Page 126 of The Alpha's Fated Destiny

Her words are followed by a hug so warm that it reaches into the most broken part of my soul. “I did everything I could possibly think of to keep you safe from Robert."

My mother's shoulders are shaking as she holds me. “And yet you had to grow up like an orphan. Elsa told me what you went through.”

"Y-you talked to Elsa?" I feel a little bit betrayed that Elsa did not come and get me as soon as my mother woke up.

She laughs lightly. "No. She would tell me when I was in a coma. I heard everything you said to me, sweetheart—what you said, how you cried."

She pulls back slightly and her face is wet from the tears, a sad smile on her lips. "I heard everything. And I am so proud of you. I had no job in raising you, but somehow you grew up to be so intelligent and resourceful, and such a good person. I guess most of the credit goes to Elsa for always looking out for you.”

I just shake my head, sinking into her arms. I don’t care what she has to say. She can keep talking to me. I just want to be in her arms. I’ve never been held by my mother before, but when I am for the first time, her hug feels like being wrapped in the world's safest cocoon. I feel like nobody can hurt me when my mother is holding me. My eyes water, and I close them.

My mother studies my face. "I did everything in my power to keep both you and Caleb safe. But I did fail you, Sophia. Your father and I always dreamed of giving you a life unlike ours. But we never got to do that. You lived in hardship and heartbreak. I am so sorry for that."

I shake my head. "I'm just glad you're awake now."

Caleb steps toward me. “I could always feel some link to you. I couldn’t explain it."

His voice is gruff. “I’ve seen you fight, Sophia. I’ve seen the person you are, and that was when I was looking at you through the eyes of a stranger. From the eyes of a father, you are perfect in every way. You have your mother's smile."

He’s reluctant to approach me, but I am not. I step toward him and hug him. Caleb’s first reaction is to become stiff and then he relaxes and holds me.

"I have questions," I finally say after a couple of hours. "There are so many of them."

"I'm sure you do." My mother smiles at me.

"Not yet." I get to my feet. "Right now, I want you to rest. We have time. We have all the time in the world."

The two of them exchange a look. "If you want to ask us questions now…"

I shake my head, feeling overwhelmed. "I'm just glad to no longer be an orphan. I need time to process that as well."

I leave them be, and they don't protest.

But once outside, I find myself sinking to the ground,

My parents are awake.

My mother is not dying. My father is alive.

I can only thank the Goddess as I weep.

******

Things start moving quickly once my parents wake up. For starters, Karina's pack is completely dissolved. We also come to a decision for the ruling of the South and the North, because after seeing his daughter awake, my grandfather decides to stay with her, announcing his retirement. At the same time, he also announces, without even consulting me, that I am to be the new ruler of the Central Alliance.

On the one hand, it feels slightly flattering that everybody wants me in their corner. That feeling lasts only a few seconds, however. I can't be pulled in three different directions. The decision we come to is to have a Council to rule all three alliances. The only catch is that any member of the councilcannot be an Alpha. I don't have a problem with that. But it does seem that I’ve swapped one title for another. Now, instead of being the Queen of the South Alliance, I will be the leader of the Council of Three.

The details of this new shift in power take time, and once everything is sorted out, we can finally rest. "So you finally managed to unite all three alliances under one rule?"

I look up at Alex's teasing voice. "If you want to call it that."

He pulls me closer in his arms. "You finally got the answers you needed from your parents?"

I sigh. "It's not very satisfying, but at least I know now. My mother is a little bit crazy so you should watch out for that now that you're stuck with me for life."

Alex snickers. "I don't mind your crazy. So what happened?"

I shrug, leaning against him. "I didn't ask how they met, but they wanted me to know everything. He was a mercenary assigned to a pack in the Central Alliance. He met my mother, sparks flew…"

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