DAISY'S POV
My heart started pounding. "W-what is it?"
He hesitated, then finally spoke.
"Your father… he wasn't a werewolf."
My body went still.
"What?"
"He was a vampire."
The air left my lungs.
A vampire?
No. No, that wasn't possible. My mom was a werewolf. My pack was full of werewolves. I had spent my entire life waiting for my wolf….
But I had never shifted.
I stared at my grandpa, shaking my head. "That…. that can't be true."
He sighed. "I wish it wasn't. But your mother came back to us pregnant, with you. She never told us who your father was. But I found out later. He wasn't just any vampire, Daisy."
I swallowed hard. "Then who… who was he?"
Grandpa's face darkened. "He was one of the most dangerous vampires in existence. And if he finds out that your vampire side is awakening…"
The hairs on my arms stood up.
"He'll come for you."
A chill ran through my body.
Before I could even process his words, something slammed against the cabin door.
A deep, inhuman growl echoed through the room.
My blood ran cold.
Grandpa grabbed his gun again, his eyes sharp. but when we searched outside, no one was there.
SIX MONTHS LATER
The arrow shot through the air, hitting the target dead center.
I lowered my bow, breathing hard.
"You're getting better," Grandpa said as he stepped beside me.
"Not enough," I muttered, pulling another arrow from my quiver. "I need to be stronger. If I ever want to shift, I have to push harder."
Grandpa sighed. "Daisy…"
I ignored him, pulling the string back and releasing the arrow. It struck just off-center this time.
Not good enough.
I reached for another arrow, but Grandpa's voice stopped me.
"There's something you should know."
I frowned, lowering my bow. "What is it?"
He hesitated.
I turned to face him, my stomach twisting. "Grandpa?"
He exhaled heavily. "Eastwind… was invaded."
The bow slipped from my fingers. "What?"
My mind raced. Eastwind. My home. My mother.
Grandpa's expression was grim. "The BlackMoon Pack attacked. They took over."
I shook my head. "That's…no, that can't be. Scott is Alpha. He….."
"He fled." Grandpa's voice was sharp. "That coward ran the moment things got bad."
My breath caught.
Scott left them? He ran away?
I clenched my fists.
"What about my mom?" My voice was barely above a whisper.
Grandpa didn't answer right away.
A sick feeling curled in my stomach. "Grandpa?"
He looked at me, eyes filled with sorrow. "Your mother is gone, Daisy."
The world tilted.
I took a step back. "No." I shook my head violently. "No, she….she can't be. I just talked to her last week. She was fine. She was…." My voice cracked.
Grandpa placed a hand on my shoulder, but I shoved it away.
"This is a mistake," I whispered. "She's fine. She has to be. I….I have to call her….."
"Daisy," Grandpa said firmly.
I turned away, chest rising and falling rapidly.
Scott abandoned them. the pack was gone.
My mother was….
I let out a shaky breath, my entire body trembling.
Then, something shifted inside me.
The grief burned away, replaced by something sharp. Something dark.
Rage.
I lifted my head, eyes blazing.
"Who did it?" I demanded.
Grandpa's face hardened.
"Alpha Noah."
The name sent a chill down my spine.
I never heard of him before, ruthless, merciless, a monster who devoured weaker packs like they were nothing.
But why would he touch Eastwind?
I clenched my fists.
He took my mother.
And Scott, Scott, the Alpha, the one who was supposed to protect her, ran like a coward.
I was done being weak.
I was done waiting.
I was done letting people decide my fate.
I turned to Grandpa, fire in my veins.
"I'm going after him."
Grandpa's eyes darkened. "Daisy…."
"No," I said sharply. "I won't sit here and do nothing. I spent eighteen years waiting for a wolf that never came. I spent months training, thinking I needed to prove myself. But not anymore."
I bent down and grabbed my bow, gripping it tightly.
"He took everything from me. And I swear, I'm going to make him pay."
Grandpa studied me for a long moment. Then, slowly, he reached into his pocket.
When he pulled his hand out, he was holding a small, silver necklace.
My breath caught.
I knew that necklace.
It was my mother's.
Shaking, I reached for it, my fingers closing around the cold metal.
Grandpa sighed. "If you're really going after him…" He looked me in the eyes. "Then there's something you need to know."
I frowned. "What?"
He hesitated.
Then….
you need to practice to become stronger.
because I don't want to lose you
I stared at him. "don't worry".
"I want you to return very much alive," Grandpa repeated. "Always make sure you're safe."
My knees almost gave out. "yes grandpa"
Grandpa nodded. "Alpha Noah didn't just attack Eastwind for territory, Daisy.
I swallowed hard. "Why?"
Grandpa's expression darkened. "Only ALPHA Noah knows his reason.
A shiver ran down my spine.