#4 Moonlight on the Water

Navy

“I don’t understand.” Harper, my aunt, looked at me with wide eyes. I couldn’t help but notice that she had my eyes, Cordelia’s eyes.

“Cordelia married her siren mate and had my father.” I answered in a small voice.

“She took another mate?” Henry seemed angry.

“Son, she had to leave me and both of you behind to save us. She had to create a new life for herself, she had nothing. I had the two of you and the pack, she was all alone.” Quinton explained softly, laying his hand on Henry’s back.

“I’m sorry, you’re right.” Henry nodded, looking at me apologetically.

“You look just like her.” Harper said, touching her neck. I noticed that she was wearing an oval shaped locket. I gasped and pulled a matching locket out from under my shirt. I unclasped the necklace and held it in my hand.

“Where did you get that?” Quinton asked, watching me.

“I found it where she hid it, in the old Luna quarters, along with a picture and a note. She left proof of what the Council did to Velvet Moon.” I explained.

“She had them made for Henry and Harper when they were each born.” Quinton said. I handed the necklace out towards Henry,

“You should have it, then.” I said. He eyed my hand with a smile,

“No, it found you and brought you to us.You keep it.” He pushed my hand away and I gasped at the spark left behind by his touch. It wasn’t anywhere close to what I felt when my mates touched me, but it was still electrifying.

“Are you two sirens?” I asked them, reclasping the necklace.

“Uhm, we don’t know.” Harper answered, looking at her brother,

“We’ve never tried.” Henry explained.

“I wanted them to when they were old enough, but they decided not to.” Quinton said.

“We were afraid. We didn’t have someone who could teach us, so we decided to just embrace our wolves.” Harper said.

“You both have wolves?” Knox surprised me by speaking, I had almost forgotten that they were there.

“Yes, we do.”

“I’m sorry, but, may I ask…..Henry, do you have the Alpha gene?” Knox asked. Henry looked at his dad who nodded,

“Yes, I do.”

“You’re wondering what will happen when you and your mate have children.” Quinton stated. I looked at Knox with wide eyes and he nodded, almost looking guilty.

“I don’t care what the answer is, Navy is my mate either way. I was just….curious.” Knox said, taking my hand and giving it a squeeze.

“It’s only natural.” Quinton shrugged,

“Coredlia’s pregnancies were the perfect blend of a werewolf and siren pregnancy. It lasted about 6 months and she couldn’t shift into a siren while she was pregnant. She sang a lot, almost uncontrollably, in the last trimester.” Quinton chuckled,

“Sang?” Navy asked.

“Yeah, I had to keep all other males away from her. She used the luring call.” He said and my eyes widened,

“Really?”

“She thought it was her mothering instincts trying to protect the baby.” Quinton said,

“We decided to wait until the babies were 13 to see if they could become sirens, the same age they would first reveal any wolf abilities. We thought it was only fair to find out what genes they had at the same time.” He added.

“Is she…is our mother still….alive?” Harper asked quietly. I smiled,

“She is. Her husband died a few years ago.” I said. Harper and Henry shared a hopeful look,

“I know she would love to see all of you. She misses you all so much.” I added.

“She does?” Harper asked.

“Of course. She never talked about what happened to her, not until I mated with Knox. It hurt her so much and she was so scared to know anything about what happened. She created this beautiful life for you three and she didn’t want the truth to be something worse.” I said, my mouth suddenly going dry. I felt sadness and anger boiling in my chest.

“Dad?” Harper looked at Quinton whose face was pale.

“It’s been so long.” He said, his voice not above a whisper.

“I want to see her.” Harper admitted.

“You should, you can, if you want. It’s your choice.” Quinton said absentmindedly.

“Henry?” Harper looked at her brother.

“Yes, me too.” Henry nodded.

“Quinton?” I called out to the Alpha who looked so far away. He blinked, looking at me.

“You should see her, if you want. I know that you’re probably afraid, just like my grandmother is afraid. She didn’t want me looking into this because she was terrified of what she would learn. She was more afraid of learning that you were dead then she was excited about finding out you were alive. You all need this, she needs this.” I spoke to him desperately. He slowly nodded,

“Okay.”

“Alpha Quinton,” Knox started but Quinton shook his head,

“It’s just Quinton now.”

“Okay, Quinton, I want to offer my packhouse for the meeting. The beach outside of it is one of the spots where Cordelia comes out to visit the surface. She’s comfortable there.” Knox said.

“You want to invite us back there?” Quinton’s eyes were wide.

“Yes, and not just for the meeting. I want to invite your entire pack to join ours.” My eyes widened at Knox’s invitation and I stared at him with pride. Quinton was stunned into silence.

“The Council’s power is shrinking, packs all over the country are moving against them and their stupid idealology against cross spieces mating. My pack is prepared to stand against them as well for my mate. I’m pissed at what they did to you and Velvet Moon, irrationally, irrevocably, uncontrollably pissed. I wasn’t there to do anything then, but I’m here now. I want to make it right. So, anyone who wants to join my pack is welcome to return to their land.”

Knox spoke so passionately I couldn’t help but wrap my arm around his and rest my face on his shoulder for a moment. He kissed my forehead gently. I felt Cameron take my free hand and I squeezed it.

“I should’ve known that a descendant of Cordelia would be the bridge between the species.” Quinton smiled at our interaction,

“It’s amazing what you three have created. I dreamed of having this sort of connection and peace with my own mate and our people. I will extend your offer to my pack.” Quinton nodded.

“And you?”

“I’m not sure two Alphas can stand to be in a single territory.” Quinton chuckled,

“I might just be Quinton now but an Alpha wolf still lives within me and within Henry.”

“Then, allow me to give you a section of Blue Moon’s territory. Let me help you get started. You can be the Alpha of Velvet Moon again. Take your people with you, bring Cordelia back as your Luna. Let’s be a true bridge between our people.” Knox made a new suggestion.

“You’re serious?” Quinton gasped.

“Yes, in fact, I insist.”

“Please, Quinton? It would mean we could all be together again. Our family deserves this.” I begged him. Quinton’s eyes looked into mine and it was almost like he was imagining his mate, his face softened.

“Henry? Harper?” He looked at his children who nodded eagerly,

“This will be your pack soon so it’s your decision.”

“Yes.” Harper nodded,

“Yes.” Henry agreed.