The Wolf Heir

Chapter Four: Eighteen

When I got home, I was panting as if I had been running, I couldn’t understand it but something inside of me felt uneasy and… alive. I could feel adrenaline pumping through my veins and I couldn’t stand still, my hands were shaking. Even Storm looked at me as if I had grown another head when I had taken him to the stables. Normally he would tease me and play with me but this time, he seemed to have felt my unsettling mood and decided to do what he was told.

I hurried to the house where my mother was already cooking lunch. “Katherine, I didn’t expect you back so soon,” my mother said with a surprise expression on her face. When she saw my face, she raised an eyebrow and eyed me closely, “what’s wrong? Did something happen?” she asked slowly, as if fearing my response.

I shook my head and walked over to her and handing her the bag Mrs. Gordon had given me. “I am just feeling a little bit tired. I think I am going to lay down for a bit,” I murmured, almost inaudibly.

My mother didn’t press the subject, but I could feel her eyes on me as she eyed me all the way to my room. I ignored her preoccupied looks even though I knew there was something odd, I usually never felt bad or sick and when I did, it was serious. I just hoped whatever virus Elizabeth had, she hadn’t given it to me.

I laid down on my bed, not carrying if I still had my dress on or if my hair was going to get tangled, the shivers running across my body made me feel cold and vulnerable so I got under the blankets and closed my eyes. The light streaming from my window made my eyes hurt and I turned the other way to avoid it. In seconds, I was gone.

I was standing in the same village I had dreamt of for the last couple of months. I looked around and saw women, men and children screaming for help as the royal knights barged through the village, burnt down homes and killed people on sight. I stood agape, prettified with fear, only it wasn’t my fear. I turned around and behind me, I saw the young woman I always dreamt of. She was wearing a cloak but in her blue eyes, fear and pain were visible. Beside her, stood a man, his thick beard made him look older than I guessed he was, and his bright hazel eyes stared at the village in horror. He had his arms wrapped around the woman in a protective stance and the cry of a baby made him look down into his wife’s arms where a baby was laying, wrapped in a brown blanket. “Luna, we must get going,” the man urged and his wife, Luna, nodded her head. Both of them sprinted towards the forest, faster than any human I had ever seen, and I struggled to keep up. Their eyes were set ahead, not minding me. But something inside of me urged me to go on.

The frantic cries of another baby caught my attention and that’s when I realized the man had been carrying not one, but two babies. My eyes widened when the man turned to look at the two infants and instantly, they quieted down and even transformed into two little wolves. I gasped and almost tripped on a root hanging out from the ground. This was definitely a dream.

I kept on following the couple, my footsteps echoed in the dark forest, the smoke from the village was making my lungs burn but I couldn’t stop, I had to keep going. My legs were moving as if on their own as I trailed behind until I couldn’t move anymore.

I was panting heavily, kneeling over my knees, trying to regain my breath. The couple and the babies were long gone now. I heard the sound of twigs and dry leaves behind me, making me turn in fright. A woman, with white hair and blue eyes looked at me, she was not staring through me but at me. My eyes widened as she stepped even closer without a word. She stood over me with a serious expression on her face, “You’re not ready yet. Find me when you’re ready. Your memories and heart will lead you to me. Find me… Find me…” As the glowing figure began to disappear her words echoed in the forest and in my mind; find me.

I woke up gasping for air, I had bolted up from the bed, sweat was running down my face and I could feel the sweat on my back as it dried in the cool air. I looked at my surroundings and let out a sigh of relief when I realized it was familiar, I was in my room.

Hesitantly, I got up and headed towards the bathroom to throw up. My stomach felt as if I had been running for miles just after eating, everything felt as if it were spinning.

When I was done throwing up, I got up slowly and cleaned myself before heading back to my room. My eyes widened when I saw the sky darkening outside. How long had I slept?

As if answering my question, my mother stormed into my room and looked at me with confusion. “Are you alright, Katherine? You slept the whole afternoon, your father just got back,” my mother said as she walked towards me and placed a hand on my forehead and cheeks. “Hmm, you don’t have a temperature, but you still look a bit pale. Do you want me to call the doctor?”

I quickly shook my head; I had never liked to see the doctor. He was an old man with a grumpy look on his face and his eyes held no kindness. Besides, I didn’t feel that bad, I knew that whatever was going on, wasn’t because of a virus or disease, it was something else… something much more complicated and I was sure the doctor wouldn’t understand.

“I’m not feeling that bad, it’s probably just something I ate recently,” I said with a shrug. My mother eyed me carefully before nodding.

“Alright, if you say you’re feeling better, I believe you. Come to the table with us, you must be hungry since you didn’t eat lunch and dinner is ready,” she said with a smile and I nodded.

Soon, the three of us were sitting around the table, eating. The sound of laughter and excitement filled our small house. I still felt sick and dizzy, but it was tolerable now. Every now and then, my mother would look at me skeptically, she was worried, and she was probably still considering the idea of going to the doctor’s house so he could come and check me. Which was the same reason why I didn’t tell her about Elizabeth’s sickness, it would only incite her.

“Are you okay, pumkin’? You have barely touched your food,” my father said, his tone more serious now as he eyed me.

I nodded my head quickly and took another bite of the meal my mother had prepared. “Yes, I’m just still a little bit queasy, it must have been the sun that made me sick,” I responded, trying to smile nonchalantly. It wasn’t exactly a lie, sometimes the sun did make me feel dizzy and breathless, especially when I worked on tending the field the whole afternoon.

