That voice, I'd know it anywhere. How could I ever forget the voice of the man that sent me into hiding in the first place?

Connor growls deeply and Solis bristles just beneath the surface of my skin, trying to push through.

Slowly, I turn to meet the face I've seen every night as I fall asleep. He's standing, tall and proud. His feet are firmly planted beneath him, a cool smirk on his face, and I'm not sure that I like it. "I would first like to congratulate you all on yet another year of peace between our species." He claps slowly, a condescending air dripping from his tongue. "And to my dear brother." He holds out a hand, causing my head to snap in the direction he's pointing. Philip stands still, as if he's frozen in place. "Thank you for being so gullible, or else none of this would be possible." My eyes fix back on the man stealing the eyes of everyone in this room, their fear permeating the air. I let out a sound so raw and charged, and I feel anger course through me. "Ah, Sophelia! Just the woman I came to see. Quite a show you put on a few years back. You actually had me fooled that you were dead. If it weren't for my sweet brother, who so graciously told me about the lycan princess come back from the dead, I never would've known." A malicious grin forms on his face. "I made a mistake last time."

I snarl at him, my teeth changing form. "And what mistake would that be?" Solis is so close to breaking through, it's only a matter of time.

He takes a commanding step forward, causing me to roar, yet again. "I didn't make sure you bled to death before I left. The arrogance of youth, it gets the best of us. I promise though, it will never happen again."

"You're right. It won't." My claws grow out of the ends of my fingers, and the room begins to brighten.

People whisper around me, but my eyes are set on the warlock tempting his fate. Then again, maybe he's destined to die today.

"Sophelia, settle down." A voice breaks through my anger, and I look to it. Edna is standing about three feet away, her eyes trained on my unnamed enemy.

I look back to him, my teeth still grated together. "He murdered us once. We won't let him get another chance." Solis says, our cognizance mixing and blending.

Edna places a hand on my shoulder, then she steps forward to stand in front of me. "I can't let you kill him, Sophelia."

"Why not?" I ask, shocked.

"Because he's my son." She watches him closely, a yearning in her eyes. "Ezequiel, stop this madness. You cannot hope to gain anything from this. She is a savior, a beacon of hope."

The man, now known as Ezequiel, takes a step closer, leering at Edna. "As a child, you me told of many different women gifted with the Tigress. If she dies, she'll just be reincarnated. Then I can control her, just like I do everyone else."

Edna shakes her head in sorrow. "You cannot control a Goddess, Ezequiel. You'll only get yourself killed." She tries to bargain with him, but he shakes his head.

"No, I won't, because I'm not weak like you." He snarls at her and a flash of light blinds everyone, but myself.

I see her move through the light. Her feet never touch the ground, and as she approaches me. Her eyes shine as bright as the sun, and I stare at her in mesmerization.

Connor yells from somewhere near me, knocking me out of my trance. Solis is gone, and in her place is a fight I never thought I'd see. Edna and her son are caught in a duel against each other, anger flying from one, and desperation from the other. "Let's go!"

Connor's hand grabs mine, and I'm yanked backwards. I find my footing and plant my feet on the ground. "I can't run. I hate running. What, am I just going to run my entire life? That isn't living, Connor. I can't spend eternity running from danger, not when someone is risking their life to help me." I turn to look at Edna. She's strong, but her son is younger, and much quicker. "She can't take him on alone. This may not be my fight, but I'll be damned if I leave her to fight by herself. No, not today. This is my fight now."

Lily and Trish step up beside me, each placing a hand on my shoulders. "We're with you." Lily stares ahead, determination burning in her eyes.

"Til the very end." Trish gives me a resolute nod and I take a deep breath before looking to Connor.

He's glaring ahead, not looking away from Ezequiel. "You know I've wanted to kill him since the day he killed you. Anything that has to do with beating him to a pulp, I'm in."

"Well, I don't really think my say matters at this point, but I might as well go ahead and say it since everyone else has. I'm in too." Desmond stands beside Lily, a stiff expression on his face, yet I can see a little brooding thunder beneath the veil of his eyes.

Through the chaos, I see Hunter. His eyes scan me for any damage, something him and Connor have in common, then he looks at the five of us, all standing, ready. He gives me a nod, then disappears. My eyes refocus on Ezequiel and we move forward.

I feel heat rise within me, the anger and fear mixing together in a furious torment just waiting to break the surface. My friends advance alongside me, ready to take on the world.

"Stop." My voice rings clear and a wave moves through the room, causing everyone to look to me.

Ezequiel laughs hard. "You think your puny tricks can scare me? I am a Warlock, raised on the fears of children, and bred from the ice of hell. Nothing scares me, and definitely not a girl who thinks she's special." His hands move, and a spindly black object shoots towards me, wrapping itself around my arm.

In a burst of anger, I begin to pull him to me with his own weapon. His face stops mere inches from mine, and I swear I see smoke rising from beneath me. "If you are made of ice, then you will melt." My hands heat up, and his tendril of black melts in my hands. I reach out for him, and my hand wraps around his neck. I yell, a spout of flames emerging from my mouth. "You've messed with the wrong girl."

My hand loosens and he scrambles away. I begin to shift, and I can feel Solis's anger break out of my body and into her own.

Ezequiel stumbles backwards as I advance on him. He coughs loudly and trips over himself. I notice Lily and Trish beside me, both shifted and snarling at him. Connor and Desmond are busy dealing with the guys trying to attack us in order to protect the prick in front of us. His eyes widen as he looks around, and he falls to his knees. "I..." His voice cracks and I see Edna, silently pleading with me.

Solis allows me to shift back, and I stand and stare down at him. "You are not a worthy enemy. You live today, but do not mistake this as mercy. This is my only warning, so take it with heed. Your men stand no chance against me, no army you build will stand behind you, and no man will follow you. The power to control is not yours. It is no one's."

