Heart of the Wolf

Chapter 11 - The Reunion

When Owen and Cana reached the hospital, Hanley insisted the doctor tended to their scratches and bruises. Owen stood guard over her, and she was thankful. After everything she had just gone through, she just wanted to relax and breathe.

After a few hours, they assured them that Christian was healing fine. The doctors had immediately become interested in him when they had first started to monitor him, but Hanley quickly put a stop to it and brought in his own doctors. He didn't want the public to get wind of their kind, or what had happened.

" At least it all turned out okay." Owen whispered to her where they sat watching over Christian.

They had been told he would wake soon, and she wanted to be here when he did. She just hoped he didn't reject him after what she did to him. He had to understand, Owen had reassured her, but she ignored his words.

" Almost everything." She added, watching him sleep.

" Hey." Owen said, moving the shoulder her head was resting on. It forced her attention back to him.

" He is your uncle. He will understand and I bet it won't even bother him. He will be too excited to finally meet his niece." Owen teased and she smiled in hope.

" We will take care of him and teach him what he needs to know about being one of us." Owen added and she let out a relieved sigh as she snuggled closer to him.

" Sleep. I will wake you when he stirs." Owen added and she closed her eyes.

She was tired from changing so much and from the fight. She was just thankful that all those years as a wolf made both her wolf and herself good fighters. It had probably saved them all today, since Owen was still not completely in tune with is new wolf body.

" Cana." Owen's voice woke her, and she immediately jerked awake.

Did something happen with Christian? He had better be alright. She didn't go through all that, just to end up losing him now. He and Owen were all she had. Nothing could happen to either of them or she would hunt down those responsible to the ends of the Earth.

Her eyes shot open with vengeance until her eyes found Christian awake and smiling at her from his bed. Her aggression immediately melted as she took him in and assured herself that he was truly alright.

She started at him in silence as she registered the rise and fall of his chest. His smile was gentle and immediately brought tears to her eyes. It reminded her of what she imagined a proud fathers look would look like. It was probably the closest she would ever have, but that was okay. At least with Christian, she still had a part of dad.

" Please come here and finally let me hug you. I had always dreamed of finding you, but never thought I would." He said as he held out his arms and she went to him. His arms immediately went around her, and happy tears rolled down her cheeks in response. This was the closest that she could remember that she had ever come to a fathers embrace.

" I'm sorry it took me so long to show myself. I was afraid." She admitted for the first time and another smile found its way onto Owen's face at her words.

" Shh." He soothed her and more tears threatened to spill at the tenderness of his voice.

" With what you went through, I can't blame you." He added and she held him tighter. Both were crying as they held each other. Owen considered leaving as to not interrupt them but after a few minutes, they parted.

" I told him what happened while you slept." Owen admitted and a small sliver of anger rose inside her.

She had wanted to know his reaction and gage it for herself. That was probably why Owen had done it though, she reasoned. He had wanted to know Christian's reaction and protect her from it if he took it bad.

" Owen told me your parents left something for you?" Christian immediately asked. He was probably hoping for a piece of dad to hold onto, she reasoned.

" Mom and dad left me their notes on the virus, mom's necklace and the files on all their research." She paused as she likely considered how much to say in a public place like this.

" Mom and dad traveled after finding the virus in the wolves. They found evidence that the virus wasn't in just the wolves. Many other creatures had been infected and mom and dad suspected that there might be others like us, but different from us." She admitted and both Owen's and Christian's eyes widened at the possibilities and implications of what that meant.

" I will let you both read their notes, but you have to promise that you won't tell anyone else what is in them." Her mom and dad had discovered many things in their travels.

Their abilities were just a tip of the ice burg. It made her wish mom and dad were here to help her through what would inevitably come. She knew they were with her in spirit though. They had given their lives to protect her that night and she could only hope that she had made the proud in return.

At least from now on, she would no longer be alone. Whatever came, she knew that her new family would help her through it and together they would face whatever came their way. After all that was the true meaning of family, of a pack. Love each other unconditionally and always be there for each other.