John walks to the window overlooking the campgrounds. Outside, the air is still. The moon is tilted to the east, casting its hazy glow on the sleepy camp. In the distance, the empty training fields stretch as puffs of silver fog rises from the wet earth to mingle in the air.

He turns, his hands tied behind his back.

“Your grandfather was a werewolf, Danny. Not just any werewolf, but one that belonged to an impeccable bloodline of the First Wolves. He was strong, powerful, and charismatic. In this part of the Appalachian Mountains, he was known as a fearsome warrior. The fifteen years he ruled this pack, it prospered the most. Out of the seven wolf packs on the Northen Americas, Silver Shadows was the most powerful one.”

“Silver Shadows?” I ask curiously.

“Yes, Silver Shadows.” John brims with pride. “That is how we are known. We are the warriors of the Moon Goddess; we protect, preserve, and persevere. It’s one of the most ancient packs helmed by Alphas from an unbroken line of the First Wolves, of which Rey Hayworth-Armstrong was the last.”

My smile falters. John purses his lips.

“It was almost fifty years ago. Rey was thirty-four, and the pack was getting restless for a Luna. Many moons came and went, but Rey’s mate was nowhere on the horizon. Finally, the pack elders decided for Rey to have a chosen mate.”

“Chosen mate?”

“Yes. Like an arranged marriage in human terms to get the line going.”

Oh. Right!

“And was grandpa fine with it?”

“Rey did not have a choice, neither did he mind. The girl selected by the elders was the best option. He knew Annalisse from her childhood, and she had loved him nearly all her life. It was as good as it could get."

But fate has other plans, I sigh, thinking.

John gives me a look. “One day, while on a business trip to LA, Rey met Adele. It was an instant connection, what you call love at first sight. In our language, he had found his mate.”

“But… grandma was an ordinary human. Is it possible to have such a connection between a werewolf and a human?”

“Apparently yes. Everyone was shocked. Annalisse was heartbroken and Phyllis was beside herself. Their father Rick Wallace, who was also the Beta at the time, was furious with humiliation.”

“Phyllis? You mean your wife?” I ask with surprise.

“Yes. Annalisse was Phyllis’s elder sister. Phyllis hated that her sister was short-changed like this. She has never been able to forgive Rey for it.”

This was something I would never have imagined - Phyllis holding a grudge against grandpa. That could be the reason she hates us being here. All that talk of hierarchy and rules–it must have stemmed from this insult.

“Anyway. Rey was head over the heels. The pack was upset, but no one said anything, as it was Rey’s future at stake. For any alpha, the mate-bond is very important. The stronger the male, the more is his dependence on the bond, especially once it’s established and acknowledged by both sides. In the case of Rey and Adele, it was a whirlwind romance of intense passion.”

I can imagine that. Whirlwind romances with intense passion were what grandma was famous for. But if this was a mate bond... Did she not feel it the same way as he did? Do humans feel the mate bond same as wolves?

“Apparently not,” John says with a wry smile. “That was the thing with Adele. She had this cold, ruthless streak. Although human, she was a formidable woman, very wilful and headstrong. Some would say they were a perfect match. Others might think it was a recipe for disaster.”

“And you were in the second group.”

“I had my misgivings but did not want to sour Rey’s happiness.” John shrugs. “Those were the happiest days of his life. He was over the moon, literally. Two months later, they married in a secret ceremony. I was there to witness it. It was a moment of absolute happiness for Rey. Adele was happy too, as if it was another thing ticked off her adventure list.”

Oh… I do not know what to say. It feels like I know where this is going.

“So why did they part?”

“For the most obvious reason–that Rey was a werewolf. Because Adele did not want to be associated with a werewolf.” John’s face hardens. “When she came to know, she was absolutely horrified. Disgusted. She was angry at being cheated like this and wanted nothing to do with him. It broke Rey’s heart.”

I feel my eyes pricking.

“It was a doomed match right from the beginning, the mate bond notwithstanding. Rey could not spend his life away from his pack and Adele refused to give up her glittering career for him. It was a foregone conclusion.” John sighs, scratching his stubble as a weariness washes over him.

