Chapter Sixteen

Serenity’s POV

“If werewolves cannot heal that quickly, then why can I heal so fast? I mean, I know that I have a wolf because recently, I have been able to speak with her.” I wondered as I waited for someone to answer.

Jace stared at me with a proud look on his face that quickly faded to a more serious expression. 

‘I think we will need to wipe the doctor's memory.’ Alpha Derrick said. 

I was about to speak up when it hit me that his mouth wasn’t moving, which meant he was speaking to us via pack link. Excitement swelled within me as I asked via pack link,  ‘Why do we need to wipe the doctor’s memory?’ 

A surprised expression washed over Jace and Derrick’s faces. 

‘Did you know that she could communicate via pack link?’ Jace asked, never taking his eyes off me.

‘No, I didn’t. I’m not entirely sure how she is doing it because I didn’t open a channel for her to enter.’ Alpha Derrick said with wide eyes. 

A wide smile spread across Jace’s face, and he scooped me into his arms with a giant bear hug, “Oh my gosh! My baby sister is totally awesome!” 

“What just happened?” Dr. Proke asked with a concerned look on his face.

Alpha Derrick placed his hand on Dr. Proke’s back, “Thank you So much for your help.” Derrick said as he led the doctor from my the family room, which had been transformed into a makeshift hospital room. 

‘All be back once to talk some more once I wipe the doctor’s memory,’ Derrick mentally told us.

Jace nodded, and after releasing me for the bear hug, he began bombarding me with questions. “When did you first discover you could hear others through the pack link? It couldn’t have been long ago. And how are you able to heal so quickly? I mean, I have never seen anyone besides…” 

At that moment, Alpha Derrick returned and interrupted Jace’s excited questioning, “She can’t answer anything till we are in a soundproof room.” 

“You’re right,” Jace agreed as he opened the hidden wall safe and pulled out a key. “Let’s head down to the basement. We have a soundproof room located next to the interrogation room. 

In the soundproof, their questioning began, “First off, why were you missing earlier? Was it because of the scent of the vampires that had entered our territory without permission?”

I proceeded to tell Jace and Derrick everything that had happened from the moment I entered my secret alcove to hearing Alpha Derrick’s private conversation with Jace.

“Okay, so let me get this straight; not only can you hear and speak using a pack link, but you can also do the same with vampires?” Alpha Derrick asked, trying to understand the extent of my abilities fully.

“Yes, well, I can, at the very least, hear vampires that are in my direct vicinity speak using a link. I'm unsure if I can speak to them that way, though.”

“Okay, give me a moment to process this information,” Both Jace and I nodded as Derrick closed his eyes to focus.

‘If you want,’ Artemis began. ‘I can tell you what I remember.’

“REALLY!?” I eagerly asked; my cheeks flushed red when I realized it was out loud.

“Really, what?” Jace asked as Alpha Derrick returned his attention to us. 

‘Can you tell all of us at the same time now since we can now communicate using the pack link?”

‘Of course,’ Arty said as she connected all of us via pack link. 

‘Can everyone hear me,” I asked through the link.

‘Yes, though I have to say it is kind of unnerving. I’m an Alpha; my mind should be untouchable to all except those over me.’ He ran his hand over his face as Jace let us know he could hear the conversation through the link. 

‘Derrick, Jace, I want to introduce you to my wolf Artemis.’ I said, pride filling my tone as Arty took over the conversation.

‘It is very nice to meet both of you.’ Her words had a kind, soft tone yet somehow had an air of authority. ‘If it is alright with you both, I would like to tell you what I remember about us, even if it isn’t much more than what Serenity already knows.’ They nodded, and Artemis continued, ‘Serenity is not an ordinary wolf but is a hybrid. Her mother was a wolf, and her father was a vampire.’

Derrick and Jace’s eyes widened. ‘How is that possible,’ Alpha Derrick asked.

‘I’m not entirely sure because I can’t remember anything other than that. Though I do know that, that is why we can heal faster than werewolves because our healing ability is that of a vampire, not a werewolf.’ Shock consumed Alpha Derrick’s and Jace’s faces, but they remained silent, allowing Arty to finish telling them what she remembered about us. ‘I also know that we will be able to shift on the next full moon because she awakened her vampire side. Which made us complete.’ It wasn’t that wolves had to wait for the full moon but that if their first transformation were with the full moon, it would strengthen the bond with one’s wolf. So if werewolves could wait to shift till then, it was best. ‘I don’t remember what happened to our father, but do know that our mother is…’ She paused to compose herself as a tear ran down my cheek. ‘She’s dead, and she was killed by a vampire that called us a blemish that has tainted the purity of his family's royal blood.’  

‘Okay, so from what I am getting, Serenity is half vampire and half werewolf, which makes it so that she has abilities from both. And her vampire half is somehow related to the royal family. Is that correct?’ Derrick telepathically asked.

‘That is correct,’ Artemis told him.

‘And you are sure you will be able to shift at the next full moon?’ He inquired.

‘Without a doubt. We have shifted before, so it shouldn’t be quite as difficult, if at all.’

“When did you shift before?’ Jace asked.

‘We shifted the night before you guys found us. It was a full moon and quite painful. The stress it placed on our tiny bodies was so great that I wasn’t sure we would even make it through the transformation. After our first transformation, I was forced into hibernation because the toll that it took was so great.’ Artemis’ voice was hushed as she recalled the painful experience of our first shift.

‘If you already shifted on a full moon, why would you need to wait to do it now?’ Jace questioned with one eyebrow raised.

‘Because their transformation sent Artemis into hibernation for over ten years, it most likely reset the shifting process.’ Alpha Derrick stated in answer to Jace’s question.

‘That is correct. Even if it didn’t completely reset our shifting process, I would rather be safe than sorry.’ Arty’s words were confident as she spoke.

‘Very logical decision. Okay, is there anything else you want to inform us of?’ Derrick wondered. 

‘Other than the fact that it would appear that the vampire that said those things about us tainting his blood is still looking for us, that should be everything, or at least it is all  I can think of at the moment. If I do, though, I know how to contact you guys. Oh, before I forget, we also can use some magic, though I am not sure about its extent.’ It almost sounded as though she had a smile as she spoke about contacting them through the pack link. 

Atremis disconnected the pack link, and we began talking normally. 

“Okay, so it looks like we will need to start investigating Serenity’s connection to the vampire royal family. That may give us some insight into why she is being hunted more than just a few words about her tainting that man’s royal blood.” Jace said as he stretched his arms over his head.

“Very accurate; however, I believe that the top priority is not allowing the fact that she is a hybrid to leave this room,” Derrick stated.

“Agreed,” Jace and I said in unison. 

“I also believe that it is essential that Ren trains to hone her skills better, so Jace will begin investigating while I train her. We also need to prepare for her transformation, which will be in a week, which we will do together. And last but not least, I will speak with Willow and Raven and see if they can help teach you to control your magic.”

Jace and I nodded in agreement, and we ended the meeting there. 

As we silently made our way out of the basement, all I could think of was how painful our transformation would be, especially since it would be as if it were our first transformation. 

‘It will be alright, Ren. I’ll be with you the entire time, and this time, we will also be surrounded by people who care about us rather than enemies.’ Artemis tried to comfort me, but the fear continued to build within me.