Lone Wolves

Matheius

~If only I’d had my powers sooner…~

~Just imagine how far werewolf kind could have come…~

The thought was mind-boggling.

From my throne in Astria, I watched over my kind, taking pleasure in their growth.

The strong ones were evolving, each at their own pace, but the changes were clear.

They were finally shedding the human weaknesses that held them back, like pointless compassion.

Soon, werewolves would be what they were meant to be…what they were before I was created.

Lone wolves.

But having Quinn and Anthony under my control sparked an idea.

Even though everything seemed to be going according to plan, I knew that Selena’s interference with our race’s nature wouldn’t be easily undone.

Her influence had shaped werewolf civilization for millennia. I was sure that even among the strong, there would be those who’d revert to a weaker, desperate state.

Quinn and Anthony could help manage these setbacks.

They’d be my agents on Earth.

Just like Theodore and Isabelle were for my creator.

They’d keep enough of their human intellect to have an edge over their beastly kin.

Their job would be to keep their kind in check and enforce the new natural order.

They’d be loyal only to me.

They’d listen only to me.

They’d live and die only by my command.

As I mulled over this idea, my nose started to twitch.

A familiar salty scent teased it.

What was it?

It wasn’t from Astria.

This realm’s heavenly structures were too perfect to produce such a foul smell.

The scent grew stronger, filling my throne room with its salty odor.

I had to cover my nose.

~What the hell is this?~

~Could it be coming from the mortal world?~

I got up from my throne and walked to the edge of the room, hand still over my nose.

Below, Earth spun as usual.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary...until I noticed one anomaly.

The Pack Lands were discolored.

Instead of the lush greens and browns of forests, they were red.

A deep, dark crimson.

Judging by the smell, the land must have been soaked in blood. Drowned in it.

I took my hand away from my nose and inhaled deeply.

There was no mistaking it. It was the blood of my kind.

The smell brought a small smile to my face.

This wasn’t the blood of defeat soaking the battlefields.

This was something else. Something cleansing.

It signaled the purification of my kind. The removal of Selena’s poison.

I watched the bloodbath with delight.

Tears of joy welled up in my tired eyes.

It was a glorious sight.

My successes were starting to leave their mark on the world.

A mark that could be seen even from Astria.

The mark of true progress.

And with Quinn under my control, that influence would only continue to grow until I had created a perfect race of lone wolves.

Jeanette

Tears streamed down my face as I looked at my poor daughter.

She was a shadow of her former self.

Bound tightly in leather, her eyes rolled back in her head, she thrashed violently and babbled incoherently. It was as if she was possessed.

It took me a moment to even look at her directly.

Something had taken over my daughter.

She was gone.

“What...what is this?” I asked in a panic. “What’s happening to her? Who did this to her?”

The fair female twin stepped forward and gently touched my arm.

“It’s hard to explain...but your daughter is filled with great evils. Evils that have twisted reality. They’ve warped her perception of the world.”

Her brother added, “None of us here have known Quinn long enough to try and break this spell. We don’t have the connection with her to remind her of who she used to be.

“You’re the only one who might be able to reconnect her to her true self.”

My mind raced.

What could I do?

What memories did she have of me that she’d want to reconnect with?

I’d kept her locked up in a cabin by herself for eighteen years.

As far as I could tell, she hated me for it.

She wanted nothing to do with me.

As she got older, she barely even spoke to me.

Unless it was to ask about her father.

~Her father.~

That was the answer. There was one story that always made her happy, even in the darkest times in her lonely room.

It was time to reignite that spark, in hopes that it would bring her back.

I pulled up a chair next to Quinn’s bed.

“Quinn…it’s me, your mother,” I whispered in her ear.

But my voice didn’t seem to affect her as she continued to moan and groan.

I took a deep breath, hoping that some part of what I was about to say would snap her out of this trance.

“Do you remember the story of how I met your father?” I asked. “How much you used to love it?”

