Narrated by Athos
Today, I woke up early as usual and performed my morning hygiene routine, like any regular thing, before making my way to the library. My studies on half-breeds are intense and currently focused on the rare and ancient books section. These belong to my father's collection and must be handled with care - they tear quite easily.
I select a handwritten book, dedicated solely to half-breeds. "Unlike wolves, who can assume their lupine form at will, half-breeds only undergo one single, forced transformation on their thirteenth birthday, during the first full moon when they reach maturity as a wolf," it reads. This is troubling; Eliz turned twelve just a few days ago, leaving me with only a year to find her. I continue to read.
"Unlike a wolf in their wolf form, a half-breed truly becomes a ferocious wolf, incapable of distinguishing family from prey." I pause my reading, deciding to speak with my father, and head to his study.
"Hi Dad, may I come in?"
"Enter, sit down and I’ll be right with you, son."
I sit down, clutching the book and feeling uneasy, knowing I must find a way to locate her. After finishing his tasks, my father gives me his full attention. I share my discoveries with him, explaining that Eliz could pose a danger to herself and others around her and could inadvertently expose our kind, all without her even realizing what she is.
"Will this be her only transformation?" he enquires.
"Yes, Dad, and she won't be herself - she'll be a complete wolf, driven by a killer instinct."
"I will speak with her father today; we must immediately resume the search before the worst happens."
"When the search resumes, I want to be part of it."
I say goodbye to my father and return to my room. Although I want to help, I am at a loss as to what more I can do. Lying down on my bed, I drift off without realizing it.
Dream on
I find myself wandering through a city I don't recognize, having never left the village due to our rules. There's a beautiful fountain in the city center, and as I walk into what seems to be a forested park, something beckons me forward. I stumble upon a gate leading to a courtyard, where a couple is chatting with a girl whose face I can't see. They look happy. When I finally catch a glimpse of her face, it's Eliz.
I start screaming her name, repeatedly calling, "ELIZ... ELIZABETH..."
She doesn't seem to hear me, although she looks around as if listening for something. Suddenly, she pretends not to hear and stands up, waving at the couple before walking away. And when she turns to look directly at me through the gate, she turns back around, and I see a large building before everything fades.
Narrated by Elizabeth
Today, my aunts visit me again. We go for a walk in the courtyard, and as usual, I talk to them about various topics through the fence. They've told me about moving to a house in the country for my sake, to help me adjust to life outside the hospital gradually. When I hear someone calling me, I look around and, seeing no one, I assume it's just in my head. Feeling strange, I stand up and suggest we go somewhere else. But when I hear the call again, I look towards the fence, and he's there, but his image is ghostly. I avert my eyes and walk into the building.
Dr. Willson calls me and my aunts over.
"Good morning, Dr. Willson," my aunts greet him, and I just say hello, as usual.
"I've brought you here to share some good news. Elizabeth is ready to go home with you," he announces. I let out a yell and embrace my aunts.
"Can I really go?" I ask incredulously.
"There are some things I need to discuss with your aunts. Go pack your things; you'll be discharged today." As soon as he finishes speaking, I race to gather my belongings, which aren't many since I only wear patient clothes, but I have a few personal items my aunts sent during my stay here. I can't forget my pillow; it was the first gift from my Aunt Emmy, and I can only sleep with it.
Narrated by Emmy
I'm in the office, receiving instructions on how to care for Elizabeth. It was only a few months ago that I began visiting her when she was awake. Initially, I would come while she was sedated to get accustomed to her face, as I am paid to pretend to be her aunt. But over time, I grew fond of her; she's a sweet and gentle child when not in distress. I know her entire history because her stepmother Mel, a friend of mine, asked me to take care of her. I receive a good sum each month, precisely five thousand.
"Elizabeth will be fine with you, but the medications must continue," he insists. I hate this; I know she doesn’t need these drugs. It breaks my heart to see her sedated.
"She doesn't need to take the sleeping pill every night, only on nights when she's restless, okay?"
"Yes, we'll manage just fine," I assure him.
"If anything comes up, don't hesitate to call me. She'll have a monthly check-up to ensure there's no regression."
I say goodbye and head to her room to help her pack. Joao is already waiting for us in the car. Entering her room, she runs to embrace me, a genuine smile on her face.
"Ready to go home?"
"Yes and no. I'm a bit scared of what life is like out there, and what if I can't adapt?" She looks at me, perhaps seeking reassurance. I kneel to meet her eyes.
"My dear Elizabeth, there’s nothing to fear. I'm by your side, and neither you nor anyone else will get hurt."
She looks at me with shining eyes.
"Come on, no more stalling, young lady. Head to the bathroom; it's a long drive." She goes straight to the bathroom, then grabs her backpack and her pillow. I remember that pillow; I sent it to her when she was seven. It's incredible how attached she became to it. We get in the car and head home.
