Lost and Found

chapter 7

    "Well I am sure Isis answered most of your day to day questions, before I inform you of some things I figured we would start with any questions you have at this point. "

    "So I asked Isis and she didn't have any answers when I asked her about my family. How did my mother die? How did you not know about me? what about by father? and your wife?" I say, trying to get everything out as fast as possible.  

    "Well, that's a lot of questions at once. Well, I guess we can go in chronological order. My mate Selena, there was a war a while back. An up an coming pack wanted more territory, more members, more money. So they attacked us thinking we were weak. During the attack my Selena was killed." His eyes get dark. "It happened when your mother was about 17, it was a rough few years after that and then she was taken."

    "Taken? By who?" I lean in feeling more curious then ever.  

    "You might not understand, you haven't grown up with the pack. It is very important that we find our mates and continue on in our pack. Your mother fell in love with someone that wasn't her mate. He was a witch and he cast spells on her, taught her dark magic, turned her into someone else. She was no longer the little girl I had raised. He took her, on her 19th birthday. He kidnapped her and we never saw her alive again. She was missing for 3 years, when we finally got a hint of her in Chicago. We had gotten a few hints before and I stopped going, by the time I got there she was always long gone. I couldn't stand the hope any more. So I stayed back, sent Beck in my stead. He came back with her body. He had found them, the witch had her locked up and when Beck tried to get her our the witch killed her and Beck killed him. I wish I could have been there to rip his throat out myself." He holds his head in his hands, his shoulders heavy from the guilt he has held onto. 

  I don't know what to say, so I just sit there silently, waiting for Ez to break the tension. He looks up at me and just stares for a moment. 

    "She must have had you sometime before, I can only speculate on what happened. You say you were found in a hospital, I am guessing maybe my daughter tried to escape with you, or made an attempt to save you by dropping you off at the hospital. I can only think you are the product of the spells he cast on her, him forcing her to do what he wanted. My daughter, the one I raised would never have abandoned you, if there was another way. The locket you have, holds another piece to the story. Can I be blunt with you?"

    "Absolutely, just tell me what you know." I just need answers. 

    "I believe the witch r***d my daughter and she got pregnant with you. I think he had a plan for you and Mireya would not let him see it to fruition. Somehow Mireya knew what you would become and he didn't. I don't see how it would be possible she would know and he wouldn't, but there is no way the witch would have released you into the unknown with what you can do."

    "I'm sorry, I'm a little confused. What can I do? I am a wolf right? just like the rest of you?" 

    "I don't think so. The wolf in your locket, it's not a common image among our kind. Something only a few powerful creatures would know.  It represents a wolf that will be born, this wolf will be blessed by the moon goddess and granted the affinity for the elements. This wolf will either be the resurrection or the destruction of our kind."

    "Affinity for the elements? what does that mean? Like I can control the weather or something? No, no no, I think you are confused."

    "I don't believe Mireya would have put that image in the locket if you were not the wolf that has been foretold, I would like to try something, but you must be open to it."

    "Try what?" I ask, looking at him skeptically. 

    "Come with me." He stands up and walks out to the balcony. There are a few different plants sitting in the corners, on the ledges, making the balcony quite lush with greenery. He leads me to a little plant,  with a few bulbs on them. It looks new, and out of place compared to the other blossoming greenery. He stands in front of the little plant, seemingly unsure for just a moment before his shoulders square. He speaks with confidence, as if he knows everything already. The moment before gave way to just a glimpse of his nature. 

    "Place your hands on the plant, and think bloom." He says matter of factly. Like he is asking me to write my name, as if its some common simple task. 

 I snort, my laugh catching in my throat. He does not look amused. He stares at me in silence, if looks could kill. I take a second and compose myself. If this is what he wants, fine, I will show him nothing special about me. I place my hands on the black soil around the little plant. I take a few deep steadying breaths, closing my eyes I think "bloom". I hear a sudden intake of breath behind me and my eyes fly open. I see the little plant has grown a foot and now has beautiful purple flowers sprouted in full bloom. I take a step back, feeling speechless I look at Ez. 

    "H..h...how?" I finally get out. 

