SWNOVELS Chapter 37
I find myself under a large black wolf, dropping slobber on my face as it bares its teeth. I hold him
back by gripping the inner corners of its mouth with my hands and I can hear Malachi shouting, but
I can't make out what he is saying. I see him shift out of the corner of my eye and I close my eyes to
take a deep breath when a familiar scent overwhelms me. Suddenly, I'm brought back to my
childhood memories. My eyes widened with shock.
Malachi is rushing to lunge at the black wolf and my heart stops. "MALACHI STOP!" I shout, looking into Malachi's eyes, shaking my head as tears flood my eyes. I look back to the wolf hovering over me and notice he's no longer aggressive and starts to back away from me, looking stunned. I bring myself off the ground and slowly step to the black wolf, stopping only inches away. He lays down to be eye level with me, staring at me in disbelief. Malachi stays in his wolf form in case he needs to attack.
I fall to my knees in front of the black wolf and grab the wolf's head, cradling it in my arms. "Daddy?" I ask in a whisper. “Chloe, is that you?" The black wolf's voice fills my head. "Yes," I answer while nodding my head. The wolf lays his head in my lap, and I hug him tightly. "Why are you a wolf and not dead, and how come you haven't shifted into human form?” I ask, breaking from the hug and looking confused. “Chloe, this is going to sound crazy, but your mother was a witch with great powers. Jealousy from the other witches in her coven caused them to seek revenge and cast a spell upon us to be wolves forever, so we faked our deaths and had no choice but to leave you girls behind” He explains through the mind link. "How can you fake your deaths if you are wolves?" I question, looking puzzled. “We found a pack that helped us with the accident,” He explains.
I look at Malachi, who is glancing between my father and me. "It's okay you can shift back," I tell him, and he does so. The black wolf turns his head to Malachi, letting out a growl. “Who is this? He has Alpha blood. I smell it,” my father asks, narrowing his eyes at Malachi. "This is my fiancé Malachi," I say, smiling in Malachi's direction. My father's wolf faces me again. “You're marrying an Alpha?” he asks in surprise. "Yes, daddy. He is my mate," I say, patting my father's wolf. "Daddy?!" Malachi says with a jealous growl. "Calm down, wolfman, this is my father, Benjamin,” I tell Malachi, patting the grass next to me for him to take a seat.
Malachi reluctantly takes a seat, still wary of my father, when I hear a crack of twigs behind us. Malachi stands again, ready to shift within seconds. I turn to see a brown wolf with lime green eyes stalking toward us. She looks identical to me. I put my hand on Malachi's forearm to calm him. "It's okay. She's my mother," I tell Malachi as I stand to move closer to her. My mother stops and stares suspiciously at me. "It's me, mom. It's Chloe,” I tell her, holding my hands up, letting her know I won't hurt her. The wolf's eyes dart around confused, then my father steps next to me, nodding his head. “Chloe? Oh my God," she says, walking to me.
She nudges her snout into me, and I hug her tight around her neck. “What are you doing with all these wolves? I know Amelia is one, but I never thought you knew,” My mother asks in my head. "I've known about Amelia since we were like eight, and these wolves are my pack, and I'm their Luna,” I say with pride, looking toward where the pack stands. “How are you the Luna? You are human?” she asks, glancing around at all the others. "I'm not human anymore, Mom. I changed a few days ago. I had to be turned because it was either that or die,” I explain, searching her wolf eyes, watching them water as if her wolf was crying.
My mother shakes her head in disbelief and regret. “You are part witch Chloe they don't mix well,” My mother says. "What do you mean they don't mix?" I ask frantically, wondering if I'm going to explode or something. “If you find your magic, it can make you too powerful and if you don't know how to use it, the consequences can be lethal,” She declares, staring at me. I sit, dragging my fingers through my hair, letting out a sigh.
Malachi rushes to my side, "Chloe, what's the matter?” He asks, pulling my chin up to face him. I stare at him for a moment before I answer. "I'm half which" 1 announce then look back down, grabbing a small rock and tossing it. "These are your parents? I thought they died when you were 13?" Malachi asks, puzzled. "So did I," I replied with a sigh. Malachi sits beside me and wraps his arm around me. When I look down, I see an all too familiar part of him staring at me and realize I forgot he shifted and is still naked. I can’t stop the laugh from escaping. "What?" He shrugs with a grin, following my gaze.
“Chloe, who is this man?” My mother asks, tilting her wolf head. I turn my attention back to her. "This is my fiancé. He is the Alpha of Aberdeen,” I tell her, grabbing Malachi's hand. “You are in love? He is good looking and has quit the package” Her wolf smiles. I laugh so hard that I fall back. "You're still as funny as I remember,” I say with a smile, then it fades as realization sets in as I remember that she let me believe she was dead this whole time.
I feel anger overtake the spot of happiness. "WAIT! How could you let me believe, since I was 13, that you were dead?! What about Marley? Do you know we have kids now? Did you ever even try to find us? What are you two even doing here?" I hiss, rattling off all my questions as I look expectantly at both my father and mother. “We had no other way to take care of you, Chloe. We couldn't shift in human form, so we talked to Amelia's family, and she took you in,” My mother explains. "So, Amelia's mom knew this whole time?!" I shout, getting to my feet, wracking my hands through my hair. “Yes, but I made her promise to never say anything to you,” She tells me as if that answers everything.
I take a step away from my mother as feelings of hurt overwhelm me. "You need to leave," I stutter, before turning around to walk back to the packhouse, wiping a tear that they don't deserve from my cheek. Malachi runs to catch up with me. “CHLOE?!” my mother shouts in my head. After taking a deep breath I turn around and face her. "I have nothing left to say to you," I say with sadness and continue to walk away.
I take a step onto the porch when I hear a howl echo in the air stopping me. I stayed there for a moment before looking at Malachi. He uses his thumb to wipe away my tears then pulls me into his embrace. "Luna, I'm sorry I can't imagine what is going through your head right now," He says, holding me even tighter. "I have spent most of my life thinking they died, only to find out they were here all along," I say, staring into space, feeling numb.