The Lycan Blood

The Long Road

14 years later

The weather was perfect.

The sun shone over the open space this morning, and a crispy, cool breeze mixed in the warmth. I wanted to enjoy today’s weather. Standing by the living room window, I watched Dad and Pete loading the family car.

As they spoke, a figure approached our driveway, dressed in a white short-sleeved shirt and khaki shorts.

The postman was slanging a heavy bag on his side. My body jerked, and I ran to the front door, staring at the letter slot. After waiting what seemed to be hours, letters began to flood through the slot, and I jumped on them.

Collecting the letters and strolling down to the kitchen, I read through the name address until I came across my name. My heart kept pounding, and I held my breath, clenching the edges of the envelope. “Sweetheart?”

Mom’s concerned voice snapped me out of a trace. I glanced up, meeting her warm chestnut brown eyes. Mom smiled to encourage me to open the letter.

I sighed and ripped open the letter. My heart violently pounded against my chest, and my hands shook when I opened them. The rustling of the paper was all I could hear as I unfolded the letter. My eyes skimmed and scranned across the test results until the bottom of the page…

Genetic data excludes wolf traits, possibly recessive/none.

My heart stopped as I reread the words contained in the letter.

A warm hand touched my white knuckle, causing me to flinch. My wide eyes glanced up, seeing Mom standing before me worriedly. My throat ached, and my eyes watered. “Nora…” she whispered.

My mouth opened, wanting to say something, but I closed my mouth and looked up to stop the tears. A gentle pull and arms wrapped around me. “Don’t worry, my love…” Mom muttered, embracing me in her warmth.

There was nothing to say.

This was the fourth trait test, and the results were the same. I felt heartbroken and more disorderly, especially in this pack. I am starting to feel like a burden, and I don’t even know where to find the answers to these feelings.

“Hey, you know one thing about this?” Mom asked.

I pulled away, frowning my eyebrows and looked at her. She grinned ear to ear and placed her forehead on mine. “You are my baby,” she said.

I groaned in embarrassment, trying to turn my head to the side to hide my smile as she rocked and sang, “Who’s my baby? You’re my baby. Who’s my baby? You’re my baby.”

“Mom!” I exclaimed, struggling away from her embrace and trying to stop myself from laughing.

Mom laughed and continued to sing her songs. I heard the front door opening, followed by two footsteps, knowing Dad and Pete were heading into the kitchen. “Baby, baby, baby,” Pete’s voice beamed in sync with Mom’s song.

Knowing it was Pete. He grabbed my shoulders and shook me as he jumped from side to side, following Mom’s rocking. Dad laughed and clapped his hands to the rhythm of the song. It wasn't enjoyable, but I could not stop laughing, and everyone cheered when I did.

Mom plants a kiss on my forehead before heading back into the kitchen. “Don’t stress about that test. I hear some wolves develop their traits later or when they meet their soulmate,” Mom said.

“Have you got your test results?” Pete asked, leaning over my shoulder to examine my paper.

I did not want him to see and hug them close to my chest.

“Why are you hiding them? Let me see,” Pete said, tagging on the top edge corner of my papers.

“No,” I whined, clenching onto my papers.

“Come on.”

“Knock it off, Pete. Leave your sister alone. If she does not want to share them with you, you must respect that,” Dad said.

Before I knew it, Pete was off my back as Dad dragged him from his shoulder to the dining room. Despite Pete’s hissing and protest, Dad continued to press on his shoulder.

“Honey bear, please be gentle,” Mom called out, handing me a plate of pancakes for the table.

“Tell him, Mommy!” Pete called out as Mom and I entered the room.

Dad playfully glared at Pete, who pouted like a child. I chuckled under my breath and placed the plate on the dining table. “Behave,” Mom said.

Mom and I took our seats while Dad began to make a breakfast plate, with Pete following behind. “We don’t have a comfortable time for breakfast. We need to be on the road in thirty minutes,” Dad said.

“What!?” Pete and I gasped.

Dad nods, focusing on his plate.

“Why can’t we fly?” Pete asked.

“You know how your father feels about flying?” Mom asked, tilting her head and side glance over at Dad.

Dad was never a fan of planes. If he could drive, then he would. Although we are not fans of long road trips, we enjoy silly road games and being with each other. “Well… he could travel by road whilst we catch a flight,” Pete said with a smirk.

“This is tradition,” Dad said.

Mom and I chuckled.

I placed my hand on Pete’s shoulder. He tilted his head and pouted his lips, wanting me to voice my stand on catching a plane and then being trapped in a hot car for ten-plus hours. “Unfortunately, I am taking Dad’s stay,” I said, matching Pete’s pouting lips.

Pete gasped and poked my side, causing me to giggle and lean away from him.

“Hey, hey, eat up your food!” Mom called out.

Pete chuckled, and I giggled, looking down at our plates. The forks and knives clicked and clanged against the plates as we ate silently.

Regardless of the distraction my family are trying to do. My mind kept recalling the results received earlier. I look up, watching Mom and Dad giving each other sly smiles to each other, and Pete making a playful, disgusted face. It was a familiar playout which broke my heart.

At times, I wonder how I ended up at Grey Pack. It's a werewolf community, and I don’t have wolf traits. “I don’t want to leave,” I muttered.

Silence came upon the room.

I lifted my gaze, seeing Mom, Dad, and Pete looking at me. Nervously, I gulped and stared down at my half-eaten plate of pancakes. “Nora, sweetheart, is everything okay?” Mom asked, reaching out to hold my hand across the table.

“... I not a werewolf. I think I have to look into moving to the human world,” I said.

“There’s no need to think about that,” Dad said, clinking his fork on his plate and not even looking at me.

Mom and Dad have always avoided discussing my lack of wolf traits. They hoped I would develop into a werewolf and stay in the pack.

“I think we need to talk about it,” I said.

Silence and despair coasted over us in the dining room. I am nineteen years old and need to figure out my life, which would mean remaining within the pack in ignorance until the worst comes or leaves…

“I don’t have a trait. I know my position here in the pack is being questioned, and as long as Alpha Jay lives, I know I can stay. However, the longer I wait, the more difficult it will be for me to leave… I have been looking into colleges in the human world,” I said.

“Have you applied?” Pete asked.

I shook my head.

“I was holding out on the test result,” I muttered.

Mom squeezed my hand. I lifted my gaze, staring at her heartbroken gaze. Moving to the human world would mean cutting ties with my family. I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I fear what would happen if Alpha Jay steps down from his leadership role in Grey Pack. Daniel hates me and would abuse his power once Alpha of the pack. I fear his wrath on my family and myself.

“Let’s put off the moving away,” Mom said, squeezing my hand. “We will be attending the Royal Coronation celebration. What if your soulmate is there!? Please, sweetheart, don’t give up.”

“Soulmates are a rarity,” I muttered, lowering my head.

“Look at Mom and Dad. Soulmates are real,” Pete said, holding my shoulder.

“... But what if I am… Human?” I asked.

“Human or not, you are our daughter. I am willing to take some time off, even get on a plane to find you a soulmate. We love you,” Dad said.

Looking at him, I knew he was serious.

I love my family, but I am worried that I will be a burden to them and that my presence will put them in danger.

“Let’s enjoy this weekend together. We’re too young to be hanging out with our parents,” Pete said, shrugging his shoulder.

Mom and Dad nod.

Mom gave me a gentle squeeze and smiled warmly at me. A part of me prays to the moon goddess that I am a late bloomer and find my soulmate just like Mom and Dad.