Identities
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A day later passed by in Malcolm and everyone was gathered at the front of the mansion. It was the day that the alpha addressed the issue about the war. Everyone has finally been able to breathe the moment they heard about the news. It was a relief for the people in Malcolm to hear about Cartenia's death. Not only did she ruin her adoptive children's lives but as well as some families in the town.

They all bowed down to hail all people who fought during the war and to honor those who risked their lives for Malcolm.

"For Malcolm's victory, we rise!" the alpha shouted and the people immediately repeated with their arms up on the air.

Callum shot up from his seat the moment the door opened. He was immediately faced by Doctor Beau's smiling face, followed by the bored look on Doctor Watsons that was at her back.

"How is she doing, doc?" he faced Doctor Watsons instead of Juliette.

Doctor Beau immediately pouted, "Just when did the two of you become friends?"

Doctor Watsons chuckled, "I promise to tell you after my discussion with him. For now, let yourself rest first. It wouldn't be good for you and the twins."

Callum could only raise his brows from what he just heard. Juliette playfully spanked her husband's arm, "I told you to keep it between us first!" she squealed shyly.

Doctor Watsons laughed, "Nah, just making this man jealous." he meant Callum.

Callum only rolled his eyes on Quinn—Doctor Watsons's name. "Congratulations! I hope they will get your features instead of this guy's." he embraced Juliette and punched Quinn's shoulder.

"Para saan 'yon?" ngiwi ni Quinn.

Callum smirked, "Pinangunahan mo'ko." aniya.

Nagpaalam na si Juliette na umalis kaya naiwan silng dalawa sa labas. Quinn asked Callum what their alpha did to the men behind the sabotage, and Callum could only shrug his shoulders.

"He took their privilege off them."

"Iyon lang?," dissatisfied Quinn.

Napangise roon si Callum, "Do you really think that's the only thing the alpha can offer? Baka nga ay iyon lang sana but that was until he found out about all the forging they did. Even Cragmere was implicated by their mess. Hindi naman siguro papayag si Harrison na marumihan ang lugar na pinakaiingatan niya. Especially that it carries his family history."

Quinn could only nod in agreement. "Mabuti nalang at agad natin itong nalaman. I honestly would blame myself as well if something happened to Ms Roswell. I'm one of the doctors in-charge of her case, and knowing how much connection this woman has with my wife, baka mabyuda ako nang wala sa oras." biro niya bago napaubo sa suntok ni Callum, "Nakadalawa ka na, ha!"

"Hindi naman iyon masakit." asar ni Callum sakaniya.

"Ano, ikaw ba ay ako? Kung si Aldeheid kaya suntukin ko?" that was supposed to be a joke but Callum took it a little bit serious.

"Oh! Gago 'to, ikaw nauna, eh!" halos dumapa na si Quinn para lang makailag sa akala niyang susuntok na si Callum.

Umalingawngaw ang halakhak ni Callum sa buong pasilyo nang mapanood ang itsura ng kaibigan nito. He wasn't really going to hit him, and he also didn't take what Quinn said seriously. Gusto niya lang malaman kung gaganti ba ito kapag nasasaktan. Callum could feel light in his heart when he observed that this guy is not someone who lays fingers on his wife. Quinn's initial reaction to pain is nothing more but confusion. Nalilito dahil hindi niya alam ba't siya sinasaktan.

Mabuti nalang talaga at hindi ito marunong manakit, hilig pa naman manghampas ang asawa nito.

They both finish their discussion about Aldeheid first before they went on their separate ways. Pagkapasok ni Callum sa loob ay nadatnan niya ang nakaupo na si Aldeheid, hawak-hawak ang lab results niya.

"Hi." she greeted, "Look at how much healthy I got." and showed Callum her statistics. "I even gained more weight than last month." she happily announced while looking at her records.

Callum could only smile. It was only then that he realized how fast the time was running. Parang kahapon lang ay hanggang tingin lang siya rito. He actually never imagined that Aldeheid would be something more than just a human. The small and weak Aldeheid was not around anymore; she went braver and stronger, she even became a hybrid just like any other.

Other than that, he also never expected to have another person he would die for. The day he separated from his mate was already too much for him. Kaya hindi niya inakala na bibigyan ulit siya ng mga nasa itaas ng pares. He did swore that he will do right the second time around, but he never expected himself to be with a human—now a hybrid. Pero buti nalang at sa lahat ng taong pwedeng ibigay sa kaniya ay ang tao pang ito, na nasa harapan niya.

"When can I get to see the sun again?"

