Tatum and Henry

“Um,” I begin, looking back at the house. The truth is, I haven’t told Genevieve about what exactly had happened between Henry and I. I lied and told her my baby’s father had skipped town and that I was left raising a new-born and an almost seven-year-old. Genevieve had then told my off for not coming to stay with her after mum’s death, but I felt a need to be in Little Vallis. I mean, I knew Gary, Jed’s dad, had intentionally moved to Little Vallis with Jed, and I felt he had done so for a good reason.

Only now do I really know the reason why. Jed’s mother.

“It’s okay,” Margot states, “Gen is in the living room, watching M.A.S.H.”

I look at the direction of the house, and I nod.

“When Rhiannon was born, my mate took two weeks off to help me,” I begin, “his mum also came round in the mornings. But when he went back to work, he changed. He stopped taking Jed to school and in the end, he stopped coming home. Because I was now taking Jed t school, his mum stopped coming round to help. I felt bad and told his parents I could do it on my own, but in reality... I feel shame, like I’m the reason Henry didn’t want to be at home, like he hates me,” I admit, tears going down my face.

“I didn’t really know what to say to his parents, or how to tell them their son was working a lot. I mean, when I tried... his mum told me he was just trying to get used to ‘fatherhood,’” I snuffle, wiping the tears with the back of my hand. Vas comes over and cuddles me.

“It’s not your fault,” she soothes. I look at her.

“Yeah,” I say unconvincingly, “Anyway, one time, he came home early, and it was wonderful. It was like he was there. You know? I asked if he was free to go out to dinner for my birthday, but he said he had to work. Then it was like he moved out completely. I didn’t really see him after that. I only knew he had come home if his bed was unmade or his clothes had been moved. I talked to my friends, but, they didn’t really say much,” I admit.

“Werewolf friends?” Margot asks. I nod.

“And a witch,” I add. Margot and Vas look at each other.

“It sounds like you have post-natal depression. Unfortunately it’s not very common in werewolf packs,” Margot explains. I nod.

“Yeah. The doctor gave me some medicine, but I don’t know if it’s helped,” I admit.

“I just wanted him to care about Jed, Rhiannon and me, you know? Then it was Jed’s birthday, and he didn’t show. That was two days ago,” I say softly, looking at my hands. I feel so stupid for letting him hurt us for so long.

I feel Jed’s arms wrap round my shoulders.

“Hey little man,” I smile at him.

“I love you Tate,” Jed says.

“I love you too baby,” I reply.

“Can I have a drink?”

“Sure, go ask Aunty Gen to help, kay?” Jed nods, leaving us in the backyard.

“There’s nothing more important to me than my family, and I needed to put them first,” I admit, looking at them through tear-soaked eyes, “Him not being there for Jed’s birthday was it for me. Our parents died last year and I just want some security for us. I thought I had it...”

“What is your mates name? Maybe we could help?” Margot asks.

“No-o” I shake my head. If they knew the name of my mate, they would then definitely know who my mate is, and I’m not ready for him to know my whereabouts. The people my mate was hanging round made me feel uncomfortable, and I just want my brother and my baby to be safe.

<<\\//||\\//>>

“How was today for you?” Genevieve asks as I dry the last dish and put it away after dinner. I look at my dad’s cousin and smile.

“It was good. Your cousins are really nice,” I say.

“And?” she asks.

“And they proposed that I move out their way. They can set me up with a house, a job, and a school for Jed and me,” I admit. Genevieve smiles.

“I knew they would,” she smiles, taking the tea towel off me and hanging it back on the oven door handle. I raise an eyebrow at her.

“I have many people come through my home, that they find places for. You’re just the first family member,” she smiles.

“What do you think I should do?” I ask her.

“What do you think is best? Follow your instincts. They brought you this way, where are they leading you now?” Genevieve asks.

“I think… I think I need to look into it,” I admit, although I don't want to leave Genevieve.

“Then that’s what you need to do,” Genevieve smiles.

//\\//\\//\\

I wake up every morning at five on the dot for Rhiannon’s morning feed and nappy change. This morning the only difference is, is that I will be leaving her with Genevieve while Margot takes Jed and I to visit a local pack today.

I get dressed in light-blue jeans and a crimson red polo-shirt and tie the laces of my sneakers up before heading for the kitchen. Jed is sitting there eating his nutri-grain and I opt for my cornflakes.

“Good morning baby,” I smile as Genevieve walks in with Rhiannon in her arms.

“I think I’m going to miss this little one when you leave,” Gen says.

“I haven’t made any decisions yet,” I tell her. She just smiles and winks at me. The doorbell rings and Genevieve walks over to open the door.

I hear loud footsteps and two boys run into the dining room.

“Hello,” I smile, looking up at them. Both boys have brown hair and blue eyes, and one was much taller than the other.

“Hi I’m Sam!” the younger boy says, walking over to me and seeing what I’m eating.

“Hi Sam, are you hungry?” I ask. Sam smiles and licks his lips.

“Yes please!” he says.

“What would you like?” I ask, getting out of my seat. Sam asks for cornflakes, and I start to pour him a bowl.

“Can I please have a bowl of cornflakes too?” the older one asks. I smile and nod.

