The Wolf's Song

Man to Man Talk

Michael

The tension in the house has been off. I know some of it is my doing, I’ve been putting pressure on Diana about returning home, but getting her to see my point of view has been less successful than I have been expecting it would be. I know she understands my reasoning, but clearly isn’t up to following it. Our conversations have been deep and honest, and promises have been made. I just hope she will keep hers when the situation gets worse, as I fear it will.

“Still worried?” Francis enters my gym.

He removes his shoes and shirt and begins doing his stretches. I’m glad to see him; I could use some advice and him being a married man himself, he will understand my concerns.

“We’ve almost talked it to death and still our resolution is tentative. She knows I mean well but I don’t know, being an Alpha with her feels more like controlling rather than leading,” I confess.

I hadn’t noticed the difference until we had a disagreement. Having been an Alpha for so long, finding someone to question my words has been tough to swallow, especially when I have her best interest in mind.

“Well, you know how I feel on the matter,” Francis says, going over to the dumbbells.

“Actually, I don’t. Be honest with me Francis,” I say, allowing my Beta to speak his mind without retribution.

He eyes me as if checking whether I actually want the truth or just someone to side with me. He decides and I prepare myself.

“Diana has been involved in this mess since the beginning. From the moment you met you, you have been attracted and attached to her, needing her close and your desire to protect her grows by the second. Believe when I say, I understand the hesitation, but in your case, turning her might be the added layer of protection she’s missing. Yes, the transformation will be painful, but you have three wolves under your belt, it will not be a task you haven’t done before,” he says.

“Then why haven’t you turned Mary? You seem very eager to turn my lover and not your wife,” I hear myself snapping like a schoolboy.

That was only because I know the options before us and wonder how he can be one way with me and not take his own advice, hell, even the advice I have given him as well.I had told him long ago he should turn Mary. It’s not like he’s willing to part from her any more than I am with Diana.

“My wife’s life isn’t in constant danger. Only age is coming for her and she is still young, almost too young in the eyes of some though she is not even in her thirties yet, but I appear to be mid-thirty so issues do arise. But if she were being hunted by an unknown enemy, one I had yet figured out, but has had at least two attempts on her life, I would turn her, no questions asked,” he says.

If it were anyone but Diana I could agree with him, but I wasn’t ready.

“Besides, she already has wolf blood in her. The transformation might be different for her,” Francis adds.

I growl over at him; I hadn’t wanted to worry about that just yet, but he is right.

“I know. Of all the women I could have found, I found a wolf born one. Seems like only Martha has information on him and she doesn’t seem willing to part with it yet. I may have to pay her a visit soon.” I grumble the last part and Francis laughs at my annoyance and hesitation.

“What? Nervous to meet the parents? Think she’ll have issues with her granddaughter dating a wolf?” he teases.

“I have a feeling she doesn’t mind my wolf background. I’ve heard a lot of Martha even before Diana arrived, but perhaps I need to look more into it. She had given Diana that wolfsbane necklace, almost as if she knew she’d need it. She welcomed her into her home, helped with the tickets and taxi fare to get here as well,” I say, putting seemingly irrelevant clues together to form a hidden agenda.

“Sounds like she wanted her here.” Francis comes to the same confusion.

“Yes, but why?” I ask, my mind racing with questions.

Francis sighs and shrugs. “No idea. What I do know is that whatever her grand plan is, Diana’s safety is still a priority. Has it ever occurred to you that Diana may be stronger than you give her credit for?” he asks.

I flinch at the implications of it. I have been thinking the same thing, but stalkers in the streets are vastly different then ravenous wolves in the forest.

“I have downplayed her a bit, I admit, not her judgment, which we all saw is a little off. The line between bravery and foolishness is thin and blurry with the right reasons at the forefront. I don’t doubt that I will have to turn her at some point, I just don’t want to do it now. She has a life still and her mother doesn’t seem as open as Martha. I wonder if she even knows the truth about Diana’s father. Until I can figure out this mystery here, she will be safer as a human and in New York,” I declare.

He nods and stands before me as if telling me his next question might bring me to my knees. “And what if the danger follows her to New York? You can’t run on water,” he points out.

I had thought of that as well. “She’s been progressing well with her instructions, as you’ve borne witness to. I hope we can continue to advance her, so at least she won’t be helpless in case trouble does follow her. She was able to stall Damien and that was with little practice. She has come a long way in this area.” I explain.

He starts to speak again. When my phone goes off, it’s Robert.

“Hey, what’s going on?” I answer.

“It looks like Christopher is heading to the police station. Saw he has a meeting with the detective that was first on the scene after the attack,” he warns.

“You mean the chatty one?” I ask, dreading this meeting.

I am used to people being suspicious of my involvements and I welcome any opportunity to steer them away from my truth, but Christopher is relentless, grief keeping him focused.

“Give me the phone,” Clarissa chimes, and I hear a bit of tussling as Robert fights to keep it.

“Knock it off, Clarissa,” he scolds her like a child.

“Well did you mention that he also just left the library again with a book on werewolves? Seems he’s also interested in the attack from that festival thing. You didn’t tell him that did you,” she mocks, and I can picture her smirk through the phone.

“Yeah, that one,” Robert continues, ignoring Clarissa, knowing I heard her well enough. “The chief had him suspended for putting the crime photos on a police blog, but he’s returned, and might not have learned his lesson,” Robert says.

“Ok, stay on him. If anything, I’ll give Laura a call and she’ll intercept with Christopher somehow and give him something juicy enough but way off base, so he’ll run himself in circles. Thanks Robert,” I give my orders and hang up. I turn back to Francis, and he’s fully dressed again.

“I thought we were working together,” I say, throwing my hands up.

“The wife is sick, wants me to pick up some soup. Besides, I think some alone time with your thoughts might do you good. Staring at her, you’ll only feel your desire to keep her safe, space will help you see with more clarity,” he says and once again, my second is right.

He exits and leaves me alone with the thoughts.