âCan I come in?â I ask when I see Maya sitting in a little office at the hospital.
âYes, you can always come in when you need it. What brings you here?â She puts down the folder she is working on and gives me a hug.
I wave my piece of paper in front of her face. âI brought my research about Luna-courage.â
âOh great! Letâs take a seat.â
She gets seated and starts typing on her laptop.
âIt was not easy to find information and to apply it to my situation. A lot of things have to do with the wolf side, which I donât have.â
âThat is what is so exciting about your situation. You are human, so we can detect when it is the wolf side or human side active when something related with Luna-courage occurs. Not only is it of scientific interest where the line between human and wolf is, but it is also interesting for you. If you know what you are capable of, you can control it better.â
âControl it? I read it only shows if I want to protect the pack.â
âYes, it will become active when you are in danger or the pack is. Well, the pack of the Luna of course. You arenât an Alpha Female, so it is kind of different.â
I give her a shy smile. âSounds like me.â
âOkay, tell me what you experienced when it was happening. How did your body react?â
âThe first thing I noticed was my quick thinking. How I could think not only quick on my feet, but also access parts I felt I never used before or something like that. My mind was running, but I was still able to act normally. No panic.â
âI will write it down,â Maya tells me and types with werewolf speed. Looks like the letters are flying off.
âOh, and I was growling. Something inside me made me growl like, well, a wolf.â
She looks up from the screen and scans my face. âGrowling?â
âYes, that was one of the first things I noticed.â
âAnd you didnât do it yourself, it was automatic?â
I nod and move on, âI had the overwhelming feeling I needed to be there when the rogues were standing in front of me. It was my place to be there and protect the children. I was determined to fight them off, even when I didnât have a chance.â
I look at my hands, remembering the traumatic event.
âIf this is too muchâ¦â Maya begins, and I cut her off. âNo, it is okay. I am fine.â And I mean it.
She nods and types away.
âAt one point the primal feeling took over my body. I was scared but I didnât show it. Again, a growl escaped my mouth, and my focus was extreme. Thatâs what I experienced when it happened.â
Maya stops typing and looks my paper over. âDid you feel like you had better senses than normal?â
I think it over. âI did see a smudge on the rough and discovered it was oil. I donât know if I saw it because of better vision or if I would have noticed it without the Luna-courage.â
âIt is possible that it was the Luna-courage. Heightened senses are part of it. You wrote it all down. Heightened senses, ability to move with speed, heightened bravery, quick thinking and protective power.â
Yes, I wrote it down, but that doesnât mean I know what everything is and what Luna-courage can include. We talk everything over and she tells me not to worry, because I never have to think about it again. And she is right, if I never have to think about it again, it means I never will be in danger again.
Oliver took me to Joe and Roseâs, where a package from my parents arrived with some nice presents. I took my time going through it. There were some nice thick socks with funny cartoons, some candy I canât get over here and some stationary my mom knows I love. I showed everything to Oliver, and he loves the socks with the pizza slices on it. I gave them to him, a belated birthday present.
I practice shooting in the garden with Joe who was impressed with my aim, and we went home after that.
Entering the pack house, I see Igétas, the Alpha and two head warriors going into the meeting room.
âWhat is that all about?â I ask Oliver who is still by my side.
âThere was a hole in our defenses and a rogue came close to hurting someone. We were okay, but we think he was a scout, someone to check for weaknesses and they found one.â
âOh no,â I say, and horror takes over my face.
âIt is okay, they are going to talk about the situation, probably thinking about where the rogues can be at this moment and which packs we need as allies.â I nod and start walking, and then I stop.
âDo they have any information, a starting point to know where they can be?â
âNo, a young warrior didnât have the skills to leave the rogue alive, so we couldnât question him.â Oliver tells me.
âAnd with the other attack, did you know where they came from?â
âWe didnât take prisoners. It was a close call, you know why.â
Yes, I knew why. If I hadnât killed him, the pack would have been taken over.
Wait, I know more than that. They never questioned me about the attack, the wolves must say something that they can use, right?
âI know things.â I say to Oliver. He raised a brow. âWhat kinds of things?â
âI was there when he attacked, he talked to me. I know more than they do. I need you to get me in there.â He nods and his eyes become milky.
Then he smiles down at me. âIgétas wants to talk to you first, however, the Alpha wants to know what youâre holding back.â
I shake my head, âI didnât hold anything back, they never asked, and I was a little bit busy in the hospital.â
Oliver holds up his hands, âI believe you. Letâs go in, I will be at your side.â
I smile at his offer, and we walk in.