Inamatus (Sequel to ILR)

Chapter 4

I knocked on the door lightly. It was almost three in the morning now. When I came back from my run everyone seemed really excited. My little sibling had been born. I wasn't allowed in for a bit but Dad just mind linked me that I could come in. The door opened to reveal Zay. She had slight bags under her blue eyes but a happy smile graced her lips. Her blonde hair was ruffled a bit but I wasn't surprised. She had been running around all day, making sure everything was okay with Mom.

I smiled at the sight of Mom and Dad. Mom was passed out which had me worried at first but then Zay told me that she expected it would happen. Mom just didn't have a lot of energy in her. My eyes drifted to Dad and the little yellow bundle in his arms. He looked up at me and smiled. I slowly walked over and looked down at the little face of my sibling.

"Max, meet your little sister, Arlena." The smile on my face grew at the knowledge that I have a little sister.

"Hello Arlena," I smiled at her. She stared up at me with wide eyes that are three different shades of brown. Her eyes are just like Moms.

"Do you want to hold her?" I nodded. Dad got up and gently placed her in my arms. He showed me how to support her head and then went to Mom's side.

"I'm Maxillius but almost everyone calls me Max. I'm your big brother. It's nice to finally meet you." I heard a familiar sigh and turned to see Mom awake. She smiled at me and I walked over to her. I gently handed Arlena over to her and sat down next to Dad.

With moments like this, all of my worries disappear.

~*~*~*~*~

"She is absolutely adorable," Delian gushed. I rolled my eyes at her excitement. "I saw that! Don’t make me stab a dart in your neck."

"Saw what?" I held back a laugh as she glared at me.

"Something that you are going to pay for in training tomorrow!" I shushed her as Arlena started to cry a bit. It's something we've discovered these past few weeks with Arlena around. She doesn't cry much, only at three things. She cries when she's hungry, when Mom or Dad leave, and at any sudden loud noises. That didn't make the storm we had last week very fun.

Speaking of training, I should really get back to it. I read one of the books in Dad's office. It talked about how there are wolves out there who can shift halfway and have the strengths of both man and wolf at once. I've been trying to figure out how to do it but so far I've got nothing.

"Oh! Where's my new grandchild?" Arlena started to cry full on at the sound of Grandma's loud voice.

"Mother, please be quiet." I smiled at Dad who had Mom right by his side. "Arlena doesn't like loud noises."

"But she is just so precious." Delian and I backed away from the crib and let Grandma through. She gently picked Arlena up and started to coo at her. "And I plan on spoiling her as much as I can. Especially since I only visit these days," she said with a look directed at Dad. I knew she wanted Dad to forgive Grandpa but apparently Grandpa said some pretty rude things about Mom. Not even I liked him after Dad told me why I rarely saw Grandpa.

"You know I'm not going to forgive him until he apologizes to Celeste and actually accepts her." I cleared my throat as Delian looked down awkwardly.

"Maybe we should go," I said, mainly to Delian. I went over to Grandma and kissed her cheek. Then I look into the three rings of different brown. Coffee brown, dark brown, and a caramel all after each other until it gets to her pupil. "I'll see you later Arlena."

I nodded at Mom and Dad and walked out of the room, Delian behind me. We walked downstairs and into the kitchen where Aunt Lesa was making what looked like her famous fudge. I smirked at Delian and looked back to Aunt Lesa. "Hey Aunt Lesa," I said to get her attention. "I'm pretty sure Grandma was asking for you. She's upstairs in Arelna's room." Aunt Lesa blinked and nodded.

"Okay. . . But if you eat my fudge I will end you," she threatens. I nod as Delian laughs nervously. I elbow her so she stops. She walks upstairs and as soon as she's out of sight I grab a small square of fudge and pop it in my mouth.

"Max! What are you doing?" I look at her and shrug.

"Eating fudge of course."

"Are you crazy? She is going to kill you!" I laugh at her and ruffle her ginger hair with the hand that isn't holding a piece of fudge.

"Relax, she won't notice a few pieces missing." She nodded with an unsure smile and grabbed a piece. I loved aunt Lesa's desserts. I told her she should run a bakery but she said she does it for fun and not for profit.

"What are you guys doing?" My head snapped towards the entry to the kitchen to find Wesley. My eyes widened. "Is that my mom's fudge?" I slowly nodded. If he tells his Mom, we are dead. . . "Why didn't you tell me? Give me a piece." I chuckled and handed him a piece.

"Excuse me," we all froze. I looked from Delian to Wesley then to Aunt Lesa who stood in the doorway.

"s**t," Wesley mumbled.

"I am going to kill all three of you, figure out how to bring you back to life, and then kill you all over again!"

I looked back to Delian and Wesley and whispered, "Run."