#WHAT ARE YOU?#

P.S I USED GOOGLE TRANSLATION FOR SOME OF THE WORDS THANK YOU AND ENJOY

MACHELY

                    I needed an out, an escape after my moment with aunt Vanessa. So I found myself lost in thought while wondering around the mall.

I was carelessly lost in my head until I was called out by a voice.

"Annabelle?"

Blinking back in confusion I turn to lock gaze with Olive eyes.

"Jason? What are you doing here?"

He was a few inches taller than me yet I found myself craning my neck back to look him properly.

His long legs brought him to my front, he was still dressed as he was this morning only different were his messy hair that brought out his boyish charms.

"I work here"

'Oh' my lips were shaped in a circle while I tried getting my head out of the gutters.

Jason, oblivious to what was going on in my head gestured to the jewelry shop that I finally took notice of all its unique qualities.

"Are you looking for any jewelry in particular?"

I was scared shirtless by the price labels.

"No, I'm trying to get away from aunt Vanessa"

I spoke honestly trying hard to keep my eyes off the expensive jewelries that was worth more that my life and my eyes away from this charming man that allude my body.

Let me just say it wasn't an easy task.

"Well that isn't surprising, sometimes Mama Vanessa can be a little too much"

"I just need some time"

I didn't understand why I felt comfortable with him.

"Mind if I join you in finding an hideout?"

Well definitely not too comfortable that I will want to spend the whole day with.

"No... Er.... Yes, I mean would you by any chance know where my uncle is?"

I caught up on the strange look that had my heart felt like it would jump out of my chest at any minute.

"He should be by the mines in Memona, you can hail a cab there"

Good heavens! why is my body acting this way.

"Thank you"

He suddenly started laughing softly , a part of myself was embarrassed that it was because of how I was behaving like some fan girl, I felt like fleeing but still I stood my grounds and raised my brow in question.

"Its just that you look just like her and Papa Pedro, its refreshing especially those eyes"

I had no idea where the blush on my cheek came from, if I wasn't showing how uncomfortable I was before then I definitely was showing it now.

"Err than- thanks, I guess"

I left the shop as fast as I could my heart confuse and the blush spreading.

********

                 When I would read books about the mines I imaging huge mountains that was so unstable it threw debris and dust everywhere, not not this.

"Miss, you are not suppose to be here"

Sticking out like a sorry thumb in the crowd of half clothed workers moving around crate, boarding mini trains and other stuffs I felt my cheeks warm more in embarrassment, if it wasn't for my determination to see Uncle Pedro I wouldn't be caught dead in a place like this.

I tried explaining the best I could while trying hard to ignore the curious gaze thrown my way.

Why couldn't the ground just swallow me.

"I know but I just want to see my uncle, Alpha Lupez"

I guess Jason's words were true because the man got a look at my eyes before direction me inside. We rode the rail down to a workshop passing by caves that had men digging into and stacking up baskets.

I walked in awe by my adventure, the inside was lighter with the use a bright LED light that two men were using to view papers and rocks on the ground.

I didn't want to disturbed them so I continued looking round until slowly I noticed something on the ground not far from them, it took a while before I realize it was huge scarlet gem the size of my hand, it was beautiful despite it just being broken off from the ground but still it was a beautiful ornament.

Another caught my attention in an hypnotic trance, it was placed in a crate beside where my uncle and another man were discussing.

It was colorless and seems to only gains its bright hues from impurities in the rock, it had chromium and vanadium that gave it a green color resulting in an emerald, there were iron stuck to some that provided a blue or yellow tint creating aquamarine and golden beryl; and manganese that added some deep-red color to create red beryl.

           It was shocking seeing Red beryl, I distinctly knew it was only found in Utah, New Mexico, and Mexico, and the majority of examples found are just a few millimeters in length, too small to be cut and faceted for use. Those that have been cut are generally less than a carat in weight, and a red beryl of 2 or 3 carats would be considered exceptional, yet seeing it here made me realize why Uncle Pedro was considered one of the richest and influenced in the business world.

I interrupted their argument the moment I noticed something wrong with the size.

"It a 0.5 too broad and a 2'tt too short, red beryl are already considered too small so cutting it any more would be a loss"

Their eyes finally too notice of my presence I felt one smile and the other frown, my head was already lower in a submissive posture something that was already used to me like a second skin.

The one who smile bend down with a calculating device, he scanned it before standing back up with the result.

