My Werewolf Guardian

The Past Pt 4: The Unnatural Children

=Claudia=

I guess it all started when I was ten. For some reason everyone treated me differently. I noticed my father stopped touching me, even Niven would recoil when I extended my hand to him. This awkward exchange got me to think about my graduate paper. It was what caused West Malbrook Academy to turn their attention to me. I wrote out my thesis and within days the academy was interested in me attending to further my research. This was just a stepping stone afterall. My true focus while attending the highest rated political study academy in the entire country was to get fast tracked into an ambassador position. 

My mother worked hard for her post, Garthram was the second largest werewolf pack in the country, it took guts to do what she did. I knew part of it was because of her relationship with my father, but after he decided to distance himself from her she really stepped into her own. 

The one thing I worried about was how my thesis would be viewed by my family. They didn’t read it before it was submitted and who knows how they’d react. The title alone would take your breath away: The Unnatural Children. It was an in-depth analysis of the children of supernaturals and humans. I had found a lot of intriguing evidence that shows my kind are different. 

“Are you almost done?” Niven checked his watch as he waited. I had taken quite a while in the library today and it would seem his patience was wearing thin. 

“I just need to check a few of these books out.” I had one more year until I was going to leave for the capital. My father was busy making final preparations for me. He had a great house already picked out and the remodeling was going smoothly as far as I knew. In a few short months I’d be graduating, these final days were critical for me to get a jump start on my paper. “Can you take that stack for me to the front desk?” I gestured to the six books, Niven didn’t pay too much attention to my work, but who could blame him? It was boring for most people. 

“All of these?” He studied the first one closely, “This is a book about vampire genealogy.” 

I nodded keeping my voice down, “It’s got some information I need in it.”

He shrugged, gathering my books and walking me to the front desk. “Are you going to talk about what your paper’s about?”

“It’s not important.” Interesting, he never seemed to want to know about it before. “Let’s get going, father won’t want me out after dark anyway.”

He nodded and once we were checked out he walked me back home. He was turning into quite the gentleman as of late, but our conversations aren't as extravagant anymore. After he lied to my father for me he put up a wall that made sure I was aware of where we stand. I continued to deliver him midnight snacks regularly, but we weren’t such as good friends. For him to ask about my research, that was irregular in itself so I shouldn’t trouble him with the details. 

“What kind of paper requires you to learn about vampires?” He muttered taking another look at the bag contents. “More than one of these are about vampires.” He looked back to me, “I thought you were training to be a werewolf ambassador.”

I smiled shortly, flipping through my notebook. He was accustomed to me walking and writing, when I got an idea I just had to make sure it was down before it floated away, “My research is about whatever I want, it doesn’t have to pertain to my area of study. In fact, the professors prefer you step outside of your comfort zone to expand your mind.” 

“And you’re expanding it into the vampire side of the world? Does your father know?” There it was. 

“Does he know that I’m studying genealogy? Probably not, he doesn’t care what I’m doing as long as I’m safe right?” Tossing a snide glare toward him I returned to flipping through my book. This was the most we had spoken to each other in a very long time, did I really want to stay behind that wall? “If you’re interested,” I began, “it’s about children of supernatural and human parents.”

“Why are you interested in that?” His voice was low and short as he stared down his nose at me.

“Oh I don’t know, maybe because I am one?” I shrugged passing him as we continued to walk. “Besides maybe it’ll explain why everyone’s afraid to touch me.” 

He scoffed and hurried to catch up to me, “Why would you think people are afraid to touch you?”

I held up a finger in his face wiggling it back and forth, as he retreated, “Not people, my mother hugs me all the time, I mean werewolves.”

“I-I-I don’t know what you mean.” He stuttered

“Yes you do. It’s why you drew back, maybe one of these days you’ll figure out why you don’t want to touch me?” I stopped jumping on the balls of my feet, “Oh, experiment time, how about I touch you now?”

He backed away at the thought and I stepped forward not letting him gain any ground.

“What’s wrong?” I smirked, “You’re not afraid to touch me are you?”

“That’s not it.” looking away he shifted around me so we could start toward the house again.

“What is it then?”

“I don’t know. I can’t really explain it. It’s just a feeling I have.” He kept his distance but narrowed the gap between us, “I don’t think you’d be able to understand.”

“Well that’s fine.” I smiled, “That’s why I’m doing the research.” I flipped through my notebook to my pieces of evidence, “Let’s take this one for example,” I held up my notebook in front of his face, “Her name was Delila, she was the daughter of a vampire and human. When she turned ten there were reports that she was able to turn invisible. Her mother went crazy soon after and-”

“You honestly believe that she could turn invisible?” He crossed his arms looking down at me with those condescending eyes.

“I don’t believe it, I just know that people thought she could. This was hundreds of years ago, before the structured society took over, so who knows what was real? Stories were passed by word of mouth for a long time, who knows what details could have changed?”

