Chapter 45


    For a moment, I convinced myself I was at home with my Grandma. The smell of soup filled the air,


    thick with garlic, thyme and oregano. The tomato mixture invaded my senses and left me with the


    feeling offort and security. My Grandma’s humming floated through the kitchen into the living room


    where Iid on the couch. The heat lingering in the California air warmed my skin, soothing my aching


    muscles.


    It was when I found the strength to open my eyes that I realized how wrong I was. I wasn’t in California,


    and my Grandma was d**d. The peaceful humming wasing from an old woman, whose hair was


    white as snow. She stood in the kitchen, stirring something in arge iron pot. The heat that danced


    along my skin was from the crackling fire, just a few feet in front of me.


    H****r flooded through me as I realized I had been naked when I was found, and that I now wore a long


    nightgown. A thick quilt was ced over my body, smelling ofvender and other herbs. I watched in


    stunned silence as the old womandled the soup into arge bowl, her delicate humming filling the


    house.


    I felt my body stiffen as the woman looked my way, a smile forming on her face as she approached me


    with the soup. Her eyes held the same kindness my Grandma’s used to have, but that was the only


    simrity between the two. Grandma had been old and frail, her limbs thin and weak. This woman was


    old, but she was strong. She walked effortlessly; her posture straight yet rxed. Her hair hung down


    her back in snow-colored waves.


    “Eat this, dear. It’ll make you feel better.” The woman murmured, setting the steaming bowl of soup in


    front of me. She sat herself in an arm chair, watching me with expectant eyes.


    ‘Thalia?’ I called out, but was greeted by darkness.


    “Your wolf will be back, child.” The woman nodded serenely, “Wolfsbane, nasty business. Try the soup,


    it’s minestrone.”


    As much as I wanted to resist, the kindness in her eyes and the growling of my stomach overwhelmed


    me. Tentatively, I spooned at the soup. Carrots, celery and onion floated around in the bowl. As IN?velDrama.Org ? content.


    brought the spoon to my lips, the old woman grinned happily.


    “Is it good?” She asked with bright eyes, “My son always says it’s too salty. What’s a good soup without


    a little salt?”


    “It’s good.” I nodded, surprised at how strong my voice sounded. “It’s not salty at all.”


    “Well thank you, dear.” She grinned, turning her head towards the dark hallway and calling out. “See!


    She doesn’t think it’s too salty.”


    “Trusting her already?” A deep voice scoffed.


    An older gentleman stepped into the light, around thirty years old. His hair was dark, but had streaks of


    light grey. His eyes narrowed on me suspiciously, and I resisted the urge to sink into the plush sofa. His


    build wasrge, but tention rippled from him in waves.


    “Don’t go frightening the girl, Miles.” The old woman spat, waving at the man with a deep sigh. “Ignore


    my son, he’s spent too many years battling his own paranoia. You can call me Sage.”


    “I’m Aurora.” I replied, giving Miles onest nce before eating another spoonful of soup.


    “Beautiful name.” Sage murmured appreciatively, “Now, why don’t you tell us about your first shift. The


    first is always the worst.”


    “My first shift?” I gulped, my eyes widening as I looked between the mother and son. Understanding


    crossed Sage’s eyes as she read the panic on my face.


    “Ah, I see.” Sage nodded, casting a frown at her son who loomed in the hallway. “You haven’t known


    about your heritage for long, have you? If you did, you would’ve sniffed us out.”


    “You’re both werewolves?” I asked, surpriseced in my tone. “I haven’t known for long. It came as a…


    surprise.”


    “An unwee one at that, I assume.” Sage frowned, sympathy burning in her eyes. “It couldn’t have


    been easy. Living your life as a human only to find out you’re the daughter of an Alpha, and a white


    wolf at that.”


    “A white wolf?” I frowned, “What does the color of my wolf have to do with anything?”


