Chapter 3. Discoveries

Josie POV

“How much time do I have left after my birthday...?” I ask her balling my fists, my anger rolling off me now in silent waves.

            She looks me in the eyes with a mix of love and guilt.

            “I don’t know exactly, depends on how strong are your inherited wolf genes... Flame is a powerful wolf. I think she will be able to support you...” her words were strained and she couldn’t speak freely, tears threating to spill from her concerned eyes.

            “How long mother?” I ask.

            “6 to 8 months...maybe 1 year...” she whispered looking defeated and tired.

            “How did grandpa manage it?” I ask, feeling a touch of hope in all this weird situation. “How did he survive all these years without his mate? I mean...there has to be a way” I say deep in thoughts now. He told me that he felt the bond was severed but it didn’t break.

            “We have a theory. It might be because he is a pure Alpha. His mother was born Alpha, and his father came from a long-line of Alpha heirs. Therefore, he is much stronger than most Alphas. When my mother died,”

“But she didn’t die, grandpa told me that she is alive!” I interrupted her suddenly.

“He told me that he never felt the bond breaking, just severed. Maybe that’s why he survived all these years...” I say, my mind racing to understand everything, looking already for a solution. I have to get to the library.

            “She is dead! no mother would abandon their child like she did!” she said with a painful voice, now several tears of hurt and anger spilling on her cheeks. “After the curse, I fell into a coma, my powers were sealed and it took a toll on me, and weakened me greatly. My wolf couldn’t heal my half witch-part and your father couldn’t help either with lending his life force because we weren’t yet marked and mated...”

            “What happened, how did you wake up then?” I asked feeling that there is more to this story.

            “My father told me that after 2 weeks of being unconscious, I suddenly woke up, jolting in bed, like being struck by lightning...I don’t know what happened, I can’t remember...all I remember is that when I asked to see my mother, dad started sobbing telling me she was gone...she left a couple of days after my wedding... he told me that she was trying to find an anticurse, and a way to help me wake up, but ..she disappeared. Rumors were spreading that she felt so ashamed and overwhelmed by the situation that she took off. I didn’t want to believe it at first. She was known for her strong will, great powers, and that she loved her family above all..Then I realized how weak my father looked and felt... I don’t think that the bond was severed. I think she rejected him and our family, or better yet she is dead and your grandfather just...didn’t want to accept it.”

I cand see that after all these years she is still hurting. She feels abandoned, and I understand where she comes from. But I’m not buying it. Something just doesn’t add up. Then she sighs and straightens her shoulders.

            “Look honey, I...  I am very sorry that your father and I kept this from you...we were hoping so badly to find a solution for this whole mess before your anniversary... We love you and your sisters more than anything, and we will do everything to support you in any way...please do forgive us...”

            I look at my mother processing what she said. I can see that it’s painful for her and now it also is for me...at least she spared me all these years from this stress...but still, I would rather have known...I am not one to be knocked off so easily. It has to be a way. Yeah, I am pissed that they kept this hidden from me... but probably I would have done the same in their shoes...who knows.

            “I need some time.” I told her, unable to tell her that I forgive them. Yet.

            “Of course, dear...” she said heavy-hearted. “We have some journals and documents from where we tried to gather useful information...maybe you would want to take a look yourself. I will be downstairs in your father’s office when you need us...if...”

            She left the room quietly, leaving me hanging on the bed end, looking lost in my thoughts. I let myself fall on my back staring at the ceiling as a gazillion of questions riled up my brain, but the main one was concerning my mate...my impossible-to-meet mate.

            Right then a flash image of him bending in pain appeared in my mind and I realized that he too was affected... I wonder what happened to him, who was he. Where was he? How did he end up at my insane aunts’ mercy? I need more details, more information. What happened all those years ago and where can I start searching now. Maybe those journals can be of some help. There was no time to lose...

            I wonder if I go back to sleep would I be able to contact him somehow...? How is this even possible? I don’t know much about dark magic, only that it was very dangerous not only for the victim but also for the one who uses it.

            And also, the truth behind my grandmothers’ disappearance was... questionable at least. Grandpa was sure that something happened to her, but whenever I tried to make him elaborate, he would always avoid the topic...I guess it was too painful. But now I have to question him as well, and I’m hellbent to find out what he knows exactly.

            And... what about my lineage then? Am I a hybrid? Neither I, nor my sisters have had any weird signs that we may be into this witchy stuff...apart from my hobbies with crystals and reading supernatural romance novels... I didn’t ever feel or displayed any kind of magic manifestation... I guess I have to do detailed research about this as well. So many questions, so many mysteries…when did life get so complicated? I have a wild guess that it’s just the beginning…

            I need to take a cold shower and clear my head. I’ve got work to do and I need some helping hands. With eyes. And brains.

Time to call my study group.