"What does he mean?" I asked.

I turned my attention towards Pollux this time since he was giving me a wary expression now. He shifted his weight, glancing around the room as he mulled over his words.

"It's not one hundred percent certain..."

"What isn't? What's going on?" I asked. "Please just come out with it, I'm getting tired of all this new information."

He nodded and pursed his lips. "Our line of Lycans have never bred across other species... Over five hundred years, there are hardly any of us. Our parents simply bred with another Lycan line and that's it, there's no one else but us. Our grandparents have been around for five hundred years.

"There has been only one rumoured case in Lycan history of a mate being found in a different species and that came from our cousin's bloodline. The werewolf was Beta blood who marked her Lycan mate and sent him into an unwaking coma. Eventually, when she passed away from the heartbreak he woke not knowing that so much time had passed and she had died. Supposedly the healer experimented and found poison in his bloodstream, so they believed the mate mark poisoned him. They kept it very secretive, it is only rumour..."

"But that surely won't happen to me right? Like that's just unfair, why would the Moon Goddess do that to us? Give us mates and then kill us?" I grumbled.

Pollux gave me a tight smile. "It is rumoured. We do not know the full extent of why her marking him did not work."

"Well, what do you believe?" I asked.

He hesitated, glancing at Phoenix briefly. "Honestly? ...I believe they were not moon mates or they had bad blood and were cursed because of it. But many believe it was due to the species mix. You know as we all do when you mark your mate you share each other's life source... A Lycan is stronger and so being bitten by a werewolf weakens them when the wolf takes their blood through the bite... So rumour believes that the werewolf took his life force completely and caused him to become comatose... But like you said, why would the Moon Goddess do that to them? She created us and created mate bonds to strengthen our community. Our whole lives seem to revolve around mates."

"Maybe..." I looked down at my hands. "So even if we did mark each other, it could still happen... we wouldn't know for sure until it happens."

I pressed my fingers into my eyes, trying to absorb all the information from the last hour. It was hard to base my mate bond on rumour. I heard chairs creak as someone shifted their weight and the room fell into silence. Phoenix's scent suddenly grew closer and I felt his hand grasp my wrists in his own.

I found him squatting in front of me, his sad hazel eyes looking up at my face. He studied me silently for a moment, keeping my hands in his grasp.

"If we ever got to that point, we would have to decide together Nova. I'm not doing anything without you anymore." He muttered.

I felt tears build in my eyes, the stress of my very being was overwhelming. I had so much to understand. I was a Lycan, I was cursed, I had a twin brother who thought I was dead all my life, and the fact I might slip into a coma if I was to be marked.

Phoenix dropped my arms and his thumb came up to cup my cheek like it always did. He smiled gently at me, his thumb rubbing away the silent tears. He had changed. He was back to the gentleman I first met. I wish I could just jump in his arms and act like nothing ever happened. But I couldn't, I felt hurt by him keeping me strung along; for keeping me in the dark.

My hand came up to hold his against my face and I breathed a small sigh to calm myself down. The warmth of his touch helped soothe me, even Cel purring in contentment at his kind gesture. He was there for me, right now when I needed it. I just wish he was there for me always. He had proved he was on the sidelines these past few months, but he allowed me to think I would be rejected.

I was so confused and conflicted.

"You're going to be okay Nova." He whispered, taking our hands away to my knee.

I studied his handsome face, the beard he had grown the past week was scruffy and unkept as much as his hair. I wondered if he had showered if he had eaten at all since he looked paler than usual.

I inhaled deeply, raising my head from looking down at my lap. I needed to think. I needed to regulate myself right now and think about what needed to be done. It wasn't about me anymore; it was about all those girls and women locked in cages and treated like dirt. I got out of there, now it was their turn.

I needed to be a Luna.

"We need a plan of action," I stated.

I turned my attention to Sean, who sat uncomfortably in the corner. I knew he had feelings for me, and I knew Phoenix had warned him away from me. He was still my friend, but right now I needed him as Gamma.

"Sean, we need a plan," I stated.

"So soon?" Charlie frowned.

I nodded, my hand still grasping Phoenix's. "They keep them in silver cages, beat and rape them when they want to. They have control and think they are going to win. They have Raven; forcing her to do their bidding. We need to save those women and take down the enemy force."

"I thought you hated fighting." Sean frowned.

