Chapter 52 : The Revelation

Maya

She froze. Her mind was completely blank, except for one word that echoed endlessly. Daughter?

Then the man leaned back, and she was able to tilt her head up to stare into his amber eyes, which looked exactly like Elena's. His eyes were misty, as if he was trying to hold back tears. The situation had become uncontrollable, so Maya was unable to react to the fact that a man was so familiar to her.

"I was so worried. Where have you been? And you're hurt! What happened?" the man asked her.

"Uh..." She didn't know how to answer him, her mind was still blank.

Then she saw Xavier appear over the man's left shoulder and her mind went back to work. Xavier... that meant Karen was here somewhere.

"It looks like your daughter has arrived. A room is being prepared for her, and healers will be treating her wounds," Xavier spoke in a distant voice, seemingly unmoved by the drama unfolding before him.

She thought quickly. They clearly thought she was the man's daughter, and from the yellow star above her left eye, she guessed he was the Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack. She smiled. Things had just taken an interesting turn. Maybe her allies wouldn't be angry if she told him this new news.

She looked at her 'father' with a loving look and said, "Yes, I think we should rest. I'm afraid I'm too tired."

"Of course, my child," the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack said with a grim expression, holding her uninjured right arm and following Xavier as he led them inside after they had dispersed their respective guards.

"I'm so glad to see you alive and well," her 'father' began before glancing at the bloodstains on her dress before continuing, "I was afraid something untoward had happened to you."

"I'm sorry, Father, but it seems I was attacked during the competition to become Alpha Xavier's mate. You see, a hybrid girl attacked me with her crossbow." Maya smiled mischievously. This might be the perfect opportunity to get hold of her beloved hybrid. "Did you know that she somehow broke through Alpha Xavier's barrier and started killing all the she-wolves she encountered?"

Frowning in disbelief, the Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack asked. "A hybrid girl, you say? How come?"

She simply replied in a worried tone, "I am not sure, Father. But she was very dangerous. I was lucky to survive her attack."

Chase looked at Xavier's back with narrowed eyes. "I wonder how she managed to get past the barrier of a stronger Alpha like Xavier. Maybe she was stronger or maybe the barrier was weaker."

Xavier himself did not slow his pace as he led them into the pack house, nor did he turn his face to them. He remained silent, even when the Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack insinuated that he was weaker than the hybrid, as if he did not care what they thought. Xavier's arrogance infuriated her, as it was a male trait she disliked. Looking at the man next to her, Maya could see that he was also unhappy with Xavier's silence.

Xavier seemed to ignore them as he ordered a servant to escort Maya to her room, leaving the two strong men alone. In silence, the two made their way to his study, where he led the way before they sat comfortably in the same spot as the last time they were there.

Initiating the conversation, Chase spoke haughtily, "I seem to recall you saying that no she-wolf had won your challenge to be your mate, and since my daughter is alive and well, I will give my blessing if you honor her as your mate."

Xavier stared at him emotionlessly for a few seconds before answering. "As far as I know, you questioned my power and abilities some time ago, but you are still willing to give your daughter to me?"

To be honest, he didn't like that statement before, but he would feel like an idiot if the Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack found out. He also didn't like the way the Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack made it look like he was doing something for him, Xavier. Such disrespect would be a death sentence for a lesser wolf, but since he was one of the stronger alphas, Xavier had to refrain from attacking for now.

Chase cleared his throat but remained firm, "But I don't blame you for this little oversight, Alpha Xavier. You still need a mate, don't you? Why not my precious daughter Elena?"

"That's impossible, because I already have a mate, the winner of this competition."

Chase then knelt down and slammed his hands on the table, making his daughter jump at the impact. "Didn't you say that no one was declared the winner?"

He remained silent, his sharp eyes staring calmly at the Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack, watching him silently, then he said, expressionless, "Not a pureblood she-wolf."

The intensity of his yellow-golden eyes made it clear to whom Xavier was referring.

"This is impossible! A hybrid cannot possibly be Luna of the Westwood Pack! What does that mean, Xavier?!"

Xavier glared at the disrespectful Alpha. "You have overstepped your boundaries, Alpha Chase."

Red-faced with anger, Chase sat back down, but refused to apologize. "A weak hybrid cannot possibly be an Alpha's mate, let alone a half-human hybrid," he said in a sharp tone.

Raising his black eyebrows, Xavier continued, "She has a strong demon-wolf aura and is the guardian of the Moonstone, the precious legacy of the Wolf Lords, and her strength and abilities are capable of producing pure-blood wolf offspring."

