The Beast

Chapter 25 - Bombshells

    "I'm sorry, what?" I stood up to create some distance from my mother. How could they have known we were mates? I turned to Maia and Marcus to see if they had kept this from me, but based on their bewildered expressions, they had no clue.

    Juliette sighed and adjusted her long tan sweater. "I knew we would have to tell you eventually, I only wish we had done it sooner." She smoothed out her nice jeans and crossed one leg over the other.

    "Back before Barlowe took over, his older brother was actually our king." She spoke as if she were reliving her past to us. "He was a kind man, but his mate died tragically young. His only family was Barlowe and his mate. He treated all packs fairly and threw parties every end of year to celebrate our successes."

    "You were three years old when we decided to take you and your brother with us for the first time. You always loved the castle, and the way your face lit up made the trip magical. Of course, that was also the year Elliot Barlowe had decided to announce his son. He was two years older than you, but up until that day no one knew he existed."

    I watched as my mother's usually bright eyes dulled under the weight of her story. What happened to his son? Why did Barlowe become king?

    "He was so young, but already showed the power and strength that the royal bloodline possessed. He was named Ronarias Emery Barlowe after his great grandfather, Arias James Emmet Barlowe." I sucked in a breath as she stared at me with knowing eyes, and hazily dropped back onto the spot next to her to continue to listen.

    "We were all naturally confused, until he had also announced his son's mother-the mate of his younger brother, Cecilia White. At some point, she had cheated on Barlowe with his older brother and fallen pregnant. Of course, we were honored to meet the future king, and you were so excited to see all the new people. We stood in the long line and watched as Alpha after Alpha introduced themselves and bowed to the small boy, but his eyes seemed to be searching for something. Once we reached the front, he stepped forward and was instantly drawn to you."

    I sat straight and cleared my throat once I realized my eyes had slowly made their way over to Arias' sleeping face. "I don't understand. How is that possible? He was so young."

    She smiled sweetly and patted my knee. "Royal blood are connected with their wolves from birth. They can communicate the way we do now, but they don't shift until they are thirteen. That's why he is stronger and more in tune with his animal side."

    I carefully wove my hand with his warming one and held onto it tightly.

    "When your father and I realized what was happening, we weren't sure what to do. You were the future Alpha King's mate, but you were also our first born and meant to take over your father's position."

    I choked on my breathing and smacked my chest to clear up my lungs. Marcus had scooted his chair closer and was now on the edge of the cushion, staring at our mother with an expression of confusion and anger.

    "What do you mean she's first born?" He growled, gripping the arm of the chair that Maia wasn't leaning on. "Why the hell have I been training for this position that I knew I wasn't built for?" Normally I would have stopped him from raging in my mate's hospital suite, but I was too desperate to hear her excuse.

    She tucked a loose strand of her blonde hair behind her ear and sighed. "Your father really should be here for this conversation." She mumbled, glaring at the door to the hallway. "We sat Elliot down and discussed how to handle everything. You were far too young to handle a mate, and we wanted you to have a normal life before being thrown into everything."

    "We agreed to keep you separated at least until you were eighteen and meant to naturally meet your mate. He even came up with the idea to lie and say Marcus was older so we wouldn't leave our pack without an Alpha once you left to be with Ronarias. We thought it was the best outcome for everyone."