LIAM: I AWOKE THE NEXT MORNING SUDDENLY AT ABOUT 6:00 AM TO THE SOUND OF TALKING COMING FROM MY LIVING ROOM.
For a second, a brief, blissful second, I had forgotten all that happened last night. Maybe it was all a dream, I thought. Reality did as it does, though, and came crashing back down when I fully awoke, remembering all that had happened.
My first order of business upon waking up was to go check on Pete, I can worry about how fast I fell asleep later. I quickly walked down the hall and into his room, the door still open after I left it last night. He was still sleeping away, which wasn’t too surprising, thankfully. He could sleep like a tank when he put his mind to it. At least he wasn’t sweating profusely anymore, though he didn’t look well by any means yet.
I left him like that, going into the living room to find Briar on the phone yet again.
“Family emergency. No, I’m sorry I can’t get into it. You tell the sub my notes are in the folder with yesterday’s date. Bye now.” He hung up.
“Good morning.” He smiled when he looked away from his phone, like he was happy to see me.
“Morning.” I still hadn’t fixed my hair from its tangle it was in, and suddenly felt a little self-conscious. “I didn’t mean to sleep so much.” I confessed.
“I told you, you needed the rest.” He laughed.
“What, could you tell with your super wolf senses?” I was joking, but he responded seriously.
“Sorta, yeah.”
“Can you detect lies like in the books and movies?” I sat down at the counter, interested now.
“Some can, not me. It takes a more powerful wolf to be able to pick that out.”
“That’s so interesting. Can your alpha?”
“She can, so you better be on your best behavior when she visits.” He winked with a grin.
“I’ll try to keep in check.” I laughed, then stood back up. “Do you want breakfast?”
“If you don’t mind.”
“As long as you’re not about to eat six raw steaks on my coffee table there then I’m happy.”
It was Briar’s turn to laugh now.
“You read a lot of paranormal romances, don’t you?” He asked.
Guilty, I didn’t respond, just shrugged with a grin in place before I got distracted cooking. Once again lost in thought, I started thinking about more than Briar’s existence as a werewolf, specifically, Pete’s condition. It’s true he was looking better than yesterday, but… was now really the time to be flirting? I scolded myself under my breath for being so careless.
If he heard, he didn’t say anything. Just accepted the food I brought him with a patient smile. I noticed as I moved to sit myself down that the cups from yesterday were gone. Nor were they in the sink. He must have washed them while I slept. I also noticed the lack of blankets on the couch, so either he didn’t sleep or he already put it away. I put my money on the former.
“So… when is that doctor coming?” I asked after taking a sip of my coffee.
“She’ll be here in about an hour.”
“That early?” I couldn’t contain my surprise.
“Well, I did tell her it was an emergency. She lives about 40 minutes away, so give or take some time for her to get ready and everything.”
“Remind me to thank her when she gets here, I feel awful waking her up and making her drive so far.”
“If it helps, she’s happy to help, especially with the kids.”
“Are there kids in your pack?” I noticed the wording.
“Sure are. Some are Pete’s age, even. A couple of younger ones too.”
“So you can be born a werewolf, then.” I confirmed. He nodded.
“I was. My mother is human, though, so I didn’t manifest the wolf till my early teens.”
“That’s fascinating. I’m sorry, I hope you don’t mind my questions.”
“Not at all. I want you to know these things.” He forgave me quickly, unbothered by my curiosity. “Of course, that being said, it’s important that you understand no one can know about this.”
“Of course, I figured as much. Secret werewolf society and everything.”
“Hah, something like that, yeah.” He nodded.
We continued talking as the minutes ticked by. Soon enough, before I was ready, there came a knocking on the door.
“That’ll be them.” Briar said, standing. I quickly remembered my disheveled state, and shoved my hair into the loosest ponytail I could manage with my tangled hair while Briar went to answer the door.
“Clarice, Sadie. Thanks for coming, he’s this way.”
Briar showed the pair to Pete’s room, like he lived here. I couldn’t help but take a back seat and let the others lead the way. I followed them into Pete’s room, hovering near the door but staying standing while the doctor knelt down to take a look at Pete’s bandaging.
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She studied it closely, and I noticed with an anxious breath as Pete shifted uncomfortably in his sleep.
Then she leaned down further, holding the wound up to her face, then she leaned away, holding her face uncomfortably near Pete’s neck.
“What’s she doing?” I couldn’t help but ask, anxiety spiking at the utter silence as the doctor worked.
Sadie paused, and turned half towards me.
“I understand your anxiety, but maybe mom can wait outside?” She asked in as polite of a tone as she could muster, accent thick. Sadie was a short, round young woman with glasses perched at the apex of her nose. She was of Asian descent, and her accent reflected that. I wondered if she was Vietnamese.
I didn’t bother correcting her.
“C’mon, Liam. Let’s wait for her in the hallway.” Briar offered gently, coercing me with soft hands to leave the room with him. He didn’t make me wait alone, staying by my side, and thankfully answering my question.
“She was inspecting his scent.” He began. “To see if he smelled of sickness, or rejection.”
“Rejection?” I asked.
“Some people’s blood can’t handle the change to become a werewolf. Their body rebels, white blood cells attack the changed blood cells and the immune system shuts down, essentially.”
“Fun.” I swallowed dryly.
