Finding the truth
1322 Words
Yuri - POV
A door creaked open, and the device strapped to the back of my hand began to warm. It signaled that we had found our Mixed Blood, and the man who stood in front of us was one of them. Strikingly, this man bore a resemblance to me, something that didn't go unnoticed by Drake, whose eyes darted between my face and the elderly man’s. Equally surprised, the old man stared back at me.
“Who are you?” His voice was gruff and full of suspicion.
“I…I…” I stammered, unable to find my words.
“This young lady is searching for her biological father. Her mother gave her this address,” Drake interjected, explaining my situation to the stranger, who looked eerily like me. I was still uncertain whether this man could indeed be my father.
“What?” The old man gasped, his shock evident. “What is the name of the woman spreading such falsehoods?”
“Who are you calling a liar?” I shot back, my indignation clear. The old man visibly flinched as two figures emerged from the shadowed interior of the house. They were about my age - one a ruggedly handsome man, the other a strikingly beautiful woman.
“What’s going on here?” The handsome man demanded.
“Does the name Gabrielle Nunes, she-wolf from the Silver Canines pack, ring any bells for you?” I challenged the old man. His surprise was unmistakable upon hearing my mother's name. The young man and woman also stared, first at the old man, then at me.
“You are Gabrielle’s daughter?” The old man asked, a hint of recognition in his voice. Nodding in confirmation, I could tell he knew more than he was letting on.
“Are you just going to keep us standing at the door or let us in?” Drake asked impatiently. The old man, followed by the others, led us into a luxurious home, gesturing for us to sit on a plush couch.
“I’m Nex, and this is my sister, Nedra. Our father is Markus Lang,” the handsome young man who introduced us.
“I am Yuri Mora, and this is Drake Walker,” I replied in turn. Nedra brought us tea, while Markus continued to stare at me intently.
“Do you have a photo of Gabrielle?” Markus asked. I nodded and showed him a photo of my mother and me. His eyes lingered on the image, a pang of longing flashing through them.
“You knew my mother?” I asked. He nodded. “What happened between you two that you didn't stay together?”
“How is Gabrielle doing?” Markus asked, skirting my question.
“She passed away,” I admitted softly. Grief washed over Markus's features as he returned my phone, and the room fell silent for several moments.
“I can tell you about Gabrielle, Yuri, but first, you're not here only to discover if I'm your biological father, are you?” His inquiry caught me off guard and made Drake tense up beside me.
“What do you mean, Markus?” I asked, confusion marring my features.
“You're here to capture the Mixed Blood,” he stated matter-of-factly, pointing to the device in my hand. Nex and Nedra's previously calm demeanors shifted to alertness, a hint of hostility surfacing. Trying to keep the situation under control, I quickly put the device away.
“If you've been sent by the Night Pack, you should leave immediately,” Nedra spat venomously. Drake and I shared a glance, taken aback by her statement.
“We pose no threat,” I assured them.
“Lies. That’s what all the Wolf soldiers say when they raid our village, kidnapping Mixed Bloods. Only the three of us remain, and we won’t be taken without a fight,” Nex retorted, standing and adopting a defensive stance.
“Relax, Nex. She's your half-sister,” Markus interjected, shocking all of us.
“You mean, she's our half-sister? You're her biological father?” Nedra asked, echoing the question I couldn’t find the words to ask. Still reeling from the revelation, I watched as Markus nodded in confirmation.
“Gabrielle and I attended the same college. I didn’t discover she was a shifter until our final year,” Markus began, sharing a piece of my mother’s past.
"Gabrielle confessed that I was her mate, explaining the intricacies of the shifter world. Despite the potential dangers, I was prepared to share my life with her. However, my father was strongly against it, having knowledge of the mystical world. He believed Gabrielle could pose a threat to both me and our Mixed Blood village," Markus expressed, sorrow lining his voice. I noticed my hand balled into a fist, but the soothing touch from Drake calmed me.
"Despite these objections, I yearned to be with Gabrielle. But she departed from college before graduation, leaving behind a note of rejection, pleading that I never seek her out. Despite her wishes, I attempted to find Gabrielle but was unsuccessful."
"I was unaware that she was carrying my child," Markus admitted.
"Father, are you certain she's your biological daughter? Perhaps a DNA test is necessary," Nedra suggested. Markus, however, sighed at her remark.
"There's no need for that. I can see the resemblance between Gabrielle and me in Yuri," Markus retorted.
"Nevertheless, we still don't understand why she has a device in her hand, similar to what the Night Pack soldiers possess," Nex interjected with a suspicious gaze. All this while, Drake had been observing the room, silently assessing the situation.
"Do you wish to rescue your villagers?" Drake asked, drawing our attention.
"We do," Nex confirmed. "But there seems to be no way. We've tried all possible methods, but Mixed Bloods and humans can't cross into the wolf realm."
"That's also the reason why I couldn't reunite with Gabrielle," Markus chimed in. I was aware that humans could never enter our world due to the protective barrier established by the moon goddess.
"You would need to accompany us as hostages, which would allow the barrier to open. You could then meet your Mixed Blood villagers. Yuri and I will assist you all in leaving the Night Pack territory," Drake suggested.
"Why should we trust you?" Nedra questioned skeptically. "You seem to be capitalizing on our desperation. The moment we reach the Night Pack, you'll deliver us into the hands of our adversaries."
"We need your trust. I assure you of your safety," I insisted, but Nedra appeared unswayed.
"As far as I recall, Gabrielle belonged to the Silver Canines pack," Markus interjected. "Did you find a mate in the Night Pack to make it your home?"
"Something along those lines," Drake replied vaguely. It was clear he intended to keep our mission from the Silver Canines pack a secret.
"Nedra, Nex, we should accompany them. It's the only hope we have to rescue our people," Markus persuaded.
"Clan?" I queried, puzzled.
"Through our single parents, we Mixed Bloods learned about our lineage. Our parents' partners were Dragons before they tragically passed away for unknown reasons. This village has been our sanctuary, but that's no longer feasible," Markus elucidated. After getting ready, Drake, who explained that they needed to enter the wolf realm in an unconscious state, handcuffed Nex, Nedra, and Markus.
Seeing Markus, Nedra, and Nex laying unconscious on the ground, Drake turned to me. "Do you believe Markus' words?" he asked.
"I'm not certain how I should feel, but being around Markus feels safe," I confessed. Drake nodded.
"It seems you found your answer sooner than expected. Good for you," Drake said, proceeding to open a portal to the wolf realm with a potion. "Let's deliver them to Ted." I nodded, yet a sense of impending danger lurked in my thoughts. It felt like this was just the beginning.
- Writer
