Dark. Cold. Lonely. Scary. I'm in the woods again. The routine is so familiar, that I almost give up and stop running, because I know that I'm dreaming and I can't really change anything, but the hope that maybe this time it will all change, maybe this time I will be able to run away, this hope makes me push harder. Blood is oozing from my forehead and my eyes sting, my breathing is hard and shallow. I'm running out of strength. I run and run. My fear hurt, branches are scraping my skin as I run. But they run as well. I can hear them. I can feel them. They are getting closer...

"Oh Eeeeemilyyyyy! You know there's no point in running!" - a high pitched voice, that reminds me of an old and rusty toilet pipe, taunts me. Dug. I think he's the worst of them all. Hiding behind Conner's back, he knows he can do anything to me. And Conner's daddy will make it all go away, he's got the power.

My breathing get's even more shallow. I am terrified now. I can't let them get me. Push, I tell myself, push harder!

"Why daaaaarling! Why complicate it? Just stop running and we'll show you some good time!" - and that, ladies and gentlemen, is Conner, the mayors son himself. Selfish spoiled bastard. Why, oh why didn't I stay home?

I see a fallen tree and jump right over it. Thankfully I still have some wit left in me. I have to believe that I can outrun them! I have to!

So I run.

"Emily! You stupid girl!" now he's laughing. Is he crazy? Why in the world is Conner laughing? I don't see anything funny here. We are in the middle of the night running through a forest and no one is here to help me. I am all alone and desperate. I feel tears welling in the corners of my eyes and I start sobbing uncontrollably. But I don't stop running. I can't. I know what will happen to me if I stop. I can't let that happen. I can't let them violate me.

"But Emily!" he continues, "Did you forget that we can smell you?..."

What? I am confused. What the hell does that mean? How can he smell me?

And at that moment a realization hits me straight in the gut. They are wolfs. Werewolf's. And they can smell me. And they can run faster than me. And they are stronger. The thought is enough to slow me down just for a second, but at that exact second a hand grabs me by the hair and slams me to the ground. My body is hit by a wave of pain from the collision, all air leaves my lungs. I look up and see sharp jaws. A violent sneer breaks out from it.

"Got you"



I wake up with a start. My heart beats a thousand times per second and I find it really hard to breathe. My body is covered in cold sweat. My eyes can't focus on anything in front of me, I only see jaws with saliva dripping of them. "Got you" sounds in my ears on repeat. I feel dizzy. I grab the bed sheets in tight fists to stop my hands from shaking. This is horrible. I can't live like that. What am I supposed to do now?

Slowly my breathing comes back to normal.

The dream has changed. I did get nightmares about that night pretty often, there's no surprise there. But this time, this time the dream has changed. And that made it all ten times more scary. My life will never be the same again. I am not the person a thought I was. Hell, I'm not even human, if what Nathan, Jonathan and doc Evans say is true. Everything I believed in just tumbled down yesterday. What am I supposed to do now? God...

I slowly get up from the bed and turn to look at the clock on the wall. 10 am. It's not usual for me to wake up that late, but yesterday was exhausting and I couldn't fall asleep for a long time after I retired to my room the previous night. My head was so full of different thoughts, it was impossible to think straight. I couldn't even grasp one single thought from a million battling in my brain until the sun rose, and then my brain just shut down.

I went to the shower and turned the water on. I was standing there with my forehead pressed against the wall, hot water cascading down my back as I remembered yesterdays conversation. I am not human. I am carrying an were child. I'm screwed.



Last evening.



"When were you going to tell me that your new friend here is carrying a were child?"

That was the phrase that unleashed all hell on me. My breathing stopped. Literally. I couldn't take a breath even when dark spots started appearing in the corners of my vision. The kitchen was quiet. Everyone looked on Nathan with confusion written on their faces. And only doc Evans seemed unfazed.

"Emily, sweetheart, breathe" he said putting an arm on my shoulder. I took a slow breath and continued staring at Nathan in complete and utter shock.

"Took you long enough to realize, damn wolfs! Didn't your mamma teach you to smell the newcomers?" he continued, now towards everyone else. Nathan turned his gloomy gaze to doc.

"Are you saying that you knew all along and never said a word?!" - his tone was low and calm, but I could see that he was getting angry. Really angry. And an angry werewolf is not something I would love to face in the foreseeable future. A high pitched whimper escaped me against my will. I shrunk to myself in hopes that no one would notice.

"Now you're scaring the girl! Will you calm down, so that we could have a civil conversation?" doc schooled Nathan. Nathan, much to my surprise, listened and took a deep calming breath.

Now it was Shirley's turn to speak. She didn't look at me any different, but she was confused, as everyone else in the room.

"Sweetheart. Did you know that the father of your child was a were?" her tone wasn't accusing, and that calmed me a bit. But only a bit. Still, when I answered, my voice was hoarse and reminded more of a hiss of a tea kettle, than my actual timbre.

