Sins Among Royals

Blackwood castle was filled to the brim with the laughter and joy as the two families reunited with their daughters.

By mid afternoon everyone had settled in the expansive patio overlooking the grounds. “Would anyone care for afternoon tea?” Noah asked the group quickly.

Leo stood from his seat and motioned towards Noah, “Let me help you mate,” he offered eagerly. The two men had long been sitting with the families awkwardly and in silence. Leo had only received glaring, scathing looks from Kade, Poppy’s older brother.

“We shall return soon,” Noah smiled gently as they excused themselves quickly.

“Noah!” Rita called quickly before they disappeared. “Why don’t you invite your parents to join us? It would be good to meet them.”

Immediately the families noticed the change in mood as Noah’s face grew more serious. His jaw grew tense and his brow furrowed, “Unfortunately they will not be joining us.” He turned quickly from the group and continued on his way. He didn’t want to dwell on the thought that his mother was dead, he had much to do and much to focus on in the coming days. He couldn’t let sorrow overcome him. He would mourn her death when the time was right.

Indie watched as the two disappeared before turning to her mother with a stern look, “She died suddenly the other night.” Thinking back to the events and what she saw Indie knew it was something that would stick with them a for a very long time. A frown crossed her features as anger bubbled within her. She still hadn’t spoken to Noah about his brazen shooting of Medea.

“Oh,” Rita responded quickly. “That’s the saddest thing. I was really looking forward to meeting her.” Rita responded rather glumly. “What about his father? Will he not join us?”

“Mom!” Hunter almost yelled at his mother’s selfishness, “his mate just died why would he want to do anything? He’s probably locked himself away suffering in silence. You can’t expect anything of him.” Everyone was surprised at the tone of voice Hunter took with his mother. None more so than Indie who couldn’t help but smirk. Her brother had grown up more in her absence.

“Well fine! Don’t get snippy at me son.” Rita responded with a growl. “Your brother is just grumpy because he finally found his mate and it isn’t who he hoped it would be.”

The tension in her family was surprising and she found herself wondering if it had always been that way. “Oh Hunter that’s great!” Indie couldn’t help but be happy for him but Hunter looked anything but happy. “Isn’t it great?” She asked looking from her brother to her mother and back again.

“It’s Madeline,” Hunter gritted his teeth and ground his jaw. Since finding her she had treated him no better than a servant.

A fierce growl tore through Indies throat, “Is she coming to the ceremony?” She demanded quickly and knew she would have many choice words for the clueless Alpha’s daughter.

Hunter rolled his eyes and nodded his head, “she thinks she’s going to get her own pack.” At that revelation everyone but Kade broke out in a fit of giggles and even Hunters seriousness was broken.

“If it makes you feel any better Noah was pretty much the male version of Madeline.” Both Indie and Poppy laughed at that and Indie shook her head. She was sure Noah had been worse than Madeline at one point or another.

“But?” Hunter asked as he sat up in his seat quickly.

“I don’t know.....” Indie trailed off quickly, “He just changed suddenly.” She didn’t question his change in attitude, she didn’t Waltham to revert back to the Noah at Craggy Bluff. “He brought me an apartment building,” Indie added with a grin, “so if you ever want to move here Hunter so you can train with the guards and so I can break Madeline there’s a free apartment.” Indie finished with a wink.

Indie wanted her family close, but she had a feeling her parents wanted to stay in the Aspen and Stoneden area.

“So Indie,” Kade interrupted quickly. “What’s this ceremony that’s happening?” he seemed genuinely curious about it as he leaned against the table. Indie observed him and felt there was something more to his question. She didn’t know what made her think so but she had a sudden feeling that Kade had changed in some way.

“It’s a mating ceremony Kade, I already told you!” Poppy interrupted Indie before she even started speaking. “It’s where me and Leo get to claim each other.” She responded rather annoyed. It wasn’t just Indie that had noticed a change in Kade. Poppy hadn’t seen her brother in years, her parents told her that he was having trouble coping with what she had become, so he went to live with an aunt and uncle who had another son his age. Contact between the siblings had been minimal and Poppy found that many of her letters to her brother had gone unanswered. Her parents always making excuses for him.

“Claim?” Kade sneered at his sister, “what the hell does that even mean? You belong to him like a prize or something?” It was obvious to a gathered that he was having trouble understanding it and he had never made a real effort to learn before.

“No!” Poppy fired back as she stood angrily from her seat and pounded her fist against the table. “It means we seal our bond in a way that makes it unbreakable, it means that we unite as one and will be together for there’s of our natural born lives!” The tone of her voice grew higher till it almost came out as a shriek. “It’s the equivalent of marriage. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that!” She crossed her arms and pouted heavily. Why was he acting dumb?

Before long Noah and Leo rejoined the group and they brought with them many tasty treats. Amber and Wade accompanied the Alpha and his third in command. Placing the trays down Wade and Kade locked eyes and in an instant Indie knew something was wrong.

Kade grinned maliciously and Wade tensed up. His shoulders bunching, his jaw tightening. He looked as though he was getting ready to shift.

Before he could do anything he turned to Noah and bowed stifle, “may I be excused Master?” Noah barely gave him a nod before Wade took off walking at the speed of light towards the castle. Amber quickly followed him. She seemed concerned and a little annoyed.

“Such a shame they can’t stay and join us for a while,” Kade smirked as his word rolled off his tongue like water.

Everyone noticed the immediate change in Wade and Kade but no one queried it. Indie and Noah made a note to ask Wade later, when no one was around.

