by Brent Miller
“I hunt monsters. My duty in life is to put a stop to the beasts which feed off the innocents in our world. The wolf that I saw in that room – it wasn’t a beast. It was a defender. So you see, Aldric, I have no desire to kill it.
“I know that you’ve become accustomed to running, but I also know the toll that takes on a family. Aside from that, even if that wolf isn’t inherently violent, every time you change in an unfamiliar place, there is a new risk.”
Aldric knew that Kieran wasn’t understanding the situation completely correctly. He could feel a certain level of violence within the beast when he changed. Just because he’d managed to curb it with his own human mind for a brief moment didn’t mean it wasn’t there. He chose not to share that fact, though, and remained silent instead. The two of them walked for a while longer before arriving at a very official-looking sign.
“I believe it to be not only in your best interest, but in that of the hunters and of society if you stay. I lead the hunters here, and I can assure you safety if you stay in this part of the woods. We have marked it very clearly, as you can see, and the local government will be notified of my decision to restrict this area. Humans who break these rules put themselves at risk, but as long as you stay in your part of the woods, I can grant you immunity.”
“Why?”
“As I said, Mr. Phoenix. I hunt monsters. I don’t believe you are one.”
“My pack,” Aldric pressed.
“Stay in your part of the woods. You and yours will not be bothered by me or mine,” Kieran offered once again. Extending his hand, he looked into Aldric’s eyes with confidence. Cautiously, Aldric searched Kieran’s face for any sign of dishonesty. There was the possibility that he was setting up an elaborate trap, but if he wanted to attack him, there were many more direct ways. Finally, Aldric reached forward and accepted Kieran’s hand, grasping just firmly enough to cause enough pain to remind the hunter of what would happen if he was betrayed.
“I accept your terms,” Aldric agreed with a shake of his hand.
Present
Twenty-Nine Days Until the Full Moon
Cailean
With the sun beating down on him through the canopy, Cailean struggled to open his eyes. Blinded even by the few rays which filtered through the leaves, he groggily raised an arm to cover his eyes. Every muscle in his body felt heavy as Cailean tried to sit up, so he allowed himself another moment of rest. Cailean extended his arm toward the sky, examining it for any remaining side of the wolf. Spreading his fingers apart, he turned his palm toward himself. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary, and there was no sign of what had happened the previous night. All that assured him of its validity was his memory.
Feeling a breeze pick up, Cailean realized that he was completely naked lying on the dirt. Embarrassed, despite the lack of any human presence around him, he turned his head as he looked for his clothes. He was in an unfamiliar part of the woods, though, so he had no idea how he would find his way back to the river.
Suddenly, the light of the sun was extinguished from above him, relieving him of the necessity to squint. As Cailean’s eyes widened, his field of view expanded. After realizing what had provided the shade, though, Cailean would have preferred the light.
Silently, Cailean’s father dropped a pair of shorts next to him. Crossing his arms, he turned to face the other direction. Cailean struggled to his feet, fighting off the stiffness of his muscles. As he stood, he quickly felt the symptoms of fatigue begin to fade. His muscles became re-accustomed to movement in their human form and the weariness dissipated. Quickly, Cailean pulled the shorts up, grateful that his father was able to find them.
His mind raced as Cailean searched for the proper explanation to give to his father, but no words presented themselves. Confusing thoughts polluted his mind as he tried to gather his feelings. While he was excited to finally have had his first transformation, the circumstances were far from ideal. He felt horrible for what had happened to Brooke, but he was also terrified of his father and the punishment he’d receive for disregarding his direct order. In spite of that, Cailean felt a strange sense of power that he never had before.
The silence bore down on him as his father continued to stand with his back to Cailean. In the early hours of the morning, the songs of the threshes and mockingbirds melded with the clicks of cicadas to form a soothing melody. It took the music in the otherwise stillness of the woods around him to awaken him to the dissonance which had defined the last few weeks. Even with the looming fear of the conversation with his father, Cailean was able to appreciate the momentary respite.
Cailean glanced toward his father again, but the man remained silent, an immovable stone statue before him. When he tried to speak, the words caught in his throat. Instead, he remained silent, trying to find his own peace in the serenity.
Finally, Aldric began to move. Without words, and without a glance to verify that Cailean followed, he walked forward, moving toward what Cailean assumed to be the edge of the woods. Cailean could feel the fire burning from his father, so he carefully kept a safe distance as he followed after him. Aldric didn’t break from his long, powerful strides, so Cailean struggled to keep up without breaking into a jog.
“Father,” Cailean finally whispered, working up the courage to break the silence. Aldric stopped so suddenly that Cailean plowed into his back. Aldric didn’t budge from the impact, but Cailean stumbled backward. He watched as his father’s shoulders heaved a few times with deep breaths. Slowly, he turned to face his son. Betraying his anger, his eyes glowed with a light flame. His face, though, was not twisted into a scowl, but rather thinly concealed pain.
“Yes?” Aldric asked. Cailean found himself more taken aback by the forced soft tone in his father’s voice than he would have been by an explosion of anger.
“I… I swear I didn’t know.”
“Did you try? I asked you about the signs,” he retorted – disappointment dripping from his words.
