Baby Girl

Casydi

“She’s shifted back, that’s a good sign.” A woman’s voice echoed. “She’ll wake up soon. You know the drill. Make sure she feels at home and comfortable.

We’ve prepared a room for her, but Ruben suggested she could stay with you since she seems more at ease with you.” The click-clack of her heels marked her departure. “Thank you, Luna,” Zeke’s voice followed.

His presence was a comfort. I wanted to wake up. My body didn’t ache anymore, I felt normal. No, better than normal, I felt stronger. I stretched out my stiff limbs and blinked my eyes open.

Zeke squeezed my hand gently. “Hey, baby girl. How are you feeling?” I glanced around, realizing I was in what looked like a hospital room. “What happened to me?” I was wearing a hospital gown.

Zeke tossed my backpack onto my lap. “I brought you some clothes. Get dressed and join me outside. We have a lot to discuss.” He left the room.

I dressed quickly and slung my backpack over my shoulder. Stepping out of the room, I found Zeke leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

His gaze was fixed on the floor, lost in thought. He seemed nervous about something. “Am I sick or something? I feel fine.” He looked up at me and gave a half-hearted smile. “No, baby girl, you’re not sick. You’re as healthy as can be.” He started walking, knowing I would follow.

He guided me down a short hallway and past a small counter. He pushed open a set of double doors and the crisp mountain air hit me straight in the face.

It was refreshing, invigorating. I took a deep breath, letting the fresh air fill my lungs. The sun was just beginning to rise.

“What do you remember from last night, before you blacked out?” He led me to a wooden bench not far from the doors we had just exited. I sat down next to him. “Pain, a lot of pain. It felt like my body was being ripped apart from the inside.”

He nodded. “That, baby girl, is pretty much what happened. You shifted for the first time. It won’t hurt again, it’s only the first shift.” Shifted? What was he talking about?

“You, my dear, are a werewolf, actually we both are.” I laughed at Zeke. And shook my head. His serious expression told me he wasn’t joking. My smile faded. “Werewolves aren’t real. And if they are, wouldn’t I know about them since you say I am one?”

“You grew up human. I knew what you were the moment you walked into my diner. That’s why I wanted you to stay with me. I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out and then think it over.” I nodded, allowing him to continue. “Werewolves first shift at 18.

Most of us are raised in our pack and already know what to expect. You were alone. I'm so sorry you didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to tell you, but Alpha told me I could only tell you if you came to pack lands. You never came here before, so I couldn’t say anything.”

I looked around me. There were cabins and houses scattered around the hospital. I could tell there was more to the territory.

It looked like a quaint little village. “Alpha? He’s a werewolf too?” Zeke chuckled. “Alpha is the big boss here. He’s allowing you to join the pack.” He glanced at my necklace. “That’s why he gave you that. Pack members can come and go as they please.

Rogues, like you, need permission to enter our territory. That’s his way of saying welcome.” I began to fiddle with my necklace while he continued. “Alpha is his title. He and his Luna are the leaders. His real name is Ruben Crescent Moon. Of course, that’s his alpha name.”

I shook my head and motioned for him to stop. He lost me with that one. “Wait, why isn’t that his real name?” “Most Alphas change their surname to match the pack.

It’s an old tradition. We’re the Battle Mountain Crescent Ridge pack.” I nodded my understanding. “I’m his Beta, his second in command.”

“How can you be second in command if you’re always at the diner?” He worked a lot, usually on my shifts, except Sunday. “My job is the safety and security of the pack.

I do my job in my off time too. When you came along, I stayed around the diner more so I could be sure to protect you. You were just a kid with nowhere to go. You didn’t even know about werewolves.

Now that you’re of age, I can return to my usual duties. It would be safest if you stayed in pack territory, until you get control of your wolf. If you were to get hurt or angry, you could shift without meaning to.”

This was all too much. But Zeke was serious. He wouldn’t lie to me or play a joke on me, I knew that much. I always trusted Zeke, why would that change now?

“So what happens to me now?” He put his arm around my shoulders. “That all depends on you, baby girl. You’re welcome at my place, or you can go to the pack house.

My kids are already dying to meet you. Either way, I’m barbecuing tonight. I told you I would.” The thought of grilled meat made my stomach growl.

Zeke chuckled “Come on, let’s feed you.”

We climbed into his truck and he drove up a winding road. After about 20 minutes, we arrived at a beautiful house. It was a three-story building with stones covering the bottom floor.

Each window had its own balcony. The ground floor had a wraparound wooden porch. “This is my place.

Like I said, you don’t have to stay here, but you’re more than welcome. We’ll get you settled after we quiet that growling.” My stomach growled again to emphasize his point.

The door opened to a spacious living room with a sectional sofa, a bookshelf, and an entertainment center. Grey wooden floors led us to the kitchen, which was equally large.

His appliances were top of the line and all black. The wooden cabinets were cherry red with black handles. The countertops were a gray color that matched the floor.

The room could have been dark, but the windows allowed light to flow in perfectly. It was beautiful.

