Authors: Kimberly Hunter
Sasha looked at the set in Angel’s hand; she had a dreamy expression on her face and not a little awe.
“I never thought to see these in my lifetime, let alone hold them.” Angel looked at the three of them. “These are a piece of our history. A small but solid link to our past and proof positive that humans weren’t the only thriving species on the planet thousands of years ago.”
“Wait,” Sasha said, holding up her hand. She really hated to be confused. “If these pieces are so valuable as far as history is concerned, and I’m assuming monetary as well, then how in the world did I end up with them? Shouldn’t they be in some museum or collection somewhere?”
“There isn’t much of our history that is available to the outside world, so the dealer had no basis for comparison, thank God. He just knew they were old and solid gold,” Robert explained. “And as for being in a museum or private collection, yes, they should be. Or more accurately, they would have been if not for a small detail surrounding them.”
“What detail?” Flynn asked, now as curious as Sasha despite being ignored.
“A very old prophecy,” Angel replied with glee.
“A prophecy?” Now she knew she didn’t want the answer.
“That’s right.” Angel grinned widely, then went into further detail. “A few thousand years ago, a great Alpha reigned but was alone. Then one day, he found his Mate, his True Mate. She too was an Alpha, almost as strong as he. As a First Mating gift and a sign of great respect, he had a torque set fashioned for her that was identical to his own. Together they ruled for many centuries and had many children. But the Pack seer had grave news about the future of the Lupus. That one day, our numbers would dwindle, and fewer and fewer babes would be borne until none would be borne at all. Mated couples would try to conceive, but to no avail. The Lupus would die without children to carry on the line. But the seer also had a prophecy, a ray of hope for our future. That one day she would come, our Alpha of old restored, to breathe new life into our fallow fields, to give strength where once was weakness and hope where once was despair.
She who wears the Alpha’s twin torque will be our salvation
.”
“Or she would have been if a jealous lover hadn’t murdered the Alpha and his True Mate. She got rid of both torques, ensuring that the prophecy wouldn’t happen, no matter the consequences,” Robert added.
“Well, that’s a very interesting history lesson, but it still doesn’t explain how I got the set and nobody could see how old and valuable they are.” She wasn’t sure where these two were going with this and definitely did not wanting to know. She had the distinct feeling she wouldn’t like it.
“Of course it does. It’s what most call fate or kismet.” Angel seemed to enjoy sharing that supposition.
“Fate?” Sasha snorted in disbelief. “Sorry, but I’m not a believer in fate, kismet, or any of the above. Real life and hard work won’t allow it.”
“Well, I think your belief system is about to change.” Angel chuckled.
“Oh, how’s that?”
“Because the prophecy just came true.” She paused, then added, “Through you.”
Chapter Eight
“Whoa! I think you need to reevaluate here, okay?” Sasha held up a hand. “I’ve been a part of this Pack two days. Well, two conscious days. And I’ve had a lot of things thrown at me.” Literally. “But this is just too much.”
“Are you sure, Angel? This isn’t one of your stories, is it? Some obscure piece of lore with no basis in fact?” Flynn seemed as shocked and distressed as Sasha.
Sasha gave Angel a puzzled look at Flynn’s question.
“I’m an anthropologist specializing in ancient cultures. I’m also the Pack historian,” Angel told her, then directed her attention to Flynn. “And no, it’s not some story, and yes it’s true. The torque set alone proves that.”
“But how do you know, Angel? And why haven’t any of us ever heard about this legend?” Flynn asked, his expression saying he was taken aback by all this.
“Because it was hidden,” Robert replied.
“Let me guess, history buff too?” Sasha raised a brow.
“Sort of. I specialize in the restoration and repair of ancient artifacts. Documents, paintings, jewelry.”
“Which is how we just stumbled onto the legend,” Angel said.
“Quite literally, in fact.” Robert laughed.
“Wait.” Flynn held up his hand to stop any further tales. “Before another lengthy discussion ensues, let’s go inside. Sasha and I haven’t eaten yet, and I think it best to hear the rest of this on a full stomach.”
Sasha wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the rest.
“Good idea. Dinner should be ready by now anyway.” Angel nodded as she finally handed over Sasha’s torque set.
“Thank you. I never thought I’d see these again.” She eyed the set with trepidation.
“And now you’re not sure about having them at all,” Angel surmised.
