"Your mate was born on a snow moon and Great Spirits Moon. First full moon of the year. He's not white, is he?" My father asked as it was nothing.
"He's dark brown, almost black. And you?" I ask with shaking hands and voice.
"I'm plain grey. Like the wonderful Canis Lupus. Just bigger. We thought you wouldn't be like me, since your mom is not Anishinaabe. Looks like she is. Not pure of course, but not as far as it looks." He pause " Pure was an awful word to use. I'm sorry my love." And kisses my mom's hand.
"That's why we're only having this conversation now?"
"Yes. Until now, you didn't need to know." He answers "Your mom told me 5 or 6 years ago that little wolf was acting strange. I told her who he was. She also expressed concern about you and him. I wrongly dismissed any imprinting on you. I thought you didn't have enough Anishinaabe blood to be his mate."
"Both Grandma and Grandpa are Chippewa descendants, I didn't know that." My mom adds.
"So what? Now I'm just gonna be a Wolf Wife. Isn't that messed up as I'm only seventeen?" I shriek.
"Ziigwan, I know this is a lot to take in. Try to understand that your roll in the community is an honour. My mistake was not to involve you because I thought you wouldn't need to. Not much. Not like this."
"Why didn't I feel like him when we were younger?" I asked more to myself than to them.
"The male has more animalistic instinct than the female wolf. And his blood is very pure. You know that." My mom try to reassure me.
"You don't understand. All of the sudden I can't be far from him. I don't tell him, because I'm too proud. But I'm always searching for him, even where he is not supposed to be. It's not fair to have zero control over myself when it comes to him." I start to cry "this is so surreal. In a matter of days he turned my life upside down."
My mom is holding my hand, not having enough space inside the car to do more for me and my crying state.
"I know you'll pull through, you're my kid." My father smiles sadly.
"Thank you." I painly gaze him.
I understood from that conversation that my future was chosen, not by me.
That was destined since birth. I don't have a say.
My body is working against my rationality and it's winning.
At least we won the game.
At least, he was always my friend. No doubt the guy loves me, or at least his wolf does.
At least, I'm not dead or sick or dying.
At least he'll keep me safe.
Look at me, trying to be positive.
Me: we won.
Ogi: ;) did you behave like a lady or threw the ball at McKenzie's face?
Me: I don't care about her. My job is done.
Ogi: Can I see you?
Me: Ogi, you know I'll be home late.
Ogi: I'll climb to your room. No one will know.
Me: OMG
Ogi: Gods won't save you from me. Hehe
Me: Obviously. Don't make too much noise. I'll let my window open.
He made a lot of noise.
I had to quickly hide him in my bathroom when my mom came to see what happened.
"Mom, go to sleep, I just fell back into the window. I'm sorry and I am very tired." I say pushing her out of my bedroom.
"Okay. Goodnight. Love you." She kisses my cheek.
"Love you too." I smile.
Close the door.
"You and your big paws." I whisper.
"Sorry. Sometimes I forget that I'm bigger." He apologizes.
"Just tell me what's the plan." I ask "I have to sleep. Soon."
"I'll sleep with you." He stoically says.
"What? No way. My dad come check on me in the middle of the night."
"What will he do? Fight me?" He asks laughing.
"Shiu. Shut up." I whisper "Okay, but no monkey business. Agreed?"
"No monkey business. Just wolfie business." He smirks.
I make a face. Serious and accusatory.
"Agreed. Agreed. I just hold you. Maybe I can be the big spoon..." he rumbles.
"Little spoon. I don't want to feel any little wolf on my back." Seriously telling him.
"Little!? Puff... not."
I ignored him and got to bed.
He took off his clothes and placed them on top of my desk.
We cuddled. Calm evading my body.
"Are you okay?" He ask "Sensing you tense."
"Well, first of all, you're the big spoon and I'm not ready to be a mom. Second, my father had a stressful conversation with me." I say.
"We won't do anything. I assure you. You're father is worried. I would be too." He says.
"You would?"
"Yes. My daughter being the Alpha's mate would be hard, to tell you the truth. It's not an easy life. You must be an example for all. And you are not ready or know what you need to know or do." He tells me in a low voice.
"That's not my fault." I defend.
"I know. I'm with you. I'm right here. Cheering you. Trusting you. Loving you." He kiss my hair.
"You're so sweet. Thank you for that. I need to sleep. See you tomorrow. Sweet dreams. "
"Sweet dreams, ogimaakwe."
Best sleep I ever had.
Fortunately before my parents caught us in bed together I sent him away.
I don't know how we managed to get away with this.
"Mom, I'm going out with King after lunch. Okay?" I tell her entering the laundry room.
"Really? And your chores?"
"I'll do them now." I smile.
"Okay. Vacuum clean the house. All the rooms and I'll omit to your father that you slept with Ogimaa Binesi last night."
Motherfunker...
"Ah... okay..." I am speechless.
I did as she said. Vacuumed all the house.
Me: Ogi. My mom knows -_-'
Ogi: lol. I can still pick you up later?
Me: yeah, she bribed me into cleaning the house.
Ogi: smart lady.
Me: Jeez, thanks.
At lunch my dad told us that another person was found dead in Covill. 25 miles from Grand Portage.
I chose not to share the pee event that happened a few miles north from our house. Here in Grand Portage.
Or our suspicions about the killer.
It's weird to mention shewolf pee at sunday lunch.
"Where are you and Mr. Thunderbird going this afternoon?" My dad asks.
"Probably to the Dinning Room." I answer.
"You know I don't like you to go the Casino..."
"Well, there's nowhere else to go around here to drink or eat. What do you recommend? Trading Point?"
"Is it open sunday afternoon?"
"Yes. 'Till ten. Maybe we'll just walk. I don't know... why? Are you worried about that murderer on the loose?"
"With that boyfriend?" My dad chuckled. Actually chuckled.
"Okay. I'm gonna get dressed. You're too old for me, right now."
What am I going to wear?
It's not that cold yet.
Coated black skinny low jeans. V neck camisole top in white. Oversized baby blue cardigan. White converse shoes.
Golden watch. Golden eye make-up.
Curled my hair a little.
What bag should I use?
Blue whipstitch pom pom cross body tote bag.
Done.
Went downstairs and found Ogi sitting on the couch with my parents.
"Boozhoo Ogimaa." I smiled.
"Aniin Ogimaakwe. You're ready?" He got up and kissed my cheek.
"Boonitoon! I take long to get ready, especially when I don't know where I'm going. " I complained.
"You're fine. Ambe!"
"Okay, I'll kiss my parents now." I say kissing their cheeks "See you both soon. Behave while I'm away." I smile and leave.
"Baamaapii miinwaa kaawaabmin." He says to my parents and nod.
They just nod.
"When did you arrive?" I asked him, near the car.
"Twenty minutes ago." He smiles.
"What happened?" I ask entering the vehicle.
"You're father is gotaaji. Mad that you are mine. That he didn't teach you enough. That we are too young. We're not. If we were born in the begining of times you would have sons and daughters by now." He paused "Wait. Let me go back... We're young. I mean... you know what I mean." He puffed.
"zagakim, I get that, just calm down. Where are we going?"
"I don't know. That's irrelevant. I mean... We're going to Covill."
"We're going to Covill? Tracking her?" I asked.
"I'll try to smell from where she came and to where she went after... you know..."
"We should really take into account the people who were killed. Random kills are almost impossible, right?"
"If she's not mentally healthy that kind of kill is the most likely scenario." He explains.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that when you turn, your mind has to be trained. For you to focus in what you want to focus and ignore the rest." He paused sensing that I was not following.