Rosie's Book

Chapter 15

So much to unpack, I have no idea where to start. With my eyes moving between all my aunts and uncles, I try to see within their eyes if they have collectively decided to play a cruel prank on me. After a few moments when I do not see anything in their eyes, my focus turns to Jackson. Holding his eyes with mine, we have an unspoken conversation where he can see I am trying to keep my shit together. While we watch each other the silence in the room is almost deafening and the tension burns the air causing my lungs to fill with something I am not familiar with, however, it is enough for me to vacate the room hoping my brother is following me.

"What the fuck was that?" Jackson asks a tone in his voice that is a mixture of confusion and anger in his voice.

"That was a bunch of lies coming from huskies who are actually wolves that happen to shift into humans. But if I have understood the history lesson, they have just dropped into our laps.... ", before continuing and possibly saying something wrong, I take a few deep breaths which allows the information to flow quickly through my mind before I speak. "Scratch that, before we even process the history lesson, I think it is safe to say they are not even shifters but fucking Demigods".

"Rosie! Fenrir, and Nott are their parents, so they are not Demigods" Tori just had to correct me. I watch Jackson pick his words carefully. His mouth opens and closes a few times before he drops his ass to the ground, looks up at me then reaches his hand out for me to join him.

"Rosebud," he looks at me with pain on his face. " Have you grasped what they are trying to tell us?" He brushes my hair behind my shoulders and then begins to plait into a long rope, just like he did when we were kids, and he was trying to keep his hands busy.

"Honestly I have no idea what to think Jackson, it took me a while to understand they were not even huskies but wolves. When we discovered the business, I honestly thought all lies were over. Then Nanny dies and more lies are revealed. " I find myself chewing my lip to prevent myself from screaming or crying. My head leans on his shoulder as I reach for his hands. Thankful for the plat he put in my hair, knowing now it won't blow into my face. I rest my body next to his as we sit silently, contemplating our lives and the information we have just learned.

"Mum and dad were gods. Or would mum be a goddess?" I have no idea why I said that, but something had to be said. I am about to reprimand myself for being silly when two coffees appear in front of us. "Thank you. " I whisper into the air, now understanding why stuff like this happens and who makes it happen. After a few sips of my coffee I push my emotions to one side and allow the Hunter within my soul to appear.

"Before we can decide how to process everything, we need to know the entire history, right up until yesterday." Jackson has spoken my thoughts.

"But they will expect us to research and learn for ourselves. I want to know what this prophecy is and what it means to me. Like hell am I going to get involved with a psycho. Trust me brother, if dad didn't introduce us to his family, he had a reason." Jackson nodded his head in agreement. To us, our dad was a big softy who loved our mother with every fibre of his being, but he loved us more than the air he breathed. He was proud of us and would show us off to everyone and anyone he could. So for him to say his family was dead to him, means they are not someone we need in our lives. Knowing they are involved with the kidnapping of the kids too, only reinforces his decision.

"So it IS my fault these kids were kidnapped. It isn't a coincidence." Taking my phone, I whisper to the grounds for permission to send an encrypted text to the office. The bars on my phone have an icon I have always wondered the meaning of, but now I think I have an idea.

Once the text is sent asking for an update on the case, Jackson and I spend a few more hours sitting and admiring the scenery before deciding to return to the tension that is in the living room.

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"Tell us more about this prophecy and why it relates to me?"

"Sorry pup but we don't know what it is, all we were told is that one day our father and grandmother would appear to the chosen one who can walk in dreams" Angeni looks apologetic, which should help but it doesn't.

"So how do we learn the details of this prophecy without harming my sister?" The concern in Jackson's voice should give me comfort. I know he will always have my back, but with his own problems and the distance that Vampire Queen is trying to build between us, I honestly thought he would leave me alone to handle this. As if he knew what I was thinking, he looks to me and voices his thoughts.

"Did you really think I was going to let you work this out yourself sister of mine?" The guilt is written all over my face, yet it isn't just my brother who his hurt by the truth of my thoughts. The pack who are now speaking our history growl their warning, the warning being we work together.

"We have watched over you, protected you and guided you since the day you were born," Draken turns his focus on Jackson, "both of you. Just because we have kept this family history from you, doesn't mean we are going to stop protecting you now. " He walks towards me cautiously, keeping his eyes on me. "Ástríðr tell Rosie the truth, she will listen to you." Even though I know he is talking to my wolf, his eyes are locked on mine. He can sense I am slowly falling apart inside but am trying to keep it together. We really do not need Romania to witness my outburst and destruction streak.

Tri doesn't talk to me; we can feel each other, and I already know deep down the truth. Tri comforts me by rubbing herself against my soul, reminding me I don't have to apologise for my feelings. She reminds me that we all have problems in our life, it is how we handle them and who we trust to guide us. Besides the family in this room are not just family, they are "Pack". I whisper as my eyes rise and I look each member in the eye silently apologizing for the hurt I have just caused them. Nodding their understanding we prepare for the next chapter in the history of my family.