HOMECOMING

Chapter 5

While I was processing all this information, my parents and Ms. Rankin remained seated, just watching me. Meanwhile, I was slowly turning the envelope over in my hands, examining it closely. Something strange caught my eye.

“Dad, did you say this letter was to remain sealed until opened by the designated recipient?” I asked. “Yes, why? It’s been in the Alpha’s safe for the past 14 years until this morning, when he gave me both letters to hold for you.” Dad became alert as I handed the envelope to him. “Look at the right edge of the flap. This looks like it was steamed open and then resealed.”

My dad looked closely at the envelope, raised it to his nose and inhaled deeply. He furrowed his brows in concentration. “This smells like the Alpha”, he stated while looking at me, “The only way to know if it was opened before is to reopen it now and see if there are any other scents on the enclosed letter. If the letter has been opened and read, there could be serious concerns regarding your safety. What do you want to do? “

I looked from mom and dad to Ms. Rankin. Her face was white, and she was hyperventilating. “Oh my Goddess, John. This can’t happen again. Ellie must read the letters now. It’s the only way we can make her understand. It’s the only way we can keep her safe”, she gasped.

Suddenly, I heard Jade’s voice. ‘Tell your dad that both letters need to be opened today. And he needs to wear protective gloves, so there is no new scent transfer. There should only be the scent of the letter writer on the enclosed paper. Any other scent shows the letters were tampered with, and the contents are now known by someone with no good intentions. And Ellie, you need to read both letters today. You don’t have to reveal the contents if you don’t want to. But just know your parents, all three of them, only want to keep you safe. And they will need to know the info in the letters to do that.’

“Dad, we have to know if someone has already been made aware of the contents. But wear protective gloves so there is no scent transfer. We may need to preserve any evidence of tampering.”

All three of my parents stared at me in surprise at my suggestion. “I know, I have read too many spy novels. Makes me extra cautious.” I chuckled. ‘Good save’ Jade snickered. ‘No one can suspect that I am with you. You must keep me a secret until you turn 18. Also, no one other than you four here should know you have read the second letter. Make sure you make that clear to your parents.'

Dad nodded his head then walked over to the wet bar/coffee station at the far end of the office. We followed, as we felt it was important for all of us to observe him opening the letters. He filled the electric kettle with water and turned it on. While we were waiting for the water to boil, Dad retrieved a pair of latex gloves from the first aid kit. Putting them on, he retrieved the second sealed letter from his office safe. He came back over and lay the second letter on the counter. By this time, the water was coming to a boil. Taking the first letter, he held it over the steam then gently opened the envelope flap without causing any further damage to the envelope. Using a handy pair of ice tongs, he extracted the letter. He took the pages to his nose and inhaled deeply, his eyebrows lifting in surprise. He then held the pages under Ms. Rankin’s nose. Tears filled her eyes as she breathed in the scent of her deceased mate for the first time in fourteen years. Then she raised one of her eyebrows in shock. Her eyes shot to Dad, and she said “That’s Alexander’s scent, but there is a second scent there. Am I right in saying the second scent belongs to Alpha Conrad?”

Dad sadly nodded yes while looking at me with concern. “Do you want to read the letter now, Ellie?” I responded with a “yes” but mentioned that I didn’t want to leave any trace of my scent on it. Mom got me the other pair of latex gloves from the first aid kit, and I put them on before taking the handwritten pages. “Dad, you should look over the second envelope to see if it may have been tampered with, but don’t steam it open yet. I want to read this one first.”

I sat back down on the couch, and with shaking hands unfolded the pages. Then I began to silently read the letter dated December 15th, 2003.

‘My dearest daughter,

The only reason you are now reading this letter is that I am no longer living. However, if that is the case, my spirit has returned to the Moon Goddess, from where I shall watch over you.

Your mother and I learned months ago that you, our baby, are a girl. That news filled us both with joy. We are so looking forward to the birth of our little princess. We have already decided on your name, Eleanor Jade Rankin. Eleanor is the name of your paternal grandmother. We want her name to carry on in all future generations of our family.

We can’t wait to hold you in our arms. Your birth will open a whole new world for us as we become the best parents we can be. The second you are placed in your mother’s arms will be a red-letter day for our family. I am sure it will be a magical experience that will envelop our whole lives.

As your father, I want to encourage you to always be kind, be strong, be ethical, be our little princess who grows into the powerful woman that becomes the much-loved queen of your home. Know that I love you, both now and forever.

All my love.

Dad, (Alexander Rankin)

I lowered the letter and raised my tear-filled eyes to my parents. Then I read the letter out loud. As I was doing that, I could hear Jade whisper to me. ‘Look at each word carefully. You will see a message that you all need to understand before you try to open the second envelope.’

As I re-read the letter, suddenly specific words glowed with a green light. I grabbed a pen and paper off of dad’s desk and began to write the words ‘Our princess open the second letter magical envelope princess grows into powerful queen’.