Marked by the Alphas

Chapter 46: Chapter 46

Elara POV

I run to the front door as fast as I can after receiving the message that I have a visitor.

“Mama,” I throw my arms around her waist, and she hugs me tightly. “You’re here.”

It is surreal to see her standing there in the entryway of the Constantine mansion. I left home for the mating ceremony barely a week ago, but it feels like a lifetime ago.

“Oh, my beautiful girl,” she smiles, pulling back from me, and studying my face.

I see my own reflection in her green eyes and cinnamon-red hair. Her nose is covered in way more freckles, though, a trait she passed down to my sister instead of me.

“I miss you,” she says before I can say another word, but her eyes travel over my shoulder, and I turn around to see what she is looking at.

“Mother, this is Gabriela,” I smile brightly, relieved that it is not Axel or Kane.

I have been avoiding them since last night. I lose myself when I am with them, and I need a clear mind to figure out who I am.

“Yes,” Mother blinks in surprise. “I know.” freewebnσvel.cøm

“Of course, you do,” I grin sheepishly. Gabriela is the Luna. Everyone knows who she is.

“Nice to see you again, Julia,” Gabriela greets politely, and an uneasiness passes over me. Did Gabriela say again? There seems to be more than polite recognition between them. But Mother never told me she knew Luna Gabriela. “Please join us in my living room.”

I am uncertain if I should be flattered or concerned that Gabriela invited us to her quarters. Mother came because I invited her. I never anticipated that Gabriela would join us.

As soon as we sit, Mother turns to me.

“What is it, my darling?” She asks, her brow furrowed with concern.

“Something happened,” I confess, taking a deep breath and telling her everything. “And now I have all of these questions, and I am worried that you might lie to me if I couldn’t look you in the eye.”

“Oh, my,” Mother smiles stiffly as she fumbles with her blouse’s top button while glancing from Gabriela to me.

“Am I really part vampire?” The words tumble out as I anxiously look at her.

“Honey,” Mother sighs, her hands knitting together in her lap.

“Please,” I sit forward in my seat, placing my hand on top of hers, forcing her to meet my gaze. “Just tell me.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Gabriela give Mother a small nod. What the hell is going on between them? Does Gabriela already know about this?

For a brief second, I can relate to Axel and Kane. Learning that people you love and trust, keep secrets from you, sucks.

“Yes, you are,” Mother finally replies bluntly. “My father was a vampire, likely with some human blood, otherwise, it would’ve been nearly impossible for him to reproduce.”

What the fuck?

“Did you just plan on keeping this from me for the rest of my life?!” I demand furiously.

“Elara, you must understand,” Mother looks at me pleadingly. “I kept this from you to protect you.”

“If one more person tells me it is for my own good, I’ll ...”

“It’s not just about you,” her voice breaks, and I look at her in shock. “If the Council ever finds out, they wouldn’t stop at killing you. They’ll kill me and your sister.”

“That’s why you had that witch do the spell?” I ask, and she looks at me in surprise.

“An elder told me,” I shrug.

“Yes,” she answers. “It was supposed to bind itself to you and Selena so your vampiric powers would never awaken. And no one would be the wiser.”

“Except,” I exhale deeply. “It didn’t work. My vampire side did awaken. And what about Selena? Did the spell work for her?”

Another look passes between Mother and Gabriela, and boiling rage bubbles up from deep inside me. They are still shutting me out and not telling me the whole story.

“Oh, come on!” I snap. “This isn’t gossip during high tea, this is my life we’re talking about. I have the right to know. In fact, one can say my life depends on knowing.”

“We don’t know,” Gabriela answers calmly. “Selena’s sixteen. We have two years to figure it out. You, however, are out of time.”

A look of fear washes over Mother’s face, and an uncomfortable heat begins to creep up my neck.

“How many people know about this, Elara?” Mother asks.

“Kane, Axel, Braden and I,” Gabriela jumps in before I can respond.

“Braden?” Mother looks confused. “You mean the vampire from ...?”

“Yes,” Gabriela snaps sharply.

Braden, from what? First Anton knew him, and now my own damn mother?!

“Before you ask,” My mother says. “Your dad doesn’t know.”

I expected her to explain the whole Braden thing, but this caught me off guard. Why the hell does he not know?

“I never told them that I have vampire blood,” Mother swallows hard. “So, I certainly wasn’t going to tell them about their daughters.”

A pang of sadness jolts through me as I think of my mother, hiding who she really is from her mate. I think of Kane and Axel, and how nothing changed when they found out who I was. Or at least ... it did not appear to. I never considered that this was not the norm, that there is a world in which a mate might harm me for revealing my true self.

“You can’t stay like this, Elara,” Gabriela says solemnly. “Not when more and more people are finding out about you. It’s too risky.” freewebnøvel.com

“What’s the alternative?” I huff. “Can I make the vampire side of me go away?”

“There is one way,” Mother inhales deeply, staring into space. “We could cast the same spell on you that was cast on me.”

“But it didn’t work,” I protest. “If it did, we wouldn’t have this conversation.”

“It worked partially,” Mother replies. “I’m concealed, but it was supposed to cover you as well. That’s the part that didn’t work.”

“But ...” Gabriela raises her eyebrows.

“But what?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper. The tension in the room grows thick, and my palms start sweating.

“But if you do the spell,” Mother looks at me sympathetically. “You’ll give up all your memories.”