Page 20 of Eclipsed Legacy

“I know you’re worried, but I’ll be with him the whole time. He needs to do this.”

“What if he’s not one of you? What if he doesn’t change? What then?” Mom’s voice gradually grows louder as she speaks, but I do my best to maintain an even tone.

“I doubt that will happen, but if it does, Michael will not be in any danger from the pack.”

“And what about those animalistic instincts you all have talked about over the years? What if that takes over, he runs, and one of them can’t help but chase him?”

“Mom,” I say, taking her hand. “It won’t. We haven’t seen it yet, but everything is telling us that Michael is a wolf. And we can’t risk him changing for the first time in public. It’s too dangerous. The instinct is more likely to overcome a new wolf, and in that form, even without being aggressive, he could accidentally hurt someone. And you know Michael; he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if that happened.”

Mom just nods.

“What’s going on?” Michael asks from under the arch that connects the kitchen to the living room.

“Nothing,” Mom says.

“I heard yelling,” he insists as he raises his eyebrows.

“We were just talking about Grandma,” I lie. “But I’m actually here to talk to you.”

Michael instantly tenses, but his eyes go wide with excitement. I can only imagine the anticipation he’s feeling. “Okay,” he says. “Let me get my boots!” He dashes down the hall before I can reply. Of course, he’d get his boots; that’s what I always did. When he was younger, every time I’d put them on, he thought I was going to the woods.

I turn to Mom, “I’ll look after him; I promise.”

She nods then gives my hand a quick squeeze before I turn and follow Michael to the back of the house. In his room, he’s drug most of his closet out into the center of the floor. An old ball, a set of trading cards, some underwear, and various old toys are strewn about. Michael’s hunting boots are set neatly on his bed, along with a green BDU that he uses for his airsoft gun battles. Michael digs in his closet and doesn’t notice me.

As I clear my throat, he jumps and bumps his head on a shelf in his mess of a closet. He turns and looks at me as he stands, black socks in hand. “Hey,” he says.

“Hey…” I reply as he continues to set out his would-be wolf gear. “Michael, you know that you don’t need all of this stuff, right?”

He shrugs. “Yeah, but I just want to be prepared. Ya’ know, in case the other pack tries to attack us.”

I want to lie to him and say there’s no way that’ll happen. Even though I think it’s unlikely, I know it is a real possibility. I sit down at the foot of Michael’s bed and pat the spot next to me. He raises an eyebrow. “Really?” he asks, as if this is some sort of overly sappy cheese fest on the family channel.

I offer my best devious smile. “Really.” Michael rolls his eyes dramatically before sitting beside me.

“Look,” I say. “I don’t want to downplay it to you. The other pack attacking is a possibility, but it is very unlikely. If they do, you are to stay next to Ricky.” Immediately, part of me wants to take that back; I’m not sure if I can trust Ricky. Instinct tells me that he knows more than he is letting on. But does that mean he really killed my grandmother? My gut says no. I am conflicted, but no part of me thinks for one second that Ricky would ever harm Michael, so I continue. “Besides, that airsoft gear won’t help you.”

“But I could change back and—”

“And what? Tell the others to hold off the attack, so you can spend five minutes dressing? Michael, that’s not how it works. It’s a full moon; you can’t change back until it’s over. You’ll want your boots, because prior to the change, we’ll be walking, but you want something you can quickly slip out of.”

Michael’s face turns red before twisting into a look of disgust. “Wait, you had said that the pack changes together.”

“Yeah?”

“So, I’m going to see half the family naked?”

I can’t help but laugh. “I mean, technically, yeah, but we’re usually too focused on our own change to notice anything else. And then we’re wolves, so we’re covered in fur.”

“But after? I have to see Uncle Carl’s saggy ass? And no offense, but I really don’t want to see you naked either.”

Of all the things he’s worried about! It’s not really the possibility of death; it’s seeing his sister’s boobs. I suppose no one ever discussed those logistics with him before. “Again, we are usually focused on our own changes. If you do see anyone…” I pause, thinking of our change. “Well, it’s not like that. We’re all used to it. If it makes you feel any better, as a born wolf, you’ll be able to feel when the control of a full moon begins to wane. You may be able to control when you turn back, but it’s likely you’ll change back when the turned wolves do. That kind of control takes practice. I usually choose to remain a wolf long enough to scoop up my clothes and go behind a tree.”

“Okay. Just don’t look if—”

I put my hand up. “Trust me. I won’t.”

Michael releases a breath.