Chapter 8 - A mothers' touch

Freya’s P.O.V  

I held my sweet Emma tightly. I knew she would take the truth of Sera hard, but it had to be done. Ever since the day I had accepted her into my heart I knew it was going to be an issue. I did think we shouldn’t have hidden it from her but that was Sera’s choice. She never wanted her to look at her like she did when she remembered the beast that chased her. Part of me wished I had been the one to tell her sooner, but again I had to let Sera grow. It was my job to protect and love them both, not cause pain or hatred between them. I took Emma back to our hotel room but she stopped in front of the door

“I can’t look at her”

 She whispered in between sobs,

“Hush its’s okay, she is still Sera little one”

I continued opening the door as she sniffled trying to contain her tears. 

“She is the same big sister she has always been, now you know her true secret”

 I kept my tone as soothing and as loving as I could

“She would never, ever hurt you and you know that deep down”.

Emma sighed, her breathing was slowing and I took that as an okay to enter the room. Sera was laying on one of the beds, staring at the ceiling I could tell she too had been crying as her eyes were puffy and bloodshot. I stood for a moment trying to decide how to best deescalate the situation without making one daughter feel neglected but before I could Sera shot up and stormed out,

“Don’t worry I’m leaving.”

Her voice was harsh but I knew that was pain she was trying to mask. Emma sobbed and ran to her bed, throwing herself down crying into the pillow. I sighed and followed Sera out

“Baby girl wait!”

Sera stopped but did not look at me,

“Give me 20 minutes to calm her down okay?”

Sera’s shoulders dropped

"She hates me”

My heart sunk,

“No baby, you’re her big sister. She is just overwhelmed. We should not have kept this from her for so long”

I tried to soothe my eldest but she just shook her head and walked off. I bit my lip and closed my eyes willing my inner anger at her defiance to subside. I swear she was more like her father in attitude with every passing year.

Once back inside I sat next to Emma, stroking her hair.

“Little one do you want to talk about it?”

I kept my voice soft and at that moment I wished I could read her thoughts. For our own protection, I had forced that part of me that knew magic deep down. Not wanting the wrong people to find us in my protected lands but for a moment I considered using them.

“I just… why?”

Emma’s voice was broken, confused, and hurt.

“Well, her father is a wolf…”

I explained to her just as I had with Sera a few nights before she had turned 16, that there was a chance she could have inherited her father’s gift, what I knew about the laws and the world of the wolves and that she may find her wolf on her 16^th birthday. Emma listened intently as I went through all the conversations Sera and I had over the years, the confusion and relief we both had when she had not turned, the fear that consumed us when we realized she did inherit the gift and may die if she did not complete the process before her 20^th birthday.

“So… she’s not like that monster?”

 Emma more so demanded rather than asked and I nodded

“She is still Sera and will always be your big sister”.

Emma was deep in thought, I smiled waiting knowing she would have more questions.

“So are you one too?”

I was a little surprised,

“What me? No, no little one”

She had a small smile in response relief flooding her eyes.

“Oh good! I don’t know if I could handle much more of this”

I kept my smile on my face but felt my heart sink a little, I wasn’t a wolf but I was a witch. Would she hate me if she knew?

“So, you think you can forgive her?”

I asked noticing 30 minutes had passed and wondering where Sera was,

“Yes”

She sighed and continued,

“But I don’t know if it will be the same.”

Her voice was pained. I nodded,

“Understandable, it will take time and Sera will understand. That’s why she didn’t want to tell you unless she absolutely had to.”

Emma frowned looking down. A few quiet moments passed while I wondered again where Sera was. Yes, she was quick to anger, stubborn, and sometimes rebellious but she was always on time.

“So do I have to call ‘him’ Alpha?”

Emma asked anger lashing with those last words,

“Unfortunately yes my little one, it’s a sign of disrespect in their world to call them anything else.”

She grumbled biting her lip.

“But, if you don’t want to talk to him you don’t have to”

She sighed before looking up at the sky, it was dusk the sunset was long gone.

“Where’s Sera?”

I glanced at the clock seeing it had now been an hour since she had left.

“I’m not sure but I will go look for her, you stay here okay?”

Emma looked back at me her eyes reflecting my concern. I left the room with anger building in my stomach. Sera was not yet an adult and had never been this far from home, I did not trust that dangerous people would not find her. Like Alpha Darren, I had seen his Beta Carlos, I think he was called, at the café. Their reputation was horrible. Understandable with a name like the Blood Moon pack. I wondered why the younger wolf was that was with the Beta today seemed so interested in Sera. Glen had informed me he was the Alpha’s son Damon. I shook in a mixture of anger and fear thinking about the look he had given her. If I was correct it looks as if he wanted to claim her. Sera would underestimate them and get into trouble if she ran into them. She was not yet schooled on a lot of behaviors of members of the pack let alone what was expected of her being next in line as Alpha. I swear if she gets hurt I’ll kill her stubborn arse.