Lost But Found
He nodded slowly. โYes, do you know her?โ he asked curiously.
I reached out to touch the glass, tears brimming in my eyes. Then I heard footsteps. And before I could turn, I felt arms wrap around meโtight, trembling. It was Alpha Calvin. He pulled me close, clutching me to his chest like he was afraid Iโd vanish. His shoulders shook. His breath hitched. He wasโฆ crying.
My lips parted in disbelief, my voice barely audible. โNoโฆ thatโs not possible. I grew up with them. Theyโreโโ
It grew thickโฆ heavy. The warmth in the room faded, replaced with an eerie coldness. A wind, though there were no open windows, swept through the room, brushing over my skin like icy fingers. I felt it, a burning sensation under my skin. Then a sharp, shocking jolt ran across my face, like something was breakingโฆ my face was shrinking. My whole body tensed.
โShe is not human,โ the Seer interrupted calmly.
Hay back on the bed, my heart pounding. I closed my eyes, trying to slow my racing breath. A second later, I felt her hand gently press against my forehead. Then she began to chant. The words were in a language I didnโt recognize. The moment they left her lips, the air shifted.
His brow arched. โYou know him?โ he asked, clearly surprised.
โThis isโฆ your mother?โ I asked softly, my lips barely moving.
Calvin frowned deeply. โNow?โ
My entire body froze. Alpha Gabrielโs pack.
Before I could answer, there was a sudden knock on the door. Calvinโs head snapped toward it, clearly annoyed.
โMy little sisterโฆโ he choked out. โI found youโฆ I finallyโฆโ
He looked as if he wanted to say something, but his lips trembled too hard to form words. The Seer stepped back and motioned toward the side of the room.
The Seer stepped forward and gently placed her hand over mine. โDonโt worry, I will restore your face back. I knew who did thisโit surely was Morata. She was one of my students. I taught her this spell, but I never knew she would use it for evil.โ
โLook in the mirror.โ
She placed a hand softly over her chest. โThey loved you like their own. But they were only protecting you. Hiding you.โ
A guardโs voice came from the other side. โAlphaโฆ the Seer is here.โ
Alpha Calvin leaned forward slightly, worry etched across his face. โWhatโs wrong?โ
โThey raised you,โ she continued, โbut they are not your blood. They were entrusted with youโby your true parents. The Parkers were loyal to your fatherโฆ the warrior he trusted above all else.โ
He stared at it in confusion.
โWelcome home, Lady Olivia,โ she said.
I didnโt hesitate. For some reasonโฆ I trusted her. It was the way she looked at meโnot just with knowledge, but with deep-rooted affection, like she had been waiting years for this moment.
I clutched the blanket tighter around me. โThisโฆ isnโt me.โ
The seer didnโt raise her head.
The moment her gaze found meโshe froze. Then, to my complete shockโฆ she dropped to her knees. Her head bowed low to the ground.
I stared at him, my heart racing. How could I explain this? How could I tell him I had seen this woman without ever meeting her in real life?
The Seer turned to me, her voice tender. โLie back, child. Close your eyes.โ
Then I heard it: Alpha Calvinโs sharp gasp.
โMy faceโฆ my voiceโฆโ I looked down at my hands. โThey were changed.โ
I looked into his eyesโฆ and for some reason, I trusted him.
I blinked at him in shock. โAlpha Gabrielโs pack?โ
โThis,โ I whispered, โwas placed on me by Alpha Damien.โ
โThisโฆ is me,โ I whispered. My voiceโmy real voiceโechoed back at me.
I stared at her, my entire body going still. โWhatโฆ?โ
I slowly lifted my eyes to Alpha Calvin, who had been watching me with furrowed brows, clearly puzzled by my reaction.
He didnโt flinch, just nodded. โGo on.โ
I slowly sat up, legs shaky, and stepped toward the tall dressing mirror that stood by the wall. My breath caught the moment I saw her. Me. The real me. Long dark lashes, strong cheekbones, pale skin, and my familiar sea-blue eyes.
โWho is it?โ he barked.
The Seer nodded solemnly.
โWhatโฆ what is she talking about?โ he demanded, voice trembling.
I wanted to lie, but I couldnโt, not anymore. I hesitatedโฆ then slowly nodded. โYesโฆโ I couldnโt believe it. I kept staring at the familiar face in the photo, my fingers trembling as I held it. My eyes widened, my throat tightening. That faceโฆ I had seen it before, too many times: in my dreams, on the rooftop, in the car when I was being taken by Alpha Damien. That same serene face that always brought a strange calmโฆ and yet left me full of questions. The same woman Iโฆ resembled.
The Seer spoke, โOpen your eyes.โ
My breath caught. Alpha Calvin turned to her sharply. โWhat did you just say?โ
โButโฆ but sheโs human!โ he argued, gesturing toward me. โShe looks nothing like-โ
I took a breath, my voice trembling as I continued. โHe used it to suppress my wolf. And my appearanceโฆ itโs not mine. It was changed too.โ
Oliviaโs POV
Calvinโs eyes darted from me to the bracelet, disbelief written all over his face. โChanged? Your face-?โ
โI have to tell you something,โ I whispered.
โI saidโฆโ she repeated softly, reverently- โWelcome home.โ
He blinked. โWhat do you mean?โ
The Seer slowly lifted her head and stood up easily despite her old age. She took a step closer and said gently, โYour parentsโฆ are not Mr. and Mrs. Parker.โ
I did. And the moment I saw Calvinโs faceโhis tear-filled, stunned expressionโI knew. I could feel it too. My face was different. My real face was back.
I stood frozen for a second. Then slowly, I wrapped my arms around him. And for the first time in a long, long timeโฆ I felt like I wasnโt alone anymore.
He answered immediately. โThe Forest Shadow Pack.โ
I looked at Calvin again. His expression had turned unreadableโlike his entire world had tilted on its axis. He was still in shock.
I swallowed hard. My lips parted, but no sound came. Then, I forced out a question.
โThe pack you went to war withโฆ the one that betrayed your mother, what was it called?โ
But the door opened before he could say anything more. An old woman stepped inside, cloaked in a deep purple robe with silver hair braided down her back. Her eyes were milky but sharp as steel, glowing faintly with the power of vision.
I looked down at my wrist, at the bracelet, and then slowly, I held it up. Alpha Calvin glanced at me, his mouth slightly open, eyes wide with shock.
Memories rushed in. Alpha Gabriel telling me I was paying for the sins of my mother. Alpha Damien saying my mother had murdered Gabrielโs mother. Everything started clicking together, puzzle pieces that had never made sense now locking into place. He stared at me, completely thrown off. โChanged? By whom? Why-โ
โGoddessโฆโ he breathed, his voice cracking.
He blinked. โThen what-?โ
โYes,โ I said quietly. โMy wolf is still inside me, trapped, buried. I feel her sometimesโฆ clawing to be free.โ
Alpha Calvinโs breath hitched. โWait,โ he said, his voice rising slightly, โare you sayingโฆ sheโs my sister?โ