I watched him stand near the door, innocently ask the question. His face was still heavy with anger for some reason, but I couldn't hold myself. The innocence of his question had me curl my lips inside to contain the smile that was struggling to break free.

Channing narrowed eyes, raising one of his eyebrows. He was fuming and here I was trying not to laugh and failing miserably as a huffed air escaped with a laugh, which I converted to a cough. My fingers covered my lips as I cleared my throat and straightened, "No, I am not a Wi- *clears throat* Witch. I believe you watched me a while ago turn into a werewolf"

The smile on my face was still there. Channing stared at me for a while and my tongue nervously licked my lower lips before biting into them to hold back laughter.

"You might be a Hybrid," he said, walking a little closer to me, looking for answers in my eyes.

I offered him a smile. "A witch's power can never surface in a supernatural being. Hybrids never work. I am a werewolf. Here, have a seat, let me explain." I pointed to the lounge, and he waited a little longer before sitting on one chair of the sofa set. "Do you want some water?"

He shook his head. "You should explain yourself first. Come here, sit"

Even though he pointed to the seat on the sofa next to him, I sat opposite him on the other chair. He was being distant from me and I did not want to take his space, especially if he was having something against me. "Thank you for bringing me home" my words only received a stare as if he was not being patient right now. He sighed and leaned back on the sofa with both his arms on the armrest.

"So you are an Alpha, one of the five Warchilds I suppose" His words were direct instead of the usual diplomatic tone.

I nodded, "Yes, I am a Warchild. Alpha blooded." My eyes took in his expressions, and he was holding back a lot right now, I could tell. I couldn't tell what had him this riled up. Did me hiding all this shook his trust in me?

He Leaned forward, weaving his thick, long fingers through his blonde hair. I could see his jaw clench, revealing the bone at the end of his jawline. Channing's eyes met mine with a little gentleness, "Are you fine?"

"Yes, thank you." He gave a nod, and I did not wait for him to ask this time. "My special abilities are healing. I presume you saw how efficient they are."

Channing impatiently said, "So as a Warchild, you have a developed Blood Noesis. Goddess Luna blessed all of us after all."

That was the part that I never wanted to reveal. Blood Noesis can help you transfer your special abilities into others. Sometimes the transfer does more than just share the Alpha's special ability, it can have other effects if developed. But the Warchilds, the current generation of Alpha, only they developed Blood Noesis.

The previous ones were born past their mother's death in the ritual, but since the Warchilds spent three years by the tree of Goddess Luna. I could connect a lot of dots with Arina, having told me about the ritual.

"I do have the Blood Noesis, it is a given that it allows me to transfer my healing abilities to others." I gulped. Somewhere I trusted Channing blindly. Probably just because he was the first person who spoke by my side. "I- You do understand that such rapid healing abilities will attract all the wrong eyes"

His index finger and thumb gripped his chin, trying to make reasoning, and I could see the rage in his eyes dissolve, bit by bit. "True, that ability is not something you should openly carry around"

My heart sunk in relief. I knew it was not wrong to let him know.

Just imagining how I would be taken captive for my Blood Noesis would make my skin crawl at times. Especially my parents, the king and queen would drain me every passing day for their and my brother's sake. I would be a tortured blood bag that would heal anyone. I did not mind doing it for my brother, but I doubted this much would help him.

"Selene," My head shot back to face Channing, "Don't worry I won't let your abilities known. But..."

He paused, and a frown came to settle on my face. It seemed like he was fitting some pieces inside his head. "What is it, Channing?" It had me worried. Was I at fault?

"Why are you here?" My eyes widened at how to answer that question. His head tilted suspicious of my reaction and his elbows came to rest on his knees, interlacing his fingers as they supported his face. "Where are you from, Selene? Coming to think of it, you have put your name in the registry as the last name. Selene Selene, how dumb is that. I don't know why I ignored it back then. I believe that should also be revealed with a proper explanation"

My lungs felt heavy at his words. It made me realise how he had actually believed in me, to not confront about the wrong last name. Right now, he was talking to me as the Alpha of Winterwells, not the friendly Channing I knew.

"I-I", There was nothing I could do but stutter. If I were to reveal that I was a princess, then I would have broken my promise. Even if Channing hid it, I would feel wrong about breaking my word and go back to the castle before the mission completion. "I can't let you know where I come from, neither my last name" my voice was low.

I should have at least used a false last name, but that would be a lie and I still would have had to explain where I came from.

"If you don't say, I will only jump to wrong conclusions, like a criminal on the run," Channing said, with a coldness it felt like I was being interrogated and yet he was trying to reason with me. "Remember what I told you during John Walter's case. I will not side with the wrong person just because they saved my life. I am a firm believer of equality, and a follower of the order"

My eyes searched his eyes for some warmth, but that look was not there, like when he had warned me with the same words back at the hospital.

I bit my lower lips and, after thinking, I said, "I still can't tell you where I belong to. But I can answer why I am here, and in that, you will understand the reason why I can't share my origin"