Episode 8

Narrated by Vincenzo

Sunday morning, I'm taking the day off to spend time with Mel and my little wolf Matheus. I got up early as usual while they are still asleep, taking the opportunity to prepare breakfast. As I set the table, I notice that I placed one more setting. My little girl, where might she be?

It's been some days since I received news that she's indeed alive, but it doesn't comfort me as I want her by my side. I haven't yet told my wife and son, how can I assert and give false hope based only on the intuition of a 13-year-old boy?

I prepared a hearty breakfast, the table's set and I go to wake up my family. I woke Mel first, she got up and went to tend to her hygiene, she said she'd be down shortly and that I should go wake up Matheus. Heading to his room, which is next door to Elizabeth's, I stop in front of hers. It's been years since I've entered and I don't allow anyone else in but today I feel a longing to go inside.

I carry the only key on a chain around my neck, I take it, unlock the door, take a breath, and finally enter. Everything is just as it was on the day she disappeared: her unmade bed, her dirty clothes still in the basket, her toys scattered around, and her crossbow on the desk along with her knife. All her photos that were around the house are here in a box: they pained me to see her and not have her close by.

To my surprise, I see Matheus at the door; he's standing there and says,

"Good morning, dad. You know this is the forbidden room, remember?" He reminds me of something I had said a while back when he asked why this room is locked.

"This is your sister's room. She's not here now, but she'll be back soon." I call him over to show him some of her pictures. He asks to be held and picks up the frames.

"Where is she?" he asks, and I can't hold back the tears as I'm reminded that if I see her, I may not even recognize her.

"I don't know, she disappeared," I tell him the truth and what he replies I believe with all I hear.

"Dad, let's look for her, and we'll find her, okay?" he says smiling as if he knew it was not that simple.

He found a stuffed rabbit in the room and clung to it; if I'm not mistaken, that was Elizabeth's favorite because it was gifted to her by Lara.

"Matheus, I can't let you keep it. It belongs to your sister," but he doesn't listen and starts to cry, I try to calm him.

"Hey son, listen, I'll buy you one," he mutters.

"But this one has a good smell, from someone who isn’t a wolf," his comment is odd as he never was around humans enough to tell apart scents. Intrigued, I ask,

"How do you know it’s not a wolf?"

"It's different from a wolf, it's softer and more delicate," he answers with his eyes closed, still hugging the blue rabbit.

I take it and smell her scent on it before placing it back. I invite the little one out of the room and he takes one of Elizabeth's photographs, one of the last ones on her sixth birthday with the new crossbow I had gifted her.

"Can I keep this one, dad?" I don't want to refuse since I didn't let him keep the rabbit.

"Alright, but leave it in your room first, and come down for breakfast." He races off to his room, and I return to the kitchen followed shortly by Mel with the little one. We sit down to enjoy breakfast.

Nearly done with breakfast, Athos rushes into the house, frantic and out of breath. I hurry to meet him; it could be an emergency with Alec.

"Athos, WHAT HAPPENED?" I say authoritatively.

"Sir, I have… I have…" he's so agitated that he can't finish saying anything. I decide to ask,

"Is it something about your brother?" He shakes his head negatively.

"Then in the pack?" He denies with a gesture attempting to catch his breath.

"Eliz... Eliz..." I hear him say and am left speechless—could they have found her?

"Where is she? Tell me!" and unintentionally, I exert my dominance over him. He immediately crouches and answers,

"I think I know how to find her," he replies, even under the influence I have as a supreme, he smiles.

"Come with me to the office," he stands and follows me right away.

Inside, he tells me he managed to persuade Elizabeth to disclose her location after hearing the name Joao Drummond. I've heard that name before, just can't recall where.

"Are you sure of the names?"

"Yes, sir, I heard loud and clear," he replies confidently. I have no other choice but to trust in his word.

"I'll send a reliable Omega to gather information on every couple with those names living on farms. It's going to be difficult with only the couple's name."

