Scarlet's Mate

Part Twenty

"Since Yesterday," I looked down at my hands unsure of what to say to her.

"I think it's time I tell you the truth about your family history. It's not an easy story to tell, and it won't be easy to hear. But I'm afraid you may already be in more danger than I originally thought," she glanced away from me at her closet. Without another word she rose and went to retrieve a small box that was hidden under a pile of blankets.

She slowly walks back and sits down in front of me, her hands trembling as she lifts the lid of the small box. Inside were what seemed to be little notes, photos, and nicknacks.

"Scarlet, your grandfather was a werewolf. I'm just a human, and at the time having a human as a mate was extremely uncommon. We had fought many battles just to be able to be together. It wasn't until we had your father that things settled down within the community. Him having the werewolf genes despite being half human, it changed everything," she lifted out a photo from the box. With a smile she handed it over to me.

It was a wolf, light brown fur and dark brown eyes. It was beautiful, "is this dad?"

"Yes, he was a handful that's for sure," she forced a small laugh and continued, "things were mellow after that. We were just another ordinary family like everyone else around here. Things were happy. Then one day your father brought home a girl, she wasn't a wolf and darkness seemed to follow her wherever she went," with a shaky hand she lifted out another photo from the box.

It was my dad. He was young, maybe a teenager, and next to him was a woman with long straight red hair. Something about her smile was off, and the way she was looking at my father made my skin crawl.

"We should've said something," she sighed, "but you know how it is, you say no and that just makes them want it more. Her name was Lily, and she was horrible. Constantly picking fights with everyone who she thought was standing in the way of her and David. Your grandfather and I both agreed to let David find his own way. We knew she wasn't his mate, he was old enough and if it was her he would've known instantly. But he loved her, it was his first real love."

"One night he was out with some friends and that's when he found Tracy, your mother. She was a couple years older than him, and working part time at a local bar. Instantly they were inseparable. Oh- we were so happy. He was so happy with your mother," her hands once again reached into the box and with a smile she handed me the last photo.

It was my dad and my mom, intertwined on the couch, laughing. They looked so happy. I could feel tears flowing down my cheeks but I just let them fall until I felt a hand wipe my face. My grandma was giving me her best 'you will be okay' look. No matter what situation I'm in, it always seems to make me feel better.

"What happened with Lily?" I asked, trying to distract myself.

"Well, she didn't take too kindly to being rejected. Unknown to us at the time, but she was a witch. And she wanted to even the score with the moon goddess for causing her this pain. And so when she found out your mother was pregnant with you, well, she saw her opportunity."

"What opportunity? What did she do to me?" I couldn't help but interrupt.

"She put a curse on your parents. Made it so that no matter how many children they had, none of them will ever be able to access their wolf genes," she looked down at her hands and continued, "your grandfather set out with a group of warriors to find Lily and her coven and make them pay," her voice cracked, "they never came back."

"Oh grandma," I reach over and pull her into a hug. I felt her body shake as she let herself feel the loss all over again. I can't even imagine the pain I would feel if I had lost Elliot.

After another minute or two she pulls away, seeming to have collected herself again. She looks back into the box and pulls out a necklace. She smiles again and hands it over to me, "your grandfather gave me this, I want you to have it."

I look at the pendant with shock, it is absolutely gorgeous. It's a silver wolf surrounded by a golden moon. I reach around my neck and latch it into place, "thank you, I love it."

"It looks great," grandma commented. She gathered the photos again and placed them back into the box, setting it aside before turning towards me again, "so I can only assume by your neck that you have a mate?"

I feel my face heat up and look down at my hands, "yes."

"Can I also assume that Alpha Elliot is your mate?"

"Yes"

"And since you're both marked now, I assume you'll want to spend more time with him?"

"Yes," I cleared my throat, suddenly feeling extremely nervous, "actually I was going to ask you if you'd let me move in with him? I know I know it seems so sudden and I just barely got here, also I'm only 17 so you could say no. Just I love him so much, grandma, and he loves me too. He will protect me, you know he will. And I'll still see you all the time and I promise this won't interfere with my school ethic-"

"Woah Scarlet, honey, take a breath. I know how you feel, and I know what it's like. If you promise to visit and to text me everyday, then I don't see an issue with you moving out. Yes you're 17, but you are beyond a doubt more responsible than most adults I know," she laughs and glances towards the door, "and I know you'll be safer with Elliot than you would be staying here, especially since you're alone half the time."

I squeal and reach for my grandma again, trapping her in a hug, "thank you."

She pats my back nightly, "of course, I love you."

"I love you too," I lean back and a million thoughts bombard me at once. With everything grandma told me I didn't really process it all until now.

My dad dated a witch? A sadistic witch who cursed him? I'm supposed to be a werewolf? What does it all mean? Can the curse be broken?

My mind was hurling questions all over the place, "Witch? Curse? Me? Werewolf? What?" Is all I could manage.

"Yes, witches unfortunately exist. They aren't all bad, but they are all extremely powerful. And yes Scarlet, both your father and your mother were werewolves. You would be too if it wasn't for the curse."

"Can the curse be broken?" I ask, unsure of what I want the answer to be.

"Your parents spent your entire life trying to figure out the answer to that, they were close which is why they were killed," she immediately stopped talking, her face looked mortified as if she had just told me something illegal.

"Wait," my thoughts are quiet as I try to process, "they were, but I was told," I couldn't wrap my head around the idea that someone killed them.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to just blurt it out like that honey. Obviously I couldn't tell you at the time without telling you everything. Which isn't fair, I'm sorry. Just, you were dealing with so much loss, I didn't want to add this to your plate as well."

Without saying anything I stood up and walked towards the door. I heard her say my name but I just needed a minute alone. I was lied to my entire life. Everything I know is a lie. My parents lied, even their death was a lie.

Mindlessly I walked down the hall to where Elliot sat waiting on the couch. He looked at me as if he had been in the room with us. His eyes were understanding and his smile was kind. All the bad feelings seemed to disappear the longer I looked at him. With a sigh I flop down next to him and lay my head on his arm.

"Are you alright?" He asked me softly.

I thought for a long while. Was I alright? No. Did I want to talk about it? No? I ponder what to say, knowing no matter how I answer he would want to make me feel better. So instead I said something that he would actually be able to help with, "I'm hungry."