“They married in the Spring of 1979 and broke up in the Autumn of the same year. Rey came home heartbroken. Adele never announced her marriage. All anyone ever knew was that it was just another shady romance with some rich bloke. She came out of it unscathed and lived her life as if nothing happened. It was Rey who suffered. Rey who paid the price, and Annalisse and the pack after his death.”

“But…what about Mother? What happened when she was born?”

John shrugged. “Nothing changed when Selene came. Adele did not need a name for her child’s father and Rey was not strong enough by then to claim his child. He became a shadow of his former self. He died in the winter of the following year.”

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Time ticks by as I sit there, staring at my hands. The sadness of the story gnaws at my heart. I wish I was there to console him. To hug him and soothe his soul. Who better than I know how it feels to be despised by Adele Winters. It rips the heart open. It impales your very soul.

John clears his throat, passing me a glass of water.

“It was a long time ago. Rey died in a fight when Phyllis’s father challenged him. By then, he was too weak to defend his Alpha status. Phyllis’s father won, but I was too angry to let it pass by. I killed him to avenge Rey, and that’s how I became Alpha.”

He falls silent, looking at me with keen eyes. I do not know what to say. A picture forms in my mind of a proud man fighting for his right to the last breath. In the end he is defeated by his own desires. By his very own people.

We sit quietly as silent moments tick by. The air becomes chill, announcing an approaching dawn. John gets up from his chair.

“So you see, there is nothing to worry about Olivia. You both have the blood of the First Wolves. You should be able to weather any storm if it comes to that.”

“Do you think…Olly will turn?” I ask, holding my breath.

John looks unsure. “That, I cannot say, Danny. You are a generation removed from your wolf ancestor. It makes you only a quarter wolf. We cannot say yet if Olivia will turn or what the consequence will be. That is why I said the other day we must wait and watch. And in the meantime, you also must train. Prepare yourself for the future, unless you want to leave.”

Leave?

“Is that our choice?" I chew my lips. "Phyllis said she doesn’t want us to stay…”

“What Phyllis says does not matter.” His face is decisive. “Phyllis has her own reasons, but that does not mean you have to obey her, Danny. As Rey’s granddaughters, you and Olivia belong to this pack. It’s your choice and no one else’s. Whatever the two of you decide, you’ll have my full support.”

I can’t tell him how grateful I am. It’s a burden off my feeble chest and a rock-solid promise to hold on to.

He smiles and walks to a nearby dresser to pull out a picture.

“Here, I give you Rey Hayworth-Armstrong, the Alpha of Silver Shadows, as he was at twenty-five years before he even met Adele. I must say you take your colouring from him.”

I come back to my room with a little picture of grandpa and a smile on my face. It’s a small black and white snap from his youth, with a mop of dark hair and twinkling dark eyes. He looks so happy in it. So absolutely joyous and full of life.

I keep it safe in my sketchbook and close my eyes. Tonight, I want to dream a new wolf dream. A dream with Rey Hayward-Armstrong in it, with his glorious sunny smile. But when I close my eyes, I succumb to another–one with a hulking beast taking on rogues, one with a wolf caring for a sick girl, healing her tenderly.

*****

It’s late morning. I have overslept. My body is rested, and my heart is calm. My brain still ponders over John’s words, recalling and reminiscing every detail. It’s nice to know finally where I belong, where my roots stretch to and where I can pull my succour from.

I take a quick shower and come out when there is a knock on the door. It’s Gabe.

“Gabe! Why are you here? You should be resting. You are hurt!”

“I am and fit and fine, as you can see,” he smiles, holding up his hands to me. They are unmarked. Yesterday’s scratches, wounds are gone. His face too looks flawless, except for a little tiredness in his eyes.

“Oh, don’t be so surprised, Danny. It’s a werewolf thing. We can heal ourselves.”

“And...the lash on your back?”

He shrugs. “That will take some time, but I believe in Arome. I’ll barely have a mark once he’s done his magic.”

I sigh, smiling. It’s nice to see him back to himself, which means Adam would be too.

“I wanted to see how you are Danny,” Gabe's face turns serious. “I was worried. Yesterday’s revelations must have come as a shock. And I… wasn’t that great at fighting. I failed to protect you.”

