Chapter 5: The Truth Revealed, Ellie and Bradley's POVs

Chapter 5: The Truth Revealed, Ellie and Bradley's POVs

Ellie POV

I don’t know if it was from the excitement of the triplets finally home or from the goose-egg that was on the side of my head but suddenly I felt the room start to tilt and whirl; I felt nauseated and ready to pass out. The triplets immediately wrapped their arms around me tightly, making me wince from too much pressure on my cracked ribs. Whispering words of apology and support, Benji lifted me into his arms and took me back to my king-sized bed. I think the emotional toil of the last few days was finally getting to me, along with my concussion, compliments of the man who wanted to be my mate. Lucky me…

I laid back and closed my eyes while the triplets rushed around the room trying to find me something to drink, calling out for their mom and dad to come to my room, their voices filled with fear and worry. Bella and Bradley rushed in, taking in the scene and immediately told us all he had already contacted our doctor.

“For now, we just want you to lay back and relax, try not to get too worked up. Boys, I’m holding you responsible for this. Your father told you she was still healing,” Bella scolded the triplets, their eyes full of regret at the thought they had played any role in me currently not feeling well.

Her eyes then softened, holding her arms out wide, “Now, come and give your mama a hug! It feels like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

“We missed you too,” Baylor said. Being the youngest, even only by a couple of minutes, he had always been a mama‘s boy – it was too cute for words to see such a strong, dangerous-looking man revert to a young kid in his mother’s presence. While we waited for the doctor to arrive, I relaxed and listened to the triplets filling in their parents about what I had told them. Once they were done, I looked up at the two people who had welcomed me into their family. Seeing signs of distress during the triplet’s abbreviated version of the story, despite the pain I was in, I couldn’t help but smile. I was truly blessed to have been included into their family. When Bradley heard what Alpha Mason had done and said to me, his face filled with rage and guilt. I slightly worried he was going to be upset with me for not telling him but then he turned, almost reading what I was thinking and reassured me he wasn’t angry at me. “Boys, when Ellie is feeling better, we need to sit down and have a long chat,” he commented at the end. The triplets just nodded in agreement with their father’s statement.

“Why don’t we just talk about it now?” I asked pointedly. A look of uncertainty passed across their faces and unfortunately for me, at that very moment, the doctor decided to knock on the door and come in, saving them from answering my question.

As I took in the appearance of the female doctor, I couldn’t help but feel slightly envious. She was everything I wasn’t. Standing at least 5’10” with jet black hair and gorgeous brown eyes, even I could admit she was gorgeous. How had I never met her before if she was the “family” doctor?  Before she turned her attention to me, she smiled towards the triplets in a familiar way, causing a flare of jealousy to spring up in my chest. “Ellie…” Bradley said bringing my attention back to the room and not the green monster that was currently wrecking havoc in my heart, “…this is Natasha, she’s our family doctor.” As the Amazonian woman walked towards my bed, she looked at me with a soft smile…and dang it, despite my jealousy, I just couldn’t bring myself to dislike this woman.

“Hello Ellie, I’ve heard so much about you. I am so excited to finally get to meet you. Can you tell me, how are you feeling right now? Are you in any pain?” she asked with kindness.

“Yes,” I said, catching the apologetic eyes of the triplets. “My ribs hurt and I have a pounding headache and I feel slightly nauseous,” I explained.

“Natasha, without her wolf she won’t heal very fast and we need to get her back to 100%,” Bronx said authoritatively. Mmmmm…he can order me around anytime he wants…ugh, not the time or place Ellie!

“No problem, Bronx, let me to see what I can do,” she replied easily. Before she had a chance to start, another knock on the door was heard. Upon seeing my questioning glance, Baylor commented, “Oh it’s just Vince,” like I knew who the heck Vince was.

“Wow…I’m a popular girl today,” I joked, then smiled when I heard Benji’s off-handed comment, “You have no idea just how popular, baby girl…” whispered under his breath.

As the door opened, in walked a tall, lanky but muscular, handsome blonde hair, blue-eyed man. No, wait, not a man…a vampire? Never in my life had I ever met a vampire.

