Happily Never After

Chapter 6: The Pack

John had found his way to his pack’s den.

“John, how lovely of you to make it,” Daciana said, embracing her son.

“Well, it’s not everyday you get summoned for your brother’s wedding,” John said.

“Half brother,” Fang corrected. “My father was the alpha of the pack before he died. Yours was a simple human.”

“Oh. Fang, enough with the prejudices,” Daciana scolded her other son. “Besides, your wife-to-be is human.”

“That’s different, Mother,” Fang said. “She won’t be for much longer.”

“So, who is the lucky lady,” John asked.

“Her name is Crimsa,” Fang said. “But most call her Red. We’ll be married at sundown tonight.”

“Wow, that seems awfully quick to get married,” John commented.

“Well, they’ve known each other since they were small,” Daciana explained. “When they were teenagers, Red was headed to her grandmother’s cottage in the woods when Abraxas swallowed the girl whole—that’s how big of a wolf he was. Well, Fang was protective of her and tore open his father from the outside and killed him.”

“The things we do for love, I suppose,” John said.

“You boys better be almost ready,” Neoma said. “Sundown is only a couple hours away.”

“Neoma, nice to see you, little sister,” John said.

“Hello, John,” Neoma said. “I hope you don’t plan on presenting as yourself for the occasion.”

“What’s wrong with presenting as myself,” John asked?

“Nothing, dear, it’s just custom at an occasion as such, werewolves and lycans like yourself present in their wolf forms.” Daciana explained. “This isn’t just a wedding, it’s a welcoming of Red into the pack. She’ll be one of us as soon as Fang marks her.”

“Wait, Fang, you’re turning Red into a werewolf,” John asked?

“John, that is the only way we can be married,” Fang explained. “She’s already agreed to it, so it is nothing of your mere human concerns.”

“It’s normal, John,” Daciana reassured. “Your father turned me when we were married.”

“It’s true,” Fang confirmed. “I’ve heard the tale.”

“We should be taking our places,” Daciana said. The sun was starting to set, and the pack all shifted into their wolf forms. As the sun met the horizon, Fang sunk his teeth into Crimsa’s shoulder. Crimsa shifted into a wolf as the sky turned dark. Her fur was red, much like her hair. This union was then met with joyful howls throughout the pack.