Let's Have A Chat

Let's Have A Chat
Three Days Later

“Alpha?” Brenda said hesitantly at Kano’s office door, causing him to stop what he was doing.

Beckoning her in, he motioned for her to take a seat. “Let me guess. You’re about to ask me how I handled Blood Moon’s fascination when I revealed my wolf?”

“How did you know?”

“You and Ericka have been hold up in your rooms for days. Less dramatic flair than when I ran into the woods, but still done out of fear.” She lowered her head, and he shook his. “No shame ever again, do you understand? Being afraid is okay; it’s what you do afterward that is the most important.” She raised her head, and he clasped his hands on the desk in front of himself. “When it was my turn, I realized that the greatest thing I could do for others like me was to tell my own story. Because whatever happened, I refused to ever be made to feel as if I was an abomination. I can no more control what I am than others can control their initial feelings about me. I can however, control what I teach, as they can control their ability to be teachable.”

“And if the people you love the most aren’t teachable?”

“Then they don’t deserve your love. Essence has never once made me feel as though there was something wrong with me, though multiple times she could have. She has loved me from the depths of her being, and it is amazing to see and feel. I had to give her a chance to do that though, even though I feared what would happen. Perhaps it’s time you and Ericka give it a try?”

Brenda nodded and wiped her eyes. “You’re great at this communication thing,” she said.

He chuckled. “I’ve had practice. You get into enough silent arguments with your luna, you learn you have better ground if you just do as she initially asked and effectively communicate.”

Brenda laughed loudly. “She does have a death stare on her. Now, I see that she got it from yo—” Kano glared at her hard, and her words immediately broke off. “J-just scary as fuck for no reason,” she murmured before giving him a genuine smile. “Thanks, Kano.”

His face softened and he smiled at her in return. “You’re very welcome.” Seeing her walk to the door, he called out to her, “I will gather everyone and we will meet in the den at noon. Does that give you two enough time to get ready?”

She whipped around. “How did you know I was going to ask you that?!”

He laughed again. “I have also learned to pay expert attention. Your luna keeps me on my toes too much not to.”



“Alright, let’s not make this weird,” Ericka said, fidgeting as she and Brenda sat close to one another in the den. Seeing all their friends around, Ericka tugged at her sleeve nervously.

Sensing their discomfort, Essence moved closer to them. “Hey, we love you both. Whatever you feel comfortable sharing, we’re here.”

Brenda nodded. “Everything. I’m tired of secrets.”

“Well, I’ll start with the hardest to hear and say. I’ve never seen or heard of anything like you two,” Kano said.

Brenda bit the side of her lip. “Because we’re the only two. It was an accident, really.” She sighed. “Um, well—how do I put this? I’m a little older than you might think.”

Savina’s brow raised. “How much older?”

“Let’s not get into semantics.”

“Oh shit! I knew it!” Ricky shouted, scaring everyone. Pulling out his phone, he feverishly scrolled online. “I’m currently teaching this unit. Illusion, glamor, purple death sparks, turning men into pigs. Holy shit! You’re Circ—fuck!” he screamed as his phone burned his hand, causing him to drop it.

Brenda folded her arms to her chest. “Do not call me that.” She scoffed. “You know, people will write anything! Talking about ‘she turned her rival into a sea monster because her lover spurned her.’ Nope! That bitch got turned into Nessie because she wouldn’t pay her debt. I don’t play about my funds. Don’t barter if you have nothing to trade!” The room sat quiet, and she grumbled. “Sorry. I’ll replace your phone, Rick.”

“It’s okay,” he said meekly, still nursing his scorched hand. Walking over to him, Ericka pulled a small vial from her pocket. She covered his burning hand with cream, and it instantly healed. He stared at it bewildered. “Thank you.”

“Welcome,” she replied bashfully. “The entire sea monster incident landed her in a lot of hot water. She doesn’t like to talk about it.”

Brenda huffed. “Yeah. They literally snatched me away and told lies. As you can see, I clearly didn’t kill myself.” She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I was alone for a while, but that was okay, ya know? You adjust and acclimate. Then one day Alpha Colin overheard my wisps and immediately became enamored with me. When I turned him down, he got pissed, killed his mate, then came back thinking I was just going to be like okay, I’m totally digging that you’re a fucking murderer, and when I didn’t, he bit me!

