Eisenhut

Chapter 5

He led me to the front of the crowd and I could see about 100 glowing eyes watching me like hawks. I gulped and stared at the ground, sheepishly, until a middle aged man stepped forwards slowly to greet me. I made eye contact awkwardly and he sighed, "you look just like your mother,". I scowled, confused and took a step back. Were these people trying to mock me? "Julia," his voice was very low and husky and I had a feeling he was the alpha male, the leader of the pack. "My name is Denis Kistner and I am in charge-"

    "Kistner?" I repeated, in disbelief. The name rang a bell, but I couldn't quite remember where I had heard the unique name before.

    "That's right," he smiled, warmly, almost giving me time to think.

"I know that name," I paused for a second.

"Of course you do!" he chuckled, "it was your mother's maiden name. Tanja was my big sister, meaning you're my niece, Julia,"

"Denis... Oh my goodness, she used to talk about you. I remember," suddenly an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia filled me, as I looked back on the times I spent with my mother. In that split second, I knew I could trust these people. They were actually my family.

    "This is your home now, Julia," a friendly face woman stepped forwards to join Denis, "when we heard about you on the news, we couldn't imagine how scared and confused you felt,"

"Irina is right, Julia. Everyone has eagerly been preparing for your arrival, we've wanted you back in our pack ever since you left," Denis added, putting his arm around Irina, assumingly his wife. "Our daughter, Claudia will show you to your room in our cabin, where there's new clothes for you. Then we will all be around the campfire for supper. You're welcome to join us,"

I struggled to believe how welcoming and friendly these so-called "werewolves" were, in comparison to myself. It was as if they had accepted themselves and each other and had made a stable home for everyone. I was almost annoyed at them all for not finding me sooner and taking me to their sanctuary all these years ago, where I could have had a stress free, family life. Where were they when my parents died? Why didn't they help me, if they knew what I was?

Claudia, who on that day had become my cousin, puzzled me. She looked so prim and proper and well-kept that I found it hard to wrap my head around the fact she could turn into this wild animal, like me. She was my total opposite: she was quite obviously younger than me, but I noticed she was wearing makeup, which I found extraordinary due to the fact she lived in a forest. Claudia looked identical to her mother Irina, as they shared the same long shimmering blonde hair and glistening aquamarine eyes that would be abnormal to a normal human.

Despite the perception I had of her, being a typical spoilt snob like the people at my school, she was very pleasant and happy to show me to my room.

    I probably seemed timid to her as I only spoke when she asked me direct questions. I followed her to the largest cabin of them all, right by the cliff drop with the most land. I was astounded at the fact that these luxurious living spaces were built with minimalistic supplies and they still had fresh water and electricity in the middle of nowhere.

    I assumed my uncle got the best cabin to live in because of his leader status.

The house was mainly stationed on the first floor, where the Kistners slept too. Claudia, however, led me up a small flight of stairs to reveal an attic converted into an apartment-like living space for me. She explained that when a werewolf finds a mate, they are legible for a cabin of their own, but due to my unusual situation and the fact that I had no family in the camp, Denis agreed for me to have a floor to myself.

    I felt as if I was being treated like royalty. These people barely knew me but because of my parents, they treated me like part of their family.

"We weren't able to buy you some new clothes, so all the females in the pack have chipped in and donated their old garments to you," Claudia said, as I stared into the open wardrobe in awe, "if nothing fits, just tell us,"

    I gazed around my floor in amazement. My walls were covered with the most stunning earthy-green wallpaper, nicer than any coloured room I had ever had, and it complimented the authentic wooden floor perfectly. I even had my own handmade king size bed and some of the older female in the pack had created elegant emerald drapes for my windows. "I'll leave you to shower and clean up," Claudia beamed at me, "like dad said, we'll be around the campfire for supper and you're welcome to join us.

She turned her back to leave, but I stopped her before she did so, "I am so overwhelmed," I whispered. I could suddenly feel my eyes begin to water, "Thank you,"

    Claudia smiled, "you're part of our pack - our family now,"