Unknown Wolf

A Revealing Dinner

I quickly showered and did my makeup. Then french braided a crown into my hair leaving the rest to come cascading down in golden curls behind my back. I dressed in a modest mint green gown featuring an empire waist with complimentary beading, and a lace bodice ending in a flowing chiffon skirt to the floor. It seemed to suit me as I stopped to admire myself for a minute in the mirror. It was a very rare event that I got to dress up for anything in particular, but I was pleased at how I looked and left to join my father.

After I came down the main staircase I turned into the drawing room off to the side where my father was surprisingly entertaining a guest as they waited for my arrival. A woman I have never seen before, but something about her seemed familiar. She had beautiful chocolate brown hair styled up in a perfect french twist, and warm golden hazel eyes. The light reflected off the bits of green in them. She had a peaceful warmth to her that invited you in. She smiled lightly at me as she noticed my entrance, and then my father turned from her to follow her sight line landing on me. I saw my father slowly take the sight of me in as if he hadn't much noticed how I looked in years. His normally hard face almost seemed to soften a bit as he looked down at me a mere 5' 6" to his tall stature, and I saw an unexplained sadness in his grey eyes.

"Lucilla," he announced. His tone was still harsh, and direct. He always seemed as if he was barking out commands like a general of some sort. "This is your Aunt Rosalind Archer. She was your mother's younger sister, and she has come here to stay with us for the time being to educate you on some important details as you come upon eighteenth birthday in the following months."

I tried to keep my face neutral as to not show my surprise or shock, but I know it must have been evident to them. If so they ignored it. I can't remember a time where my father brought anyone into our home, and I didn't know of any other family members. To say I was taken aback would be an understatement as up until this moment the only living relative I knew of was my father.

My Aunt's smile just widened as she stepped forward to take my hand. "Please just call me Aunt Rosie. Your father is so into formalities," she laughed.

"It's so nice to finally meet you, Lucilla. May I call you Lucy? You look so much like your mother it's almost unnatural, and I've heard you have excellent grades in all your studies. You seem to have grown into such a fine lady. I can't tell you how excited I am to be here with you."

"Yes, I actually prefer Lucy, and thank you. It's a pleasure to meet you as well," is all I could manage to get out sounding a bit off guard.

That's where it hit me the familiarity of her. She looked so much like my mother herself. Her cheek bone structure and the shape of her eyes just the color was different. She also had a slight tan to her where my mother had more fair skin. Her smile was genuine and inviting. She had a natural ability to make you immediately like her. Her friendly warmth was the same as my mother's too, and I could tell that people must have be drawn to her as they had been towards my mother.

She looked extremely beautiful and elegant in a gorgeous long sleeved satin champagne colored evening gown featuring a deep plunging v neckline with floral lace appliques around it. It hugged her hips and then graciously flowed down to the floor. Her hand adorn a beautiful bridal set suggesting somewhere out there I had an Uncle as well. He would would be the envy of any man at a glorious ball with Rose latched to his arm full of pose and sophistication yet down to earth and inviting.

I felt awkward for a minute as it had been so long since I had been around other people. I wasn't quite sure how to act anymore or what to say. I was so used to everyone around me being quiet and reserved. My Aunt's mannerisms were perfect, but I could tell she was more social than this place had entertained in a long time. Part of me was more content to be silent and hide away in my books. The other part was excited she was here and the light she might bring to these dark halls.

After a moment of just taking eachother in Griffin came in the room and announced dinner was ready. We promptly made our way to the dining room. My father sat at the head of the table and I took my normal seat to his right. My Aunt in turn sat to his left. Even with the three of us at the table which was more than it had dining at it in years the room seemed empty and overpowering in it's sheer size. The dark cherry banquet table was polished so well I could see my own reflection in it. As the courses were switched out my father finally interrupted the silence.

"Lucilla," he directed and I turned at the mention of my name and focused in on him with a questioning look. He continued upon seeing he had my attention, "I think I owe you an apology."

At that I knew fairly well I was probably staring at my father as if he had two heads grace and manners thrown out the window. He had never been much for words, and always too busy to address me with anything. Now he was apologizing for what I had no clue so I listened in silence as he continued on.

