THE NIGHT EVERYTHING CHANGES
1273 Words
THALIA
My eyes kept darting towards the sky every few minutes as we proceeded on our trail. The moon was still pale in the late afternoon, but tonight the full moon would reach its peak.
It was stupid, really. I used to feel the full moon coming long before it rose.
After Nel went silent, I continued to track the lunar cycles, clinging to the hope that I’d shift again… until eventually, even hoping felt pointless. No matter how many full moons that passed, it didn’t happen, so one night, I just stopped hoping.
Now I suddenly feel like a clueless pup waiting for her first shift. I realized the full moon was close only last night. For a moment, I even panicked and thought it was happening right then, until Rael told me it wasn’t until today.
It was embarrassing, but it was outweighed by worry. I wasn’t even sure what I wanted. Part of me was ecstatic at the possibility. If I could shift, then that means I still have hope. But another part of me is terrified of what three years of being suppressed would do to my body.
“You’re doing that thing again,” Rael said from beside me as he slowed down.
“What thing?” I asked, though I already knew exactly what he meant.
“The thing where you look like you’d bolt off anytime soon.” He pointed out and stepped closer, “You’ll be fine, Thalia. Whether you shift tonight or not, you won’t be alone.”
My heart tugged at his words, but it wasn’t the only thing weighing on me. I hesitated before speaking again.
“What about your pack, Rael?” I asked hesitantly, “If they’re all scattered… what about Reagan?”
Rael halted on his steps completely, looking at me with wondering eyes. For a second, I also saw worry in his eyes, but it was masked with reasoning.
“He’ll be okay,” he said, as if convincing himself first, “That kid’s technically been a rogue since birth, too, and he’s smarter than half the adults I’ve met, very resourceful and clever. Sometimes we even joke he’d replace me the moment he turns five.” He chuckled with his last remark, trying to joke it out to ease up the mood.
I couldn’t help but imagine Reagan being all eager and responsible. It’s exactly how I imagine my baby Eli when they told me he manifested as an alpha merely a day after he was born. I should have been with my son, but back then, I was spiraling. I was almost feral and broken. There are days from that time I can’t even remember. I was weak, yet my emotions are all over the place. They told me I wreaked havoc so many times, and they could barely contain me.
“Are you sure?” I asked, pushing the past away and focusing on my current issues.
He gave a nod, “I’d like to trust my pack members that they wouldn’t let anything happen to Reagan. Also, I wanted to trust my own son.”
I didn’t respond, trying to convince myself that everything would be okay. I know that he wasn’t being carefree about it, but instead, has been in this situation more times than he should.
We continued our path, trying to close our distance to the pack member he could sense the closest. Because we took the longer route by avoiding the riskier path, we were still hours away from Alryne town, the nearest town to the werewolf lands, and also where I live.
Rael could easily shift from here and catch up to his pack members, but couldn’t because I insisted on going with him. It suddenly felt so selfish of me to tag along, risking my son’s life, with no one to protect him. What if something happened to Reagan while Rael was stuck protecting me?
What if-
“Hey,” Rael’s voice cut abruptly into my spiraling thoughts.
I turned to him, a little lost as I wasn’t listening at all. “Sorry, what was it?”
Rael’s eyes smiled before his lips curled. “I said, thank you.”
”For what?” I asked in confusion.
If anything, I should be thanking him for helping me. He kept me safe even though I wasn’t his responsibility. He puts up with my clumsiness, and despite his hesitation, he still would let me see Reagan once they’re reunited.
The truth is, he could easily run away from me. Even hurt me for being too pushy, but he didn’t and accommodated me instead. It was the most decent thing a rogue has ever done to me, and I even feel guilty for lying and hiding things from him.
He smiled awkwardly, “For worrying about Reagan.”
“Why would I not? You’re here with me instead of immediately finding and tracking Reagan and the rest. I’m worried that he will be alone to fend for himself. He might be an alpha, but he’s still a child… And like I told you, I owe that boy.”
And above all, I think he is my missing son…
“I guess I’m simply not used to it,” he admitted, walking slower than usual. “I’m not used to people caring about someone like me, especially about my kid. You see, I was born a rogue. I didn’t come from an Alpha bloodline, and the only family I’ve known was my parents, who were also rogues. They said back then, they were called nomadic wolves. Free, always moving. But with how the world revolves right now, we’re just down to being rogues. They died protecting me from pack wolves, cleansing the place to expand their territory. Before I had Reagan and my pack, I had no one to care for me but myself and myself alone.”
Pieces fell into place immediately. Alphas were almost always born from alpha bloodlines. He was a rare exception, and he had to live with it the way he was brought up.
Rael continued, oddly calm for someone recounting a lifetime of being alone.
“People hear ‘rogue’ and decide we’re outlaws before we even get close to them. It doesn’t matter whether we saved their lives or shared our hunt with them in dire times. They rarely see beyond that. That’s why I teach Reagan what I do. To stay true to himself. To be the bigger person, even when people treat him like dirt. Because judgment’s something he’ll meet his whole life, whether he deserves it or not.”
He lifted his gaze and turned to me, “So, having someone like you care for my son is a huge thing for me. Thank you.”
“Reagan is lucky to have a father like you.”
“No,” he said with a small smile, “I’m the lucky one to have him as my son. You know what, I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to meet you. He’s always excited to meet people. Unfortunately, most of those so-called people drive us away.”
I smiled for the first time today. “I’d love that.”
We didn’t speak after that. It wasn’t awkward and was actually the most peaceful I’ve felt today.
My gaze drifted up again. The moon is already up. Soon, it will be the peak of the full moon.
Tonight, Nel might return to me.
My life could change once again. Everything that was taken away from me, I might take it back again.
Tonight… everything changes.
- Writer
