half-werewolf sister

Zila had a golden tan skin tone like his, though she was slightly darker, her hair, the same alabaster features as his, grew way past her waist and flowed in a defined wave, her eyes were the colours of the setting sun. She bore good resemblance to his father and to him as well that one might be tempted to think it was his mother that birthed her too. She looked like she was sixteen, young and innocent. He could see that she was tall but not like he was. She was a beautiful young girl and apparently truly his sister.

"My sister?" Zaccai shouted.

Queen Lieve sat beside her son quietly. This wasn't new to her, she had been angry at her husband for the betrayal and the result it came with but she had to let it go in the end. Zadok had promised her to never do so again, and for over a century he's kept that promise.

"Mother, did you know about this?" Zaccai turned a worried face to her.

She nodded, afraid to speak in the moment.

Zila looked on innocently. In all honesty she adored her brother a lot and admired him for all that he was even though they had never met.

King Zadok half turned to his son and took a deep breath before speaking. "Son I know you have many questions about this. I am sorry we've, no, that I've kept this from you for so long," he turned to Zila then. "And I'm sorry my princess for keeping you in the shadows for so long." He said softly.

Zila nodded in response.

"Son, what I'm about to say may be difficult to understand, but I hope you'll listen with an open heart." He said as his mind raced to find the right words to say. "When you were ten as a cub, your mother and I went through what was probably the hardest times of our marriage due to the reality of seeing you go through the transformation everyday, We felt lost, and struggled with the reality of it all. It was hard to watch, and no, I didn't seek to run into the arms of another woman, but it did happen. Your mother, has been a wonderful partner, and she deserves all the love and respect I can give." He explained. "However I met a woman during that time. . ."

"A human?" Zaccai asked in utter surprise.

King Zadok nodded. "Yes. A human. You aren't the first in this family to do so." He feigned a smile.

"She was not like anyone I had ever known—mysterious and captivating and in a moment of weakness, I allowed myself to form a friendship that well, you should know the rest. That led to the birth of your half-human, half-werewolf sister."

"You say I was ten?" Zaccai asked.

"Yes son."

"So she's—"

"A hundred years old, I just turned a hundred two days ago," Zila cut him off excitedly. "Forgive me father, I couldn't—"

"Don't apologize for anything my love," Zadok took her hand in his and gave her a pat as he smiled.

Zaccai found it strange to see someone else address his father as 'father' and clearly his father adored Zila. And if his sister was one hundred years old, did that mean...

King Zadok continued, cutting off his thought. "Your sister's existence is a secret in both lands, and for now, it will continue to be so."

"Then why tell me?" Zaccai felt he knew the answer.

"Son," Queen Lieve finally spoke. "We want you to know that your children can be okay and might one day stand to compete for the throne even if they are half blooded." She placed a hand on his arm. "You never have to worry about your children being seen as weak."

"I do not worry about that, I never have. I only worry for the woman who's going to marry me. You said I could kill her."

"Yes," his father replied. "But as long you don't shift in her presence you can't hurt her in your human form. Zila's mother was safe with me during our time together," he explained almost regrettably looking at his wife's face.

"It's fine husband, we've dealt with this already and you know I love Zila like my own." She smiled at Zila who smiled back. She told the truth. After the dust had settled, she accepted Zila as her own and took care of her up till now.

"What can you do?" Zaccai asked Zila.

"Uh, wow. I didn't think you would ask me that. Well I can do everything you can do, but I don't change into a werewolf exactly." She said with a hint of happiness.

"What are you so happy about?" He asked confused.

"Well, meeting you, don't you think it's enough to make me happy. I've always wondered what and when I'd get to meet my big brother."

"I do not like her!" Zaccai said in a hard voice.

"Son!" King Zadok shouted.

"Don't say that!" His mother scolded.

Zila got calm, she started to fumble with her hands in her lap.

"You gave me trouble for mingling with humans all this time, and all the while you knew I had a half human sister." He spoke to his mother.

"I only didn't want you to end up like your father! He's had to keep this secret all his life, he didn't have to. And. . . Zila wouldn't be living her life in the shadows! Do you not realize that she's the only one of her kind in existence in our world?" Queen Lieve retorted. "Do you think I wanted that for you, for your future. But it did happen and now we are only trying to show you that all can be well even in the midst of it all."

"Why now?" He was almost hurt by the secret.

"We wanted only to quiet any fears or worry you might be have concerning your future and that of the family you are about to build."

"If I wasn't to marry a human, will I be in the know."

"Definitely son. You have no idea how much we've always wanted to tell you this."

"You should have!" He yelled startling Zila.

"We are only trying to help."

"I don't need your help." He rose to leave. "I really did take after you father, didn't I? He didn't spare his sister another glance before leaving the table.

"Son please," King Zadok rose up as well but did nothing to stop him.

"You also knew about this?" He asked Sir Adin who had manned the door since the beginning.

"I'm sorry your highness, it wasnt—"

"Open the door!"

Sir Adin obeyed and Zaccai walked out of the room.