"You are right, Annabelle.
How did you know?"

I shrugged still not looking up.

"I saw the blue prints on the table and the calculations"

With caution I asked with hesitation not sure if I should still treat his title the same way I treated Alpha,

"It's a beautiful gem, what are making if I may ask?"

"Of course you may my dear, Earrings and necklaces and if lucky the pieces will be shaped for a dress"

I nodded in understanding knowing if they cut out the shapes right they can add it to the embodied of a gown.

Slowly I raised myself up locking eyes with blue eyes that smiled encouragingly at me, my gaze moved to a shorter man beside him, he was darker skin with dark hair and olive eyes, his face was filled with burnt scars that look painful and made him look threatening.

"Alfredo, this is Annabelle my niece, Annabelle, this is Alfredo Devin my beta"

I bowed my head in respect.

"You weren't lying when you said she look so much like Veronica"

I tense at that reminder.

"What are you doing here Annabelle, I thought you had a day out with Vanessa?"

"I wanted to see you Uncle"

He didn't question more, he mist have seen the hesitating look in my eyes and just knew.

"Of course. Hey Fred! why don't you check up on the boys at the holder room"

The shorter man nodded before leaving.

The room was quite, none of us not knowing how to start, luckily my uncle had a question he needed an answer to.

"I remembered your father was a scholar, right?"

He paused before continuing, directing me to a set of chairs beside table where the blue prints were.

"Your mother used to talk about how much of a genius you were like your father even at that young age"

I smiled wishfully at that, recalling how proud my parents were any time I came home with good results.

"Yes my father was a genius but I'm not a genius, not anymore"

His brow rose behind his hair. His hat was placed on the table which made his long hair stick out.

"Then what are you?"

My tongue got tied down, I couldn't answer cause I didn't know.

He saw my conflict, saw how my hands shook yet he continued.

"I met him once. He was a good man and oddly a perfect match for my sister, I tolerated him better than Luke"

His tone wasn't something I could pick out.

"Why?"

He hummed while caressing his short bread.

"There was just something about him I could put my fingers into"

I shared a smile knowing that was exactly how my father was. He wasn't something you could understand but something that kept on surprising you.

"How many of you lads have your Father's brain"

Now it was my turn to raise my brows but it wasn't in surprise or shock, it was in pain and reluctance.

"My brothers"

He tilted his head sideways, piercing me down with his gaze.

"And not you?"

I averted my gaze.

"I used to"

This silence wasn't one I liked, it kept me consumed in my thoughts, those doubtful seeds Alpha planted in me.

"Anna Annie, Anna Annie?, The 'EMOTIONS' painting back at the assembly, the one that got its highest bidder, were you the one who painted it?"

I blushed before nodding.

"I did along with the light works and settings, well mostly my brothers and I"

When was the last time I saw someone smile at me for something I did.

They say a smile is a window on your face to show your heart is at home. Could I be home? Or is this acceptance?

"You sure did an excellent job, I was in awe at your painting, would have bought it if I didn't want to go bankrupt in less than a day, Alpha Garmon on the other hand was so entranced he was persisted"

They say a smile takes a moment, but the memory of it lasts forever. The smile that was slowly growing on my face froze at the mention of his name, my heart fluttered at the memory.

I had to clear my throat in order to clear my thoughts.

"Yeah well the money was part of the plan, we were hoping to use it to come here and hopefully start a new life"

A new life on the run, as rogues. But at least we would be together and be happy.

"I don't know how much I can apologise for not contacting you guys sooner, If I had known the outcome surely things would have been different"

I was getting tired of the 'if's. I had enough of them when I knew the truth.

"Its okay Uncle , you didn't know, we were both deceived"

It still amazed me how blue his eyes were, it was like I was looking into Chris's.

"But still I have a lot of making up to do and I feel like I really let my sister down"

I couldn't object not when he put it that way and the determined look in those eyes.

"If you insist Uncle Pedro"

His smile was the silence we needed to get ourselves together before we got all teary but still at least those words were already out in the open.

"I see you and my mate had a fun time"

I had to blink slowing huffing out airs from my mouth making sure I didn't go back to that place.

The place where my prison was darkness.

I looked up at him in question as he gestured to my dressing and new style.

"I'm not the dressing up type of girl"

I murmured gently looking anywhere but him.

He looked younger when he wiggle his brows like that.

"A shame, cause you look good"

'How many time do I have to blush in a day!'

