Joshua's Secret

Blake and Jasmine

Here is chapter 4 I hope you enjoy this. It's a long one considering I didn't update anything for about a month.

Joshua POV

"Finally! A day off!" I cheered softly to myself. I was able to get the much-needed rest I deserved after enduring seven long weeks of rigorous and intensive training. The demonic instructor called in sick that morning, and because everybody was so busy preparing for my birthday party, nobody else was able to take the instructor's place. If my parents weren't at home at that moment, I would have considered running around the house while playing some music on my Bluetooth speaker. I got out of bed a few minutes earlier to start my daily morning routine.

I jumped into the shower, scrubbing my skin properly for the first time in weeks. I sighed happily as I felt all the accumulated dirt and dead skin on my body get exfoliated and washed away by the scalding hot water. I left the shower in pure bliss. I was going to remain this clean for the rest of the day and not get mud all over myself, like I usually would during training. I put on my finest turtleneck sweater that had a large logo of the number seventeen in front. I gazed at my reflection in the mirror, and I smiled.

"Looking better, in like, ever," I guffawed. I left the bathroom and went to the desk. I planned on spending the entire morning reading books and writing some essays before lunch. After a nice meal, I would soak in the rays of the afternoon sun and appreciate nature (from inside my room, of course!). Then, I would end the day with dinner and stargazing. I would refer from various books and turn the small white dots in the black sky into intricate and beautiful constellations. Ah, yes! Thinking about this made me quiver in excitement.

I heard a knock on the door, making me snap out of my thoughts. Perhaps my plans for a good reading session that morning would have to delayed. I walked over to the door and pulled it open, revealing my father standing in the hallway.

"Morning Dad. Need something?" I asked. My Dad never came into my room for no particular reason. Over the years, whenever my Dad visited my room, it meant that:

1. A member from the pack was dead.
2. That my hobbies were distracting me from my studies.
3. The birds and the bees.

It never meant that:

4. There was a possibility that my mate had finally found me.

I gulped nervously. I just showed my Dad my report card from school, and I got mostly A's and B's, so it couldn't be about my studies. And I already knew all the disgusting truth about baby-making, so I saw no reason in elaborating more about the topic.

All my assumptions were proven wrong, fortunately. "We need to go to the doctor, Joshua. We got the results," Dad informed me, a worried expression etched on his face. I glanced back at my desk and the stack of books I was looking forward to reading that morning. A part of me hated how I could never have any more time to myself, to have fun. However, at the same time, I yearned to know the results of my test.

I decided for the latter.

We shifted into our wolf forms. "Look, my fur is completely silver now," I remarked quietly so that Dad wouldn't hear. We ran down the stairs and outside the house. I grumbled, mud getting in between my paws. And I scrubbed myself for nothing!

When we finally arrived at the clinic where I got my blood tested, the doctor greeted us with a warm smile. My heart raced as the doctor presented the file to me and my Dad. She passed it to my Dad, who was as pale as a ghost. There were beads of sweat forming on his hairline, and he quickly dabbed them away with a purple handkerchief. From Dad's body language, it seemed like he was terrified of reading the file. He opened it anyway, before closing it again and giving it to me. He failed to look into my eyes like he usually did.

A part of me was scared to read the file, especially after seeing my Dad's reaction. What if I had a terminal illness? The possibilities all ran through my head, making me more anxious to open the file. Then again, I came all this way, after giving up my beautiful morning just to see my results. The least I could do was read it.

I opened the file, my jaw dropping as I skimmed through its contents.

Dear Mr Evans,

We have done a proper analysis of Joshua Evans' DNA. We have discovered that your son has some interesting traits that cannot be identified within the system's database. Below is a table with the results we have collated from your son's blood.

[Parents: Blake Evans and Jasmine Evans

Blood Type: Unknown]

We would advise to have your son visit Dr Mio Fullerton again on December 18, 2017 for a more thorough check-up. If you wish to reschedule or seek clarification, please call 64378082 during office hours. Thank you.

Mumford Clinic

"We believe that Joshua may be related to Alpha Christian," Doctor Mio commented. I nodded, crestfallen. "Your son's blood type, it's not like anybody else's. That's because we found that your blood cells also contain a small trace of silver," she continued. The doctor discussed with Dad for a while longer about my unique genes, but I was too invested in my own thoughts to pay attention.

I was snapped out of my reverie when my Dad tapped my shoulder. It was time for us to go home. I halfheartedly waved the doctor goodbye as I shifted back into my wolf form.

Once we reached home, Dad pulled me into the living room. He hollered for Mom to come downstairs immediately. I looked up at Dad, puzzled. He ordered me to sit on the couch at the same time as Mom arrived.

My parents sat on the sofa opposite me. Mom was staring glumly on the floor and muttering distractedly to herself. Meanwhile, my Dad was taking in shallow breaths, as if he was preparing himself for something. Their behavior only made my pulse race and my stomach lurch. We sat in pensive silence for a few minutes, before Mom decided to speak up first. I gulped.

"Joshua, we love you so, so much," she started. "We care about you so much, Joshua," Dad added, taking my hands in his. My Mom was on the verge of bursting into tears. I was as well, my heart aching seeing my parents acting like this.

Dad decided to continue with his speech. "You see, Joshua...." he squeaked. I squeezed his hands for him to continue. The moment those five words fell from his mouth, I suddenly got lost in a whirlpool of darkness.

"You aren't our real son,"

At first, I was shaken and baffled. Without realizing it, tears of heartbreaking sorrow streamed down my cheeks. I was raised here for almost eighteen years, and everything I knew... Was a lie? If they were my foster parents, then who were my biological parents? And why did my biological parents put me up for adoption? The questions kept gnawing at me. Knowing that the two people sitting across from me kept my origins a secret from me, pushed my heart up into my throat.

I was a wailing mess by then, and my Mom was already sobbing with me.

"Your real parents, Carson Willis and Aspen Willis... They asked us personally to bring you up," Dad said with a strained voice. "And we have loved you ever since, even though you aren't our own son," he sniffled, a single tear streaming down his left cheek.

I was not Joshua Evans, but rather, Joshua Willis. After further explanation, I finally understood. I asked my parents whether I could still keep my name as Joshua Evans. That only made them cry even more. "Of course you can!" my mother cried.

My parents gave me one last hug, before sending me upstairs to my room. "We love you very much," Mom sniffled, smiling crookedly. I beamed back, but my smile wouldn't reach to my eyes. I still had so many things to process.

"I love you too," I murmured, jumping off the couch and dragging my feet back to my room. Perhaps it was too soon for me to say that today would be a great day for me.