"There is a possibility for you to not awaken your powers?", Talia asked.
Axel licked his lips and shifted in his seat before explaining, "Our powers awaken only after we give ourselves mind and body to our fated mate. If it's anyone else, we will be normal werewolves for the rest of our lives."
Talia's eyes flashed in understanding. "Is that why you practice celibacy?"
"Yes.", Axel confirmed, and his cheeks turned crimson. Somehow, discussing this with Talia made him uncomfortable. Isn't she his sister? That topic was NOT appropriate.
Talia's eyes darted randomly as she tried to connect the pieces, and Axel continued talking.
"In order to avoid the calamity from the prophecy, they wanted to prevent you from awakening your powers. By removing you from the Midnight Guardians pack, you wouldn't know about the importance of saving yourself for your mate, and then you will be harmless."
It was Talia's turn to blush. "But… Damon is my mate."
"Exactly. So, you can say that their plan failed." He turned to look at his parents. "Did I miss anything? Am I right? Is Talia my sister? Say something!", he ended with a shout.
Talia put her hand on Axel's forearm to get his attention. "Don't."
"Don't you want to know what exactly happened?"
"It won't change anything.", Talia said, surprised at how calm she was about this. Maybe because Axel was angry for both of them, or maybe because this thing with Damon drained her emotionally. In any case, Axel's concern was genuine, and it warmed her heart.
"I will rather think that my parents died or that they were incapable of protecting me than to confirm I was unwanted and discarded. If you think of me as your sister, I will think of you as my brother. And that's enough."
Axel's brows came together in a frown as his heart cracked. "I wouldn't be so forgiving if I was you, but… thank you."
And then he moved closer and pulled her into a hug. This time, he had a strong feeling that Talia will need a hug, and he needed one as well.
Axel was aware that he was at the turning point. He openly acted against his parents, and he had no idea how they will retaliate or how this will affect the Midnight Guardians pack, but his heart was beating steadily because he believed this was the right thing to do.
Talia's arms moved gingerly around Axel. It was the first time for her to hug a man other than Damon, but it didn't feel awkward. Maybe Axel was her brother for real.
'Is this true?', Talia asked Liseli. 'Are they my parents?'
'I don't know.', Liseli responded. 'I spent the first few years of your life in hibernation, adjusting to being part of a human, so… I'm sorry, Talia. The first memories of us together I have, are from the Red Moon pack.'
'It's OK. I am glad to have you.'
'Same here, kid.'
Talia allowed herself to rest on Axel. Somehow, his presence made her safe and she needed that strength.
The door opened and Cassandra walked in carrying two scrolls and one leather-bound book that was faded.
"This is all of it.", Cassandra said, and Talia beckoned her to come closer and put what she got on the long coffee table.
Talia looked at the scrolls first. Runes, diagrams, and some notes in an ancient language she didn't understand.
"What does this say?", Talia asked.
Cassandra started pointing and explaining, "This one is about the arrangement of runes in order to prevent the power of the Moon from being used…"
They took their time going through each note and picture, but it didn't take long for Talia to realize that this wasn't helpful. It was like a manual on how to use the runes, but it didn't explain their nature, Cassandra didn't know what half of the runes symbolize, and there was definitely no information on how to reverse the negative effects.
Alpha Isaac and Alpha Sophia sat there without moving a muscle, and Axel was not sure if they were ashamed to say anything because he exposed them in front of Talia, or maybe Talia was pinning them down somehow.
"Is there such a thing as white runes to negate these?", Talia asked Cassandra.
Cassandra shook her head. "Black magic doesn't have a failsafe." She thought for a moment before talking again. "Every magic is effective only while cast. These runes work while the person is in the circle."
"But what if it's a curse that sticks to the person?", Talia asked dejectedly.
"Then… there should be a way to revert it, but I don't know how."
Talia pinched the roof of her nose, and she felt Axel's hand squeezing her shoulder.
"Cassandra…", Axel's deep voice broke the intense silence. "It's obvious that you don't know much about black runes. From where are they originating?"
Cassandra blinked. "You mean…?"
"I mean, someone came up with these runes. Didn't your predecessor talk about it?"
Cassandra pressed her lips into a line. "This is ancient, and the origin of black runes is just a legend."
"Don't!", Alpha Sophia hissed.
Talia frowned. "How long are you going to stand in my way?"
Alpha Sophia's face contorted in pain as Talia's aura tightened against her.
Rage rippled through Talia and her eyes flickered in silver light. It was one thing to discard her as a child, but why couldn't they leave her alone? When will it stop?
"You gave up on me twice so far. Once when I was a baby, and the second time when you decided that my mate is less important than you maintaining your power. Is that what you are after? Power? I believe the prophecy is true. You know who I am and what I can do, and you became greedy."
"We don't want your power.", Alpha Isaac said.
"Let's assume that's true. However, you are desperate to keep yourself at the top. Let me fulfill the other part of the prophecy." Talia pointed her finger at Alpha Isaac. "Calamity."
Silvery light flashed from Alpha Isaac's body, and he slumped back in the chair with a groan.
Talia's face was deadly still as she moved to look at Alpha Sophia. Was that her mother? No, it can't be her mother. A mother wouldn't give up on her child because she was afraid. A real mother would protect her child from greedy people and teach her how to use her powers for good.
Talia's expression hardened as she pointed a finger at Alpha Sophia.
"No… No…", Alpha Sophia said weakly. She could feel that Alpha Isaac's power was depleted. "No!", she shrieked when her body flashed in silvery light, and then she slumped listlessly in the sofa chair with her eyes rolled at the back of her head to show white.
Talia exhaled a sharp breath and turned to Cassandra. "Where were we?"
