Alpha Of Darkness And The Half-Breed Healer

NIA’S POV

At first, I thought I was dreaming when the luxurious car parked in front of the house to pick Perry and me up. Then I learned it was for Aunt Kylia’s husband. I would love to meet him. The mere thought of him feels luxurious. The ride to New Haven was filled with laughter as Perry told stupid jokes that had my underbelly aching after it all. I couldn’t get enough of the view. New Haven is a beautiful place.

I can imagine how much fun my father had growing up here. I would love to experience something like that. My soul feels very accessible, and I can run in the woods without worrying about getting seen. I am pretty glad that I made it out of the Sunset pack. I never would have gotten the chance to see the world around me. It’s all so full of warmth.

The house is on a different level of elegance. It looked like a mansion even though it was not as much as the pack house. But there is an embracing warmth to it. On entering the living room, it filled me with warmth. Glancing up at the ceiling, I have never seen such an enormous chandelier. It’s beautiful and glorious in its silver ornaments.

Catelyn rushed towards us, holding up her signature smile.

“Hello, beautiful ladies. Welcome. It’s so nice to have you here.” She grinned, pulling me and Perry into a bear hug.

“Happy birthday in advance, ma’am.” I smiled.

Catelyn tapped me on the shoulder lightly. “come on, don’t be formal. I am your grandma now. Feel free to call me Granny. And that applies to you too, Perry.” She said.

Perry chuckled loudly. “You have a beautiful house. And that ride outside is topnotch.”

“You have your aunt Kylia’s husband to thank for the ride. It is a shame you won’t be meeting him this week. He is on a business trip in California.” Catelyn said. “Make yourself at home. I will show you to your rooms. You can leave the bags behind. The maids will handle it. How are you feeling now, Nia?”

My eyes fluttered as I wasn’t expecting the question just yet. I have been getting the How are you feeling question lately, and I can always tell there is more to it than they let on. And I end up responding casually.

I nodded with a small smile. “I am okay.”

“That is good to know. I wasn’t sure what you both might like, so I thought your rooms should be next to each other. If you do mind, please don’t hesitate to let me know.” Catelyn mused, pointing at each door.

I clapped my hands in excitement. “This is great, granny. Thank you very much.”

Perry hummed along. “It is perfect.”

“I am glad you both like it. You both should freshen up and relax. Dinner is later, but I will ask the maid to bring refreshments.” Said Catelyn. “I will excuse myself now.”

Watching her leave, we turned to each other and giggled shamelessly. One would think we were homeless before coming down here. They ran into each room, which was just as welcoming as the entire house. The bed felt like feathers. I could spend the rest of my life here. All of the negative thoughts disappeared immediately.

Everything that surrounds me is calm. A knock came from behind the door, and I called for whoever it was to go in. A maid asked which bag was mine and another with a tray filled with appetizers. My grandmother is a good host.

I smiled while I unpacked. I intend to use the week I will be spending here. Someone opened the door again, and I didn’t need to ask who it was; I could smell Perry even if she were miles away. And right now, she is hoping to sneak up on me. I stood straight and turned to her abruptly.

She let out a shocked gasp. With a hand on her chest, she flared her nose. “why would you turn to me like that? Do you intend to send me into shock?”

“Did you care to have a deep thought on why it might be wrong to sneak up on a pregnant lady? You got what you deserved.”

“Whatever!” She glared in her usual way, throwing herself into the bed while stealing from my fruit plate.

I shook my head, “you never keep your hands to yourself.”

“I can’t help it when it looks edible and yummy.”

“Don’t you have yours?” I bickered.

“I do, and that still won’t stop me from eating yours.”

I sighed in exhaustion. “It’s useless arguing with you. You will always win. So, tell me, what do you think so far?” I asked eagerly.

Perry sat up. “I think it is amazing. It’s a shame you got deprived of this life. I envy your father, and he grew up well.”

I looked around, nodding. “That must be why my father moved freely to find his happiness. I wish it didn’t have to end that way. But then, what do I know.”

“What about you? Do you feel at home?” Perry asked.

I sniffed, intertwining my fingers. “I am enjoying it so much that I am almost feeling guilty. Thoughts like maybe I don’t deserve this keep playing in my head. I feel like an imposter. All of this belongs to my human father. I am only half-human. How long will their affection last? So much thought and many other things.”

“The problem is that you overthink things a lot. Why not just enjoy this moment? If anything goes amiss, we can always return to our maximum cubicle.” She joked.

I laughed heartily, “You are such a mess. I have meant to ask, what were you discussing with Ezra the other day?”

She suddenly looked uncomfortable as she scratched the back of her hair. “I don’t know how you will feel about this, but I only did it in good faith, I promise. For me, I think it is best if Ezra doesn’t know much about what is happening to you right now. He might play nice towards you, but his loyalty will always lie with his best friend. And that doesn’t mean Ezra is a bad person. I would jump loops for you, just like he would, too. I am sorry if I crossed the line.”

Her sincerity brought tears to my eyes. I am so undeserving of Perry. She looks out for me like I am her flesh exactly. I don’t know what I would have been able to do without her in my life. I guess the goddess had to compensate me one way or the other.

Reaching for her hand, I patted it.

“Do you think there is any way you will ever get to cross the line? Everything you have done so far, you did it for my good. I would be an ungrateful being not to notice that. If you didn’t persuade me enough, I probably wouldn’t be here right now. You have been a great friend, and I hope to keep you by my side until the end of time. Thank you so much, Perry. Also, I know Ezra means no harm. He is a wonderful friend, too. I guess it’s okay to keep things on a lowkey for now, just until we know for sure what we intend to do next.”

