by Karen Ruth
“Why would he want me anyway?” I asked Lucas.
“As you know he has always craved power. By marrying you it will give him extraordinary power. By marrying a female wolf in which not all of us can do, during the ceremony we are granted a power.”
“How do we acquire such power? Are you meaning to tell me there is magic in this world?” I questioned him completely shocked. He laughed at me.
“I’m taking it you never knew that magic is actually quite real and not made up.”
“Uhh, no, I didn’t know that.” I simply said stunned by the news that I got.
“Of course, magic is real. There aren’t too many wizards out there though. Most are on our side. Anyway, during a wedding ceremony a couple receives a “Gift” he said in air quotes. “The gift being a certain power. Depending on whether or not you are in a pack determines one or the other said power.”
“What do you mean by that?” I questioned him.
“Hmm let’s say that you were to marry Seth. You two don’t belong in the same pack together so your power would be to hear each other thoughts as we can already naturally do. Now say that you were to marry hmm let’s just say, Reed.” This caused me to laugh cutting him off making him smile. “If you and Reed were to get married your power would be to feel each other’s pain both physically and mentally. This makes it so they will always know whether you are in danger or not.”
“Wow, they actually just give you these abilities when you get married? What about those that marry humans?” I asked him.
“They don’t receive anything. In fact, it’s not really looked highly upon to marry someone human.”
“Is it because you’re not supposed to tell humans that there are werewolves?” I questioned him.
“Who told you that?” he asked me. “Oh wait, never mind, I am quite sure that I know who. Even though it can be dangerous, you are allowed to tell those who you believe you need to. That I mean by those such as family whose lives are affected by it. I must warn you, Nina, it can be very dangerous. With the knowledge, some may become scared of the world. Some may even want to be bitten to turn themselves into one. You may also face them telling others which could result in the hunt for yours and their death. If word gets out that werewolves exist, there are people who will come and find you.” Lucas told me with a warning tone in his voice, his golden eyes flashing. “But in this case, involving your own family, I recommend that you tell them. Otherwise, they may find out the hard way. We will try our best in the castle to make sure that they don’t see our wolves but it would make it much easier on all of us if they knew.”
“Don’t worry, I plan on telling them. I always wanted to, but Seth would always threaten me if I asked him. He said that I was a baby and needed to give up on my family. I was too weak for wanting them in my life.”
“You must always keep your family in your life Nina, they depend on you. I can also tell that they are the most important thing in your life, am I correct?” Lucas asked me.
“Of course, I would risk my own life to save theirs.” And I really would, that I was certain of.
“I have no doubts from you.” Lucas simply said.
Lucas got off the bed and said, “speaking of which I’ll be right back.” He made his way into my bathroom. I remained on the bed curious about what he was going to do. He came back with a first-aid kit. “Since your family doesn’t know about you yet and your rapid healing it may be beneficial to apply a bandage.” Without saying anything he opened up a large square bandage and ever so gently applied it to my wound. His fingers grazed my pale skin as we looked into the eyes of each other. His golden eyes sparkled in the sunlight. A cold shiver radiated throughout my body. Once he finished applying the bandage, he cleared his throat making me shake my head to think clearly again.
“Thank you,” I said to him.
“No problem,” his voice responded as he began walking to the fireplace.
“Were you cold?” He asked me confused as to why I would have a fire built when it was in fact not cold outside, whatsoever.
“No, sorry. I just couldn’t help myself.” He turned around to face me.
“You don’t have to apologize Nina. This is your house you can do as you please.”
“Thank you,” I said bowing my head to him showing my gratitude. “So, what is the book about?” I questioned him still intrigued that he would bring it.
“Ahh this,” he said pointing to the book. “I thought that you would enjoy it. It tells you somethings about our world in which I thought you would want to know.”
“OOH!” I squealed as I jumped off the bed and snatched it from his hands.
He laughed at me and said, “I swear you never have patience.”
I stuck my tongue out at him. He deserved it. It just made him laugh harder saying,
“Are you sure you’re not like five?” He asked.
“Mentally or physically?” I asked before climbing back in bed this time laying under the blankets.
“Well, are you going to join me?” I asked him when he just stood there by the fire. “Come on I need someone to be my translator.” I patted the spot next to me in bed.
“Hmm very well,” he said climbing into the bed.
“Now was that so hard?” I asked him.
He just smiled at me and said “maybe.”
“Yeah right,” I said back to him.
Slowly I opened the book, my heart pounding so loud that my ears could pick it up.
“Nervous are we?” Lucas asked.
He obviously heard it as well.
“Of course, there is so much I’ve been dying to know.”
As I opened the book I saw pictures of something that looked like a war.
“What’s this?” I asked him.
The war looked terrifying. Blood was all over the floor with dead werewolves littering the entire place.
“It was before we had royalty to settle every issue that arose. It was a long time ago, all the way back in the 1800s.”
