Defying the Laws

Abilities to Come

Derek POV

After running for what seemed like merely a minute or two, Shadow is already across the land from where we came, to the lake along our borders.

Bending down to lap up the cool clear water, he finally speaks to me again in our mind.

'Human, we have much to discuss. For now, I have put up a block so we may be alone'.

Aren't we always alone? In our own mind together? I wonder what is so important we must come this far, to be in isolation to discuss.

'A first shift is a learning curve for all of us my dear friend, know that I now posess all of the memories of your life before my coming' .

Feeling a bit embarassed now, what has he seen in my memories that is cause for such concern...

'Hush your thoughts Derek, I am not concerned with your, ahem, alone time antics. I am proud to be the wolf to an alpha who has saved himself for his mate'.

Relief. But then what can be so important? I didn't think I had ever done something significant enought to get scolded by my other half.

'I will ease your worries and be brief, we have been specially marked by the moon goddess Selene. A blood red moon is painted into our chest. It is a symbol of leadership. You will posess a few abilities contrary to just one a wolf gets, but they will be amplified when you find your mate. People will be compelled to follow you, but only those truly loyal will obey. Use this gift wisely pup, if used for the wrong reasons it will be taken away'.

With that, we are off running, learning how to move as one through the forest. My sight is so much clearer, the sun almost too bright in my eyes. The scents ariund me are overwhelming, as if I am smelling every flower and every blade of grass all at once. The breeze through our fur is incredible, and I can feel every grain of dirt crunching under the pads of my paws. The scenery before me goes rushing by, I've never gone this fast on foot, maybe a car, yet I can still make out every detail we pass. I can hear the gentle thumps of our paws on the earth, and pick up on verry sound of every critter of the forest around me.

Then, I hear it. There are a second set of paws trying to keep up to me. Shadow haults immediately, sniffing the air to find the cause of the other set. A gentle smell of mahogany and lead.

I see a large black wolf emerge slowly from the bushes from where I came. The smell does not alarm us, but smells so familiar, comforting and friendly. But I can't place where I've smelled such a thing so strongly before.

'I am surprised you do not recognize my wolf my boy. Come back to the office, I think we need to have a chat'. It's Maverick, my fathers wolf. I guess this werewolf senses thing will take some time to get used to.

I follow Maverick back to the castle. An omega girl is standing at the treeline clutching some clothing for us. I forgot, damn it, I ruined my favorite shirt.

I take a slight bow to the omega as a thank you, I'm still unsure how to mindlink other people. Practice makes perfect I suppose.

As I walk with the clothes in my jaw to a nearby tree, I realize my predicament.

'Shadow? How do I shift back? Is it going to be painful like shifting into you? Because if so, I'll just stay like this a bit longer...' He is shaking his head at me.

'Breath, and concentrate. You will feel quite a bit of pressure, but nowhere near what you felt in your initial shift. Picture your human form in your mind, and you will shift'. With his calming words, I take a deep breath.

Repeating this process a couple of times, I picture myself in front of the full length mirror in my bedroom just this morning. Oh how long ago it feels now.

I start from head to toe, picturing sweeping the long, medium brown hair on the top of my hair back after my shower. The sides buzzed for easier maintenance. A fresh shaved face on my square jaw. Thinking to myself how my skin got significant pigment this year, spending so much extra time outdoors training. Making my bright green eyes stand out even more than usual. It seems to have paid off, because my favorite t-shirt is getting toght around my arms. My favorite black skinny jeans getting tighter as well..

'Damn I'm going to have to go shopping for more... argh focus!'

I'm quite tall given my age, 6'4, but that comes with being of the royal bloodline. Just like my father. I take one more deap breath invisioning myself in my mindN but when I open my eyes, I'm already back to human form.

'I figured I would prepare you for the worst case scenario, instead of best. Good job young Derek'. and just like that, I can feel Shadow retreat to the back of my mind and lay down.

Quickly slipping on the clothes I had been provided, I dart oht from behind the tree in a sprint, to catch up to my father.

"I'm glad you could figure out on your own how to shift back my boy, some it takes a good long while to figure it out" my father says with a prideful smirk.

"Shadow talked me through it, it will probably take a bit more practice to master", which I know it will.

"Shadow is it? That name sounds familiar.. but for the time being, lets have that chat shall we?" My father and I make our way through the castle, I notice quite a few stunned and curious faces as I walk the halls. Did they all really hear my commotion? Slightly embarassed, I make my way to fathers office.

Closing the door behind me, I look back to see my fathers face beaming with joy. There is also worry in his eyes, as I make my way cautiously to my seat from this morning.

