Half Blooded

02

“Move, Celeste! Move!”

The voice in my head said, trying to save us both but I know it’s too late. The hungry beast is already above me, ready to devour its meal—

My body moved on its own as quickly as light. What did I just do— I opened my eyes and quickly moved. I grabbed the mad beast on the back of its neck before it could have a chance to turn around and attack me again. With all my force, I lift it with my bare hands and hardly slammed it on the ground.

The wolf whimpered at the pain it caused it. I watched as he tried to escape while I’m trying to catch my breath. It was damn heavy!

The wolf tried its best to stand up and face me but my body was not patient enough to wait for it to stand up. I grabbed it again with two hands. One on the back of its neck, and one on its back. I threw the poor wolf harshly into one of the tremendous trees that are surrounding us.

Its back hit the tree. It whimpered louder this time, as it fell to the ground unconscious.

I almost fell to my knees because I have used so much force, fighting the supernatural creature that was earlier my predator.

“Move, Celeste! Let's run before it regains its consciousness!” a voice in my head said. It almost sounded so unlike me but I still ran as fast as I could to get out of there in fear that the wolf would wake up and get its chance to eat me.

In the middle of the run, I felt my feet hurting badly so I had to stop. I sat beside a big tree and decided to rest there for a while. “It’s fine, he’s not going to find you here,” the voice in my head spoke to me again. I’m starting to think it isn’t myself talking to me now. “Yeah, ‘cause I’m your wolf.”

It answered?!

I was startled. Am I going crazy? Wait... I am crazy! I tweaked my hair using both of my hands out of frustration. This can’t be happening!

Oh, my gosh! I’m being delusional too?! The wolf... It’s not true! I am seeing things and... and— and now, I’m hearing voices, too!

“Relax, Celeste. You’re not crazy.”

“I’m not?” Oh, no! And now I’m talking to myself! This isn’t normal!

“Come on, Celeste! Put yourself together!”

“What the f**k is happening?!”

“Well, you’ve come to age. I’m your wolf.” Oh, gosh! I’m really crazy!

“Celeste, relax! I know it’s crazy but I think it’s because you’re a half-wolf.”

“I am what?!”

“Uh... A half-wolf?” I’m not sure if she was being sarcastic or she’s really confused but that doesn’t matter now.

I want to bang my head so hard in this tree that I am sitting on right now. This is unbelievable. It’s just crazy!

“No, it’s not.”

“Would you please shut up?!” I immediately covered my mouth. Thank God this isn’t a public place. If someone saw me here like this, they’d think I’m crazy!

“Would you please calm yourself down!” The voice in my crazy head yelled back at me. Gosh! Am I really arguing with myself right now? “Girl, I am your wolf. I know it’s hard to believe but I am your wolf. So calm down.”

I was about to say something but it threatened me that she’d make me shift into a wolf if I say anything more. I have no choice but to do as she said. Calm down.

“Can I ask?”

“Sure, anything,” it answered. I know it's weird but if I fight it more, things will just get crazier. I don’t even know if it’s true that she’d turn me into a wolf. Why am I even believing her?

I’m not sure what to ask so I just asked her what was the first thing that came to my mind. “Is my father a wolf?”

“Yes.” My eyes widened because of her answer. My heart suddenly felt like it was about to pop. I felt mixed emotions. I felt excited, nervous, happy, I don’t know what more! All I’m sure of is that at least, I have hope of finding out more about my father.

I take back my words. If this is a dream, don’t wake me up because at least here, I’m getting answers about my father.

“Do you know him?” I asked again, hopeful she’d say yes but, her answer just disappointed me.

“Nope, I don’t know him.”

“Then how could you say he is a wolf?!” I am desperate to find out more about my father and her answer just made me feel terrible.

“Because! Your mother is obviously a human! And you’re a half-wolf so your father is probably a werewolf.”

I want to shout. I felt frustrated. This is taking me nowhere. I stood up and started walking back and forth. Now, I’m a bit calm. I’m just thinking about what I am about to ask her. “Okay, how do you know my mother is human?”

“Because if she is a wolf, she would be with other wolves,” she casually answered.

“Is my father really dead?” It just came out of my mouth. I didn’t even think of it.

“No.”

I gasped when I heard her answer. “So you know my Father!”

“No, I don’t!”

“Then, why would you tell me he’s not dead yet?!”

“Because I can feel him. His wolf is my father too. I just feel him. I feel them. And, you don’t really have to shout. You can talk to me silently.” I felt embarrassed about what she said. I didn’t know I can talk to her silently... but she didn’t have to embarrass me like that!

