The White Wolf by Michele Pires

Chapter 01

Ethan

In the past, when I was just a boy, my name was Ethan Lewis, I lived in a mysterious town hidden in the mountains.

We were wolves, we could take animal form at any time.

My father was an Alpha, my mother had passed away, he got married again and for some reason that woman”s children looked at me strangely, later I would find out why.

Therefore, my father sent me to civilization, there I started to live with my aunt Clara, my mother”s sister.

I grew up being very alone and lonely. He was thin and clumsy, nerdola who was at the back of the room, the one who never mixed and no matter how much he knew about my true nature, I managed to remain secretive.

I never transformed, but my father assured me that he would train me during my adolescence and so I grew up, alone and neglected. Until the day of the attack arrived.

A thunderous sound rips me out of my deep sleep. Disoriented, I try to understand what is happening. The bang is repeated, this time accompanied by a muffled scream. My heart races in my chest as I sit up in bed, gripped by fear. My bedroom door shatters into pieces of wood, and a figure enters, bathed in the dim light of the hallway.

A tall man, his face covered by a black bandana. In his hands, he wields a dark weapon. Adrenaline takes over me, and my instincts stop me from screaming.

“Stay still,” he growls in a hoarse, threatening voice. — If you make any noise, I”ll kill you.

My eyes fix on Aunt Clara, who is standing in the hallway, dressed in her nightgown. She looks terrified, her eyes wide with fear. Before I can do anything, the man raises the gun and fires. A loud gunshot echoes through the silence of the night, followed by an excruciating scream.

Aunt Clara fell to the floor, a trail of blood spreading across the white carpet. Tears well up in my eyes as pain and anger overwhelm me. The man approaches me, his eyes cold and piercing. He punches me in the face, the force of the impact makes me faint.

When I woke up, I was alone in the dark room. The door was shattered, and the silence was deafening. I stood up with difficulty, my body sore and my mind numb. I ran to Aunt Clara”s room, my heart almost coming out of my mouth.

I find her lying on the floor, her eyes closed, her face pale and serene. A wave of nausea washes over me as I kneel beside him. She is dead. The thief killed her.

I stagger to my feet and look around. The house is in chaos. Open drawers, objects scattered on the floor. He took everything: jewelry, money, even some of Aunt Clara”s personal items.

I sat on the floor, feeling defeated and alone. Aunt Clara was everything to me. She raised me since I was a child, loved me and protected me. Now she”s gone, and I don”t know what to do.

Tears stream down my face as I hug my knees. A feeling of helplessness overwhelms me. I couldn”t protect her. I failed her.

I suffered for months, I had to manage, but on my eighteenth birthday I started to feel hot and at the same time my whole body hurt.

Without having many options, I called my father, he answered promptly, he even seemed to be waiting.

My hands shake as I pick up the device and type in the number of my biological father, Reid. We haven”t spoken for years.

But I know he loves me, at least that”s what I think, and now, more than ever, I need him.

As I wait for the phone to ring, the image of Aunt Clara invades my mind. Your soft voice, your warm smile, your constant presence... All of that was gone in the blink of an eye, stolen by a cruel and merciless monster.

The pain of loss is almost unbearable, I feel like a thousand years could pass and I will still remember that damn night, but something inside me is changing. A primitive, wild force is growing inside me.

The phone rings and, with my voice choked with emotion, I finally gather the courage to introduce myself.

—Dad, it”s me, Ethan.

A silence takes over the line, followed by a surprised sigh.

—Ethan? My God, son, how long! — His voice is hoarse with emotion.

I explain everything that happened, Aunt Clara”s death, the robbery, the pain and confusion. With every word I speak, I feel the fury inside me growing, consuming me.

—Ethan, I”m sorry—he says in a shaky voice. — I know this is very difficult for you. But you need to be strong.

“I know, Dad,” I reply, trying to hold back the tears. —But I feel different. Something is happening to me.

I hesitate for a moment, not knowing how to explain what”s happening inside me.

