SWNOVELS Chapter 28 –
Cara's POV
I was a little worried about opening the envelope. It was addressed to me, but it had been spelled. I guess that was why it hadn't been opened before. It still had a wax seal on it, and I knew it had to be from my mother as it had an S imprinted in the wax. I was wondering how long it had been in my father's safe. I was glad that I had something from my mother, but I was nervous to open it.
The moment I opened the letter, I could tell my life would change completely. I didn't know how to feel about that. I wanted to know what my mother had sent me. I also wanted to know how long my father had kept this letter from me. I am saddened to know he didn't give it to me after I turned eighteen. He told me how much I had disappointed him the day I didn't receive my wolf. In his eyes, I was his greatest shame.It hurt me deeply to know that something that was completely out of my control was why he was so disappointed in me. Each and every time he chose to compliment my sisters on their wolves, it cut deep. He had nothing nice to say to me after he knew I didn't have a wolf. He fell in love with a witch and knew I would be a hybrid. This whole situation was not my fault, and yet I have suffered for the sins of my father all these years.
He was the one who fell in love with her. He was the one who courted and pursued her until she finally gave in to his assurance that they would be together forever."Attention! This chapter belongs to oɓ.. If you're seeing this elsewhere, you've found a copycat. For fresh, authentic content, come to obb. directly. We appreciate your support and know our true fans will enjoy the original content with us." Apparently forever for my father was until he met his true mate. I was the daily reminder he didn't wait for his mate. The reminder was that he had found someone he wanted and stopped looking for his mate. Nothing in what happened was under my control, but I was the one who suffered because of it.
I think the real reason that my father was so angry about me not being a wolf was the luck of being a hybrid. It was rumored that sometimes the child got the strengths of the more powerful one in the couple. That meant the whole pack knew that my mother was more powerful than he was. I knew his pride took it hard, that was why he wrote me off that day. My heart still hurts at seeing the disappointment in his eyes when he said, "I should have let you leave with your mother."
I am through accepting scraps of affection. I have done that my whole life. That pack had hurt me from the moment I could understand that, in their eyes, I was not acceptable. That since I wasn't a wolf. I shouldn't be in their pack. That my sisters were better than me because their mother was a wolf and not a filthy witch. I was done with people who could not accept me for who I was. I knew I wanted to be stronger, and I knew in my heart that opening the letter was my first step toward becoming stronger.
"Cara, we have a witch that lives in our pack. She might be able to help you out. It couldn't hurt to ask her to help you to learn about your heritage and background. Alexei and some of his people found her being attacked by rogue vampires. There was an old rumor that drinking from a witch could give you some of their power. It wasn't true, but vampires are very leery of witches as witches are usually stronger than they are. She appreciated Alexei rescuing her, but she was too scared to live in his coven after that, so she lives here," Raven stated. I looked at Alexei, wondering what his opinion would be of me if I got powers. He must have misread the expression on my face.
"Some of the rogues in the group that chased her were also rescued and allowed to stay and live in the coven. Not all of the group was bad; it was just the two main leaders of the group. They had sired some of the fledglings. That is what we call it when you turn someone into a vampire. I can understand why she would not want to live there with them. They had chased her for days, but there have been no issues with the three we took in," Alexei told me.
"I was just wondering if you will have a problem with me being your mate because I am a witch. Raven just said that vampires have issues with witches. I don't want to cause issues in your coven, especially if they have preconceived opinions about witches," I replied. "It wouldn't matter if they did. My team will not have a problem or issue with you. Not at all. They were happy that I had found my mate, and they still hope they will meet their mates soon. There will only be one who might have an issue. One of the fledglings that we took in. She took an instant liking to me, which I did not encourage. I am not interested in her, but she has been here for the last three years and still flirts with me whenever she sees me. I have her on night patrol and try to avoid her as much as possible. I hope you will allow me to turn you one day so that we can live out our days together. It will also keep you safer around her. I have not announced it to the whole coven yet. I wanted to keep you safe. I also didn't know if you would accept a vampire as your mate," Alexei assured me.