Again, she didn’t seem to respond.

“When you were little…I couldn’t tell you all of it. There were things I didn’t want your young ears to hear. But I think you’re ready for the truth now. The whole wonderful truth about your father and me.”

***

^Twenty Years Ago^

I’d always loved fall. It was my favorite season.

The crisp air.

The brilliant reds and golds on the trees.

The quiet of nature as Earth’s creatures retreated to their winter homes.

When I was young, I was fearless.

I had a burning desire to see the world.

Not the world of humans.

It didn’t interest me. It seemed like nothing more than a complicated mess of fake meanings and twisted priorities. Money, petty politics, and harmful social constructs that restricted the very instincts that make humans alive.

So as soon as I turned eighteen, I ran away from home.

My folks were so wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of life, I bet they didn’t even notice when I left.

With nothing more than a backpack and my youthful optimism, I left the city behind and ventured into the woods.

At first, it was magical.

Just me, all alone.

Free to soak up the raw beauty of nature on a sunny afternoon.

But then, as night fell, I realized I was in over my head.

I had no idea how to find food.

I didn’t know how to find shelter.

I didn’t even know how to start a fire.

That first night, I sat shivering against the trunk of an old tree, in the pitch-black darkness.

It was scary. I promised myself that if I survived the night, I’d head home at first light.

As I sat there crying softly, I saw two glowing blue orbs light up the darkness. Two eyes looking at me with curiosity.

I gasped in fear, sure I was about to be eaten.

As the eyes got closer, I could just make out the gray shape of a wolf in the darkness.

I was so scared, I couldn’t even scream.

We sat there looking at each other for what felt like forever. I was just waiting for the wolf to attack.

But to my surprise, the wolf walked over and lay down next to me.

There was no sign of aggression. It was as gentle as a pet dog, but clearly smarter.

The wolf nudged me with his head, inviting me to lean in closer and share his warmth.

I spent the whole night with my arms wrapped around the wolf.

His warmth kept me alive in the freezing cold.

But when I woke up…he was gone.

In his place was a man, sleeping naked on the forest floor.

My first instinct was to run. But as I scrambled to my feet, the man woke up and opened his eyes.

~His beautiful, bright blue eyes.~

I didn't know why, and I ~still~ don't. But in that moment, I knew I wanted to stay with this man.

His kind didn’t approve of me because I wasn’t his “true mate.” But he didn’t care. He loved me with all his heart.

I saw the cruelty that werewolves are capable of. But I’ve learned that humans can be just as cruel. Including me.

^Present Day^

“Your dad was a wolf, and he was the best thing that ever happened to me,” I said, tears streaming down my face. “He gave me you.”

“F…father…” I heard Quinn whisper.

Everyone in the room gasped.

She had stopped shaking. Her face was calm and she was smiling.

I held my daughter’s hand tightly, and her eyes fluttered open.

She looked at me in disbelief for a moment, as if she thought she was dreaming.

But then she looked around and saw her friends smiling at her.

“Mom…you’re here!”

She threw her arms around me.

I held her close.

My daughter was going to be okay.

My daughter was home.

Matheius

~SNAP!~

It was like a rubber band breaking.

In an instant, I felt my connection to Quinn snap.

I had lost her almost as quickly as I had found her.

~What the hell is this?~

I closed my eyes and focused on Quinn’s location.

Then I saw her, hugging some frail old human woman while her friends watched with relief.

~Damn humans!~

I should have known their sentimentality would ruin my plans.

Quinn’s still too soft. Too sensitive.

Maybe I was too optimistic about her usefulness to me.

I turned my attention from the scene in Quinn’s room to the one next door.

There was Selena. A shadow of her former self.

Her face was now lined with the wrinkles of age.

But not for much longer.

As the saying goes, “Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.”

It was only a matter of time before she would be gone.

Maybe then, Quinn would pledge her loyalty to me...