“I wasn’t even mad, if I’m honest. I was on the same wavelength as him. I hoped that the mixture would kill me, but it turned me into something different altogether. My new disposition got his rocks off even more and there began the story of married life. It’s not like I could just go back to being alone after that, and he needed to cover up what he’d done, so his threat to kick me out of the pack left me with no choice. So boom, he got a prize wolf, and I got torment, and terrible sex.”

Silence filled the room, and Ericka patted her shoulder before continuing with the story. “When I found out what was happening to the elder wolves, I went and told her and she confided in me what Colin had done to her. We came up with a plan, and I asked if she would bite me after we killed him. I had nothing really to live for; my mother was the last person I had so I figured if I turned I could go with Brenda, but if not, at least I’d be with my mom. We didn’t think I would have survived, but I wasn’t your average wolf to begin with, either.” She waved her hand around, producing illusions of people in her palm. “My family were wolves closely linked to sorcery. We learned a lot of their medicinal ways from the greatest minds, and before my mother was killed, she had one place an enchantment on me. I became stronger and more gifted than anyone in my family. It also affected my features and landed me a nickname.” She glared at Brenda, who pursed her lips to stifle a laugh.

Brenda clapped her hands together. “New question. I’m tired of talking about the sad stuff,” she said.

“So, you can’t die, Bren?” Tremaine asked.

Brenda chuckled. “Oh no, I can totally fucking die. The best thing Colin ever did was inadvertently snatch my immortality by tainting my blood. I age now, which means I can grow old with family and friends.” She gave a small smile. “It probably sounds trivial to you all, but it’s an amazing thought, especially after watching so many you care for leave you behind.”

Rubbing her belly, Anastasia turned to Ericka. “It was your blood I drank, wasn’t it?” she said, avoiding Cayden’s puzzled expression.

“A mixture of ours,” Ericka replied.

“You healed me?”

“No,” she said sternly. “I placed a charm on your womb. It works to protect the baby by ensuring your body is not overworking itself to carry. However, neither of us has the power to heal something that complex that has so many factors. Just like I can’t cure my or Essence’s MS though”—she paused, and looked at Essence—“I-I did place the same mixture in your steroid shots before the wedding. I’m sorry. I knew how much you wanted to marry Alpha, and Brenda, and I could sense something bad coming to Blood Moon for you. I wouldn’t have done it unless I felt it was necessary, and I made sure that it was only enough to work with my magic and get your leg working again while providing protection.”

Essence laid her head on her shoulder. “I trust you, Eri, and because of you, I’m safe, and I got to rip that bitch to shreds.”

Ericka patted her hand in appreciation. “We both have our strengths and weaknesses. In turning me, Brenda weakened her own powers, and we both have limits.” Her throat died as she tried to remove Phil from her thoughts. “I can fully heal small wounds on the spot. Bigger or more complex things—I aid with the symptoms, and it takes me more time. The way I look at it, it keeps the body from going into shock. The part about magic that they don’t tell you is about the consequences. I could kill someone if I push their body too far, too fast.”

“You can also paralyze people with your fur and will them to die just by saying it,” Bobby interjected, while replaying the events of the other day.

“Ah, you saw that, huh?” she said, scrunching her face. “The electric pulses of my magic adhere to my skin and inject a neurotoxin into anyone I touch. Then anything I will, their body responds, even if it means completely shutting down and dying. I have full control of it though, which is really cool, and took a long time to master.”

“Fucking Hell, ” Ricky murmured before looking hesitantly at Brenda, afraid he’d get scorched again. “You... uh... that was something.”

She laughed. “Yeahh, the pig thing was true. It’s my specialty, so is the siren call. I think it pairs well with my white hair. Eri’s powers are more linked to DNA and the nervous system. Our guess is because of her ties to medicine—though, like me, she can create illusions. Mine are a lot more complex, however, because of my origin. I still have powers I’m unsure about, so I opt not to use them. I’m nowhere near as strong as I was, but I’m still really strong.”

“I didn’t even see your mouth open when you were singing,” Chuckie said.

She pursed her lips at the statement, and Ericka rubbed her back. “Yeah, well, when you’ve been around long enough, you figure out a workaround,” she said. She swallowed her spit when she heard her wolf speak.

