10. Princess
Leon stepped inside the Alpha office, gesturing for me to follow him.
"Alpha, please meet my friend Amaya! I want to ask you if she can stay here for the night?"
"Come forth, Amaya! I don't bite! Well, I do, but only if necessary." Alpha said and started laughing.
I was looking to the floor as Leon told me when the Alpha suddenly got up.
"You... you smell just like her! Who are you?" Alpha asks in a solid but hurt voice.
I lift my head, and my eyes lock with his. Green eyes were looking at me in disbelief.
"Mia figlia...?" Alpha asks in a low voice. His eyes hold love, pain and longing.
I looked at him confused, not understanding what he was saying.
"Alpha, are you sure?" Leon asks, surprised.
"I can't be more sure than this. The only person with this smell was her, Mio amore, Talia."
My eyes widened at the mention of my mother's name. But I didn't say anything. Maybe he was talking about someone else.
"You look just like her, now that I am looking better at you, figlia."
"With all due respect, Alpha King! What are you talking about? How do you know my mother?"
"Please, don't call me that. I know it is hard for you to call me dad... but call me Giovanni. I am Giovanni Ricci."
"Dad?! Is this some joke?!"
"Is not a joke, figlia! Is true. I can recognise you as my daughter! My blood is running through your veins."
"What does this figlia mean? And can I trust you? You can lie to me! Why..." I shout, but he interrupts me.
"On your left thigh is a semi moon, and what looks like a wave is next to it!"
He said to me with tears in his eyes.
I could not believe that. It was right. I have had this sign there for as long as I can remember.
"But...But how? Why didn't I know you? Why you never came for me?"
I was so hurt. Thinking about how I grew up jealous of the other kids who were always playing with their parents. And I... I had not even one.
"I met your mother one night when I was patrolling the border. My father was the Alpha at that time. As soon as our eyes locked, we knew. She was my mate, and I was her true Alter, how you call it... The bond was so strong that I marked her on the spot, and she didn't stop me. She wanted me as much as I wanted her. I took her home, and I introduced her to my father. He adored her, but he could not allow her to stay. Our Kingdom's safety was at bay. One of your mother's kind wanted her for her gift. I know about the Guardian of Celestia and Zephiryne. She told me everything. So she left. When she came to see me last time she said it would be the last time she found someone else and she doesn't love me anymore. I didn't believe her. But I also didn't do anything to stop her. I was a fool. Three years later, your grandmother visited me." He took a deep breath, and tears started streaming down his cheeks.
"Your grandmother came to tell me that Talia has disappeared. She said that she left behind a child, a daughter that was mine. The shock was too big, so I ran away. My heart was shattered at the thought of my Talia lying to me. I had a three-year-old daughter. I never come for you as I never was able to come in your realm. I didn't know how! Talia never showed me. She said it was too dangerous for us. The night she... she left us, I felt it! I felt all her pain. I thought, and I wished I had died with her, till today. I never thought I would be able to meet you, my daughter. Please forgive me for not being able to come for you! I was weak and foolish. I should have never let her leave."
"No, father! Is not your fault. The one that was responsible for that is dead now! I made sure of this!"
He starts sobbing like a child and kneels before me.
"Thank you, daughter!" he said, and I kneel next to him and hug him.
We cried together till there were no tears left.
"Leon! Thank you, son! Thank you for bringing her to me. We should hold a ball to announce that our Princess is home."
"Of course, Alpha!"
"Leon! Now that we know Amaya is my daughter, you can use my name in front of her." My father said, and we all started laughing.
"Of course, Giovanni!"
"Leon? We should get back to your mom! I'm sure she will beat you up this time if you are not going to visit her."
"Rosa? Be sure of that, son. She even tried to convince me to threaten you to come back to the pack!"
"Are you serious? Moon Goddess, my mom, will embarrass me with every occasion." Leon added.
"Amaya, I will make sure to have your room ready till the sun goes down. Of course, if you want to sleep here." My father said,
"Can Leon stay too? I mean, it does not bother you. And of course, after we visit Rosa." I said, knowing that he won't refuse me.
"Of course, my dear. What do you think if you go and visit Rosa and you all come back here for dinner?"
"That sounds amazing! Thank you!"
We get out of the house and head to Leon's mother's house.
"A Princess then, uh? I would never have thought... Leon said in a somewhat sad voice.
" Leon, what's wrong?"
"Nothing! Just that now that you are a Princess and I am just a Beta..."
I started laughing, making him stop talking.
"Do you think this will change anything? Leon, you will always be my friend!" I said, and I kissed his cheek.