“Boys!” Margot scolds as she walks into the room.

“But she offered mum,” the older boy said.

“Yeah, she offered mum,” Sam repeats in his cute little voice.

“I’m sorry. My boys never stop eating,” Margot sighs as she helps prepare the boys their food.

“That’s okay,” I smile.

“Honestly, I fed them before we came,” Margot laughs. I join her and giggle too.

As we eat breakfast Margot tells me about her sons. Apparently, she has two twin boys, who are fifteen, Jonas and Killian, then there is William, who is nine, and Samuel, who is four. The older three boys all play soccer.

“Hey, maybe you can join our soccer club?” William asks Jed. Jed looks at me and I nod, telling him he can if he wants to.

“Yeah. And I can teach you some self-defence,” Jed smiles back.

“Self-defence?” Margot asks me.

“He’s been taking Karate lessons since he could walk,” I admit proudly. Jed did really well in his training classes at our old pack, he was years ahead his age-group. His dad would have been proud.

//\\//\\//\\

Once we have the three boys’ seat-belted in the back of Margot’s Chevrolet Suburban, Margot heads out across the city. As she drives, she talks about the city of Sefton and it’s surrounding areas and towns. Sefton is a ‘neutral territory,’ town she explains, where werewolves can come and go without trespassing on other pack’s lands. Three packs are located around Sefton, Iunae Lumen Pack, to the north, Genesis Pack, to west of Sefton, and Waning Moon Pack, to the east. Apparently Waning Moon and Genesis Pack are sister packs and share a boarder.

“What’s a sister pack?” Jed asks. I smile. I was thinking the same thing.

“Well, Iunae Lumen pack was one of the first packs in the area, and hundreds of years ago one of the alpha’s had three sons. One son took over as the alpha of his pack, and the other two sons made new packs, Waning Moon and Genesis. So, all three packs have a family relationship and alliances with each other,” William says proudly.

“That’s cool,” Jed states.

“Yeah it is,” William agrees. I smile as Jed and William start to talk to each other. They seem to get along really well, and it’s nice to see.

“Which pack is this?” I ask Margot as we drive towards a large two-story stone mansion.

“Waning Moon,” Margot answers.

“Are you from Waning Moon?” I ask.

“No, Genesis, but because of Zoe, who's dad is the Beta of Iunae Lumen, our family has a close relationship to both this pack and mine,” Margot explains, although I'm sort of confused. I nod as we get out of the car. I hold Jed’s hand and William and Sam hold Margot’s as we walk into and through the packhouse.

I’m surprised as we walk in, many of the wolves greet Margot and her sons, some almost bowing as she walks past.

I know werewolves have sensitive hearing, but I can’t help but give her a quizzical look.

“White wolf,” she explains.

“Ah huh,” I murmur, not understanding at all.

“Are they expecting us?” I ask. William chuckles and Margot nods.

“Don’t be nervous,” she says, taking her hand off William and squeezing my own.

We walk down a hallway towards a large office space and as we walk, people carry on with their business.

“You must come here a lot,” I note as I watch people smile or nod at Margot and the boys in greeting. It’s not so different from Henry’s pack.

“Margot! I haven’t seen you in ages!” a very pregnant woman says, getting up and walking over to Margot, giving her a hug.

“Hannah, this is Tatum and Jed, Tatum, Jed, this Hannah,” Margot smiles, introducing us.

“Hi,” Hannah then greets, smiling at both Jed and I. This pack sure seems friendly.

“Is Alpha Quade free?” Margot then asks.

“Yes, he’s expecting you, you can go straight in,” Hannah replies, returning to her desk.

“Thank you,” Margot replies, ushering us all in.

The first thing I notice is a sophisticated man sitting at his desk in an expensive looking suit. He has blonde hair and brown eyes and looks toned. Smiling, the man gets up from his seat and walks over to us.

“Margot,” he says, pulling him into a hug. He then shakes Sam’s hand and fist-bumps William.

“And you must be Tatum,” he says, offering me his hand to shake. I feel kind of relieved that he didn’t want to hug me as well.

“Hi, Alpha Quade, I’m Tatum Sullivan, and this is my brother, Jed Delaney,” I greet. Alpha Quade raises an eyebrow.

“Any relation to Gary Delaney?” he asks, laughing as if he’s joking.

“That’s my dad!” Jed cries happily. Alpha Quade halts and looks at me in disbelief, as does Margot and William.

“Gary Delaney passed away over a year ago in a motorbike accident. Jed is my stepbrother,” I explain.

“Wow. Wow. Well, Mr. Jed Delaney, it’s an honour, your dad was my idol growing up,” Alpha Quade states, going over to shake Jed’s hand again.

“Thank you,” Jed replies, a happy grin on his face.

“Well Tatum, tell me about yourself, and about Jed,” Alpha Quade says, returning to his desk.

“Myself?” I ask, turning to Margot for reassurance. Margot smiles.

“You don’t have to tell him what you told Vas and I. Just tell him about yourself, what your qualifications are, your skills, your dreams,” Margot states.

My dreams, I think. I haven’t thought about what I’ve wanted for myself for a long time. I look up at Alpha Quade and I smile.

“Well…” I begin.

~~

Iunae Lumen (Latin) – moonlight