Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

Alora POV

"It's an adoption certificate." The words exit my mouth more clumsily than I had wanted. Yet they are heard all the same. Words she clearly didn't ever expect me to say.

She stops eating, her mouth opening slightly in shock before her eyes dart to Than who remains by my side.

"Ah I see. Goddess now that takes me back." She places her cutlery down, dotting the side of her mouth with a napkin.

"Do you know anything about this Mother?" Than is just as curious as to what she knows.

He takes a step forward, sitting next to her at the table. I move towards Than's chair, my hands resting on the beautifully carved wooden headrest. I need his closeness still to help calm my nerves.

In reality, I'm asking one adopted family about another. They aren't my real parents either but Medea and Damon have been here for me since I can remember.

Stepping up when my parents died to give me a home and support me. I wouldn't want to hurt their feelings either.

"Of course I do Than, it was Father and I that needed to approve Alora joining the pack. I did think the boxes had been checked..." She rolls her eyes, irritation presenting before she corrects herself. "Why didn't they ever tell me?"

"Too be honest dear I had forgotten. You became such an important part of our daily lives, spending all your time with Than...I didn't give it another thought. And I imagine your parent's would have told you, they didn't expect to leave you so soon." She's right.

My parents were most likely going to wait until I was of age to tell me. I was a happy child, why rock the boat when things were plain sailing for me...whilst they were still alive.

Things only started to deteriorate after their close deaths,

To me it doesn't change anything, I was still their daughter and I never felt anything but their daughter. I was truly loved by them.

But now all I can think about is who my birth parents are. Of the woman that gave birth to me.

"Do you know who Alora's parents are?" Than must be picking up on my emotions, as he asks the most important question of all..

"No, these things are very hush hush. I imagine it was a teenage mother without a mate. It's more common than you think,"

"There's nothing? No leads on where she was born, who her mother is?" Than seems just as dissatisfied with Medea's answer as I am. NôvelDrama.Org content.

"Everything should be in the boxes. I can see if Father kept anything on file but I remember at the time your parents Alora, they headed up the adoption themselves. They just asked for our permission and for us to accept you into the pack. I'm sorry dear I can't be any more helpful on the matter. Now, what have I missed?"

The topic turns quickly onto matters of pack business and I find myself feeling disappointed.

I thought this would lead somewhere, lead me to perhaps a family I didn't even know existed.

I'm quiet for the rest of breakfast, letting Medea and Than discuss pack things as they usually do.

I don't think Than even notices that their conversation has moved on to his office, the door was now almost closed and I was alone in the dinning room. Staring at all this uneaten food, at all this effort gone to waste.

My mood dampens. I'm starting to feel deflated and more alone than ever.

To find out that my parents weren't really my parents is life changing. But for them to not be here to explain it themselves...perhaps I'll never get to know the full truth.

I tidy up, ensuring the kitchen is clean and everything I used has been neatly placed away. Freya is the female beta, not the housekeeper, even though she has been used as such too much lately.

I refuse to let her clean up after my mess.

Carrying dirty kitchen towels to put in the laundry room I walk past Than's office to find the door still slightly ajar. My body freezes when I hear my name being mentioned.

"Than, she'll know if I'm not really planning a ceremony. Alora isn't stupid."

"Then just pretend Mother, pretend you are planning an event for our ceremony. Get the invites designed for her to approve. Pretend you are inviting alphas and lunas...anything to keep her thinking it is happening. But it can't yet happen....I'm not ready to lose the link to Kaia, not yet."

Ebony Woods Author