Her Missing Pieces, His Teasure

"I knew it!"

"Incoming" I squealed as I braced for impact as Jody launched herself at me. I had to gasp for air as she squeezed the life from me.

"I knew you were a Conley! I just knew it!" She beamed as she pulled away to gaze at me.

The smile that lit her face had me so excited. I was as happy as her to know that we were related. If only we could've been sisters. But cousins were close enough.

"It's Boysen and always will be. But I am proud to be a part of this family" I admitted. I knew I'd never disregard my birth-name. I didn't want to. If my dad saw that he needed to take that name, then I wont change it. I'm his daughter after all.

All the questions were still hanging over my head about what happened to him, and I really really wanted to learn what it was because I wanted to go home. I missed my mate too much. I called him again and filled him in about what I learnt. I couldn't wait until I was home to tell him more.

As expected, he was exhilarated. I loved how supportive he was. He didn't feel threatened by me or anything. Even though it took a while for him to fully grasp the pureblood thing, he eventually did and admired it.

Luckily for me, Jody already knew the story. So all I had to tell her was that I was related to her. That meant Emma and Alex's daughter was my cousin too. What a small world.

"We can tell everyone that we're sisters! And you can live here too. Well we'll have to train you into a British accent but-"

"Um Jody" I cut her off with a chuckle. She was getting a bit carried away. "I have a mate back home."

She slouched. "Oh right" She pouted as I rubbed her back. "Well we can make it work long distance then"

"Haven't we been doing that all along?" I pointed out. This wasn't anything new.

"You're right. I'm just a bit excited that's all"

"I know" I chuckled as her tummy made a howl of desperation. We both giggled at that, seeing that I went straight to her room to wake her after talking to Niall.

"I'm going to go get breakfast. Coming?"

I shook my head. "I already ate. I'll see you later"

I gave her a quick hug as I left her room. Niall was busy, so I didn't want to call him again. I walked passed Asia's room, deciding that it could be nice to fill her in. However, she sounded a bit...busy.

I quickly made my way down the hall as I roamed the house yet again. It was a huge one after all. I then decided that I'd go on the third floor. I never really went up there as a child, simply because everyone stayed on the first two stories of the house.

However, seeing that I had nothing else to do just yet, I let my curiosity get the best of me. Slowly, I mounted the stairs at the end of the hall that led to the third floor. I walked passed numerous rooms as I gazed at portraits neatly placed on the walls.

I recognized a few of them being the former Alpha of Emerald Pack, Beta Edward, who's my uncle, and the former Gamma too.

Across from them were three females who I recognized as their mates. I smiled at the pictures as I walked further down and gazed at different portraits, some of people I didn't recognize.

But then my eyes caught a certain one and my heart stopped. I just knew it was him. It had to be.

Even though I had a lot of my mom's features, I only thought I resembled her because I've never seen a picture of my dad, and I was too young when he died to remember how he looked. But as I gazed at the picture, I knew I've seen this man before. Who else could it be but my dad?

My eyes watered at the very image. His features were easy as he gazed at the person who was taking the picture. But as I eyed it longer, I realized that it didn't seem like he was staring at the camera at all. The angle of his eyes suggested that his gaze was fixated at something close by the camera. Someone maybe?

He looked so happy despite the fact that he was not sporting a full smile. I suddenly had the urge to ask Ty for the picture, or better yet, paint a portrait of my own from the picture.

I reached out to brush my finger over the image, and I even avoided the dust that attached themselves to my fingertips. My lips curled into a smile as a single tear rolled down my cheek. For some this was minor, but for me it was a milestone. Especially after what I learnt this morning.

It was heart-warming.

"Hi dad" I greeted softly, seeing him for the first time. If only I had known him. He looked like such a great person.

Beside his picture sat a door, and I felt like I needed to enter it. I frowned when I realized that it was locked. I turned the handle harshly, not knowing my own strength as it broke under the sudden impact.

The scent in the room when I pushed through was too faint to recognize, indicating that it hadn't been used in years, probably over a decade. But the moment I walked further into the room, I knew whose it was exactly.

More pictures like the one I had just finished ogling filled the walls, this time capturing his radiant smile.

His smile.

I had his smile.

A happy sob-like laugh escaped my lips as my heart warmed at the familiarity in the room. I proceeded to look at each of them specifically, and I noticed that most of them had a woman in them.

His mate.

She was beautiful. Gorgeous. It was obvious that they made each other happy. They looked pretty young too in each picture. They didn't look a day over twenty-five, and it was obvious that they were madly in love.

Could Edward be right? Did he really run away after she died? Now looking at the pictures, I began to consider it. He was young after all.

Maybe after years of being a rogue and growing, he became a different man--stronger and wiser before he met my mom. Because the stories my mom told me about him didn't describe a man who would've ran away from home and become a rogue. Then again, I didn't know him at this age, so it was a possibility.

Besides, what motive would Edward have to lie? As wolves, we all know how hard losing a mate can be. Even Luka went through a long depressive state before he met Victoria. Ty had to take over Brightwater Pack for him because he became unfit to lead. So grief leading a man to run away wasn't far fetched.

