Elena nods. ...What? But I’ve never heard of a Blue Moon Clan! Of all the Clans of Silver City, I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard of that one... I turn to Bobo to see if he knows something about such a name, but he doesn’t react, looking just as confused as I am.
“There is no Blue Moon Clan in Silver City,” he says.
Elena nods. “To be exact, there is no Blue Moon Clan at all. Not anymore. But from what I’ve discovered, there used to be one, far up in the North. I don’t know why or how, but they were all... killed. The full pack. About eighteen years ago.”
That’s when I was born... What happened then? Who could have decimated a full Clan of werewolves? Usually, it’s settled with a fight between Alphas, or the pack warriors. Still, there are always survivors who would become rogues or submit to join other clans to ensure their survival. For a full pack to be killed... Unless they were attacked by humans or witches? Or vampires?
“Killed? An entire pack? But... how?” I ask.
“I still don’t know yet. But you and I are proof that some people from this Clan survived...”
“Wait, you are... I mean, you think you are from this Blue Moon Clan, too? Did you grow up in this Clan then?”
“No, no. Someone saved me when I was an infant, and brought me to a childless couple of the Opal Clan here, in Silver City.”
Now that I look at her from up close, it does seem like Elena is in her early twenties, maybe younger... But I never imagined she might be an orphan too.
“The woman who saved me told that a Royal’s family had been killed and that she had found me alone in the middle of the... slaughter.”
I gasp, stunned. A Royal Family? I’ve heard of it, but...
Among werewolves, the Royals are the purest! Descendants from the very first werewolves, blessed by Moon Goddess. They have kept their bloodline so pure, staying away from humans and other species, that they are all born Alphas and deeply respected by other werewolves. Some say they have abilities granted by the Moon Goddess herself, but most of those are legends, I didn’t think there were any Royals alive!
“Royals? Are you sure?” Asks Bobo.
“For now, I am not sure of anything! I have no memories of surviving a massacre either. I just got pieces of information from the woman who saved me... But I’ve seen Nora’s wolf, and you did, too.”
I frown. What does she mean with that? How is my wolf shape related to this Clan...? Both Elena and Bobo stare at me for a while, with complex expressions I can’t decipher. I don’t get it!
“What do you mean?” I ask Elena.
“You are a pure wolf, Nora. Dark blue eyes and a perfectly white fur. Do you have any idea how rare is that combination among werewolves? It’s almost legendary! And you even have a Clan’s name as your given name!”
“No, no, you said yourself, it is probably only the Clan’s name. Even if I am from this Blue Moon Clan, it could just be...”
“Royal Families do take their Clan’s names as a symbol of power, Nora,” says Bobo. “They carry it for generations until there is no more descendant, and usually a new Alpha from a dominant but non-Royal family takes over. Any Clan’s name can be really old or newly made up, but only the Royals are entitled to carry it. Your father definitely knew who your mother was. Why would he have told you this was your last name otherwise?”
“One does not give a Clan’s name to their child!” Adds Elena.
I look at both of them, stunned. No, I can’t be a Royal’s child! That makes no sense...
“Then why wouldn’t that make you a Royal’s child too? Aren’t we related?” I ask Elena.
She laughs softly and shakes her head.
“We are related indeed, but I don’t believe I am the child of a Royal. Not directly, at least. I have gold eyes, and my fur isn’t completely white like yours. One of my parents probably wasn’t a pure werewolf.”
But she is an Alpha, isn’t she? My wolf can smell that she could be a dangerous opponent. I shake my head, lost by too much information.
“So, you think my birth mother was...?”
“A Royal, yes.”
But my dad was most definitely not... And until now, I thought there weren’t any Royals left! Centuries have passed since the very first werewolves. How could we keep the blood so pure until now? I know that there were still some of them a few generations ago. Among Clans, it is known that Royals were treated like treasures because of their pure blood andabilities, and ruled any Clan they were in. By nature, they had to lead and govern; they cannot be submitted. But for me? How many times did I give up while facing Alec or Vince?
Bobo gently pats my shoulder.
“You’re probably mixed, Nora. He might not have been an Alpha, but your father’s blood was most likely pure enough for you to keep some of the characteristics.”
