The Alpha's Daughter

VII

“You’ll have to excuse me for a bit”, Emma stepped away, “our Alpha’s calling me.” She looked back at the girl and asked in English, “will you be alright with Lin?” The girl looked between them then nodded. “Are you sure?” Emma asked again. The girl didn’t hesitate to nod this time.

Emma looked at Linus and he nodded with understanding. “Yea”, Linus looked at the girl again, “you seem very comfortable.” He looked back to Emma, “we’ll be fine.”

He wasn’t going to harm a kid for no reason.

“Alright”, Emma smiled at the pair. The child wasn’t gripping Linus' shirt but holding it comfortably. She still had a little weariness in her expression, but Emma would be surprised if she didn’t. “She does understand you but I’m still teaching her English”, she reiterated. Emma moved to the door and then looked between them with a final smile. “I pray I won’t be long”, she said and stepped out of the room.

Emma walked to the end of the hall and leaned against the wall, waiting for a bit. She overheard Linus asking the child what she wanted to do now. The Alpha smiled, Linus never disappointed her. It was curious how he held her without a second thought and the pup was alright with it. While she seemed to prefer Emma, she was still skittish when it came to being held and the like.

Could Lin be an Omega?

As Emma pondered, she realized that children naturally seemed to gravitate towards him. It could be explained by his lack of an overwhelming scent, but she was beginning to speculate that his unpresented second gender might have a role to play.

That being said, he did seem reluctant to meet the child initially. She’ll ask him about that later.

Due to her delay, she race-walked from the family wing to the main house, then into the study. Emma took a breath when she reached the door and smoothed out her clothes. She rapped her knuckles against the door.

“Come in”, Emmett’s voice flowed through. Emmett is also present. It was probably a political discussion. Emma steeled herself and stepped in.

Emma finally joined the brothers in the study, “I apologize for the tardiness.”

“It’s fine”, the elder twin smiled. He was already aware of the reason for her tardiness. “We sent some men to gather some more information on the area”, he motioned to the desk with a smile.

Emma drew closer to the desk with an airy sigh. Silence ensued as the siblings began to read and analyze the reports and various pieces of literature. As they read, Emilio’s brow became heavier. Eventually, Emilio put down the report he was currently holding and rolled his shoulders, trying to relieve the tension building in his neck.

“Tired?” Emmett worried.

“Something like that”, he sat back rubbing his eyes.

Emilio felt quite perplexed as he read because it is known that Strigoi doesn’t usually leave the dark plains and Draugurs should only roam in cemeteries. Both were now hunting outside of their habitats, hunting weaker myths, like nymphs and humans. Some dared to attack much stronger myths like shifters. The reports imply that they not only had to worry about an upsurge in Strigori, but the upsurge also infested six of the fourteen kingdoms, from as close as Marin to as far as Nover.

They hadn’t known because their territory was unaffected. Even then, why didn’t the Trifecta and their counsel put recourses into informing all shifters? A better question is: how was an anomaly on this scale kept under wraps for this long?

“I don’t understand”, Emilio complained, “is there a food shortage that’s causing a shift? It’s a steady increase in the past three years. Could it be evolutionary?”

“The evolution hypothesis can be ruled out”, Emma spoke breaking the silence.

“Really?” Emilio was leaning towards that conclusion.

“I agree”, Emmett added, “they may have been doing it slowly but the scale on which it’s being done is too large and too sudden to be an evolutionary trait. It can’t be that they’ve changed hunting patterns engraved in them for thousands of years in two to three years. That’s extreme.”

“But not impossible”, Emilio chimed in.

His siblings merely smiled. “I found this particular disparity intriguing”, Emmett’s siblings waited as he drew a graph. The chart compared attacks with disappearances, “there might have been an increase in their appearances but not an increase in attacks caused by the Strigori. Yet there’s been an increase in disappearances, these reports are making an assumption that the night creatures were the cause.”

“Are you saying the reports are unreliable?” Emma quizzed but Emilio understood.

Their leader’s expression became grave, “you think the upsurge is a cover?”

“Definitely”, Emmett nodded.

Emilio rested his palm on his cheek, “while my aim is for high standard of living and equity among shifter. I’m not above propaganda.” He tapped the table with a smile. “Emma, compile the data to make that Alpha Trifecta look bad”, he said blatantly.

Her lips pulled into a devious smile. “It would be my pleasure”, a malicious snicker followed.

The Trifecta knew how to cover their tracks. If they were going to present an argument, having concrete evidence was a given. Even if it wasn’t final, just convicting enough to sway the public. The second in command adjusted his glasses with an entertained smile but returned to the topic.

“You’re due for the trip in three weeks”, Emmett addressed his sister. “The timeline of when you return will be your decision but one thing is certain. When you return, I need the child to be introduced to the pack. If not the whole pack then to the children”, he compromised, “a memo can be sent out to the older wolves.”

Emilio smiled softly, “the children have been missing their Luna as of late. I want to remedy your absence in a way they will understand.”

“I see”, she hummed, “I was planning on introducing her soon.” Emma looked between her brothers and then bit her lip.

“Spill it”, Emmett encouraged over the rim of his teacup.

“I have a request”, Emma looked at Emilio. He nodded for her to continue. “I want to adopt the girl.” Emmett snorted his tea. Emma rushed to his side, patting his back to clear his airways.

Emmett fought his hacking and held up a hand. “Fostering fine, you’ve done that before”, he cleared his throat, “but adoption?”

“I don’t know how to explain it”, she bit her lip, “but she’s special. I felt it the moment I saw her.”

“I know what you mean”, Emilio smiled gently, “but it’s still a concern. We don’t know which pack the child escaped from. On top of that, she’s anxious and doesn’t speak so we can’t question her.”

“Nothing from the one we captured?”

“Nothing”, Emmett adjusted his glasses with some irritation, “we already threw out the corpse, but that kind of loyalty raises suspicions.”

“The Alpha trifecta”, Emma narrowed her eyes. The other two nodded. Emma sighed, “now, even more, I want to adopt her.” She gripped her bangs, “make it harder for anyone to take her from me.”

Emilio watched his stressing sister intently, “in two weeks you’ve become this attached?” He allowed a small smile. Emilio folded his arms, “have you decided who will care for her in your absence. Although I have an idea who it is.”

“It’s who you’re thinking”, Emma smiled, “there was a bit of a hiccup but they seem to hit it off.”

“They’ve already met?”

“Just earlier”, Emma smiled, “honestly I was a bit worried at first but it turned out okay.”

“Worried why?” Emilio was curious.

“He seemed a bit reluctant and she looked like she wanted to escape”, Emma hummed, “but they bonded quickly over the fact that they’re both strays.”

“Well that’s a promising start”, Emmett chimed in, “the both of you should spend the next few weeks with her. So she’s more comfortable to be alone with him of course.”

Emma nodded, “that’s sound.”

She may trust Linus but she shoulder give the child an opportunity to come to that conclusion herself. They adjourned the meeting not too long after since Emilio had skipped breakfast. The Luna walked to the family wing briskly. Emma reached the wing but didn’t enter the hall, she leaned on the wall and focused on her hearing. Giggles flowed into her ear, and Emma smiled. Her heart was warmed by the tinkling sound. Soon they decrescendo.

“Do it again?” she heard Linus ask.

Emma furrowed her brow slightly when the sound of raspberries reached her ear, giggles erupted simultaneously. Emma covered her mouth to stop the stupid smile.

She thinks they’re going to be just fine.