MILLIE BROWN

"I can't believe it! You're best friends with the soon-to-be Luna!" Clara exclaims, her voice bubbling with excitement as her face lights up with disbelief.

There's something about Clara that puts me at ease. It's been comforting to have someone to talk to who doesn't immediately assume the worst. Her reactions—wide eyes and giddy expressions—fill the gaps of my story as I recount everything to her.

"That's amazing! I've only ever seen her on the signboards. She's so beautiful... and like, the perfect match for Alpha Shane," she gushes, her face radiant with admiration, but my stomach does that uncomfortable flip again. I have no idea why her words make me feel this way.

I force a half-smile and look away. "Hmm," is all I can muster in response.

Noticing my discomfort, Clara's smile falters for a second. "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to, you know, focus on the wrong things," she says, grinning sheepishly, trying to patch up the awkwardness.

She shifts the topic quickly. "So, you're a fugitive in your world... and here too?" Her brow arches in curiosity as she processes everything I've told her.

"Yeah," I say, still feeling the weight of the word "fugitive" settle in my chest.

"And you overheard Leah's father hiring the local guards to kill you?" she asks again, her voice lowering like she's trying to wrap her mind around it.

I nod, the cold dread settling into my bones again as I recall the scene at the bar.

"That's insane," Clara says, eyes wide with shock. She pauses, looking at me more closely. "I still can't believe Alpha Shane killed your mother... Do you know why?"

I shake my head, my voice bitter as I mutter, "Probably because he's a psychotic bastard." But even the venom in my words feels hollow, like it can't adequately describe the rage and hurt I feel.

Clara glances at me, hesitating before speaking. "I'm not defending him, but Shane's had a tough life. His parents were killed by a rival pack... one that tried to take over Lupinmere."

"Rival pack?" My curiosity is piqued, though I try to suppress it.

Clara sees the flicker of interest in my eyes and immediately jumps into "storyteller mode," grabbing a piece of chalk from the small table by the room's corner. Her energy is contagious, and despite myself, I smile as she draws on the chalkboard.

"Alright, buckle up—this is your history lesson for the day," she says, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Long ago, the world was divided. Humans were constantly under attack by demons—creatures of the night that fed on human flesh. In desperation, they prayed to the universe, hoping for a savior."

I scoff lightly. "Demons that prey on human flesh? You're pulling my leg," I tease, but her eyes narrow at me.

"Hey, this is serious," she says, pointing the chalk at me like a warning, and I can't help but chuckle.

"Okay, okay. Go on," I say, gesturing for her to continue.

"The moon goddess—" she pauses for effect, "—Kalareth, heard their cries. Now, she wasn't as powerful as some of the other gods, but she took pity on the humans. Even though the others warned her not to interfere in mortal affairs, she decided to help. She offered her blessings to those who sought protection, but with one catch—she couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be consequences."

"Consequences?" I ask, leaning in.

"Yep. But, as always, humans are fickle. Most cursed her for being weak, saying they needed stronger gods to intervene. Only four men stayed behind, willing to accept her blessing." Clara's grin widens. "They're known as the founding fathers."

I feel a flicker of curiosity building within me, and Clara notices, her smile growing. She continues, "One of them was incredibly brave and strong. When Kalareth blessed him, he became the first wolf-shifter, able to tear down demons in battle. Another was gentle and pure of heart, and he was granted the ability to become a fae with powerful magic to shield him. The third, more cunning and dark, became the first sorcerer—our ancestor— Lugard Roller."

"And what about the fourth?" I ask, intrigued by the story, though part of me still wonders if this is all just a fairy tale. "Did he become a vampire?"

Clara shakes her head. "No one knows. His existence is shrouded in mystery. Only the founding fathers and the goddess herself know what he became."

I frown. "Weird."

Clara nods. "After the blessings, humanity entered an era of peace. The demons were defeated, and for a time, all was well."

"But then... why doesn't anyone in the normal world know about this? Why is it just... folklore?" I ask, genuinely puzzled.

Her expression darkens as she continues, "Because your ancestors—the humans who rejected the goddess—feared us. They saw us as monsters and created horrible, cruel ways to hunt and torture us. Eventually, Kalareth, in her final attempt to protect us, wiped your kind's memory of our existence. We were forced to live in the shadows."

Anger rolls off her, her posture stiffening. She truly believes this story with every fiber of her being.