    "I told you." He says simply.  I look down at my hands. In absolute shock. Another thought enters my mind, "what else can I do?" I stand up and head to another plant, this time keeping my eyes open, I place my hands on the vines. I say "bloom in my mind and I watch as the vines reach out farther, wrapping down the posts of the balcony. I keep pushing it seeing how far it will go, the Ivy leaves flowing seamlessly down the edges reaching for the ground. I feel a hand on my shoulder, breaking me out of my trance. 

    "I think you should take a break." Ez says softly. I realize my breathing has become ragged. I look at him and it seems there are 2 of him, bobbing in and out. I feel him steady my swaying and he slowly maneuvers me to a chair to sit.

    "You need to take it slow, using these will take a lot out of you and your wolf. You must be aware and not over extend yourself. These abilities are like a new muscle. You must start slow, work and train them, you will build your stamina in time but you must be patient."

    "How do you know all this?" I say now that my head is feeling clear. 

    "Well there are still some writings from the few affinity wolves that came before. They have written about how they have controlled their powers and adjusted over time. It takes a lot of work, to master the elements. Right now you will be able to manipulate them, but in time you will be able to create, call them forth at your choosing. As each new affinity wolf is born it is said they are getting stronger. However that is a hard thing to verify. Every wolf wants to be stronger then the ones before, so a little embellishment is typical." He says with a chuckle. "For now I have enlisted help from a witch to assist you with your abilities and help you adjust."

    I look at him, surprised. "A witch? I thought you don't like them?"

    "That's not what I said. Witches are like everything else, there are some good and some bad. Your mother got mixed up with a bad one. The witch you will work with is very old, she has studied much about wolves and has knowledge of affinity wolves. She has worked with us for a long time, among a few of or allied packs. I have sent for her and she should be here within the next few days. Until then you will be with Isis and she will show you around and get you on a schedule. You will need to train with the wolves to be a warrior, and learn our ways, in addition to your ability training. The training you will be doing with the witch must be kept secret. You can not tell anyone what you can do or that you are working with a witch. Not everyone is open minded and some do hate all witches. We don't have the best history, there are prejudices.  The only ones that will know what you are doing will be myself, Beck, Idris, and his children. Under no circumstances shall you disclose this information. Do you understand?" His voice gets deeper and I feel a twinge from my wolf as he completes his order. I nod my head. 

    "Good. On another note we will need to officially make you part of the pack. As you are my long lost grand daughter, it is important the pack knows you and is aware of your status. We will have an official ceremony once you have completed training. Blood or not, there are tests that must be done before any wolf can join our pack. Any questions?" 

    "What does the  test and ceremony entail?" 

    "Well the situation in unprecedented. Most pack members are born into the pack, so we don't need a ceremony. They are mainly for mates that join us or if we allow a new member. The test, everyone must go through, will be a series of trials to determine if you are a warrior worthy of the Black moon pack. Don't worry, you will be well prepared. The ceremony is brief, say a few words welcoming the new member, a simple cutting of the hand from the alpha and the new member, a blending of our blood to initiate the mind link connection to the pack. Followed by a shift, showing the pack both forms, a brief run with the pack and a massive party rounds out the evening. I imagine we will follow the same script. If you wish to add or change anything you can run them by Isis. Anything else?"

    "No." I shake my head. 

    "Well Isis is waiting for you outside the door. I have some business to attend to, if you need anything Isis can mind link me."  I nod my head as I slowly stand up, feeling a little nervous. This is so much. Ez can sense my anxiety. "Hey, I am very happy to have found you. I am sure this isn't what you expected finding your family would be like. I don't mean to brush you off or be cold. I am not exactly sure how to handle this" his hands motion between the two of us "I want to get to know you and spend time with you. I also don't want to overload you, this whole world is new as is my existence to you. I hope you can get used to our way of life and then you can get used to me."

    I just nod, unsure what else to do. Do we hug? handshake? I don't know, it feels like its too much or not enough. I choose to do neither and head out the door. He seemed like he genuinely cared for me, and we only met yesterday. I know building a connection with him is something I really want. I want it more then understanding this "way of life", I feel like that should be the priority. I guess we will just figure it out later.