The Crying Wolf Chronicles: Forbidden (Book 1)

The Surprise

The Surprise

Mother was standing in the doorway. Her eyes were beet red and fluffy. Her face was as chalky as a vampire's. The air caught in her throat. She didn't speak, but she was staring at me. Air caught in my throat too. I couldn't speak.

Mother sat next to father silently and held on to his hand. I know what she must be feeling. She's feeling that I've betrayed her. Humans and werewolves do not belong together, but Jayce and I are the perfect example of changing that.

Father kissed mother's head and turned to me. "Stephie, we have to talk about this as a family." He paused, then turned to mother. "Would you be willing to listen, my love?"

Mother still didn't speak. She just shrugged.

"Good." Father began. "Janet, our daughter has something she wants to share with you."

Mother took a deep breath. Deep down inside, she knew what I was about to say. But she spoke up before I had the chance to.

"Stephanie, why? Why him? You couldn't have chosen any other male on this Earth? You couldn't have chosen another werewolf? You chose him? A human?"

"Mother, I understand that you dislike him-"

She rose her hand. "I do not dislike him. I dislike the idea of you being with him."

"What's the difference? Either way, you are saying that I shouldn't be with him."

"Stephanie, you need to understand that this boy is not good for you. How are you maintaining your composure around him?"

"I've been trying to tell you that, Mother. I'm not a danger to him, and he's not a danger to me. He is good for me. I love him, Mother."

"You do not know what love is, my dear."

My mouth dropped. How could she say I don't know what love is? If I didn't know what love was, I wouldn't be capable of loving my family.

"Mother, I do know what love is. I love him and it is not bad that I have a relationship with him. He loves me, mother. No matter what you think about him or me, I will not leave him because of you. I have finally found someone that wants to be with me. I would give my life for him and he would do the same for me. I want you to meet him. He's here. He's a really good person."

Again, she didn't respond. Silence again. What is with her? As Colleen would say, "What's stuck up her ass?" She isn't even willing to listen or even consider that I have feelings toward Jayce.

Jayce was sitting, stiffened next to Uncle David. He took my hand and followed me into the kitchen.

His heart was jumping in my ears. I could hardly hear my own thoughts.

The kitchen seemed like a black hole in the pit of hell. An infinite darkness. The only sound I could hear was the loud jumping of his heartbeat.

Mother sat staring at Jayce. Her firey hazel eyes were burning a gaping hole through his icy baby blues. Her jaw was flexing. She didn't look like the mother I knew. She looked like the raging animal that was inside her.

"Mom," I swallowed hard. "this is Jayce."

"Pleased to meet you." Jayce managed to say under a cracked voice.

"Likewise." she said. Her voice was as dry as a dying forest.

Silence.

"Tell us about yourself, son." father spoke.

"Well," Jayce began "I'm twenty-three years old, I was born and raised in Illinois. My father and mother live here in Joliet. I'm an only child-" He paused.