“Wow,” I said amazed. “What was it all about and what happened.”
“Werewolves all over fought for power. Every alpha thought that they should be the ultimate ruler of all. This is every alpha challenging others for dominance, bringing their packs into bloodshed along with them. Long story short that is how we developed the royal courts of all the countries.”
“Wait,” I questioned. “There is more than one royal court?”
“Of course Nina. Each country has its own. My family is just the American pack. There are others for packs for places such as Russia, China, India, who have royalty. Just like they have their own forms of government in the human world. We of course have a president, while Britain has a royal family.”
I didn’t say a word just stared at the picture that brought chills to my entire body. Some were in human form others in werewolf. There was an image of a human with a dead werewolf in his bare hands. It brought chills to my body.
“How did they resolve the issue? How did they figure out to go with royalty?” I asked him.
“That is where the females come into play. They were heartbroken losing all their pack members. Back then they didn’t fight alongside them and they still hardly do today. Only the strongest of the females fight in today’s world. Anyway, back then a group of them got together and discussed the issue. Long story short they came up with the Royalty to fix it.
“How did they figure out who would be picked to become royal?” I questioned him more.
“Easy, they let the females decide. Each female out of the group picked one to be the leader of the country. Since it was a female who decided on this, the argument ceased. Even back then they were still cherished.”
“What if somebody doesn’t think a royal can fulfill their duty today? Is there nothing that can be done about it?” I asked him.
“Ahh and that is where the fighting comes back into play. If someone doesn’t believe that we are strong enough to be the leader of our country,
they can challenge us to a duel. If we win we keep our position but if we lose, we don’t. It can be quite a dangerous match, which is why I have been taught how to fight ever since I was born. I’m sure you have seen my father’s scar on his face. That was from someone challenging him. He did take a hit but he won in the end.”
“Have you ever been challenged?” I asked Lucas my face full of concern.
“Yes, and you have met him.”
“Seth?” I asked him not wanting to believe what I was saying.
“Yes.” He simply replied.
“That is what you were referring to when you asked him if he remembered what happened last time isn’t it?”
I questioned him. He simply shook his head.
“I’m so sorry Lucas. It must be hard to live a life where any minute of the day someone can challenge you to a match.”
He simply nodded his head and said, “Most respect us but there will always be a few.”
I looked straight at him. His eyes shown sadness and hurt. “Are you ok?” I asked him.
He tried to give me a small smile but it didn’t work. “I’m ok Nina.” He said to me.
“No, you’re not,” I said back to him.
We just kept looking into each other’s eyes not saying a word. Suddenly my door flew open and Catherine was there. I jumped up from my laying position, falling off my new bed and onto the hardwood flooring. My heart was pounding. I crawled off the floor and said, “Jesus Cath, knock first, will you? You just about gave me a heart attack.”
“Why were you doing something you aren’t supposed to do?” She questioned me.
“Like what?” I asked her.
“Oh, you know what.”
I looked over to Lucas who simply got off the bed and said in a calm manner. “Hello, Catherine. Nice to finally get the opportunity to meet you.” He took out his hand from his pocket gave her a gentle shake.
“Thank you for saving us earlier. It means a lot to me. Without you, I could be dead. We have been telling Nina for ages that her little mafia is dangerous and she should avoid them.” She said as she looked around Lucas and straight to me.
I put my head down in disappointment.
“That they are.” He simply said back to her.
“You’re really tall and muscular. Also, you’re quite hot.” Cath said to him. Winking her eyes towards me.
“Cath!” I yelled at her my face heating up in embarrassment.
Lucas laughed at her and said, “Thank you.”
With that, she turned around and left the room.
“Sorry about that.” I quickly apologized. “My sister can be a little nosey at times.”
“It’s no big deal.” He replied back to me.
“I had a brother, I know how they get at times.”
“Had?” I asked him.
His eyes shown sadness once more and he said, “I’ll tell you some other time, ok Nina?”
“Of course,” I responded.
“No hurries. I won’t be offended if you can’t tell me. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
And with that, he nodded his head at me and said, “I better go make sure the pack is alright.”
With that, he turned around and left the room. I could read from his face that whatever happened to his brother still hurt him to this day. I felt so bad for him, it made my heartache in sympathy.
I followed Lucas out to the front. He turned around and said, “Stay safe dear sweet Nina.”
He then opened the door and left. Before I knew it, my sister was beside me with a huge grin on her face.
“So, how long have you known him?” Cath prompted with a huge grin on her face.
“Who? Lucas? Not very long why?” I asked her.
“No reason,” She said before she skipped away back into the kitchen.
Well, that was weird I thought to myself before following her in there.
“What you doing?” I asked her as I saw her opening the cupboard doors.
“About to make supper. There is so much food in here I don’t even know what to make.”
