The Darkness We Hide

When she finally woke, Michelle saw soft light filtering past the blinds of her window, though not knowing which way her room faced, she couldn’t be sure if it was sunrise or sunset.

Sitting up, she was surprised to find her own robe laying at the foot of the bed. Pulling it on, Michele looked in the closet, not surprised this time to find it full of her clothes.

Opening the connecting door Michelle saw Louise and Nancy sitting at a small table sharing a pot of coffee.

“Good morning sunshine,” Nancy said, pushing out a chair for Michelle, “won’t you join us?”

Michelle scanned the outer room quickly, looking for Gareth.

“I left him at home with his father,” Nancy said reassuringly, “it’s just the three of us.”

Louise poured a third mug of coffee and pushed it towards the empty seat.

Sensing that Nancy was telling the truth, Michelle moved to sit in the offered seat, grateful for the caffeine.

“Alright,” Louise said when Michelle was seated, “now that you’ve had some rest I think it’s time we had a serious heart to heart talk.”

Louise topped off hers and Nancy’s coffee cups and turned to look at her.

"How are you feeling?" Nancy asked, her fingers fidgeting with her cup.

"I hurt," Michelle admitted, "but it's not as bad as it was yesterday."

"I have a theory about that," Louise said, adding sugar to her cup. "You are bound to Gareth by blood.

"As his parents," she continued, stirring her spoon slowly, "Hugo and I share some of the same markers. I think that as long as one of us, and maybe one of his siblings is close, your pain should stay eased."

Michelle choked back a combination of a sigh and sob.

“Let me begin by saying that I have no idea what you are going through. I was born a lycanthrope, as was my husband. All of our children’s spouses that have been changed have done so of their own free will, with years of proper training. In all honesty, I have spoken to every Elder I could and there hasn’t been an incident like this in over six centuries, so we are ‘flying blind’.”

When Michelle didn’t say anything she looked to Nancy and back to Michelle again.

“Our records do not tell us how these instances were handled, they only outline the punishment of the perpetrator, not the aid offered to the victim. I will tell you this,” Louise said, taking Michelle’s hand. “Richard’s punishment will be both severe and painful. In the end, death will be a blessing.”

“Thank God,” Michelle finally managed, tears running down her cheeks.

“Now, back to you,” Nancy said, handing Michelle a tissue. “You are one of us now, there is no way to change that. So it is up to us to help you through this. I can’t begin to imagine how you feel, but I want you to know we are here for you. You’re alone, am I correct? No family to speak of right?”

“No,” Michelle replied. “I’m an orphan.”

“Well, now you do. As Gareth’s mate,” Louise started to say before she was interrupted.

“I’m not his mate!!” Michelle yelled, slamming her hand on the table startling both women.

“I’m sorry,” Louise apologized, “it was a poor choice of words. As his... progeny..., you are forever bonded to him, and through him to us. You are now part of our pack, and as such we will take care of you. I am now your mother and my husband is now your father. In truth, you now have eighteen brothers and sisters and countless nieces and nephews.”

“A family?” Michelle breathed, almost unable to comprehend.

“Yes my dear,” Nancy confirmed, “a very large, noisy, family.”

“Yes Nancy,” Louise added, giving her sister-in-law a long look, “they can be loud, but they are also loyal. Several of my daughters and daughters-in-law have been calling me almost every hour wanting to meet you, and offer their aid to you.”

“What now?” Michelle asked, staring into her untouched cup.

“Well,” Nancy said, standing retrieving a pink box from the counter in the room’s small kitchen, “first I say we eat these sinfully sweet donuts I picked up on my way over. Then we talk about where you are going to do your training.”

“I have thought about that,” Louise said, taking one of the offered glazed rings.

“Training?” Michelle asked. “What training?”

“You are now a lycan,” Louise explained, pushing the box towards her. “There are certain alterations to your body that you will need to learn to control.”

“How long will that take?” Michelle asked, trying to fight through the discomfort she was feeling.

“Well,” Louise said, signing heavily. “I eventually have to get back to Montana. Hugo and I can’t stay gone too long, there’s just too much going on for us to stay here. Right now only two of our other boys are living with us with their wives and kids, so it shouldn’t be too noisy. I thought you might like to come back to Montana with me. Maybe get a change of scenery, and being away from here might help you decide what your next step in life will be.”

“Plus,” Nancy added, “there are resources there you can’t get here.”

“Like what?” Michelle asked.

“Like hundreds of years of history on lycanthropy, and several people of your own age who have been through the change and can help walk and talk you through it,” Louise said. “Granted, none of them have gone through the hell you have, but they can at least help you understand the physical part of it, if not the mental side.”

Thinking it through, Michelle could find only one reason she wouldn’t want to go.

“Promise me one thing,” she finally said. “Promise Gareth won’t be there. I can’t deal with him right now.”

“I promise,” Louise replied. “I will not invite Gareth.”

“I’m gonna stay here with him,” Nancy said, putting her hand on Michelle’s. “Hopefully I can do something to help.”