Chapter 8 ~ Awakening part 1
1093 Words
The silver light of the moon moves on, no longer focused at the center of the clearing.
Max falls down on his knees, breathing hard, wondering if he had only dreamed it all. Maybe missing dinner caused him to hallucinate or his desperate situation with Ginny had depressed him so much he—
But no, that cannot be the case. The Silver Lady’s scent still lingers in the air, and inside his mind, another consciousness is stirring. Not quite completely awake yet, but there’s definitely someone else whose foggy, sleepy thoughts are brushing against his.
His heart is thumping wildly in his chest. A wolf spirit! The Moon Goddess herself bestowed upon him a wolf spirit! No longer will his mother be subjected to such ugly gossip. No longer will the pack look down upon him as if he’s a freak of nature! No more hiding, no more hesitating about pursuing Ginny, always doubting whether he deserves the alpha’s daughter.
Oh, if only he can shout it out to the world! Tell everyone the magical miracle that just happened to him tonight!
“You must not tell anyone that I have come to find you tonight. It is of the utmost importance that my visit remains a secret!”
Still shaking but with hope renewed in his heart, he stands up, wobbling a little on his feet and rushes back home.
“Max? Where have you been?” his mother asks as he is about to enter his own room, worry marring her soft features.
He stares at her, wishing he could tell her what just happened to him. Of course, he won’t, but he breaks into a big smile of relief and happiness nonetheless before rushing to hug his mother and swing her around.
“What—what is going on!?”
Max kisses her on the forehead. “Don’t worry, Mom…everything will be okay now.”
“Are you—are you high or something? You look a little feverish—”
He laughs. “I’ve never been better! I can’t tell you right now, but you’ll know soon enough! I gotta go get changed and train—”
“Oh, but you haven’t eaten anything yet—let me fix you a plate, I brought home a few leftovers from the packhouse.”
He is rather hungry, but he’s also too restless to sit down and eat. Right now, all he wants to do is to run around the packhouse, shouting at the top of his lungs that he has a wolf! He’s not an abomination! Not that anybody would believe him at the moment, given that he can’t shift yet, but surely there are other ways people can tell something about him has changed!
Max perks up at the thought. Maybe the alpha can help him figure it out. He can be subtle about it so as to not break his word to the Moon Goddess. A glance at the clock says the alpha is probably in his study at this hour, enjoying a glass of his favorite brandy. He could pretend to be curious about the signs of a wolf spirit awakening in one’s mind, things to watch out for, now that his eighteenth birthday is fast approaching.
“Max?”
He blinks, realizing he’s been zoning out, and sees his mother’s worried eyes staring up at him, probably wondering if he’s on weed or something.
“Sorry, Mom. I gotta go find Alpha right now—”
“Why? What’s going on!? Are you in trouble!?”
“No, no—”
“Max—!”
He can’t tell her, she’d have too many questions that he’s not allowed to answer. The other consciousness inside his head stirs again, and stretches, as if testing its boundaries.
‘Hello?’ Max calls. ‘Are you really there?’
The response comes, clear as a crystal. ‘Where else am I supposed to be?’
Suddenly, speaking to the Alpha becomes a priority. He might be shifting sooner than expected.
“Mom, I’m fine, really. Stop worrying, I promise everything is all right. I just need to ask Alpha Timothy something and then I’ll come home and eat, okay?”
She nods, but he can feel her worried eyes following him as he jogs away, towards the packhouse.
The light under the door to Alpha Timothy’s study confirms that he is already there. Max takes a couple of deep breaths before knocking, his heart pounding even harder as he hears the Alpha’s call to come in.
“Ah, Max… I was wondering where you were. Are you feeling all right?”
“Oh, yeah… I mean, yes. I was just—”
“Ginny was quiet and looked rather sullen during dinner—so I thought perhaps you two must have had a fight.” Alpha Timothy chuckles, looking more amused than worried. “What has she done this time? Or what does she want?”
Max stares at him, dumbfounded. “I—”
“I know she can be a handful, but I hope you were able to handle her just right. You’re one of the few people I trust when it comes to her well-being.”
“T-Thank you, Alpha… but I am actually here for a different reason,” he murmurs, nervously clearing his throat. “I wanted to ask about our spirit wolves.”
Taken aback, Alpha Timothy blinks and then leans back against his chair, clearly not expecting the turn in the conversation. “What about them?”
‘So oblivious.’ For some inexplicable reason, Max can see his wolf rolling its eyes. Not literally see it but…just he knows it is.
He clears his throat again. “When do you actually know you have one? I mean… when do you start hearing your wolf counterpart?”
The real question he wanted to ask was 'when does the alpha know there is a new wolf in his pack', but it seems like an impertinent question and he didn't want to come off as arrogant.
The Alpha is quiet for a bit, as if considering his question and what he truly means. “Has something happened? To you, I mean? Is anyone bothering you or—”
“I-I’m just… curious and I thought you would be the best person to ask...I'd like to be prepared for when the time comes...if it comes...”
Alpha Timothy frowns and clicks his tongue. “Is anyone giving you trouble because of that old rumor about your mother?”
- Writer
