Twenty three

Elena watched Emma, waiting for her reaction.

"You mean... like the White Swan clan?"

Elena nodded her head.

What? She'd never heard of a White Swan clan? Of all the clans of Storybrooke, she was pretty sure she's never heard of that one...

Emma turned to Ruby to see if she knew something about such a name, but she was not reacting, looking just as confused as Emma.

"There is no White Swan clan in Storybrooke." Ruby said.

Elena nodded.

"To be exact, there is no White Swan clan at all. Not anymore. But from what I know, there use to be one, far up in the North. I don't know why or how, but there were all... killed. The full pack. About twenty years ago."

As long as Emma had been alive.

What happened then? Who could have decimated a full clan of werewolves? Usually, it was settled with a fight between alphas, or the pack warriors, but there were always survivors who would become rogues or submit to join other clans to ensure their survival. But for a full pack to be killed? Unless they were attacked by humans or witches? Or vampires?

"Killed? An entire clan? But, how?" Emma asked.

"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 White Swan clan, too? Did you grow up in this clan?"

"No, no, I'm barely older than you, Emma. Someone saved me when I was an infant, and brought me to a childless couple of the Opal clan here, in Storybrooke."

Now that Emma looked at her from closer, it did seem like Elena was most likely in her mid twenties, possibly younger. But she'd never imagined she might be an orphan. So, she guessed she didn't have any memories of living with that clan or knows who her birth parents were either.

"The woman that saved me told me that a Royal's family had been killed, and that she had found me alone in the... Slaughter."

Emma couldn't stop her gasp. A Royal family? She'd heard of it, but...

Among werewolves, Royals are the purest. Descendants from the very first werewolves, bless 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 even said they have abilities granted by the Moon Goddess herself. But Emma didn't think there were still families of Royals alive! They are the royalty of any werewolves' pack, but there is no known family like that anywhere near their area.

"Royals? Are you sure?" Asked Ruby.

"For now, I am sure of nothing! I have no memories of surviving a massacre either. I just gathered but of information from my adopted parents and older wolves of our pack. But I've seen Emmas wolf, and you did, too..."

Emma frowned. What did she mean by that? How was her wolf shape related to this clan? But Elena and Ruby both stared at her for a while, with complex expressions she couldn't decipher. She didn't get it!

"What do you mean?" She asked Elena, growing adjutant under their stares.

"You are a pure wolf, Emma. Dark green eyes and a perfectly white fur. Do you have any idea how rare that combination is among werewolves? It's almost legendary! And you even have a clans name as your given name!"

"No, no, you said it yourself, it is probably only the clans name. Even if I am from the White Swan clan, I could just have been mistaken as-"

"Royal families do take their clans names, Emma." Said Ruby, "They carry it for generations until there is no more descendants, and usually a new alpha from a dominant but non-royal family takes over. Any clans name can be really old or newly made up, but only the Royals are entitles to carry it. And 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 clans name to their child!" Adds Elena. Emma looked at them both, stunned. No, she couldn't be a Royals child! That made no sense!

"Then why wouldn't that make you a Royals child too? Aren't we related?" She asked Elena, who let out a soft laugh and shook her head.

"We are related indeed, but I highly doubt I am the child of a Royal. Not directly, at least. I have gold eyes, and my fire isn't completely white like yours. One of my parent left probably wasn't a pure werewolf."

But, she was an alpha, wasn't she? Emma's wolf could smell that she could be a serious opponent. She shook her head, lost in too much information.

"So you think my birth mother was-"

"A Royal, yes."

But her dad was most definitely not... And until now, she'd thought there weren't any Royals left! Centuries had passed since the very first werewolves. How could they keep the blood so pure until now? She knew that there were still some of them a few generations ago. Among clans, it is know that Royals were treated like treasures because of their pure blood and abilities, and ruled any clan they were in. By nature, they had to lead and rule; they could not be submitted. But emma, how many times had she gave in to Neal and Victor?

Ruby gently patted her shoulder.

"You're probably mixed, Emma. He might not have been an alpha, but your fathers blood was most likely pure enough for you to keep some characteristics."

