Chapter 18 Homecoming

• Returning to Wood Mist Pack was surreal, like stepping into an old dream—or maybe a nightmare. The pack’s territory came into view, stretching out beneath a canopy of trees that held so many memories. I had expected some sense of closure, or maybe just a rush of nervous energy. But with Grey and Blue beside me, it was as if everything around us was holding its breath.
• As we crossed into familiar territory, heads turned. My old packmates—people I’d grown up with, worked alongside, laughed with—were staring, their faces a mix of shock, confusion, and something else that almost looked like… respect? It was strange, unsettling. I could hear the hushed whispers as we passed, each voice trying to piece together why I’d returned, and especially why I was flanked by the Lycan princes.
• “Is that… Amelia? But she left months ago. Didn’t they say she was rogue?”
• “Why is she here? And with them?”
• “She looks… different, doesn’t she?”
• The last comment made me glance down, wondering if there was something visibly different about me. I didn’t feel changed on the outside, but maybe shifting into my Lycan form had left something in my posture, or maybe it was just the presence of Lily that others could sense. Either way, I could feel my pulse quicken as their eyes lingered on us, studying me like I was someone new.
• We made our way toward my family’s old cabin, the place I’d shared with my brother, Levi, after our parents were gone. I could feel Grey’s and Blue’s steady presence beside me, a silent reminder that I wasn’t alone in facing whatever came next. I reached the door and hesitated, taking a deep breath before knocking. The sound echoed, sharp and loud, as if announcing my return.
• After a moment, the door swung open to reveal Levi, his face frozen in shock. “Amelia?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper, his eyes flicking between me and the twins. “Is this… really you?”
• “Levi,” I breathed, feeling my voice crack as I looked into his familiar face. It was like coming home, like the pieces of myself that had scattered over the last months had finally found their way back together. “Yes, it’s me. I… I had to come back.”
• Levi stepped back, still eyeing me warily but gesturing for us to enter. The cabin was just as I remembered—warm and worn, every corner filled with the remnants of our family’s past. My heart ached with the familiarity of it, and I couldn’t help but feel the weight of everything I’d discovered pressing down on me.
• The twins followed me inside, their gazes respectful, observing the space as if honoring the life I’d left behind. Levi led us to the small living room, his movements still stiff, as if he couldn’t quite believe I was here.
• “Who… who are they?” Levi asked, glancing at the twins. His voice was low, tinged with curiosity and, perhaps, a hint of protectiveness.
• I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “Levi, these are Grey and Blue. They’re from the Lycan royal family… and they’re my mates.”
• His eyes widened, processing the words, but before he could respond, a voice from the back of the house interrupted us.
• “Levi, who’s at the door?” It was Bea, my best friend, who appeared around the corner, her eyes brightening as they landed on me. “Amelia!” she gasped, rushing forward and pulling me into a tight hug. “I… I thought I’d never see you again.”
• I hugged her back, feeling a rush of warmth and relief. Bea had been one of the few people who’d ever believed in me, even when the rest of the pack hadn’t. Her support was like a balm on my wounded heart.
• When she finally let go, Bea stepped back, studying me. “You seem… different,” she murmured, tilting her head. “There’s something about you that’s… stronger. Brighter.”
• I glanced at Grey and Blue, both of whom nodded encouragingly. It was time to tell the truth, or at least as much of it as I understood. “A lot has changed since I left,” I admitted. “I found out that… I’m not just a werewolf. I’m a Lycan.”
• A stunned silence settled over the room, Bea’s and Levi’s eyes wide as they absorbed this revelation. Levi looked like he’d been struck. “A… a Lycan? But… how? We’re from a werewolf family.”
• “That’s what I thought, too,” I said, swallowing the knot of emotion in my throat. “But something doesn’t add up. That’s why I’m here. I need answers, and I was hoping… maybe you knew something?”
• Levi ran a hand over his face, looking dazed. “Amelia, I… I don’t know what to tell you. I mean, our parents were werewolves, as far as I know. Mom… she never told us anything about this.” His brow furrowed as he struggled to make sense of it, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.
• Bea, meanwhile, reached out, touching my arm. “But you were always different, Amelia. Even when we were kids, you had this strength about you, something that none of us could ever quite understand. Maybe… maybe your mother knew.”
• The weight of her words settled over me like a shroud. Had my mother been hiding something all along? Had she known about my heritage, or maybe even feared it? The questions swirled in my mind, unanswered and overwhelming.
• Blue spoke up then, his voice gentle but firm. “It’s possible that your mother knew more than she let on, Amelia. If there are records, or even stories within the pack, they could point us in the right direction.”
• Levi hesitated, glancing toward an old wooden trunk in the corner of the room. I followed his gaze, a chill running down my spine. That trunk had belonged to our mother, a relic she’d always kept locked, something we’d never dared to touch after she’d died.
• “I… I don’t know if there’s anything in there that would help,” Levi said quietly. “But… it was Mom’s. If she had any secrets, maybe they’re there.”
• With shaky hands, I walked over to the trunk, the twins and my friends watching as I knelt down and carefully lifted the lid. Dust billowed into the air, and I coughed, brushing it away to reveal a collection of items—small trinkets, a few worn books, and a leather-bound journal that looked well-worn.
• I picked up the journal, my fingers tracing the faded cover, and opened it to the first page. My mother’s handwriting stared back at me, delicate and neat, like the strokes of an artist. There, on the first page, was a simple message:
• To my children, so that you may one day understand.
• The words brought tears to my eyes, and I could feel Levi and Bea leaning closer, reading over my shoulder. Flipping through the pages, I skimmed her words, some filled with memories of us growing up, others that hinted at a past we’d never known.
• Then, finally, I found a passage that made my breath catch:
• There is more to you, Amelia, than you’ll ever realize. I’m sorry for keeping it from you, but I did what I had to in order to keep you safe. One day, you’ll understand.
• My heart raced as I read the words, the weight of my mother’s secret pressing down on me. She had known. She had known I was different, and she had hidden it, even from Levi. But why?
• Lily’s voice whispered softly in my mind. She did it out of love, Amelia. She wanted to protect you.
• I looked up at Levi, his face reflecting the same mixture of awe and confusion that I felt. “She knew,” I murmured, clutching the journal to my chest. “She knew I was different… and she kept it from us.”
• Grey and Blue exchanged a glance, their expressions thoughtful. Grey spoke up, his tone gentle. “Perhaps she had her reasons, Amelia. But whatever they were, you deserve to know the truth now.”
• Bea wrapped an arm around me, her voice soft. “No matter what you find out, Amelia, you’re still you. You’ve always been strong, even if you didn’t see it.”
• I looked around at the people I loved, my heart swelling with gratitude and courage. Whatever secrets my mother had kept, whatever truth was waiting for me, I wasn’t alone. I had my brother, my best friend, and now, two mates who saw me as I was—powerful, strong, and deserving of the truth.
• “Thank you,” I whispered, my vo
• ice filled with determination. “All of you. Let’s find out who I really am.”