“It’s usually genetic. If someone else in your family were a werewolf we’d have a better idea of which way this would go, but… well, we can’t always be lucky.” He shrugged.
“Hey, if I knew anyone in my family was a werewolf, I’d let you know.” I offered, half jokingly.
Briar didn’t have any time to respond, as Sadie reappeared shortly after.
“No need. I already know the answer.” She inserted herself in the conversation. I latched onto it quickly.
“You do?! What’s the prognosis, will he make it?”
“Your boy is fine, I see no sign of rejection. In fact, he seems to be taking it well. I’d say give him another day of rest after today, and he’ll be good as new. Better, even.”
Relief washed over me, thank god, my Pete will be okay.
“What about his temperament?” the other woman, Clarice, suddenly asked.
“Well, that I can’t tell you. You’ll have to keep an eye on him.”
The pair left the bedroom fully, and I finally took stock of Clarice. She was also short, about my height but not as short as Sadie. She was blonde and wore firetruck red lipstick that matched her ruby necklace and otherwise black attire. I was expecting someone large and imposing, but with the way she carried herself, I could see her carrying the title of alpha. She looked like she could be really, really mean, if she wanted to.
The four of us traveled into the living room where I suddenly felt like I was lacking somehow.
“Um… you can feel free to make yourself at home… Would you like tea?” I asked with caution.
“No, thank you.” Clarice turned around to face me, and it's like all the air was sucked out of the room as she fixed me with a critical eye. “So. How much about werewolves have you been told?”
“Um…” I peeped. “Just the basics, I think?”
She nodded, thinking. “And you haven’t told anyone?”
I shook my head quickly. “No. No one. Not even Pete.”
She nodded again, “Good. I take it you won't, in the future, either?”
“Nope, never.” I confirmed, trying to resist shrinking back. It suddenly dawned on me, she probably could smell my fear, if that’s really a thing they can do.
She smiled suddenly. “Good. I’ve got to go check if our temporary hunters are doing their jobs.” She announced, turning to the rest of the group. “Sadie, you coming?”
“Yes sir, I am.” She smiled back, and fixed me with a quick reassuring grin and a thumbs up before she left.
“Briar, I want you to stay here and monitor the boy. If he gets aggressive, you know what to do.”
Briar nodded, soberly.
“Good. And you, find him something to eat. He’s going to be very, very hungry when he wakes up.” She turned to me one last time.
“Yes ma’—sir.” I nodded.
Clarice gave a half chuckle, I could see the amusement settle in her chest before she turned and mouthed something to Briar, before finally leaving.
Left in relative silence once more, I felt like I could finally breathe again.
“She likes you.” Briar suddenly told him.
“Why?!” I barked. “I was a mess just then!”
Briar laughed. “You amused her, that’s enough.”
I watched him laugh, amusement washing over me in turn. I shook my head to dismiss the grin which threatened to grace my lips. This was serious, I’m being serious.
“What happens if Pete is… Aggressive?” I chose my words carefully.
Briar lost the smile, and sighed. I felt bad ruining his mood, but I needed to know.
“You don’t wanna worry about that, right now.”
“I’m his parent. I need to know.” I disagreed. I wanted to be present in this, no more secrets.
Briar sighed again. “It depends on if he can be talked down or not.”
“If he can’t?”
“He’ll have to die.”
“What?!” I reeled back in shock.
“I didn’t want to tell you for this reason, please, don’t run. Let me explain.”
My heart raced. This was too sudden, too real. I know I asked, but, what could have prepared me for that?
“If he’s feral, he won't be able to control the shift, worse, he becomes no more than a wild wolf with added anger and power to boot. He becomes a danger to everyone around him, including himself. He would either die from humans or kill them first. There’s no alternative, unless you’d rather keep him in a cage.” He explained, the barest hint of a glare at the last part wasn’t lost on me.
“No! I don’t want him in a cage! I don’t want him to die either, though!”
“Then you have to hope with me that he won’t be feral!”
“How soon could we tell?”
“Soon. If he recognizes you, then we know he can be talked down.”
“Oh…” I tried to regain my breath. “What are the chances he’s feral?”
“Small. I know this kid, he’s good, and kind. You do too. Have some faith in him, he needs it right now.” His voice became soft.
“Of course I…” I took a deep breath, held it, then let it go. “I’m not going to freak out again. I just… I was shocked, there’s really nothing that can be done?”
“We’ve been trying for centuries to find a way.” He frowned.
“I see.” I swallowed thickly. “Okay. Faith. I know my Pete would never hurt me.”
“Good, hold onto that faith. He deserves it.” Briar breathed, it seemed like he was just as freaked out by the concept.
“Right.”
“What time does Pete usually wake up for school?”
“School! Work!” I gasped, I had completely forgotten about that. I quickly scrambled to find my phone, calling both Peter and myself out of work and school due to a family emergency.
Briar hovered near the doorway to my room, where I’d called them. He seemed reluctant to enter, like it would embarrass him. I didn’t push him.
“So… Clarice said something about Petey being hungry.” I began, walking closer to Briar until he was close enough to touch. I didn’t resist the urge to do so, ghosting the tips of my fingers over the front of his shirt.
“Wanna help me make pancakes?”
“Pancakes?!” He scoffed, grinning. “Thought you’d never ask.”