—I think I”m transforming — I stated the obvious, my voice almost a whisper.

A deep silence hangs over the line. Then, he responds in a calm and assured voice:

—I imagined it — I hear the sound of something breaking. — Ethan, wait for me there, I”ll help you and I won”t be long in arriving.

—But what should I do, father? — I ask, afraid of what awaits me.

—You need to learn to control your powers, Ethan — he responds. — And I will help you.

The night drags on, each second dragging like an eternity. About an hour after the call my father entered the house and now his eyes are full. In silence, he sits next to me and runs his hand over my face.

— I could have come earlier, but I wanted to prevent it from changing, the death of your aunt and the months of mourning were the trigger. — he explained and smiled. — The time has come, my son.

My father, Reid, stood by my side, guiding me through this transformation process. He explained to me that the change is gradual but irreversible. My senses sharpen, my muscles contract, and my body begins to shake.

An intense heat washes over me, as if my bones are breaking and rebuilding at the same time. A searing pain coursed through my body, making me scream. My bones lengthened, my hands turned into sharp claws, and my feet became furry paws.

A snout appears in place of my face, my teeth sharpen, and my eyes turn into piercing yellow eyes. A powerful roar escapes my throat, echoing through the empty house.

The transformation is complete. I am a wolf, a wild and powerful being. But within me still resides the soul of Ethan, the boy Aunt Clara loved so much.

I looked at my father, and he offered me a warm smile.

—Are you ready to go, Ethan? - he asks.

I nodded, still feeling a little disoriented.

— Good…

— My son, I”m not going to lie to you, the color of your coat is the same as mine, but your smell is sweet and that means you”re an omega, unfortunately, I”ll have to make a deal and marry you to someone, it”s the laws and as the leader of our clan I have to set an example.

- To marry?

— Yes, if you agree to go with me to Mist Hill, you will have to fulfill your role. — He looks at me as if analyzing me.

— There”s nothing here, nothing I really want. — I looked around. — we can go dad.

— Don’t worry, these agreements take time to happen.

As we arrive at Mist Hill, my eyes widen at the beauty of the city unfolding before me. Cozy wooden and stone houses rise from the mountain slopes, adorned with vines and wildflowers. Narrow streets paved with rectangular pebbles wind between the houses, inviting you to take a peaceful walk.

Some houses look like something out of a fairy tale, embedded in the ancient trees that dominate the landscape. Fresh snow covers the rooftops and fields, creating a magical scene. Shades of white and silver fill the view, conveying a feeling of peace and serenity.

As we walk through the streets of Mist Hill, a wave of nostalgia washes over me. Memories of my childhood flood my mind, taking me back to a time when I was happy and carefree. I remember playing in the snow with my mother, building ice castles, and hearing stories about magical creatures that lived in the forests.

I also remember my father, teaching me how to hunt and fish, passing on his knowledge about nature and the customs of shapeshifters. He was a wise and kind man, he couldn”t deny that.

Upon arriving at Mist Hill, I finally reunite with his family. He introduces me to his wife, Karise, a friendly, kind woman with a warm smile who immediately puts me at ease. Next to her are her four children from her first marriage: Andrey, the 25-year-old firstborn, Javier, 22, and the twins Asaf and Alef, 20-year-old twins.

I feel a little nervous about the reunion, but the welcome they give me is warm and welcoming. Andrey, the oldest, extends his hand to greet me with a friendly smile. Javier, with his curious eyes, watches me with interest. The twins, Asaf and Alef, seem shyer, but give me a friendly nod.

Karise, noticing my nervousness, guides me to the living room and offers hot tea. The conversation flows naturally, and I soon feel at ease with my new brothers. Andrey tells me about his work as a doctor in the city, Javier tells me about his passion for his work at the registry office and as a justice of the peace and the twins show me some of the photos of their adventures in the mountains.

I left them a little further away and walked to the balcony, it had a stone fireplace and some comfortable cushions in front of some lounge chairs. It was a cold night, but I didn”t feel it.

