Fated To My Lycan Stepbrothers
Chapter 62

Naya cod.

It was all confusing to me. I also planned on asking her about Naya, who has been behaving weirdly since yesterday. Elder Rosalie's smile remained understanding. Well, not exactly understanding, but warm. "It's natural to have questions, especially when you're an omega." She raised her eyes to the heavens. "Our world is complex, filled with traditions and a delicate balance of power." She picked up my hands, tracing the lines on my palm. Her hands were surprisingly cold. "Werewolves are the traditions passed down by our forefathers to us. We are magic. created and born of no one." I scoffed at her words. Did she always talk like this or what? "Why..."

"I know what you are thinking right now."

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I speak like an old woman; I don't look like an old woman; this and that... the gods! Your mind is a frenzy!" She began to laugh. I loved her laugh. They made me laugh.

"You answered half of my questions." I said it in between embarrassed giggles. "How about you tell me why you are really here by answering my questions?

She paused. "You are calculating, Naya, even though you don't show it."

I could surprise myself if I wanted. It was no big deal. "Yeah." Suddenly, the images of yesterday came tumbling back into my mind. Was this woman even reading my thoughts? I haven't practiced mind-linking, but she was magic. She could penetrate my mind if she wanted, right? I took a deep breath to calm my racing mind. She said my mind was crazy. From the serene look on her face as she stared to the heavens, she doesn't know what I am thinking. I should be asking the questions since she came to see me. There were a multitude of questions I wanted to ask. "Can you tell me more about the elders?" What exactly is your role as a watcher of the pack? And why does Elder Freya seem to hold so much influence?" Let's start small and go deeper. When we are comfortable enough, I'll tell her the strange things about me. "I heard you guys are the last of them all. Why?"

"Slow down, little one." Elder Rosalie's expression grew more serious as she lowered her head to explain. "The Elders are more like the surveillance of our pack; each of us is responsible for a different aspect. I oversee the well-being of the pack, from healing to nurturing. You can call me the watcher. Elder Roy watches over the young ones, ensuring their safety and education. He is also known as the handler. Elder Archer protects our warriors, ensuring they're prepared for challenges. You guessed right-he's the archer. Elder Derek maintains the territorial boundaries and ensures our resources are sustained. And Elder Freya... She oversees the weather, which in turn affects our hunting and survival. That's all about us."

Hm. I had a feeling she wasn't being entirely honest. I don't think that's all about them. "Aren't you wolves born with these gifted abilities?"

"Not born. Created." She said. Her voice was clipped.

I raised my hands in surrender. "Right. Created. If you were created, how can yoult's all so confusing."

She released my hands, and I felt warm again. "You shouldn't try to understand it. You should feel it. You can feel our power in the air. Look at the blazing sun... Elder Freya is in a good mood today." Oh... A laugh escaped both of us at the same time. She even knew how to crack jokes! "A watcher, huh? What is it like?"

She tilted her head as if to think. "I know everything." She gave me a sad smile, and I wondered what was wrong with knowing everything. It would be fun! Knowing when to avoid a bully would be better. "That's an amazing power, right? You know what everyone is going to do next, right?"

She nodded. "I do know."

"And you can do something about it... Is that not so?" I asked enthusiastically. She might be able to change something for me.

"No." Her words sent the joy in me right out the window. What the f**k? "I can't do anything about what I know. I may know how you are feeling, but I can't read your mind. I just know. I know it's going to rain soon, I know Elder Freya isn't happy about something, and I know the next event is going to happen. They come one after the other in order not to overwhelm me, but that's it. I just know. Hence, I am the watcher. If I see war coming, I try my best to tell the Alpha in a way he won't have to interfere with fate."

I stood up in shock. "You knew he was going to die?"

Elder Rosalie nodded. "I know everything. I am sorry; I can't do anything about it. The moment I interfere with the future? It will happen all over again, and we will all get stuck in a loop until I break free by disappearing for a long time."

"What the f**k?" I yelled in anger. She was gifted with the best, yet she was as useless as a whistled kettle.

"Language." She warned sternly.

"I am sorry." I sat down beside her, taking up her cold hands. "I shouldn't have said it... I just... I don't know what to say. I finally have someone who can change things, and it turned out to be wishful thinking." Great.

A faint smile lifted her lips. "It isn't entirely bad."

What is not entirely bad?

"Being an Elder. I only allow Elder Freya to be herself because that's what we elders are."Well,l Elder Freya has a rottenpersonality,y if it were up to me tosay so. However, her tough exterior may not be hard to crack compared to this woman beside me. She smiles a lot and cares a lot. It was new to me. "Our forms were given to us. Just like the first werewolf man and womanweres created by the moongoddess,s and he had offspring,... we are like that too. Created to live forever, not born." She finished. Holy s**t! "That means you are immortal."

She only gave a quick nod. It wasn't a happy one.

I became skeptical immediately. Why was she telling me all this? Wasn't it like a secret or something? It didn't sound right that she would tell an average omega wolf this type of stuff, no matter how nice or close we were. It doesn't make sense. "Why are you telling me this?" I had to ask her. "You are revealing your history to me. You are laying it all out for me to see. Not entirely all, but at least!"

She sighed before saying the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard. "Because you are one of us, Naya."

I nearly fell out of my chair as she said that. Shouldn't there be a trumpet sound or something? It's not possible.