    “She’s absolutely clueless.” Miles scoffed, shaking his head. “I give her a week.”


    “Quiet, you’ll frighten the poor girl.” Sage snapped, then turned her attention to me. “White wolves are


    exceedingly rare, child. That’s how you found me. I’m thest white wolf in over five hundred years.”


    “I found you because you’re a white wolf?”


    “Like calls to like, Aurora.” Sage nodded, “I’ve been in hiding for quite some time. White wolves are


    coveted for their abilities. White wolves appear when the world is in need of them. There is no telling


    when or where they will show up.”


    “Abilities?” I sighed, exhaustion weighing my limbs down. “I thought I had enough to worry about. I


    never wanted to be a werewolf, let alone one with abilities.”


    “Power is often given to those who do not want it. It’s best you learn what you’re capable of.” Sage


    replied, her face quickly turning serious. “Just because you reject your heritage, does not mean those


    who covet you will simply stop. ept the life you’ve been given, Aurora. Learn to defend yourself.”


    “I don’t know where to start.” I scoffed, “I ran to get away from all of this. Now I’m back where I started.”


    “I disagree.” Sage mused, “I think you’ve made an improvement. You enjoyed shifting, yes? It was


    liberating, wasn’t it?”


    “It was incredible.” I confessed, feeling Thalia stir in my mind. “I’ve never felt so free, so strong.”


    “You have more strength than you think, Aurora.” Sage smiled, standing from the arm chair. “Follow


    me.”


    With onest wary nce towards Miles, I followed Sage out the back door. I cringed against the harsh


    sunlight, wondering how long I had been unconscious. As my eyes adjusted, I looked on in wonder at


    Sage’s backyard. I had thought the forest at night was beautiful, but it was nothingpared to this.


    Her back yard consisted of rolling hills, plush trees with drooping canopies, and rows upon rows of


    wildflowers. Rose bushes grew in clusters, unlike anything I had ever seen. Sunflowers, daisies,


    gardenias, and flowers I had never seen before were sprawled out along the earth. The grass was a


    brilliant shade of emerald. A small stream cut through the earth, it’s water clear and bright.


    “It’s beautiful.” I breathed, my eyes looking on in wonder.


    My eyes grazed every vibrant petal, every crisp leaf, and every de of grass. This small patch of


    earth was like a personal heaven, a private de for Sage and her brooding son.


    “This, Aurora, is my ability.” Sage beamed at the small slice of heaven, pride shining in her eyes.


    “Flowers are your ability?” I asked, unable to tear my eyes away.


    “Not flowers.” Sage chuckled, motioning for me to follow her.


    We hopped over the thin stream and continued through the plush grass. Sage held back some of the


    flowers for me, treading carefully through them. We approached a bushel of tulips, and I frowned as I


    realized they had not yet bloomed. Everything else in this de was thriving, but the tulips seemed to


    be far behind.


    “Watch.” Sage murmured, cupping the tulips with her withered hands.


    The air around Sage turned warm, a gentle breeze ruffling the night gown I wore. I watched in silent


    amazement as the tulips bloomed, the fragile petals opening for her.


    “My ability is nature itself.” Sage smiled proudly, looking on at the nts and tree’s as though they were


    her children. “Tell me, child. Do your mates know you’re a white wolf?”


    “How did you know?” I asked, flinching as I wondered what Alec and Kade might think of my


    whereabouts.


    Thalia had said they were close. Were they still looking for me? Would they simply grow tired of this


    game of cat and mouse?


    ‘They will never stop looking for us, Aurora.’ Thalia murmured, ‘They’ll search the ends of the earth until


    they find us.’


    “I see your wolf is awake.” Sage chuckled, “And to answer your question, white wolves have sharper


    instincts than your average werewolf. Sometimes we can tell who someone’s mate is before they turn


    of age. Other times we simply get small bits of information.”


    “No, they don’t know.” I frowned, “I ran away before they could find out.”


