THE LINES WE CROSSED
1109 Words
I needed to clear my head, so I drove without thinking past the city, past the noise, past everything that made me feel like I was being torn into two. The road narrowed until I reached the old family estate. The house stood like a memory, I never quite buried stone walls, thick silence, and the ghosts of my bloodline waiting inside. They were already expecting me. My father sat in the high-backed leather chair, older than I remembered, but eyes still sharp. My grandfather stood by the fireplace, arms crossed, as if he never left that position for decades. They both stared at me like I was a question they were tired of asking.
“You’re the last,” my grandfather said.”The only male that left to carry what runs in our veins.
I knew what he meant. The words hung heavy between us werewolf. Curse. Legacy. Blood.
My father’s voice was calmer, but not less serious.
“You weren’t just born to be a man, Ethan. You were born to become something more. And it’s time.”
They told me time was running out. The full moons had became stronger. My instincts has sharpened. I could feet the shift under my skin, especially when I was angry, aroused, or corned. I tried to ignore it, drown it in work, in Maya, even in Lucy. But it was always there.
Then came the part I didn’t like.
“You must give birth to a new wolf,” my grandfather said bluntly.
“Before the bloodline dies.”
I wanted to laugh, but I couldn’t. Because I knew they were right. I was the only son and the pressure was getting worse. The only one with the mark. The only one who still felt the pull when the moon rose.
Maya and I had tried. God knows we tried but maybe it was never meant with her. Maybe that’s why I keep ending up at Lucy’s door, drawn to her like a man chasing the scent of something he’s not supposed to want.
Maybe it wasn’t just love. Maybe it was instinct. The beast inside me knew something that I didn’t.
“Ethan,” my father said quietly, “ you cant keep running. The wolf in you needs a mate who can carry it. Not just love you, but survive you . Awaken what sleeps.”
I thought of Lucy then her barefeet on the pavement, her wild hair in the wind, the fire in her eyes when she challenged me. She didn’t fear me. She saw me. And maybe that was the most dangerous part.
I left the state that night with their voice still echoing in my ears, but the real noise was inside my own chest. I wasn’t battling guilt or lust anymore. I was battling blood, and destiny and the wild thing inside me that wouldn’t stay asleep much longer. I drove all the way absent minded. This was the rare moment of when the wrong became the right. Being loyal to Maya didn’t have enough meaning to my bloodline. Yes it should change.
Maya’POV
I stared at my face in the mirror, I don’t like what I see every time I gaze at my reflection. Did he go to that girl again? My heart ached. Maya you don’t deserve this but it’s not his fault right? It can never be his, I failed him, oh my old days! I brushed my hair gently. Maybe he will think that I’m still prettier than her. I sprayed perfume on my neck and walked out.
I sat in the corner of the couch, I heard his feet coming towards the door. I got up and walked to the door. I took a big breath and smiled.
“Why are you standing here?” He asks not thrilled to see me.
“À warm welcome wouldn’t hurt, would it .” I tried to sound playful.
“Wow, how long have you been standing here?”
“Since I heard your steps.”
His lips curves but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“That’s very sweet of you.”
“Can I take off your coat,”
“ sure.” He said , I took it off and hung it carefully.
He passed at me like I was invisible, the pain hit my chest instantly.
“Did I do anything wrong?” I asked he turned with around a flash of frustration in his eyes.
“Do you understand that not everything is about you Maya?”
“No, I can feel the distance between us Ethan. I don’t want our spark to die. We can still fix this.”
“Fix what for Gods sake Maya? We are infertile, how does a person fix that?”
“But,”
“Yes we have tried and failed over and over, but whenever I energy this house and there’s something on my mind it’s not about you Maya. I have life and other things to deal with. You understand me,” I nodded.
“You are not a victim here, I get tired as well.”
I nodded even though my throat felt like closing.
He disappeared into the hall way.
Now I was seeing my worst nightmare. Ethan has never talked to me like that in all years we have been together. My world collapsed. Was this going to be the end of us? I went to the bathroom and locked myself in, I sat in the bathtub and cried until there was nothing left.
Ethan’s POV
I couldn’t sleep, I waited for Maya to come to bed but she didn’t my heart aches for her. What I did was so wrong. I waited until i couldn’t anymore. I hear the noise of running water, I followed it. I got to the bathroom. I tried to open but it was locked.
“Maya open, please.”
“Go away, leave me alone.” She sobbed.
“Please open let me talk to you, please okay?”
I heard her wet feet paddling across the floor. Then the click of the lock. key. Her eyes red she had been crying for hours.
I wrapped her in a towel to keep her warm and scooped her into my arms and carried her upstairs.
“I am so sorry my love, I hurt you.”coldness. I did the sweet talk , made love to her and she fell asleep. And when she finally fell asleep I stayed awake, watching her breathe, knowing I had one foot in two worlds.
And I couldn’t stay in both much longer.
- Writer