“He’s a vampire?” I burst out incredulously, slightly embarrassed I had immediately spurted out what I was thinking.  Everyone chuckled in response...everyone but me. Me? I just wanted to curl under the bed and hide for my lack of control.

“Nice to meet you too, Ellie,” Vince the vampire sarcastically but jokingly at the same time said to me with a wink.

“Don’t worry Ellie,” Benji said, “He won’t hurt you.” Looking at him closer, my eyes searched his to see if Benji’s comment was correct, when suddenly I felt as if an energy was pulling me closer to him. Not sure what was going on, or where this feeling was coming from, I anxiously looked at the triplets for their help but they just sat there like three sexy mutes with knowing smiles. What was I missing? Do I have something on my face? Oh, Goddess, my hair must be a mess!

As Vince approached closer he asked, “May I?” to which I responded sarcastically, “May you what?” totally confused where this was all going. “Touch your hand,” he surprised me, “I promise I won’t bite,” he laughed. With apprehension in my heart, but trusting the triplets, I reached out my hand. The moment we touched, a zap of electricity cursed from his fingertips to mine, my eyes widening at the feeling. Before I knew it, out of his chest came a bright white light and it flew straight into mine!

“What the hell just happened?” I yelled to everyone in the room. Never in my life had I seen or experienced such a thing. With questioning eyes, I turned towards the triplets and my adopted parents, silently glaring at them to answer my question. Vince just smiled at me with a look of happiness and purpose, “Don’t worry princess, all will be known in due time, just know that along with the triplets, I will protect you at all costs.”

“I guess we should’ve made him wait outside,” Baylor joked trying to ease the tension, as I continued to wear my “wtf” face. “You’re so cute when you’re angry,” Benji threw in for good measure, making me lose focus on delving further into what just transpired.

“Go ahead, Natasha,” Bronx directed again. Snapping my attention to her, I watched as Natasha closed her eyes and laid her hand on my head and her other hand where my cracked ribs were. At first, I felt nothing and frankly thought she was a little coo-coo-for cocoa puffs standing there with her hands on me but then I felt a soothing cooling effect flowing from her fingers into my body. The pain started to ease and I became more and more anxious about another weird thing happening in the space of a few minutes.

As her eyes opened and met mine, all of my pain and the nausea were gone. I looked around the room and saw everyone still smiling while she asked, “How do you feel now?”

“I feel great, but for the second time now, what the hell just happened? Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful not to be in pain anymore but someone needs to start talking…NOW,” I commanded. Bronx looked at his dad and mom and said, “I think it’s time…we need to tell her.” They nodded their heads in agreement and he turned his eyes to me, “Come now, little one, let’s get you up and downstairs so we can have that talk.”

Before I could even start to move out of the bed, Baylor quickly picked me up into his strong arms. The part of me that was independent blurted out with no filter, “I can walk on my own, you know,” to which he chuckled “I know you can. I just want to feel you close,” kissing my forehead, then resting his forehead on mine. As I stared into his blue eyes, I started to get lost in them. I felt a need to be as close to Baylor as I could get, tightening my grip on him and putting my head on his shoulder, breathing in his scent near his marking spot causing him to embarrassingly growl in response. That sound…that sound did things to my body, taking a straight shot to my aching core making it pulse even more. Vince cleared his throat and let out a little chuckle, reminding Baylor and I we were not alone, and allowing me to shake myself out of the trance he had put me in.

Once we got down to the living room, Baylor handed me off to Bronx who sat down on the couch with me on his lap. I started to move off to his side but he tightened his hold, supported by his two brothers who flanked him on each side. “Lay across us,” Bronx commanded. Not even questioning him, which was a new thing for me not to question something, I immediately did what he told me to. Benji took a pillow and set it on his lap and Baylor spun my legs around so my feet rested in his lap. I started to giggle as I thought how ridiculous this must look; instead of a leather couch, I had my very own triplet couch…and it felt like paradise.

“Boys, she needs to be able to focus on what I’m about to tell her so for now, this is fine, but you need to keep it together,” I turned away my attention from the triplets to what Bradley just said. Sensing the seriousness of the room, for the first time in my life, I patiently waited for him to speak.

