Page 90 of One True Mate

"Kelsey," Victor began slowly. "We were able to not only determine your pack line, but we are 100% positive we know your identity. We have not shared this information with Kamen yet, but he will insist on hearing it and he will explode when he finds out."

I took a sharp breath and felt Kyle's arm wrap around my waist. He was standing just behind me. I was grateful for his presence.

"Perhaps we should take this in private if you wish to know your history. If not, Jason, as Pack Alpha, you will most assuredly need the information."

"Here is fine. Kyle and I made a conscious decision not to keep anymore secret from our pack. From our family," I corrected myself.

Elise squeezed my hand and held it tight. The rest of our Westin family closed in behind us. The remaining six Pack Council members moved closer just to my left. And then I felt and saw my pack circle us all, or at least those that were present at the time.

I couldn't keep the smile off my face. "You say you have info about my pack, my Family, but truthfully, I know exactly who I am, who may family is, and what pack I belong to. I am Kelsey Adams. You are surrounded by my family and I am proudly a member and future Pack Mother of the Westin Pack."

Cheers went up all around and I could see the unease cross each of the Grand Council's faces. Giving them all time to settle down, I held up my hand as I had seen Jason do in several pack meetings to quiet the group. "However," I said, "if you have information about my parents and my history, I would like to hear it."

You could practically hear a pin drop it was so quiet as all ears tuned in for the story. Callum attempted to protest, but I dismissed the thought. "No. My pack deserves to hear this as much as anyone. They have every bit the stake in this as I do." It was true too. They had decided to fight for me. They would be laying their lives on the line if it came to that. I would not keep this from them.

"Very well," Victor continued, "Your parents were Adelina and Dragomir of the Bulgarian Pack."

A collective intake of breath could be heard. The Bulgarians? I didn't think I wanted to hear anymore.

"I remember you as a small child. You and your sisters were perhaps the most adorable little pups I had ever laid eyes on. Each of you different, yet combined even as young as age four you were lethal."

"Oh my god, she's the lost triplet." Elise said under her breath as she squeezed my hand harder.

"That's correct," Victor confirmed. "Your name was Elena. You sisters were Lidiya and Mila. You were the youngest of the three, quiet, shy, always within arm’s reach of your mother. Mila was loud and a bit of a diva from the second you were all born. She loved the attention. Lidiya always chased behind her trying to keep up. But by four all three of you had come into powers. The little witch girls they called you. Mila liked to show off her power and shortly before your fifth birthday learned that she could combine her power with Lidiya's and bend people to her will. Your parents were good people and they tried to control her, but there was no controlling Mila. Kamen had fought off making the decision, but the time came when she was just too powerful and too dangerous to the pack and called for the death of all three. They came for Mila first."

"Lidy went after her," I continued with tears running down my face. I could see the story unfold like a nightmare before my very eyes. "Papa told me to stay with mama, but I tried to go after them. I knew I was stronger than the two of them combined. I was the only one that could keep Mila in line, but I didn't like to use my power. Mama said it scared people and I needed to hide it. I tried to run after them. I wanted to save them, but mama grabbed me and we left. I could hear their screams in my head and knew the moment they had died. We had been able to communicate telepathically, much like the bond Kyle and I have. I told Lidiya to run away and save herself, but she wouldn't listen. Papa couldn't stop it either. Mama took me far away. It was a long trip and later papa met up with us." I looked up the Grand Council. "I remember now." I whispered. "My name was changed to Kelsey Elena Adams when we came to the United States. They left Elena in my name as a reminder so I would never forget who I was."

Kyle's arm tightened around me and I felt him push a calming feeling of love through our bond. Elise squeezed my hand and Lily hugged me around my other arm.

"What happens next?" Chase asked.

"When Kamen finds out she's Bulgarian, he will come for her. He will not be happy to find she lived. All the Bulgarians remember the strength she and her sisters had as just little girls. He will either sentence her to death, or try to use her to gain more protection for his own benefit."

"We will not allow that to happen," Chase stepped forward and said in a menacing tone. Growls throughout the room began and I saw Victor's eyes widened.

I had never seen this side of fun loving, crazy baby Chase, the youngest of the Westin kids. His determination made my heart swell with love for my family. And they were my family, more so than my own had ever been. I was accepted without question or fear and the realization of that was making it hard to keep my emotions in check.

They love you too, Kels.Kyle told me through our bond.But not as much as I do.I could see the smirk on his face in my mind.

"You do what you must, Victor, but hear me now." Jason said with the utmost authority. "Westin Pack has unanimously decided to stand and fight should it come to it. Kelsey will not leave my territory, nor is Kamen or any of his Bulgarians welcome here. To come for her will break territory alliances and end the peace we have all thrived under for the last seventy-five years. Cedric, you are old enough to remember the days before peace. Consider what will happen, carefully. Because Kelsey is Westin and Westin Pack is in our right to protect our own against all enemies."

Cedric sighed. "We will make it known and pray it does not come down to it, but acknowledge that it is in your right to do so. We only ask that this stay between Westin and the Bulgarians. We do not wish to see an all out war."

"It is too late for that," Kyle spoke this time. "We have made our alliances already. I will not take any chances regarding my mate. You be sure to let Kamen know that he wants her that badly, he does so facing a full war. One he will not win."

KYLE

Chapter 32

For three weeks, patrols had been upped on ten hour rotations around the clock. Our perimeters were run regularly by our best trackers in search of any signs of intruders. Collier, Longhorn and Central had made good on their promise and I had an extra thirty-seven battle ready wolves at my disposal.

As for Westin Pack, all in San Marco began immediately training. All wolves abroad were called home indefinitely to begin their training as well. It wasn't that Westin was soft. All wolves were trained to fight, but peace amongst the packs had left us weaker than we should have been. Most fighting skills were taught in preparation of the mating challenges, which, yes, was a fight to the death, but it was also one on one combat. What we were potentially facing would be very different.

There were still many older wolves who remembered the ways before peace and they were called in to properly prepare the others. At first everyone went all in with an excitement even as they set about preparing for war. But as the days went on, turning into weeks, the excitement began to wane. I couldn't afford for even one of them to be complacent so I pushed and urged them to keep up their training, keep their ears up, their noses to the ground, and always be on alert. Still life was slowly returning to normal, just with a little extra in patrols and awareness.

I couldn't sleep, always worrying. Kelsey fussed at me that was exactly what Kamen would want. He needed to wait us out and weaken us and allow our pack to become complacent once again. I knew she was right, but what I heard was 'if we drop our guard, he'll attack with the advantage.’

It was late, or rather early in the morning hours. Kelsey was lightly snoring next to me as I once again laid wide awake, contemplating every potential attack and any weaknesses we may have. When my phone buzzed quietly beside me on silent, so as not to wake my mate, I startled.

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