The look on Aldeheid's eyes reflect the longing she has been enduring for the past few days. Hindi mapigilan ni Callum ang malungkot para dito. As much as he wants to bring her outside, he can't dahil hanggang sa hindi pa nila nakuha ang hybrid test results nito, ay kailangan muna nitong magpahinga para kung sakaling kukunan ulit ng dugo ay mananatiling normal pa rin ang resulta. Callum could already feel guilty about his Alde becoming one of them. But in his defense, he never knew that it would be this difficult in becoming a hybrid.

Dahil kahapon nang masolosyunan ay agad nilang kinunan ng iba't ibang blood test si Aldeheid. They even get a sample of her hair, nail, and saliva. That was to certify her identity once they prove that she's one of them. In addition, they needed those to determine her sensitivities, hormones, allergies, and such, so that they would be able to create a patient profile for her.

"Let's hope that we can watch together tomorrow." Callum told her before occupying the space beside.

"Juliette told me that I need to get immunization first before heading home. She said it was to protect me from diseases." she chuckled, "It's funny how I became a newborn just because I turned into a hybrid."

Hindi mapigilan ni Callum ang matawa rin, "You are a baby...you're my baby." he said sweetly which Aldeheid cringed.

Namangha roon si Callum, "Huwag mong sabihin pati sweet side mo nawala?" pagka dismaya nito.

Tinawanan naman ito ng dalaga, "Of course not!" she responded and gave him a kiss on his cheek, "I'm just used to being sweeter than you, while you being clingy to me." they both smiled at each other.

"You know what, I just realized everything now that I already know what made you changed this much." he rested Aldeheid's head on his chest, and slowly caressed it.

"Hmm..?"

"Before, I used to think you bewitched me—"

"—what?!" Aldeheid could not believed what she heard, "I didn't even know what kind of town I was living!" she said laughing.

"I know, I know, I'm sorry." he got embarrassed.

She took another kiss on his cheek again, "It's okay! So, what happened next?"

"We really thought you were a witch because of how affected me so much while the others can't even smell you. Aside from that, I could always hear you miles away. I never really felt something like that to someone before. Kaya medyo nagtataka na kaming lahat tungkol sa totoong pagkatao mo."

"Oh—do you know that I'm adopted?," Aldeheid cut him, he nodded, "Then, do you know that I'm a daughter of a higher prince?"

Callum was about to nod when he realized what she said, "Wait—what?!"

Natawa ang dalaga, "The late Prince Alexandre Heidé was actually my father. He was the one who left me on my mom's doorstep that's why she named me after him: Aldeheid." she gladly explained while he still could not believe it.

He knew that Rios's uncle, a half brother of his father, had died but he never—even Rios—knew he had a child!

"Does that mean you and Rios are cousins?"

Her brows furrowed, "Rios is a prince?" she asked him back which he found amusing.

"He is."

"Oh, wow. I didn't know." half of her mouth swung open.

"But going back, do you know who your biological mother is?," he asked with hesitation.

She smiled a little, "Yes. She died with him during the war in Avrieda. They died after they left me in Cragmerre."

She might have not been able to meet them but Callum could feel the pain she's feeling. Despite growing in another household, the sense of losing someone weighs heavily on her chest. Callum could only embrace her.

"I'm sorry...I honestly didn't know that the late Prince had a lover."

"It's okay...her name is actually Aladelle. Aladelle Hugh. No one really famous. Just a mere daughter of a baker in Avrieda. That's what my mom told me, though. I'm uncertain about it." she added to avoid making confusions. "How about yours? Can you tell me about your parents?"

Callum nodded, "I was originally from Avrieda with my mom Janet and dad Oliver Clemente before the war started, which I guess, the same war that separated you from your parents. My memories of them were faded but one memory that I can never forget was when we were complete during Christmas eve." he paused to smile at Aldeheid, "My father was working on the military that time that's why we never got the chance to celebrate Christmas with him. That was my first and last Christmas memory since we don't celebrate Christmas in Malcolm." he added.

Napatingala si Aldeheid sa kaniya at napangiti sa naisip maya maya ay nagsalita ito, "I guess a war is the path of our fates..."

"What do you mean?" his forehead creased.

She lifted her body straight to face him, "A war crumbled our worlds apart from the only people we have, but a war was also the reason how our own worlds collide. It was as if—our only way towards each other was through a war. Not really a good start of a story, but at least, it ended good."

They both chuckled at the reality.

There are two endings of a war: a death and a start. Regardless the two ends, there's always a story behind them. And for Callum and Aldeheid, they both got the two endings, but fortunately, it was on the second war that let them start another journey, but this time, together.

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