Bradley POV

“Ellie, first and foremost I wanted to say I hope you understand everything we have done has been out of love and protection for you. I know it was not easy for you being in our family, not fully feeling that you belonged, and I know even more now with what is happening with the triplets and you, everything must be very confusing. Trust me when I say this…all that is happening is what the Moon Goddess herself has fated for you,” I started. Knowing Ellie, before she could even speak up to ask a question, I said, “I ask that you listen to what I have to say first and then if you have any questions we can talk about them afterwards.” With a nod from her of understanding, I continued. “There’s really no easy way to say this so I’ll jump right into it. Bottom line, Ellie, you’re not some random she-wolf who was orphaned. That was just a story we told you to protect you. In fact, you are a very special wolf. The last white wolf,” I dropped the bomb, knowing this wouldn’t be an easily accepted statement. I chastised myself internally as I watched confusion, disbelief and then mistrust reflected on her face, and realized we should’ve taken a different approach to what we told her growing up.

“Ellie, as you know, the triplets went off to the Knights League to train to become Guardian Knights. What you don’t know, is that this has been fated since their birth…that they would become Guardian Knights to protect you.” Seeing her confusion, I knew I would need to clear up a few things before I dropped the next bomb, “Before I dive into that, I think its best I first talk to you about what the Knights League is. The Knights League is led by seven of the strongest Alphas in the world, otherwise referred to as the Elders. Seeing as you just met Vince here, now you know that not all who become Guardian Knights, are wolf shifters. In fact, we have a number of different supernatural species who train every day to protect our way of life against evil forces. You have been on the Knights League’s radar since before you were even born. You were strategically placed in this family to protect you but also, our entire family was placed in this pack under secrecy to counter the great evils plans for the end of days.” I glanced towards Ellie to make sure she was following everything I was telling her and that she was dealing with it appropriately. Seeing both anxiety and confusion written all over her face, I mindlinked the triplets to have them use the mate bond to calm her down. As I watched Benji softly running his fingers through her hair, causing her to visibly relax, I knew I could go on with the next big bomb she was going to receive today.

“Our great oracle, Pearl, received a prophesy about you and also about the Red Moon Pack being at the center of where the great evil would be born. Knowing that, the Elders took it upon themselves to insert one of their very own into the Red Moon pack in order to gain information and also to make sure you were protected. This is why we gave you very little details. We didn’t want it to accidentally come out. From the look on your face, I’m sure you’re wondering who that Alpha was…” I said hesitantly, bracing myself for what was to come, “…it was me, Ellie. I am not of Beta blood but am an Alpha, specifically I’m one of the seven Elders.” I watched her eyes widen in shock with my admission. To further hammer home what I was trying to explain to her, I drew upon something I knew she herself had witnessed, “Why do you think I don’t get along with Alpha Max and Alpha Mason? They are a pretty pathetic excuses for Alphas in my opinion and it has taken me every ounce of my willpower not to have already ripped their heads off their shoulders with the stupid decisions they make, and the threat they are to all supernatural beings. But this is not my part to play, but yours.”

Recognition showed in her eyes and I sighed a bit in relief hearing her gasp, “That makes so much sense! You’re way stronger than a Beta…but how did you hide your Alpha aura?”

“Witches,” I answered and then I glanced at Natasha who gave me an approving nod, I continued to spill the secret of Natasha’s identity. “Not only is there a vampire in this room, Ellie, but there’s also a very powerful witch,” I smiled as I nodded towards Natasha.

Comically Ellie shouted, “Okay, that makes WAY more sense than some human having super healing powers. I thought I was going crazy!”

“Ellie, I have been watching over you for years,” Natasha explained, “There were times when you were injured that I worked behind the scenes to heal you slowly in order to make sure no harm would come to you. I’ve been in your life since you were born. I watched you grow up and I’m so excited to see what you will do in the future,” Natasha took a moment to explain herself.