"It seems my boy is full of surprises, firstly, your love of books and thirst for knowledge. In my day, my royal teachings would bore me to sleep". he chuckles, then nervously rubs a hand on the back of his neck, gazing up to meet my eyes.

"Secondly, I have never heard of a wolf coming forward so early in age, and of such unique coloring. Shadow is magnificent".

'You're damn right he is' Shadow says with a smirk, then retreating back into my mind to listen in. Nosey wolf.

"Never the less, it is remarkable. Now that you have your wolf, you can start your other royal teachings early. For starters, we will have to speak to General Butch about training in your wolf form".

I let out a sigh I didn't know I was holding. Part of me thought I was coming into this office to be scolded, the other part of me worried that being 'the youngest shifter' would worry my father.

"Son, as you know, you will now be coming into your ability. Maverick and I came into ours within the first few days, I imagine yours will come quicker, as your shift did as well". All his words are said with a smile, but I can tell he is slightly worried.

The alphas always gain abilitues after their first shift, but the story of my fathers was not exactly plesant. He has the ability to 'listen in' on mind links, which doesn't sound that bad. But what most don't know about it, is that my father says when he came into his power, the first migrane was sp excruciating it sent him straight to the pack hospital. No amount of pain medication could tame it.

Being the werewolf king, my father has the ability to mindlink anyone he wishes, and with his power came a flood of never ending voices in his head. That is, until he learned to control it. I imagine it would come in handy in alpha meetings knowing what was going on before anyone so much as uttered a word.

Selene, the moon goddess, bestows an ability onto alpha bloodline to assist in the running of the pack. My fathers ability was identical to his father before him, but there is no way of knowing what your power will be.

"You feel worried that I am going to have the same ability as you, don't you father?" I can feel myself fidgetting with my fingers, but my eyes don't leave his gaze.

He lets out a large sigh, this must have been the reason for his worry.

"Yes son, I do. No parent likes the thought of their child going through any pain. Being a shifter, the pain of your first shift is inevitable, but normally anticipated for your 18th birthday. With gaining an ability, there is no way of knowing what will happen or when".

I pondered his words for a moment, almost lost in my thoughts. Curiousity and anxiety swirling within my mind.

'Derek do not fear, your abilities will come in time. Do not fear them, but embrace them. You will know what they are in time'. Shadow sooths my internal turmoil.

'I heard that too'. Damn wolf... and retreats to the back of my mind.

"Don't worry father, whatever is to come, I will be ready for it". I say, with a new found confidence in myself, but one question is left unanswered...

"Father?" He looks up from the hands he has had intertwined on his desk, also looking to be deep in thought about the matter. I could have swore I saw at least 10 new grey hairs sprout from his head as this conversation draws on.

"What was mothers ability? She came from an alpha bloodline as well, but, I've never know". I have sorrow in my voice, as I know how much it pains him to speak of her. Occassionally he will tell us fond memories of my mother, but as time has passed, they grow few and far between. I believe her memory should carry on, but I know losing ones mate normally drives a wolf to insanity, I have no idea how my father has gotten along all these years.

He looks at me, with pain and sorrow in his eyes. For a moment he takes in a large breath, and holds his face in his hands with elbows rested on the desk. When he releases his breath, it is like a weight is coming off of him. Joy is coming, and it gives me hope.

"My boy, you are right, and I am surprised you have remembered your mothers heritage this long. Your mother was indeed of alpha blood, not Royal, but alpha none the less..."

This much I do know, mother used to tell us as kids 'your dad may be the big tough alpha here, but he's not the only alpha. Momma gives him a run for his money too' with her infectious wink and smile. Our mother always did have father wrapped around her pinky finger like a love sick puppy.

"What I am about to tell you cannot leave this room, you must promise me my boy". A look of pleading yet stern glistens his eyes, staring back at me expecting an answer.

Just as I am about to speak, he holds a single finger up vertical towards me. Eyebrows furrowed, with head tilted towards the ground. He is focusing for anyone, any prying ears, before we carry on.

A deep chuckle escapes his lips, eyes still closed as he concentrates.

"It seems as if, for one, Ms. Megan is scolding Myles as we speak for running through her kitchens again. Lillian is being mind linked to hide all the cookies now. Secondly no, I will not tell you where".

'Well why on earth do I get punished too?!' I huff in my mind. I'll give Myles a piece of my mind later.

'We will sniff them out later, I am not scared of a spoon, and I want to try them'. Shadow is drooling. Gross. Can he drool on my brain?

"Secondly... OLIVIA! Come here my child!" my father bellows. Not a moment later, the large doors to the office creak open, my sister timidly entering and closing the door behind her. Embarassed she had been caught.

