Filed to story: Owned by the Alphas Novel
“Mom,” Atticus warned. She winked at me before turning to her stew and serving it.
She put it down and despite looking awful, it smelled delicious.
“Mom makes jewelry, food, artwork, and everything else for the markets.” Atticus was already talking between mouthfuls.
I smiled and started eating, almost moaning at how good the food was. Even the other two, who I hadn’t seen eat much, devoured the stew.
“I think I know why you are here then, Son. I have heard the whispers of a song from the witches too. She is to choose, yes?”
Her eyes locked on me. I tried not to blush, but there was no point; I felt the heat pool in my cheeks as I nodded.
“And she is the one they are saying the realm magic went into?”
I nodded again.
Serafina nodded, tapping her lips with her fingers that were pressed together. Her angles knocked against each other as she did.
She wore a long turquoise blue dress with woven sandals that were as bright as the rest of the water pack outfits but somehow seemed to suit her more than most.
She smiled at me. “Your family must have kept you quite well hidden until now.”
I tensed, eyeing Atticus.
“She’s been in captivity. Vampires,” he sneered.
I swallowed, my appetite dissipating.
“Vampires,” she repeated in a mumble, a deep frown marring her perfect features. “That is interesting.” Then she looked up at me. “And you didn’t use your voice on them?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I said quickly. I didn’t want to talk about my voice or what it could do.
I knew the others had an inkling, but I had gone my whole life being used for my voice. I didn’t want them to want me for it too. Was it selfish to hope they just wanted me for me?
Serafina considered me for a moment, then smiled. “You have been at the mercy of people who didn’t appreciate your gift, Kassie. But that part of your life is over.”
I didn’t know what to say. Silas still hunted me. There was no guarantee I wouldn’t end up back there.
“I can teach you. Help you use your voice. Wield it so the whispers don’t overpower you. They will protect you.”
I shook my head quickly. “I don’t have a voice to use. I don’t have anything except the power the realm gave me during the blood moon.” I was not giving in.
Atticus grabbed my hand under the table and squeezed it.
“Mom has learned how to use her voice, Fox. You can too. It’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“Silas is something to be afraid of. He is not like the other vampires. He is coming, and he is dangerous. I don’t want to do this, Atticus,” I said firmly, pulling my hand back.
“The girl is right, Atti. Silas is different. My songs tell me this too.” She turned to me then and took my hands in hers. My skin buzzed and hummed when she did, a lump in my throat making me want to use it. “You have lost a lot to this, Kassie. Don’t let him keep you locked in that trauma cell he has built in your mind.”
“I don’t understand,” I frowned back.
“What do you want to understand?” she asked gently, still holding my hands.
“What are you?” I asked, scared of the answer. Scared to validate everything I had ever heard Silas spout. I had been able to hide behind delusional denial for a long time, but it only took one look at Serafina to know that was not going to work anymore.
She leaned back in her chair. “I’m a siren, Kassie. And so are you.”
20. The Attempt
“Silas used that word too,” I whispered, staring at the glow of Serafina’s eyes. Zach tensed as Dorian pursed his lips. Even Atticus waited for more. “But I don’t understand what it means,” I admitted.
“It means your voice can be used to protect you or as a weapon against others. It can bend others to your will should you choose it,” she explained.
“Silas said it helps control their bloodlust. It gives them power through the song,” I said, glad I was finally getting answers.
Serafina nodded. “True. Which is why the realm won’t ever let vampires have it. Or us.”
“He did have me.” I plucked at my sleeve. When I looked up, Serafina was smiling.
“No, Child. You had him. You are his weakness. He heard your song and now he craves it. That makes him weak and vulnerable. No matter what poison he spouts, it is a lie.”
I smiled at that. The idea of Silas being vulnerable was a nice change of narrative in my mind.
“She is truly a siren, Ms. Trux?” Dorian asked.
She gave him a side nod. “You knew that already, Alpha Dorian.”
I eyed him and he nodded. “I assumed, but you confirming it does solidify things in my mind.”
“What things?” I asked, terrified it would mean he respectfully bowed out of this choosing thing. What if they all did? What if finding out what I was made them all want to leave, and then by choosing them I was locking them into something they didn’t want?
Panic gripped me, and I looked down at my hands again.
“I have craved the sound of your voice, Sweet Siren. Something I have never heard but have not been able to get out of my mind. That is all.” He reassured me, but I still had doubts.
Zachariah was quiet but reached over and put his hand on my thigh. It was enough to settle the panic.
“Your voice is a gift, Kassie. You shouldn’t be afraid of it.” Serafina was convincing, but I needed more.
“Then why are you out here on the edge of the villages? If your voice is a gift, then why are you not in company?”
Serafina gave me a smile that was both patronizing and patient. “Our gift can be dangerous. If we are not in control, it can be lethal. If I use my voice at the wrong time, if I use it with the wrong emotion, if I lose control of it, the wolves are susceptible. I do not want to risk their free will. So I stay out here and only venture in when it is not close to a full moon,” Serafina said, then got up to get a cake from the bench. She put it in front of us and started cutting it up.
Atticus was eating as fast as she was cutting. I now understood how he was such a big guy.
Dorian accepted a piece, but I was pretty sure it was out of politeness. Zachariah refused.
“I haven’t used my voice in years. I have it under control. We can pretend I don’t–“
“You need to use it, Kassie. If you don’t, it will overwhelm you. Especially with the realm magic inside of you. I can teach you if you want?” Serafina offered, standing up.
My eyes went wide. “Right now?”
She nodded. “You wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t already experienced what I was talking about,” she smiled.
I wanted to argue, but my mind went back to the hot tub. I had been insatiable. I had gotten away with just humming to stop me from taking more than I should from the alphas, but what if next time that wasn’t enough? I didn’t want to have this weapon that I couldn’t control.
So I nodded and stood up.
Serafina led us past all her wooden furniture with soft cream colorings and out the back door.
There was a small paddock with a single sheep, a goat, and a flock of chickens.
The alphas go to follow us, but she turns and glares at them. “Alone, alphas. You stop her from concentrating.”
Atticus pouted and went back inside. The other two hesitated. I smiled up at them from down on the ground. “I’ll be okay.”
Dorian nodded once, then went inside.
Zachariah simply pulled the door shut and stood at it, peering through the window.
“That’s the best we’re going to get, isn’t it?” Serafina smiled.
“I think so,” I admitted, an apology in my voice.
“That’s okay, as long as you can concentrate?” She shook out her arms, her bangles clunking again.
I nodded and did the same.
She smiled and looked up, letting out a tiny warm-up melody.
I didn’t copy her.
She looked at me and nodded, prompting me.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?