“What about this one?” He pointed to my most recent note.

“Katherine?” I c****d an eyebrow at him.

“She wasn’t able to turn invisible, she hated werewolves.” He was right, my sister had a deep mistrust of everything about my father, but there was something that happened to her that pertained to my research.

“She started to really hate them around the time she turned ten right?” 

“I don’t know, that would be a question for her guardian.” 

“Yes,” I shrugged, “Too bad he died. But Katherine is still alive.” I winked and stepped away to make room for the explosion that was sure to follow.

“Katherine is not someone you can see.” he put it simply and straight to the point, much more collected than I expected from him. 

“Now see,” I jumped forward judging my distance carefully, “I think that’s not true, unless you agree she is invisible?” 

“You’re getting a little too bld little wolf.” He frowned, “Don’t bring this up to your father.” 

“Fine.” I shrugged, “This conversation isn’t over though.”

“Is there any way I can convince you to not pursue this?” I rushed after me taking note of our surroundings quickly. We were getting dangerously close to the house and if we wanted our conversations to remain private we needed to watch our volume. 

“Actually yes.” I perked up, “Let me touch you. Get over that fear.” 

“Maybe later tonight.” rolling his eyes he was picking his battles carefully, but maybe I could finally get a few answers about why everyone’s reflexes were to withdraw from my presence. 

“It’s a deal wolfie.” I winked and danced up the walkway meeting my mother with open arms.

“Oh darling Claudia.” My mother with her ever sweet voice and kind words, she loved me more than anyone else ever could. 

“Mother, how was the summit?” She had spent all last week at a conference deciding a few new laws and taxes. I followed it slightly, but didn’t have the knowledge to understand everything at this point. It was all very complex.

“Oh you know, vampires don’t want a blood tax, humans want recompense, werewolves want stricter territory laws.” Let’s go inside dear, let’s catch up. She turned back to Niven shooing him away, “Take your leave, she’ll be fine with me for a few hours. She’ll be to bed at her normal time.” 

This was the best thing about my mother, she was the only one who could get me some peace and quiet. Niven of course obeyed and went to put my books away in my room. 

My mother turned back to me and led me to our sitting room, “So tell me darling. How have your studies been?”

I smiled placing my bag down, “The academy is excited for me to start next year. I received my classmate list. There’s a lot of prospects who are interested in the same career path.”

She nodded, “You’re in luck too, one of my colleague’s sons will be a member of your class. He’s an ambassador to vampires, but he doesn’t have nearly the same connections as you do.”

“I was meaning to ask you a few questions. My thesis was accepted-”

“Oh pish posh.” She waved her hand dismissing me before I could ask, “That’s just a formality. The academy knows your father and me. You’re going to focus more on the political career. Don’t stress about your paper, if you need help with it just let me know.”

“Certainly,” I nodded, “I just have a few questions-”

“Claudia.” My mother placed her hands over my cheeks, “Dear, you’re going to be wonderful. You just need to make sure that you are at the top of your class where it counts. That thesis exercise is for those who need a fall back. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

I nodded as he hands fell back down cupping in her lap, “Thanks mother.” 

“So how has your father been?” They weren’t together anymore, but my father still treated her like a queen. She stayed in the guest house most of the time, it hurt her feelings when my father met with the females of his pack. She never let it show though, her real power was showing strength in the most difficult of situations. 

“He’s been fine. A bit preoccupied with pack business, but I’ve had Niven keeping me plenty of company.”

“Oh that’s good.” she smiled, “Well, if you are ever in need of something to do you are more than welcome to come to the office with me. You could get first hand experience of what I do as well as get a break from all of that messy busy work.”

“Oh that’d be wonderful!” I slapped my hands on my knees, “I might get a bit more credibility with my incoming class.”

“Of course dear!” She patted my hands, “So let’s have some tea then?”

I nodded and took to my feet, “That would be wonderful, I’ll have a maid put a pot on.” 

She followed me as I rang a bell on the counter causing one of our house maid’s to appear quickly, “Yes Miss?” bowing. All of our house workers were human, it was easier that way plus it was a publicity stunt suggested by my mother. A werewolf providing jobs to humans, it was just too good of an opportunity to pass up. 

“We’ll take a pot of tea before dinner. Something light.” I looked to my mother but she allowed my suggestions to go through unchallenged. 

“Certainly Miss.” She bowed again before leaving back to the kitchen. My mother and I finished catching up exchanging pleasantries. 

After dinner I turned in bidding my mother a farewell with a kiss. She took her leave happy that my father had stayed away so we could share a dinner together. ON my way up the stairs I couldn’t help but think about how my mother didn’t think I needed to worry about the normal academy work. She felt I was going to waste my time there? Honestly, my side research was interesting to me and it really excited me to think I was going to find out more about myself. When I came to my bedroom door I was surprised to meet Niven waiting patiently for me with a smile widely spread across his face.