"I'll keep in touch with her. I won't give up," he says goodbye and just before leaving makes one last request.

"I would like, to have access to the ancient book archives accessible only to supremes," he has already shown dedication to everything concerning Elizabeth, and since he has given me hope, I'll reward him.

I take a card from a drawer which grants full access and toss it to him; he catches it and thanks me before departing. I spend the rest of the morning calling some contacts to expedite the search. Returning to the kitchen, Mel is setting the table for lunch.

"Vincenzo, what was so urgent that Athos needed?" Now is not yet the time to tell them that we might find my little girl; I don't want them to have hope and end up not finding her.

"Athos wants to see the old pack books, that's all!" It's not quite a lie but also not the whole truth.

"All that hurry for musty old books," but he is young and already wise.

"He will be a very wise beta, he has always devoted himself to everything he does with heart and soul," I dislike this talk of him being the "mate" of my dear Daughter.

"Speaking of which, in a few months Matheus will be 5 years old, it’s about time to prepare him to be your heir, don't you think?" And now I have already nominated Elizabeth as my successor, I cannot make Matheus as well, because when she returns, she will still be my Heir causing an internal war between siblings.

"Matheus is very young for such responsibility, I will wait for his first hunt's results to make a decision," even if I didn't believe she'd come back, I would wait for the results to make him my heir in her place.

Mel gets agitated and frowns,

"Do you really believe that wretch will return to claim what rightfully belongs to my son?" She forgot who I am.

"How dare you question my decision, my word is absolute," I'm almost losing control.

I exert my dominance to make her understand that my daughter is as important as Matheus.

"IF YOU EVER TALK LIKE THAT TO ME OR ABOUT ELIZABETH AGAIN, I SWEAR I WON'T BE ABLE TO CONTROL MYSELF," she bows her head and looks to the ground, quickly apologizing and standing up.

"One more thing, Mel, I love my son and I still hope to have my daughter again in my arms and nothing nor anyone will replace either in my life. If she returns, she will still be my heiress and Matheus will be the councilor, both will rule side by side, leading all the packs together."

I leave to clear my head a bit; her attitude was very odd. She was always by my side in searches for my daughter and always supported me so I wouldn't lose focus, even when I gave up on the searches she insisted that we not cancel them. It seemed like she really cared about her, or maybe her hostile behavior comes from wanting to protect her son.

I go to a little bar in the center of the village for lunch and a drink, I called Alec to help me think through everything that's happening. We spent the whole afternoon shooting the breeze, seeing Filipe approach our table.

"Hello, supreme," he bows and then greets Alec.

"Sir, I heard there might be a chance to have my favorite student back, is that true?"

"For now, we're not sure but I've resumed the search after new evidence emerged that she's alive," still every time I speak of her, I get emotional.

Alec notices my discomfort and switches the topic, asking about Athos; always dedicated.

I stayed until about 8 at night, it was a pleasant afternoon allowing me to relax and forget my troubles. When I got home I saw Mel on the phone, so I went upstairs without speaking to her to get ready for dinner. At dinner, I am still upset and don’t utter a word to her, speaking only to little Matheus. I put him to bed and then went to bed myself...

Monday morning, I have to travel to spend 3 months auditing the packs and switching some alphas. At one pack, I need to find an alpha for New Dawn since the current one doesn’t have heirs and after 200 years our laws mandate an alpha change.

Before leaving, I receive news that I have to check on a new pack forming from young werewolves expelled from their packs. This is a problem, undisciplined youth and worse in large numbers—they are around 30 and are settling between my pack, Black Night, and my childhood friend Charles's pack, Blood Rose. They are in neutral territory but in abundance, which could lead to war. I must resolve this before traveling.

Calling Alec to my office, I order him to survey that pack to see if they have an alpha. With my many commitments, I leave this task to my beta and command to double the security around my pack during my absence.

Finally, I pack my things and say farewell to my son and wife. I get into the car and head out to fulfill my obligations...

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