SYNCHRONICITY (The Lone Wolf)

35

Sebastian was still in the beginning phases of laying the groundwork for Matus Enterprises with the funds that he had invested on Topher's father's advice; he saved for over a year before he made his first purchases. They lived simply, he and James...in a one bedroom flat in the heart of Soho in London, eating lots of take out and going through a thousand liters of milk and tons of teething biscuits for James and Guinness for him. Sebastian enjoyed two successful windfalls and hired the Massey's financial advisor full time.

He'd taken his son to his parents' home in Colorado and they threw a major powwow for the boy. James's first birthday was literally a three ring circus. The circus wasn't the usual lions, tigers and bears, but horses, dogs and trained birds of prey. Little James stared from his father's lap with pure awe in his eyes as he stared at the animals.

When Sebastian's massive elderly wolf-hybrid dog shyly approached them for the first time at James' party, Sebastian was reminded of a memory of Alison meeting Wolf for the first time...had there been a second or third time? He wasn't certain. Sebastian was worried that his little arms would flail and that he'd squee with happiness, but he remained relatively still as if somehow, he understood. The large dog sniffed at James, then Sebastian as he held on to the small child, holding him close. The massive animal licked at the baby's face causing him to giggle finally. James pointed at the dog, now wiggling on his back before them.

"Woof."

Sebastian brought his child closer and kissed the top of his dark brown hair. "Yes, sort of."

Then he poked at his father's cheek. "Woof."

Sebastian's eyes met with his own father's eyes and George shook his head and smiled. "Not now."

Sebastian chuckled, "oh, definitely not!"

The bonfire burned well into the night and he could hear his canine brother's calling out to him. He looked into James' little peaceful-looking face as he re-secured the swaddling around him. He handed him off to his mother and he stepped out toward the fire as the Elders looked on and transformed into Wolf. He stretched and shook his massive body then approached his mother and son.

"Jamie," she cooed. "Wake up Darling...someone wants to see you..."

James' eyes fluttered open and his face crumbled immediately, having realized that he was no longer in his father's arms. Wolf stood up a little straighter as he approached. He nudged his muzzle at James' swaddling and James ceased his fussing and stared at the even larger canine standing before him. James poked out his tiny arms from the swaddling blanket and reached for the Lone Wolf.

"Daddy," he whined.

Wolf stared toward the boy for a moment, then turned his head when the lonely, haunting howls of the wolf pack surrounded them...they were too close for his liking...Wolf returned his gaze to his boy and when he reached out his tiny arms toward him with more insistence, he materialized into his human form and took James into his arms and the boy laid his head on Sebastian's shoulder.

The Elders nodded their approval.

_____

Three years later, Sebastian decided to move just west of Colorado Springs to Manitou Springs having accidentally taken a wrong turn and coming across the quaint little city. He thought that the energy there felt amazing and quite healing...just what the Doctor ordered. He found a three bedroom apartment that was situated over a tavern quickly and set up shop. By the time James was two years old, he took in a troubled teenager who was waiting tables down stairs named Meg and she fell in love with baby James instantly.

While driving his beat up Ford truck learning the lay of the land, he had gotten himself lost up in the hills. The streets were a series of one-way avenues lined with row homes of various shapes, sizes and colors, reminding him a little bit of San Fransisco. He passed by the same old run down Victorian house for the third time and he parked the truck and got out. On the wrought iron fencing, he saw a rusted For Sale sign. The energy was strong on the property and he looked around and seeing no one, he opened the creaky gate and crossed the threshold onto the property.