Gypsy Moon

Chapter Forty-six: Gyam

. . . . . . (mid July)

Michael.

That's what they told me my name was. It was hard to deny my relationship. I was the lost 'second son' because the first son was my twin brother, Robert. Identical. Other than the aftereffects of chronic malnutrition on a werewolf that I had.

Robert is a f*****g Ken Doll. Right down to the Barbie Doll mate. Robert also never f*****g stops talking. Not speaking uselessly either, he is training to take over the pack, and as far as I could see, the transition from our parents to him in two years would be just another Tuesday.

My pack expects me to talk to them. Goddess knows why. I snorted softly. I barely talk to my pack, why waste words on people I will see when they now inevitably visit? I'm sure I'll be forced to speak to them then. Thankfully, Gyam spoke to his brother, now that he finally COULD, and my brother had only approached me to tell me we even have identical fur patterns, and that yeah, I would be a massive wolf if Sir hadn't starved me.

According to his mate, my small size makes me 'cuter'. I huffed in annoyance. Because 'cute' is going to be able to protect Sinah. At least my pack understands, they are not as stupid as I was afraid that they were.

I never did shift back. I've been full wolf since last night after dinner. The branded eye is next to useless in both forms still, we had discovered, but the rest of my senses were at full wolf, and no one expected me to speak. We also learned our smaller size is easier to maintain than a werewolf's normally huge size. The human Lilian seemed to be able to make people produce food from thin air, and it was effortless to remain a wolf.

And I look like Sinah's cute little pet. No one looks twice at a pet. Lilian offered to get me a neckerchief to complete the illusion. I'm considering agreeing to it. I've lost count of how many wolves dismissed me or forgot I was sitting next to her because of my size.

Frozen Crescent's and Desert Falcon's Alphas couldn't resist the opportunity to work on the groundwork for an alliance with Gypsy Moon, and Aiden had taken Bryce and Lilian with him to the meeting they decided to have while the rest of the wolves enjoyed the bonfire. Kyle was on the phone with the building contractors for the packhouse. He had been since the realtor left. He was laughing the whole time though, so I tuned him out.

A wolf from Desert Falcon jogged towards Sinah and I stood next to her, her little hand on my shoulder, my body tense. He looked at me and stopped politely about three feet from us and bowed to Sinah.

"Luna Sinah, um, Michael?" He managed to remember the name my parents had called me, and I shook my head.

"Gyam." Sinah supplied with a smile and the wolf nodded and bowed slightly to me again.

"Gyam." He grinned at Sinah. "Our pack was planning a run, towards the lake and back through the canyon." Sinah looked at me and I glowered.

"As much as I appreciate the offer, I will stay near the packhouse tonight. It wouldn't do anyone any good for me to get lost in a canyon in the dark." The wolf chuckled and smiled at me knowingly.

"Understood, now that you mention it, I don't think we've marked the trail for guests in at least a year." He nodded to me and bowed. "I will pass the information to our Gamma, and he will have the warriors take care of the scent markers tomorrow." I huffed and shook my head again. Scent only works for other wolves. Lilian and Kyle were human, and I was not particularly interested in having to track them down if they got lost. They would need visual markers or an escort at all times.

/:Humans.:/ Sinah nodded and smiled at the wolf.

"Our pack has non-wolf members, and I think our humans would love to hike the canyon tomorrow, but they will need a visually marked trail." The wolf nodded thoughtfully and bowed to me.

"I will have it taken care of. Thank you." I blinked. He thanked me. Why, because I pointed out he wasn't using his stupid brain? Well, maybe not that bad. He was smart enough to not dismiss me. Sinah giggled at my disgruntled expression and stroked my neck fur.

"Do you want to run the trail, make sure they mark it correctly? I will go inside and join Aiden and the others." I sat and considered it before shaking my head. No, if they screw up marking the trail, I will point out their failures tomorrow. They'll never learn to do it right if someone holds their hand. Or paw, in this case. I leaned into her hand subconsciously as her fingers found a spot near my shoulder that was itchy, and she grinned and rested her weight against my side as she scrubbed her hands through my fur.

"Then what do you say to heading over to the grill and snag a pair of steaks?" She smiled at me when I nodded without hesitation. Her wolf gave me very strict orders to eat whenever I felt eating was even possible. Not only was I underfed and needed to get healthy, but I was also a sixteen-year-old werewolf.

The plump little kitchen wolf ruling over the grills was appalled at my size when we made our way to her, even after Sinah explained my size was probably permanent. As far as she was concerned, 'probably permanent' translated to, 'enough food will fix it'. She sat Sinah in a comfortable chair nearby as soon as she discovered I would not leave her side and proceeded to test exactly how much food I could eat in a sitting.

I ate until my stomach was so full it hurt. I couldn't help myself; I'd never been given more than minimal scraps before. The she-wolf looked so proud of herself, the food was amazing, and she and her daughter kept handing me plates of steaming, bloody meat from the grill. I actually flopped carelessly on my side and Sinah giggled and rubbed my distended belly.

"Rain, I think Gyam will pop if you try to get him to eat anything else." The she-wolf gave me a motherly pat on my shoulder. "I think he might be too full to walk." I'm pretty sure she was right. Bryce showed up as if on cue.

"Sinah, Aiden sent me to carry our little butterball to bed." I growled, listlessly, and they both laughed. Bryce scooped me off the ground, Sinah helped him get his arms under me, so he wasn't pressing my stomach. Rain's daughter kissed the end of my muzzle and promised me breakfast when I woke up.

Sinah walked straight to the room Desert Falcon had given her and Aiden, and Bryce settled me on a loveseat at the foot of their bed. Sinah patted my shoulder, promising not to leave the room without me, and I slipped into my very first food coma.

. . . . . .