The Long Lost Daughter

10 Questions

Penelope

Before I open my eyes I am vaguely aware of my surroundings. I am in couch, I know that much for sure. I try to contact Ruby, but I can't. She has either blocked me out or she is not able to communicate with me right now. 

Thinking of Ruby brings back the memories of what happened before I blacked out. Think I started to shift. Ruby was taking control, my skin was burning and my bones started popping. I either started shifting or I had the most intense panic attack of my life. 

I needed answers and the only way to get them was going to be by opening my eyes. I slowly open them and it takes me a second to realize where I was at. I was still in Alex’s office, except this time I am on a couch that was on one side of the room. I groan as I try to sit up. My body is aching and I still have a lingering headache. 

The sound I made alerted Darla and her Dad who are sitting by his desk that I was awake and they both look over at me.

“Welcome back” Darla says with a chuckle.

“What happened?” I asked.

“I injected you with wolfs-bane. I could tell you were about to shift and I can’t have you messing up my office” Alex said like it was no big deal.

“But… How did you?... Huh?” I stutter. I still do not understand how they knew I was a wolf or what has even happened to me. I still can not sense Ruby. I assume that whatever this wolfsbane is, is causing me not to be able to communicate with her. 

“I can’t believe you are allowed to be in society with humans and you can’t control your shifts” Alex said in a very disapproving way while shaking his head and leaning back in his chair. 

“Wait how did you know I was a werewolf?” I ask. 

“Girl, we knew as soon as you walked in. You have a very strong wolf scent” Darla informs me. "Wait you didn't know we were werewolves?" she asks pointing between her and her Dad. 

"No, I didn't" I tell her truthfully. I knew that Ruby said there were wolves nearby, but I had no idea they were ones. 

I am suddenly nervous being around these people I thought I knew at least a little. They are werewolves and they know I am one. I still have very little knowledge about what I am, I don't even know what I am going to tell them. I hope that they are good people. I get a sense that they are. I guess telling them the truth won't be that bad. Maybe if I tell them the truth I can gain a better understanding about what I am. 

“What pack do you belong to?” Alex asks interrupting my thoughts. “I am going to have to report you. Clearly you are not capable of being around humans. You could be putting others at risk. Your pack should never let you around humans if this is how you behave.”

I feel like I am in an intense interrogation. Like one that you see all of the time in those criminal shows. Alex still seems very upset and bothered by what had happened. Darla on the other hand is just rolling her eyes at her father's attitude. 

“I don't have a pack" I tell them truthfully. 

"Are you a rogue then? I didn't think you were, you definitely don't have the scent of one” Darla tells me. 

“I don’t think so.”

“Are you going to tell us the truth or are you going to continue lying to us?" Alex asks with anger lacing his tone. "We don't sense that you are a rogue, which means you belong to a pack. I understand that you don't want to get in trouble with your Alpha, but I need to have a chat with him."

I have no idea what to tell him. I did not understand half of what he just told me. All I can do at this point is tell them the truth. I am just hoping it does not come back to bite me in the ass. 

“I just turned 18." I begin. "I didn’t know I was a wolf until I was 18."

They both stare at me like I have just grown a second head. I decide to just continue since they clearly seem to be following along. "My Dad is a wolf and he never told me I was one. He left and disappeared four years ago, leaving me to be raised by my aunt. I grew up around humans. I went to normal schools and have believed that I was human up until a week ago. I know nothing about being a werewolf except for what my wolf has told me. I have been planning to attend the University of California since I can remember. I was planned on moving out here as soon as I graduated high school which I did. I am just trying to live the life I have always dreamed for myself without being a wolf getting in my way.”

I let the truth come out almost in one big breath. Darla and Alex stare at me in awe. They are not even blinking. Finally their gaze moves towards each other and they both seem at a loss at what to say.

Alex turns his gaze to me as he asks, "Darla? Would you give Penelope and I a moment alone?" 

Darla doesn’t say anything she just turns and walks out of the room leaving me with Alex. He walks around to sit on his desk across from me now. Alex sits and stares at me. I can tell he does not know where to begin. So I break the silence. 

"What is a rogue?" I ask. I may not have a job anymore, but at least I can get some answers to questions I have. 

“A rouge is someone who has been kicked out of their pack. They usually have a nasty smell to them and they live on the outskirts of already existing packs to avoid humans. Normally the only reason someone does not belong to a pack is because they were kicked out, or their parents were and they would have the rogue scent on them” Alex tells me. 

