The Unwanted But Inevitable Choice

Chapter 6

I instantly bust out laughing. "We are what? I know I look crazy from running all day. But I am not some supernatural beast!"

"Although I would have liked to ease into it, not blurt it out like that," my dad says as he looks at Austin with a frown.

"Wait. What do you mean we are werewolves. That sounds crazy. I think if I was a werewolf, I would know it?"

"No you aren't old enough to shift and talk to your wolf yet but you are a wolf."

"That doesn't make sense. You said Austin is a werewolf too but he is only a month older than me?"

"He matured faster than most."

"When?"

"When he was 15"

"Dad, that doesn't even make sense, we didn't even become friends until he was 16." I say matter of factly.

"I know me and your dad met before we became uh.. Friends? I knew he had a daughter but didn't know it was you until we came to your house and I saw your dad here."

"I don't believe you. I think the easiest way to prove this to me… is to show me" I say to Austin

"Uh.." He looks at my dad and he shrugs his shoulders. Austin walks into our dining room. "Okay, turn around please"

"Why?"

"Because I have to take my clothes off."

"What! Why?"

"Because if I shift in my clothes it will ruin them."

"Oh okay that makes sense…" I turn around.. My dad is smirking at me.

"It's not funny" After a few moments of shuffling behind me I hear a cracking sound.. I look at my dad and he nods his head.

"Austin, can I turn around?" I hear a huff, and it makes me nervous because it sounds so real. I look at my dad, with no doubt fear in my expression he just laughs.

"Turn around kid, you made him go through all that. But refer to his wolf as Issac."

"Why Isaac?"

"Because Issac is Austin's wolf's name. Werewolves are human and wolf. His wolf has his own soul, his own conscience. He is his own being."

"Oh.. Okay." I slowly turn around to see a huge brown wolf in our living room. The first thing I notice is the wolf has green eyes just like Austin. And then I realize that this is not a joke and that wolf and Austin are one. Something inside me feels safe. Now me and Austin are connected in a whole other way.. is the same height as Austin. After my initial shock. I take my time to notice Issac's features. He is about my height. A foot smaller than Austin but his is in no way small. He is very broad. He has light brown hairs scattered in his check. I giggle because it reminds me of Austin's freckles.. I take a step closer to him. Then I realize, I don't know how he will react. I turn around to my dad.

"Can I… pet him?"

"Ask him hun, he can understand you" my eyes widen.

"Hello Issac" I say as I slowly take steps toward him. The wolf wags his tail "May I pet you, boy?" He nods his head and I walk up to him.. I reach my hand out and he nuzzles my hand. "Hello, Issac... That's a very handsome name, for such a handsome boy." I say as I run my hand upon his head between his ears. He is watching my every move. "You just tell me if anything makes you feel uncomfortable, okay?" He nods and I start to scratch behind his ear. He starts thumping his leg like a dog which makes me laugh really loud. "Oh, do you like that big guy? I bet you can run really fast huh? Even faster than Austin! Maybe when I shift my wolf can run with you?" He perks up when I say this. "I'm sure she can't wait to meet you as well!" I turn around to talk to my dad.

"So will Austin stay like this all night or can he shift back?"

"He can shift back, just ask him" my dad is looking at me with probably the proudest expression I've ever seen.

"Hey Issac? Will you please let Austin come back? I can see the disappointment in his eyes but he nods his head. I rub my nose against his, Sarah's dog loves when I do that and it seems Issac does too. "Awe, it's okay boy, I have a feeling we will see eachother again very soon.." He nuzzles my chest and I turn around to give Issac privacy to shift into Austin. After some cracking and shuffling I here Austin clear his throat.

"Austin, he was incredible! He is so beautiful an-"

"Lanie I was there with you. I can see everything. I mean, I can shut him out if I need to but I don't like doing that to him.. You are so good with him and he loves you!!" He says as he hugs me. I laugh and smack his chest.

"How could you keep this from me?"

"I'm sorry, are you mad at me?"

"I'm upset you didn't feel you could trust me but I'm not mad. I am confused though." We all sit in the living room. I turn to my Dad, "So, when do I get my wolf, how does it work? What is your wolf's name?"

"You will gain your wolf soon. You can already smell our scents and soon you will hear a voice in your mind. You may want to fight with the voice because you won't understand it's your wolf. Your wolf has been with you your whole life; you just haven't been able to communicate with her. My wolf's name is Ryan."

"Oh… What are scents?"

"Each werewolf has his own scent that you can smell even if we are in human form.. Mine is maple and your dad's is coffee" Austin chips in. I think he's happy he finally got to answer a question.

"What is my scent? Does a certain scent mean something?"

"I smell something but it's not strong enough to be able to tell yet. As for scents, every werewolf has a distinct smell. Some are very similar but none are the same unless you inherit a scent from a past loved one."

"Was mom a werewolf?"

"No, she was not"

"Did she know you are one?"

"Yes, we were mates to each other?" There's the word mate again.

"What is a mate? You always say that and that man.. Will… said it earlier…?" Austin scowls. Dad tells me about the moon goddess and how she has blessed us with a mate. He also tells me what a mate and the feelings you get with a mate, he calls it a mate bond.. I can't help but think of the rush the kiss Austin and I shared gave me.

"So.. Is Austin my mate?" I took at Austin and he looks down..

"Umm.. No. Will is your mate." My dad says but Austin quickly follows with,

"Well, he says he is. Until you become a wolf we don't know for sure.

"Oh…can you have two mates?"

"At the same time? No." then he explains what a second chance mate is.

"How is Will my mate when I don't even know him?"

"The moon goddess has a reason for everything."

We talk for a while and they answer every question I have. Dad mostly, since Austin is so new to being a werewolf himself. I suddenly feel myself getting tired and I look at the clock which says 12:30 AM.

"Okay, I need to go to bed, I'm exhausted. Thank you both. And I'll talk to you tomorrow" I kiss Dad on the cheek and give Austin a hug.

"Hey Austin, would you like to stay here tonight?

"Are you sure that's okay?"

"Yes of course! If you're worried about Alpha Will I told him that Lanie had a human boyfriend before and they may have reconnected. So please just stay in the living room."

"Oh… okay" I make my way to my room. Why couldn't I be mated to Austin? I never gave him a chance and now I'll never get to. But Dad said I could reject Will.. I think I should at least explain everything to him since a freaking goddess thought we should be together. I will ask dad to talk to him tomorrow.

I close my eyes and try to sleep but as tired as I am. Sleep doesn't come to me. After everything I learned today I can't keep my mind still. I sigh and reach for my phone on the nightstand. I decide I want to look up information about werewolves to see if there is anything I can learn on the internet. I am upset with my dad for not telling me, but I'm also so excited that I am a werewolf. I always felt there was something different about me. And obviously dad as well. He is 40 but looks in his early 30's people have actually thought he was my brother. I laugh at the thought.

After looking at articles and crazy youtube videos about werewolves I realize there's probably not much true information on the internet. Everything I've heard or seen about werewolves is the fact they are these humanoid beasts. But after meeting Issac and seeing he is a large wolf. It causes me to ease. I'm nervous about shifting. I wonder if it will hurt? Austin said the first few times were painful but after you shift for a while you get used to it. I look at the time and it's 3 in the morning. I put my phone down and eventually sleep comes to me.

An hour later I wake up to an overwhelming scent of pine. I open my eyes and I see two grey eyes looking into mine. His right eye has a scar across it.

"Will," I whisper.