Polly rose to her feet and tried to calm her brother down. His frustration was understood, since they have been avoiding every single myth that threatened to drag them down this path since they were children. All their lives, he had done his best to ensure they lived normally, regardless of all the hassle that has been picking on them here and there, so it was normal for him to flare up after discovering something that would alter their lives completely.
Also, Albin was trying to instigate Malcolm, as if everything that happened was his fault. Honestly, she didn't like Albin very much.
Turning to Malcolm who had grown quiet, Polly asked softly, "Malcolm, you need to tell us what you know. Do they train wolves here? Or is he referring to something entirely different?"
Malcolm's lowered gaze shifted to Polly, and her eyes were gentle. It was as if she was telling him he could talk to them without them getting offended, at least, she knew she wouldn't. As for her brother, she could not really speak for him at this moment.
"It was a promise I made to your father before he moved to Dunecliff." Malcolm calmly began, and he motioned for them to have their sit. "I'll explain everything if you two can sit down and hear me out."
Malcolm's gaze was almost pleading, and the siblings eventually sat down.
He brushed past the sofa Albin had sat on earlier and settled himself on the couch next to it. He was quiet for a few seconds before diving into the matter, "your family are what they call shifters— humans who have the ability to shift into the form of wolves. This is a generational gift that has been passed down by the moon goddess to every pack known in Aleyska. In each pack, there are roles; Alpha, Luna, beta, Delta, and omega. Alpha's run a pack, and your father was the Alpha of the crescent moon pack before he left. Your mother was the Luna of the pack."
He took a breather and continued, "your father was a capable Alpha, but then something terrible happened, and he had to leave as quickly as possible. He left the pack under the care of Albin, his brother, and he made Albin promise to never take over the pack completely, as he had a son who would be returning to claim what is his. Your father's life was in great danger at that time, and yours too. Many believed it was his enemies from the opposite pack, and there had been a certain ambush from an unfamiliar pack, and the only way to protect everyone was if your father left his pack for good."
"Dad was ambushed?" Polly inquired, and Malcolm nodded.
"Countless times in the pack, and although we're not certain of it, a lot of people here suspect it was the moonshadow pack. Betrayal never went easy for packs who have been great allies for many years, it's like a shattered glass that can never return to the way they were. Your father did something that led to the moonshadows pack enslavement many years ago, and they have nothing but hate for the crescent moon pack."
Malcolm shifted uncomfortably on the couch, "All I know is your father sold the moonshadow's pack greatest weakness to an enemy, and he has never been the same ever since. The moonshadow pack must be free by now, they are powerful shifters, the best before your father, but they were still in slavery when your father left the pack in a hurry, and it was on that night he revealed you two as his children."
He sighed, knowing where his next phrase would lead to. "I have never met your mother. Your father had an affair outside the pack, and the rumors were confirmed when he brought you two to the pack during his leave, to announce that you were his blood. The once courageous Alpha started living in fear, and he said he needed to leave, his excuse was he wasn't comfortable here, and so he left. He wanted to live a normal life with the both of you, but unfortunately, that did not last long."
"Wait wait," Norman placed Malcolm on hold, "are you saying mom and dad never got married?"
"It was a secret affair, their marriage was also a secret, cause he claimed he married your mother." Malcolm explained, "he said he wanted to bring her over after her delivery, but she did not make it. When an Alpha loses their loved one, the world to them no longer has meaning, but you two were his only reason to live."
"So what you're saying is, my father is an 'Alpha' of this so-called pack, and our mom is a mystery woman." Norman chuckled in disbelief and looked at his sister, "don't tell me you're buying this nonsense, cause it makes no sense to me at all. I don't see any wolves anywhere, the people out there were fucking humans, we're humans. You know what, coming here was obviously a big mistake, and I'm going to rectify that mistake, cause we'll be leaving tomorrow."
"Norman, wait." Polly tried to make her brother listen, but he was already up on his feet. He exited the library without looking back, closing the door shut behind him.
Norman and his untamed anger.
Polly looked at Malcolm, but he stopped her from apologizing on her brother's behalf. Malcolm understood how difficult this must be for either of them to swallow, and he would have been more worried if Norman didn't react the way he did. He knew he needed to give Norman some time to think it through, and they shall speak more on it tomorrow.
"We can finish the conversation another time," Malcolm tried to lighten the mood, "I know you hate cold food, let's have dinner and get some rest. Everyone is exhausted already."
Polly nodded in agreement, and together, they exited the library. The meal was better than Polly had expected, and Serra was talkative, so she kept the atmosphere less awkward with her stories and how life in the crescent moon pack actually was. However, Norman never came down for dinner.
In the end, Polly had to take his meal to his room. She knocked twice on the door before entering, and the stubborn being was standing near the window, staring at the moonlight that filtered in, and his green eyes were distant.
Polly took a deep breath and approached him with a smile. "Hey, I brought your meal for you." She inched towards where he stood, "roasted turkey and some mashed potatoes, the gravy was made from turkey dripping I'm sure you'll love it! Come come."
Holding his wrist, she dragged him towards his bed and made him sit.
"Here."
"I'm not hungry."
"I wasn't too until I tasted this. Serra's hands are magic. Try it." She handed him the tray, and Norman gazed at the well prepared meal on his lap, his eyes flickering with hesitation before he shook his head slowly.
Polly sat beside him and sighed to herself, "do you remember, when we were still children." She hummed, "we used to tell each other that we could hear strange voices in our head. Even today, I still remember those haunting words, 'Polly, Polly, don't push me away'. I was so scared during that time, you pretended to be a ghostbuster to make me feel better."
She chuckled heartily and looked at Norman who chewed on his bottom lip. "With time, those voices faded, and we were so happy that the ghost had left. After listening to Malcolm, I'm starting to realize if what we pushed away was truly–"
"Do you actually believe that's the truth?" Norman interjected, looking at his sister, and Polly wasn't sure on how to respond.
Maybe she does believe Malcolm was telling the truth.