Belinda found herself strangely calm. Yes, her world had just been turned upside down and inside out BUT it was calming. It was as if all the uncertainty she had felt growing up was all resolved. This all now made sense. She now knew why she was unsettled and why she couldn't just be happy with the life her Mother wanted for her.
Each morning she would wake in the arms of Juan. They would go out for a run (in wolf form). Upon arrival they would join her father for breakfast. Juan would do some work...whatever Alphas did... while Belinda would talk more with her Father. Today the three of them were headed to the upper village to meet her grandfather. Yes, he was alive still! This village was Juan's family's pack's village. Her father was the Alpha of the upper mountain village. Her grandfather had retired many years ago now. Her father had returned when his father (her grandfather) was injured by a rogue attack. While he had survived, he believed it was time to step.down and let the younger, stronger ones lead. Juan was finishing some paperwork when Belinda knocked and opened the door. She peaked in. "Come in. Sit down. What do you need?" Juan said.
"Juan, how is your village and my father's village related?"
"We have a treaty. We are allies. Aside from that we are not related."
"Oh. Does my father have any other chikdren?"
Juan looked at her and shook his head no,"Not that I am aware of.Typically by his age the young ones would have taken over.But his father also.led until his later years."
"So, what will happen if he has no one to take over when his time is up?"
"Belinda, you need to ask your father that question."
Juan turned away from her , stood up and walked.to the window. He sighed. "Juan?"
"Belinda, talk with your father after we meet your grandfather and see his village. ok?"
"Ok. Juan, may I use your phone?"
"Why?"
" I want to speak with my mother and my cell has no reception here."
"Have you spoken with your father about talking with her?"
" I have. But even ifnI hadn't I need to talk with her. She knew and never told me. She never told me and that is equal to lying to me."
"I understand. What did your father say about contacting her?"
"He still loves her so of course he defended her and asked me not to judge her or blame her. I just don't understand her. I need to ask her ...even if just to confirm all this. You know what I mean?"
Juan walked towards Belinda and.hugged her close. "Sure. Here, let me get you a long distance overseas operator."
Juan sat down behind his large desk and picked up the phone. He said a few things in Visayan that Belinda didn't understand then beckoned her to his lap.She sat down and waited. He handed her the phone and the operator, who spoke English, took the number and connected her. The phone rang.
Belinda stopped beathing; Juan rubbed her back in gentle circles. She smiled at him. Then her Mother's voice was heard clearly. "Hello." (always so formal).
"Mother?" Belinda said
"Belinda?! Is that you? How are you? I was so worried! I had not heard from you in over a week. What happened?"
"I met Dad."
Silence.
Click.
"She...she...she hung up!" Belinda was shocked. Tears formed and began to run uncontrollably down her cheeks.Juan was holding her tight. Tears forming in his own eyes as it hurt him so.qhen she was hurt...such was the mate bond.
"I am sorry,my dear." he said.
She kept crying into his chest.
"Father. Father." Belinda was walking towards his room. He opened the door just as she was about to knock. One look at her face said she was heart broken over something. "What is it, child?" he spoke affectionately.
"She hung up!"
"Who hung up?"
"Mother! I called her to ask her to tell me ther truth...and she hung up!"
"And this surprises you why exactly?" he said with his eye brow cocked.
"I... I thought...Well...I thought maybe if she knew I knew she would tell me...I thought..." she hung her head and tears threatened to start again.
Her father reached out to wipe the tear that indeed escaped and ran down her cheek. "Your mother ... she just... wwll...she just could not accept the reality of ...well...me...us." His shoulders slouched and he sighed.
Belinda hugged her father and wept all over again.
Slowly her sobs stopped. Juan had come to bring her to their room. She swept her up in his arms and carried her bridal style. He places her on their bed and just held her. She fell asleep. He laid herndown, covered her with a light blanket and left the room. Arriving in his office he noticed Smith standing at the window.
"What's up,Smith?" Juan said dryly.Juan wasn't sure how he felt about this old man. Their packs had a treaty but they really didn't know much about each other. If it had not been for the fact this man's daughter was his mate, Juan doubted they ever would have had much contact.
"Her mother."
"What about her mother? Is she a witch?"
"No. As far as I know she is a human. But one who is narrow minded and most dangerous to our kind."
"How? How is a mere human woman dangerous to us?"
"Her mother is closed minded...not just narrow minded. She has no use for spiriruality, the supernatural. She not only denies our existence but belittled our Goddess.That is who raised my daughter. That is the danger. What has she put in Belinda's head or worse what has she put into her heart?"
Juan shook his head no, "Belinda is smarter than that."
"Maybe. What if she isn't? What if she ..."
'Stop it. The 'aaht if game will not help here."
Juan sat behind his desk and shuffled papers around. He could not concentrate. He had been right here when Belinda called her mother. He heard the phone disconnect as soon as she shared she had found her father. What was wrong with her mother?
Belinda had woken up from a much needed nap quite a bit ago but could not face either Juan or the man who said he was her father. She kept thinking of her mother hanging up on her at the mere mention of her father. What does that even mean? Why would she do that?
Too many questions. This whole thing gave her a headache. She closed her eyes a d.rolled into a fetal postion and cried once again. Her mother had some explaining to do that was for sure.