“I agree to that. You don’t need any Gael negativity in your life right now.”

“Sure,” I mumbled absentmindedly. Whenever Gael’s name pops up, it gives me an unexplainable shiver. I hate that he has this much effect on me. “I need to freshen up and sleep for a few minutes.”

“Same here. See you at dinner.” She cooed, racing out.

Shaking my head at her receding, I chuckled to myself. Perry is such a delight to watch. *******************

Grandma Catelyn’s birthday was of plenty of mouthwatering dishes to pick from and just twenty people in attendance, which included myself and Perry, the birthday girl herself, and my aunt Kylia with her eight-year-old son. The rest of the people are staff of the house and their holistic medical center, plus a few of her neighbors. Despite the small crowd, one can see the happiness on their faces. They are genuinely happy for Catelyn.

My dad’s absence must have taken quite a toll on the entire family. To a proper extent, I am glad to be a source of joy to them all. Everyone wanted to see me, and they kept commenting on my close resemblance to my dad. I got the chance to see the entire house and take a long journey through the pictures of my father when he was young. I also had a picture with the whole family as a baby.

Aunt Kylia said that was the first and last time they visited New Haven as a family. My eyes lingered on the picture for so long that, for a second, I thought it had come alive. I tried to imagine how that moment must have felt for them. Were they happy and proud to have birthed me? I really can’t say. But then, it’s all in the past, and a new day has come. Like Perry always says, it’s best to live in the moment. I shifted in my chair, feeling a bit of discomfort and the urge to pee.

I am nine weeks gone already, and it feels like I have a full wolf baby inside me. Maybe it is because the child belongs to an Alpha, or I am prone to give birth to a unique baby. It’s almost like it enjoys resting on my bladder at every opportunity. Or maybe it is how many pregnant ladies feel, but for some reason, I keep imagining my child to be everything like their father. Another thought of Gael made a sad feeling wash over me. I don’t know how long I intend to keep this up.

I got up on my feet. I went to ease myself and walked to the back of the house where the greenhouse, garden, and clinic were. It turns out that my father’s family are modern-day healers because the goddess didn’t ordain them like I was. However, curiosity and love for humanity made their generation find better ways to help humans live peacefully. Now I know where I got my talents, not just my mother. I was born for this.

The garden has many scented and healing herbs, tended to with extreme love. It’s a beauty to behold. The sight of it takes me back to the Sunset pack. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until now. I enjoy helping people regain their feet and seeing them smile genuinely again. It’s all I live for.

“Are you that happy to see them?” Catelyn asked from behind.

I blushed profusely, “they are all just a beauty to behold. I can’t help but get lost in it.”

“Perry told me you were the ordained healer of your pack.”

I snickered, “Perry sure has a big mouth. Well, I was, and now I am not anymore.”

“Would you like to see the greenhouse? It harbors the more sensitive herbs. They need protection at all costs. The ones planted out here are wild.” She suggested.

“I would love to,” I replied joyfully.

Even though I have only been here for two days, it feels like I belong here. “Wow!” I exclaimed on entering the greenhouse. The smell alone is soothing, and the cordial arrangements of each plant bed show how organized my grandmother is.

Catelyn giggled, “I know you love what you see. This space is my solace whenever I get in my feelings and miss your father.”

“What was he like?”

“Wholesome. Your father is the son anyone will wish for. He made my life worth living. He was helpful and thoughtful. Omar would light up an entire house just by his presence. He respects everyone and loves just as much. Omar has always been an explorer, but your father killed his desire to stick by me and his sister after his father got swept away by a huge storm on the sea. I had to beg him to follow his heart when I realized how much he sacrificed to stay with us. Even though I lost him, I am glad he was genuinely happy through those years.”

“Aren’t you worried that I am half werewolf?”

“Aren’t we all the same? Just because you are a werewolf, does it change how you see others around you? Your father knows that, and I am aware, too. Our blood runs inside of you, and that is enough. I am not going to love you less either way. I have loved you since you came into our lives, and I will still love you. Do you know how he died?”

I gulped hard. Even if I don’t remember much, I will never forget that cold day a rogue wolf tore my father apart. It can’t erase it in my memory. But I am not stupid to tell it to the mother as it is. “I really can’t remember now. But he died peacefully, you can be sure of that. I guess the burden of his wife’s death got to him.”

Catelyn smiled weakly. “He loved her very much. It’s no surprise he fell weak along the way. I am confident he didn’t mean to leave you all alone.”

I nodded in agreement. “My father sure didn’t. He was a protective one until the very end.” I replied, trying to shun off the image plaguing my vision.

We both stayed quiet, staring into space, and she cleared her throat. “I know you might feel choked. But do you mind if I go baby things shopping on your behalf? I didn’t get to do that for you. I would love to do it for your child.” said Catelyn.

I tucked my loose hair behind my ear shyly. “thank you very much, I don’t mind.” I paused, biting my lower lip. “Why aren’t you asking me about it?”

“First of all, you are not a child. You are a full-grown adult who knows what is best for her. Also, we just met. It would be dumb of me to meddle in your business without precaution. Please take your time and feel free to talk to me whenever you wish to.”

My eyes watered, “thank you.”

“Why are you thanking me?”

“For not judging me.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

She spread out her arms, embracing me gently. “I would never do that. We all have stories to tell. Anyone who judges the other is nothing short of a hypocrite. Don’t doubt yourself for anyone. As long as I live, I will always have your back. Trust me.”

Freeing myself, I hugged her again. It does feel like home.