“Only for… our mates.”

“Kinda gives me yin and yang vibes,” Bobby said pensively.

Brenda and Ericka looked at one another. “Never thought about it that way, but I guess our powers do complement one another perfectly.”


After a few more questions and comments, the group hugged and quickly disbursed. Satisfied with the interaction, Ericka and Brenda prepared to retire to bed. Turning, they both hit the floor as they collided with Kano’s massive chest.

Essence, and Kano glared at them. “Where do you two think you’re going?” she asked.

Brenda fidgeted with her fingers. “To bed, unless now that we told you everything, we have to—”

“What did we talk about earlier?” Kano asked sternly, interrupting her words.

She twisted her face up. “Yeah, I vetoed that. I don’t wanna talk to them and Ericka feels the same about Phil.”

Ericka nodded. “Yeah, plus it’s not like they came here tonight.”

“Maybe because you two have been avoiding the hell out of them?” Essence fumed.

“We have not!” Brenda shouted.

Pointing to the tarp over the destroyed wall, she sneered. “So that funsized burnt hole through the wall just happened to appear the day Fontaine came looking for you?” Brenda winced and avoided her eyes.

“You didn’t see how they looked at us that night, E. They’re afraid of us,” Ericka said sadly.

Kano sighed and placed his arm around his wife. “Sometimes, our initial reactions aren’t always the best ones, but like I said earlier to Brenda; the ones who are worth it will be teachable. Just make sure you are as well.”

Brenda rubbed her arm. “Yeah, but Alpha—” Her body stilled. Closing her tinging eyes, she backed away. “Oh, that was low,” she seethed.

Kano chuckled. “Sorry, they asked.”

Reaching behind her, she squealed when she felt Fontaine. “Still not my leg, Bren,” he snickered, causing her to quickly retract her hand. Moving past him, she bumped into Stephan, forcing her to look up in horror.

“And here we find ourselves again,” he said, smirking at her. He nudged Fontaine. “Look, this skirt is being devoured worse than the other one.”

Hearing them laugh, she stomped her foot. “That is not funny!”

“I disagree,” Fontaine replied, his eyes gleaming. “Now, serious question. If we take your hands, are you going to do to us what you did to those pigs?”

Brenda cut her eyes. “Don’t be an asshole. Have you ever exploded from touching me before?”

“Quite a few times,” he retorted, laughing at how her mouth dropped. Her eyes shot to Essence and Kano, who both tried their hardest not to laugh. Unable to hold it in any longer, they cackled loudly, causing them to snort at the same time.

“Oh, my goodness, look at your face!!” Essence shrilled.

Fontaine grabbed one of Brenda’s hands, and Stephan grabbed the other. “B-but—” she stammered, only for them both to shake their heads as they led her away.

Turning, Essence grinned sinisterly at Ericka.

“Luna or not, don’t you dare,” she scolded.

“Fine, though Brenda did already say his name once.” She tapped Kano, and they shouted,

“Phil, Phil, Phil—”

“Stop that!” Ericka screamed, “I was being dramatic! Phil is not Candyman!” Her body froze when she picked up his scent, and she turned to see him standing one leg over the other in the doorway, smirking at her. “B-but—” she started but he put his hands in his jeans, and pointed his head towards her room. Face flushed, she joined his side, and the two walked away.

Essence wrapped her arms around Kano. “Thank you for helping them out.” He raised his brows up and down suggestively and she wagged her finger. “No go, mister, I have plans,” she said.

“What plans?”

She smiled and pulled out a paper. “I’ve been invited to a tea party, and I have an hour to get dressed.”

Snatching the invitation from her, he scanned the words, and his eyes burned gold. “How did you get an invitation to Kanon’s exclusive tea party, and not me?! I’ve been trying to for weeks!”

She cackled and placed an L on her forehead with her finger. “Maybe you’re just not cool enough.” Hearing him huff in response, she laughed louder before pulling out another invitation. She handed it to him. “She made yours extra special,” she said.

Kano’s face bore a wide bright smile as he looked at the invitation that had pictures of him and Kanon drawn on it. Bending down, he kissed his wife. “Thank you, Belle,” he said.

“For what?”

He placed his hand on her stomach. “For giving me the family I never thought I’d be blessed enough to have.”