After more than three hours in the car, we finally arrive home. Elizabeth slept most of the way. I considered taking her to her room, but I think it's a bad idea if she wakes up alone in a strange place.
"Elizabeth, wake up; we're here." She stretches and slowly opens her eyes, but panics when she realizes she's not in the hospital. Her strength is astonishing; I can't hold her without hurting her.
"JOAO, HELP ME!" He rushes over, assisting me in calming her. A tear rolls down my cheek; I don't know how to soothe her. So, I sit on the floor, cradling her in my arms, while Joao holds her legs, and I hum a lullaby I learned as a child. After a few minutes, she starts to relax, and I assure her she's home, safe with my husband and me. I had to sleep by her side that night, holding her hand so she could rest.
In the morning, I'm right there when she wakes up to prevent another outburst. She opens her eyes and I immediately speak to her.
"Good morning, dear. Do you know where you are?" Half-asleep, she responds.
"I think so, at home with my aunt and uncle."
"That's right. Let's get up and ready for breakfast."
"Sure," she answers, rising and hugging me with sleep in her eyes.
"Where's the bathroom?"
"Right here. The left door leads to the bathroom and the right one to the closet."
"After breakfast, if you want to get some fresh air, your uncle set up a tire swing in the tree out front."
Elizabeth goes out to check the swing while I watch from the window, making sure she doesn't get scared. But when she sits and starts swinging, she seems so happy.
"Honey, you have to call Mel; this month's payment hasn't arrived yet." Joao reminds me amidst all the change I had forgotten.
"Right, I'll call her now."
I step out to the porch with my phone, keeping an eye on my girl as I make the call.
Call on
"Hi Mel, it's me."
"Hi, how are things over there?"
"They're good. She's been discharged as planned, and I've taken her home to the farm."
"Okay, the payment will come through tomorrow. I don't know why, but they've started searching again; keep her away from any pack."
"The house is 200 kilometers from the nearest pack. You know we're not allowed near them either."
"Mel, I know your reasons, but she's mine now. I don't care that her adopted father is the supreme leader; I've grown attached to her and will fight for her."
"Emmy, I don't care as long as you keep her away from here."
"I'm expecting the payment, and don't worry, she doesn't remember the wolves anymore."
"That's for the best. Bye."
After hanging up, I notice Elizabeth has disappeared from the swing. Frantically searching, I call out, "ELIZABETH... ELIZABETH..." until I hear her laughter from the stable. Rushing there with tears in my eyes, I find her riding a horse alongside Joao. I run and practically yank her off the horse to hug her fiercely.
"Never do that again, leave without telling me," I scold. Joao turns to me, apologizing for just wanting to show her the horse he bought for her, Thunder. I continue to hold her in my arms.
"Emmy, you were on the phone, and I didn't think you'd mind. Sorry," Joao says, his eyes sorrowful.
"It's okay; I just thought she had disappeared. Apologies to you too."
I let her go, she smiles, approaches Thunder, and before mounting, she looks at me, saying, "Aunt Emmy, I feel safe here; I won't disappear, and I don't want you to either." Her words bring tears to my eyes; guilt wells within me for being part of Mel's plans, but my happiness at having her here overrides everything else.
After lunch, I plan to show her the pool, which is far from the house for safety reasons, but she's tired and wants to sleep. I tuck her in bed, and she quickly drifts off, while Joao, seizing the moment of her slumber, goes hunting to keep her from seeing him transform and further confusing her mind.
Mel helped me when I fled my pack with Joao, as my family had intended for me to marry the alpha's son. But I was in love with my own Joao. Arranged marriages are common, but I refused to be torn apart from my love. Joao and I became rebels, unwelcome in any pack, knowing we could be killed if we entered another's territory. Mel was the only person who helped us, provided a place and job, and it was for this reason I agreed to be part of her plan. Initially reluctant, I accepted for the money, but now I see Elizabeth as my own daughter, and I won’t let anyone take her from me.
It's dinner time, and I go to fetch Elizabeth from her room, only to find her on the porch, gazing at the forest.
"Aunt, I feel strange looking at places like that, as if it's where I belong," she remarks, echoing my own feelings at her age, as if she were a wolf.
"I also thought so because it's peaceful and mysterious," I respond.
"Maybe that's why I feel this way," she surmises, a remnant of her life in a pack before being taken from her home.
After dinner, she returns to her room, saying she wants to watch the stars from her balcony because she couldn't in her hospital room. I remember a telescope in the attic and fetch it for her. When I enter her room, I find her asleep on a chair on the balcony. I move her to her bed, cover her, and leave the telescope beside her for when she wakes.
The first day was hectic, and I'm exhausted but happy to have her with me at last...
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