“I apologise for my abruptness, my dear Isla. But you must understand. I knew nothing about you until you came here five years ago. My mate, she had you in secret and gave you to her best friend. She is not my sister, but we were close growing up. That is how I am classed as your uncle. Please know that I never wanted to keep this from you.” He took a breath. “I did what I felt was best. However now that it has become clear that you are mates with the Lycan king. The truth needed to be said.”
I listened to his words carefully, feeling a lot of calmers. Perhaps because I had Max with his arms wrapped tightly around me. I did not want him to let go of me.
My mind was a mess.
Then I remembered my best friends’ words.
My mother was not dead. She was alive.
I felt so frustrated at that moment.
All these lies.
“What about my mother. I know that she is not dead. Why is this being kept from me?” I seethed pushing max away from me and standing up to face Ed.
His eyes widened in shock.
That confirmed my thoughts.
Zara had been right.
She was alive.
Where was she and why was I being lied to?
“What do you mean your mother is alive? What is this nonsense and why is my mate being kept in the dark. Explain yourself.” Max leapt you and stood just inches from Ed’s face.
Max was bigger than Ed and the growls coming from him sent a shiver down my spine.
Ed looked ashamed of himself and lowered his gaze to the ground. I felt a lump in my throat as I watched.
“It is ok. I am not mad. I just need to see her and know why. Why this has happened. If you are really my father, then I have a right to know everything.” I said causing them both to look at me.
Ed gave me a slight smile of appreciation since it was clear that my mate was not about to let this go and was ready to lose his shit over it.
Of course, it hurt me to know that my whole life was one big lie.
The what ifs and how my life might have turned out if I had never been given away or lied to.
My real father was an alpha.
That would fully explain why I was so strong.
This was just crazy; I pinched myself to ensure that I was not actually dreaming. In a moment I would wake up in my own bed back at Pembroke and this would all be a dream.
Nope.
Still here.
It was all very much real.
“What do you want to do, Isla?” My mate reached out to hold my hand and stroked it affectionately whilst looking at me with his big, dreamy eyes.
I could barely contain myself when I knew that his eyes were on me.
“I want to see her. She has a lot of explaining to do. Can I see her, please?” I snapped my eyes to Ed, and he hesitated for a moment. Looking at Max then back to me. He slowly gave a nod and led me out the room.
“It is ok, Isla. You go ahead. I will be waiting here for you.” Max assured me and I nodded as he gestured me to go on without him.
After a few moments we were outside and about to go into the forest. Ed stole a look my way to make sure that I was following.
“Where are we going?” I said out loud, not sure that I was going to like the answer.
“The hut.” He replied.
Why would we be going out here.
“Is she out here?” I asked in surprise.
Ed turned to me and nodded that she was.
He pointed ahead at the old wooden hut that I had totally forgotten existed.
“In there?” I stuck my nose up in disgust. That old place was barely good enough for an enemy let alone the one who I had grown up believing to be my own mother.
“Why is she there?” I tugged at his sleeve forcing him to stop and turn to me.
“Your father, he knew nothing about this until recently. That is why he went back to Pembroke. He wanted to kill her for lying to him. She called for help from my beta, and he bought her here. I needed to keep her away from everyone until I figured out my next move.” He explained and I gasped.
Standing at the door of the hut, she was staring right at me with a sad look on her exhausted face.
“Isla.” She held her arms out to me and started to cry. I swallowed and turned back to Ed. He shrugged his shoulders, and I slowly made my way over to her.
“Oh, my child, I am so sorry for all of this. I never wanted to lie to you, but I knew that you would be my little girl, always. Please forgive me.” She sobbed into my shoulders as she pulled me closer to her. I stood speechless, not sure what to do.
My mother was supposed to be dead. Everyone at Pembroke were certain she had died, and my sister had been devastated. It had not hit me so hard but seeing her standing in front of me made me feel sick.
I had been lied to and I could not just forget about all of that.
How could they do this to me?
“He will kill me if he finds out I’m still breathing.” She whispered in my ear, and I shuddered at the thought of that.
I needed time to process this.
Freeing myself from her grip, I turned on my heel and ran into the forest.
Ignoring their frantic calls after me, I kept going.
I did not stop.
Cleo was pushing to take control.
We were angry, hurt and confused about all of this. It was hard to trust or believe anything that they said anymore.