“I was embarrassed,” Cailean defended.
“Of what, exactly?”
“I didn’t know what I was feeling. I just…”
“You thought it was Brooke?”
“I guess so.”
“When did I tell you the change would begin, boy?”
“When… When I reached puberty.”
“Your feelings are confusing. I know. But those feelings were your warning. The earsplitting sounds, the powerful scents, the fits of emotion. You didn’t talk to me.”
“I’m sorry,” Cailean stammered.
“No. Apologies are useless now. You disobeyed me. You failed to heed my orders and your actions have consequences.”
“I’m sorry,” Cailean repeated.
“Don’t apologize to me. It isn’t my life you’ve selfishly ruined.”
❖ ❖ ❖
Brooke’s front door appeared far larger to Cailean than he would have expected. Becoming the embodiment of his fear and pain, it grew in his mind into an impenetrable obstacle. The wooden door loomed over him, and as he raised his fist to knock, it seemed to angrily and judgmentally stand above him.
Cailean’s hand froze inches in front of the door. He had begged his father to allow him to face her alone – it was his responsibility and his alone. After reaching her home, though, he had very quickly grown to regret that decision. It was becoming increasingly apparent that his father’s unspoken judgement was correct – Cailean was not by any means mature enough to own up to his own mistakes. It wasn’t something as trivial as saying the wrong thing or forgetting a date. Cailean had put her very life at stake and ended up dramatically altering it.
A few hours had passed, but his father hadn’t cooled down much at all. They hadn’t discussed the previous night to any useful extent. Cailean’s father had continually pushed off the conversation until Brooke was there. He insisted that every affected party should be together. Cailean was confident that it was merely an excuse to grant himself more time to cool off before discussing Cai
lean’s disobedience and utter failure. If that was the reason, though, Cailean appreciated it. Although the wait for the conversation and the punishment which would result was overwhelming, he was grateful that it gave him a couple hours of peace.
Unable to work up the resolve to actually knock, Cailean just fell forward onto the door. His closed fist collided first, followed by his forehead. Resting his head and fist on the door, he closed his eyes and waited for a response. After a few seconds, no sound erupted from the other side of the door, and Cailean dropped his hand, already feeling defeated. Then quiet footsteps radiated from the other side of the barrier and Cailean straightened himself up, standing before the door.
Brooke opened it slowly, meeting his eyes as she did. Averting his gaze, Cailean dropped his eyes to the ground and avoided her glance. Though he had already been through the conversation a dozen times in his head, Cailean couldn’t find the proper words to begin his apology.
“Cailean,” Brooke slowly started. Her tone had a completely unfamiliar tone buried within. Because it was something he had never associated with her, it took him a moment to recognize it as fear.
“What’s happening?”
“It’s… hard to explain,” he stuttered.
“Well, you can try,” she retorted, choking up. Cailean sniffled quietly, fighting back the tears welling up in his eyes. For him, lycanthropy was an exciting gift. He’d been so excited to be like his father. Despite his feelings, though, it wasn’t something he wanted to force upon someone else – especially after he realized how painful the transformation was. As he tried to compose himself, Cailean nodded and finally looked up at her.
The water in her eyes reflected the light from the sun, shining brightly at him. She blinked, forcing away the tears and covering up her overwhelmed concern with a determined look. Cailean wondered how long she had been awake, because she was already wearing a t-shirt with a pair of jeans. She typically wore shorts, so the sight was confusing to Cailean at first. Cailean listened closely, but he couldn’t hear her heart beating. He barely even noticed the footsteps as another person approached.
“Who is it, honey?” Mrs. Cassidy asked as she approached the door. When neither of them responded, she stepped into view and smiled down at Cailean. “Oh, hi Cailean.”
“Hello, Mrs. Cassidy,” he greeted, trying to paste on a charming smile. Though he was confident that he had failed miserably, she didn’t acknowledge that fact.
“Mom, can I go for a walk with Cailean?”
“You are more than welcome to come inside,” Mrs. Cassidy offered.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Cailean replied, unsure of how to proceed.
“It’s just really nice out,” Brooke interjected.
“Okay, well whatever you prefer,” Brooke’s mother shrugged as she turned and walked back into the house. Brooke nodded her head forward and Cailean backed up. Following him, she closed the door behind her and sighed heavily.
Silently, Cailean started walking down the street, careful to stand next to the road to allow Brooke to walk on the inside. They walked slowly along the pavement, both of them waiting for the other to speak first. At the end of the road, Cailean turned to the right. Just around the corner, she finally grabbed his arm and pulled him to a stop.
“Cailean,” she stammered. “I thought I had a really weird dream when I woke up this morning. I dreamed that we were swimming and you… you turned into a wolf.”
“Brooke…”
“No, wait,” she interrupted. Silently, he nodded his acceptance. Standing in front of him, Brooke unbuttoned her pants as she recalled her dream. Cailean worked hard on focusing on her eyes as he heard the zipper fall.
“You scratched me. We were playing and the little wolf got too excited, I guess. Then some guy showed up and yelled at me to go home. It was such a weird dream, Cailean, but when I looked at my leg, I had this.”
