Chapter 3: Echoes of the Past

The stern clack of polished shoes against marble echoed through the grand foyer as Augusto, Tiago's father, strode into the mansion, a few days after the wedding. A startled Mariana, who had been engrossed in a book in the living room, nearly jumped out of her skin when saw him. She rose hurriedly, the book slipping from her grasp. "Hi…Hello…" she stammered nervously. Tiago materialized beside her, his expression unreadable. "Father," he acknowledged with a curt nod. "Mariana, this is Augusto, my father." Augusto's gaze narrowed as he took in Mariana's slender frame and youthful face. "Wife?" he questioned, disbelief lacing his tone. "Indeed," Tiago replied smoothly, guiding him towards his office. "We were recently married." Once inside the office, Augusto wasted no time in voicing his disapproval. "Tiago, what have you done?" he thundered. "Marrying some... some stranger is hardly the solution we discussed!" Tiago remained calm, his voice steady. "There's more to this than meets the eye, Father. Trust me, you'll understand in time." "Understand what?" Augusto scoffed. A flicker of unease crossed Mariana's face. Though she couldn't see them from the living room, the raised voices and Tiago's sharp tone sent shivers down her spine. Curiosity gnawed at her. What were they talking about? Could it be related to the mysterious reason behind their marriage? Unable to resist the urge any longer, Mariana crept closer to the office door, her heart pounding in her chest. She pressed her ear against the cool wood, straining to hear their muffled conversation. "...thought this was the answer. Save your mom..." Augusto's voice came through faintly. "Keep your voice down, Father!" Tiago hissed. He was clearly worried Mariana might hear something. Confusion surged through Mariana. Save his mom? What did that mean? Was that the mysterious task and how is she to do that? Just then, the sound of footsteps approaching startled her. She scrambled away from the door. As she pretended to admire a painting on the wall, the office door swung open and Augusto emerged, his face set in a grim frown. He cast a cold glance at Mariana before striding out of the mansion. The heavy oak door of the study slammed shut, echoing through the grand hallway. Mariana watched as Augusto's car disappeared down the long driveway. A multitude of questions swirled in her mind. Unable to shake off her unease, Mariana found Tiago in the library, engrossed in a leather-bound book. Approaching him cautiously, she sat opposite him. "Tiago," she began hesitantly, "what's wrong with your mom? Is that what your father was talking about?" Tiago looked up, his face devoid of emotion. "Nothing you need to concern yourself with, Mariana," he replied curtly, his voice laced with a coldness that sent shivers down her spine. "But-" she stammered. "There are matters that don't pertain to you. Family matters, remember?" he cut her off, his gaze returning to the book in his hand. Frustrated and bewildered, Mariana retreated. He coldly picked up a jacket and walked towards the garage. Sound of him revving the engine of a car filled the air, before screeches that signified his exit of the mansion followed. The vastness of the mansion suddenly felt oppressive. She had been here for days, yet only occupied a small portion of the sprawling estate. A spark of defiance ignited within her and she began to wander the halls. She marvelled at the opulent rooms, each decorated with priceless antiques and exquisite artwork. As she turned a corner, a hidden doorway caught her eye. Curiosity piqued, she pushed it open, revealing a narrow, winding staircase that descended into darkness. A shiver ran down her spine. Should she go down there? A voice in her head screamed caution, but her curiosity was insatiable. Taking a deep breath, she started down the stairs, each step echoing in the silence. The air grew colder as she descended deeper. Finally, she reached the bottom, stepping into a vast cavern illuminated by lights emanating from within large walls of ice. Her breath hitched in her throat. In the centre of the cave, a massive stone coffin rested on a raised platform. Before she could process the sight any further, low growls pierced the silence. Several pairs of gleaming eyes emerged from the shadows – large, ferocious wolves. Panic flooded Mariana's veins. Terror choked her scream as the wolves began to slowly approach. She attempted to escape but tripped over an unseen