Chapter 4: Healing and Bonding.

“Hi there, miss me??”

She whispers, and I eagerly lean forward to lick her cheek, making her chuckle. I have missed her, and I am amazed she has snuck out here, to check on me. But then I remember what her mum said, and I flatten my ears in worry.

“What’s wrong?”

I whine and use my nose to push her toward the house a little.

“You don’t want me here?”

Her sadness shows in her eyes and in her voice, she thinks I don’t want her here, but that’s not true. I whimper and shake my head, but still nudge her toward the house.

“Ohhh, did you hear my mum before?”

“Arf.”

I let out a quiet bark and wag my tail a little, a softness enters her eyes, and she nods in understanding.

“Okay, I will be back in a couple hours. I just wanted to be sure you were okay.”

She returns to the trellis and climbs back up to her room.

A few hours later, she comes back as promised, bringing a bowl of food with her from the kitchen. She sits with me as I eat and then she checks my bandages, before we then sit together, watching the wind in the trees and the sun setting.

***

The days pass like this, our routine rarely changing, except on weekends, when she helps her mum with housework and then she spends her free time with me.

***

After a couple of weeks, I am already feeling stronger and the bandages are off, but the patches are still there, covering the deeper wounds, to keep them clean.

We have begun walking around the garden, so that my body doesn’t lock up, and my muscles don’t waste away. These evening walks with Lydia, are what I find the most enjoyable.

“I need to give you a name.”

Her sudden comment makes me stop and stare at her.

**

"Hades! She wants to name me."

"Calm down you're acting like a hyperactive puppy."

"Speak for yourself Hades. It’s not like you’ve offered to name me."

"I thought the moon goddess named you before she assigned you to me. Like with everyone else."

"That is true, she does name her wolves before they are given to their humans, but I am nameless. I don’t know why, only that she didn’t name me, before I came to you."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn’t know. I could think of one if you would like."

"Thank you, Hades, how about we wait to see what Lydia chooses, and then, if we don’t like it, you can name me instead and her name will just be her nickname for us."

"Okay, I am happy to agree to that. I will have a think on it, in the meantime."

**

I return my attention to Lydia as she looks at me strangely.

“Hmm are you a girl or a boy?”

"She doesn’t know that. Hmm, that makes this is a little awkward."

I tilt my head, to show I am listening to her, and wait for her to continue.

“Okay, bark once for boy and twice for girl.”

“Arf.”

I bark and then lay down waiting.

“Boy?”

“Arf!”

“Okay, that’s good to know. Now for a name, hmm."

She paces while she thinks, and I continue to lay there, waiting and watching her. Suddenly she stops and smiles, before looking over to me seeming excited.

**

"Hades, I think she has decided on one."

"Yeah, it looks like it."

**

We wait apprehensively for her to say it.

“I’ve got it! The first time I saw you, even though you were injured, you had and intimidating aura around you, so a strong name is the only choice.”

**

"Okay this sounds promising."

"Hmm depends what she thinks is strong. She could name you Rufus. Hahaha."

**

I just mentally roll my eyes at Hades.

“Cerberus!”

My head snaps up in shock at the sound of the word she calls out.

**

"Wow, I have to admit, that’s an amazing name!"

**

Hades is impressed, I can tell by his voice.

I stare at her unable to move, ‘Cerberus’ it’s perfect, I love it. It feels as though it was always intended to be my name, that the moon goddess, simply forgot to tell me, before I left her side. I leap up, ignoring my injuries and jump into her arms, licking her face in excitement.

“Aaahh! Hahaha!”

She attempts to catch me, but we topple to the ground due to my weight.

“So, you like it then.”

“Awwooo!”

I let out a short howl of joy and she hugs me.

“Good, it suits you.”

I begin to purr in joy, but, then our moment is broken by her parents.

“Lydia! What’s going on?!”

I step back quickly, and she sits up to face them.

“It’s okay, he was just excited.”

“He?”

Her mother asks and glances at me concerned, which I find a little odd.

“Yeah, I just gave him a name and he got excited.”

“You named the wolf? It’s not a pet Lydia!”

“I know that dad, but I wanted to give him a name, he needed one.”

“Lydia, this is dangerous, by naming it you will begin to get attached. And what happens when he is fully grown, and needs to return to a pack?”

“Grrrrrllll!”

The mention of a pack, both angers and upsets me, making me growl and they all turn to stare at me. I turn away from them, and walk back to the doghouse, I don’t want to hear any more and I refuse to answer Lydia when she calls to me.

“Cerberus?”

Her soft voice travels over me from the entrance of the doghouse, I have my back turned to her, and remain that way.

“Sigh, I’m sorry for whatever happened to you. I can tell you have lost a lot, but I promise to help you.”

“Hmmfff”

I huff a response and I sense her stand to leave. I fall asleep remembering our parents, and the happier times, before the Rogue attack.

***

Another few weeks have passed, and now all of my wounds are healed. I have been here roughly three months, and so far, there have been no signs of the Rogue Alpha, that attacked my pack, or his wolves. This is good, as I don’t want to put Lydia and her parents in harm’s way.

“Cerberus!”

I hear her call out to me, and I look out to the grass, where she is standing waving me over. As I step down from the decking, I see she is smiling and hiding something behind her back. As I get close, she reveals what she has in her hand, it’s a ball.

**

"No way! She isn’t going to do this is she?"

"Hahahahaha!"

**

Hades begins laughing uncontrollably in the back of our mind, and I pause before her, waiting.

“Let’s play!”

She throws the ball and I see it fly quite a distance, before landing and bouncing in the grass, when I don't move, she looks back at me, slightly disappointed, and I stare back.

**

"She just threw a ball, as though we are a pet, expecting us to fetch it back. Didn’t she?"

"Hahaha yes!"

"Why?"

"Maybe, she wants to train you, to become a mindless puppy that she can brag to her friends about."

I frown at Hades suggestion.

"No that’s not her reason, Lydia isn’t like that."

"So, what is stopping you from running to get the ball?"

"We are a werewolf. Werewolves don’t play fetch."

"Pathetic excuse."

"Hey! Whose side are you on?"

**

“You don’t want to play?”

I snap my gaze to her, as her soft voice drifts over to my ears, she sounds sad. I don’t like hearing sadness in her voice, it makes my chest hurt. I run past her, and over to where the ball landed, I pick it up in my jaws and carry it back over to her. Her face lights up with a huge smile, and I wag my tail, pleased to have made her so happy. She takes the ball from me, and we pass the afternoon playing fetch.