Chapter 2

After soaking in the shower that seemed like forever, I knew I would have to face reality. I had to go out and see the way others had looked at me. I had hosted the Goddess and kept it from everyone. I was ordinary now. Slipping on some jeans and a shirt I reached down into the kitchen to find Ryn sitting there. Now that is a face I’d rather see. “Hey Mommy, are you feeling better?” I nodded my head making my way over to her. She wrapped her arms around me while I lifted her into my arms. “I love you, you know?” Her tiny head nodded against my body. “Want to go for a walk with me?” Once again she nodded against me. I released her from my hold and placed her on her feet while we headed for the front door. I knew she was too young to shift so we settled for a walk. I mean my legs need it. I just needed time with her. She has been so close with her dad that she never wants to be around me. But it’s like when I woke up things had changed. There was no longer this uncomfortable feeling like she doesn’t resent me. We found a spot near a cliff that was above the stream. She sat near me placing her head on my shoulder. “Mom, I feel like you keep things from me.” Looking down at this young but smart kid she was right. We try to shield her as much as we could because she is too innocent to know what happens. “Ryn, there are just some things that are best for you not to know. You wouldn’t understand.” I ran my hand through her head to try to change the subject but she wouldn’t let it go. She is stubborn and well it’s because of where she got from. ’Alright, let’s have this talk. Ryn, do you know what mates are?” Having the mate talk is just like having the sex talk and boy I wasn’t ready for that. “No what are mates?” She asked. Her eyes were now looking at me. “It’s like this. When you hit puberty you will go through your first transformation into a wolf. As pure wolves, they have a person they are meant to be with forever. But it’s not like something is forced, because you’re connected so deeply.” Her eyes were glued to me now. Like this was the best storytime.

“So you have a mate, mom?” Now I was cringing because this storytime has gotten so much deeper. But she wanted the truth. “I have actually. But I couldn’t be with him, because I was in love with your dad. And being with him was less painful than being with my mate.” To which she replied. “Why was it painful being with your mate if you’re meant to be with him?” The eye contact got more intense now. “One day when you get older, you will understand why when I tell you. But that problem isn’t a problem anymore. But I love you and I love your dad. I am not breaking this family up okay?” A promise that I intended to keep even with my weak whining wolf saying otherwise. “Does it have to do with the black wolf from my dreams? Is it my Uncle?” I am now looking at her just trying to avoid that conversation. Ryn has shown that she is an empath and she can be a little psychic at the same time. She has these dreams that come to life sometimes. She woke up in sweat a year back talking about a large, black, wolf that was standing at a stream looking at her. The wolf walked to her and lowered its head to her saying “He would protect her.” And ever since, she has been obsessed with finding him. The only fully black wolf that I knew was Vince. It’s strange but I am not one to stop her creative mind. I think the question most of us had is who is her father? What if I told you that I didn’t know? Jack was aware but he didn’t think anything otherwise. When she grew up looking like me more and more each day it was hard to tell otherwise. And DNA with brothers it’s hard to tell them apart to put features together. But Jack is her father regardless. “Yeah baby, it has to do with the black wolf.” I stood up and reached for her hand as we walked back. There were eyes all on me after what happened, but I am used to it. Jack was out front waiting for us. “Hey, you good?” He asked. We knew it was a little skittish after what happened this morning but I couldn’t stay mad at him. “I want to go home.” He gave me a small nod before reaching for my hand. I know it was hard for him but I couldn’t accept it unless this mark leaves. “ We will leave tomorrow, ok? You just woke up so don’t work yourself up.” And with that, we entered the house.