But... the first sentence she told me gave me hope again. I can also feel that she isn’t lying and just like me, she wants to be with her father too.

I asked her more questions about the wolf thing. I also learned that her name is Natalia. She explained that the unbelievable strength I had earlier came from her. If I wasn’t a half-wolf and if she hadn’t woken up, I would’ve been dead and became the dinner of that stupid wolf. She also said that she doesn’t know much about the wolf life because everything I know is all she knows too. The only difference is just that she can sense more than I can. Of course, she’s a wolf.

It was getting late so we decided to head back home. I left some familiar marks when I entered the forest earlier so I wouldn’t be lost on my way back.

While I was on my way, I was thinking if I should tell mom about this or just keep it a secret for a while or maybe... forever.

“You can’t keep me forever!” she reacted to my thought. I mean, okay, I won’t but... how would I tell my mother that I have a wolf inside my freaking body?

Even I couldn’t believe I have her inside me. If I tell her this, she’d either tell me I’m crazy or get mad at me because my wolf-I-don’t-know has surely something to do with my father.

Or... I stopped walking, eyes widened, I put my hands to cover my mouth, literally in shock now. What if my mother is a werewolf too? Or she is the werewolf.

“Stop. I’ll smell the werewolf in her if she was one.” My face turned emotionless when she commented on my thought again. I hate her invading my privacy. Do we really have to share a brain? She didn’t say anything about it and was all silent when we were home.

“I’m home!” I said as soon as I stepped into the house.

My mother came rushing to me, all worried about me. She asks me so much of questions if I am hurt, where I had been, was I mad at her, and many more! I said no to all she asked.

“What happened? Why did it take so long for you to come back? Where have you been?”

“I was just wondering in the forest, Mom. Nothing much happened... I just enjoyed the beauty of it that’s why it took me long to come back.” I let out an awkward laugh after I said the alibi, silently praying that she hadn’t noticed the guilt I felt when I said the “Nothing much happened” phrase.

I’m not used to lying like this! I feel so guilty!

My Mom looked at me with furrowed brows and squinted eyes. She’s for sure suspicious of me. I gave her a forced sweet smile making it look more obvious. I was panicking already!

Mom was about to open her mouth when the oven from the kitchen rang, a signal that the food is already cooked. I felt relieved when she walked away. Gosh, I almost forgot what breathing is like!

“If you would just tell her the truth, you wouldn’t feel that guilt right now.” Ugh! Can’t this wolf understand the pressure and frustration I am in right now? My mother’s feelings are unpredictable and I am scared to see what her reaction will be. I am not prepared!

“It’s do or die! Tell her about me already!” This wolf’s a brat. She’s getting annoying, huh. “How dare you call me a brat! You’re the one who’s not listening to me!”

I was starting to get annoyed. “One more word from you, Natalia, you’ll see what’ll happen. You’re annoying me,” I said in my thoughts.

“It’s Tali.” I swear I can see her rolling her eyes at me right now.

“Ugh! Just shut up!” I immediately covered my mouth, realizing that I have said it out loud.

Mom instantly turned to me and looked at me like she caught me robbing the bank! “What was that?” she asks as she walked toward me.

“Nothing... M-mom.” I let out an awkward laugh again but it just got me in trouble. She’s obviously noticing everything I trying to hide right now!

“Come on, Celeste. She’s got you. Just tell her the truth!”

“Are you hiding something from me?” my Mother asked me, and I swear, If I try to lie to her again I’ll be homeless forever. I didn’t know what to tell her that I started looking at random places trying to think of what I should do right now.

“Celeste, what happened in the forest?” Her question wasn’t just a question. It was a command to tell me what really happened.

“Well... Uh... Uhm... well,” I don’t know where to start! I’m so nervous!

“Tell me what exactly happened, now!” she sounded upset so I panicked more. As much as I wanna hide it, I just couldn’t afford to be kicked out of the house so I told her everything that happened in the forest. From the very start to the end.

I closed my eyes, expecting a mad shouting at me but there was nothing that came of out her mouth. The whole room was silent. I slowly opened my eyes to see what her reaction was, it was a face far from what I expected.

She looked stunned and, afraid and, it was as if she is heard something she fears to hear. I got confused by her reaction. “Mom?” I tried to call her attention but instead of looking at me, she just looked at nowhere and said the words that I just couldn’t understand.

“It’s time,” she said with fear in her voice.