“We use a spell to hide our wolves so that when people visit they are fooled into thinking we are humans,” Micah explained.
“Would my wolf look like that?” I asked her.
“You have not been able to call your wolf?” it was Harriet who asked.
“No.”
“It is because your wolf felt insecure,”
_“I am not insecure. What the hell is he talking about?”_ Raven was clearly angry at the way Micah had spoken of her.
_“You can tell Micah is a he?”_ I asked because to me it remained unclear.
“My apologies to your wolf. What I meant was she sensed danger so she could not come out. If she had, people would have known she was a hybrid werewolf vampire.”
“A werewolf vampire?”
“This is a hybrid pack, princess. Many centuries back werewolves and vampires co-existed together. The result was our unique race. We hide our energy under spells because we are extremely powerful beings capable of wielding magic. A lot of people seek ways to conquer us,” Micah explained to me.
To think that all these years I had not known what I was. I had no idea as to my very constitution. Was that what Camille had meant when she said all the answers awaited me in my mother's pack?
“You really know nothing about us, do you?” asked Harriet.
“My mother died during childbirth. No one told me anything,” came my response.
They looked at me as though with pity.
“You have a lot to learn.”
******#*******
The days passed by very quickly. It was not long before my pregnancy started to show. But I liked that I was not put on compulsory bed rest as I had been in the Shadowclaw pack. Instead, I was encouraged to be more active. I learnt how to wield a sword and fire an arrow; I could ride a horse better than anyone who had dared challenge me. My uncle had said that my hands were the hands of a warrior. Emily had commended me saying that little pea would be very strong.
Then one day I began to feel extreme pain in my lower abdomen. The physician was called and when he had examined me, he said, “Congratulations, princess. You shall deliver twins.”
“She is in pain Simon, what is causing her pain?” questioned Emily with worry.
“She has over-exerted herself. So long as she is not bleeding, she and the babies are going to be alright. I will give her something to relieve the pain.”
But twins? One was enough and now they were two? How was I to look after two children?
“Do not worry, princess. The two children will grow up just fine. They have us to look after them,” said Harriet, squeezing my hand.
King Napoleon was very happy at the news. When he saw me later that day he said, “It is wonderful news, really. Twins are a blessing from the sky goddess. We must give rituals to celebrate this.”
“And she needs to stay in bed for a couple of days. You train even harder than Harriet who has no common intestines within her,” added Emily. She said this because Harriet's stomach was unbelievably flat.
“I train just as hard, what do you know?” whined Harriet.
“The two of you should stop your squabble. The twins will pick up bad habits from you two,” said Uncle Napoleon.
“You should tell Emily to get married soon so that…”
“Shut up, will you?” said a crossed Emily who hated anything that concerned getting married.
“I hear Captain Thoma remains single. Perhaps he will…”
“I object father. I will not marry Captain Thoma,” Emily replied in a stern voice.
“He will be a perfect match for you. He is always at sea so he will not know of your hot temper,” came Uncle Napoleon’s response.
“I will marry for love or when I meet my mate,” said Emily.
“Your mate rejected…” Emily stuffed food in Harriet's mouth so she could shut up.
“What about you, princess? Will you marry someday?” asked Harriet.
“I do not think so. I am content with my twins,” came my response. Besides, I was already married even though my husband thought me to be dead.
From then on I was out to bed rest. After my bed rest days were over, the physician advised that I do not move about much as my delivery day was near.
I could not wait to meet my twins. I wondered if they would be identical or of the same gender; if they would look like me or their father.
My stomach continued to stretch in size and I had to be given new clothes. Harriet asked me one day, “Your children, have you thought of names?”
“I don't know. If I have a girl I might name her Marilyn after my mother,” I said with a smile. It would be something to remember her by even though I barely know her.
“Grandmother will not be pleased. Your horse already bears her name,” came her response.
“Grandmother's name is Marilyn?”
“Yes, that is the name she was given. Of course, she passed the name to your mother.”
“But she is sick. I have only met her once, I would like to know her and…”
“Shhhh…” Harriet placed her palm over my lips.
“Father does not allow us to speak of her or to her. You must never mention her again, understood?” she said, almost in a whisper.
That struck me as weird but I made no comment about it nor did I speak of grandmother again.
Then one day Uncle Napoleon announced at breakfast that he was expecting a child.
“And the mother, father?” quipped Harriet.
“You have no business knowing who she is,” said Uncle Napoleon.
“I hope this child survives,” commented Emily.
“He will, I am positive,” replied Uncle Napoleon with enthusiasm.
“He? Are you quite sure father?” asked Harriet.
“The child can be nothing else,” I was not sure if it was my imagination but there was a murderous glint in his eyes when he said those words.