I frowned as I sat on his bed. It was obvious that no one had been here in years. There were cobwebs in the ceilings and dust everywhere. There was also a vase shattered near a door across the room. Maybe someone came in here and broke it, or it was shattered by my dad before he left.

I made my way over to the vase, seeing that it now peaked my interest. Just like everything else, it was dusty. So whoever broke it didn't do it recently. I rose to my feet as I eyed the door it was broken in front of.

Oddly, there were no desks or tables near the door; a broken vase directly in front of the door seemed odd. Even the angle of the door from the bed didn't make sense. If it is that he sat on the bed and threw if from there, the door was in no range for the vase to be thrown at.

Maybe it was my overthinking nature, but it felt odd.

In addition, the vase had no flowers in it on the ground. No one has an empty vase lying around in their room. Right?

It was as if he purposely took the flowers from the vase, brought it to this door and broke it. But, why? It didn't make sense.

However, my intuition was confirmed when I spotted a bunch of flowers sitting on a desk near the window at the other end of the room. The place where the flowers sat seemed like a perfect place for a vase to be positioned. Plus, the desk was in no throwing range to the door either.

That did it. He purposely broke this vase in front of this door. I made no hesitation in opening it, and I was met with a library.

A library attached to a bedroom. Either my dad or his mate was a reader.

I stepped further into the room slowly as I eyed everything, looking for any hint of a message. After the whole vase thing, I knew that it was a message. I had a gut feeling.

The library was small, but it had a lot of books. I didn't think that whatever he left was inside a book. That would've taken days to find. And then again, who was he leaving a message for?

The questions made my head pound as I eyed everything in concentration.

But then I saw it.

I saw what I was looking for.

Everything in the small library was neatly positioned, not a book out of place. But in the corner sat a shelf with a section that had nothing but encyclopedias. However, stuffed between a book was a small book--a novel maybe.

It could've been overlooked by anyone, but since I was so observant, I didn't miss it.

I retrieved the novel in anticipation as I quickly brushed the dust from it. The novel looked used, as if it was read numerous times. A favourite, maybe?

'30 Days As A Substitute Prince' The title was huge and bold on the cover, and I found myself skimming through the book for notes or anything, but I stopped when something caught my eyes.

Reagan Boysen.

The name. It was the name of the male protagonist of the book.

I skipped through it even more seeing that indeed, it was the name of the male lead. My dad's favourite book. It must've been. Why else would he take the name of the male protagonist?

Knowing for sure that it was his doing, I eagerly shook the book to see if there was a note hid between its pages. I yipped in delight when I saw a hint of white hitting the ground after a few shakes. I quickly unraveled it, seeing handwriting I recognized from a certain letter I read on my 18th birthday.

~~~

If someone is reading this, it means the moon heard my prayer, recognized my endless nights of grief and agony and hearkened to my will.

I don't know who you are, but you were sent by her to set things straight, since I couldn't even after trying desperately so many times.

Hopefully, whoever saw my sign at the door and realized that this book was misplaced wasn't the wrong person. Edward, if you're the one reading this letter, then I regret ever writing it. But I know someone will reveal the truth one day.

However, if you are not my conniving brother, please believe everything that I say, as no one ever did.

My brother, Edward, killed my mate when our father stepped down to give me the Beta position. He was so driven by power that he wanted my birthright. I told him no on many occasions, and I told him that I am the one to be Beta, and he grew jealous. So in order for him to get my place, he murdered her. As I write this I am in tears because it is my last resort.

Edward and I were the only one who knew how allergic she was to tree-nuts. It was a very unnatural thing for a wolf, but it was real.

She had a reaction after he made her breakfast one morning, because they were always the first to rise at mornings. I found her in the kitchen gasping for air and it was too late when I brought her to the hospital.

He knew I'd be too drowned on grief to take my position as Beta, and he was right.

What made it worse, was that no one believed me. They acknowledged that she died from the reaction, but when I told everyone that he did it, they'd say I was suffering from a broken heart and trying to shed my grief by accusing Edward.

He convinced EVERYONE that I was simply too unstable from the loss of my mate, and I was going crazy.

'Why would I ever kill my own brother's mate? I adored Julia' he would say all the time. And he was right, he did adore her, which made it harder for me to convince them.

But he adored the title even more. She told me in her last breath that it hadn't been her mistake, but Edward was the one who made them breakfast that morning. It was when she had taken a couple bites she realized that he had blended walnuts in her shake and sprinkles grains in her pancakes.

I have no solid proof, and so I could never convince anyone. I was only the crazy brother who went mad after losing his mate. As wolves, we know too well that it isn't unlikely. But I'm not crazy. I am only grieving, heartbroken and betrayed.

My brother killed my mate to get my spot, and he did.

But I cant stay here. I cant look at him everyday knowing what he did. I cant stay here knowing that no one ever believed me, even my own parents. And so, I cried to the moon last night and asked her for justice. Justice for Julia.

It will come in the name of love.

So, whoever you are, thank you for finding this letter. I will probably be across the world by the time someone sees this. And if it's mom, dad, anyone from Emerald Pack, please believe me. I'm not crazy and driven by grief to accuse my brother of such a thing. It happened. He even came to my room last night to gloat about getting my position, and that if he knew Julia would do the trick, he would've eliminated her from the minute I found her.

I couldn't believe that this was a man I called a brother. He is no brother. If he indeed rules as Beta for years, I hope he's a good one-- for the sake of the Pack.

But as for me, I will not stand by and watch him for the rest of my life.

So after a long night of weeping, I made my decision. I will leave today. I don't know where I am going, but I hope good places with healing.

This is Kavan Conley. I was the rightful heir of the Beta position at Emerald Pack, but my younger brother stole it from me.

No one believed me when I tried to tell the truth, they thought I was crazy. Maybe my running away will confirm their beliefs even more. But you, whoever you are, the fact that you found this letter meant you were suppose to. I need you to set it straight. Even if it's generation later, I ask this of you:

Tell my story, bring truth to the wolves of Emerald Pack, even if they don't know me. Because that will bring justice for my Julia.

I will never return to Emerald Pack, nor will no one ever know where I'm truly from. I will change my name and lead a new life. But I hope that one day, wherever I am, I will hear news abroad that justice was indeed gained for Julia.

If you cannot do this, I understand. Someone else will. But if you will do this for me, the moon surely blesses you.

-Kavan