rock. As she fell, a desperate cry for help escaped her lips. Suddenly, a figure appeared at the entrance of the cave. The wolves, upon seeing him, instantly stopped their advance and bowed their heads in submission. He was a young man, his face etched with a mixture of concern and amusement. "Don't worry," he said, his voice calm and soothing. "They won't hurt you. I'm Lorenzo, and you’re absolutely safe." She tried to speak, but the terror had rendered her voice useless. The world began to spin, and darkness consumed her vision before she could hear Lorenzo's next words. Mariana's eyelids fluttered open, the harsh fluorescent lights of an unfamiliar room momentarily blinding her. A wave of nausea washed over her, and she groaned, trying to sit up. A strong hand gently pressed her back down. "Easy there," a familiar voice said beside her. Tiago. Relief flooded her, momentarily eclipsing the fear that still clung to her. "Tiago?" she rasped, her voice hoarse. "What happened? Where am I?" He looked down at her with a mixture of concern and anger in his eyes. "You're safe now, Mariana." Lorenzo, the young man from the cave, came into view. He offered a small smile. "Don't worry, you're in good hands." An old man, his face etched with worry, hurried towards the bed. "Madam, my apologies for the fright," he stammered, bowing slightly. "We meant you no harm. We were only trying to protect the matriarch..." His words were cut short by a sudden blur of movement. Tiago, his face contorted in rage, lashed out with a powerful fist that connected squarely with the old man's torso. The impact sent the man flying across the room, his body crashing against the wall with a sickening thud. Mariana gasped, a scream caught in her throat. Lorenzo lunged towards Tiago, his hands reaching for his arms. "Tiago, stop!" she pleaded. Tiago's jaw clenched tight, but he slowly lowered his fist, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. Shamefaced, the old man pushed himself off the wall, apologized to Tiago and shuffled back towards the cave entrance. The wolves, who had been observing the scene from the doorway, retreated with him, their low growls a silent protest. Lorenzo sighed, turning back to Mariana. "As you might be wondering…" he said gently, looking at Tiago for approval "the Matriarch is Tiago's mother. She's been... unwell for a long time. We do everything we can to protect her." Mariana nodded slowly, her mind reeling. "There's much to explain," he continued, "but perhaps Tiago would be best suited to tell you about it." He said, leaving the two of them alone. Tiago, sat down, ran a hand through his hair, looked at Mariana, then proceeded to speak. "That place," he gestured towards the cave entrance, "is a sanctuary. For millennia, our kind – wolf and human intertwined – have lived here in harmony. We shared a bond, a connection that went deeper than blood." Mariana listened intently, a shiver crawling up her spine. This was unlike anything she'd ever imagined. "But that peace was shattered," Tiago continued, his voice low. "The son of the alpha, consumed by ambition, ventured into the human world. He returned… corrupted. He betrayed his father, the true alpha, and took control by force." A flicker of rage crossed his face. "He didn't stop there. He attacked our people, forcing his will upon them." "Your mother..." Mariana whispered, piecing things together. Tiago nodded, his voice thick with emotion. "She was a warrior, a protector. She led the resistance against the rogue alpha. In the final battle, she defeated him, but at a terrible cost. He injured her mortally." "She came to the human world," Lorenzo interjected, picking up the narrative. "Desperate for a cure, she found my father. They fell in love, and I was born." "But humans," Tiago said bitterly, "turned on my mother. They saw her difference as a threat and imprisoned her." A cold dread settled in Mariana's stomach. The contract, the secrecy surrounding Tiago's family – it all made sense now. "By the time I became head of the family," Tiago continued, his voice hoarse, "my mother was already… fading. The humans had experimented on her, worsening her condition. I freed her, but the damage was done." He gestured towards the cave entrance once more. "She's been here ever since, kept alive by magic and the hope of a cure." "That's where you come in, Mariana," he said softly. "Your blood holds the key. It may just be what we need to save her." Her eyes widened in fear, “My Blood?!”