Alpha Maximus The Last Lycan novel Chapter 53

A few more minutes pass by as we wander around.

"Over here!" Hope shouts.

"What is it?" I ask.

She holds my arm and leads me to a dark corner with an opening on the floor. When I look down, it's dark, but I can see stone steps going down.

I follow Hope down the stairs. She pushes a wall that reveals a room. I follow her in, it's quite dark, but Hope lights a candle. I look around the room and approach one of the bookshelves.

"I've never knew this part of the castle existed. What is all this stuff?" I ask her.

'I think it's items my mother used for spells," she said.

"I'm surprised you even found this room. It's so well hidden."

"I found it by accident when I became lost, but this is what I wanted to show you she said. She reaches her arm out and pulls the red velvet curtain across.

My jaw drops at the sight, "Hope, is that you in the portrait? I don't understand," I say to her.

"It's not me, silly. It's my mother and my father," she beams.

"You look identical to your mother, the same eyes, hair, nose!" I point out to her.

Hope is still smiling, "I was wondering if maybe, we could place this in a better place where I can see it every day?" she asks.

Without hesitating, I step closer and carefully lift the portrait from the wall. It's heavy and well painted. The detail is impressive. Hope blows the candle out, and we leave the room and return up the stairs. We find Kayla standing eerily in the shadows. We were startled to see her there, "My dad painted that," she says. "I think all of our parents knew each other very well and were close friends before they all died," she says.

"It's strange how fate brought our parents and now us, their children, together," I say.

"Where are you going to put the portrait?" Kayla asks.

"I already know the perfect place to hang it. Come, I'll show you.' I say to them.

We enter the large dining room and place it above the fireplace, where we can admire it all the time.

I open the car door for Hope and step in after her.

"Alpha Cal knows we'll be arriving sometime tonight. He argued that he would not be signing the peace treaty no matter what I say to him. I told him I would at least like to speak with his son Levi briefly. At first, he said no, but I told him I have a big surprise for both of them that will change their lives forever. Curiosity got the better of him. So he has allowed us passage to enter his territory. The look on his face when he sees you will be priceless," I smile.

"Do you think my father will want to see me?" Hope asks nervously.

"Of course, he'll want to see you! You're his daughter," I say to her.

She nods, "I hope so," she says with a sad smile.

Hope falls asleep during the second half of the car ride with her head resting on my shoulder.

We're approaching the Dark Moon territory. I can see his pack warriors ahead on the border. Nathan wounds the window and speaks to one of the guards, who then wave him through. My pack warriors aren't far behind. I know they won't be allowed in, so I give them orders to be on standby in case things get ugly. They know to initiate war and fight their way to us if needed. I wake Hope, and she looks out the window to see we have arrived.

We arrive at a large packhouse. I tell Hope to stay hidden behind Nathan and that she would know when to make herself known to her father and grandpa.

Alex walks in beside me while Nathan walks behind me with Hope. Two of Alpha Cal's pack warriors lead us to a large room where Alpha Cal sits in his intricate detailed chair.