"No, honestly..." I told her, hoping that everyone would believe me. Hell, I didn't even know that werewolf's existed until I came here.

She patted me on my arm and reassured that she believed me. Next to speak was Lena, and she looked even more confused than everyone.

"But I thought it was impossible for a human to have get pregnant by a were?..."

All eyes turned to doc Evans, apparently he was the cleverest one in the room.

"That's correct. But Emily here is not exactly human as we understand it." he stated as a matter of fact. I was shocked. How could I not be? He just said I wasn't a human, but that was impossible, right? My family physician would have suspected something, they would perform tests on me, I wouldn't be able to have a happy childhood, live normal life... but I did, so how was that possible?

Jonathan finally spoke up. His tone was as calm as Nathan's, the resemblance between them was so obvious now, and I felt the same surge of power, that oozed from Nathan, I guess it's an Alpha thing, right? He just said "Explain", and I thought that doc Evans would feel as intimidated as me, but no, he stayed as calm as a rock.

"Well, I started suspecting it the moment I saw her. Do you remember how she became my co-vet? She, along with a bunch of teens, brought an injured fox to the clinic. She was covered with fox blood, so I couldn't really smell anything suspicious, but the way the poor animal reacted to her made me pay additional attention to Emily." He crossed is legs in a bored manner and continued. "I really don't get it how you all missed it. As soon as she got clean of the blood, the wolf odor surrounded her miles wide. But ok, not everyone's sense of smell is that strong."

"Doc, to the point, please" it was still Jonathan that interrogated doc.

"Ok, ok, no need to get all fussy here." He even faked a yawn, damn, that guy has some nerve...

"Emily here is a healer".

Gasps were heard from all corners of the kitchen, but it was Hannah who spoke up next.

"A healer... My dear god... I thought they were extinct..."

"I healer?..." I whispered weekly.

"Yea, sweetheart, you are a healer." since doc Evans was speaking to me, his tone was now more kind. Thank you, dear doc, for trying to make me feel better. Not helping though.

"What is a healer?" I asked.

"Sweetheart, have you ever noticed how animals reacted to you? How they behaved whenever you tried to approach them? They trust you, they feel an instant connection to you, because they know that your spirit is meant to be kind, loving and to heal."

"My god! That's right", Lena exclaimed energetically. "The day you stumbled upon me in a forest when I was attacked by rogues, I felt it! I saw you and instantly knew, that you would help me! How didn't I realize it wasn't just my scared self?!"

"Exactly. I suspect, that that is also the reason that no one took the time to smell you properly, because the moment you came near they instantly trusted you." explained doc Evans. "Now, does everyone here know who is a healer?" Doc Evans looked like a bored professor, ready to explain to his students something, that they should have learned long ago, but were too lazy to do that. The twins lowered their eyes to their knees in shame. Goal achieved, doc. "I see. Well, let me explain one more time. A healer is another creation of the moon goddess, made to, obviously, heal. Just like were's, they are human, but with a portion of magic in them, that's why they can mate to were's, because both are children of the moon. There was a time when every pack had a healer or several. But some packs became greedy and wanted to rid other packs of their healers, to make them weaker. It started with kidnappings and then one Alpha basically went crazy and began killing every healer he stumbled upon, only leaving one for himself. Healers, naturally, got scared, and started hiding their abilities, until the world came to believe there was no healers left. But as we see here, we are damn lucky to find Emily and it is our obligation now to keep her safe."

The kitchen turned silent again. Different questions surged my mind and I finally decided to speak up.

"But doc, how wasn't I aware of it myself? I mean, shouldn't I be able to notice that something was wrong with me?..." my voice shook as I spoke. Doc Evans turned to me and his tone became even softer, like he was trying to calm a caged animal. I surely felt like one right that moment.

"Sweetheart. Firstly, there is nothing wring with you. It's not a disease, it's a gift from the moon goddess. You should be happy, you have a kind soul, and with a proper training you will be able to do so much good! And secondly, well no, it is totally normal, that you haven't noticed anything different about yourself. Healer's powers reveal themselves not earlier than in one 20s, because you have to be mentally mature to be able to control powers like those, it is a huge responsibility. And in addition to that, carrying a wolf child is more exhausting for your body than if the father was human. Were fetuses grow faster and need more resources of the body to develop. Did you notice that you started showing way before you should have?"

"Well, yes, but I just thought that every pregnancy is different and, well, I never knew anyone pregnant, had nothing to compare too and, well, I left my hometown before I got to go to the doctor and the doctor here never said that anything was wrong..." with every word my voice became more quiet. My brain was slowly turning to mush.

