Amanda finishes all her small talk with her new aunts and uncles. She wished Maria was there to help guide her through this as it was so overwhelming. Cindy saw the look on Amanda's face and knew it was time to chill. As another aunt came up to meet Amanda, Cindy grabbed Amanda by the hand and walked her right into the pool shoes and all. Amanda laughed along with the other kids. Cindy was great at making an awkward moment less awkward. Amanda splashed around the pool and Brenda 18 and Mark jr. 21 welcomed her to the family. Ren and MJ as they introduced themselves were the friends Amanda had always wanted. Beautiful and kind and just totally accepting of her.
One of the twin boys asked
"Have you met your wolf yet?"
"My what?" Amanda asked
"Your wolf?" The other boy continued
"Everyone here has a wolf, and when you get older you meet them. MJ and Ren already met their wolves."
"I cant wait to meet mine" twin 1 said
"Me too" twin 2 said
"Mines going to be better and stronger" twin 1 said
"No Way" twin 2 said
Amanda was so confused. She swam over to Ren and asked.
"What did they mean by meeting my wolf yet?"
MJ replied: Before your 18th birthday you meet your wolf. Your scent becomes more naturey. Not so much vanilla and cinnamon like yours."
"Shut up you dummy. she doesnt know yet." Ren scoffed
"I don't understand and I smell like what?" Amanda asked.
"Ok Amanda, I'm going to be real with you and don't freak out, because u might actually freak. Are you calm?"
"yah, surprisingly the water is very calming"
Amanda said.
"Oh that must be Cindy. When she's around it's peaceful. One of the cool things about her." MJ says.
"So Werewolves are real and we might be them." Ren says.
"Way to rip the banaid right off Ren." MJ spat
"You're kidding right?" Amanda asked.
"Are you into sports?" MJ asked
Amanda shakes her head no.
"Have you ever noticed how good you are at catching your glass before it hits the floor, or a ball before it hits your head?" Ren asked
"Yah. Maria always said I have great reflexes." Amanda said.
Ren could tell she wasn't getting it. Ren thought of a way to show her.
"ok go under water with me. I'm going to bring my compact Mirror and have MJ time us." Amanda nods. She was good at holding her breath. MJ hands Amanda the mirror.
"Don't freak out. We can all do it with our eyes it's just weird." Amanda expected her eyes glow red or something.
They dunk into the water and as time passes Ren points to the mirror. Amanda looks in it to see the green of her eyes were gone. Her pupils had become large. She kept staring at them so long until Ren told her she was going up for air. Amanda went up with her.
She hears MJ say time.
Ren was panting while Amanda was still fine. She looked in the mirror and her eyes were normal.
MJ shouted "3 minutes. Fu*k that's a record and you havent even fully turned yet. "
"Wait we were under for 3 minutes?" Amanda asked
Yup MJ nodded.
"So I'm a werewolf? Will I get fangs? Was Maria a werewolf? Do I lose control on full moons? Can I still walk in daylight? " questions were flooding Amanda and she needed the answers.
Ren laughed, "Daylight is for vampire and that's not real. Yes you have control and Yes Auntie Maria was one too. Maria smelled you while she was doing her orphanage visits. By the time she got back to adopt you, you had moved in with a family I guess around here. She stayed here for you to finish school. We were always so excited to meet you."
"Don't get mad. I met you once." MJ said
"You did?" Amanda asked"
"You went on a hike with auntie Maria and I was the big grey wolf on the top rock. I howled for you." MJ said proudly.
"OMG I thought you were scary, and Maria said he's not scary. He's just showing off."
The three of them laughed and carried on with the day. Amanda was happy she was different and weird and so was her new family.
Later that night she went to dinner with her new aunties Nancy, Cindy, and Tawny. They spoke about Maria and how she was everything Amanda knew her to be. Amanda asked if Nancy would take care of her ashes while she went to school and Nancy was more than happy to take Maria home. They explained what the Moon Goddess was and what a mate was. Amandas eyes lit up at the sound of having a furever soulmate. She giggled to herself at the thought of furever. Maria always laughed at her puns.
The next day the men went up the same trail where Maria was found. They were looking for any clues or anything Maria may have left them. Maria was a smart wolf. This was no accident. Mark knew his sister well and she was a fighter. "Over here" Morgan mind linked the other wolves. They ran to him. There on the rocks was her blood. It was a faint smell to Morgan, but he found it. There was a flat rock that had a crescent moon, an A, and two paw prints in blood. Mark had read the death certificate and autopsy report. Two paw prints means there were two wolves creating the two different bite marks. Mark said in the link. A is for Alpha Morgan said as the right side of the A was thicker indicating a greek letter. The crescent moon was still a mystery they would need to figure out to see who killed their little sister. Maria's death still seemed like an accident to Amanda. She was still hung up on her being a werewolf. Amanda was saying her Goodbyes to the family when Maurice comes up to her and hands her a black credit card. Amanda quickly pushed it away and said no no I couldnt. Uncle Maurice, that's too much.
Maurice says of course you can. Everyone in the family gets a black card when they turn 18. It's unlimited.
But I'm not 18 yet Amanda argued.
Maurice frowned and said "Most of the wolves don't attend college until after they meet their wolf, but since you're going early, we want to make sure you are safe, secure and set up."
Ren jumps in to say. "Trust me gurl, you are going to need a lot of new clothes! Shift happens!"
Amanda laughed pretty hard at that pun and told Ren she was her new best friend. Ren smiled super big gave her one last hug and jumped in the car. Amanda took the black card and hugged her uncle so tight. Morgan came by and said he wanted in on the hug and they opened their arms to let Morgan in too.
"Amanda I want to give you this. It's not flashy, as I found out you are just like Maria. Simple and modest, but it'll get you to and from." Morgan says as he hands over keys to a brand new Jeep.
"No you freaking didn't Uncle Morgan!"
"Tawny picked out the color. We already loaded it with your stuff. Tawny and Cindy will be driving back with you." Amanda is in full tears as she walks over to her new car and the family cheers for her. Snot running down her nose, Nancy runs over with tissue. She starts to wipe her face. Amanda felt like she was on the Ellen show. Surprises just kept coming. Nancy hugged her tight. Mark walked over with tears in his eyes and said this one's from us. Hands Amanda a new phone and a bag with portable speaker, headphones, earbuds, multiple charge cords and a variety of chargers.
"All of our numbers are in there baby girl. I've also downloaded pictures for each contact. You better call me and Nancy at least once a week to check in." Said Mark. Everyday shouted Nancy.
It's waterproof yelled out Cindy. Knowing that the walk into the pool had killed her old phone.
Amanda was over the moon with their kindness and generosity.