Zeke settled me at his kitchen island and started whipping up pancakes. He slid a stack my way with a glass of milk. I dug in. Zeke’s pancakes are the best.

Gina strolled into the kitchen. Zeke scooped her up and planted a passionate kiss on her. I looked away to give them some privacy. Talk about awkward. He set her down and returned to his cooking.

“Oh Cass, you’re here! I thought I smelled you,” Gina said. Her smile was genuine, lighting up her heart-shaped face. She was a blonde with blue eyes. Her age was barely noticeable.

She looked maybe 30 at the most. “Happy birthday and welcome to our home. Zeke is always talking about you. You already feel like part of the family.” She grabbed a cup of coffee and added cream. “I would offer you coffee, but Zeke says you hate it?”

“That’s right. I had a social worker who drank stale coffee all day. She always had the worst coffee breath.” Gina made a face.

“I can understand that. Well, you’re welcome to anything you want. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask any one of us. The kids know about you too. They’re looking forward to meeting you. Speaking of, I think I hear them starting to get up.”

I listened. I heard a shower running and some shuffling around and drawers closing. Just then, I started to feel really nervous. Soft footsteps padded down the stairs.

They were so quiet any human would have missed it. I turned in my stool to the stairs. A tall man was standing at the base. He was muscled just like Zeke. He looked to be in his twenties. He looked a lot like Zeke, but he had blond hair and blue eyes.

He locked eyes with me and smiled the goofiest grin I ever saw. Almost like the Cheshire Cat. He scooped me up and spun in a circle. “You’re here, you’re here, you’re here! Finally!” He sat me back on my stool and ruffled my hair.

Gina smacked his arm with a wooden spoon. “At least let the girl know who you are before you manhandle her.

Goodness, did I not teach you anything?” She smiled, shaking her head and rolling her beautiful blue eyes. “Ouch, mom. Why you gotta be so rough. You’re gonna bruise me, woman.” I let out a giggle.

I could tell he was going to be entertaining, to say the least. Zeke grabbed him in a headlock and ran his knuckles through his hair. “Don’t disrespect my woman.” He let him go and looked to me.

“This knucklehead is my heir, the next Beta of the pack. Cass, meet Will.” He stuck his hand out formally. I reached out to shake it, but he drew my hand in and kissed the back.

“Enchanté. I am William Zachariah Davis III.” He stood tall and proud. I giggled again at him. I liked him. I never knew anyone that was naturally silly.

Will got a smack to the back of the head by a petite blond girl. She was barely able to reach his head. “Don’t be an idiot, you’ll scare her away. I’m Allison. You can call me Allie. Happy birthday.”

She shook my hand with a smile. She went to Zeke and gave him a hug. “Morning, Daddy.” He kissed the top of her head. “Morning, princess.” She grabbed her stack of pancakes and sat next to me.

I watched Will pour chocolate chips, bananas, and peanut butter chips all over his stack of pancakes. “What are you, a 5-year-old girl?” Allie asked her brother. “What? It's delicious.” He defended.

“Yeah, if you like to watch episodes of The Care Bears and My Little Pony on repeat.” He answered by covering his stack with whipped cream, shoving a huge bite in his mouth, and giving me a wink. I giggled.

Allie shook her head. “Ugh, brothers. Don’t worry about him, he’ll grow on you. I promise he’s not completely mental, just a goof. So I’ve never had a sister. I hope you don’t mind, but I plan on dragging you with me everywhere.”

“Um... I guess. I’ve never had anyone, well not since I was 5. Except for Zeke, of course.” Allie and Gina both smiled at me. Zeke brought out some bacon and began cooking it up.

He threw the first three pieces on my plate. I already felt at home. The kids weren’t so bad after all. I could’ve smacked myself; they are so accepting of me.

But, come on, how was I supposed to know that? Not one of my foster homes made me feel comfortable. I already felt like I was a part of Zeke’s family. They were already growing on me.

Just then, heavy footsteps raced down the stairs, sounding like elephants. Two boys with the same face stopped at the bottom of the stairs. They both tilted their heads and smiled.

“Boys, this is Cass,” Gina introduced. “Cass, this is Matthew and Nathan,” she said, placing her hand on their shoulders as she said their names. “Mom.” They replied in unison.

Gina rolled her eyes. “Sorry, Matt and Nate.” Matt shook my hand, then Nate. “I’m Cass.” The boys looked exactly alike. Same brown hair, same eyes, same smile, same tall strong build. But after looking for a minute, I noticed slight differences.

Matt had a more narrow face. Nate’s eyes were a little larger. They both had freckles across their nose and cheeks. I noticed Nate had a small cluster under his left eye that looked like the constellation Orion. Cool, I can tell them apart.

I decided I wanted to stay with the Davis’s. After breakfast Zeke and Gina began cleaning up while Allie showed me to the guest room. It was a large room, bigger than the studio.

It had its own bathroom, a queen-sized bed, and a walk-in closet. But the best thing was the balcony. The view was incredible! The trees were beautiful, the air was fresh and crisp.

The sky was blue with puffs of clouds here and there. This is exactly what I had been craving for weeks.