"Thank you"

"And speaking of Mate, I must have a talk with Alpha Garmon, but I'm kind of glad he's your mate. He's a good man and will protect you".

But what about my brothers

"Can't you not... Err talk to him later

I gave a subtle flinch, my body trembling from my caged in emotions.

Uncle Pedro seemed to understand something cause his look was one of pity.

"You are not rejecting are you?

I couldn't. It would damage me the more , I wouldn't be able to care for my brothers before.......

He let out an audible sigh when I refused to reply.

"You came in here with an intent to speak with me about something right?"

I nodded knowing it was now or never since the balls were turned away from my direction.

"I want to talk about the welfare of my brothers. Now that we know we have a living relative alive, their guardianships is suppose to shift back to you"

I expected my uncle to accept it straight away not reject.

"Late Alpha Maddox made the right choice making you their guardian and I have no intention of taking that away from you even if you are marked as Luna of the Apex pack"

My heart clenched but I held it in, knowing I had to keep on listening to those words before........

"I had planned that they get enrolled into the Royal Cyrus Academy"

"The Academy? Why?"

The name had fond memories flashing through my eye lid.

"I want them to become scholars like our father"

'To fulfill my promise to my parents', It had always been my promise to them when I had failed them

He hummed in agreement.

"An excellent place for their future, and after that? What happens to them once they graduate?"

I gave him a skeptic look wondering where he was heading to with the question

"They get to decide what they want"

He was quiet for some minute before he asked again.

"What about you?"

I blinked fast.

"I'm not of concern right now and besides I might become the Apex Luna"

Inside I cringe at the lie I told, it became a battle between my mind and my wolf who wants to change my mind.

He hummed again.

"How far are you in your school?"

I blinked again.

"I'm at my final year in high school, Alpha Cornell allowed us to continue schooling"

He nodded,

"And after that? Don't you want to go further with it?"

Why was it getting difficult? Why couldn't I plan my life the way I wanted without any questions?.

"My brothers are my main priority"

From the corner of my eyes I felt his gaze on me, I felt him trying to uncover something he shouldn't bother himself with.

Why did he want to? It was already set in stones.

"I will help with the funding though I think Alpha Garmon would want to do it since he also have legal rights over them and such, but still who am I to refuse a proposal to finally catch up with what was lost and care for my nephews"

I released a breath.

"But on one condition"

I tensed up. Alarms went through my head.

"I get to train them to choose which one would be the next Alpha of my pack"

I blinked up at him, questions jabbing inside my head.

"What? Why?"

"As am sure you have noticed my mate and I aren't with child because my mate is unable and I'm not getting any younger, I need someone next in line in case something happens to me"

Has the world gone mad!?

"But my brothers aren't Alphas, we are betas"

He smiled warmly.

"Yes your father was a beta and your mother an Alpha, but your mother wasn't just any Alpha, she was a dominant one, was suppose to be the Alpha of this pack instead of me".

He shrugged before looking into space lost in his memories

"I'm not sure if you've noticed but your brother's alpha blood is a little bit more prominent which am sure with the right training we can bring it out fully, yours too is in there but I can't put my fingers on to it, its like its locked up or something"

There he goes again, trying to put meaning into something that wasn't there.

"I have been hearing things like that Uncle and I can assure you we are just ordinary wolves, they have beta's blood and I am nothing, just some wolf lower than an omega"

It still hurt what had happen, it irritated my wolf that felt stronger to be called something of lower.

He rested his hand on my shoulder as though to hug me, his identical blue eyes like mine stared down on me, I noticed how Sapphire they were from my baby blue ones

"Don't believe every little thing Luke told you"

He gave a small smile.

"You are far more stronger than you think, life can get hard and things can go wrong but you just got to stand up and stay strong"

I choke up, they were words my mother would say to me

"Do we have a deal, pequeño?"
(little one?)

It wasn't possible yet somehow even my wolf confesses that she had sense it in them but she was always quiet about ourselves. I always thought it was because of the toxic silver in us, I still think it's in me.

'Where was this doubt coming from?'

"Of course Uncle"

He gave me a soft smile one that tried to assure me everything would be alright.

"You are not alone in this world, pequeño"

It was starting to feel like it.

"How good are you with your mother's native tongue or Irish?"

I blinked confused by the sudden question, "err... Not good at all.... Why?"

Well, lets just say you are going to get an ear full of it either way"

"Huh?"

******