~~~

My fresh tears stained the paper as my heart broke in a thousand pieces. The dried runny ink here and there on the paper told me that my dad was in tears when he wrote this letter too.

My heart broke for him knowing what he went through. My heart broke knowing what Edward-- his brother-- did to him for power. My heart broke knowing that he didn't live to see the day when justice would be made for Julia.

I'm sure he had hoped that he would be in America, and hear that a big revelation of the lost son's mate had been brought to light.

Well he didn't live to say that day. And that hurt.

But I will grant his wish. I will bring justice for his lost mate, and I will set his legacy right. The people of Emerald pack shouldn't see him as a weak, crazy man who lost his mate and ran away in grief. No, they will know the truth.

I will tell the truth.

"What are you doing here?"

I yelped in surprise as I spun on my heels. My eyes widened when I saw the one person who didn't want to see, standing in front of me.

Edward.

I quickly shoved the note in my pocket, since I knew he was nothing but a lying, sneaky villain. However my movements were caught by his eyes, and he saw that I had a paper. His eyes narrowed at the book that I held in my hand, as he took slow threatening steps towards me.

"This is Kavan's room" He said slowly before pointing at my book. "And that is his favourite book"

"It's-it's mine too" I lied. "I love 30 Days .." I trailed as I glanced at the book's title quickly, since I forgot it. "As A Substitute Prince"

However, he saw straight through my lie as he inched closer towards me. His friendly demeanour that I grew up knowing was no where to be found. His eyes were threatening and cold as he backed me against a shelf.

"I've never been in here since the day that brother of mine left. No one has. So why have you? He sent you here didn't you?"

"No he died when I was little. I don't remember him. He didn't leave any messages for me to come here" I snapped as I tried to get away, but he held me against the shelf.

"So why did you come here? I knew after telling you that story, that you would've been snooping around. You had that same look in your eyes that Kavan had when he was determined. I didn't want you to go snooping around and see something you shouldn't have." I pushed at him put he still held me put. "Like this!" He exclaimed at me grabbed the note that I pushed in my pocket.

I tried desperately to get it back from him, but he managed to keep me down with one hand as he held the letter with the other.

Wasn't this the same man who was talking about not being 'as strong as he used to', this morning?

I guess it was the rush of adrenaline, because even with my strength I couldn't get away.

He didn't read it all, but he skimmed through it quickly as far as I could see. "Why aren't I surprised that this have been here for over two decades, and you were the one who ended up finding it? You are his daughter after all. The only one who would've recognized his clever little clues."

"Give that back to me you monster" I spat as I reached for the letter, but instead he dropped it to the floor and wrapped both his calloused hands around my neck.

He lifted me from my feet as he aqueezed my neck, stopping air from reaching my lungs. I writhed and kicked at him so hard, but all he did was wince and held me put. I scratched at his face, I even emerged my claws and sank them into his face, but he was determined about killing me.

"I'm sorry Zoey. I really was looking forward to know you as my niece. You were my shot at redemption with my brother. But I cant have you ruining me and my kids."

My eyes began to droop as my head grew light. I couldn't believe it would end like this. My dad didn't get his happy ending. I didn't get my happy ending.

My mate. Gosh Niall will be so broken. He'll blame himself for not coming with me and-

My fuzzy thoughts were cut off when the man's hands fell from around my neck. I blinked rapidly as I went in a coughing fit, and as my eyes focused, I saw Edward lying on the ground unconscious. I then lifted my gaze to Asia who had wide eyes and a huge ass book in her hands.

I recovered from my coughing and I couldn't help but throw myself at her in a hug.

"What just happened?" She asked, seeming still shocked from the man she just saved me from.

I took a breath of air as my throat still stung, but I was indeed happy to be alive.

"The truth happened Asia. The truth happened"

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Long chapter but I hope you read it! A lot being revealed. We have about four chapters to go guys! Sob

Zoeyand Niall mean so much to me.