The Broken Wolf
Chapter 35

“You’re the Rogue King?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper.

“I was, but more importantly, I’m your father.” He tells me with tears in his eyes. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

I’m not sure what to say as we stand there staring at each other, but finally I step forward and wrap my arms around him. He wraps his arms around me tightly and I’m not sure either of us will ever let go. “I hoped, but was never sure you’d be back here again.” he whispers to me. I feel something fall on my neck and realize he’s crying.

“You were so small when everything happened. I can’t believe you’re here, a fully grown woman.” he says, releasing me and holding me out at arms length so he can see me. “Even with the magic, you still look so much like your mother.”

“I was thinking the same thing while we were standing outside,” I tell him with a smile as we both turn to her.

“I know you must have so many questions, Molly,” Lily begins to say. “Let’s all sit down and your father can say what he needs to, then we’ll answer all your questions, alright?”

We all move to sit down in their homey living room, with worn brown furniture that’s comfortable. There doesn’t appear to be any lights, just a few candles around and a fireplace with a blazing fire inside. I look around and notice a photo of a little girl with curly, dark brown hair and dark green eyes sitting above the fireplace on a wooden mantle. I can’t help but walk over to it and pick it up, staring at it intently. “This is me, isn’t it?” I whisper, overcome with emotions.

“Yes, it is.” Lily says, walking up behind me to place her arm around my back. “This was taken on your fourth birthday. You were always smiling.”

I continue to stare at the little girl that seems so familiar. “I look so different, but I think I may have seen myself in a dream recently.”

“You remembered something from when you were little?” She asks me, slightly confused.

“No, it was a dream, well I thought it was,” I begin to tell them. “My mom said it was a place in my subconscious, but I didn’t really understand it. I was in a field and when I looked in the water I saw my reflection, but it wasn’t me… exactly. It was my face, but I had curly hair and dark green eyes. Like yours.” I say, looking up to meet my father’s eyes.

He simply nods at me. “Part of the spell your mother placed on you disguised your most obvious traits- your hair and eyes.”

“Will they change back to that?” I ask them, but neither of them answers me.

“Come sit, Molly. There is a lot that needs to be said.” My father tells me, patting the couch next to him for me to sit.

I unzip my jacket and pull my hat off my head, stuffing it into the pocket. I slip out of the jacket and Lily takes it from me and hangs it on a rack next to the door. I sit next to him and clasp my hands together, placing them in my lap. I look over at him and can’t help my smile as I realize he’s sitting the same way.

“How much have you heard about the Rogue King?” he asks me.

I shake my head. “Not much. I’d never heard anything about you until a week ago, when I started having dreams of a little wolf with dark green eyes. My mate wouldn’t tell me anything, and when we told my parents they didn’t give up much information.”

He nods his head slowly. “That makes sense. Your mate is Peter’s son, and your parents had your pack fighting on his side. Years ago I was an Alpha and had my own pack in the Kingdom. I was married and we had three sons. What wasn’t common knowledge though, was that my wife was not my mate. I was 25 and hadn’t found her, and needed to produce an heir. We had an agreement and a nice relationship. She eventually met her mate and he was kept secret because of appearance.

I wanted to begin business dealings with the humans next to our pack. We were a bit closer to the town than most packs are to humans and it made sense for us. The king was adamantly against this though. Eventually, after I persisted and went ahead with my plans, Peter stripped me of my title and the pack was excommunicated. We were shunned to the rogue lands, though some packs accepted some of our members who were caught in the crossfire of the fighting between Peter and myself. Lunar Falls was one of those packs.

I lived out in the rogue lands with my wife and sons and was out hunting one day when I came across a cabin and found my mate- your mother. I was astonished to replace that my mate was, in fact, not a wolf, but a witch. I remained married to my wife, in name only, to care for our sons, but I was deeply in love with Lily. She became pregnant with you, and we built this cabin. You were born in this very room.” He says and smiles at me and then glances over at Lily.

“We were very happy, but I didn’t want you to grow up in dangerous rogue lands, and we began to try to coordinate and form a pack out here with the rogues. It went really well and we were about to build a town and move closer together when we received knowledge of a prophecy that changed it all.” he continues.

