The surprise on the faces of the brothers was evident when Ignis mentioned that she would take them to their father's house. Cassian, staring at Ignis, questioned, “What did you say?”
Ignis, maintaining her composure, replied, “Now, with your house burned down, we need to go to a safe place. And the only safe place right now is your father's house.”
Kane, between laughs, exclaimed, “Ignis, you're silly! We don't have a father!”
Ignis, looking into Kane's eyes, affirmed, “You do.”
Dorian, on the other hand, frowned and retorted, “No, we don't. Mom explained very well how we came into this world.”
Ignis, with peculiar calmness, inquired, “How did you come into this world?”
Cassian, serious, looked at Ignis and replied with irony, “Like everyone else, Ignis. Through the stork.”
Ignis blinked several times, processing Cassian's unexpected response. She then suggested, “I think you should sit back at the table. We have a lot to talk about.”
The three brothers, intrigued and curious, returned to their chairs, staring at Ignis, awaiting explanations. Ignis began to tell a story that would transcend their experiences and redefine the brothers' understanding of their own origin.
“You didn't come from the stork, as it's obvious,” Ignis began, observing the perplexed expressions on the brothers' faces. “You are special, descendants of a unique lineage of werewolves. Your father is Hunter, the Alpha King, and you are part of a powerful and noble pack.”
The boys, still absorbing the news, looked at Ignis with expressions ranging from shock to disbelief. Cassian, seeking clarity, directed his question directly to Ignis, “Are you really saying that we are werewolves?”
Ignis confirmed with a simple nod. Kane, still processing the information, commented with a touch of humor, “So it wasn't the nanny's dog that turned us.”
Ignis, surprised, asked, “Have you already transformed?”
Dorian, remembering the moment they escaped captivity, replied, “Yes, when we escaped from captivity.”
Ignis, intrigued, inquired, “What captivity?”
Cassian explained, “Some men came to our house and kidnapped us.”
Kane, curious, wanted to ask his own question, “Can I ask something?”
Ignis consented, and Kane continued, “Are you also a werewolf?”
Ignis replied enigmatically, “Yes and no. I'm not exactly a werewolf, but I share some characteristics.”
Cassian, perplexed, asked for clarification, “What do you mean?”
Ignis revealed, “I'm a Peeira.”
The boys exchanged confused glances. Cassian questioned, “What is that?”
Dorian, in his peculiar way, asked, “Did you say 'Flea' ?”
Kane rolled his eyes and suggested, “She said 'Pear.' “
Ignis smiled, trying to simplify her explanation, “No, I'm not a pear or a Flea. I'm a Peeira, a kind of fairy.”
Dorian, still processing the information, muttered, “A fairy? I never thought we would meet a fairy.”
Kane, making an unusual connection, asked, “So it's like the tooth fairy?”
Ignis corrected, “No, it's not like the tooth fairy because she doesn't exist.”
Cassian, still skeptical of what Ignis was saying, commented, “Werewolves also don't exist, but you just told us we are.”
Ignis, understanding the boys' perplexity, patiently explained, “There are many things in this world that are beyond common understanding. Werewolves, Peeira, and other creatures exist.”
Kane, always practical, took the opportunity to resolve a personal matter. “If werewolves exist, then the tooth fairy does too. Ignis, can you ask her to pay for the last teeth I lost?”
Ignis, with a smile, explained, “I can't because the tooth fairy doesn't exist.”
Dorian, not giving up, teased Ignis while taking a sip of his milkshake. “How can you prove she doesn't exist?”
Ignis, maintaining her composure, replied, “Boys, you are losing focus on the conversation. The fact is that you have a very powerful father who can protect you.”
Cassian, serious, looked into Ignis's eyes and questioned, “Where is he?”
Ignis, sighing, revealed, “Your father lives in the Rocky Mountains.”
Cassian, maintaining his skepticism, retorted, “If our father really exists, why has he never looked for us?”
Ignis sighed, revealing a hint of frustration in her expression, and said, “Your mother didn't tell you anything, did she?”
Cassian, cautious, asked, “What didn't she tell us?”
Dorian, always curious, intervened, “Is it close by?”
Ignis, recognizing the need for clarification, explained, “Not very close, but you should go as soon as possible. Undoubtedly, all your questions will be answered.”
The revelation of a powerful father, the existence of supernatural beings, and the imminent journey to the Rocky Mountains thrust the brothers into an unimaginable world.
***
The trio, now properly dressed, left the hotel room after Ignis checked out at the reception. They headed to the parking lot, where Ignis's phone started ringing. She instructed the boys to get into the car while she answered the call. Cassian, however, approached the window, eager to hear the conversation.
Dorian, intrigued, questioned Cassian's behavior. “What are you doing?”
Cassian, focused, replied, “Listening.”
Dorian, skeptical, responded, “It's impossible, Ignis is far away.”
Cassian, concentrating, murmured, “I can. I just need to focus. Try it too.”
The brothers, following Cassian's example, closed their eyes and concentrated on trying to catch something from Ignis's conversation. Kane, after a moment, exclaimed, “I'm hearing something!”
Dorian, surprised, also confirmed, “Me too!”
Outside, Ignis answered the call, remaining aware of the boys' presence. The voice on the other end asked if she was with the children. Ignis, turning toward the car, confirmed, “Yes, I'm with the boys.”
The voice on the call murmured some inaudible instructions. Ignis nodded, closed the phone, and returned to the car. The boys, anxious, awaited explanations.
The interlocutor's voice sounded urgent, inquiring about the situation and the children's safety. Ignis, remaining calm, assured that everything was under control and that they were on their way to the Rocky Mountains, to the pack.
As they listened to the conversation through the closed window, the brothers picked up fragments of Ignis's words. It was evident that something important was happening in the pack, and Ignis was taking responsibility for ensuring the children's safety.
The interlocutor, apparently relieved, thanked Ignis and instructed her to proceed with caution. Ignis hung up the phone and, as she approached the car, noticed the curious looks of the boys.
“Who were you talking to?” Cassian asked when Ignis joined them in the vehicle.
Ignis, remaining calm, explained, “It was a member of the pack. I informed them that we are coming, and they want us to arrive as soon as possible.”
Dorian, eager for information, asked, “And why did that woman on the call want to know if you could ensure our safety? Who is she?”
Ignis sighed before explaining, “Her name is Zora, she's the Luna of the pack... and your father's wife.”
Cassian, with a keen look, asked, “Why is she married to Dad, and our mom isn't?”
Ignis hesitated for a moment before answering, “It's a long story, but everything will be explained when we get there. For now, just stay calm. Your father awaits you.”
Ignis's car left the parking lot, unaware that it was not alone on the road. A pickup truck, with Jeff at the wheel, followed cautiously. Ignis, oblivious to the unwelcome presence, drove the boys with the promise of answers and safety.
As the landscape changed around them, the car cut through the road, taking the brothers toward a destination that would change their lives forever.