4. Will's Thoughts

“That’s always dangerous.” He replies, quick wit ever at the ready, I raise a single brow at him and he chuckles low, taking a sip of beer. “Finish your meal first then come join me on the porch, then you can fill me in on these thoughts.”

He gets up from the table, dropping his plate in the sink before grabbing two more beers from the fridge, then heads to the front porch and his rocking chair. I quickly finish my meal, clean the kitchen, and then follow my father out to the porch, where he holds out the extra beer to mee, rocking slowly and enjoying the cool night air.

“Mmmmmm…I do love sitting here, in the dark, just listening to the night.” I turn my face up to the moon, eyes closed and senses open. Dad sits quietly beside, waiting patiently in the way he does when he is waiting for me to speak – happy to wait for me to gather my thoughts. I take a long sip of beer, letting the slight bitter taste settle on my tongue for a moment. “I’ve been thinking about telling Finn…about what I am.”

“Finn is a good guy…but it’s still risky Wills.” He murmurs, full attention on me now. I’ve never told anyone what I am – or at least what I think I am. My grandma knew there was no way for her not to know as she helped my dad raise me, Uncle Thomas as well, he became my doctor when I was sick.

But that’s it.

We have kept my ability to shift, my other form, a complete secret within the family. The risk of discovery, of being studied, imprisoned or worse – was too great. So when my first shift happened on the first full moon after my tenth birthday, my Dad started bringing me out here every month. At first, he rented cabins, until we found this place, totally run down, but affordable with his salary. We rebuilt it together, every trip we came out here for me to shift, we spent the extra time building the cabin. “I know it’s a risk. It’s why I’ve been thinking carefully about it and wanted to talk to you about it. If I do tell him…show him and it goes badly, it affects more than me.”

“You never have to worry about me with that little one. What I want to know is why you want to tell him?” He puts his empty bottle down and leans forward, studying my face carefully.

“He’s my best friend, has been since we met at the Police and Fire Department game day. It feels wrong to keep such a big part of myself a secret from him – to hide who I am when he shares so much with me.” Finn is one of the only Police Officers that my father actually likes – he’s been my best friend for the last four years and never let me down. He knows about these trips and has been trying to invite himself on them for the past year but I have said no – claiming Father, Daughter bonding time.

“Ok let’s work through this – what is the plan to tell him?”

“I thought we could bring him out here, and then I could shift for him – kind of like what happened when I showed you.” I reveal the bare bones of a plan. It’s not fully formed and I know that. But it’s a start, and one of the reasons I wanted to talk to my dad about it.

“So you bring him out here, to this very off grid, isolated cabin, and then strip down and let him watch and listen to your bones crack and shift , your skin turn into fur and your very large and intimidating teeth change – until he is looking at you as your wolf. Your huge black wolf, that is almost the size of a Shetland pony.” He whistles low and loud. “I gotta say Wills – that is the stuff of nightmares.”

“I didn’t say it was good plan.” I retort; we look at each other in silence for a few minutes before we both burst into laughter.

“I think we need to wait a bit longer yet, come up with a much better plan. Test the waters a bit where we can to try to determine how he will react to knowing the truth. DO you agree little one?” He asks, picking up the empty beer bottles, standing up and guiding us back inside.

“You know, you can pretty smart when you want to be old man.”

“Old man?!? I don’t know where you learnt to be such a smart ass.” He say shaking his head at me.

“Yes, you do. I learnt it from the best – I learnt it from you.” I reach up on my toes and give him a kiss on the cheek, before turning and going to have a shower and get ready for bed.

“Night little one, see you in the morning.” He calls after me, turning off the lights and checking the door is locked as he heads to his room.

“Night Dad, love you.” I yell through the bathroom door, as I start the shower and wait for the water to heat up.

“Back atcha sweet pea.” I hear him whisper with my wolf hear and close my eyes with a soft smile – grateful again to have him chose to be my father.

The weekend away went by too fast. I spent as much time as I could in my wolf form, relishing the release and joy it brings me. Running through the trees, joining dad as he enjoys his day fishing in the creek. Hunting the odd rabbit, and stalking a deer, letting my instincts take over as the opportunity arises.

 I’m not trying to kill anything, not since the first time, which was a trauma all on it’s own for a new wolfed out ten-year-old girl. Let’s just say dried animal blood and guts is not that easy to get out of fur, or hair when I shifted back.  

I just enjoy the thrill of the chase, the skill of the hunt and sense of accomplishment with the catch. A sort of wolf equivalent of catch and release.

It was a quiet drive back home, but then it normally is. Dad had to go on shift at the station right after he dropped me off and we unpacked the truck, and I spent the rest of Sunday night on my own, preparing for the work week ahead. Closing out the perfect weekend, readying the end of my hair pink, shifting always strips the colour away, and relaxing in a long hot bubble bath before restful and deep sleep.

I’m running late and it’s not good – not the way I wanted to start as lead on this project. The day started so well for me, I got up, got dressed in my normal work attire, long pants, and button up black shirt, converse sneakers, I even had enough time to braid my hair rather than my normal ponytail. I got to the office nice and early, ensured the front desk knew that I had representatives from Blaidd Tech coming for a meeting and to notify me when they have arrived.

And of course, it all went downhill from there.

Every meeting I have had has run overtime. I had to have lunch at my desk, and as luck would have it where I am concerned, I got stuck in call for another project I am supporting and had to send my assistant Tristan to greet the team from Blaidd Tech, take them to the conference room and stall for me.

Now I’m practically running to the conference floor, taking the stairs to the top floor two at a time. My shoes were squeaking on the floor, my braid bouncing against my back as I rush to the conference room. As I round the corner of the stairwell, I scent something on the air - strangely familiar and yet deliciously enticing. Citrus, sandalwood, and a hint of caramel. An odd combination of scents mixed together. It makes me pause for a second and look around but I can’t see anything or anyone to assign it to. Hearing the murmur of voices down the hall, I make my way closer to the conference room and take a deep breath.

“Willow is on her way now; she was unavoidably delayed with an emergency call. While you set up, can I get anyone a coffee, tea, or water?” Tristan asks, and I silently praise him for his quick thinking. He might be my assistant by title, but he’s my partner when it comes to our work and the second a position opens up, I’m going to make sure he gets the promotion he deserves.

“Water would be appreciated thank you.” An incredibly deep voice responds, sending a slight shiver down my spine. Damn. That voice makes me want to lie back, close my eyes and listen to anything and everything it has to say. He could read the bus timetable to me and have my complete attention.

This will make for an interesting meeting.