What A Year

And now, Victors pov

As I wake up, pain consumes me.

I can’t move.

The pain has twisted its way through me.

Lola lies over me while I’m drenched in sweat.

A headache splits my skull.

The pain intensifies when I think about you, Lupe.

Squeezing my eyes shut, hoping to relieve some of the pressure, I attempt to move.

It’s useless.

Lola lifts her head, licking my face, whining.

She knows something’s wrong.

I reach for you, Lupe—mentally, emotionally—but the connection is gone.

The bond is broken.

I don’t feel you.

The bed shakes as a loud roaring beats my eardrums.

I feel the cool morning air on my cold skin and open my eyes.

Zeke is carrying me, his face white as a sheet.

Then, without a word, he launches me into the air.

I brace for the impact of the ground, but instead I’m submerged in water.

My skull actually splits as the screeching pressure echoes louder.

I don’t even question the fact that I can breathe underwater.

It’s just happening.

My bones twist and c***k.

My body contorts in unnatural ways, until my feet nearly touch the back of my head.

I taste blood.

Then—nothing.

No pain.

No feeling.

No sense of self.

I open my eyes to a black, endless void.

I look up and see a small opening of light.

Driven by instinct and fear, I swim toward it, unsure of what surrounds me in the mysterious dark.

When I surface and crawl out, I realize something is wrong, because, I don’t climb out on hands and knees—but on four massive furry paws.

My breathing goes ragged.

My vision clouds and I collapse.

After some time, I lift my head and process what I was thrown into.

Zeke’s little pond, which had no business being that deep.

“Sorry Vic, I had to throw you in,” he says apologetically. He approaches slowly, hands out in front of him.

An ache grows in my heart now that I can’t feel you anymore, Lupe.

I let a low mournful howl escape me—one Lola answers.

“You must be starving, Vic. I know I was after my first transformation.”

Transformation—is that what that was?

What was I now?

He’s right, though.

I’m starving.

I rise and take off into the woods.

This new body moves effortlessly as I bound through trees, crushing branches.

I feel powerful.

Unstoppable.

I follow the scent of fruit to a sacred clearing—an altar of broken stones scattered across soft moss.

Stopping in the center, I breathe in.

Fruit.

Pine.

Life.

I try to recall your voice, but it’s like I’ve forgotten the sound of you already.

I run, the forest whipping past me. The wind caresses my fur like a motherly hand.

I feel Zeke and Lola behind me, waiting.

Following a low vibration, I sprint towards our cave.

“We need to leave soon, Vic,” Zeke says from somewhere in the woods.

I freeze mid-leap.

I don’t even know how to change back.

As the thought passes, a chill flows from my scalp to my toes.

When I look down I see my own human feet.

“Me and Lola are here, Victor. You’re not alone in this.” Zeke’s words echo in my head as I race back to some berries.

Alone, no.

But Lupe, where did you go?

I find the berries and eat two handfuls as I head toward the pond.

The same low vibrations fill the air here, but I keep a wide berth around the edge.

I never want to be in that water again.

Zeke runs up with a bundle of clothes and shoes.

“We leaving now?” I ask.

“Yeah, Tonya wants us there pronto,” he says.

I go to my restroom to change and stop at the mirror above the sink.

Now, I’ve always been fit. I run and stay active, but this—this was different.

My posture—straight. My skin, more tanned, and my eyes, almost glowing.

My legs felt and looked powerful, like I could run to the hospital.

I dress quickly, noticing the snug feel across new muscle.

Out in the truck, Lola’s already asleep in the back seat.

I hop in and smell enchiladas. My stomach growls as I reach for a plate.

“Thanks, Z,” I mumble through a mouthful of glorious red sauce.

“Make sure you leave three plates,” he says. “I’m hoping the food will help Tonya and Lupe with everything that’s happened.”

I polish off the first plate and dive into the second.

“So, what am I now?” I ask.

“Look son, there’s a lot you don’t know about our family. Hell, a lot I still don’t know about.” He takes a deep breath and grips the steering wheel a little tighter, “We’re from a long line of werewolves. An important bloodline.” He whispers.

A headache starts to creep back.

I’m starting to feel how you must have felt, Lupe.

Lost.

Confused.

As we get closer to the hospital, he asks, “What do you remember about your parents?”

I look out the window. “I remember how mom smelled like peppermint candy,” I say quietly. “And dad had a tattoo on his left arm. It was a blade with his initials on the handle.”

The few memories of them I have I keep locked away or I’ll get lost in the past.

We ride the rest of the way in silence to the hospital.

“Let’s focus on one problem at a time.” He says. “Today is for Lupe, later we can discuss our history.”

I rest my hand on his arm, “Thank you tío, for always having my back.”

“You’re all I have Vic. You and Lola.” We smile.

I grab the bag of food and step out. Lola’s still dozing in the back, so I leave food and water for her.

As we head inside, I walk with my head held higher than I did yesterday.

Something is definitely different about today.