I shrugged. "It has to be done. Those women can't suffer any more than they already have. We need to gather our information. I'm sure you have some."

"What changed your mind?" Phoenix suddenly asked.

"I killed someone out there...me. He tried to take advantage of me since I was already injured; to beat me and then kill me. I realised once I ran away, that I had to do it. Cel reminded me that if I didn't he would've killed me and it was that moment I saw clarity. It's a scary world out there and I can't keep hiding from it." I explained, my stomach doing flips.

His hazel eyes scanned me before he silently nodded and stood to his feet. I watched him stand as he kissed my hand and then let go. He smoothed out his shirt and walked around to his desk whilst the others sat silently. He rummaged through some papers before setting some on the top. He moved away to a wall and gestured to a map he had stapled to a board.

"This is what we have. It's mainly about their strategy; they attacked the bigger packs first then moved in on the smaller ones once they got more confident." He stated, gesturing us forwards.

The five of us gathered around his desk and I studied his paperwork. I was full of determination. I was part of this pack as much as anyone so I knew I had to help.

"So they just kidnapped five girls from Ash Tree pack, and we estimate they're going to hit Atlas pack next. I have a list of all the girls and women they have taken from each pack here... and they are averaging three to five per pack." He explained, pointing out a sheet of paper on his desk.

I took the page and scanned it, noticing Felicity and Rose's names towards the bottom of the sheet.

"One of the girls there said that there was a woman who had been taken years ago. I think it may be good to look further back than a couple of years." I hinted.

His eyebrows creased but he nodded. "I'll look into it."

I smiled lightly and continued to scan the sheet of paper. Out of curiosity, I looked for my old pack, but to my surprise did not find it there. I froze in fear; they were a large pack with over two hundred members. Surely they would be hit by now if what Phoenix had worked out was true?

"You've got something. What is it?" Pollux suddenly asked, coming to stand beside me.

I noticed he wasn't much taller than me, perhaps a few inches. He smelt of pine trees weirdly, and up close I could see how identical our eye colour really was. He blinked back at me, seeming to study me the same.

I shook my head and looked back down at the paper. "My old pack isn't on here."

"So?" He asked, confused.

"They have over two hundred pack members. So if what you all have worked out is true, why haven't they lost females?" I questioned, glancing at each of them.

Their faces all hardened as if the thought just occurred to them too. They shared a look but the piece of paper was taken from my hand by Charlie. He scanned it just as much as I did before his brown eyes looked up at me in surprise.

"She's right. They're not on here."

"So what does that mean?" I asked.

"They can't be surely..." Charlie mumbled.

"It would make sense if they were," Pollux added

"If they were what?" I asked before pausing. "Do you think they are a part of this?"

Pollux kept his face void of too much emotion as he stared at me. "Potentially. They haven't had any kidnappings or trouble with rogues in a long time. Alpha Damien has retired now his son is taking over. It would make sense if they were helping the rogues out."

I swallowed harshly, my throat becoming dry. My parents were still at that pack, would they know if something was up?

"That's true," Charlie grumbled, casting me a worried glance. "They have been unusually quiet too. They send me their expenditure reports every week without fail; they're doing good. Almost too good."

We all fell into a tense silence again, and I turned to see Phoenix glaring down at his computer. He clicked something a few times before standing straight and rubbing his jaw in concentration.

"What have you found?" I wondered, walking towards him.

His eyes followed my every move until I stood in front of him. I saw the charts Charlie had been talking about and studied them. He was right. Their expenditure was almost a perfect break even to their profits. I glanced at the numbers on the screen; quickly noticing their population had grown since I left.

I touched the screen immediately at the number. "They've gained fifteen new members since I left. That's something to look into."

Phoenix came closer as he leaned down over me, his arms coming to either side of me as he leaned off the desk again. My breath hitched as his closeness and I caught Charlie's eye. He smirked at me, wriggling his eyebrows.

Phoenix hummed, the deep grumble of his chest making my hairs stand on end. His presence was eating me alive, the sudden attention I was receiving was blissful. And it was merely his arms and chest resting against my back and shoulders.

He moved away, taking the warmth with him. "We will have to set up an end-of-month report. Blame it on supply issues or something."

Charlie nodded in response but I spoke first.

"Tell them I've been taken," I stated.

The men in front of me turned to stare at me in question.

