Parents

 "Lowena? Lowena?" Muffled voices began echoing in Lowena's room.

 "Sweetheart, can you hear me?" the older woman's voice began to come into focus.

 Lowena blinked the sleep away from her groggy eyes. The two blurred characters began to take shape, and her eyes went wild in shock when she realized who was in front of her, which quickly turned to anger.

 "Mom? Dad?" Lowena hesitated.

 "Yes, we were going to be here sooner-"

 "How dare you!" Lowena began ranting, "I had no idea who I was! I had no idea what was happening to me! How come you didn't tell me? Why would you have me come here when I needed you the most? Why bother coming now?"

 "We meant to be here sooner, but it was difficult to get what we needed in time for your birthday," her father, Gerald, answered.

 "Get me something?" Lowena snipped, "How about telling me I'm a werewolf and a witch? Or that I was so scared last night, I thought I was going to die with that voice in my head?! My body is going through changes that are terrifying me!"

 Both her parents froze. "Voice in your head?" the mother repeated. "What voice?"

 "I don't know," Lowena began to calm down.

 "Everything became dark and fuzzy, and a man's and a woman's voice echoed in my head."

 Lowena's mother, Iliana, sat beside her daughter. "I'm sorry for not telling you everything. I can only imagine how it's making you feel—having to endure all of this and us not being completely honest with you. Darling, we didn't know how to tell you. We were hoping you would be able to lead a normal life since you have never exhibited any symptoms of Lycan or Witch alike."

 "And that's supposed to make me feel better?" Lowena hushed, "I'm becoming something I've only read about in fairy tales. Strangers know more about me than I do."

 Gerald looked at his regretful wife and sighed in frustration, "Your mother wanted to tell you several times; I begged her not to."

 "Why?" Lowena's voice cracked as a tear trickled down her cheek, "Why?!"

 "Your mother already said it! We didn't want you to live a life like we had to! We had to leave because our love was forbidden," he explained.

 "Disgusting," Iliana corrected, "At least that's what my headmistress said then. She wanted me to terminate my pregnancy, telling me that I could give birth to a mindless monster. Also, I was meant to be the next headmistress; the power they saw in me from infancy was astounding."

 Lowena went silent, seeing her mother's sorrowful expression, began to soften her heart.

 "There was no way I could do it. I couldn't lose you. I loved you the moment I knew I was pregnant with you. The thought of losing you would have killed me. I was fifteen and afraid that my entire future was already mapped out. This would have ruined their plans, which now falls on you by default. Even more powerful than me, stronger than your father, alpha in your own right."

 "So your father left his pack, recinded his Alpha status, and we ran to the states to get away from these people and their ridiculous laws."

 "How do they pass on to me by default?" Lowena asked.

 Iliana ran her fingers through Lowena's messy hair. "I don't know. If I can do anything to stop it, I will. If this is something you don't want, we can leave now, the three of us, but if you do want, even just a little, you need to stay. Learn. The more powerful you are, physically and mentally, the less any creature can harm you."

 Lowena dropped her head slightly, racking her brain for an answer that wouldn't come. 

 "I don't know."

 "We figured as much," Gerald added. "We will be here for you every step of the way, whatever you choose, and we'll protect you with our lives."

 Gerald reached into his pocket, pulling free a black cloth with something wrapped inside. He sat beside his daughter to show he was there for her. He had never been good at showing he cared and loved his daughter, but he'd be damned if anything happened to her. 

 "This was my grandmother's," he explained, unwrapping a long, silver chain dangling necklace with a giant emerald embedded in the center of the pendant.

 "Iliana's mother imbued it with the magic of both our ancestors. Wear it always, and it'll keep you safe. Once on, no one can remove it but you."

 Lowena's eyes gawked at the sight of the emerald. She held the heavy pendant, admiring its ancient etchings, before willingly looping the chain over her neck. A sudden rush of relief overcame her.

 "Thank you; it's beautiful," she smiled, "I'm still upset that you didn't tell me, but it helps you be here now."

 "Sorry to interrupt," Eli peeped inside Lowena's room.

 "Eli!" Gerald greeted, hugging his childhood friend. " It's Good to see you, man!"

 "You too!" Eli smiled. " What's this? Grey hair? Old man."

 Geraled shoved Eli playfully in the shoulder, "I can still take you."

 "Boys, not now," Iliana teased while hugging Eli, "It's good to see you."

 Eli glanced over Iliana's shoulder at Lowena, whose head dropped and cheeks reddened in embarrassment. They didn't know what had gone on between Eli and Lowena, and wanted to keep it that way.

 "All jokes aside, thank you for watching over Lowena for us," Iliana said.

 "It was my pleasure," Eli smirked, pecking the back of her hand.