"What? Do you think I go about answering teenagers' questions about us? No. There is a syllabus about us in your school already. Get a grip of yourself." She shook her head at my dramatic reaction. It should have occurred to me along the way that she was immortal. I knew it!

Of course, I was taught one or two things about the elders. I wasn't paying attention since I clearly thought of them as majestic, not as one of them sitting beside me and actually having a normal conversation.

"I will pretend I didn't hear that. It cannot be possible because you said that elders are created, not born. Besides, you have wolves in you."

"We don't have wolves in us. It's an illusion created for the wolves to believe in. Think of it as... if we were in a shifter pack, our shape would be according to everyone's shape in the pack. A werecat? We would be werecats. There is nothing like that... except the monsters of the rival pack." She spoke to convince herself, not me. There are obviously other creatures out there. The food news? I don't want to meet them. The Blood Moon Pack was already giving us enough problems, as it were.

I gasped in realization. She must know a lot about what the monster wanted with me and why Mr. Diego approached me first. She also knew I slept with the Alpha and his twin brother. s**t. "So you deceived everyone in the pack. Good. Let me get this straight. You are immortal; you are a watcher; you wield magic; you were created... Am I one of you guys?" I couldn't escape it even if I wanted to. She said I was one of them. Why? How?

"Yes." Elder Rosalie leaned on the boulder. "It will rain soon. Want to continue this conversation?"

"Yes. Maybe the rain will wash my guilt away." I sighed. I didn't know why I said that like a fool. I was so stupid. I guess I do not have to hide anything from her again. Frankly, the news of the Elder stuff was a shock to me. However, my brain has chosen to block that part out.

It was impossible to be an elder.

"I know. Which is why I came to see you." She sniffed the air. It was getting cooler, and I loved it. It didn't seem like she wanted shelter from the rain. "When I know things like this, I allow nature to take its course."

I grinned despite hating Elder Freya. "Elder Freya is doing this. Weather control? That's... impressive." I was in awe of the dark clouds that began to form.

Elder Rosalie nodded. "Indeed. Each elder is unique. It's a balance of magic and traditions. But when traditions fail, we come to rule as the last hope. No Alpha wants that."

I shook my head. That's what Elder Freya wanted.

"I love my freedom to sit with you right now. I don't want duties to tie me down."

She's immoral; how could she say that? I chuckled at her crazy statement. Then I frowned. "But why does Elder Freya seem to have so much influence over the others? It was as if she ruled you all."

Elder Rosalie's gaze turned distant for a moment. "Elder Freya's role as a weather guardian holds great significance. The weather affects everything-our hunting, our crops, and our environment. It's no wonder she's considered a leader among the elders." "But you are the best..." Her raised hands stopped me from speaking.

"It's okay. I like where I am."

She didn't want me to pursue the conversation, I could tell you for sure. Nah. My curiosity only intensified. "And me?"

Elder Rosalie smiled. "You are the newest addition. Young and fresh. You are a born elder, Naya. It's a huge thing."

I was still skeptical. "What does it mean?"

Elder Rosalie reached out and placed a hand on Naya's shoulder. "Naya, I sense that you have a deep connection to our world and to the pack. Your hair's color is a sign of a great elder. It's a mark of your unique place in our world. Although I know a lot of things and I'm not supposed to tell you this, nothing would happen anyway because with you, everything could change."

She was lying. Nothing would change because I was a weak fucker who cared for nothing other than to have the twin boys to herself. I was a greedy, needy little b***h.

The rain began to splatter on our faces.

It touched my tongue and soothed my throat. "If I am an elder, why is my life so f*****g useless?" She didn't bother to correct me. "What's even my power? To be bullied?"

Her hand instinctively went to my hair, fingers trailing through the crimson strands. "What do you mean by useless? Do you think I am useless?" I raised my confused eyes to her. She told me she couldn't do anything but sit down and watch. Elder Rosalie's gaze held a knowing glint. "Your hair is almost the same color as mine. It's a sign that you have my ability but can do something about it. Your abilities may be dormant, waiting to be awakened."

My eyes were permanently opened in shock. What else would she say now? "Abilities? What abilities? To get bullied? Slapped?"

Elder Rosalie's smile was gentle. "That was because those pricks couldn't protect you. That's something you'll come to explore later. As a born elder, your journey will be one of self-discovery and growth. And with your connection to Zeke, you're in a unique position to shape the future of our pack." "Don't tell me you think I am his mate."

She nodded affirmatively, like I was asking her a completely normal question. "With what happened last night? Geesh, you are a wolf in bed, Naya Cod."

I felt like my Pa was here with me, and heat covered my entire face. The revelation that I had latent abilities tied to my hair color was both exciting and overwhelming. It was a shocking realization that maybe my role in the pack went beyond what I had imagined. There was a tingle I felt when I was with the elders. It had gotten worse with Elder Rosalie around me for a long time. It made me feel dizzy. Her wisdom and kindness were reassuring, and I soon found myself opening up about my struggles, my doubts, and my conflicting emotions with Zeke and Kyle.

My eyes began to close gently. The rain was gentle on me. It calmed my heat.

"Sleep, Naya Cod. You are our family. Bask in the peaceful serenity and endure the nature of our territory. Have the handler and warrior guide you, and the watcher watch over you. Remember, Naya, you are born, not created." Elder Rosalie spoke, her voice filled with encouragement. It was alluring and eerie, like a dozen sirens singing these words to my ears.

I nodded, and that was the last thing I heard before blacking out.