05

Derek

I returned from the hunt in a daze, unable to make sense of what had just happened. And as if deliberately ignoring me, Petrus had decided to go mute. I went to Jorge and through our telepathic link asked for my clothes. I found a secluded spot, shifted back, got dressed, and returned to the small stage. I dropped into my chair and took a long pull of whiskey to clear my head.

"Everything all right, Alpha?"

"Yeah, man. Just tired. Long day."

From a distance, I saw Jorge signaling that the wolves were starting to return with their kills. They came to me as a sign of respect to present their catches. I was distracted when I saw her approach -- the white she-wolf. She came toward me, regal and magnificent, and laid the deer at my feet. Petrus stirred, and I smiled. He'd never reacted like this to anyone. She turned away and went to her family, and when I saw who she joined, I nearly had a heart attack. She was Jorge's sister. He walked over to her, and I watched her head off with Analia shortly after. I let out a heavy sigh. What was happening to me? I kept receiving the kills when Petrus howled inside my head.

"What's going on, Petrus?"

"Go to her. She needs us."

"What? Who?"

"Go, Derek."

He growled at me, and I got to my feet. Petrus had never acted this way with me. He was agitated, worried. I followed wherever he led and heard screams of pain. I quickened my pace and found Analia speaking to the girl, who lay on the ground writhing in agony.

"Go, Derek."

I moved close and spoke to her, pulled her to me, tried to calm her -- and it worked. She stopped screaming and seemed to feel less pain. Petrus turned into a puppy wagging its tail. She opened her eyes and finally saw me.

"Alpha."

That was all she managed, her voice barely a whisper before she passed out. Petrus surged with excitement and anxiety.

"Get a doctor. Now."

"I'll get my mother, Alpha. Just a moment," Analia said.

She stepped away, and I held the girl close. Petrus was desperate to come out and be near her.

"Easy, boy. She's fine. She's going to be okay."

Mrs. Sullivan approached and placed a hand on the girl's forehead.

"What happened, Analia?"

"She was in terrible pain. I tried to help, but she only calmed down after the Alpha came."

"I just wanted to help, Mrs. Sullivan. I think the transformation took too much out of her."

"We need to get her out of here."

I glanced around and bristled at the young men staring at her -- and only then did I realize she was still naked.

"Bring me a sheet to cover her."

Analia brought one, and I wrapped it around her body, then lifted her from the ground into my arms.

"Mrs. Sullivan, I'll take you all inside so you can examine her properly."

I entered the pack house with them following behind. As I climbed the stairs, I kept wondering why Petrus was so worried about her. We reached my room, and I laid her on the bed. There were guest rooms in the house, but for some reason I couldn't explain, I'd brought her to mine. I left her with her mother and sister and told them to call me if they needed anything.

"Okay, listen" "if this is just about having her as company during the heat, you need to settle down. She's Jorge's sister. I would never do anything with her."

Petrus shrank back and went quiet. I knew that wasn't all it was. Something deeper was going on, but I didn't know what. I headed back down to the ceremony grounds, congratulated everyone, and wrapped up the evening. I told Jorge and Brendo what had happened, and together with Elder Gregory, we went upstairs for news. When we walked into the room, Jorge shot me a confused look. I knew he had to be wondering why I'd brought her to my room -- but at that moment, even I didn't have the answer.

"How is she?"

"She's fine. She was just exhausted from the transformation. Did you see how dominant her wolf is? She seems almost like a--"

"An Alpha," I said, finishing Mrs. Sullivan's sentence.

"Could that be possible?" Jorge asked. "We don't actually know where Allya came from or who her real family is."

I looked at them, confused. What did he mean, real family? Weren't they her family?

"We need to let her rest. All of this was too much for her," Analia said.

"Let's take her home."

"Thank you, Alpha Derek, for helping my girl," Mrs. Sullivan said.

"No need to thank me, Mrs. Sullivan. If you need anything, I'm here."

Elder Gregory lifted her into his arms and carried her out of the room, the others following. But before Jorge could leave, I stopped him.

"Jorge -- what did you mean about your sister's real family?"

"Oh, sorry. I never told you. Allya is adopted. My dad found her in the forest when she was one year old. He was on a hunt with your father, Alpha Taylor, and he found Allya wrapped in a blanket, crying her eyes out."

I looked at him, intrigued.

"I had no idea."

"Yeah. Since then, my parents raised Allya as their own. She knows the truth -- knows she's not a blood daughter -- but she doesn't care."

"And you never tried to find her real family?"

"My parents did. They went to witches and elders trying to find out where she came from, but everyone says the same thing -- Allya's past before she arrived here doesn't exist. It's as if it was erased from her history. Just a big, black void."

"That's strange. How is that even possible?"

"Nobody knows. Anyway, Allya is my sister, and that's what matters. If you don't need me for anything else tonight, I should go. The guys are already cleaning up downstairs."

"Sure, go ahead. Get some rest, and let me know how your sister's doing."

He nodded and left my room. I stood there thinking about what Jorge had told me. I'd never known any of this. Now I was curious. Who was Allya Sullivan, and why was my wolf so drawn to her? I took a shower, pulled on boxers and sweatpants, and climbed into bed. The moment I closed my eyes, I saw the white she-wolf. I let out a heavy sigh. What was happening to me?

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