They walked up the porch steps and into the foyer.
“Well, age alone makes them extremely valuable. But ancient prophesies are not exactly a part of my belief system, no matter the supposed proof of this set,” Sasha replied, still clinging to her doubt. Though she did get the sinking feeling another bomb was about to be dropped. On her head.
“There you are.” Charlie entered the dining room. “I’m sure Angel has imparted her news?”
“We got the main part, but not all of it,” Flynn said with a little disgust.
“Well, come on and eat. She can finish while we fill our bellies.” Charlie ushered them to the dining room, her arm around Sasha’s shoulders. “You just keep getting more popular as the days go by.” She squeezed Sasha’s shoulder in sympathy.
“Unfortunately,” Sasha grumbled.
“Don’t worry, dear. We’re all here for you,” Charlie soothed.
“Thanks.” Sasha gave her a wan smile; then Charlie walked away and took a seat at the table.
Everyone else was already at the table. They had apparently been waiting for the four of them.
“By the looks of displeasure and annoyance I see on both your faces, I can safely assume Angel has departed her bit of news,” Roan stated, looking not the least bit surprised by the whole tale. Or proof. But that was Roan. Cool and collected.
Flynn pulled her chair out, waiting for her to sit, then took his own, getting a plate for them both and filling them with agitation. “Yes, we got a brief outline, but not the whole tale.”
Sasha thought about what Angel had already told them and decided she was going to remain silent for the rest of the story. She had learned that she picked up more details that way. And, to be honest, she was simply starved. The food going in was way more important than any questions that she might have. Besides, Flynn or someone else was bound to ask something she was thinking. So she could enjoy her meal and learn at the same time. She just hoped the account didn’t give her heartburn.
Robert took a sip of his drink and started the story. “Like I said outside, the prophecy was hidden. All knowledge of it was destroyed, and the few who knew of it were eliminated. Both torque sets were sold to get rid of them, thus ensuring the female set never landed in the hands of a Lupa again.”
“But why? Why go to such lengths? And who would do such a thing?” Flynn asked with clear impatience.
“The why and who are easy enough,” Angel replied, finishing a bite of her food. “Love, jealousy, anger, greed, all the usual reasons. The who was the Alpha’s ex-lover because she thought she was going to be his Mate.”
“Sounds familiar, eh, brother?” Roan asked drily.
Flynn sat back in his seat, a look of resignation on his face. “All right, all of it. The whole tale. Now.”
Sasha looked around the table, noting the myriad expressions on faces. They ranged from grim to downright confused. As for herself, she wasn’t sure what she was feeling about the whole thing. But she did know this much—whatever else Angel and Robert had to say, she wasn’t going to like it, and neither was Flynn.
“Her name was Neena, and she’d been the Alpha’s lover for years with aspirations of more. Then on a routine trip to meet with other Pack members, the Alpha—his name was Nikos, by the way—met his True Mate, Tala. She was young and had yet to go through her First Transformation. Her father, Orren, was the old Alpha’s Beta and had moved away to start a family of his own after the old Alpha’s death. Nikos stayed in touch, but travel was slow back then, even for a Lupus, so months or even years would pass before they could meet,” Angel explained. “Anyway, when word got back to Neena about Tala, she started plotting. Everything went wrong, of course, no matter what she did. And after a few years and a couple of children, Nikos and Tala had had enough, banishing Neena to one of the more remote Packs.”
“Didn’t stop her, though. In Neena’s mind, the Alpha and his status rightly belonged to her. And gaining that position was a goal she would achieve at all costs,” Robert added.
“Even if it meant dooming future generations?” Flynn’s expression said he was appalled by such actions. He wasn’t the only one, if the varying looks around the table were any indication.
“Even then.” Robert nodded. “And after she learned of the prophecy, she was even more determined. If she couldn’t have what she wanted, then no one would.”
“What a nut,” Gabe quipped, shaking his head.
“Yes. Which probably explains a lot of her rather irrational behavior,” Roan commented.
“Somehow, she had Nikos and Tala murdered. Details are still sketchy at this point as to how it was done. But we do know they were killed, and the chosen few who also knew about the prophecy were killed as well,” Angel continued.
“The old seer—Diona was her name—did have some parting words before she died, though,” Robert said with a glee that only a lover of mysteries could understand.
“I’m almost afraid to ask.” Flynn groaned, rubbing his head with frustration.
