The Truth Will Set You Free

Anabelle was shocked and didn't know what to say. She was beyond confused but she wanted to know more so she continued to listen as her mother told the rest of the story. The morning after she was taken to the new pack Geraldine found out she was four weeks pregnant with Kevin's child. Anabelle was confused by this.

How could she have gotten pregnant without being marked? Geraldine explained that even though she was unmarked they had consummated the mate bond. Anabelle was impressed by her father's willpower. It would have taken a lot of patience and will to not mark his mate in the middle of that passion. Geraldine explained that her new husband came to an agreement with Alpha Kevin that his son would be returned to him when he was born as he was the future heir to the Blue Moon pack.

That explained how Evan came to be, but not how Anabelle came into the world and ended up in the Blue Moon Pack. Geraldine then explained that she fell pregnant with Alpha Darren's child and when she gave birth, she faked the death of the child and organized for the child to be dropped at the borders of the Blue Moon Pack. She explained she did this because she feared for the child's life if she stayed in Alpha Darren's pack.

Apparently, a warrior brought the baby to Alpha Kevin. There was a note on the baby that stated who she was, and that she wanted Kevin to take care of her and raise her with Evan. Alpha Kevin, without his true mate, eventually started to go and married Jenna, a rogue who wandered into the pack territory.

Without his true mate, his mind continued to deteriorate, and he grew to hate Anabelle and Kevin. All this shocked Anabelle and she didn't know how to feel about it all. Geraldine explained that she never had another child with Alpha Darren and the pack fell to the beta's family and their son Kayden. Under Alphas Kayden's rule, Geraldine was allowed to stay in the pack but when she heard that Alpha Kevin had remarried and had lost his mind, she was heartbroken and did not wish to see him that way and chose to stay in the Dark Wood pack. That was where they were now, she explained.

She informed her mother that she had a lot to think about and excused herself and went to bed. While she was in bed, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was angry at her mother for abandoning her and her brother. What happened did not excuse Alpha Kevin's behaviour over the years, and she was still angry, but at least now she understood why he treated her that way.

Under werewolf law, any Alpha that goes mad after losing his mate must be killed for the safety of the pack. Alpha Kevin had done a great job at hiding it and coming across as a tyrant instead of a mad wolf. Anabelle couldn't stop tossing and turning in her bed. She was so wound up she decided to go for a walk and see if she could shift.

She had no idea how to get around the pack grounds and got lost many times, but soon she got the hang of it. She could still not shift but she could tell Lily was almost strong enough. She contemplated how lovely it would be to finally be able to shift and run as a wolf while she walked back to her mother's house.

When she arrived back at the house Evan was waiting for her in the living room. She said hello to him, but he didn't seem to hear her. She tried calling him but got no response. She shrugged it off as him being deep in contemplation. After all, he had a lot on his shoulders. He was future Alpha to an almost wiped-out pack, and he now knew about what happened to their mother.

Anabelle didn't quite know what to make of it all. She felt she was finally in the know about what had happened to set her life on the course she had lived, but she wasn't sure how she felt about it all. She couldn't fathom how a mother could know where her children were, and to know it was safe to return and simply choose not to. Her walk did little to ease her tumultuous thoughts.

The next few days consisted of Anabelle being conducted into the pack. This was done by the pack's beta as the Alpha was away on business. She was shown around the pack, to the training grounds, the school, the packhouse, and the amenities. She was informed by her mother that she was allowed anywhere on the park grounds, but she was not allowed to leave the pack grounds under any circumstances.

She was unaware that her father was planning to attack the pack. He was angered that she had escaped and felt the need for retribution. In his eyes, he had lost a valuable bargaining chip. He could have sold Anabelle off to a large pack for allies. Sure, he had told her she would be the next Luna but what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her.