Chapter 1
Mathis’s Pov:
“My name is Lucan Martins, and I am the first-born son of Alpha Mathis Martins and his true mate Celeste Campbell, former Queen of Lunar’s Light. I am here to claim my rightful title as my father’s one true heir,” Lucan’s voice echoed all around me.
And that’s when the shit hit the fan. Instantly, everyone’s eyes were on me. Gasps and murmurs erupted throughout the pack and our honored guests. What in the Goddesses’ name was going on? This couldn’t be happening. They were not real, merely a desire of my heart. A desire to be with Celeste.
Yet there they were, standing in front of the entire pack. Even their eyes fell on to me expectantly. The world spun as voice after voice invaded my mind, demanding answers. Everyone could see them. Somehow, my children existed.
Suddenly, it was Ingrid who came to my aid. “This ceremony is on hold until we sort this out,” she snapped. It did not escape my notice of the glare she sent my way.
“What’s to sort out? I am his son, and his heir,” Lucan fought back.
“Everything. Lucas is his heir, and he has passed the title on to his cousin Hunter,” Ingrid screamed back. She wasn’t about to allow her son to lose the title of Alpha. If this was the Lucan from my dreams, he wasn’t about to back down either.
“Lucas and Hunter, cousins? Don’t make me laugh, Aunt Ingrid. We both know Hunter is yours and Uncle Josh’s son. Hunter’s blood is that of a Beta’s, nothing more, nothing less. As for Lucas, come now, Aunt Ingrid. Lillyanna and my father aren’t mates. Her mate is a human; she begged my father to claim he was the father so Henry wouldn’t kill her once she turned rogue. And let’s not forget you’ve known this for many, many moons. Since the battle for Lunar’s Light. Hell, even Uncle Liam knew this,” Lucan spat.
Ingrid’s face drained of all its colour as her eyes scanned over the stunned pack. Before we could react, our secrets were out. And they were out in the most embarrassing way. Ingrid’s eyes met mine. This was the day she’d feared so much. There was no amount of damage control we could do now. Our lies were in full view of the pack.
“My office now,” I snapped. This had gone on long enough. There were too many thoughts, too many voices running through my mind. I needed to find out the truth. Even though the idea scared the shit out of me.
If my children were here and if they were real… My heart couldn’t handle the wave of emotions which were currently running rampant through me. Angry shouts reared up all around us as I pulled Ingrid alongside me. I wasn’t ready to accept my children were here, let alone real.
The Woman told me I could only ever be with Celeste in my dreams. “But you will reap all the benefits of your bond with her.” The words flooded back to me as the hairs on the back of my neck stood. Instantly, a pit formed in my stomach.
“Are you alright, Uncle Mathis?” Annika whispered. She placed her hand in mine and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You look like you just seen a ghost.”
I glanced over at her, unsure of how to answer. In a lot of ways, I wasn’t seeing just one ghost. I was seeing three of them, Lucan, Dianna, and Astra. Even Ingrid seemed overwhelmed by recent events. Neither Josh nor Liam spoke as we drove back to the pack house. Although their emotions brewed all around them.
As I took my seat behind my desk the shouts, arguments and confusion broke out. Anger filled the room like a plague hell bent on killing us all. Hunter and Lucan were mere moments from shifting. While Lillyanna and Ingrid were in each other’s faces, blaming the other for the day’s events.
“Enough,” I growled, grinding the room to a halt. All eyes turned to me as their jaws fell open. Only then did I realize my Alpha aura was bearing down on them. This time, I didn’t care. Tearing one another apart would solve nothing. With my hands still gripping my desk, I looked them in the eyes, daring every one of them to challenge me.
“Celeste is your mate? Liam and Ingrid, you both knew and not one of you bothered to tell me?” Josh whispered. His voice was tight with his emotions.
“Josh, please,” Ingrid whispered. “It’s not as simple as it seems.”
His hard stare burned into Ingrid before returning to me. “I lost my title as Beta because Noah saved your mate. Did he even realize what you were asking of him?” Josh growled.
“He realized Celeste was my mate, but we didn’t know what it would cost you, Josh. I swear to you as an Alpha, if I would have known, I would have left with Celeste. There isn’t a day that goes by where I wish I didn’t,” I replied. “We were bound by the Council of Elders to never speak about Celeste being my mate or Lillyanna’s being human. They knew about both.”
Josh cast his eyes down. “I understand. It’s not like you can disobey an Elder,” he sighed. “Besides, we all had our secrets,” he smiled. Like Noah, Josh had a heart of gold.
“While that’s interesting, and all, why didn’t you at least tell Aunt Ingrid about us?” Lucan snapped. Clearly, Lucan didn’t understand what this all meant.
Astra’s eyes held mine as hurt flooded them. “Because, Lucan, he didn’t believe we were anything more than a dream. To him, the life he led with us was nothing more than a figment of his imagination,” she choked out.
The room went silent as Astra’s words sunk in. “And he still doesn’t want to accept we are really here. Because once he does, that means he has to accept mom nearly died giving birth to you, and Elias died at birth,” she continued. “Did I leave anything out?” she asked.
