The Beasts of Baye Road

The Rise of The Cat People

Blanca could have grabbed her sister and left Baye Road. Leaving behind the nightmare consumed nights too. Although, Baye Road had become her home with Matteo. Unfortunately, at that moment she wanted to drag Gianna back to Alaska.

Blanca only wanted to drink her coffee in peace, why couldn’t Gianna let her?

‘You’re just like your mother! You breath secrets.’

‘Come on Gianna.’

They called their mom to tell her about Anneska yesterday when the searches concluded that she was dead. They chose to omit the part about her potentially betraying the guardians.

She wasn’t as distraught as a people who had just lost their sister would be. She wasn’t concerned her daughters were staying in Baye Road. Gianna forced her to tell her the truth about her biological father and she bluntly said she didn’t recall anything about him.

It was the saddest phone call either of them had ever had.

‘You’re both awful!’ Gianna spat.

Blanca set down her cup and reached for her little sister. Gianna jumped back.

‘Keep your hands to yourself.’

‘Try to understand I couldn’t tell you about your father. Mom said she was waiting for the right time, maybe until she found the information she needed about him.’

‘And? When did you turn?’

Blanca had been avoiding the subject for weeks.

Blanca sighed, ‘I was fourteen. Mom made me swear not to speak about it. I never fully turned!’

Gianna's eyes turned to saucers. ‘Fourteen? Before me Blanca? I can’t believe this.’

‘I’m sorry I—’

‘No you’re not! You always let that woman control you.’

Blanca's eyes burrowed. Gianna didn’t understand what it meant to be half full, partially whole. Gianna came to another pack as a potential savior, another pack would only see Blanca as a burden, an outcast. There hadn’t even been a half wolf in centuries that’s how much of a spectral she’d be. Their mother was right, Blanca should have remained hidden.

Then Matteo was attacked and she couldn’t keep her wolf at bay. He hadn’t chased her away when he found out. He was cool about it. With no secrets between them their bond grew stronger and he wasn’t planning on marrying her sister either. The only person who knew about her full story besides Gianna was Franz. The other guardians were in the dark. Thank goodness, none of them had come up to her to confront her.

Banging sounded at the door and made them jump followed by cries of what appeared to be an army of cats. Gianna and Blanca exchanged glances then rushed to the door in their robes. They gasped. There had to be over fifty cats spread out in the front lawn.

‘What the…’ Blanca trailed.

‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’ Gianna groaned.

A fluffy black cat sprawled in front of the door. Blanca could have sworn the animal was scrawling at her. It kind of looked familiar to her too.

Matteo and Karl rushed through the door, their grey robes flowing behind them.

‘What the hell?’ Karl shouted.

Matteo shook his head when the fluffy black cat shivered then grew into a black ball before it stood on two legs. Blanca’s eyes turned to saucers. It was her! Matteo's ex girlfriend.

Blanca wanted to hide back in the house when she remembered the first time she saw Lexi with a naked Matteo in the woods. Lexi wore a black long sleeve jumpsuit and long knee length boots.

Lexi giggled, ‘Long time no see Matteo. I see you kept the maid.’

Blanca recalled the time Lexi snuck into the house disguised as an innocent cat and scratched her on the hand. Matteo was furious he threw her out the window.

‘I should have known it was cat people.’ Karl folded his arms then chuckled.

‘What are you doing here Lexi? What the hell is all this?’ He threw his hands up.

Lexi laughed and a black and white cat walked beside her. It transformed into a white haired woman in a long green dress that made her bright blue eyes pop.

‘We mean you no harm Alpha. We simply come with a request.’ A smile played at the edge of her lips.

‘Out with it then.’ Matteo was careful not to let the growl in his voice show.

‘We’ve been governed by wolves long enough. We want to set up our own council.’ She said.

Matteo had to hold himself back or else a chuckle would escape. He and Karl shared a glance.

‘Does this mean you don’t want our protection either?’ Matteo c****d his brow.

The cat cries grew into growls. The little animals quaked and stood on two feet, fur burst from their skin, their eyes sharpened themselves like a cat’s and glowed bright yellow.

‘I’ll take that as a no,’ Matteo murmured.

Laughter rang out through the crowd. ‘We don’t need you anymore sugar!’ Lexi cackled.

‘Alright then I’ve heard your request. I ask that you give me time to speak to the guardians and pull out my wolves.’

‘You have until the next full moon to act Matteo or else we’re setting up our council with or without your approval.’ Lexi pointed a sharp claw at him.

The crowd turned and left the manor. Cat fur was everywhere. Matteo shut the door behind them. Who would have thought? Cat people. He took Blanca in his arms and kissed her lips.

‘Get a room,’ Gianna groaned the turned up the stairs.

‘Sounds like an excellent idea,’ he whispered into her ear.

‘I think it’s high time you moved into my room.’

She grinned then her lips fell into a concerned line. ‘Is everything going to be okay? I remember you telling me they were harmless.’

‘Up until now I didn’t know they could transform without a full moon.’

He cupped her cheeks and pressed his lips against hers. He let them linger on hers a little longer before pulling away. It didn’t put her at ease but at least there was a small smile on her face.

‘Don’t worry babe. It’s not a war or anything they just want what everyone else has.’

Blanca nodded, ‘Yeah I guess you’re right.’

‘Great. I’ll catch you later. I need to talk to the guardians about this.’

He kissed her one last time before he headed up the stairs. On his way to the library he couldn’t have been more thankful Gianna was kidnapped and he couldn’t marry her. It sucked that the pack couldn’t inherit their powers, but he would eventually would have had to mate with Gianna. Even if they both didn’t want to it was going to happen. Blanca wouldn’t have wanted anything to do with him then.

Matteo kicked the door behind him shut.

‘Are you really going to let them govern themselves? Those guys are total train wrecks.’ Cam asked. He stretched his body on the long couch.

Franz stood by the desk, Gianna, Kyle and David sat on the couch opposite Cam. Debra gazed out the window next to Karl.

‘It hasn’t even been a month since the last attacks. We don’t need this.’ Debra said.

After the beasts vanished Kyle and Gianna became members of the guardians. The offer was extended to Cooper against everyone’s judgment, but Kyla's. Although he had been honored among the striking and chose their council, something Matteo understood completely. Susanna became a member as well she was their magical advisor, though wasn’t obligated to live in the manor.

‘What I want to know is how they got so much power all of a sudden.’ Matteo scratched his head.

‘Indeed,’ Franz agreed.

‘So, what do you say? Stakeout?’ Debra grinned and Matteo nodded.

‘If everything’s clean then I’ll let them have what they want.’ Matteo shrugged.

Franz walked round the desk and sat in the leather chair. ‘We would need to draw up plans to ensure peace and make sure boundaries are respected with all creatures.’

‘Of course. Debra take David and Gianna make sure to report back before it’s dark.’

The meeting was over and the guardians dispensed. Franz called Matteo back before he was fully out the door.

‘We have something to discuss about our half wolf.’