"But not all of them. I can't heal properly, and my shape shifting isn't ideal either."

"Wait- you can't heal fast?" Asked Elena, surprised. Emma shuck her head as an answer before speaking again.

"No. I still heal faster than a human, but my ability is not as good as regular werewolves."

She looked shocked for a while, before pointing to herself. "Emma, I have the same issue! As far as I can recall, I have never healed properly."

"Really?!"

"Yes! So far, I thought it was just me being weaker than other werewolves, but now..."

She was right. If they were right being related, and both experience the same problem with their healing capacity, that meant it must be an issue with their blood. If they were indeed related to Royals, shouldn't their abilities actually be stronger than their peers? Why were they slow healers? Was it because they weren't pure?

"Did you experience anything else that's different?" Emma asked.

"Mind linking. I'm much better at that than anyone I know, including my own alpha. No matter the distance, I have no problem communicating with my pack members. I can even communicate with other packs' alphas."

"Wait- aren't you an alpha?" Elena frowned at her question.

"No, I'm not. And I don't want to be."

But she definitely had Alpha potential, like Emma. She was certain she was her own pack leader and can't imagine her in any other position. She wanted to ask Elena, but she clearly was annoyed by the subject, so Emma decided to drop the topic for now.

"What about you?" Elena then asked.

"I can't, for now. I don't belong to any clan at the moment, so..."

"You should try, with your alpha mate."

"I don't really get how it works yet."

"Emma, you're mind linking. Like, right now."

Emma looked up at her and Ruby in surprise. God, she was right! She'd done it without even realising just because Elena started talking to her that way, and her voice sounded so clear in Emma's head that she couldn't tell the difference. Elena smiled at her, amused by her reaction.

"Don't use it too much on others, though. If you're like me, people might... not really like it."

"What do you mean?" Emma asked, intrigued.

"You'll see."

She checked the time from the clock on the wall and frowned. Ruby nodded and took a look at the entrance.

"You should go, Elena. Our pack will have noticed your presence by now."

"What? Wait! We aren't done talking!" Emma protested.

She still had so many questions. Elena was the only person so far who knew anything about her origins, and they even figured out some of their issues! But she shook her head and placed her cap back over her head.

"Sorry, Emma, Ruby is right. I really wish I could, but I already stayed longer than I had planned too. But don't worry, l will keep searching for more information about the White Swan clan."

"When can we meet again?"

Elena sent her a wink.

"I will find you, don't worry. For now, don't tell anyone about what we have discussed today, okay? No one but Ruby must know, Emma, it is really important."

But what about Killian? She didn't want to have to lie to him. Not when they were starting to trust each other. Elena seemed to have read her thoughts and answered right away.

Not even your mate, Emma.

But-

If it makes you feel better, you are not the only one with secrets. I wouldn't trust him so easily if I were you.

What do you mean?

You'll see.

Elena stepped back and turned to head to the exit, ready to leave. But just when she was about to go out, Graham suddenly appeared at the doorway of the salon. When he saw Elena, several expressions she'd never seen him wear before followed one after the other. Surprise, incomprehension, doubt... Elena clearly didn't expect to run into him either.

They stared at each other for a few seconds. He seemed confused, but she was very calm while facing Graham.

"Elena... What are you doing here?"

"I came to see Ruby."

"Ruby?"

He looked in their direction, and Ruby immediately nodded. Graham stared at Emma, too, but she acted innocent, like she didn't even know Elena. She couldn't tell if he bought it, but his eyes fell back to the pretty blonde, now with an angry expression.

"You're not suppose to be here."

"Are you going to kill me then?"

Her forthright question clearly destabilised him, and he dropped the angry act. Emma was amazing by how composed Elena was, compared to Graham. They stared at each other for a while, and their eyes seemed to express so much that Emma felt like she was eavesdropping on a private exchange. They might've been mind linking, but she couldn't tell. After a while, Graham silently stepped aside, letting her leave without another word. He watched her figure as she stepped away, and Emma couldn't help but wonder once again what was between those two...