“No,” I whispered. I was ashamed of the thoughts which ran through my mind. Suddenly, it came to me all too clearly. There was no way for Astra to have any knowledge of this. Obviously, this was a ploy set out by Amy somehow.
“And why should I believe you are my blood? To my knowledge, I have not seen my mate in years. Furthermore, I was only with her once before she left. It’s completely possible you three are nothing more than imposters,” I hissed.
“I agree. They need to prove they are who they say they are. The last time I saw Celeste, she wouldn’t even give you the time-of-day Mathis. If they are, in fact, your children, they should take a DNA test,” Ingrid smiled. Her eyes glowed with excitement.
“You can’t be serious!” Lucan spat, standing up. For a moment, he, too, allowed his aura out. I smiled. It was a nice try, but I was still the Goddesses’ chosen Alpha.
“What’s next? You, locking us in the dungeon like you allowed Henry to do to our mother?” he snapped.
That hit a nerve. “Lucan, please, don’t be like this,” Annika cooed, curling into my son. “It’s a lot for everyone to take in. Especially since Uncle Mathis believed you weren’t real. Think about it, my love. It explains so much.”
“Of course, not Lucan. No one has been there since Celeste. We aren’t uncivilized. I will hold you at the hotel. Under Uncle Liam’s careful eye,” I smiled.
Liam rolled his eyes but said nothing as he walked past me. “What?” I linked. His brooding mood was not helping the situation any.
“Annika would never lie to you, Mathis. I believe these are your children. After all that’s happened between you and Celeste, don’t you think you owe it to not only them, but to yourself as well, to bond with them?” Liam replied, his eyes held my gaze.
Liam was right, Annika would never lie to me. She and I were close. We always were. But I couldn’t risk that she, too, wasn’t truly Annika. Celine said it herself. Amy could change her appearance. How better to control me by pretending to be the son I dreamed about daily? After all, Amy invaded my mind once before. If she was back, what would stop her from doing it again?
Worse yet, what if Chaos was behind all this? They could completely change someone’s perceptions if they wanted to. They were the first Immortal being, and it’s been said they would be the last. Or perhaps they passed on their strength to another witch. One without a wolf. This would make it completely possible for them to cross the border without a soul noticing, just as my children did.
“You assume that is Annika and not a deception. I can’t take that risk,” I pointed out. Liam begrudgingly shook his head. Even though we patched things up between us years ago, I was worried they were about to spiral out of control again.
“Annika and friends, if you wouldn’t mind following me,” Liam sighed.
Lucan shot me a hard stare as he stood. “Chaos assumed you’d be an ass,” he spat. Suddenly, he tossed a paper down on my desk before leaving. “Lead the way, please, Uncle Liam,” Lucan mumbled. Still careful to pay Liam the respect he deserved.
As soon as Liam, Annika, Lucan, and my daughters left my office, I reached over to grab the paper Lucan so lovingly tossed down. The mention of Chaos’s name only tightened the grip on my heart. This all but confirmed my suspicions.
“You all can leave,” I growled. I hated the sensation of everyone’s eyes on me. They wanted answers I couldn’t give. With a substantial amount of grumbling and muttering under their breath, the rest filed out of my office. All but Ingrid.
“Whatever that paper is, I have a right to know what it is,” she growled. She crossed her arms while her Luna aura spilled out of her. This was a fight I wasn’t about to win.
Ingrid walked to my side as I peered down at the paper. My heart nearly stopped as I read the document. One which I signed years ago after a strange encounter with Noah. It was the contract I signed in my blood stating Lucan was, in fact, my one true heir.
“Impossible,” I muttered. Stunned, Ingrid tore the paper from my hand, reading it over and over.
“Is it though?” she asked. “You said so yourself. You mated with her once on the night of my human 18th birthday party. That makes Lucan about the right age,” she continued.
“But it doesn’t explain Dianna, Astra, or Elias,” I retorted. Even mentioning my son’s name reminded me of the loss Celeste and I shared.
“Elias?” Ingrid whispered. “The younger child mentioned his name as well.”
I let out a long sigh before I explained the life I led in my dreams with Celeste, including the week I spent there after Elias. She listened intently to every word. When I finished, we sat and stared at one another for a moment.
“Oh Mathis, I don’t know what to hope for anymore. For a moment, I really wanted Lucan to be yours, but now I don’t want you to relive the loss you both have shared,” Ingrid whispered, giving me a hug.
“Honestly Ingrid, I don’t understand how to feel either. I don’t know if I can handle finding out they are witches in disguise. Or if they are real and I wasted so much of my life, their lives telling myself they are not real. Worse yet, how Celeste must feel about me,” I sighed.
“Well, Liam just linked me. Dr. Winston just left. The results should be available within a day or so. I’m not sure what to tell you Mathis, but please keep an open mind,” Ingrid smiled, before leaving me alone in my office.
My thoughts raced as I paced in my office. If these were my children, why were the Goddesses not here to tell me I was wrong?