My father seemed to think about it and then nodded. “Well, if you’re up for it, we are ready to give you your birthday gifts,” me said as he turned to my mother who nodded at him approvingly. My father reached for his worn out, dark brown, satchel and from inside, he pulled out a journal identical to the others I owned.

A bright smile appeared on my face and I let out a squeak of excitement. I was hoping they were going to gift me one last journal, the one I was writing in now was beginning to reach the end and for some reason, I had the feeling that in the near future I would have a lot of things to write.

The new leather smell from the journal engulfed me and I took a deep breath. The smooth texture reminded me of all the journals I owned, filled with memories and dreams. My parents looked at me with bright smiles as they watched me take in the journal as if it were for the first time, I saw one.

“Thank you, I love it,” I said truthfully and got up to hug them both at the same time. The hugged me back tightly and my mother placed a kiss on my cheek. “So, now it’s time for cake?” I asked excitedly, even though my stomach was starting to feel funny after dinner.

My mother looked at my father once and then turned back to me, “actually, there’s still another present we have for you, sweetie. Come,” my mother said excitedly as she took an oil lamp from the kitchen and lit it up.

Confused, I watched my mother and followed her outside into the chilly night. My father trailed behind me, no one spoke as we walked over to the barn. I raised an eyebrow even though neither of them could see my questioning look.

My father walked forward and opened the barn doors for us.

Inside, it was warm, and I noticed the animals inside were quiet, too quiet. Something was definitely going on. My parents headed deeper inside and walked over to the stables. Storm was unusually alert and he puffed when he saw us.

“East, boy. We’re just here to show Katherine the new addition to our family,” my father said with a chuckle as he petted Storm’s head slowly.

I remained silent as I watched my father walk to the stable next to Storm’s. He clicked his lips together and let out a sound he usually used to call Storm.

Slowly, from the shadows, a horse emerged. He was big, his thick black mane was long but filled with knots, his black coated body needed to be washed, it was covered with dirt and dust. He was beautiful and if he were to be clean, he would look even more magnificent.

A horse like this was worth very much and I feared how much my parents spent on him. I wasn’t sure it was the right choice. “Oh my… he’s… wow, he’s beautiful,” I said in awe as I walked closer to the horse. The creature eyed me carefully and I heard a sound of nervousness and uneasiness leave him. I paused and waited for him to relax before I could walk closer.

Hesitantly, the horse began to ease up and he seemed to nod his head at me. I walked closer to the big horse with my hand extended in front of me to touch his head. The horse didn’t blink as he eyed me and when my hand touched him, only his ears flickered before his body relaxed under my touch.

I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding and ran my hand over his fur. My parents were smiling behind me and after a couple of moments, I turned to face them. “How-?” I began but my father interrupted me.

“Don’t worry about the money, he wasn’t much. Apparently, a man died recently, and he had no children nor any family to claim him, so I managed to get this horse at a very low price. You’re right, he’s beautiful and he’s yours. I just hope Storm doesn’t get jealous,” he said as he looked at the older, grey, horse. Storm neighed and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Thank you, tomorrow I’ll get him cleaned up and familiarized with the corral and our surroundings,” I said determinately.

My parents nodded and then my mother spoke up, “you should call the blacksmith as well, I don’t think his shoes are in the best conditions.” I nodded my head and hugged my parents again, this time for longer.

“Now it is time for cake!” my mother said cheerfully as she turned to head out of the barn. I looked at my horse one last time before walking towards the exit with my parents.

Back inside our house, my mother quickly reached for the plates and took the cake to the table. She sliced the cake like an expert, in even pieces and handed us each a plate. As we ate, we talked about memories, happy memories we had shared together and everything was great for a moment before my mother cleared her throat, capturing our attention.

My father stiffened and he let out a sigh of defeat. “What’s going on?” I asked slowly, not really knowing if I wanted to know the answer.

“Well, I think it’s time we discuss the future. You are now of age and your father and I have been talking and-,“ my mother started but I was already shaking my head and looking at her in horror. My best friend may want to get married at this age, but I didn’t, I hadn’t ever thought about it because it wasn’t something I was looking forward.

“No, it’s too soon,” I said in a strained voice. In the end, it was my parent’s choice of when they decided I would get married.

“Calm down, pumpkin’. Let your mother finish,” my father said soothingly as he ran a comforting hand on my back.

I held back my comments and turned to look at my mother again. “As I was saying, your father and I have discussed the matter intently since both of us know you’re in no rush to find a husband. In the end, we decided it would be best for you to decide who you’d want to marry.”

My eyes widened and I looked at my parents as if they had grown another head. It wasn’t common for parents to let their children choose who they wanted to marry, especially not women but it wasn’t something that hadn’t been done before.

Somehow, after hearing my mother, some weight I hadn’t known had been there, was lifted off my shoulders and I felt lighter and yet, for some reason, I was starting to feel as if the room were spinning and I knew I should get to bed before my parents noticed a change in my mood.

“Thank you for letting me choose my future. I think I need to go to bed though, I’m feeling tired. I really enjoyed this meal with you guys though. You’re the best parents anyone could ever have, and I love you very much,” I said with tearful eyes.

Both of them smiled at me widely, “we love you too sweetie. Have nice dreams.”

I nodded and quickly headed to my room. I barely got to the bed before my body collapsed and the last thing I could do was gasp before my vision went black.