“Take heed, for old hates die hard,” Robert supplied.
“Jeez, she knew, didn’t she? She knew that it would happen again?” Gabe asked.
Robert nodded. “Yes, Diona knew history would repeat itself. She also knew her time was running short. With Nikos and Tala dead, along with several others who had shared the secret, Diona had to make sure those deaths, and her own, weren’t in vain, that her knowledge of the events taking place and her prophecy would be left behind somehow for future generations.”
“So she wrote it all down. The prophecy, everything that happened with Nikos and Tala and Neena, even a sketch of both torque sets. Then she hid the documents in a puzzle box and gave them to Nikos’ eldest son with instructions that the box only belong to an Alpha and it had to be given as a First Mating gift if and when the Alpha found his Mate. True or otherwise. Then she too was murdered.”
“A puzzle box? I don’t remember Father having anything like that.” Flynn looked at his mother.
“That’s because he gave it to me before any of you were born,” Charlie replied. “I thought it a strange First Mating gift, but your father said it was an Alpha tradition, so I didn’t question it. And the box is beautiful. All inlaid semiprecious stones in wolf designs and gold accents. I knew it was old, so I put it away in the attic for safekeeping. It had totally slipped my mind that it was still there until Angel and Robert brought it to me.”
“Before Father was killed, he had asked me to catalog some old documents and a few ancient pieces of pottery. He asked Robert to come along as well in case any of the pieces needed to be restored and/or have better storage facilities,” Angel said.
“I jumped at the chance, of course. Not many in the Pack are privileged enough to actually get to handle pieces of our history. I was thrilled. Even more so when I accidentally tripped over an old skateboard, landing in a cardboard box full of old clothes and the puzzle box. It popped out and slid a few inches across the floor.” “When I first picked it up, I thought it was some sort of jewelry box. But after closer inspection, I couldn’t find any clasps or hinges. The workmanship and detail were exquisite, and I knew it was old. It was also damaged. Some of the stone inlays were loose or coming out and needed to be repaired. When I told Father about it, he explained what it was, why he had it, and made me promise to bring it back after it was repaired. I didn’t have a problem with returning it.” Angel shrugged. “Our history and traditions are important, and the box was part of that.”
Robert laughed softly. “Little did we know how important and how big a part the box played.”
“So how did you find the documents? Or should I say, how did you know they were in the box?” Flynn asked.
“We didn’t.” Angel snorted, getting confused looks from everyone.
“Found them by accident. The loose inlay piece was actually a part of the opening mechanism. When I tried to fit the piece back in place, I heard a click, and one of the stone wolves sank into the box. I thought I had broken it somehow. So to keep from damaging it further, I ran it through my X-ray machine. And the results were astonishing. Lying in the middle of the box looked to be a wad of something. I really couldn’t tell at that point what the wad was, but I knew it was something important.” Robert’s eyes fairly gleamed with the telling of his find.
“That’s when I decided to call Father. He had to be told about our discovery and what he wanted us to do about it. He wanted us to be cautious, of course, but to proceed and let him know what we found.” Angel too looked excited about their discovery.
“It wasn’t easy, I’ll tell you that.” Robert chuckled good-naturedly. “Whoever designed that box was a genius. My X-ray showed where some of the pressure pieces were, but not in what order to push them. It took me and Angel nearly a year to figure the sequence out.”
“A year?” Gabe retorted.
“Yeah. The box has nine pressure pieces, and four of them had to be pressed at the same time. On opposite sides of the box. My hands are not that big.” He laughed, holding up both hands.
“Which is why the old seer instructed the box be given by the Alpha to his new Mate. When the box is passed to another set of hands, the pieces are pushed, and the four are pressed at the same time. The four stone wolves sink into the box activating the opening mechanism, and the top comes apart like a starburst. The documents were wrapped in oiled hide directly in the center of the box,” Angel explained with a delighted smile.
“Like I said, genius.” Robert nodded.
“Hmph.” Angel snorted. “The box wasn’t the only thing created by a genius. The documents were as well. They’re written in four different languages, three of which haven’t been used since the birth of Christ. The other one was totally unknown. If it wasn’t for the fact that it reminded me of Egyptian hieroglyphs, I never would have figured it out. Though to be honest, I’m still not sure some of my translations are accurate.”
“Hieroglyphs?” Roan asked.