Soon all tension was forgotten as everyone began eating and drinking merrily. The families got to know Noah and Leo and things seemed to be going well. Indie couldn’t help feeling unsafe in Kade’s presence. Poppy stood from her seat and clapped her hands together, “can I show them to their rooms Indie?” Poppy asked excitedly. She couldn’t wait to show them the inside of the castle.

Indie laughed and nodded her head, “you don’t have to ask Pop, just go and show them.” With that Poppy rushed her mother, father and brother from their seats and through the castle leaving the rest of those with many questions.

“Anyone else got a feeling Kade is hiding something?” Leo asked with a frown.

“I don’t think it’s a good something either,” Rita offered. “His parents always told me he was at university whenever I’d query his whereabouts.” Rita grew serious for a moment as she thought about it more. “I don’t think a university degree takes seven years to complete.”

Hunter broke out in a fit of giggles, “for someone as dense as him it’d probably take longer.”

“So rude Hunter!” Rita scolded him quickly.

“I’ll have someone keep an eye on him,” Noah smiled. “If you’ll excuse me I need to find Wade, I would like to know exactly why he dislikes our guest.”

Indie stood from her seat, “I’m coming!” She demanded quickly. “Leo, can you show my family to their rooms?” She gave him a sympathetic look, “I’ll make it up to you later... I’ll share my ice cream!” She smiled happily. “No actually maybe I’ll just give you chocolate.”

To her surprise Leo laughed and shook his head, “I’ll show them to their rooms. No big deal.” He stood from his seat and urged their four guests to follow.

The three males followed without hesitation as Chase ran ahead yelling and hollering. He seemed a little excited.

“Actually I might come with you too if that’s alright?” Rita asked hopefully.

Noah smiled, “I actually have something I would like you to cast your eye over.” Hunter and his father stopped and lingered, waiting to be asked to join.

Rita smiled at her husband and son and waved them off, “I’ll catch up with you boys later. Maybe we can go explore the town?” Hunter smiled as they quickly disappeared off into the castle leaving just Noah, Indie and Rita standing around the table. “So what did you want me to look at?” Rita asked curiously.

Noah and Indie looked at each other before Indie nodded once. “I have this book I’m having a bit of trouble reading but Indie tells me that you might be able to help.”

Handing the book to her Rita laughed, “Oh I thought you might want help setting things up for the ceremony. Nevertire I will help where I can!” Flipping through the first couple of pages Rita slammed the book closed and paled instantly. “What makes you think I can read this?” She hissed as she placed it down on the table.

“Well your reaction confirms that you can,” Noah grinned in response.

“Mom I remember the letters you had, you growled me and Poppy so bad we’re still recovering from the burn. We really need someone to translate it, we’re all in trouble if you can’t.”

At her daughter’s words Rita sat back in her seat and sunk, she hadn’t been expecting this at all.

With a heavy sigh Rita took the book in her hands and opened it, “no use trying to keep it secret now.” She muttered quickly as she began reading symbol for symbol. The ancient language almost fluent to her.

“How is it that you can read so well?” Noah asked curiously. She flicked through the pages quickly as her eyes followed each sentence perfectly.

“Your great great grandfather taught me.” She began hesitantly. “His father was Alpha of Aspen once upon a time,” she confirmed Indies suspicions.

“What happened? Why is the Thornton family there instead?” Indie responded with more questions. The thought had been nagging at her for so many days and it frustrated her that she didn’t know her own family’s history.

“Well,” Rita began as she closed the book. “great great grandfather Hugh was the son of the first Alpha of Aspen and Stoneden, his name was Nathaniel.” she took a breath before continuing. She had been keeping the secret for so long that she wasn’t sure Indie would believe what she was about to say. “Nathaniel handed the control of the pack over to the Thornton’s because he was killed and turned into a vampire.”

Much to Rita’s complete surprise Indie didn’t react the way she thought she would. “I wonder if Andrew knows him. Is he still alive?” She asked her mother who was gobsmacked.

“I just told you your ancestor is a vampire and you aren’t alarmed that vampires exist?” Rita asked completely taken aback.

Noah chuckled, “There’s a vampire in the dungeons, he guards the prison cells and has taken quite a liking to Indie.”

Rita sat in awe of it all. “I think I need a stiff vodka,” she had long thought that Nathaniel was the only one left. He had written to her many times and told her so.

“Does dad know about this?” Indie asked quickly. After all it was his family heritage but he seemed completely clueless.

“Oh yes, of course he knows. He thinks it’s a load of garbage though. He doesn’t believe in vampires.” Rita shook her head and frowned. Much of his family past was lost and there weren’t many accounts left of the Jones family once being the Alpha family.

“Were you able to read it though Mom? It’s kind of important.” Indie pressed impatiently.

With a slight jump Rita pulled the cover of the book.open again, “Oh yes I can read it! Whoever wrote this is an extremely angry person j tell you!” She smiled as she continued reading. “Most of it is garbage about hating your family Noah and wishing harm to you and them.” Following the words with her finger the colour again drained from Rita’s face, “Oh my.” She mumbled.

“What?!” Indie shrieked as she moved to stand at her mother’s side.

“Whoever wrote this wants to kill you sweetie.” Rita looked up from the book and saw an intense burning anger in Noah’s eyes.

“She won’t be harmed if the person that wrote that book dies first.” Noah growled darkly. How dare his sister threaten his mate’s life. Was there nothing she wouldn’t do.

“And who wrote it?” Rita asked as Noah turned and began stalking away. Furious and ready to put his sister where she belonged. Six feet under.

“It was his sister. It was Ebony.” Indie heard her mother gasp. What kind of hellish place had she let her daughter come to?