"Ah, Dr. Green, yes. You see, she's also a werewolf, thus has absolutely no experience with humans, so she would not be able to tell that something was wrong. Although it's fascinating, that she also didn't smell a were child." Doc Evans looked so smug, that a small smile graced my lips. That cocky bastard, so full of himself.

"Ok, so..." Seamus, the serious twin, spoke thoughtfully, "If Emily is carrying a were child, doesn't it make them mates?"

Mates. From what I knew about mates, I couldn't believe that one would do something that horrible to another. I couldn't be mated to a monster, who was able to do something that vile to his loved one. Just a thought of that made my skin crawl.

"Good question, Seamus, always the reasonable one." doc Evans approved.

"So, who's the father then? Is he your mate? Do we know him? If he's your mate, how did he let you go?" Seamus continued. Again all eyes were on me. All blood left my face. How could I tell them who the father is, if I didn't know myself? God... I couldn't tell them what happened to me. They would not believe me, just like my parents. Just like my whole town. They would throw me away. Where would I go? I am running out of time. I am having a child, for Christ sake, no one would give me a job, what am I supposed to do now?!

I think Shirley noticed my panicked state, because she swiftly rose from her seat and enveloped me in a tight embrace.

"Seamus! Stop scaring the poor girl! I think she's had quite a scare already!" My breathing was erratic and beads of sweat appeared on my hairline.

"Emily, calm down!" She soothed me. "You are safe here, no one is going to harm you, no matter what you say. You are safe here" She went on and on with her cooing until I calmed down a bit and started breathing normally.

"Now, let's start from the beginning, ok?" She smoothed my hair and stroke my cheek gently.

"Are you mates with the father?" she asked.

"No." I whispered, staring at the table, Shirley was still embracing me.

"Good," Nathan stated. "Then there's no wolf to be expected on our territory."

"Nathan!" Shirley exclaimed. "Don't sound so heartless! I tout you better!"

"Sorry, mother, but I am looking out for my pack, this is my job as an Alpha!" He answered calmly. Shirley just took a deep breath to calm herself down. I felt a bit better knowing that she was still on my side. At least someone was. For now.

"Ok then, that is one thing. But I think it still would be wise to do some research and find out who the wolf is to be prepared. Just in case." said Jonathan.

"Right..." Shirley replied. "Ok. Honey, can you tell us the name of the father of your child?"

That was it. The time for my embarrassing truth to come out.

"No..." I whispered, still staring at the table.

"Sweety, don't be scared, you can tell us." Shirley tried to persuade me. I took a deep breath and decided it was now or never.

"No, it's just... I... Uhm... I... I don't know..." I said in shame. Shirley looked at me not understanding.

"Sweety... but, uhm, how?..." I saw that she was trying to remain calm and soothing, to make it easy for me to spill my guts.

"They, ah... There were three... guys... They..." my breathing hitched again. I couldn't say it out loud again. The possibility of them not believing me was excruciating. I heard a low growl and when I looked up I saw Jonathan clenching his fists, his jaw tense.

"They raped you and mutilated you." he stated, not asked. I had nothing left to do then to look back down to the table.

"My dear god..." Hannah covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes huge and teary. Shirley squeezed me even more tightly. There was nothing more to say. A sob escaped my mouth, tears were now flowing freely down my cheeks. I clutched Shirley's hand hoping than she would not reject me now. She was as close to a mother I had now, and I wouldn't survive another mother rejecting me.

"You poor child..." her voice was strained, I realized that Shirley was on the verge of tears herself.

"Fuckers." That was the first time Simon said something during our conversation. All playfulness, that usually lived on his face was gone. His expression murderous.

"Emily." Nathan spoke calmly, but I heard steel in his voice. "Can you tell us their names, please?" So I did. What would it change? Absolutely nothing.

"Dug Hartman, Ronald Alistair and Conner Hues."

"Andrew..." Nathan started, but Andrew interrupted him right away with a short "on it" and left the kitchen. God, I already forgot that he was also in the room. I looked up and saw that everyone was looking tense, but to my surprise, no aggression or disgust towards me.

"Emily." Nathan spoke again, "You are safe here, ok? We will take care of you, deal?" his tone was softer. I guess hi warmed up to me, huh?

"Thank you" I whispered softly.

"I think you need some rest now." Jonathan said. He came up to me and put one of his hands on Shirley's waist and another on my shoulder. Then he gave her a soft kiss on the temple and turned to me. "Come, let me help you to your room, you are tired." He then lifted me up as if I didn't weight a gram and carried me to my room. I was grateful for that, because all the life force seemed to vanish after a conversation like we had now. He lowered me to my bed and tucked me in like I was his child, then stroke my cheek gently, said his good-nights and lest the room. I heard them all stay in the kitchen for a very long time after that. What kind of trouble did I bring to this town?...



Wow, that was a long one... And a shocking one... What do you think? What would happen next?