Sinister Obsession

-1- A MOTHER'S DEVOTION

A mother's heart is her children. From the moment their eyes meet yours. All you see is their innocence and all you feel is a need to love and protect them uncoditionally.

My gaze scans the mural of my family, reminded of the blessing the Goddess Oya gave me, my babies. My life forever changed the day they came into being. For a moment longer, I stare at the memories hanging from the wall, remembering my life with all its events.

Amongst all these memories created. Only one picture draws my attention and is this one where my eyes settle. For it alone warms me deeply.

A rippling contentment flows through my human form. Estrella. "Do you remember how happy we were cary?" A simple picture. Taken while visiting my parents' farm in Puerto Rico. I smile from it. "Yes Estrella."  seeing the innocence of our naked little human cubs.

Standing in the large metal tin basin holding the water spewing hose and I smile. Joaqina took that picture, our cheeks pressed together, our smiles broad.

My human arms around my babies. Alejandro missing one his front upper teeth. Randall missing two on the bottom.  "They were so young, so innocent. Their broad grinning faces."

"Yes. " says my wilf companion "The sparkling light in their eyes almost hidden behind their dimples that show a gap from their missing teeth. My babies. Alejandro, Randy. You both have made me very proud. What she wulf mother would not? To have raised such wonderful cubs."

For a moment, mournful emotions threaten to overwhelm me, it's Estrella's doing. Her will alone possess the resolve to break my conviction, bringing me to tears, but she will not. She knows it will cause our babies to come. She is my yen and I her yan. Together, ours is a will of stone.

Controlling herself Estrella speaks "Oya says the time draws near my soul companion. We will prepare them. They must be ready. They must."

"Yes, my dear. They will be Estrella for we have raised them well. But will they understand and forgive us?"

"We were blessed to have our cubs, Cary. We have assured their destiny as they have ours. Raising them proudly on our own. We have given them all the love and guidance within our power, Cary."

I continue " Yes Estrella. We have been both mother and father to our cubs. Do you think they will betray such devotion?" Estrella's wulf tone is conviction uncondotional "They will see the reason. Have faith, my sister."

Her words of reassurance calm me. She is right. When the time comes, I will be ready. Thanks to Oya. She alone changed and filled within us, what would have otherwise been an empty, lonely life. Giving to me the most precious gift for every she-wulf's life; motherhood.

Rising off my bed, I turn to head towards my bedroom door. As one, Estrella and I repeat those foreboding words. Our visions are never wrong. Never far, resonating in our thoughts,

"A Guardians' light will fade. Yet another will shine. Darkness will be unleashed and only the key can stop it in time."

My boys. My gaze moves from the picture mounted at the heart of my mural. Anguish takes hold in my chest, building knowing what's coming. Soon, soon the moment will arrive and all debts will be paid. My babies will be safe.

I approach my bedroom door, grasping its knob, I push its handle downwards and open. Step out into the hallway, unlike in the past where I would enjoy its cool touch.

The fresh air-conditioned air within the mansion does nothing to me now. I remain deep in my thoughts. Soon. Soon, it will all be over and my boys will be safe. Forever.

Descending the winding steps in preparation to head towards the kitchen and aid Rosa with this morning's breakfast. I stop midway, turning my head to stare at the two adjacent bedroom doors. My cubs.

Estrella opens a portal before me, allowing me to peer simultaneously at our grown cubs asleep alongside their mates. Alejandro, under his covers, held like a wrapped burrito beneath the embrace of Reuben's leg and arm. Holding him pinned against my young Alpha's chest. Roving my gaze to the other, the sight causes a grin to appear.

With one leg across Robert's torso, an arm across his chest and his cocoa complexioned bald head buried in his neck. I feel pity for poor Robert. He is practically about to fall off the bed and buried under a human pillow.

My second son; Randall. Since a cub, Randall was a nightmarish bed mover. Often ending in an X fashion in the middle. His legs and feet pointing out width-wise. Gently I close the portal with a smile. Why had I thought having a mate would make Randall change his sleeping habits is beyond me.

I huff through my nose as I chuckle and turn around. To see Rosa standing at the bottom of the steps grinning at me. I hear Rosa. "Spying on the boys, Cary? Again." A giggle escaping her.

"Hermana (sister) you have always seen them as the cubs you're raised?" Her smile broadens. "You realize they have become grown wolves now? And our leaders NONE THE LESS" I can't help but chuckle at her comment of my cubs.

"Si (yes). My dearest Rosa, I will always see them as my babies." Continuing down the steps. "Poor Robert, Rosa. Randall had not changed his sleeping habits and Alejandro is wrapped up in his sky-blue cotton sheet like a burrito held in Reuben's arms." We both giggle.

Arriving at the bottom step and Rosa, who remained to wait for me. We place our arms around each other's waist heading to the kitchen. Rosa's next words shake my core. "Is it almost time?" her tone serious. Her concerned gaze looks to me searching. Meeting them, I see the water building in them.

We come to a stop, standing in front of the kitchen door. I turn to her "Yes Rosa, Estrella has told me of the goddess's instructions." As if I am seeing her for the first time, I notice the amount of gray in her hair. The bags under her eyes seemed darker somehow with her aura quivering.

Sign of the weariness she carries from our oath. For a moment I hug her "We made an oath all those years ago Rosa" releasing her I sigh "and WE completed it. They were to never know until the time arrived. I have..."

before I can continue the voice of a baritone powerful a senior Alpha interrupts us speaking "AND HERMANA (SISTER) YOU WILL CONTINUE." Rosa and I turn our heads, recognizing him. I nod. "Yes, Yonel. But the time for the truth..."

Again he cuts me off, "Excuse me Hermana Cary (Sister). I have always admired your strength. Since the day we forged our Alliance, you always carried the most of this oath."

his eyes become somber breaking our visual connection. "You also lost most of us all. You have protected us all Cary. You did what you had to. You have always been AND will continue to be.... MY... ALPHA."

On one knee Yonel kneels, followed by a second, female voice "As well, as MY ALPHA. My pack Hermana (sister)" Rosa. She repeats his gesture. Prostrating before me.

Returning their respect, I kneel to both as well "Our oath is complete. Our cubs have been safe, our silence will soon be lifted. I alone must bear the burden of truth I must now reveal, but I thank you both. For having been there. I love you both dearly."

A moist sting hits my closed eyes, my voice cracks slightly. Yonell immediately stands up and places a hand under my arm "Come my Alpha. Soon the rest of the pack will be here and it would be suspicious to them to see us this way." Smiling down at me, Yonell helps both Rosa and myself to stand.

"Besides, I need my coffee(Coffee) Luna isn't the only one who is malcreado sin cafe (ill-mannered without coffee)" Chuckling we enter the kitchen.