Chapter 1
1237 Words
I walked out of my room and into the kitchen, where the aroma of freshly cooked breakfast filled the air. My grandmother, whom I affectionately called Nana, stood by the stove, expertly flipping pancakes.
"Nana, really, stop!" I exclaimed, trying to hide my amusement. "I told you to wait for me to make breakfast."
Nana chuckled, her eyes twinkling with warmth. "You don't have to worry, child. I've been doing this since you were a baby. My bones are still strong, and I can handle making breakfast."
I smiled, feeling grateful for her love and care. "Okay, Nana. But next time, please wait for me."
"Why don't you go take a bath, dear?" Nana suggested. "We'll have breakfast when you come out."
I hugged her from behind, taking a deep breath to savor the moment. Then, I sluggishly dragged my feet across the rug, heading back to my room to bath.
We lived in a small, brick house, cozy and warm, filled with the love and warmth that Nana and I shared. The soft rug beneath my feet was a comforting familiarity.
I got to my room and started taking my bath, my mind began to wander. I thought about my parents - who they were, what they looked like, and what had happened to them. I had always been curious, but Nana never seemed willing to talk about it.
Just as I was lost in thought, Nana called out to me.
"Wendy!"
"I'll be out soon, Nana!" I replied, quickly rinsing off and getting dressed.
As I emerged from my room, I stood for a moment, watching Nana place the breakfast on the table. My thoughts drifted to how old she was getting, and how she was the best thing that had ever happened to me. Just then, Nana's eyes caught mine, and she smiled.
"What are you doing there? Oh, get over here, let's start eating!" she said, beckoning me to the table.
I smiled, brushing off my thoughts, and pulled out a chair to sit down.
Nana looked at me expectantly. "So, what do you think? Is it better than the last one?"
I took a bite, savoring the flavors. "Yeah, it is. It's much better. And you didn't add honey to the pancakes."
Nana chuckled. "You complained the last time."
I laughed. "Oh yeah, I did."
We ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Nana asked, "Are you sure you're okay, dear?"
I nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine, Nana."
Five minutes into our meal, I decided to bring up the question that had been burning in my mind for a while.
"Nana, for the two-hundredth time, I want to know who my parents are. Can you at least tell me about my dad or my mom? You can't keep doing this. I'm an adult."
Nana's expression turned serious. "I'm saving you from a lot, okay? You'll thank me later. You're still too young to handle it."
I felt frustration rising within me. "No, I'm not, Nana. Seriously, this again? Is it until I'm fifty before you know I'm older, before you know I'm mature enough? When are you ever going to tell me who my parents are? I deserve to know."
Nana's voice was firm but gentle. "Hush, my dear. We're having breakfast. You can't bring this up when we're having breakfast. Eat your food."
I pulled my hands back from my plate, but Nana's eyes narrowed.
"You ain't doing that. Continue eating."
I sucked in a deep breath, picked up my fork, and began eating again, my mind racing with unanswered questions.
After breakfast, I headed to the backyard garden, where we grew a variety of vegetables and plants. It was my usual routine, one that brought me comfort and clarity. Since moving to these lonely hills with Nana when I was thirteen, I'd struggled to make friends. The locals would often whisper about me, calling me "Clepto" - a nickname that still stung. As a result, I'd grown accustomed to spending time alone, tending to the garden, and losing myself in the simple, methodical tasks.
Now that I was done with school, the garden had become my sanctuary. Nana soon joined me, and I watched as she began to bend her old back to pick some ripe tomatoes. I was about to offer my help when she spoke up.
"Stop looking at me like that, Wendy. You don't have to feel pity for me or whatever you're feeling. I'm not that old," she said, a hint of defiance in her voice.
I stood up, shaking my head. "Seriously, Nana, you have to stop. No, no, no, I won't let you do this. It's still morning - go back to sleep. You woke up early to make breakfast, so go rest. I'll pick the ripe tomatoes and do the rest."
I gently led Nana back inside, making sure she was comfortable before returning to the garden. The warm sun on my skin and the fresh air filled my lungs as I set to work, the familiar rhythms of the garden a balm to my soul.
Later that night a gentle tap on my shoulder woke me up.
"Nana?" I called out, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
"Wendy, we have to have a conversation," Nana said, her voice serious. "It's about us being a werewolf ."
I sat up, intrigued. "But Nana, you don't like us talking about it. You always avoid the subject."
Nana's expression turned solemn. "You're growing up, Wendy. It's time I started teaching you everything you need to know about the full moon, transforming... and everything that comes with it."
I nodded, eager to learn. "Okay, but first, Nana, I want to know why we were sent away from our pack. Why did we have to leave and come live in this lonely place?"
Nana's eyes clouded over. "That's not what we're going to talk about now, Wendy."
I felt a surge of frustration. "Really? But isn't our past supposed to be included in the things you're supposed to tell me about? I don't understand why you're keeping everything from me."
Nana's voice was firm but gentle. "Wendy, please. I told you, you're not ready."
I threw up my hands. "Fine, fine. But I don't know how long I can take this..."
"I'm sorry for everything you're going through,I know it’s not easy," Nana said, her eyes filled with a deep sadness.
"You don't know, Nana," I replied, my voice shaking with frustration. "You don't know if you had known, you would tell me why we left our pack, our home, for this lonely place? Why can't anyone visit me? Why is no one allowed to come here?"
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "What about my parents? What do you want to even teach me about being a werewolf that I don’t know about, we can shift into a werewolf, we have supernatural powers, humans don’t know about us what else What else don't I know?"
I felt tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. "The only thing I want to know about is my family. Okay? I'm Twenty two, and I don't even know about my parents . Is that nice?"
"Nana, please, I need to go back to bed," I said, trying to sound calm. "So, if you don't mind, it's late. Why don't you go sleep too, okay?"
- Writer
