Page 113 of Mated By the Alphas
Ansley
It’s been two months since I found out Lucifer is my father.
I’ve gone from being aware I’m pregnant to very,verypregnant. Wolves definitely can’t wait to see the world. The one growing in my belly is restless and eager to see what it has in store for them.
Lucifer offered to examine me. Tell me if it’s a boy or girl. Tell me if it’s a wolf or some other kind of Scion. I declined because I already know. I’m carrying a she-wolf. The first one that will run on four paws since the last of them was killed by the Crimson Templars.
Hayden and the others don’t want to know anything. They want it to be a surprise, and I’m fine with that. It would have been a surprise to me too, if I couldn’t sense it. I’ve gotten better at sensing things recently. Lucifer has been helping me with that.
“Ansley, do you wish to continue your training today?” Lucifer asks, walking into the living room. “The wolves have gone out to run. Daisy is… somewhere around here.”
“Probably trying to find a new way to get you to notice her,” I laugh absently. “But yes, I want to continue my training today, even if I’m not making much progress.”
“Come, let’s go up to the top of the tower,” Lucifer says, gesturing to me.
Daisy is still beingDaisy. She’s not a vampire, but she’s thirsty, and not for blood. She’s developed an infatuation with my father. He gently rebukes her, but she doesn’t give up. I don’t think she ever will. I tried explaining why it was inappropriate, but it seemed to go in one ear and out the other. At least he seems unbothered by it.
Lucifer leads me to his tower, and I struggle to climb the stairs, feeling even more pregnant by the time I get to the top.
“Sit daughter. Sit and concentrate,” Lucifer says, gesturing to the center of the tower.
Sensing things is pretty easy. It was the first thing I noticed when my powers began to manifest. I can sense when I’m being watched. When I’m being lied to if the lie is malicious. Through the pack bond, I can sense things about my mates as well. That usually only works when they’re close, but I can sense their location now. I assume I can sense things about my baby because we’re connected in a different way.
“I can sense my mates. They’re running. I can’t sense anything else about them,” I say.
“Try to reach further than that. Much further. Try to sense other Scions,” Lucifer instructs.
“Can you give me a general direction? A specific Scion to focus on?” I ask. “The further I try to reach, the harder it is. It just turns into noise, and I can’t drown it out to focus.”
“These abilities should be the easiest to use,” Lucifer murmurs. “You’re not a true Oracle, like those that descended from my children, but the ability is still there. It’s just more difficult to harness.”
“I’d rather learn how to use my sword,” I sigh. “Or how to call the souls inside me when I need them.”
“Just concentrate, daughter. One day, you’ll teach your baby to crawl before they can walk. The same applies here,” he instructs.
I do as he says. I try to concentrate. It’s harder than it sounds, because I don’t know what to concentrate on exactly. He says I should feel it, and then it should come naturally, but it just doesn’t seem to work for me.
“I can’t sense anyone other than my mates,” I huff. “And you, but you’re right here.”
“Then try to communicate with them. We haven’t tried that yet,” Lucifer says, leaning against a wall.
“From here? I can’t. That only works when we’re close. I don’t even think that’s one of my powers anyway. It’s the mental link we share through our pack bond,” I explain.
“Similar yes, but all of the abilities your mates have is because they descended from angels,” Lucifer says, then I hear the next part in my mind. “I can communicate with you, no matter whereyou are, now that I’m aware of you, but I can’t communicate with other Scions. Only my descendants were capable of that.”
“Okay, I’ll try to speak to Hayden,” I say, concentrating harder.
I focus on Hayden as hard as I can. So hard my eyes are squeezed shut and my head hurts. I try to send something simple. Just a greeting to let him know I’m training and trying out my abilities. But it doesn’t work. Or if it does, he doesn’t say anything back.
“Nothing,” I slump back. “Feels like I’m just wasting my time.”
“Time is never wasted. If it doesn’t work today, we’ll try again tomorrow, and the day after that, if you wish,” Lucifer says. “Learning to use your abilities is for your benefit, but we move at whatever pace is comfortable for you. Hopefully, you’ll never need them in combat again.”
“The visions could be useful,” I mention. “Are those easy to control?”
“That is not something you can learn to control. They’re also not truly visions. They simply guide you by showing possible outcomes. Glimpses into a future that could exist, but not one that is guaranteed,” he explains. “Many of my descendants relied on them more than they should have, and it was to their detriment. Made them believe in thepossiblewithout considering theprobable, and unfortunately,anythingis possible. It’s the probability that provides wisdom.”
“I’ve learned they aren’t always accurate,” I admit. “Okay, I’ll keep trying to communicate with Hayden.”