"I have regrettably done you an injustice over this past decade as I buried myself in my work in attempt to runaway from my grief. It seems while doing this I have isolated you, sheltered you, and left you lacking in socialization and affection. This was not my intention, but it was too much for me to bare after your mother left us. I loved her so much it broke me when she died. Running into your Aunt recently brought me to realize just how much I have emotionally neglected you. I have failed to even tell you exactly who you are without your mother to help guide me, and here you are coming up on eighteen. You have no idea what that holds for you or the changes that it will hold for you."

If he meant womanly changes he was a bit late on that conversation for most of those had already happened and I was completely educated on the matters of womanhood. I was touched by what he was trying to come across with apologizing for his absence, but I thought I was doing alright. I was an excellent student ahead in my studies, and extremely smart for my age. No I didn't know much about my family or his work, but I had worldly knowledge from all the limitless books I've read. I wouldn't say I was naive about the world or life, but then again maybe he was right. You can only learn so much from books without actually being out in the world creating experiences.

"I have brought your Aunt Rosalind here to help me educate you on who we are and all our customs. I'm sure you know we are not normal by any standards, but where your mother died when you were so young and I have been away no one has told you what we are." He took a deep breath and looked towards my aunt who gave him an encouraging smile to continue on, "Lucilla Louise Grey you are and you come from a long prominent line of werewolves."

I dropped my fork in shock and it fell onto my plate making a loud crashing sound illuminated from the enormity of the room. It seemed to echo around us. At this I knew my jaw was now gapping unfashionably open.

It had to be some kind of weird joke except my father never joked, and even as I sat gawking at him shamelessly he continued to study me with serious look. His face seemed to be made of stone unfaltering in his gaze. Maybe I had misheard him. It just couldn't be right what I thought he said.

I closed my mouth, cleared my throat, and said, "I'm sorry father I must have misheard you. Could you please repeat it?"

Looking a bit frustrated he simply repeated, "We are werewolves. On your sixteenth birthday you should have been able to shift for the first time, but the specialist I have spoken to and has seen you explained that he believes because of the trauma you went through when we lost your mother your wolf has become dormant. We will watch closely, and hopefully over the next few months she will awaken so you will be ready to shift for the first time on your eighteen birthday instead. Hopefully this new knowledge of who and what you are will also help your wolf to be jolted out of her hibernating state."

When I still stared at him in disbelief he turned to my aunt and motioned with his hand towards me asking for assistance in the matter.

"Athelstad, you have never explained any of this to her? She has grown up her whole life thinking she was human?"

"It never came up." He stated so nonchalantly it was insane.

"I can't believe you. I knew she was lacking in our ways, but to not even know what she is? No wonder her wolf is dormant. How is she supposed to be ready to shift in a few mere months. She has no connection with her wolf," my aunt said flabbergasted. "Your attempt to shield her as a child has obviously had a major impact on her delay."

He glared at her, "I had to protect her fragile mental and emotional state. It was the only way."

I was completely lost. I remembered my mother growing ill and slowly passing. It might have been traumatic to lose her at such a young age. Probably would have been more helpful to have family like Rose around when I was growing up, but my father was talking about me like I was made of glass and anything remotely upsetting would shatter me. I wasn't that weak.

Then my mind traveled back to the part where they were telling me we were werewolves which I didn't even think existed, and I couldn't believe what they were saying.

I'm sure my thought process showed upon my face because next my Aunt said, "I think you will have to show her or it's not going to really sink in."

She looked at my father expectantly, and he seemed beyond irritated at this point. He stood, and backed away from the table creating himself plenty of room. The next thing I know I'm watching as my father transformed. His clothes flew into tatters, and towering over me was a giant solid black wolf standing on all fours. Well not solid black there was a streak of white in his mane upon his head where my father's was, and out from his face the stone grey eyes of my father's stared at me with annoyance.

The realization was sinking in as I took in the situation at hand, and I couldn't accept it. It couldn't be true. My head was spinning, and the next thing I knew everything went dark.