"It'll be good to gauge their reaction." I shrugged. "I will tell my parents after their initial reaction; I hate to do it to them but it needs to be believable. Alpha Steven always claimed he cared for me so it'll really test him I think."

Phoenix hummed and I stepped to the side to look at him too. He was frowning, deep in thought.

"I don't trust him. I haven't since the moment I met you and you coincidentally had his blood in your system."

Pollux clicked his tongue. "Explain."

Phoenix shifted in his feet. "The Alpha's daughter had her eighteenth party and I sent Charlie there to scout it out and make an appearance. He first met Nova in the ballroom after a spill accident from another wolf. He noted how she did not react to his Beta wolf. He also noted how frail she seemed. When he returned home I debriefed him and we were both intrigued by the thought."

Charlie nodded. "I thought you were strange to be able to look me in the eye. And I could see you winced at certain movements. I had an idea, one that I hoped was true."

Pollux licked his lips. "You thought she was his mate?"

Charlie nodded and I shifted on my feet. I hated being talked about, but if it got the conversation moving to an important part I'd have to deal with it.

"So I arranged a visit for a welfare check. The day I met Nova she was full of Alpha blood. I knew she had to be my mate from the instant attraction and the electrics from the bond. But she had no wolf nor smelt pure and it confused me." Phoenix frowned. "Turns out she was beaten regularly and after she 'showed up the pack' she came into the room smelling of blood. That's when I realised she had a transfusion. The little swine of an Alpha knew she was not treated fair, by his own mate of all people, and pumped her with his blood to hide the fact. He must've put some ideas together from the party night and noticed she was beaten the night before we came."

I frowned this time. "He was just helping me..."

Phoenix sighed, and shook his head. "He was protecting his own skin Nova. If he was helping you, truly helping you, he would've stopped the bullying years ago."

My frown deepened, sadness overwhelming me. Was my old Alpha really that bad? Did he not care for me at all like I thought he did?

"But Damien raised me for a year when they found me... I don't understand."

Pollux and Phoenix shared glances, an unspoken agreement between them. I watched them, pleading with my eyes to tell me that my whole life isn't a lie as it was turning out to be.

Pollux spoke first. "He must've heard about my family being killed, and burnt to the ground. The stream you were found, close to the border no? What if you were never in their territory? What if they hadn't just found you?"

I furrowed my eyebrows, lulling it over. "You're saying... they knew I was Lycan? All this time?"

"Would make sense." Pollux smiled sadly. "A Lycan pack gets taken down in fire... an infant child happens to pass by their pack... you have been abused your whole life, made to think you are nothing... They never show interest in you, and give you an Omega title. They knew what they were doing..."

"And when I got to shifting age... And I didn't shift... it became worse." I whispered.

Phoenix nodded, his hand coming to rest on my waist. "I'm sorry Nova. It all adds up rather well. They've been too perfect for a long time now."

I blinked back the tears. "Everything in my life...is all wrong. Nothing is what it really is..."

He hesitated in replying and I was shocked when he suddenly pulled me into his chest. I froze at the touch, the comforting warmth of his embrace was sudden. I hesitated, sniffling before accepting his comfort and wrapping my arms around his waist.

After everything that's happened, everything that's gone wrong... I needed this, I needed something secure and right now Phoenix was giving me just that.

I sniffled, burying my cheek in his warm chest. He let out a small grumble and wrapped his arms tighter around my back. I felt safe in his arms like nothing would ever hurt me again.

"We will get to the bottom of this Nova. You will have justice I promise you." Charlie broke the silence.

Justice.

My whole life was a lie.

Treated like dirt to break my spirit, kept in the dark my whole life. Was my pack really who they said they were? Were they bad guys all along? And why did I not remember anything? I barely remember the fire, my birth mother... yet Pollux does.

My parents...Leo... did they know about any of this?

I shakily inhaled, lifting my head from Phoenix's shirt. The three of them were watching us, waiting for the next reaction. They were angry, I could sense it. But I knew they'd stand by me and support me, they were my true friends.

•••

- to help any confused, this ain't incest 😂😂 I have taken this from the sequel where I have done an in-depth one.

There is no spoiler to read the one , but If you travel to the sequels, there is loads so dont 😂

(editing the pic bare with)

Phewwww just watching the england final vs Italy. Mad mad mad things hahah

Did you like this plot twist??

All will be revealed eventually hehe

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