Chapter 13 River 60 55 vouchers I paced the sitting room . My mom had warned me about anyone finding out what I was . I thought Dakota deserved to know . I had no idea there were CCTV cameras around . Alpha Maddox's sons had found out what I was and they were definitely going to threaten me with it . The door clicked open and my mom walked in . She looked exhausted . " Hello , son . " " Why do you look like that ? " I asked , raising an eyebrow . " You look like you have been in a war . " Brenda quickly closed the door . " My car's brake failed , " she walked to the sofa and sat on it . " I almost got into an accident . Thank goodness I didn't hit anyone . " I narrowed my eyes . " Are you okay ? Did you get hurt ? " She nodded . " No ... no , I didn't . I'm okay . I found out about something ." Did she find out about what happened in school ? " What did you find out ? " " I found out who the other woman is , " mom said flatly . My eyes widened . " Who is she ? Is dad with her ? Did you find dad ? " " Her name is Claire . She stopped answering Carson a long time ago , " she paused . " She is the daughter of late Henrietta Bradford . " " Henrietta Bradford ? The one that was killed by a powerful Hybrid , if I'm not mistaking ," I said in utter disbelief . " Yes- " " Isn't Claire supposed to be dead ? Silver Wolves were hunted down . I thought they were all dead ," I said , getting more confused . " Son , Claire was not a Silver Wolf . But she did have a twin , Cleopatra ... " I sat down . " This is getting ridiculous , " I scoffed . " I have no business with Cleopatra ... or whatsoever . " " Listen to me , son . Cleopatra was killed in the war with Hybrids . She tried saving her family and ended up dying for them . That family is Claire and her daughter . The Hybrids wanted to get rid of all of them for good , so they'd be certain there were no Silver Wolves left . But , Cleopatra surrendered to them in exchange for the life of her sister and niece . She was so powerful and could have won the war , but at the cost her family's life " Make me understand something . It was a war between the remaining Bradford family and the Hybrids . And you think Cleopatra would stand a chance against the Hybrids ? " " She was very strong . She had received more strength and power from Henrietta . Her wrath could destroy the 16:06 Fri , Sep 19 d Chapter 13 Z 60 155 Vouchers Hybrids . But the Hybrids already had her family . They'd tested them and found out they didn't inherit the Silver Wolves . Claire was a pure white wolf and her daughter was wolfless . All Cleopatra needed to do was to surrender herself to the Hybrids and her family would live , " my mom stopped while catching her breath . " Eventually , she gave up and was taken . The Hybrids released her family as they had promised . Cleopatra was tortured and killed . " " Was she the last Silver Wolf ? " My mom shook her head . " There's news of a new Silver Wolf . I think it's rumor . " I rolled my eyes . " Back to Claire . Did you find dad with her ? " She shook her head again , a disappointing expression appeared on her face . " No , he's not with her . " " I told you . It was just a waste of time and energy , " I sneered , trying so hard to hide my disappointment and frustration . " Dad didn't return to the other woman ." She fought back her tears . " I guess you were right , " she shrugged . " Whatever we came to this Pack for ... it's over . " " What do you mean ? " I questioned . " We are leaving this Pack- " " No , we're not , " I quickly debunked . " I don't want to leave this Pack . Not yet ." " Son , you wanted this ," she said , staring at me in awe . " Well , I don't want it anymore . I've changed my mind ," I said . " Why the change of mind all of a sudden ? " " I found my mate and she's in this Pack ," I explained . I watched Mom silently . Her eyes hadn't left me since I told her I'd found my mate . Her brows furrowed in disbelief , lips slightly parted as if the words she wanted to say were caught in her throat . The room grew heavier with each second of her silence . " Mom ? " I finally called . " Say something ." She blinked and cleared her throat . " Who is she ? " she asked hoarsely . " It's the girl you met before , " I said slowly . " Dakota ." Her entire body tensed . " Dakota ? " she repeated , voice almost a whisper . " Yeah , Mom . She's my mate ." Brenda shot to her feet like she'd been stung . " No ," she said , pacing rapidly . " No , no , no ! This can't be happening . " 16:06 Fri , Sep 19 d Chapter 13 " What do you mean ? " I stood up too , frowning . " You have to reject her , River , " she said sternly , spinning to face me . " What ? " I blinked , trying to process her words . " Why would I do that ? I ... I already have feelings for her ? " I told you ," she said , pointing a trembling finger at me , " I warned you not to fall in love here . I warned you before we even arrived in this Pack ." " That was because of Dad , " I snapped . " You said we needed to keep a low profile while you figured things out with him . Well , he's not coming back , is he ? So why should I keep hiding ? " " You don't understand , " she hissed , voice rising . " Then make me understand ! " I shouted back . Brenda paced again , hands clawing into her scalp . " Anyone but her , " she murmured . " Anyone but Dakota ... " I stepped forward . " Why not her ? What aren't you telling me , Mom ? " Brenda stopped walking and stared at the floor , her body trembling with barely restrained emotion . " You just ... can't . You have to stay away from her , River . It's dangerous ." " What's dangerous ? I've already told her the truth- " Her head whipped toward me . " What truth ? " " She knows I'm a Vampire , " I admitted quietly . Her pupils dilated . " What did you say ? " " She knows , " I repeated . " And so do her stepbrothers . They saw it on the CCTV camera at school . I didn't know it was there- " " You let them see you ? " Her voice cracked into a scream . " I didn't let them- " Before I could finish , the entire room seemed to breathe with her fury . The windows flung open and slammed shut repeatedly , the lights flickered like a strobe , and the doors started shaking violently on their hinges . " Mom , stop ! " I shouted , shielding my face from a gust of wind that seemed to come out of nowhere . " You endangered us , River ! " she bellowed , her voice layered , echoing with something deeper than human . " You exposed yourself , and by extension , me ! Do you know what they'll do to you ? To me ?! " I took a cautious step back . " You're scaring me , Mom . " " Good ! " she yelled . " You should be scared . You don't belong here . You're not one of them . You're a Vampire ! A threat to their kind . " 16:07 Fri , Sep 19 d Chapter 13 I gritted my teeth . " Dakota's not going to tell anyone . She accepted me ." 60 65 vouchers " That doesn't matter , " Brenda hissed , her body trembling violently . " Even if she doesn't tell , someone else will . You think the Alpha's sons will keep quiet ? They're already suspicious of you . " I clenched my fists . " Then let them be . I'm not going to keep living in fear because of what I am ! " " You don't get to make that decision ! " she screamed , and a picture frame exploded against the wall behind her . " You are my son , River . And you will obey me ! " My heart pounded . Her magic was spiraling . The atmosphere buzzed with unnatural energy . The air thickened until it became hard to breathe . " Calm down , Mom ! " I shouted . " You're losing control ! " But she wasn't listening . Her eyes glowed with rage , and another lightbulb popped overhead , showering the carpet in sparks . " Enough ! " I roared . Her breath caught , her powers pulling back just slightly , but her body was still shaking. " I'm leaving ," I said coldly . " You can have this house all to yourself and do whatever you want ." Her shoulders slumped , and suddenly all the fury drained out of her . The windows stopped banging . The lights returned to normal . The doors stilled . She dropped to her knees , her breath shallow and rapid . " River ..." she whispered , eyes filled with tears . " I'm only trying to protect you ." I walked over and knelt beside her . " Then tell me the truth , Mom . Why is Dakota so dangerous for me ? Why can't I love her ? " AD Comment Send gift No Ads 16:07 Fri , Sep 19 d