"Come on Bas, hurry up!"
I smiled as the melodic if not whiny voice of my little brother floated up the stairs. Today was my birthday and he was more excited than I was. Growing up alone would do that to you.
"I'm coming, Benny!" I called out as I started to get dressed.
Benny is the youngest son of Alpha John Carter and Luna Marie Carter of the NightWind Pack in Cedar Falls. A small town hidden away in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. They'd found me living alone in the forest when I was thirteen.
My own family threw me out after I received my powers. My mother was a witch, my older sister, Bonnie, was a witch and they always made me feel like I was less because I was a male.
"Men can't be witches!" they would say all the time.
They treated me like a slave in my own home. I had to do all the chores, whilst my lazy mother and sister just lounged. Father was no use either, he'd just stuck his head in his books.
My Mother and Sister didn't even forage for their own potion ingredients, I did. They send me out at dawn and complain if I take too long.
They themselves were not powerful witches. My mother possessed the ability to manipulate plants, helping them to grow or change their shapes. My sister's power was even weaker, she could communicate with the plants. She could see if they were healthy, thirsty or stressed.
When I turned eleven, I shocked everyone when I received my powers. I have the ability to absorb various forms of energy including elemental forces. By absorbing energy from my surroundings I can harness it to restore and rejuvenate myself and others.
The first time I discovered that I could control the elements of fire, water, air, and earth to aid in the healing process was exceptional. An injured deer had crossed my path and I instinctively took some energy from the earth to close the wounds.
Of course, I rushed home to tell my Father, hoping he would be proud of me but no. He told me not to speak rubbish and Mother, who had been eavesdropping, told me to leave. That I was a freak and couldn't live under her roof.
I'd had no choice but to live in the woods, in an abandoned cabin I found. During this time I discovered that I could use my ability to convert energy as a defensive tool. A witch found me in the woods and must have known what I was, she immediately attacked. Again, instinctively, I sent her power back to her and she ran away.
The power tingled around my whole body and I couldn't sleep that night. I felt electrified and scared.
"Come on! You said you were coming!"
Benny raced into my room bringing me out of my memories. He tugged at my arm and I laughed.
"Finally! The birthday boy emerges," Alpha John cheered.
The dining table was lined with all my favourite foods as well as a huge cake in the centre. Benny was kneeling on his chair eyeing the cake hungrily. Where I sat were two neatly wrapped presents. My eyes burned a little as they always did.
I'd never received a birthday present before I came to live with them. At my first birthday party here, I hid inside my room after seeing the presents and cake.
"Happy birthday," Luna Marie cheered as she wrapped me in a hug.
"Thank you," I blushed.
My birthday meal didn't last long, thankfully. Then Alpha John called me into his office.
"Tomorrow, my nephew and his little girl will be arriving. You remember I told you about them?" he asked.
"Yeah," I nodded, "you said that he had lost his mate a few years ago and his little girl is sick."
"Yes that's right," he sighed. "Liam has tried his best with little Aria and the doctors have done all they can. I told him to bring her down here …"
"So I can see if I can heal her?" I finished for him.
"Exactly, though …" he paused.
"You haven't told him about me?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No, I haven't. Their pack was attacked by a dark witch coven. That's how he lost his mate. I don't know all the details but I think his mate had something to do with the attack. So, I thought it best not to tell him until he arrived. Maybe he won't hold it against you."
My body sagged at the prospect of trying to convince another wolf that I wasn't dangerous. A few pack members hadn't trusted me at first but slowly, very slowly, I'd proven them wrong.
"What time is he arriving?" I asked.
"Around noon I think," he said.
"Ok, I'll take Benny into town just before and you can let him get settled in. Then I'll come back a few hours later to meet him."
"Good plan," he smiled.
---
The following day, Benny and I drove into town. We stopped at Lola's diner for lunch. It was the typical small-town diner filled with all of Benny's favourite foods.
Lola was a pack elder and could cook up a feast. Being the pack witch and having the alpha's son meant we got the special treatment much to Benny's delight. He could have whatever he wanted off the menu and as much as he wanted. She spoilt him and Benny loved it.
After lunch, we headed to a small playground and he spent several hours playing. When my phone buzzed for me to return home I had to drag Benny away kicking and screaming.
The instant I walked into the Alpha house I froze. A strange energy hit me and pulled me towards the Alpha's office. It was a mixture of excitement and pain.
As I entered my gaze landed on the most handsome man I had ever seen. I was so lost in the pull that it took me a moment to register the anger in his eyes, aimed at me.