Alec’s

His words ring in my ear. I get what he is saying. I understand the words, but I can't seem to grasp their meaning.

Adopted. Adopted.

How am I adopted? Of everything that has happened, not once had it ever crossed my mind that I may not be the biological child of my parents.

"H-how?" I stammer the words as I try to make sense of what he just told me.

"Billy and Christine couldn't have children," Martin begins, his worried eye scanning my face.

How are you supposed to react when you find out that you were adopted? That the people you thought were your parents aren't. Should I consider this a lie? That my entire life has been a freaking lie? And why didn't anyone tell me? Hell, my dad should have included that big fact in the letter he left me.

"I don't understand," I whisper in confusion, as my gaze latches on to him.

"Like I said, Billy and Christine couldn't have kids. They had tried for years with no success. When the doctor told them they would never be able to have a biological child, it all but shattered them. It took a while for them to recover from the devastating blow, but when they did, they decided to adopt." He pauses to take a breath before continuing.

"You know the orphan programme we have here, and you also know that couples are allowed to adopt from the orphanage if they wish to. They signed up to adopt. They wanted a small baby, since babies are a clean slate. Before their request could be approved though, Christine went to the Alpha with a baby, saying she wished for her to be made part of the pack."

I sigh and run my hand through my hair, untangling it from the messy bun on top of my head. I don't need to be told who the baby was. I could already guess.

"We questioned her, afraid that she might have taken someone's baby. She said that she was picking flowers like she usually did when she heard a cry. When she investigated, she found you wrapped in blankets hidden behind a tree with a note asking her to take care and protect you with everything she has."

Even in my state of mind, I note that it was an unusual request.

"She showed us the piece of paper that had been tapped into your blanket. We convened because, after all, there were risks to just taking in an unknown baby. What if you were from an enemy pack, and they wanted to use you to stage an attack? We were to send you to one of the many orphanages when we got a call from an Oracle. She told us to accept you into the pack."

That is even weirder, but with how things have been weird these past few weeks, I'm not all that surprised. Things just kept on unfolding in ways that I wasn't really prepared for.

"Billy didn't have a problem. He would do anything his mate wanted. Christine wanted you and so they adopted you." He finishes finished with his eyes still focused on me.

I look from Micah, then back to Alec. They both looked as shocked as I was. I guess they also didn't know I was adopted. Meaning, I was never truly a member of this pack. It would explain why I never fit in. "Why did no one tell me?" I question the elders, glaring at each one of them. "And how come no one bothered to find out who my real parents are or where I came from?"

A blonde elder answers, "After the oracle told us to let you stay, we weren't really bothered. We know it was the goddess's plan, and so we let it happen. As for why we didn't tell you, we saw no need. You had settled well, you were healthy and well taken care of, we saw no need to interrupt your life."

I lean back against my seat. A lot of things now make sense. It would explain why my parents weren't all that warm towards me in the first place. There weren't warm hugs growing up, whispered words of affection, family times, achievement celebrations, such things.

I never took it personally. I had Piper and that was okay with me. I just always thought that it was how they were. That it was in their nature. Now, I'm starting to wonder if it's because I wasn't their biological daughter.

"So, no one knows who my biological parents are?" I ask, feeling my heart sink at the thought that my parents had given me up.

"I'm sorry, but no," Martin answers. "Even if we'd wanted to find out who your parents are or where you came from, there wasn't a way to. Whoever left you didn't leave a single trace. It's almost like you just appeared in that field."Content held by NôvelDrama.Org.

I didn't want to think about that. There has to be something. Someone must have left me.

"Nyx," I call to her, wanting her presence with me. "Is what they said true?"

I just need to confirm it. Some part of me was having a hard time accepting that my parents aren't my real biological parents.

"Yes," she answers in a soft voice.

She pushes her warmth, trying to comfort me, but doesn't say anything else. She doesn't expound on it. I have so many questions. I want to ask. Ask if she knows our real parents. I am too emotionally drained though. Today has just been too much.

Alec begins, pulling my attention to him, "Could it be that whoever left her knew about her powers? About what was to come?"

"Otherwise, why ask Christine to protect her?" Micah finishes for him.

It would make sense. It does make sense, but fuck, I'm too tired to even think straight. This day has been full of nothing but revelations. I just want a freaking break to take in everything I've learned. I am about to let everyone know that I'm leaving when the door suddenly bursts open.

"What the fuck!" Alec growls angrily as Raven rushes.

I stop, deep down knowing that my ride is far from over.

She looks stressed, frantic and worried... what has me freezing though, is the fear etched on her face.