“I heard my dad mention the prophecy, but no one would tell me what it was.” I tell him, confused. “After my dream with the wolf, they became concerned that I was your daughter, but no one would tell me why.”

“Randall was always a smart man, no doubt that telling him you dreamed of a wolf with green eyes would raise suspicions. I’m sure he knows exactly where you are now. If anyone has crossed the border yet to come for you though, I’ve not felt it through our wards.” he says.

“I mind linked my brother before we stepped across.” I tell him with a small smile. “I was afraid they’d think I was kidnapped and kill Albert for letting it happen.”

“You’re as kind now as you were when we had to leave you,” Lily says with a sad smile.

“The prophecy, Molly, came from a seer close to the palace. They took it directly to Peter and it scared him so badly, he came for my family.” He says, looking down at his hand, his face forlorn.

“Can you tell me what the prophecy was?” I ask him, still confused about what this has to do with me.

He sighs deeply. “It was prophesied that one day, a descendant of the Rogue King would ascend to the throne as the ruler of all werewolves.”

“Oh.” I say, at a loss for words. It makes sense now though- how my parents said if I was his child it would fulfill the prophecy. How they were all worried King Peter would replace out. I pull my thoughts together enough to ask “What happened to your family?”

“They were your family, too.” He says, looking at me, pain evident in his eyes. “My youngest was out playing one day and he never came home. We found his body far off a week later, but were unsure exactly what had happened. At first we thought it a tragic accident, but then my two oldest were attacked by a wolf in the woods one day. My middle son got away, but it didn’t matter. About a month later, when I had left to patrol for the wolf who attacked my kids, a group of wolves showed up and murdered my last son and wife and burned our home to the ground.”

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper to him upon seeing the tears that had escaped his eyes.

“I returned home in time to capture one of the attackers. Eventually, he admitted he had come from the Lunar Falls pack, and said he was there on orders from the King.” he says and I gasp. I had no idea the pack I grew up in was involved in anything like that. “He said he was ordered to kill my children and my mate to make sure that the prophecy was not fulfilled and to weaken me. They thought she was my mate, so I went into hiding so they would think I had been weakened without her. Your mother and I discussed every option we could come up with to keep you hidden and safe, but the only thing that seemed like it would actually work was to place a spell on you and hide you right under their noses.

The rogues who had attempted to form a pack here were all willing to fight the King and Lunar Falls for their attack on our family. We used that to give us enough time to get everything ready for you. Your mother formed a very complex spell that changed your looks and scent. We knew it would be risky to change your scent, and I was honestly shocked that your mate was able to recognize you as such.”

“We know that it wasn’t ideal, Molly. But we wanted to give you the best chance at a happy life, even if you never fulfilled the prophecy.” Lily says to me and I nod. It seems like they were in an impossible situation. “We were shocked when Albert told his parents you were mated to the Prince. In all my days, I never dreamed that the prophecy that had ruined our world was referring to something so simple and out of everyone’s control.”

“Everyone was terrified for Peter to know about the eyes. They thought he would kill me.” I say, mostly to myself than either of them. “I don’t think he would though, he’s been so nice to me.”

“He may not have any problems if he replaces out.” my father says to me. “But I doubt anyone wants to take the risk of replaceing out.”

“So it’s not safe for me to have the spell break?” I ask them and they just look at each other with worry.

“It’s not quite so simple, Molly.” Lily says to me, but giving no more information.

“Molly, I’m going to call the Lunar Falls Pack and have them send your mate to us. I think he needs to hear what your mother has to say about breaking the spell,” my father says to me and I just nod slowly, not understanding why he needs to be here, but not questioning it.

He picks up a phone and dials a number.

“Hello, who am I speaking with?

Former Alpha Randall. This is Benjamin Ulf. I was calling to let you know that your daughter, OUR daughter, is here with me.

Yes, she’s perfectly safe. I need you to inform her mate of this, and have him join us here in the rogue territory.

No, that way will take much longer. Have him go to the cave where Molly was earlier. I’ll have one of my men meet him and escort him to us.

No, no other men may join him. They are guests here, no harm will come to either of them.”