Matt was about to lose his mind. He has been feeling anxious since yesterday. His wolf was scratching at his mind and he had no idea why. He knew his wolf was trying to tell him something but he saw nothing out of the place. In fact, he has been feeling calmer than usual ever since he heard that their Luna was awake.
But after everything that he has learned about his luna yesterday, he was itching to go to the medical wing and stay guard outside her door. Yes...Maybe that's why. Maybe his wolf is just concerned about his luna.
Matt nodded to himself. Yes...that's it. For a second, he really was thinking about visiting her in the medical wing, but then his Alpha's pissed-off face from yesterday evening flashed before his eyes and he could swear his pulse increased with fear.
What Matt did yesterday was disrespectful and wrong. He knew what he was doing but he couldn't help it at that time.
The aura of his Alpha and Luna combined together in such a small space was really overwhelming for him. Sure, he knew the magnitude of his Alpha's powers but his luna was still a mystery to him; a mystery that was proving to be more and more difficult to solve with every piece of information that he had received till now.
He needs to tell his Alpha everything soon or else God knows what he'll do. Matt was about to mindlink his Alpha when he heard footsteps outside his door. He immediately knew who was there.
He sat quietly and waited for him to knock. As expected, within a few seconds Alpha Azraiel knocked twice and then without waiting for any reply pushed open the door and entered the room. He quickly closed the door and walked straight to where Matt was now standing.
"We need to talk." Alpha Azraiel spoke in a hard voice, his gaze fixed on Matt.
Matt was trying really hard to not flinch away but he had a feeling that he was failing terribly. Unable to speak anything he just nodded quietly and gestured him to take a seat.
"I apologize for my behavior yesterday, Alpha. I know this is not an excuse, but I...I just got overwhelmed with your and Luna's presence in such a confined space." Matt spoke hurriedly.
He watched as his Alpha furrowed his brows and nodded at him in understanding. Matt released a breath as he realised that he was forgiven but the relief was momentary.
"So, You don't have a crush on Charlotte then?"
Matt couldn't believe his ears. He just sat there opening and closing his mouth. He had no idea how to answer that question. Did his Alpha really think that he would be romantically interested in his own Luna, the woman who he has already considered as his 'Mother Luna'?
"I...No...No...No...Alpha. Why would you say that? My wolf and I have already recognised her as our Luna." Matt explained nervously, wondering which one of his actions caused his Alpha to pose a question like that?
"Then why are you always around her?" Alpha spoke up again, a bit softer this time. He never beats around the bush, does he?
"I...I can't explain it, Alpha. My wolf just feels protective of her. He wants to protect our Luna from any harm and so do I." Matt replied honestly. Of course, as the pack Beta it was understandable for him to feel the urge to protect his leaders at all cost, but he had a feeling it was more than that.
He watched silently as Alpha leaned back in the chair and tilted his head up. His elbows were resting on his thighs and his fingers were interlaced together and now resting on his chest. His eyes were closed and he seemed thinking hard about something.
Matt decided to let him have a moment in peace before telling him about yesterday, well, he was also trying to delay it as much as possible.
After a few seconds, he saw his Alpha straighten and lean forward.
"Matt, tell me what's wrong?" Alpha's voice was much softer this time. Damn it! He knew he should have taken a run this morning. He was too nervous for his own good.
Matt absolutely hated to be vulnerable and his Alpha knew that very well. They did grow up together after all.
Alright then, time to reveal everything, he thought nervously. He took a deep breath and began.
"Yesterday, after finishing the work you gave me, I decided to dig more about Luna's uncle. I know you didn't ask me to do that but my instincts were constantly urging me to do just that. So, I asked a few of my men to gather information about Arthur Smith." Matt paused, unsure if he should be the one telling him everything.
Alpha Azraiel was now very interested and all the hardness on his face has been replaced by concern for his mate. He jerked his chin, "Go on, Matt."
"He is not Luna's real uncle, Alpha."