He was almost whispering when he got to the last sentence. I could tell that he was worried about my answer. I hadn't really given him one before, but knowing that he went out there and did a number on Clay told me what I needed to know about him. He was my protector. He seemed to already care about me, and I would be a liar if I didn't admit that I was also drawn to him as well.
"I do feel a pull towards you, Alexei, from the moment I woke up and saw you here with me. I don't know what it will entail to become a vampire, but let's see how things go. I don't want to rush into anything just yet. I just arrived yesterday, and we haven't even known each other a day yet. I can tell you that I have never been more connected to anyone before. So, I have to assume we are meant to be together. It is not an accident that we ended up here at Black Adder. I have to assume forces beyond our control wanted us to arrive here. There had to be a purpose for Ivan's visions. Just give me a little while to learn more about becoming a vampire. I believe Cheryl can help me with that," I answered.
I watched as he let out the breath he was holding. He had been scared that I was not going to accept him. That let me know that his feelings for me were very serious. I felt his hand squeeze mine, making my heart beat faster. I got the feeling from him that no matter what, he would always support me, even against his own coven members.
I knew in the back of my head that the girl he had mentioned would probably be a problem for me. She had probably been chasing him for a while now, and she would not like me just showing up and taking him away from her. Even if that was not what was happening here. I am almost positive that is how she is going to see it. I really don't want to have to deal with her. But it would be worth it to have a man who loves me, all of me, even the parts I don't love myself. His love for me shines in his eyes, and he is happy to have found me. "I would like to speak to the witch, Raven. I want to get my training started as soon as possible. I don't want to be a sitting duck for my competition for Alexei's heart," I announced.
"There is no competition for my heart. It is already yours. I belonged to you before you even arrived. I have no interest in her at all. It is only you that I want. You can believe me when I tell you that. You are my present and my future, Cara. I have never looked forward to what the future might hold for me so much in my life. You have made my life worth living, and I can't give you up. Your happiness is what matters to me most. You can't even begin to imagine what you mean to me, but I hope you will one day," Alexei told me.
Alexei had me tearing up as emotions that I thought I had bottled up came back to the surface with a vengeance. I never thought that I would have someone to profess to me like that. I was admired for my looks, but it was never acceptable for any of the wolves in Kamaria to claim me. They would have been bullied, too, if they had decided to do that. According to them, I was the pack member who never should have existed. I opened the letter to avoid anyone noticing the embarrassing tears falling down my face. I wanted to read what my mother had sent me. I hoped it would clear up a few things.
My Dearest Daughter,
I am so sorry to have to leave you behind but know that I never wanted to. I loved you from the moment you arrived, my precious girl. I knew that you were never going to have a wolf. I sensed your power from the moment you were born. I knew you would someday be a powerful witch. I bound your powers to keep you safe. You were safer with the pack, assuming that you were not a threat to them.
Just know that I never wanted to leave you there. Your father refused to listen to or believe me when I told him you would not be a wolf. His pride was hurt that I would not just stay behind for him when he still wanted me. He wanted me to return to my cottage. So he could control me, which was the primary reason he wanted to keep you. He took what was most precious to me away. He vowed to hunt us both down and kill us if I took you with me when I left. I did what I did to protect you, Cara.
I hope he treated you well, but I doubt that is what happened. I know your father very well. I lived in that pack for over two years. I was an outcast, treated like a pariah. I had daily reminders that I would never be accepted in his pack. He broke my heart to pieces the day he came home with his true mate. Taking you away from me made sure that it could never be put back together. I can only pray that your father will give you this letter. It will alert me the moment you open it, as it is spelled. If I am still alive, I will be with you very soon. Your loving Mother,
SaoirseWell, damn, I didn't see that coming.