What A Year

And now, Victors pov

I wake to agonizing pain consuming me. I can’t move.

Lola lays over me as I’m drenched in sweat.

A headache splits through my skull. The pain intensifies when I think about you, Lupe. I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping to relieve some of the pressure, but it’s useless.

Lola lifts her head, licking my face and whining. She knows something’s wrong.

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

I need you.

The bed shifts beneath me as a loud roaring beats at my eardrums.

I open my eyes long enough to see Zeke carrying me outside, his face tight with fear. Then, without a word, he throws me carelessly into the air.

As I come down, I hit cold water.

My skull splits as the screeching pressure echoes through.

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.

Still underwater and somehow, still breathing, 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 vast dark.

I surface and crawl out—realizing something’s wrong. I don’t climb out on hands and knees—but on four massive, hairy paws.

My breathing grows ragged, my vision clouds and I collapse onto the grass.

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. 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? A beast?

He’s right, though. A deep-seated hunger comes rushing forward. I rise on my paws and take off into the woods.

This new body moves effortlessly as we bound through trees, ducking branches, leaping over rocks and roots.

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

Standing in the center, I breathe in all scents: 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 nearby.

I freeze mid-leap. I don’t even know how to shift back.

As the thought passes through my mind, a chill flows from my scalp to my toes. I look down—my own human feet are back beneath me.

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

Alone, no, but grieving, yes.

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 fresh shoes. “I take it we leave now?” I ask.

“Yeah. Tonya wants us there pronto.” He hands me my clothes.

I go to the spare bathroom downstairs. Dropping the clothes, I catch sight of myself in the mirror.

I’ve always been fit. I run. I stay active. But this—this is different.

My posture, more straight. My skin, more tanned and my eyes, almost glowing. My legs feel powerful, like I could run to the hospital.

I dress quickly, noticing clothes are snug across new muscle.

Out in the truck, Lola’s already asleep in the back seat. I hop in and instantly 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 Vic, there’s a lot you don’t know about our family. Hell, a lot I still don’t know about, but we come from a long line of werewolves. Some of us are just late bloomers.” he says, disguising his chuckle with a cough.

A headache tries to creep back. I’m starting to feel how you must feel, Lupe—lost, confused.

“It’s best you don’t think about Lupe,” he says gently, tapping his temple.

"I get impressions of what you’re thinking. You probably didn’t realize, with everything going on.” He goes silent.

Werewolves? I don’t remember my parents telling me anything about that.

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

I stare out the window, not surprised by the question. “I remember Mom smelled like peppermint candy,” I say quietly. “And Dad had a tattoo on his left arm—a blade with his initials, J.A.D. on the handle.”

I keep the few memories of them I have locked away or I’ll get lost in all the 'what ifs'.

We ride the rest of the way in silence. “Let’s focus on one problem at a time. Today is for Lupe, later we can discuss our history.”

I glance at him, sensing the sadness he’s trying to hide.

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.