Stammering, Chase replied, "That's impossible! She is a hybrid and possesses spiritual energy! Besides, if that were possible, neither a hybrid nor a human could be your mate."

"Who said she was human?"

"I can't believe this! The other Alphas will not accept this joke, Alpha Xavier."

"She will be introduced to the Alphas and Luna soon. Then everyone will witness her power, which allows the hybrid to hold a demonic and spiritual aura full of wolves in her body in harmony. She will be the most desirable woman, don't you think, Alpha Chase? It's only natural that she is my mate, Xavier Westwood."

"You are more like your father than I thought. At least your father still had the good sense to choose an Omega she-wolf to be his mate." he said coldly.

Hearing that statement, his eyes turned cold as ice. "Watch your tongue. You don't want to become an enemy of the Westwood Pack, do you?"

"So you would choose that filthy hybrid over my daughter?"

"I think it's time for you to rest, Alpha Chase. You obviously want your daughter's safety. A servant will show you to your room."

The Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack gave a low growl, but then he walked out of his room without saying goodbye or even looking back. Xavier sighed, wondering what he had done to deserve this day, when the day was still young. Another sigh escaped his lips.

******

Maya lay with her shoulder bandaged and treated by the healers and servants. After they finished cleaning and treating her wounds, she reached for her unused clothes and carefully checked the pocket of one of her sleeves. She took out a small, palm-sized mirror that she had hidden in the pocket.

A magic mirror. She had forbidden the maids to throw away her torn and stained old clothes for fear that they might find her treasure.

She looked into the mirror, and her eyes immediately caught the image of Elena, who looked back at her. "Nathan," Maya called in a low whisper.

"Maya," he greeted as the reflection in the mirror changed to Nathaniel's face. His eyes flashed red, and she was annoyed to find annoyance in them. "Can you tell me why you disobeyed orders and stopped following Rylan's friends?"

She thought it best to defend herself, knowing that excuses would only make him angrier. Maya tried to calm Nathan down by giving him an update.

"Nathan, I found the hybrid girl, Karenina Mason. She's currently staying at Xavier's pack house. I was able to get into his house because the Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack came to ask Xavier about his daughter's whereabouts." She smiled triumphantly. "The body I'm using now is the daughter of the only Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack, Elena Goldstein."

Her Alliance chuckled, and she honestly felt uncomfortable when she heard the dark and sinister tone in his voice.

"Isn't that funny?" he asked with a laugh.

After receiving praise from her alliance, she continued, speaking quickly, "That's not all, Nathan. Xavier has confessed to the Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack, Alpha Chase, that he intends to mate with this hybrid girl, Karenina." After the revelation, her stomach rebelled at the thought of a man touching what was hers, her beloved hybrid. Possessiveness clawed at her stomach, but she fought valiantly to hide her reaction from her friend. Maya almost wished she hadn't eavesdropped on their conversation through the reflection of the magic mirror in her hand as she asked permission to go to the bathroom before she was discovered by the healers and servants.

"So the powerful Alpha of the Westwood Pack has a soft heart. I must have the hybrid girl if I am to destroy Xavier's soul. Give me the girl, Maya."

She swallowed his request. Maya was very worried about the safety of her beloved hybrid. Now was the time to ask her allies for mercy and help. She prayed that Nathan would hear her.

"Nathan. About the girl..."

"Yes?"

With a shaky breath, she began to speak. "I wonder if you could show her some mercy..."

His evil laugh cut her off. "Mercy? Do you show mercy to your enemies, Maya?"

Maya was silent, unable to answer, but trying not to look at her friend sadly.

"Why do you ask?" Nathan asked in a low whisper, looking at her intently.

She fought hard not to squirm under his heated gaze. "N-nothing, Nathan. I just think... she looks so innocent..."

He scoffed. "She wishes I were dead, like the rest of her friends. Bring the girl to me or-" Nathan stopped and continued to stare at her thoughtfully. "Should I send someone else to complete this mission?"

Maya grabbed the magic mirror frantically. "No! Uh, I'll leave the girl in your hands, Nathan." She bowed her head respectfully as her mind raced and her heart nearly stopped.

"Well done, Maya. You're always so eager to please. It makes me happy."

Maya was silent, unable to speak.

"Go to the Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack, Maya, and tell him of your desire to be Xavier Westwood's mate. Then hold this mirror in front of him. I will take care of the rest." He laughed again, but she was too hurt to hear the terrible voice.