"I'm sorry daddy, when I saw Derek coming in here, I got worried he would be getting scolded, I only wanted to console him if he did". Liv is staring at the ground ashamed.

Normally, anyone listening in on the Kings business would be scolded.. or much, much worse. But Liv is such a kind hearted soul, it would be preposterous to believe she had any malicious intent.

"My daughter, your heart is so pure. It would make your mother proud. But this is a matter I believe Derek to be ready for, I am not sure you are ready to hear this..." he trails off, but I can tell what is going to happen before even he does. Like I said. Little. Pinky. Finger. my mother, and her twin daughter.

"If I may father.. (here we go)n you've always told me how much like mother I am, although I don't like confrontation.. If I am truly so much like her, shouldn't I know to be prepared?" her chin is tilted to one side, large eyes staring back at him, with an infectiously innocent smile on her face.

Touche.

My father looks to her for a moment, at first stern, but the linger they maintain their gaze, the softer his face gets (here we go).

'Oh sure, we have to swear loyalty and absolute secrecy, but the little princess gets her way no matter what' Shadow is not mad, but impressed. If only he knew the things she got away with.. well I guess he does..

"Very well my princess, but this conversation will not leave this room. Am I being perfectly clear? I have focused to sense all pack members who may be around this room for a reason". Looking between us for an answer, Olivia and I skae our heads in unison.

"As you wish. Your mother, although beautiful and kind, was always a fierce warrior. But as you may not know, is that her drive to be a top warrior, was not because of her brothers, or of her alpha bloodline". Thats it, now he has us hooked. Leaning a little further, we urge him to continue.

"You see, your mother was the eldest of the alpha bloodline of her pack. However, her brother, is not her true brother..."

Olivia interupts him in an instant.

"Wait what? Uncle Ronald isn't our true uncle?" and almost as fast as she said it, she smacks both her hands over her mouth.

*chuckles* "Oh sweet child, he is your uncle, but only half blooded. You see, your biological grandmother, is different than your grandmother Lenore, as you've learned to love as family. Your true grandmothers name, was Evelyn White."

We are both staring back at my father in absolute shock.

Olivias mouth is agape, wide eyes staring at my father. My hands are geipping the ends of the lush armchair across from him, leaned back with wide eyes, but listening ever so intently. In all my time on the library and archives, this information has never been known to me.

I am the first one to speak, trying to compose myself. The woman I had grown to call granny, all my life... was not my true grandmother. I somewhat felt, betrayed?

"But father, if Granny Lenore was not our true grandmother, why did we never meet Evelyn White? I would have never guessed that Granny was not who she was, she loved us dearly. I know her and mom didn't always get along, but I know that never got in the way of her spending time with us. Even after mothers..." I stopped my sentence, still feeling uncomfortable talking about mother so openly with my father. It feeled like such a forbidden subject, even though he had brough it up first.

"Yes Derek, Lenore loves you deeply. She has grown to love you as if you were her own grandchildren. In a way you are. Family is jot always that in which blood binds, but the heart as well. Lenore was your grandfather Ronalds fated mate, but before her, was Evelyn". His expression is soft, almost as if he is trying to console, but there is worry, but also adoration behind his eyes.

"But that means.." Olivia finally speaks after regaining her composure, we snap our heads to her intently. "That Papa took a chosen mate before Granny, or did he actually get a chance at a second chance mate? Those are nearly unheard of."

I turn my gaze from Liv, to the floor, but back up at our father Richard. I can't help my furrowed brows trying to decipher what Olivia just said.

Sure, chosen mates are one thing. Sometimes when a wolf has exhausted their energies in their search for their fated mate, they take a chosen.

On the other, when their fated mate dies, it is extremely rare to find a second chance mate in a lifetime. Werewolves do age at a significantly lesser rate than that of humans. But not immortal. Finding your second chance mate, if you have one, can take ages.. and mother and Ronald were not that far in age.

My mind is racing. Was Granny a fated after a chosen? Was she a chosen after a fated? Was one of them a mistress?

I shudder at the though. No one on goddess green earth wishes their grandmother a mistress.

"My children, sit back. I have asked Ms. Megan to bring us some tea, and yes cookies".

'Yes!!' If a wolf could attempt a fist bump, I'm sure thats what Shadow was attempting.

Ms. Megan walked in with a large tray of coffee, tea, cookies and other pastries as if on cue. Looking between the three of us, she had her pleasant, but with a hint of saddness face.

"I will leave you, take care" and with a bow to King Richard, she shuffled off just as quickly as she had come.

"Children, grab your snacks, take your lavatory breaks, you may be here awhile".