chapter seven

      “Well, I should probably start from the beginning. The origin of the wolf’s mark perhaps,” He said, taking a drink from his mug. “Back before this land was colonized, we Native Americans would learn about how a wolf was the first to create earth and experience death. During that time many believed that wolves were close to humans due to their dedication to the pack. My Father once told me prayers were offered in honor of wolves before hunters went out on hunting trips to give them the same power as wolves themselves. During one such prayer, the hunters all suddenly were given the same marks that we three,” he pointed to Russell, me and then himself. “ All have. Some had them on their arms, hands, legs, and like you Wisteria, the bottom of the ear. After that happened the hunting was always bountiful when they went out to hunt. Soon once they had reached a certain age they would take the forms of real wolves such as myself and Russell here.” I listened intently to what he was saying, Russell however seemed bored with the history lesson. “To much dismay many didn’t know how to control the power at first, many were scratched by a young hunter who was eighteen at the time. Soon there were more Wayas and that whole tribe became wolves.”

“These wolves were special as they could talk to each other through telepathy to coordinate attacks and who slept during certain times. To make this history lesson a little shorter, the men and women who were marked had children and so on and so forth. That’s how we got here. First I must tell you about the men you encountered today at school before I can tell you about your past,” He folded his hands and looked at me with a serious look. “They are part of an organization that wants all mythical creatures dead. We included in that bracket since to them we are less then human,” I opened my mouth but before I could say anything he cut me off. “Before you ask, yes Vampires do exist in this world. I know of one such group living in Louisiana actually. I met one of them when they colonized this world, but I know what your thinking. They are not dangerous. The Organization call themselves the Black Moon, they are a league of hunters all their own. It is not owned by the government some government officials are actually vampires and werewolves. We live in a time were mythological creatures show up everyday, and live with humans and even marry them. Your adoptive mother is actually a decedent of a half breed that once consorted with fairies.” I gasped. 

“So what your saying, is that fairies are real too?” 

“To put it simply yes. Your adoptive mother is not a half fairy but a low percentage of it. She could tell I was a waya when I first showed up for the job at the clinic, we mythos have a way of finding out these things. She knew what you were the instant she adopted you, due to her fairy blood she can’t have children with a human which your adoptive father is pure human. Don’t ask me why they can’t as I don’t know, I’ve never spoken to a actual pure fairy in my twenty five years of life. However she is the one who asked me to look after you should you change and not realize who you are. Those ‘dreams’ you’ve been having are actually you becoming a wolf and sneaking out at night.” 

“What?! I don’t understand.” 

“Why do you think they feel so real all the time during those moments. You’ve met Russell and I in your dreams. I noticed you started becoming uncomfortable during your seventeenth birthday with your mark, after that I snuck into your house while you were away to search for any clues that could tell me about your past. That’s when I saw that photo of your real parents on that board in your room.” I covered my mouth with my hands. “So I called in a favor to a friend that I met through my time scouting for others like me when I was young. He looked into it and found out that your parents were both alpha’s killed by the Black Moon when you were only two months old.” I felt a lump rising in my throat, threatening to choke me. “ I know it’s not what you want to hear but giving you up was the best they could do for you at that time. If the Black Moon had found you with your parents they would have killed you or worse, raised you as their own and used you for their own malicious purposes.” I felt a tear fall down my cheek but I toughened through it, wanting to hear more about my parents.

“Please, continue.” In a much softer tone of voice he said. 

“According to my friend he said you have your mothers hair and your father’s eyes. Even though they are gone when you look at yourself they are still within you. Still very much alive within your DNA Wisteria. Never forget that.” He tried to reach out a hand to console me but Russell quickly but his hand in-between Mr. Blackwell and I. Mr. Blackwell ground his teeth but drew back his hand. I got up unable to stand sitting there and not being able to cry. 

“I need to go outside for a minute.” I told, walking towards the door. 

“I’ll go with you.” Russell called to me. I shook my head, trying to keep my composer.

