Forests And Wolves

Alicia

It was Felix's 5th birthday, my little son was five years old now, I still remember the day, when he was born, I have great regrets that I couldn't save his mother if I had he wouldn't have to bear the weight of being an "adopted " child, oh how will I ever tell him, but that meant I would no longer be his Ma. I love him as dear as if he was mine. And he is such a beautiful child. I can't imagine I was gonna leave him after spending a week with him in the hospital. When he was better, I was gonna leave him in the orphanage, but as soon as I gave him to the sister, away from me he started crying. And I just didn't have the heart to leave him there. Maybe it was the guilt of his mother's death or maybe the fact that he and I had both gotten attached. He is my wonderful son. To work with a child is a great headache. My parents and I grew distant as they opposed the idea of me ruining my life with a child so early on. But they nonetheless like Felix and are always there for him. Everyone left after the party all our friends, and my parents. 

My little angel spoke "Mama, where is dad? Why doesn't he come to us? I am a good boy. still, he doesn't want to see me?" 

I almost teared up at my half-asleep son murmuring,  "I don't know " I say as I kiss his forehead, I head to the living room, to clean up, and when I come back, I find a little wolf cub on my son's bed. "Felix?" I look for him, "Felix?" Where is my son? I check the bathroom, the kitchen, the wardrobe, my bedroom, and the balcony, only to find the wolf cub wagging his tail behind me. I can't seem to understand where my son is and who and where this cub came from. I sat on the sofa crying and hurriedly calling the police, when the wolf cub, now whimpering, rolled on the sofa and there it was my son. I could not believe my eyes. "Mama, why are you crying? Okay, I won't do it again, don't cry" he says as he kisses my cheek. 

That night I realized my son was no human, he was a werewolf. I spent the next week researching wolves and werewolves as much as I could. I couldn't find something evident or something solid proof to explain what I just saw, I needed answers. I had to find out about his mother and father. I searched for documents our adoption certificate and the lady's death certificate to find out her name was Melissa, I later came to know she was an American photography student when she came to town, but never left because she liked it there and started seeing a guy. I asked her friends classmates and peers and nothing seemed out of the ordinary about her. So I asked them about her boyfriend, and they knew nothing of him, just that he was a local. I got the name Gregor, from a friend but she said she wasn't sure since it has been 7 years. 

I had to know, so I packed my bags and left for the forest town. I searched all the hospital documents since I had access to them, and found, that Melissa was admitted to the hospital for a day for a minor head injury and a ankle fracture. She was then discharged, the signature was by Gregor Wolfshire. I searched the hospital records and found his birth certificate dating back to 1995. I still wasn't satisfied, I was nowhere near any conclusion,  the people of the town have always been very distant towards outsiders, as they refer us, for some reason, the only things I have left are the city archives and public records. Felix immediately was excited knowing we were going to a forest town. How can such a cute child be a werewolf?? 

I had been driving for the last 7 hours, we had stopped to eat once. All this stress and these questions have been taking a toll on me. But still, there isn't one percent of me who regrets adopting Felix. No matter what he is. He is MY son. As soon as I reached the town I booked a room in the hotel, I changed Felix's clothes as well as mine, took a bath and left for the archives building. I have been here for 5 years, the infrastructure looks better, the people look a lot friendlier, and the town has changed somehow. I hold my little son's hand and take him along with me. I scan through the documents and ask a few people around, while Felix looks over various children's books, he likes reading. He is so smart, He can read and understand 5 sentences at once too. I am so proud of him.

I find a file on the Wolfshire family, I see they have always been a prominent figure for the people of the town. Gregor Wolfshire, died a week before Melissa. How? Why? Gregor died of an animal attack. God! Oh, found dead at sight. His brother discovered him. Brother? Vulk Wolfshire.  Vulk Wolfshire attends a Russian conference for the preservation of wolves and wildlife. The dates don't match up. It says that the conference was extended 2 days later after Gregor's death. Did he leave the conference early? What's going on?

"Ma, it's dad" what? I think as I look up where Felix is pointing his fingers. He runs to the men standing at the end of the hall, looking at us. I recognize one, that's Vulk Wolfshire, Gregor's younger brother. Felix hugs his knees and looks up to him. I walk quickly to stop him, not wanting to shout in the library, he pushes my knees and I stumble in his hold. Felix satisfied hugs us again. As I free myself and get my feet back. As soon I step back, I feel the darkness around me, my headaches and I don't remember anything after. 

I open my eyes to find myself on a hospital bed. I hear  people talking "She has been asking about your brother"

"Since when?"

"Morning, I checked with the hotel, she checked in the morning, and reached the archives hall as soon as it opened."

"The child is a wolf, a hybrid"

"Yes, smells like one, the healer is checking him. Did you know?" 

"No, I also need a DNA test done."

" I already asked the healer. What are you going to do about the girl? The child calls him mother and is very possessive towards her too." 

"They do have a strong bond, the child is a lupus alpha. But I don't know what to do with her my wolf, my wolf-"

"What?"

"Nothing." 

healer? child? dna? GOD, where is my son? 

"what are you doing here, alpha, she is awake." this was a third voice.

the door opens and a man enters, I immediately recognize him as Vulk Wolfshire

"How are you feeling now?"

"where is my son?"

"he is with a doctor." He says with his harsh deep voice.

"What! No! no, I need to get to him-" I say as I get up from my bed, the sudden action, brings the shooting pain in my head back. I stop in my steps for a second, and he holds my hands, to comfort me. I shake them away. "No, he can't-"

"shh, he is fine, don't worry." He now places in hands on my waist and pulls me closer.

"no, you don't, you don't understand-"I try to free from his hold and move towards the door

"I do, I do." He pulls me even closer, and I feel his breath on my forehead. I calm down somehow. I feel like he knows exactly what I was trying to say. "He is fine here. You don't have to worry." He says even more softly. his words bring tears to my eyes. These past weeks have been a blur, I have been so stressed, it isn't a disease, right? I have never seen a disease like this. Is my child cursed? or possessed? No, it can't be. Is he a werewolf? do they even exist? did I imagine it all?

"How can I not worry for him? He is my son." I say. 

"do you trust me?" He asks. I don't think a lot, I don't know from where or why I say immediately;

"Yes," He raises his brows, his eyes showing that he is as shocked as I am at my words. The rest of his face is relaxed, I can look at his features clearly, he is very handsome. He has very dark raven hair and dark eyes. I feel a very strong sting on my neck. As I realize he injected me with something, my eyes go wide, my mind thinking of the worst-case scenario. I resist him now, but holds me very firmly. I slowly lose unconsciousness as I say "Felix-"