Roberto, Rodney and Juan, despite being strong Alphas teared up. Belinda was frozen. All the emotions swirled.around her. It was too much. Before the hug ended she had collapsed, fainted. Juan went to the grandfather and granddaughter pair and released Belinda into his arms. "It is too much sometimes for her." Juan explained. The older Alpha coughed and smiled shyly while rubbing the back of his head. "I meant no harm. She looks just like her mother. It is her, isn't it? My granddaughter? My Anne's baby girl?"
Roberto grabbed his old friend's arm, "Yes. It is our granddaughter."
Rodney bowed before the.old Alpha.
"Boy, rise! I do not blame you. Anne broke you. It was she who decided to leave. It is not on you! You have watched over my granddaughter and brought her home safe and sound. I am forever grateful."
Juan looked at his beloved who was laying in his arms unconscious. He wondered if she had any idea how loved she was. Here she had 4 Alphas and 3 packs all loving her and willing to die for her. And she seemed.to be totally unaware. He shook his head and smiled.
Juan was told to climb in the back of the jeep. He held her tight as they made their way down the mountain into the village.
MEANWHILE BACK IN THE USA
Anne stood still and sniffed the air. It was late. It was cool and she had no shoes on and no jacket. Yet she was not cold at all. She never really needed shoes or.boots or coats for she was warm blooded as all werewolves are. She had discovered if she didn't wear those things the humans around her looked at her with questions.
The witch, she had sought our all those years ago, had said she killed her wolf but she still had a lot of werewolf tendencies. Her hearing and eyesight as well as her temperature still were like werewolf like. She never got sick. She was told to take that purple pill everyday for the rest of her life to be sure her wolf remained dead. For the first time in forever Anne wondered if her wolf was really dead or had been pushed into a.kind of hibernation. What if she was still there? Would she want her back?
Anne shook her head as if to shake cobwebs out of her mind. What was she thinking! She had made her choice over 24 years ago. There was no going back now. It was done. She made her choice for herself and her daughter.
Her daughter. Belinda. How could she go to that place and how could she so quickly have discovered her father? DAMN THAT MAN! Anne closed her eyes and chocked down any emotions, walked back to the house and went upstairs to bed. Enough of this. I have the life I wanted.
Louisa sat with Jim at the bar. "I do not understand my Mother or.my sister."
Jim commented, "She isn't your sister."
Louisa was stunned, "What? What did you say?" "She is not your sister. She is your half sister." Jim replied blandly, picking up his drink and downing it. "Your father is not her father."
"What? No, of course he is.Moyher said he was."
"Well, she lied. Your father is alive and is a professor in S California. Your sister's father was supposedly killed in the Philippines doing research." Jim looked blankly at Louisa. "Your mother lied."
Louisa downed her drink,"Howndp you know?"
"When I was ...when Belinda and I were together...I...I had a DNA test done on you three. Your DNA and hers share your mother but not fathers." he replied.simply with no emotion what so ever.
Louisa sat stunned. She always thought her father was the same father and that he was dead. If this was true then her father was alive? Did he know about her? What else was mother lying about?
Louisa felt sick.
Anne was trying to sleep but her mind was out of control tonight. Belindaxs phone call set her mind racing. Thoughts of her home of origin...her parents...her rejected mate...ARGH! She got up, put a robe on and went down stairs for a glass of wine. She poured herself a cup full and sat down at the kitchen nook again.Once again she was drawn to the tree line out back. Louisa entered the house and noticed her mother were she left her earlier this evening. "Mother?" Louisa touched Anne's arm. Anne looked at her youngest daughter and smiled faintly. "Mother. Father... ummm... do I have the same father as Belinda?" It just tumbled out. Anne sucked in air and coughed. "Really, Louisa?" Anne said Nd rose to go upstairs.
"I am serious, Mother?"
"What is with you girls lately? Questions. Questions. Questions. Leave it alone, damn it!" Anne screamed behind her at Louisa. Louisa teared up. She had only seen her mother lash put like that at Belinda. She had always treated Louisa with kindness. Anne disappeared into her room then emerged 2 minutes later and threw down a picture. It was of a man with a beard on a beach beside Anne. "There. Happy now? Your father is a professor of economics at UCLA. I had a fling with him when I was out there for a conference.We hit it off. And NO HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT YOU! YOU ARE MY DAUGHTER, DAMN IT!"
"His name?" Louisa whispered softly, fighting tears back.
"Dr. Edward Gerald Stanford."
"Lies. All the lies. Why?" Louisa sobbed out.
"MY LIFE. MY BODY. MY DAUGHTERS! MINE! Not some damn mate...not some damn destiny...not anything but MINE!"Anne stomped back to her room, slammed the door and sank into her bed.
Louisa picked up her cellphone and called Jim. He answered in w rings and Louisa sobbed. "I will be there in 10 minutes." Jim said.
BACK IN MANOBO PACK
Belinda was stirring. Juan was beside her. He was softly rubbing circles with his thumb on the back of her hand. He was watching her eyes try to open. They focused on him and he smiled. "Hi there. love." he said. Belinda sat up and looked around at the unfamiliar room. "Ugh. Where?" "Manobo pack still." "Oh. He recognized me, didn't he?"
"Yes. He was moved deeply to see you. He never thought he would ever meet you in this lifetime." Juan was trying to tell her how much she meant to everyine here.
"Juan, what do I do now?"
'What do you mean?"
"I feel so overwhelmed."
"I see. It would be a lot to take in for sure." he stroked her cheek and kissed her forehead.
Belinda sighed.
"There. You are awake!" it was Roberto's voice, "You gave us a scare there. I want to officially introduce you to your other grandfather. This is the Alpha of the Manobo pack, your mother's father."
Belinda blinked back tears and stood to greet him. She bowed.