Episode 5

“Evelyn Amaris”

My son's eyes sparkled again a few times, confirming my sister's suspicion before I could utter a word.

"It was just one night, Aisha!" I managed to say, with tears filling my eyes.

"Easy, Sister, I'm not here to judge you... But why didn't you tell me before?" she inquired, offering me a gentle, reassuring smile.

"Because I was afraid, afraid of our father finding out, afraid of what might happen... Aisha, promise me you won't tell anyone about who Miguel's father is!" I spoke, taking a deep breath.

"I won't tell, Sister. But he should know he has a son and accept his role as a father!" she replied, visibly agitated, because her eyes shone with the color of our lineage.

"Aisha, what do you think would happen afterward... Our father will never accept him into our family, he's barely accepting me as it is, let alone Miguel's father..." I averted my gaze, feeling sorrow for my father and for my son growing up without his.

My mother returned with a joyful expression, bringing me soup with a mix of vegetables and meats. She handed it to me and then took Miguel into her arms to play with him. My sister looked at me, and I knew she was afraid my son's eyes would light up as they did before. I was too, and I hoped it wouldn't happen...

When a child is born between two families, their eyes take on the hue of the stronger lineage, and it's clear that Varun's has prevailed... I never wanted any of this to happen. I knew who Varun was, but he seemingly had no idea who I was until that moment. I might have crossed a line getting drunk and sleeping with him, maybe out of spite toward my father. But one thing I know: when I saw him arrive, I was utterly captivated... It's a pity, now I carry his child, and he's none the wiser.

My mother grinned like a happy grandmother, and my sister joined in. I was able to sit back and watch them as I ate very little, looking like a normal family... Sleep started to overtake me, and Miguel dozed off in my mother's lap. Lying down, she placed him beside me, kissed us both on the forehead and went off to bed. Soon after, my sister went to rest as well.

With my baby sleeping in my arms, I thought about what it would be like if his father knew of his existence... That's how I drifted off to sleep, but minutes later Miguel started to cry. I got up, changed his diaper, and sat back down on the bed to nurse him. Watching him feed, he reminded me so much of his father, I couldn't understand why he was so constantly in my thoughts...

After feeding, I burped my baby, then got up to help him fall back asleep, and with him, so did I... I was awakened by a loud noise and the bedroom door bursting open. Miguel was still sleeping, but the sight of my father transformed into a wolf sent shivers down my spine. My mother stopped in front of my bed, just like my sister. I observed Miguel stir but he didn't wake up.

"Arrow, stop!" my mother demanded sternly.

My father's eyes gleamed multiple times, and I could feel mine doing so too – after all, I'm still his blood. After he stood in human form, I still hadn't let down my guard.

"Leave my house!"

It took me a moment to process what he had just said. My mother was in despair and my sister remained, I believe, just as shocked...

"Arrow, you've lost your mind! Evelyn just had a baby, your grandchild!" my mother said through tears.

"She didn’t wish to conceive, so now that he's born under my roof, he will not be raised here... Get your things and leave my house!" His gaze, vacant and deep, left me without a response; I just didn't know where to go.

"No, Evelyn is going nowhere! I am her mother too."

"And I'm her sister and Miguel's aunt."

Before my father could leave the room, my mother and Aisha spoke up. He paused and turned his attention back to them, grave and unyielding. He said:

"Either she leaves under my roof alone! Or you all leave together... But she's not staying in my house, so decide amongst yourselves."

"I'll leave!" I said firmly, standing up before my mother or sister could plead further, risking their own wellbeing. Not knowing where to go, I couldn't let them lose their home because of me.

It was better to leave willingly than to be expelled even more harshly as he had been doing ever since he found out about my pregnancy... My mother hugged me tightly in tears, as did my sister, while my father left the room without another word.

My mother begged me not to leave aimlessly with my child in tow. But I couldn't stay, bringing them trouble with the alpha of the pack, and I couldn't risk my father doing worse or finding out about my baby's father. So, I gathered my belongings and took as much as I could for my son, feeding him while my mother refused to let me go. I carried my things to my car, some from the pack watched me leave, others joined as I walked out with Miguel in my arms.

“Evelyn’s Father”...

At the doorstep, I cried as I thanked and hugged Aisha and my mother for everything they had done... We each received a kiss on the forehead from them, after which I walked away with my head lowered, trying not to see the stares directed at me. I got into the car somewhat awkwardly with my son in my arms, and from a distance, I spotted my father climbing the mountain, the majestic brown alpha wolf that he is. My tears fell onto my baby's clothes; I kissed him on the forehead and whispered that I would always protect him.

Starting the car, I drove away from the village, glimpsing in the rearview mirror my mother and sister wrapped in each other's arms, weeping as they faded in the distance...

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