    “Does anyone else know?” Sage asked, turning her full attention on me. I resisted the urge to squirm


    under her gaze, but I couldn’t wipe the nervous frown that appeared on my lips.


    “Yes, these men tried to kidnap me. I think they were wolves, but they smelled…different.” I shook my


    head, unable to ignore the sinking feeling in my gut. “They watched me shift, they know what I am.”


    “Then you must proceed very carefully.” Sage murmured, “You are lucky, you have two mates to protect


    you. My mate died when I was very young, as did my parents. I was left to fend for myself.”


    “I’m so sorry.” I replied, and I truly was. I wasn’t sure I loved Alec and Kade, but the thought of them


    d***g twisted my insides painfully.


    “Don’t fight your mates, Aurora.” Sage smiled softly, gently patting her hand against my cheek. “They


    will choose you over anything–over anyone. That kind of bond is important, it could save your life


    someday.”


    My heart ached under her touch; under the motherly touch I had been denied for so long. I couldn’t


    help but wish my Mom was more like Sage, that she had loved me and cared for me when I needed it


    most. Instead, she left me alone, she left me to fend for myself and discover the world for what it truly


    was, cruel and cold.


    “How could they ever forgive me?” I chuckled, though myugh quickly turned into a dry sob. “I ran


    away from them. They should hate me.”


    “I’m sure you had your reasons for leaving, no matter what they might be.” Sage replied, “Tell them


    your reasons, Aurora. They will forgive you; I promise.”


    “I’ll try.” I breathed, finally beginning to understand that I couldn’t run from this. I couldn’t run from who–


    what I was.


    “Speaking of your mates, I suspect they will be arriving shortly.” Sage murmured, her eyes roaming the


    forest along her house. “I sent Miles to cover up your scent, though I believe your mates have quickly


    figured out how to track you through the bond. Highly unusual you know, having twins as mates.”


    “Tell me about it.” I chuckled dryly, wrapping my arms around my torso as my heartrate skyrocketed.


    Excitement danced along my skin, raising goosebumps and igniting a fire in my stomach. I hadn’t let


    myself ept how much I truly missed the twins, and I still refused to think of Tori.


    “I am sympathetic, men are difficult to deal with.” Sage grinned, looking half her age. “Though it means


    more protection for you.”


    “You coulde with us…” I offered, desperately hoping she would say yes. My stomach dropped as


    her eyes softened. “I don’t have anyone else, not really anyway. Melissa-my Mom stopped caring a


    long time ago, and my Father only wants me so that I can take over his pack.”


    “Visit me as often as you can, child.” Sage smiled, but the expression didn’t meet her eyes. “But


    please, tell no one of this ce or what I am. I have remained in hiding for so long, I’m afraid I have no


    ce in this world anymore.”


    “You’ll always have a ce in my pack, Sage.” I murmured, speaking the words as Thalia whispered


    them in my mind. While the words felt foreign on my tongue, they also felt right.


    “Thank you for that, Luna Aurora.” Sage beamed, and I couldn’t help but return the gesture.


    The two of us headed inside where I finished off the remainder of my soup. I couldn’t remember a time


    where I felt this happy, this at ease with what and who I was. That feeling onlysted so long as I


    realized I wouldn’t be showing up at the bakery today. I wondered what Beth might think, and hoped


    Alec and Kade would let me visit her onest time.


    I grew more and more nervous as the minutes ticked by. As a hard knock sounded on the front door, I


    was on my feet in an instant. Their scents hit my nose within seconds, nearly sending me to my knees.


    ‘They’re here.’ Thalia murmured joyously, ‘They’re actually here.’


    “She’s here, Alpha’s.” Sage responded with a kind tone. “You maye inside.”


    Their footsteps echoed through the house, and for a moment, I wondered if the soup I ate would make


    an appearance. Just as I contemted fleeing through the backdoor, Alec and Kade stepped into the


    room.