"The founding fathers spread out, claiming territories, and ruling them with their disciples. But things took a dark turn when our overlord at the time—Lugard Roller V.— led his people into the human world, determined to dominate. He believed we should be at the top of the food chain. That led to the Great War—where humans, fae, and the were-people united to stop him."

Clara finishes with the diagram she's been drawing on the chalkboard, her face serious for the first time. I can't help but wonder where this fits into my world... and what it all means for me.

"The sorcerers lost their territories after the war and were forced into hiding, scattered across different realms as slaves or refugees. Our founding father's methods of magic were branded as 'dark arts,' and practicing them became punishable by banishment or death," Clara explains, drawing a triangle on the chalkboard and dividing it into parts. Her movements are quick, precise, as if she's practiced this explanation a thousand times before.

"Thanks to our founding father, we're now at the bottom of the food chain," she adds, writing the word "witches" at the lowest point of the triangle.

I sit up straighter, watching as she fills in the next tier. "Faes are next. And that's only because they're pacifists who keep to themselves," she continues, her chalk scratching against the board as she writes "faes" above witches.

"Then we have the wolves." Her hand moves to the top, writing in bold letters. "They have the most domain in Velarion," she says. "So, they're at the very top."

I furrow my brow, staring at the empty space above the wolves. "But there's still a gap up there," I say, pointing.

Clara's eyes follow my finger, and a faint shadow of discomfort passes over her face. "Right. That's for the last founding father. Their pact lives in secrecy, so no one knows much about them... just that they're at the top of the food chain."

The empty space sends a chill through me, a nervous knot forming in my stomach. Why does this unknown piece of the puzzle feel like it's looming over me?

Clara, seemingly proud of her impromptu lesson, drops the chalk and hops back onto the bed next to me.

"So... why did Shane's parents die?" I ask, realizing that detail had been glossed over.

"Oh, right. The Valkera family are direct descendants of the founding fathers. They ruled over Halcyon for centuries until one of the alphas in the Valkera bloodline, for reasons unknown, rejected the throne. That's when it was passed to Shane's grandfather. His family was the first to transform after Rangerd Valkera, the first wolf," she explains. There's a pause, her eyes flickering with something I can't quite read.

"The wolves of Halcyon went into chaos because they thought it was ridiculous for the Blackthorns to take the throne. The valley already divided into different regions, became even more divided. With new alphas taking control over each part. The Blackthorns... they seized and controlled Lupinmere, the largest territory in Halcyon."

Clara's gaze locks on mine as she adds, "After Shane's grandfather died, the other alphas saw an opportunity. They ganged up and attacked Lupinmere, and Shane's parents died in the battle, making Shane, the youngest Alpha in Halcyon's history."

Her words leave a strange weight in the air. For a fleeting second, I feel a surge of emotion I can't quite place—pity, maybe? No, that can't be it. Could I really feel sorry for someone like Shane?

"That's why I don't think he would murder anyone in cold blood without a reason," Clara says softly, her words gentle but firm.

My blood boils instantly. "Reason?" I shout, anger bubbling up to the surface. "What *reason* could he possibly have for murdering my mother in cold blood? And he had the nerve to call her a witch afterward!"

Clara's face twists in confusion. "A witch? Your mum was a witch?" she asks, eyes narrowing as if she's trying to fit the pieces together.

"No, she was a regular human. Just like me. And he killed her," I snap, the pain in my chest twisting tighter with each word.

Clara's expression shifts suddenly. She looks at me, her eyes now filled with a strange kind of caution. "Millie... what was your mother's name?"

I hesitate. "Esme," I finally say, my voice quieter now. I watch as Clara's face goes pale, the blood draining from her cheeks.

"You're Esme's daughter?" she whispers, her voice barely audible. There's something in her tone—something that makes my heart race.

"You knew my mom?" I ask, every nerve in my body on edge.

"Who didn't?" Clara says, her voice filled with disbelief. "She's a direct descendant of Lugard Roller. She was banished... for using the dark arts."

My stomach lurches. "What?" The room feels like it's spinning.

"Millie... your mother was a witch. A powerful one too," Clara says softly, but her words feel like they're echoing in my ears.

I stand there, unable to move, my mind trying to process this new reality. My mother... a witch?

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Hey lovelies..... we hit the twenty chapter mark? Can you believe it? Thank you so much for the support. I'm having so much fun writing and reading your comments. Good news is I plan to be posting new chapters everyday so Yay to that and good luck to me......