“Don’t be silly!” I exclaim, stupefied. “You were wonderful, both you and Adam, so brave and courageous. And it was not much of a shock really, both I and Olly had kind of already guessed it. Yes, it was a bit unexpected when those rouges suddenly surrounded us, but that was my fault. I led us all into the trap. I am sorry.”

“Nonsense! That was not your fault.” He smiles, looking relieved.

I wet my lips. “Is there any news about... the troupes? Do you know when they would be back?”

“Nothing yet.” He shakes his head as his smile fades. “These sorts of things take time, and Adam takes his job too seriously. But I am sure they will be back soon.”

I exhale when a footstep echoes in the corridor. It's Olly. She looks pale, yet almost back to herself. Her face fades when her eyes land on Gabe.

“Olivia! Nice to see you back to yourself again.” Gabe straightens up, looking at Olly. “I am happy to see you back to normal so soon. I must say it’s quite a feat.”

Olly pulls her lips in a thin smile and mutters a ‘thanks’. Gabe nods and leaves us with a ‘see ya down at breakfast.’

Olly walks in and I shut the door to dry my wet hair. She sits on the bed, watching me.

“I think he is interested in you.”

“What…Who?” I am busy untangling a knot.

“Gabe, of course.” she says. "I think Gabe is interested in you."

“Don’t be silly, Olly! He is just being friendly.”

“He is not that friendly to me. It is I who is hurt, yet he only came to check on you. It shows.”

“Well, maybe he was going to check on you after me, but since you met here…”

“No, he wasn’t. I know men better than you.”

“Oh, please Olly!" I roll my eyes. "Don’t read too much into things. Gabe is just being nice. And I have so much to tell you.”

I sit next to her and start recounting what John said the last night. It feels surreal to describe such a poignant story. My heart aches again with grandpa’s pain.

Yet, by the end of it, I am happy. Olly is quiet. I can’t get her expression.

“So you see?" I grab her hand to shake her out of her gloom. "That’s why Granny avoided any mention of grandpa. She was petrified of the paranormal. Maybe she saw him transforming and decided that was not for her.”

“I see.”

“And that’s why John says we don’t have to worry about your wound. For normal humans, the bite can prove fatal but since you already are part-wolf, you have nothing to worry. Even if you turn, you are not at risk, as you are already strong enough.”

I wait for her reaction, but none comes. I must say I am disappointed.

“Olly, are you not happy?”

“I am, but I don’t understand why you are happy, Danny. After all, none of this applies to you.”

Her face is calm. I frown.

“What do you mean? We both are descended from wolves, Olly. We both have grandpa’s genes.”

“But that’s the point, Danny.” Her eyes turn hard as she gazes at me. “Even if you are, nothing changes. Ever heard of a wolf with a weak heart? You won’t survive a day. So make sure you stay off Gabe and Adam, as it will only lead to more heartbreak.”

I don’t think I heard her right. I gawk at her stupidly. Her eyes are hard, condescending. I somehow get a glimpse of Grandma.

What did she mean, exactly?

“Oh, don’t pretend you don’t understand, Danny." Olly sneers. "I was watching you yesterday, though you never spared me a glance. You were transfixed on Adam, and Gabe was transfixed on you. How do you think we got hurt? Gabe got distracted when you’d not spare him a glance. He called you but you were too busy to listen. That’s when Edna’s whip caught him. And that left me exposed to another rogue who took a bite of me. It was all your fault, Danny. Your stupidity for which I and Gabe have to suffer.”

I stare at her dumbly, not understanding how to defend myself. It does seem like my fault. Olly is hurt, Gabe is hurt, Adam is in mortal danger because of me. The troupes are gone behind the rogues, leaving the camp vulnerable to attack, and all this is because I decided to be over smart and visit the crash-site.

I sit dumbstruck. Olly gets up from the bed imperiously.

“So see? Already you have caused enough trouble. Now please just stay quiet and do as you are told. And as I said, stay away from the men as you won’t survive it. A weak heart is not to be taken lightly, Danny. A simple lesson in biology will spoil your math. Remember, you are a liability around here. Behave yourself and don’t cause any more trouble.”

***** *****