“The white light you saw from Vince going to you was solidifying the bond between a Guardian Knight and the person they are protecting. The triplets will accomplish this same ritual with you to further tie themselves to you.” I had to be very careful how I worded everything, knowing Pearl had already directed the triplets not tell Ellie she was their mate. “We weren’t expecting it to occur with just a touch from Vince but he had already made his pledge via the triplets as your primary Guardian Knights before they left to come here,” I explained.

Before I continued on, Natasha spoke up, “Alpha Bradley?” turning to me, “With your approval, I would also like to become part of Ellie’s protection team.” I already knew this was coming. I had seen the bond from her side form to Ellie as she grew up. It almost pained her to not be an active participant in Ellie’s life. Who was I to turn her down from what she felt so strongly about?

“I don’t have any problem with it but that will be up to the triplets and more importantly, up to Ellie and whether or not she fully accepts you. As you know if the bond is not accepted by the one being protected and by proxy, by the Moon Goddess herself, you will be in great pain and so will she. We need to make sure this is the right decision for both of your sakes,” I answered. Natasha’s eyes met Ellie’s and they shared a look of understanding that a future conversation was earmarked to occur.

Satisfied that Ellie seemed okay, I tried to get us back on course, “Ellie, why do you think I trained you so much? It wasn’t to take over as Beta. It was to prepare you for this very moment and the future you are fated to face. I have to ask you, when you were fighting Alpha Mason, did anything seem off to you?” I could see the wheels grind in Ellie’s brain as she worked to answer my question. A look of recognition appeared on her face after a few seconds and said, “Yes, towards the end of the fight…when his eyes were flashing red, they were also flashing pitch black. It honestly scared me. I’m sure the guys already told you but, in general, I get a very uncomfortable feeling from Alpha Mason, despite not really interacting with him up to this point.”

I nodded my head in acknowledgment to what she witnessed and smiled as I said, “I taught you well. What you saw was correct but it wasn’t just his wolf, Hades. Inside of Alpha Mason lies the dormant evil spirit of the demon, Hades, himself. While it was a gamble to allow the fight, I wanted to see what you could do in human form against Alpha Mason. It was a calculated risk driven somewhat by fatherly pride but unfortunately the wrong one. This is why the triplets came home early. My decision sped up the timing within the prophecy. The prophecy stated the last white wolf would be what stood between the supernatural world and its destruction by Hades. My one goal of infiltrating this pack was to gather information to be able to determine when Hades would start to make an appearance. I messed it up with that fight, Ellie. I am so sorry…I think somewhere deep down in Alpha Mason, Hades recognized you in your true form as the white wolf. I believe that is why Alpha Mason is determined to take you as a chosen mate. It isn’t his wolf who recognizes or wants you. It’s the demon that is lying in wait. Being mated to you is the one chance they have in order to tip the balance of power and accomplish their ultimate goal to bring about the end of days. I highly doubt that Alpha Mason knows the true reason why he feels so strongly about making you his but it won’t be long until Hades fully awakens and takes over Alpha Mason. We must protect you from that.” It pained me to see vulnerability come back into Ellie's eyes. I had trained her for so long to control her emotions; she learned to control them even from us here at home, not just on the battlefield. I knew she hated feeling weak and all of this was pushing her in that direction along with making her feel less sure of herself.

“Ellie, now that you know the truth, we will make sure this doesn't happen. No matter what Alpha Mason says, what I can tell you with 100% certainty, is that he is not your faded mate. Do not believe anything anyone says to you in this pack outside of the people here in this room,” I advised. I turned to look at the triplets, “Sons, unfortunately, we are in a tough spot. It is no longer safe for Ellie to stay here, but we don't want to raise too much suspicion that will lead to the confirmation she is a white wolf and awaken Hades fully too early. We can't stop his arrival but we can certainly make sure we don't speed up the prophecy any more than I already have. Until I speak with the other Elders and Pearl, I need Ellie to have a Guardian Knight with her at all times. Fortunately, we can utilize your return home, as a result of her injuries, as a cover for her never being left alone. This is my greatest charge to you, Sons. I know I don’t have to say it, but you know what you have to do and what’s at stake.”

I could see Ellie humming with anticipation waiting for her time to talk, so I turned my gaze to her, “Lay it on me, half pint. I know that you’re probably not happy with us right now.”