Carolina's POV
The flight to New York felt both too long and too short. I spent most of it staring out the window, watching the clouds drift by and trying to calm the emotions in my chest.
Men in black suits came to fetch me when I descended from the plane. And I wondered if they were going to traffic me off.
The sleek black car we rode pulled up to a mansion that looked like it belonged in a movie.
I stepped out, my legs shaky after the long flight. The men in black suits who had escorted me from the airport stood silently, waiting for me to move.
"This can't be real," I muttered, clutching my small suitcase like a lifeline.
One of the men cleared his throat. "Miss Ambers, they're waiting for you inside."
I nodded, taking a deep breath before walking up the grand steps. Before I could knock, the massive door swung open, revealing a tall, imposing man with salt-and-pepper hair and piercing blue eyes.
"Carolina," he said, his voice deep and commanding. "Welcome home, to the Blood Moon pack." He said.
I blinked in confusion. "I'm sorry, the what?"
He chuckled lightly to himself. "Ah, yes. We have a lot to discuss. Let's get you settled in first, shall we?"
A maid led me up a grand staircase and down a hallway lined with portraits of stern-looking men and women. We stopped at a door at the end of the hall and she opened for me.
My room – if you could call it that – was bigger than my entire apartment back in LA. After I set my suitcase down, I returned downstairs to meet that man. He was sitting in the foyer alongside three other women.
"I'm Alpha Dwayne," the man continued, ushering me inside. "Your father."
I flinched at the word, what does it mean? "I... I don't understand what you just said." I stammered, my voice small as I sat down.
Alpha Dwayne's expression softened slightly. "All will be explained, Carolina. But first, there are some people you should meet."
My eyes landed properly on the three women sitting in the lavish sitting room. The first, a statuesque blonde with cold eyes, looked me up and down with obvious disdain.
"So this is the long-lost princess," she sneered. "How... quaint."
"Felicia," Alpha Dwayne warned, his tone sharp. "This is your mother, Carolina."
I blinked, taken aback by the hostility radiating from the woman who was supposed to be my mother. "I... it's nice to meet you," I managed, though the words felt hollow.
Felicia's lip curled. "She's not mine, Dwayne. I already have my daughter here." She sneered.
Before I could process that, a younger woman who looked not alike with Felicia stepped forward, her blue eyes flashing with anger.
"I'm Natalia," she said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. "Your sister or whatever. Because I suppose I'm the only heiress known around here."
I swallowed hard. These people were making things even harder for me.
"So if you expect me to run back to Los Angeles, let me tell you, I have no intention of giving up my life here. You can save yourself the stress and go back to your little human existence." She glared at me.
"Natalia, that's enough," Alpha Dwayne snapped. He turned to the third woman, who had remained silent. She was strikingly beautiful, with kind eyes that seemed to hold a deep sadness.
"This is Verona. She'll help explain everything." He said.
Verona stepped forward, reaching out to touch my arm gently. "I know this must be overwhelming, Carolina. Why don't you sit down?" She offered.
Grateful for her calm presence, I sank onto a plush sofa. Alpha Dwayne dismissed Felicia and Natalia, who left with final glares in my direction.
"I'm sorry for their behavior," Verona said softly. "This situation is... complicated."
I laughed, the sound bordering on hysterical. "Complicated? That's an understatement. Can someone please tell me what's going on?"
Alpha Dwayne nodded, his expression grave. "Carolina, what I'm about to tell you will sound impossible. But I need you to listen with an open mind. Can you do that?"
I nodded, bracing myself for whatever bombshell was coming.
"You are not human," he said bluntly. "You are a werewolf, like us. You are part of the Blood Moon Pack, one of the most powerful packs in the world."
I stared at him, waiting for the punchline. When it didn't come, I burst out laughing.
"Okay, very funny. Were you trying to make me laugh, maybe lighten the mood a bit? It worked!" I laughed.
But Alpha Dwayne's expression remained deadly serious. "This is no joke, Carolina. You are a werewolf, born with immense power. We had to hide you among humans for your own protection, but now it's time for you to take your place in our world."
My laughter died away as I realized they truly believed what they were saying. "This is insane," I whispered. "Werewolves aren't real. They're stories, myths..."
"I know it's hard to believe," Verona said gently. "But deep down, haven't you always felt different? Haven't there been times when your senses seemed too sharp, your instincts too strong?"
I thought back to moments in the hospital, times when I couldn't explain what I did or what happened, or when I'd heard conversations from very far away.
I'd always chalked it up to good instincts or an overactive imagination. But now...
"This can't be happening," I said, my voice shaking. "Even if... even if what you're saying is true, why tell me now? Why take me away from everything I know?"
Alpha Dwayne leaned forward, his eyes intense. "Because you're in danger, Carolina. Your powers are awakening, and there are those who would use you for their own gain. We needed to bring you home, to teach you about your heritage and help you control your abilities."
My mind reeled, trying to process everything. Werewolves. Powers. Danger. It was too much.
"I need... I need a minute," I said, standing abruptly and walking back to my room.
