A Small Surprise
1377 Words
Jonathan POV
I can’t quite describe the emotions running through me as we left the meeting. Nerves, excitement, maybe even a little fear. Not fear of being physically hurt, obviously, but fear of rejection. What if the king didn’t believe that there was any way we could be his sons? What if he thought this was some ploy of Arthur’s to regain access to the throne? I had so many questions, and none of them would be answered before the next day.
After saying goodnight to the Alpha, Luna, and the Alpha’s parents, Linda, Dave, Jameson, and I were all chattering excitedly on the way back to the house. I was glad we had decided to walk – the fresh air was helping to calm me down a little.
Dave noticed the deep breaths I was taking and smiled. “Fresh air has always done wonders for my nerves, too,” he told me. “As werewolves, nearly all of us are more comfortable when we’re out in nature, and I’m sure that it’s no different for Lycans.”
I nodded. “I’ve definitely noticed a stronger draw to nature since Damien started yammering in my head,” I told him. “I mean, we’ve always liked the outdoors, but I’ve felt a stronger pull to it lately than I did before.”
“I’ve always been drawn to it,” Linda spoke up. “But then again, I was raised knowing what I was, just as Dave was. We basically grew up in the forest.”
“Our dad – I mean, the dad that raised us – was always taking us fishing and stuff like that,” Jameson told them. “But it wasn’t like an everyday thing. Just whenever he got the chance to.”
“Didn’t you mention that your dad knew about our existence before?” Dave asked.
I nodded. “Apparently, he grew up near a wolf pack. And his sister, who we never knew, was mated to a Lycan. He said that they were killed by rogues, although he doesn’t know how the rogues managed to take down a pair of Lycans.”
Dave’s eyes narrowed. “Was that about 30 years ago?”
I looked over at Jameson, and he nodded. “I think so. Dad never really said, but that would make sense, time-wise. It was before he met our mom.”
“What was your dad’s name?” Dave asked.
“Tanner Canton,” I replied. “Why?”
Dave’s eyes lit up. “I knew your dad! I have some cousins in a pack in Utah, called Cold Waters. We used to spend summers out there. I got to know your dad through them. I thought it was strange at first, seeing humans at a packhouse, but after awhile we all nearly forgot that he and his sister were humans. They were just a part of the clan. I’ve thought about him a few times over the years and wondered how he was. I was so upset to hear the news about Emily and her mate, Darren.”
“Was that our aunt and her mate?” I asked. “Dad never mentioned their names.”
Dave nodded. “Yes. Does he not ever talk about his sister?”
Jameson shook his head. “No. He mentioned once or twice in the past that he’d had a sister who died young, but it hurt him to talk about it, so he didn’t.”
“That’s understandable,” Dave replied. “From what I remember, the two of them practically inseparable growing up. I’m sure it broke his heart when she died.”
“Did you know them too?” I asked Linda.
She shook her head. “By the time Dave and I found out we were mates, your dad and his family had moved away from Cold Waters. That was after Emily and Darren were killed. But I’ve heard a lot of stories.”
“I would love to hear those stories,” I told Dave. “Dad never talked about his growing ups years much.”
Dave grinned at me. “I’ve got several of them. I’ll have to tell you boys sometime. But I’d love to reconnect with him. Do you think your dad would want to talk to me?”
Jameson and I looked at each other, then back at Dave. “I think he would,” Jameson told him.
I agreed. “I think he would too. I think he just never mentioned his growing up years much because he was afraid people would think he was nuts if he started talking about supernatural creatures being real – no offense.”
Dave and Linda both laughed. “None taken,” Dave replied. “Ironic that he ended up adopting two supernatural creatures without even knowing it. I suppose the Moon Goddess knew what she was doing there, eh?”
By that time, we’d reached the house and had already gone inside. I excused myself to go to the restroom, and while I was in there I shot Dad a quick text.
“Hey, Dad, how would you like to reconnect with one of the folks you mentioned you’d lost touch with?” I texted.
“I would love it,” came the immediate response. That was quickly followed by, “Wait, you found one of them? How? That’s not even the area I grew up in!”
I noticed that both of us seemed to be being careful not to mention werewolves or wolf packs in texts. You never knew who might accidentally read a text not intended for them.
“I’ll let him explain that,” I texted back. “Are you in a place where you can video chat?”
“I am,” he replied. “I’m at home. Just your mom and I are here.”
“Cool,” I replied. “Give me a minute and I’ll call you.”
When I was done in the bathroom, I walked back into the living room where Dave, Linda, and Jameson were still talking.
“So, Dave, how does now sound for reconnecting with Dad?” I asked with a grin.
His face lit up again. “Now? Seriously? I’d love it!”
“One reunion, coming right up!”
I pressed the button to video chat Dad, and within a few seconds his and Mom’s faces filled the screen. I was sitting beside Jameson, so all they saw at first was the two of us.
“Hi, Dad! Hi, Mom!” we both greeted them at the same time.
“Hey, boys!” Dad replied.
“Hey, guys!” Mom exclaimed. “There’s my handsome boys!”
We both grinned at them. “Well, Dad, like I said, we haven someone here who would like to say hi.”
“Who is it?” Dad asked, before I could even turn the phone. “I’m dying to know over here!”
I laughed. “Well, don’t die!” I joked. I turned the phone to where they could see Dave’s grinning face, and Linda also leaned over to wave.
Dad’s eyes widened. “Dave? Dave, is that you?!”
Dave laughed. “It is! Gosh, it’s good to see you, Tanner! How are you, old friend?”
“Couldn’t be better!” Dad replied. “I’d like you to meet my wife, Carrie.”
Mom smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, Dave.”
He grinned at her. “Likewise!”
“And what about you? How are things going for you, my friend?” Dad asked.
“Couldn’t be better,” Dave replied. He put his arm around Linda proudly. “This is my mate, Linda.”
Mom and Dad both smiled at her. “Nice to meet you, Linda,” Dad replied.
They continued chatting for awhile, catching up on how each had been doing over the last several years. Finally, after about twenty or thirty minutes, we hung up after they had exchanged phone numbers and promised to stay in touch with each other. I couldn’t believe the irony – we'd unknowingly connected Dad with his past. Funny how small the world truly was.
- Writer