He nods his head, staring at the ground. I look up to see everyone staring at me. Connor is fixed in place, his eyes wide, and his mouth agape. Someone claps, and soon the room is filled with clapping.

My knees begin to go weak and I feel dizzy as the rush of adrenaline rushes back out of me. Connor is holding me up in an instant, his arms wrap around me and I lean against him.

Hunter approaches us with two of his men following behind him. "I'll have him removed from the property." He says, nodding to Ezequiel.

His men move, but I hold up a hand. "There's no need. He's defeated. I'm not worried about him trying to hurt me anymore." Hunter looks at me in shock, but nods nonetheless.

"You're the boss." He looks to Connor and speaks. "We should probably clear the room, let her gather herself."

"Yes, that is a very good idea." Edna appears beside him, smiling at me. "I knew you were special dear. How come you never told me?"

My eyes narrow in confusion. "Never told you what?"

Edna's eyes widen and she gapes at me. "Dear goddess, you have no clue, you poor child." She shakes her head. "Nonetheless, I shouldn't be the one to tell you. I do suggest, though, that you speak to your parents." Edna clicks her tongue in disappointment, and shakes her head side to side again.

"Not to be rude, but how are you here, Edna?" Trish asks, a blanket wrapped around her.

"My son, Philip, told me of Ezequiel's attendance to this event. He was excited, but I knew the truth of his visit. As children, they were both obsessed with the Tigress, except instead of respect and admiration, like his brother, Ezequiel began to resent the image of the Tigress. I didn't know his resentment extended this far, but I do believe it." Edna sighs from exhaustion.

I notice Philip behind her. His head is in his hands, and he's bent over his knees. "Why don't you go sit with him Edna? He seems to be taking this pretty hard." Edna turns to look at him then gives me a smile before walking over to him.

Hunter begins to usher people out, and Connor guides me to a table to sit. As more and more people leave, I realize that this place is a mess. There are a few scorch marks on the floor, and the room still has smoke in it.

I notice my parents standing huddled together, speaking in hushed tones. Dad notices my staring, and soon mom does too. They look to each other, then begin to walk to me.

Hesitantly, they take a seat across from Connor and I. Dad clears his throat, and mom takes a deep breath. "You probably have many questions, but first, your mother and I have something to tell you." I nod at him and they relax slightly.

Mom reaches out and places her hand over mine. "Before you were born, I would have dreams. They were of you, and I knew you'd be strong and smart. As the months passed, your father began to have them too. Except his were different. He dreamt of a goddess, not exactly Solis, and not Lunae either." She looks to dad who wraps an arm around her.

"When you were born, I was visited by both goddesses. They told me of your importance. They told me that your existence is crucial to the existence of our world." I stare at him, and he sighs. "You may have realized that you're not quite like every other Tigress there ever was. Well that's because you aren't like them. The Tigress is known as the sun goddesses daughter, but she shares no relation with Solis. You, on the other hand, are the true daughter of Solis."

My brain works twenty-fold just trying to process everything. "I have no idea what that means, dad. Does this mean the two of you aren't my real parents?"

They give each other a look, then turn back to me. "We are your parents, Sophelia, we raised you. That's what a parent is. I gave birth to you, and you are my daughter. The only difference is that you are also Solis's daughter."

Connor rubs his hand down my back, but stays silent. "So, what, am I like, a demigod?"

Mom nods and dad stares at me. "You have the blood of a goddess, and your friends are gifts, from your mother. Along with Connor's gifts, they are meant to show her love for you." He closes his eyes. "Before tonight, you hadn't let yourself open up. Tonight, you finally used the gifts Solis gave you. You're not just a demigod, Sophelia, you're a leader, and you have a lot more power than anyone can guess." He stares at me for a few seconds, then shakes his head. "You'll still always be my little girl, no matter what, but you're not just Sophelia, the daughter of the Alpha, anymore. Now, you're Sophelia, the biological daughter of a goddess."

My parents watch me silently, probably trying to gauge my reaction. I don't even know how to react. So, Solis is my mother, and my parents are only my parents here on earth. What does that mean? Were none of the others before me her true, biological daughters? Was that just a title based on the fact she gave them gifts?

"I think I should take her to our room. Tonight has been very busy, and she's been through a lot in a short amount of time." Connor stands beside me and holds out a hand, which I take.

My parents nod, and he guides me out into the hallway. "Thank you." I say quietly. My head is beginning to hurt.

"Are you feeling alright? You seem a little tired." Connor holds me up with an arm, helping me walk. I don't know what exactly I did tonight, but it took a lot of energy out of me.

I nod and put my weight on him. He lifts me up and carries me to our room. The comforters press against my back and I take a deep breath, the cold blanket feeling like heaven against my skin, which still feels hot to the touch. "Just get some sleep Soph, you've done enough tonight. Our biggest fear is gone, and you can sleep peacefully."

I nod and slip under the covers, and Connor climbs in right after.

A/N

Okay, so HUGE chapter. It took a while to edit, because there's just so much going on, so I'm sorry for the wait.

So, did anyone expect that side of Sophie? She seem different to any of you? ;)

There's plenty more to come. I'm not even halfway through with this story folks.

As always, comment, talk to me, talk to each other, theorize about what you think is going on inside my head (sometimes I wonder if even I know that much) and I always love to hear from you guys :)

Stay classy friends, and keep reading, I want to get upward to 6000 reads within the next two chapters, it's a goal of mine _/(.^.)\_ (headstand)

I love all of you to the moon and back.

Your, possibly looney, and also maybe a little off the edge of the cliff, writer,

Renegade Druid :>