“No, I need to be alone. I won’t take long.” I opened the front door and walked outside, while closing the door the cold winter air hit my face and I finally let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding in. I walked off the porch and heard the snow crunch underneath me, before I knew it I just started to run, away from everything. From the house, from Russell, Blackwell and what he said about my parents. I ran into the trees and away from the prying eyes in the window staring after me. 

~~~~~~~

I ran and ran until the house was far behind me, I stopped and put my back up against a tree. I slid to the ground not caring about the snow and yelled as the tears started to fall. I screamed until my voice was horse and I couldn’t feel the tears falling. When I got a tingle through out my whole body, I stood up and started to shake. Not from the cold but from something else, I fell to the ground as pain rocked my whole body. My bones feeling as if they were being broken into multiple pieces and my muscles tearing. My vision went black, when I came to I was lower to the ground, my breathing was staggered and my body felt free. I looked down and saw paws where my hands were meant to be. I shook my body and felt fur around my ears, and my sight was not clouded by tears. I felt free and I wanted to run, so I ran and ran until I came to a stop by a creek that was frozen over but still reflective. I looked down and I saw myself, through the eyes of a wolf. My fur was red and my eyes were still hazel, I was still me but in wolf form. I arched my head and howled, letting out all the pain I was feeling and just letting the feeling of being free from human problems wash over me. 

I wasn’t fully human and I didn’t care. Who I was, is another part my parents had given me. Instead of being scared I embraced it, the wind carried a familiar scent to my nose. I turned and saw blue eyes staring at me, I ran towards the eyes love filling my heart as I saw it was Russell in his wolf form, sitting next to a tree. That’s when I heard his voice in my head. “This is how we speak to each other in this form Wist. Just think what you want to say and I can hear it.” 

“So this is me?” I asked him, sitting in front of him on my hunches.

“Yes, but however when you transform your clothes don’t follow.” He said with slight laughter in his voice. If a wolf could blush my face would have been beat red at that very moment. 

“So what do I do? When I transform back and how do I become human again?” 

“That is easy to answer. Blackwell is going to your house to get you a change of clothes from your mother. To transform back you just need to will yourself to be human again.” 

“Alright. Let’s head back. Run with me?” I asked Russell. 

“Gladly.” He told me, happily. So we ran, our hearts beating as one, ‘this must be what it feels like to be apart of a pack.’ I thought to myself. 

~~~~~~

We watched as Blackwell pulled up, but he wasn’t alone. When the passenger door opened I was happy to see my mother climbing out. Forgetting I was a wolf for a second and was just a daughter happy to see her mother, I ran to her. My paws thudded against the snow, my mother turned around and saw me. She gasped and jumped back a little, I stopped in my tracks. Forgetting I was in my wolf form, I slowly walked over to her. She put her hand out to touch my head, I put my head under her hand and she ruffled my fur. I pushed closer to her and she hugged me, wrapping her arms around me. “Hello my beautiful daughter. But I think it’s time you get changed and lets have a chat.” Blackwell gave her the bag he was carrying and we started to walk over to the shed. She opened the door for me and placed the bag on one of the shelves. “Get changed.” She closed the door behind her and I heard her footsteps fade away. It was quite easy changing back into a human because all I could think of was hugging my mom. When I could see my fingers and toes again, I grabbed the bag and opened it. Inside was a black bra, black boy shorts undies, a sweatshirt, black leggings and my hiking boots. After I was changed I opened the door and stepped out, Russell was patiently waiting by the door. I motioned for him to go in and closed it behind him. 

I was walking up to the house when I noticed I didn’t feel any cold at all. The wind was blowing but yet I didn’t feel the cold. Before I walked up the porch steps I heard my mother saying. “When are you going to tell her only an Alpha can be with an Alpha Benjamin?” I stopped in my tracks. ‘An Alpha with an Alpha?’ I quickly walked up the porch steps and opened the door. “What do you mean by that?!” I yelled. My mother jumped and turned around, looking away. “But I’m not an Alpha! Mr. Blackwell is!” Mr. Blackwell took a step towards me, I in turn took a step back. 

“You were born from two alphas. There for you are an alpha Wisteria. You are meant to be my mate.” He said, with a knowing look. 

“WHAT!?” I yelled in dismay.