“Here let me see,” I said as I gently pushed her to the side.
She was right, there really was a whole bunch of food ranging from different brands of cereals in the cupboard to steak in the refrigerator.
“How about we just settle for some spaghetti?”
“Hmm,” She said thinking. “Sounds good to me. I’m sure mother will like it as well.”
“Speaking of mother, where is she?” I asked Catherine.
“I think she fell asleep in her room. We should go check on her after supper is ready.”
“Yeah, we really should.”
And with that, we began to make supper together. Catherine started to boil the water for the noodle as I started to get the sauce and meatballs prepared.
Once the supper was done being made, my sister and I both went to check up on our mother. We knocked on the door and we heard no response.
“Mother?” I spoke through the door as I opened it.
I looked around the room not spotting her. It was then that I realized that she was asleep on her bed. Catherine gently walked over to her and gave her a small shake. She slowly awoke.
“Mother, supper is ready.”
“Oh, thank you, Catherine.” She said to her.
“You are very welcome, Nina made it as well.”
“Thank you, Nina.” She said to me.
“You’re welcome,” I said in response giving her a small nod of the head. “Now come eat mother. Then you need to rest you aren’t looking very well today. Is something wrong?” I asked, worried about her.
Her face seemed paler than usual and her eyes seemed a little more sunken in. Maybe she was just having one of her off days. That would explain what happened earlier when we were running in the woods.
We all walked back to the dining room table. I grabbed some plates and silver wear, while Cath grabbed the cups. My mother sat at the table with a blank expression on her face. My sister and I both looked at each other in concern. We had no idea what was wrong with her. Possibly she was petrified from the incident that happened earlier. I set the items I was carrying down at the table in each of our spots. Catherine did the same with the glasses she held. Then we both walked, grabbed the spaghetti, and dished it on each of our plates. When I put it on my mother’s plate she muttered “thank you,” very quietly still staring at the table.
“You’re welcome, mother,” I replied back to her.
I sat down at the table and the same with my sister. We then began to eat.
“It’s really delicious Catherine. You really are an amazing cook.” I told her.
“You helped too, I didn’t do all the work.” Her eyes sparkled with the compliment I gave her.
“Please, all I did was put the sauce in a pan and stirred for you. You added all the herbs and everything. Without you, my spaghetti would taste very bland. For that I thank you.”
“Well, you are very welcome.” She answered back to me. Nobody talked for a few minutes until Catherine decided to break the silence.
“Hey, Nina?” She asked me.
“Yes, Cath?” I questioned back to her.
“Do you like Lucas?”
This caused me to choke on my spaghetti.
“Catherine, I just met him! How do you expect me to like him?” I asked her.
“Hmm just seemed like you do.”
That was all she said as I gave her a puzzling look as to why she would believe such a thing.
Being around my family brought me happiness that only they could fulfill. I truly loved them and I couldn’t imagine life without them. Even if my mom is a little crazy, I still love her the way she is. Thinking of this made me think about what I learned today. How it wasn’t illegal to tell my family members about us. There were dangers involved with it though that could have some serious consequences. We all could be killed for the information that I tell them, but if I don’t, they could be killed for their innocen
ce. Debating on the pros and cons I decided that now was time to tell them. They deserved to know. I just hope that my mom will be able to handle the news. I know that Cath will be afraid but she can handle it. Who knows, maybe she will even think it’s kind of cool.
“Hey, guys?” I asked them both.
“Yes?” They answered simultaneously.
“I need to show and tell you something after dinner. Is that ok?” I asked them.
“Of course.” My mom said while Cath asked, “Like what?”
I responded by “You will have to wait and see. It is something that I have been meaning to tell you for a few months now.”
“Very well,” she replied. “Could you help me with the dishes beforehand?” she asked me.
“Of course I will. There isn’t any way I would leave you with so many things to do. You aren’t our housemaid.” I smiled at her as I responded.
“You know in a place as fancy as this I’m surprised we don’t have one.”
“Shh! Don’t give them any ideas. They probably will give us one and we won’t have any free time to ourselves.” We looked at each other and just laughed.
After we finished washing the dishes, Catherine and my mom followed me into the living room. Their backs were towards the door while I was facing them. I took a pause, just staring at them not having any idea on what to say.
“It’s ok Nina, whatever you have to say we can handle it I promise.”
I gave out a small laugh. “If only it were that easy Catherine. The world is much different than what you think. A lot scarier than what you think in fact.” I exhaled closing my eyes. “Ok, this is how I’m going to do this. I want you guys to turn around and face the door. Give me about two minutes before you turn back around. I won’t say anything I just want you to know that when you turn around I will still be here. I might need Lucas here to help with this I don’t really know.
“Why won’t you just tell me when you’re ready and why would you need him?” Catherine asked me.
“Just trust me ok?” She gave me a puzzled look. “Ok?” She said.
