that creature as terrifying as you say it was?"

He gave me a slow, but steady nod.

"Then this is the place we're supposed to be" I said, squeezing his hand softly "If this is the safest place for us, then this is where we're going to stay. I can't risk any of you getting hurt at my expense."

With those final words, I stepped towards Estate and hope with all my might that the twins were right about this impenetrable fortress.

~~~~~~~~

While the guys set up whatever they had to set up, I went exploring.

The Estate was much different than I expected it to be.

It was...homey.

Dozen of picture frames lines the walls, unfamiliar faces smiling back at me as I pass them in the halls.

So far, I managed to find an office, a guest bedroom, two bathrooms, the kitchen, a foyer, and a living room.

I slid my hand up the shiny, wooden handcrafted banister as I headed up towards the second floor.

I stopped at the top of the landing, wondering which room I would visit first out of the seven rooms on this floor.

My hand traced the beautiful stained glass window at the end of the hall as I decided to start from left to right.

It was a picture of the night sky, three beautiful white stars overlooking a frozen lake while also surrounded by what looked like the Northern lights.

It was stunning and whoever the Artist was needed to seriously be commended for their work considering how they managed to manipulate the glass with the most intricate detail.

I opened the door on the left, not paying attention to the matching craftsmanship that reflected the glass art.

I opened the door and wheezed out a breath, quickly shutting my eyes at the image that greeted me.

I felt a single tear slide down my eye, my breaths coming in quick pants now as I gripped the door handle for support.

I can't believe that out of all the possible doors I could have chosen to start with, I picked this room.

A Nursery...

But not just any Nursery...

My Nursery...

And god was it beautiful...It was straight out of fairytale,

The beautiful hand crafted bassinet was covered in intricately carved roses and ivy, arranged in a way that made it seem like it was apart of the beautiful tree of life sprouting from the wall.

The wallpaper, upon closer inspection, was really wallpaper at all but a handprinted portrait of iconic scenes from the different fairytales.

I turned and found a large closet filled to the brim with baby clothes, shoes, and the most adorable accessories I've ever seen in my life.

When I picked up a frame picture of an ecstatic giant of a man holding the ultrasound in his hands, beaming at the camera I couldn't help the floodgate of tears and emotions that bombarded me at once.

I sunk to the floor, sniffling down my sobs so that the guys didn't come in here, guns blazing and wonder why I was on the floor crying my heart out.

I swallowed thickly, looking down at the man in the photos in equal parts shock, amazement, and apprehension.

And while Fowl was right in the aspect that I didn't look like my father much, I did inherit the one distinguishing factor that made me recognizable as a Lupine and his daughter.

His eyes...those brilliant, blazing blue eyes of his.

I traced every feature of his with my eyes, memorizing our similarities and vast differences.

Besides our eyes, the only thing else we shared was the fact that we shared the same dark hair color.

Other than that, I must have received everything else from my birth mother.

At that thought...another sob broke free from my chest no matter how hard I worked to keep it in.

Although I loved my family with my entire heart and soul, and I would die for them in a second, I couldn't help but sob for the way my life could have been.

I sobbed for little girl who lost her parents before they could even get the chance to be parents.

I sobbed for the life that that little girl could have had...the one she deserved.

I sobbed at the lost friendships...the lost memories that could have been.

"Nova..." A hesitant voice reached out.

Startled, I hunched into myself, turning away from the door to hide my emotions from the last person I wanted to see them.

"I'm fine." I sniffled

"You're not fine Nova" Someone sat next to me as a thumb wiped the tears away from my eyes "Let's not try to pretend otherwise."

I moved my head away from him "I don't have time for arguing Phoenix."

"Then let's not argue" He said softly "Let's just...wallow in silence."