Alpha Maximus：The last lycan

　　Hope

　　‘Hope, could you hold Billy for me?’ Bella asks.

　　‘Of course!’ I say, excited. He is such a sweet little baby.

　　Sally and Nathan walk downstairs holding hands, and join us for breakfast. Sally's cheeks are flushed and she is all giddy.

　　‘Good morning,’ I say, with a grin. She grins back.

　　‘Good morning, Hope. I mean Luna,’ she smiles. We both giggle.

　　‘Did you sleep well?’ I ask, trying not to laugh, and watch her bite her bottom lip, and look at Nathan next to her, giggling.

　　‘Yes, I, um, slept very well,’ she smirks, and Maximus chuckles.

　　‘The whole house could hear how well you two slept,’ he says, grinning at Nathan, who slaps his arm.

　　‘Maximus!’ I scowl at him. Did you really have to say that?

　　‘What?’ He asks, chuckling.

　　I try my best to change the subject so poor Sally can stop being embarrassed.

　　‘What are our plans today?’ I ask Maximus.

　　‘I'll be in meetings with the remaining wolf packs to organise peace treaties. I’d like you to just settle in and find your way around the house. Seeing as it’s a castle after all. Nathan can give you and Sally a tour,’ he says.

　　‘Really?’ Sally asks.

　　‘You’re Nathan's mate. We expect you to move in with us,’ he offers.

　　‘Oh, I couldn't. I wouldn't want to intrude,’ she says.

　　‘We insist, don't we, Hope?’ He says, looking at me. I smile and nod.

　　‘Of course! It would mean a lot. Not only to Nathan, but to us, as well,’ I say, smiling, rocking Billy in my arms. Sally squeals.

believe I'm going to live in a castle!’ She says, jumping up and down. Nathan kisses

　‘Shall we drive you home to pack your things today?’ Nathan asks

today, and be back by the end of the week. I’ll tie up

　Maximus kisses me sweetly on the lips before going to his office. Sally and I follow Nathan as he gives us the grand tour of the castle, that lasts for

　　‘This place doesn’t end,’ I

　‘It does

　　‘Guys, I'm going to go to the kitchen for a drink of

　‘Want me to show you the way

paintings and antiques along the way. I swear the kitchen was

scan the corridors, trying to figure out which passage I should walk down, before noticing a black hole in a wall. There are stone steps going down;

my head in, curiosity gets the better of me, and I hold the wall

　One slow step at a time, I get to the bottom and see a small light in the distance. I walk towards the light, with my hand on the wall. The light is

ceiling is missing a stone. I watch the moon in admiration for a

opens. I step into a room where a wall of shelves on my left is full of scrolls. There’s a table against the wall in the middle, a large old book, an unlit candle, and matches. The wall on the right has a red velvet curtain in the centre, with bookshelves either side, holding different bottles of

match, I light the candle, and turn around, taking everything in. I place the candle down on the table

births and towns of births. I scan through the pages. The last name on the list glows.

portrait of a woman who has the same white hair, and same silver and blue eyes as me. Her arms are around the neck of a light grey wolf. I feel sense of familiarity; like I’ve met

just like me,’ I say, running my fingers lightly across

couldn't be my mother, could she? And he, my father?’ I say,

I’m half witch and half wolf. I didn’t know we

　Walking over to a bookshelf, I move some jars aside and scan the books, and something falls from one of the books. I look

it. I undo the clasp on the end of the chain and fasten it behind my neck. The ruby heart sits,

ground has fallen out

　　Anna,

apart, but love will always conquer.

　　Eternally yours,

　Alpha Levi of the

for her. I hold it close to my heart and tears roll down my

Where are they? I hear

　　‘Hope... Hope.’ Maximus is looking for me;

my dress, blow out the candle, and

of Maximus' calls, I hear the concern in his voice. I run towards