I walked to the window, seeing a view of manicured gardens. But I didn't feel any better.
I sighed, shaking my head. Werewolves. It was absurd, and yet... a small part of me wondered if it might explain so many things about myself I'd never understood.
A soft knock at the door interrupted my spiraling thoughts. "Come in," I called, half-hoping it was all a dream and I'd wake up back in my own bed.
Instead, a girl about my age poked her head in, a friendly smile on her face. "Hey there," she said. "I'm Dahlia. Your cousin, I guess?"
Despite everything, I found myself smiling back. There was something instantly likable about her. "Hi, Dahlia. I'm Carolina, but... I guess you knew that."
She laughed, stepping into the room. "Yeah, you're kind of the talk of the pack right now. The long-lost princess returns and all that."
I groaned, flopping back on the bed. "Great. Just what I needed."
Dahlia sat beside me, her expression sympathetic. "Hey, I can't even imagine how overwhelming this must be for you. Want to get out of here for a bit? Get some fresh air? I know a great place where we can grab a coffee and talk. Or not talk, if you prefer. Sometimes you just need to get away from all... this." She gestured vaguely at the imposing house around us.
For the first time since I'd arrived in New York, I felt a glimmer of relief. "That sounds perfect," I said. "Lead the way."
As we walked away from the house, I couldn't shake the feeling that my life had been turned upside down in ways I couldn't even begin to understand. But at least, for now, I had found an ally in this strange new world.
Little did I know, the revelations of the day were just the beginning. My journey into the world of werewolves, pack politics, and my own hidden powers was only just beginning.
***************************
The coffee shop Dahlia took me to was a cozy little place tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. As we sat down with our drinks, I felt some of the tension from the day start to melt away.
"So," Dahlia said, stirring her latte, "I'm guessing they dropped the werewolf bomb on you, huh?"
I nodded, still feeling dazed. "Yeah. Among other things. I still can't believe any of this is real."
Dahlia gave me a sympathetic smile. "I can't imagine what you're going through. Finding out you're adopted is one thing, but werewolves? That's a whole other level of crazy."
"You can say that again," I muttered. "How do you deal with it? Being a... you know."
"A werewolf?" Dahlia finished for me, grinning. "It's not so bad once you get used to it. The super strength is pretty cool. And the sense of pack... it's like having a big, sometimes dysfunctional family that always has your back."
I sipped my coffee, trying to process everything. "But how is this even possible? Werewolves are supposed to be myths."
Dahlia shrugged. "We've gotten pretty good at staying hidden over the centuries. Most humans don't want to believe we exist, so they don't see what's right in front of them."
We talked for hours, Dahlia patiently answering my questions and sharing stories about growing up as a werewolf.
By the time we headed back to the pack house, my head was spinning with information, but I felt a little less lost.
As we approached, I saw Alpha Dwayne waiting on the porch, his expression unreadable.
"I hope you enjoyed your excursion," he said as we climbed the steps. "But we have more to discuss, Carolina. I'm afraid we didn't finish earlier. Dinner will be served soon."
I tried not to look too disappointed. So I nodded, suddenly feeling too exhausted from all this. "Okay. I'll just go... freshen up?"
Alpha Dwayne nodded, and I headed back to my room, my mind racing once again. What more could there possibly be to discuss?
An hour later, I found myself seated at an enormous dining table, picking at an elaborate meal I was too nervous to eat. Alpha Dwayne sat at the head of the table, with Felicia and Natalia glaring daggers at me from across the polished wood.
"Carolina," Alpha Dwayne began, his voice solemn. "There's another reason we brought you here, beyond explaining your heritage."
I set down my fork, a sense of dread settling in my stomach. "What is it?"
He took a deep breath. "You've passed the age when most werewolves find their mates. As a woman of your standing and power, it's crucial that you be properly matched. I've summoned Alphas from other packs to meet you. You'll choose a suitor from among them. Or they'll choose you, either way round." He stated.
The words hit me like a physical blow. "What?" I gasped. "You brought me here to... to marry me off?"
"It's an expectation and obligatory," Felicia interjected, her tone cold. "Though I doubt anyone would want a mate who doesn't even know what she is..."
"Mother," Natalia hissed, but her eyes gleamed with satisfaction at my distress.
I stood abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor. "This is insane. I just found out I'm a werewolf, and now you're talking about magical marriages?" I challenged them.
"I have a life! A career! You can't expect me to give all that up to marry a stranger!" I trembled my head in disbelief.
"We've arranged for some potential suitors to visit," he said. "Just to meet you, no pressure. It's traditional for unmated wolves your age."
Alpha Dwayne's eyes flashed with anger. "We've already arranged for some potential suitors to visit. It is your duty as an heiress of this pack."
"I never asked to be part of this pack!" I shouted, surprising even myself with the vehemence in my voice. "I didn't ask for any of this!"
Without waiting for a response, I turned and fled from the dining room. I ran up the stairs, tears blurring my vision, and slammed the door to my room.
As I collapsed onto the bed, sobs wracking my body, one thought echoed through my mind: How had my life spiraled so completely out of control in just a few short days?