Chapter 3

Thomas

I woke up really excited this morning. I barely even slept all night, thinking about breakfast at Amy's today, but i was so full of energy that it didn't matter. Amy is living a bit away from the main town region, in an old, big house at the beginning of the forest. The house used to be owned by a werewolf, so we didn't have any problems going for a run through this side. But now, humans live there and i don't know how wise it would be to do that anymore. I have to go out to find a new route for running, and inform everyone when i do.

Liam comes down naked, holding a pair of shorts in his hands. Nudity was never an issue amongst shifters. "Ready,dad?"

"We need to find another route for running, son.", i tell him as i rinse my coffee mug in the sink. "Now that Amy and her family live at Barry's old house we can't continue to pass through there.. And, of course, we can't wait for Alpha Sebastian to deal with that." I grab my own clothes and fold them, holding them under my armpit. "We go in stealth mode, take our clothes from the whole region and move them away, and then we seek alternatives, ok?"

"Sounds good"

It is a little bit after five in the morning. The sun is not up yet, there is only some dim light coming from the horizon. We approach Amy's house in human form, and, about a hundred meters away from it, we shift. The moment we shift, though, and our senses highten, we hear it. The most beautiful voice i have ever heard, singing to a melody i never heard before but made the hair on my back stand and my head to feel lighter.

I have a strong urge to go to the source but i am pondering all the worst possible scenarios. However, Liam, being young and inexperienced, is already headed that way. I follow him short, trying to reach him in the mindlink to make him stop, but he is not responsive. It looks like that siren's song is fogging the connection, and the more you let go, the more you disconnect.

We are half a kilometre away from Amy's house and into the forest, following the song. I catch the smell of others heading also this way. Obviously, they heard the song on their morning run and got hypnotized too. My heart is racing, thinking it might be a new threat that we don't know about and we are all being lured into a trap. My head, though, feels lighter and if i wasn't overthinking i would definitely be very relaxed and happy...

And now, i see her. Her. Sitting on the roots of a huge oak tree, her back relaxing on the trunk, her eyes closed, singing her fairy song with a smile. Two boys are lying next to her, relaxing on the ground. Or sleeping, i couldn't tell. I recognise Percy, the other one, a lot younger than him, is probably one of her other sons.

As my eyes fall upon her, i relax on the spot. And just like that, the song kicks in. I feel light, happy and totally connected to everything around me. The forest never seemed so alive to me before, and i have been trotting around here since i was a newborn pup. I halt next to my son, not wanting to go closer and disturb them, or scare them. I assume my son was thinking the same, because he unwillingly sat his butt on the ground, and stayed put, huffing in contentment.

Not a minute later, i notice three more wolves approaching from different sides, the ones i sniffed earlier. It's Henry the baker, Jordine the highschool secretary and her daughter, Tilda. Tilda is the same age as Liam and Percy, highly probable to be in the same class this year.

Liam and i are from Amy's side but the others approached from the front and Percy, unfortunately, sees them. His eyes grow large and he nudges his mother with his elbow. The other boy gets up also and looking fearfully around, he spots us, calling out for his mother.

The abrupt ceasing of the melody was hard on my brain. My mind is clearer, yes, but my heart is heavy again. I feel the familiar sadness and instantly realise that her voice had momentarily lifted the Alpha's grief off of me. I am stunned, my mind is racing again at the realisation and i take a deep breath in, making that connection, and comparison, in my head.

Amy flinches as she sees us, instantly standing on her feet. The other shifters flinch as well, wondering if they should leave or not, their embarrassment obvious. The boys are standing on either side of Amy, with shock in their eyes but a firm stand beside their mother. I can't blame them. They are surrounded by five huge wolves, in the middle of the forest, where noone can help them. However, I am rather surprised by their stand and readiness and i really think they are more surprised than scared. Especially Amy.

And then... she starts singing again, a different melody this time. Softer and sweeter, like a lullaby. She is looking at all of us, like she is singing for us. And then, calm and relaxed, she sits back down. Her sons gave her a questioning look and remain standing.

She turns and face them, smiling calmly and radiating serenity, in a bit of a contrast of the frantic, bubbly woman i met yesterday.

"We came out here to get to know the forest and connect with the energy of the place. Having its creatures coming to us, it only means we do a good job."

The boys smile and look at each other briefly before they get back down with their mother, as she resumes her singing, putting her palm on the oak tree's trunk. They close their eyes again, to our surprise, trusting complitely that they are safe with us surrounding them.