Alpha Maximus：The last lycan

　　Hope

　　‘Hope, could you hold Billy for me?’ Bella asks.

　　‘Of course!’ I say, excited. He is such a sweet little baby.

　　Sally and Nathan walk downstairs holding hands, and join us for breakfast. Sally's cheeks are flushed and she is all giddy.

　　‘Good morning,’ I say, with a grin. She grins back.

　　‘Good morning, Hope. I mean Luna,’ she smiles. We both giggle.

　　‘Did you sleep well?’ I ask, trying not to laugh, and watch her bite her bottom lip, and look at Nathan next to her, giggling.

　　‘Yes, I, um, slept very well,’ she smirks, and Maximus chuckles.

　　‘The whole house could hear how well you two slept,’ he says, grinning at Nathan, who slaps his arm.

　　‘Maximus!’ I scowl at him. Did you really have to say that?

　　‘What?’ He asks, chuckling.

　　I try my best to change the subject so poor Sally can stop being embarrassed.

　　‘What are our plans today?’ I ask Maximus.

　　‘I'll be in meetings with the remaining wolf packs to organise peace treaties. I’d like you to just settle in and find your way around the house. Seeing as it’s a castle after all. Nathan can give you and Sally a tour,’ he says.

　　‘Really?’ Sally asks.

　　‘You’re Nathan's mate. We expect you to move in with us,’ he offers.

　　‘Oh, I couldn't. I wouldn't want to intrude,’ she says.

　　‘We insist, don't we, Hope?’ He says, looking at me. I smile and nod.

　　‘Of course! It would mean a lot. Not only to Nathan, but to us, as well,’ I say, smiling, rocking Billy in my arms. Sally squeals.

live in a castle!’ She says,

drive you home to pack your things today?’

head there later today, and be back by the end of the week. I’ll tie up loose ends at home before I

kisses me sweetly on the lips before going to his office. Sally and I follow Nathan as he gives us the grand tour of the castle, that lasts for

place doesn’t end,’ I

　‘It does eventually,’

to the kitchen for a drink of tea,’ I

　‘Want me to show you the way back?’ He

paintings and antiques along the way. I swear the kitchen

passage I should

　Poking my head in, curiosity gets the better of me, and I hold the wall so I can

get to the bottom and see a small light in the

watch the moon in admiration for a moment before

opens. I step into a room where a wall of shelves on my left is full of scrolls. There’s a table against the wall in the middle, a large old book, an unlit candle, and matches. The wall on the right has a red velvet curtain in the centre, with bookshelves either side, holding different bottles of coloured liquids and

around, taking everything in. I place the candle down on the table and

list of names, dates of births and towns of births. I scan through the pages. The last name on the list glows.

a breeze flies through the red velvet curtain, and I step closer, and pull the curtain across. I’m in awe at the portrait of a woman who has the same white hair, and same silver and blue eyes as me. Her arms are around the neck of a light grey wolf. I feel sense of familiarity; like I’ve met them before. I study the picture closely; the way they’re looking into each other's eyes; in love. The grey-almost-silver wolf is

like me,’ I say, running my

mother, could she? And he, my father?’ I say, stepping back

　If Anna Glint is a witch from the Healers coven, and she is my mother, that would explain my healing ability. That would mean I’m half witch and half wolf. I didn’t know we could be mated to other species. If my mother’s name is here, my father's name might be here, as well. I unravel some

over to a bookshelf, I move some jars aside and scan the books, and something falls from one of the

　It’s so beautiful; the more I stare at it, the more I yearn to wear it. I undo the clasp on the end of the chain and fasten it behind my neck. The ruby

on the ground has fallen

　Anna, my

try and keep us apart, but love will always conquer. You are my heart, and

　　Eternally yours,

　　Alpha Levi of the Dark

love for her. I hold it close to

Where are they?

is looking for me; I’ve been

　I fold the note, stuff it into my sleeve on my dress, blow out the candle, and pull the stone door shut behind

　Following the sound of Maximus' calls, I hear the concern in