Chapter 61: Truth About The Alpha
Adrian barely steps through the condo door before Anna appears from the kitchen.
She is wearing one of his oversized shirts again, her blonde hair tied into a loose ponytail as though she’s trying to look domestic.
"Oh, you’re back." She smiles softly. "I just finished making lunch. You came home just in time."
Adrian doesn’t even look at the table. "I’m not staying."
Her face drops. "Oh. Where are you going?"
"I’m heading to the mansion for a few hours."
Almost instantly, she smiles again. "Then wait for me! I’ll go get dressed so we can visit Mother together."
Adrian’s expression is completely flat. "I’m going alone."
She shuffles on her feet. "But... wouldn’t Luna Selene worry if I’m left alone again?"
Ah, the classic manipulation Adrian has grown to hate. He clenches his jaw. "You’re not a child, Anna. I’ll be back in two hours at most. Don’t do anything crazy."
Without waiting for another response, Adrian picks up his car keys from the counter. "Lock the door after me."
The condo door clicks shut behind him.
---
The familiar iron gates of the Blackwood Mansion slowly slide open as Adrian’s SUV rolls into the driveway.
"The Alpha is currently in his office with the Luna," Miss Roseline, the head maid, reports the moment he steps out.
Perfect timing.
Without another word, Adrian climbs the huge staircase toward the second floor.
His steps quietly pass his old bedroom--nostalgia hitting him like a brick--before he turns down the left wing until he reaches the familiar oak doors.
He sighs, rubbing his temple as the Oracle’s words echo through his mind once more.
If you truly bear the mark of an Enigma, then there is no possible way your parents didn’t already know.
It’s now or never... Adrian raises a hand and knocks.
"Come in." His father’s deep voice comes from the other side.
Adrian pushes the door open to reveal his father, Alpha Darius, sitting behind his desk reviewing documents, while Luna Selene occupies the sofa nearby with a cup of tea.
Both of them look up at the same time.
Their smiles fade the moment they see the unusually serious expression on their son’s face.
He turns to his mother first, not bothering with pleasantries. "Mom, I asked you to call me when Dad comes back. I had to hear about it from Mr. Ramon."
Mr. Ramon is his father’s Beta and personal assistant. Each Alpha of a pack has one sworn to loyalty to them the moment they step in.
"I was going to call you." His mother sighs. "He just came back. But now that you’re here..."
Luna Selene and her mate exchange a questioning look. "What did you want to talk to us about?"
Adrian doesn’t bother to sit.
He just grabs the hem of his shirt and pulls it over his waist, exposing the small black marking resting just above his hip.
The room falls silent.
Luna Selene’s hands shake on her lap, and Adrian notices. Even his father, always calm and composed, freezes behind his desk.
His heart sinks.
The oracle wasn’t lying..they knew.
"So..." His voice sounds cold, but they don’t meet the hurt behind it. "What is this?"
None of his parents speak.
He lets out a bitter laugh, turning to face his mother first. "I asked you, Mom! I asked if there was anything you were hiding from me, and you lied to my face!"
"Adrian..." she whispers, her voice shaky.
He looks between both of them. "You know something, so just answer me! Look me in the eyes and explain why you lied about my identity my whole life!"
The tension in the room feels like it could spark and cause a fire. No one is making eye contact.
Finally, Alpha Darius sighs heavily and removes his glasses. "...Who told you?"
Adrian laughs again, but there isn’t a trace of humor in it. "It’s not important."
"Answer my question. Who told you?" his father repeats firmly.
"You have no right to ask that right now." Adrian feels his pulse pounding in his ears. "Just tell me the truth! Tell me what’s going on!"
Instead of responding, they look at each other again. Adrian can tell they’re communicating secretly--just like how he and Nyra can feel what the other is feeling through their bond.
After a few minutes of silence, Alpha Darius sighs and breaks it first. "There are things about your birth I prayed you’d never have to learn."
Adrian blinks. "What happened?" And how come he has never heard of them?
As if reading his mind, his father continues. "We kept what happened hidden, that’s why you never heard about it."
He rounds the table, exhaling loudly. "I have an illegitimate brother. One that wasn’t particularly pleased when the Goddess chose me as future Alpha."
Adrian is very familiar with tales like this. Brothers turning on brothers because of power. Adrian luckily might never experience it himself, because he is the only child.
"He managed to bribe his way through the council, got some members on his side..." Darius continues quietly, "...they believed he would be a better fit as Alpha."
"Around that time, your mother had you. Then we saw that mark, and we were terrified of him finding out and using you against Moon-Crest."
Adrian blinks in surprise. He knew his father had one brother, Dorian’s father--he never knew there was another brother.
There’s a lot about this family he doesn’t know, apparently.
Luna Selene lowers her gaze. "We aren’t proud of it, but we also killed the midwife that found the mark."
His blood runs cold. For the first time in his life, he sees his parents in a different light.
Her eyes become glassy with guilt. "We didn’t want anyone to know. It was all a mess --but all that mattered at that time was hiding it."
"That’s why we lied to you. To everyone." His father admits. "Trained you as a dominant Alpha instead."
Adrian feels like the floor has disappeared beneath him. "But you also lied to me! About my entire life!"
"No, no. We only did it because we were trying to protect you." Luna Selene wipes a stray tear. "After he died, we should have told you everything... but we couldn’t bring ourselves to trust the council again."
Alpha Darius nods grimly. "We created a new council, but we had no way of knowing who might use that information against us. We couldn’t afford to take that risk."
Adrian’s shoulders sag. "But what about me? Why didn’t you tell me? You don’t trust me too?"
Luna Selene steps closer. "We always intended to tell you when you turned twenty."
"Twenty?" Adrian scoffs. "How do I know you’re not lying about this too? How can I ever trust anything you tell me ever again!?
"You will later understand why we did this." His father says firmly.
"But for now...Adrian, you need to be careful. Now that you are aware of your true nature, your instincts may begin awakening."
His face grows harder and more serious than ever. "And if the wrong people discover that the future Alpha of Moon-Crest is an Enigma..."
"...they’ll try to use you."