I can't stop myself from asking more questions. This stranger is giving me more information than my own father ever did about my own identity. So I ask, "What is a pack?" 

"A pack is like a giant family. Almost every werewolf is born into a pack. In the pack there is what a modern world would call a king and a queen, but we call them Alpha and Luna. Below them are the Beta male and female. Below them are the Gamma male and female. All of the ranked members are in charge of running the pack and protecting all of it's members. They all have their own separate duties" Alex tells me. 

I can sense that there is more that he is not telling me. I want to ask about his pack and his people, but I decide that I have probably asked him enough questions. I feel bad imposing this burden on Alex and his family. 

“If it is going to be too much having me work here, I completely understand. I don't want to be a burden or a liability to you guys” I tell him honestly. I am thankful for the information he has given me but I don't want to burden them. 

Truthfully I am hesitant on working here now. I wanted to escape my life and live apart from this supernatural world. However despite my efforts, I still ended up in a place filled with wolves. 

“You're nor a burden Penelope" he tells me when his face finally softens. Maybe now that he knows more of my life he will be more understanding. 

"I hired you because I knew you were a werewolf. There are not many places out there ran by wolves so I wanted to help out a fellow wolf. I figured you were from a near by pack" he tells me. "I apologize for being so tough, but werewolves have rules we have to follow. Me having my own business worries the elders and my alpha enough, I can't have people who don't follow rules working for me."

I nod with a small smile. I feel better knowing I am not a burden to him. I get where Alex is coming from, he is just trying to be safe with his business. I can tell Alex is deep in thought. This is definitely something new for him, he doesn't even know what to say. 

"Do you know what happened to your Dad?" he finally asks. "You said he left?"

"Yes he did" I say pausing. The pain about my Dad leaving doesn't hurt as much, but that does not mean it is easy to talk about. "I got a letter on my 18th birthday where he told me he left to protect me. I have no idea where he went, or why he did leave. The letter confirms that he is alive, but he said he could never see me again."

"I see" Alex says nodding his head in understanding. 

"Are you in a pack?" I can't help but ask. After all I just told Alex about my Dad, I decide to ask some of the questions running through my mind. 

"Yes, I am" he says with a chuckle. "I am a part of the Green Mountain pack which is deep in the mountains here in Ocean. I am the Gamma male actually. Gabriel will actually be the Gamma male soon. The position gets passed down family to family to the first born male."

I nod in understanding, hoping he continues talking, which he does. 

"My wife Angie is our Gamma female. She comes in here to work sometimes, but she would rather be at home with the Luna and Beta female" he says laughing at his own wife. Even by the mention of her name I can tell his eyes light up. They must really be in love. 

“So you have to listen to your alpha?" I ask. 

“Yes. The alpha has to follow rules and guidelines that are set by the elders, which are similar to the government officials that run America. From there the Alpha gives us rules and is in charge of all of the pack members. He makes the decisions that are best for the pack and is in charge of protecting the pack in every way."

"That sounds a lot like a dictatorship" I tell him honestly.

"Not really" he chuckles shaking my head. "The Luna has as much to say as her mate the Alpha. Both of them together work to make fair decisions for everyone. We have been very fortunate to have a very progressive Alpha. For years it was always the norm for wolfs to live only near their pack and not venture far into human civilization.. Our Alpha however lets us out to be among the humans as long as we can control ourselves and as long as we can still manage our positions within the pack. They have come to an agreement with the elders to allow this to happen. We still have our pack territory, and our pack house, but now we have more members that live among humans. It is what has allowed me to open The Hideout.”

I don’t even know what to say anymore I have just been given a ton of information. I am still confused about all of it. Alex can clearly see I am overwhelmed so he just continues to talk. 

“Look I know this is a lot of information. We would still love to have you working here. With your time here The kids and I can help you gain a better understanding of what your are. AS long as you can try to control your wolf. I really do not find joy in injecting people with wolfsbane. It affects you and your wolf and with a high enough dosage it can kill you."

"I would really appreciate that. You have no idea" I tell him honestly when happy tears begin to well in my eyes. 

 I wipe the tears away and just smile at him. After the long conversation we had we both decide that after filling out my paperwork I could just go home and I would come in to start my official training with Darla tomorrow. Once my paperwork is all signed I head straight home.

By the time I get home I am completely exhausted. The wolfs-bane Alex injected me with has been slowly draining me since I woke up and after all of this new information I just need to sleep. The stress free move to live my life the way I want is proving to be more and more difficult than I had planned.