She dropped her pants, revealing her thighs. Torn, Cailean turned his glance toward the scar on her thigh. The healed scar tissue appeared as though it was from a wound inflicted years ago – not something which had been pouring blood the previous night. Cailean’s guilt as he looked at the scar was actually enough to distract him from the fact that he was basically staring at her in her underwear.
“I don’t understand, Cailean,” she continued. “I mean, even if that wasn’t a dream, how is it closed up already? How is it not bleeding? That should have needed stitches.”
“Brooke,” Cailean took his turn to interrupt her, placing his hand on her shoulder as she spoke faster. Her muttering slowed to a stop as she released the one hand which held her pants, allowing them to fall. Instinctively, Cailean reached his free hand out to catch them. Breathing heavily, she looked eagerly to him for answers. With a sigh, Cailean began pulling her pants back up until she took over.
“I’m a werewolf,” he told her bluntly. Cailean saw no point in sugarcoating the truth, especially after everything she had been through.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous or not, it’s the truth.”
“How is it healed?”
“Brooke… I’m so sorry,” Cailean muttered.
“For what?” She asked, anger creeping into her voice as she raised the volume.
“No one should have this forced upon them. But you did. I shouldn’t have gone out with you. I swear I didn’t think I would transform. It was the first time, but I didn’t think it would be so soon.”
“What?”
“We don’t transform until we reach puberty. I didn’t think I was… old enough for that… I guess?”
“I… Okay?”
“When I scratched you, Brooke, I gave you whatever it is I have. You’re like me, now.”
“Then why didn’t I transform?”
“It takes a little longer than that,” Cailean laughed sadly. “That’s why your wound healed, though.”
“I don’t get it,” Brooke told him, breaking down and sobbing quietly. Cailean realized that he was not doing a good job introducing the topic. For him, it was something he’d heard since childhood. Brooke was learning of the existence of lycanthropes and all of the ways that affected a person as well as her new identity as one. It was a lot for her to take in, but he didn’t have an established way to break the news to her.
“I’m sorry,” Cailean sighed. “I’ll try to start over.”
❖ ❖ ❖
Cailean sat with his parents and Brooke in his living room. It was far from the circumstances in which he’d imagined her meeting his parents. Cailean and Brooke sat next to each other on one couch and Cailean’s parents were on the other. Resting his head in his hands, Cailean didn’t bother hiding the shame he felt for his mistake. Brooke sat with her hands intertwined and resting between her legs, which clasped them tightly as she sat hunched forward. Cailean’s mom looked sympathetic and pensive, sitting back with one leg over the other and her hands folded in her lap. His father was tall and powerful – his posture far better than anyone else in the room. Still, his concern was as easily distinguishable as anyone else’s in the room.
Cailean had already introduced everyone and awkward greetings had been exchanged. He had explained to his parents everything which he had informed Brooke. After failing to explain anything properly, he had insisted that she obtain the information from someone with far more expertise than himself.
“Brooke,” Aldric opened slowly. Cailean had never heard such a lack of confidence in his father’s voice, and he wondered what could possibly have driven him to that point. Judging by his tone, Cailean expected him to continue. However, the single word hung in the air for almost a full minute with no continuation.
“Yes?” She asked, confused as she clearly shared Cailean’s interpretation.
“Have you ever…. Have you…. Started?”
“What?”
“Really?” Linda laughed sadly. “Weren’t you a doctor for years?”
“Well, this is a strikingly different situation,
” Aldric defended, annoyed.
“I know it’s awkward, honey,” Linda spoke up. “But trust me when I tell you it’s important. Have you had your first period yet?”
“I… What?” She asked, startled by the question. She looked to either side, clearly dumbfounded by the invasion of privacy from complete strangers. Cailean placed a hand on her thigh. To his surprise, she freed her hands and placed one of them over his, closing her fingers around his tightly before taking a deep breath to respond. “No, I haven’t.”
“Okay, so you have time before you really have to worry about any of this,” Linda comforted.
“Why?” She asked.
“Well, you see, a werewolf’s first change doesn’t occur until after puberty. For young women, starting your cycle is a clear indicator of that,” Aldric jumped in – apparently shedding any sense of awkwardness surrounding the topic since it had been brought up.
“Oh, okay,” she whispered. Silence fell within the room again until she finally added, “Will it hurt?”
“Yes,” Aldric answered earnestly.
“Oh.”
“It’s brief, though,” Linda tried to console her. “Then you fall asleep.”
“What?” Cailean asked.
“What she means is that the human part falls asleep, basically. The wolf takes control for a night, but you won’t remember any of it. It’s a burden, but it’s only one night a month,” Aldric tried to explain.
“What do you mean you don’t remember?” Cailean asked.
“Ah, yes,” Aldric muttered, opening his eyes wide and leaning back. “I’m sorry, son. I had forgotten. It’s been quite a while since my first change.”
“What?” Cailean repeated.
“You remember the first time, you see,” he explained. “The wolf is still young, and it doesn’t have the power to take complete control. It seizes control of your body but it isn’t quite able to completely overtake the mind yet. After the first time, though, that stops being a problem.”
