Hybrid

Put it in Bark

I cleared my voice, standing before the crowd, "I'm sorry for how sudden this was. There's just something that you need to know."

The wolves listened intently as I spoke and it made me uncomfortable. I was in no position to be leading anyone. I could barely remember what day it was, let alone save a race from extinction.

"You're going to be mad at me and that's fine, but I'm bringing Maria in as a pack consultant."

The crowd roared expectantly. I crossed my arms and wait until they settled.

"She will have no power over you. I make the decisions, I just want some extra input. As well as Maria, I will have a panel of people helping me make decisions. I've already chosen who, so don't get your hopes up."

I read names off a list I created as Maria wheeled herself next to the table I was sitting at. I tried to ignore her. The wolves I named off came up and sat at the table with me.

"Now, the reason we're here. Maria decided to wage war on the hunters," I announced.

The wolves looked like they were going to rip her head off at any minute.

"How could you attack your own family?" One wolf called out in a snarky tone.

Maria found their eyes and spoke sincerely, "They are not my family. My family is in this room, I just didn't recognize it until now."

A ruckus began again. Voices echoed over the walls and amplified the noise.

"Shut up. All of you," Maria demanded. "You're a bunch of hypocrites I hope you know that."

Obviously she only pissed them off further. One stood from their seat and pointed a finger in her direction.

"Sit down," I growled. "You can be as angry as you want, but you will not threaten or harm her in any way."

Maria's big doe eyes looked at me and then back at the wolf.

"Jerry, I found you after you'd broken a man's arm in an argument. If I hadn't shown up, you would've killed him," Maria said calmly.

She looked over the room, "Lisa, you murdered all of your coworkers after they surprised you for your birthday. John, you couldn't figure out how to shift back and you were suck in wolf-mode for weeks. Ben, the hunters took your arm and nearly ended your life."

The room was silent, listening intently to Maria.

"Who was always there to save your ass? Who cleaned up the mess you made? Who was it that held your hand when you were afraid of who you were?"

Guilty eyes peered at the ground under their feet.

"I spent years of my life trying to protect all of you, to take care of all of you, and the one time I do something for myself I'm treated like I've got the plague. I made a mistake, one, and you weren't there for me like I was for you. I have no reason to be ashamed, but you do."

No one breathed. They all internalized what she was saying, realizing how wrong they'd been.

"So you're back?" Jason asked.

"I am," Maria smiled kindly at the boy.

"For how long?"

Maria's smile fell. Her fingernail scratched at the armrest of the wheelchair. The wolf I put in charge of Jason rest their hand on his shoulder. Her eyes lifted from the floor and she plastered a fake smile on her face.

"For the rest of my life," Maria answered.

The wolves seemed to know what this meant. They could smell just as well as I could the decay that lingered on Maria's skin.