Storm

Finally

“What’s the plan today dad?” I ask my father while he makes our usual breakfast. A breakfast “burger” that consists of pancakes, sausage, and cheese. Sometimes we add bacon if we’re feeling it, not today though, dad was in a hurry.

“I’ve got to go into the territory, alpha Axyl has called a meeting with the financial board. I’ll be there for a few days; I made a lasagna you and Lila can reheat for dinner.” Dad speaks very lightly, he’s a very relaxed, caring man, his voice reflects that. He finishes making our breakfasts and slides my plate in front of me. “I made a few extra of these too, I’d hate for you two to go hungry without me.” He sounds like he’s joking but seriously, Lila and I would starve without dad.

“We wouldn’t go hungry” I object. “We would just order a lot of takeout.”

Dad and I eat in silence, enjoying the morning. It’s 6am nobody else is awake, dad and I have always been early risers. I text my group chat with Hunter and Carmen, they aren’t up yet, but they would be soon, and I probably wouldn’t hear from them until after their classes.

I wanted to go with Dad so badly, I knew if I asked him again, he would just say no. He goes to the territory so often he has an apartment there. Van is living there currently. He got his wolf, Rodrick, when he was sixteen, he’s twenty-four now, he trains with the rest of the pack daily. He’s applied to pack warrior academy, similar to the human military, but instead of weapons, they learn how to use their wolves as weapons. There are some specialties, you can train to be in the alphas guard, you can train in spell casting, but only crossbred shifters could apply for that. The specialty Van was going in to was a rare one, rarely shifters wanted the job of traveling to other territories, communicating with humans, and making trades with other species. Van, having lived in the human world most of his life, felt like it was his calling. It was a dangerous job, the humans tend to over-react and fear our kind, because we’re unknown to them. My brother would be great at it though, he was a charmer, he could get his way out of anything, and had, time and time again. He could sell paper to a tree, but he truly did care about every person he met. There’s no better person to build relationships with the other species.

“I should be back before your birthday, is there anything special you want me to bring you?” my father asks.

I look up from my breakfast, making eye contact with my father I saw a sparkle in his eye. It was the glimmer of hope I needed to gain the courage to ask “Can I come with? I’ll stay at the apartment, I won’t bother- “

“I was hoping you would ask” father cuts me off, “I think it’s time.”

I blink, not sure what to think of what he just told me. He’s finally bringing me with, I’ll be around other shifters! Finally, I won’t have to hide! I’ve never seen another shifter other than my father and Van, their wolves were huge, 6 foot tall at the shoulders, their fur a golden brown, my father had beautiful white markings resembling a Bengal cat’s. Vans markings more subtle, small white spots throughout his coat. I wondered what my wolf would look like, I looked so much different than my father and Van, where they had natural light hair, mine was black as night. They had olive skin, free of any blemishes, quite honestly, they looked like Gods. All of my friends had crushes on Van, any human would. The only girls who didn’t comment on my brother’s appearance were Carmen and Hunter. Carmen was a lesbian, so it was easy for her to ignore his charm. I’m sure Hunter had her moments, but she never made it known. Some of the bolder girls would comment on my father, Van was his exact copy, they looked more like brothers than father and son. I took after my biological mother, pale, freckled, with that vibrant blue stripe through my hair. The only thing I got from my father was his eyes, the color of emeralds.

I pack my bag, luckily, I don’t need much, shifters run warm, so even though we’ll be very far north, in the coldest part of northern Canada, hidden from humans, I’ll be comfortable in a long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans. I’ll have to pack some athletic clothing, a sports bra and some spandex, I’m hoping Van will bring me to training with him. Maybe him and our father will let me stay there for my birthday. It would be much more freeing and simpler if I could shift on the territory for the first time. I wouldn’t have to control Katria; I would be able to run free.

“Storm, it’s time to go.” My father calls up the stairs. He doesn’t have to pack much, he had clothes and toiletries at his apartment in the territory. I hear him saying goodbye to Lila. I wonder why she doesn’t come with, since she had no reason to stay home now that I’ll be going. She had gone with father before, but only for short trips, they didn’t want to leave me home alone for too long. Lila doesn’t like long car rides, so it is only occasional that she rides with father. “Got everything you need? There’s no reception in the territory, you might want to tell your friends.”

I text Hunter and Carmen that I’m going out of town and my phone won’t work, I’ll make sure to come up with a better explanation when I get back. “I’m ready Dad.” I say, perhaps I over packed, seeing my several small bags at the bottom of the stairs.

“Are you moving there?” Lila asks. She says it dryly, but I know it’s her attempt at a joke. Fae don’t tend to have much of a sense of humor, but living around us Lila does try and make us laugh occasionally.

“I didn’t know what I’d need, I figured it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.” I respond, I have no clue what to expect from this trip, from what I’ve heard, the territory is very similar to human cities. There are stores, restaurants, even movie theaters, but I didn’t know if they’d have my favorite body wash or the only type of conditioner that tames my hair.

My father and I hop into his large SUV, the perfect vehicle for where we’re going. The roads to the territory are long, unmarked, dirt roads. I’ve never been, but Van has described it to me so well, I could almost drive there by heart. My excitement is palpable, and I can tell my father can feel it, his smile is wider than ever, the twinkle still in his eye.

Our territory is called Rosmarus, it’s a long drive from our home in the human lands, we’ll be driving over-night. Father makes this drive often, it’s second nature for him, he doesn’t even need to see the street signs, he just goes. I’m excited to see Van, I can’t wait to catch up with him about his training. Maybe he found his Chosen. Shifters, Fae, Vampires, and a few other species have someone picked for them by the spirits themselves. We call that person our Chosen. Most are able to find their Chosen at the age of 18, since I haven’t gotten my wolf, I doubt I’d be able to find my Chosen, but I’m still hopeful. When you find your Chosen the Earth stops spinning except for them, they become the center of your world.

About 4 hours into our drive, I start to get curious. Why did my father decide this time to take me? Sensing my curiosity, he asks “Wondering why I brought you?” I nod. “Well, you’ll be nineteen in two weeks, you’ll have your wolf. There’s’ no better place to shift for the first time and…” he trails off into thought.

“And?” I ask curiously.

“And Alpha Axyl decided that it’s time for you to pay him a visit.” He says, rubbing his neck uncomfortably.

“The Alpha Axyl? Wants to meet me?” Why would the Alpha of Alphas want anything to do with me? I’m nobody, I’ve spent my whole life in the human world. The only amount of shifter history I know has been taught to me by Van or Dad. Lila has taught me Fae history, but that’s just because her and I don’t have much else to talk about.

“You’ll see when we get there.” He says, he starts to pull into a gas station, “Want a drink?”

“Can you get me a coffee; I can take the next shift driving.” I tell Dad. He never lets me drive after I got that speeding ticket. In my defense, there was a bush growing in front of the sign.

“No thanks speed queen, but I’ll get you that coffee.” He laughs and walks in to pay for gas. I open my phone, no service already.