The moon hid among the clouds and at that point I was already in my human form, I had returned to being me still in the car and thank the gods, my father had brought a change of clothes so I could change.

Sitting on the porch of my father”s house, I observe the landscape while giving in to my thoughts.

My eyes fix on Javier, he is playing the guitar in the garden. His fingers dance over the strings with dexterity, creating a soft, melancholy melody that touches me deeply.

I admire her wavy black hair, which falls to frame her young and expressive face. His blue eyes shine with passion as he focuses on the music, and his lips curve into a faint smile.

I feel an irresistible attraction to Javier. Your beauty, your sensitivity and your musical talent enchant me. Even though I barely know him, there is something about him that awakens feelings in me that I have never experienced before.

He finishes the song and looks me in the eyes. A shy smile plays on his lips as he approaches me. We exchange intense glances, and for a moment, the world seems to disappear around us.

— What”s up Ethan, he looks scared.

— Well, I never imagined a wolf with musical talents.

— Just one of my talents… — he let his speech trail off and I noticed a mischievous smile appearing on his lips.

I feel electricity run through my body, and my heart beats wildly. The desire to touch Javier, to feel his skin against mine, is almost unbearable.

But I know I can”t act hastily. He is my father”s stepson, and any kind of relationship between us would be prohibited. I reluctantly turn away from him and pretend to be interested in something else.

Javier looks disappointed but says nothing. He sits next to me and plays the guitar again, but the melody is now different, more melancholic and full of emotion.

I continue to watch him, my heart squeezed by the pain of what could be the beginning of a romance and which honestly was already destined to not have a happy ending. I know I can never have Javier, but that doesn”t mean I can”t admire him and appreciate his beauty.

I get up and say goodbye to Javier, with a heavy heart and a smile on my lips.

In my room, I close my eyes and imagine Javier next to me. I feel your warmth, your soft touch and the sound of your voice whispering in my ear. I know it”s just a dream, but it”s a dream that brings me peace and happiness.

The night drags on, and sleep escapes me. My mind restless, I relive the events of the day, the transformation, the trip to Mist Hill and the meeting with my father”s family.

In the midst of turbulent thoughts, a deep tiredness takes over me. I close my eyes and surrender to sleep, hoping that the night will bring peace and rest.

But instead, a strange dream invades me. I find myself in a dark, damp place, surrounded by dense fog. A giant portal opens before me, emanating a mysterious, pulsating light.

Without hesitation, I step through the portal and find myself in a surreal setting. A cave, adorned with animal bones and skulls. In the center, a macabre throne made from the remains of wolves and other forest predators.

I sit on the throne, overcome by a feeling of power and brute strength. My senses sharpen, my muscles contract, and a powerful roar escapes my throat.

I am a wolf, the leader of the pack, the ultimate predator. Dominating the forest is my instinct, my natural right.

But suddenly the illusion shatters. I realize that everything is just a dream. A deep anguish invades me, and tears well up in my eyes.

I wake up in tears, my heart beating wildly. The dream left me confused and disturbed. What does it mean? What is my subconscious trying to tell me?

I get up from the bed and go to the window. The full moon illuminates the snowy landscape of Mist Hill, creating a unique scene.

I breathe in and out very slowly and try to calm my thoughts. I know that the dream was just a manifestation of my wild nature, of my struggle to adapt to the new reality.

I am a white wolf, I smell like honey and that means I am an omega, a being divided between two worlds. But I”m also Ethan, a young man with dreams and hopes. And I know that, with time, I would find balance between my two natures.

I close the curtains and lie down on the bed. Snow falls silently outside, creating a blanket of white over the sleeping city. I close my eyes and focus on my breathing, seeking the peace and serenity that I so desperately need.

Sleep takes over me again, and this time, it is a peaceful and restful sleep. I dream of flowery fields, crystal-clear rivers and animals running free through the forest. I dream of peace, harmony and the happiness that awaits me in the future.