********
Charlotte had finished all the books that Azraiel gave her. A lot of things were now clear in her mind and a whole lot of others just got more confusing than they were earlier. She was now waiting for the day to end and for Azraiel to enter her room and clear all her queries. As if the supernatural world wasn't complicated on its own, they also had a king until a few years back. But that wasn't the thing that was causing the stress she was feeling right now. Some parts of the werewolf history she read, struck a chord so deep, that she was reminded again why she kept those sides of her buried under the ground.
A lot of things that she read today reminded her of her uncle. Ahh...that sweet sweet creature. Although he was never the type to openly show affection or express love, she knew that he loved and cared for her deeply. Why else would he take her in at such a young age and treat her like his own daughter? Yes, they lived a private and secluded life but they were happy. Weren't they?
********
"Arthur is not Charlotte's real uncle? So...he adopted her when she was young and she calls him uncle?" Azraiel was now confused. Was Charlotte really that young when she became an orphan? His heart pained at the thought of his mate going through the pain of losing parents. He himself had experienced it and he would never wish it on anyone else.
Matt shook his head and continued. "No...he didn't adopt her. Charlotte's mother worked at a publishing company, where she met Arthur. They soon became best friends. Charlotte's mother got pregnant from a one-night stand a few months later. Her pregnancy was complicated from the beginning, so she named Arthur as the guardian of her unborn child. She died while giving birth to Luna. But, Arthur didn't adopt her after his friend's death."
"Matt, what the hell are you trying to say?" Azraiel asked. He was starting to get irritated with Matt. His nervous energy was taking a toll on Azraiel. It just made him more eager to know what has been making Matt so anxious?
"What I am trying to say is, that Arthur never really adopted Luna officially. He just started taking care of Luna right from the moment she was born. No official adoption took place. No papers were signed. In fact...there are no records of our Luna being born." Matt seemed as perplexed as Azraiel felt.
"What do you mean by no records of being born? God...Don't pause like this Matt. Just tell me the whole damn thing." Azraiel was now fully aware of the reason behind Matt's nervousness. His own wolf was starting to feel anxious. Charlotte's life was turning out to be shadier than they thought and it was a bad fucking thing. The whole ordeal was getting mysterious with each passing day and Azraiel was nowhere near solving the tip of the iceberg.
"Y...Yes Alpha..The State of Rysterbia conducts a census every five years. Our Luna has never been counted as a citizen and resident of Rysterbia despite being born and raised here. Her name is neither in the birth records nor in the Unique Identity Number records. In official records, she doesn't even exist. Yes, she attended a public school and a public college but she was registered there in a program called 'H.O.P.E Mission'; a specialised program meant for talented and special children. The children in these programs are kept apart from other children. Apparently, they are observed to design better studying methods for children. Similarly, the college she attended ran an identical programme which she was a part of.
I am surprised that through all her academic career, no one ever questioned the lack of a Unique Identification Number despite it being compulsory for availing almost all governmental services. It's like she doesn't exist, officially. The same is the case with her mother. No one knows where she came from. There is literally no information on her except whatever I told you just now. No photographs, no bank accounts, no entry in official records, no assets...Just a blank page. That's it." Matt finished with a frustrated sigh.
Azraiel stopped listening after the mention of "H.O.P.E. Mission". His heart dropped in his stomach at the thought of his mate going through that shit hole all alone. He knew exactly what those programs are. Hell...He knew exactly what happened in there with the innocent children. The people in charge in these missions played with children's minds. They broke them to the point that they themselves started believing everything that was being fed to them. Their reality was twisted into a virtual story and that story was engraved in small innocent minds with torturous methods. Their creativity was suppressed, determination tested again and again and little powerful minds were used to fulfill the agendas of people in power.; People who were incapable of achieving greatness on their own.
He knew what they did in their so-called "H.O.P.E. Mission".
He knew it because he saw it.
He saw it because he was there...
in the H.O.P.E. Mission.