15 Chapter Fifteen: what the heck?

Belinda stood motionless and obviously befuddled. Her father stood tall,"Dad,really? Right away you hit her with that?"

"What the heck! Why not.Why pussyfoot around the truth!? I do not understand! She isn't some human! She is a damn werewolf and a damn ALPHA at that! Just because her damn mother wants to play human..."

Juan coughed.

"Well, I'll be damned! Look who else is here.Your grandfather and I go way back! How are you young man?" he extended his hand to Juan and Juan shook it. "I am well, Alpha."

"Now here's a boy who knows how to address his elders! How's your father?your mother? and why the hell are you here? Is it time to renegotiate the treaty already? Damn,time flies."

" No,sir. I am Belinda's mate."

"Mate?? Goddess! We just got her...mate? what the hell?"

"Alpha Garcia,I have waited a long time for her too. She is needed..." Juan was speaking when the old Alpha smacked him on his back and let out a jolly laugh.

Belinda looked surprised,"Garcia? I thought your family name was Smith."

Her father addressed her,"No. I use Smith when I am out in the world. We are Garcia. I am Rodney Allen Garcia. Your grandfather is Roberto Albert Garcia.You were to be named Roberta Anne Garcia but your mother fled before you were even born so she named you Belinda."

"I had no idea." Belinda looked at the ground.

Juan hugged her from behind,"You could not know what no one shared."

"Why did you call him Smith? You knew, yes?" she inquired of Juan.

"I did.But it is not my family story to tell,my beloved." he kissed her on the cheek.

Rodney walked closer to Belinda andextended his hand to her, "Come. Come with us and see your pack."

"My pack? I don't have a pack... or do I" she muttered more to herself than any one person.

"This IS your pack. Dad is right. You are the rightful heir.My only heir in fact. You will inherit this pack and lead as its Alpha." Rodney emphasized every word of his declaration.

Juan looked at Belinda's expression.

"Gentlemen, I think we should continue this conversation in the office, perhaps?" He swept Belinda up into a bridal carry and walked into the hallway ans down to the office. He had been here every year for treaty negotiations. He knew where to go. Belinda's father and grandfather followed him .

Belinda laid her head against Juan's chest. Closing her eyes, she felt sick. All this was again too much. Now she was to be the leader of her own pack?? What the heck?

She needed some peace and quiet to think. Yes, she needed to go think...think through all this mess. Maybe she should try calling her mother again. Maybe she should just go back to the USA, take that TA position and settle down. Yes.That's what she should do. Juan sat down with her still cradled in his arms and kissed her forehead sweetly. She opened her eyes and.faintly smiled at him. But she wouldn't do that. Would she? No. Looking at Juan's face she realized this was part of.sho she was. This was why she came to the Philippines in the first place. She kissed Juan's cheek and looked around the room. She saw two very anxious looking male faces staring at her.

Rodney, her father spoke, "Belinda, I have always wanted to be with you but your mother insisted I stay away. She said she would..."

Roberto rudely and boldly interrupted him, "She would kill you herself if he ...or I . ..or any of our kind contacted you. We coildn't..." tears rolled down the old man's face. Rodney grabbed his father by the shoulders and led him out the door looking back at Belinda. Belinda looked at Juan with great pain and confusion on her face.

"They stayed away to protect me, right?"

"Yes. As did I. We had to have you come to us."

"So my father posed as a recruiter... he appealed to my bleeding heart...to help...didn't he?"

"Your bleeding heart is what will make you a strong and beloved Luna." he kissed her gently on the cheek.

"Luna?... oh female alpha ...? yes?"

"Well yes and no. Luna is if you are mated and your mate is the Alpha. You then are the ...well...Luna. The one who stands beside the Alpha as his equal but handles, usually anyway, other pack responsibilities."

"Like?"

"Typically, the Alpha handles the defense and protection and provisions of the pack. The Luna handles the women, children and domestic needs, health, education of the pack. All train as warriors though." Juan paused watching carefully Belinda's face.

"Oh." Belinda showed no emotion at all. She was pondering it all. And then. .she fainted in his arms.

Juan sighed. He stood and walked, carrying her,up to their room and laid her down on the bed. He then took off her shoes and snuggled into her. And they slept.

When Belinda woke Juan was sitting next to the bed watching her. "Maayong hapon." (Good afternoon)

"Hi" Belinda said quietly.

"You okay?" Juan inquired.

"I suppose considering my whole life has been a ... a lie." Belinda snarked.

"I am sorry." Juan said looking into her eyes.

"How do I deal with all this? How do I be an Alpha or a Luna?"

"You already just are. Just being you. It comes naturally to you if you just allow it." He rose and kissed her forehead.

"Really?"

"Let's go find your father and grandfather."

He took her hand and together they walked down the stairs.