-Greyson-
A week earlier, Aug 2004
"Omg! Greyson, did you hear?" Dakota said, flipping through a magazine while lying on my bed.
"Hear what?" I asked, glancing over at her from the couch.
"Well, I overheard my mom talking to yours last night, and apparently, Richard Bergeron's son is moving back home to take over as chief. And apparently, he's bringing his sixteen-year-old daughter too!"
"You're messing with me, right?" I shot back, and Dakota shook her head.
"Nope, not kidding. That might be why things are changing so fast. But no one ever talks to us!" Dakota tossed the magazine on the floor and got up.
"How does your mom even know he's coming back? Who told her?"
"I don't know. But doesn't that bother you, Greyson? We're often overlooked because we're 'too young' to be involved, but we all know who the enemy is; we've all grown up listening to our ancestors' tales. But no, we're not allowed into the Camarae. We're sixteen, for crying out loud!"
"Wow, here we go again," Logan said as he walked into my room and sat beside me.
"Yeah, she's at it again!" I replied, and Dakota let out a frustrated scream.
"I can't believe you two. We're going to have a Bergeron in our school! The enemy!"
"What are you talking about?" Logan asked and frowned.
"I overheard our mom speak to Greyson's mom, saying that Richard Bergeron's son is moving back home to take over as chief and is bringing his sixteen-year-old daughter!" Dakota stumbled on the words because she was talking too fast, and Logan looked confused.
"Hold up, so Bergeron's son is moving back? But didn't he die or something?" Logan replied, and Dakota looked like she was about to explode. "IDIOTS!" She shouted and stomped out of the room.
"She's crazy; why do we even put up with her?" Logan asked and grabbed the remote to the TV,"
"She's your twin?" I replied, and Logan rolled his eyes.
"Thanks for reminding me!"
Later that evening.
"Greyson, my office!" Dad called as he walked by my room. I got off the bed and followed him down the hall.
"Is this about the Bergerons moving back?" I asked, shutting the door behind me.
Dad looked a bit surprised. "Yeah, who told you?"
"Dakota. She overheard her mom talking to mom," I replied.
"Of course she did. Anyway, yes, we need to talk about that." Dad motioned for me to take a seat.
"We've had a longstanding rivalry with the Bergerons, as you know, and our relationship has been quite strained over the years. However, with Peter Bergeron returning, I'm optimistic we can start putting the feud behind us."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked.
"My memories of Peter suggest he was quite different from his father; he often challenged him during his teenage years and eventually chose his own path. It reminds me of the dynamic your grandfather and I had, which was also quite complex." I nodded because I had overheard them fighting several times during my childhood. And it wasn't just words exchanged between them.
"With your grandfather's passing, I see a chance for reconciliation with the Bergeron family. I believe you and his daughter could help make that happen."
"Wait, Dad, what are you trying to say?" He looked at me and shrugged.
"All I'm asking is for you to befriend this girl." I couldn't help but laugh.
"Are you serious? After everything we've faced? You want us to befriend those killers?" I shot back, and Dad stood up so quickly that his chair fell over. He grabbed my collar, his intensity palpable.
"Listen closely, Greyson; I will only say this once. The feud we had with the Bergerons happened centuries ago, and we're not part of that conflict anymore, no matter what your grandfather might have said. This is no longer our fight. We must rise above it and confront the curse in our blood. Just look at yourself!" Dad exclaimed, releasing my collar.
"Look at your body, Greyson. Do you know why you've suddenly grown twice your size?" I nodded, knowing the tales my grandfather had told me as a kid.
"The North men attacked our lands, killing our men and ravaging our women. We were forced to turn to our gods, and when they heard our prayers, the wolfmen broke free to protect us."
Dad nodded, "Yes, my son, but do you know what that means in practice? Do you know what you are turning into?" I took a step back, wondering what he was getting at.
"But it was just a tale, right? A metaphor of some kind?" Dad chuckled, a bitter laugh that made my blood turn cold.
"No, Greyson, it wasn't. You have the DNA, just like me. You're my son, and I'm the Alpha of the wolfmen. The people around the mountains are a part of our Tribe. And as soon as you turn eighteen, my son, your wolf will break every little bone in your body and claim you like the slave you're about to be!"
"No, no, no, that's impossible," I mumbled and laughed nervously. But Dad's expression didn't change. His expression was cold, serious.
"Dad? Come on? This is crazy?" But he just kept staring at me.
"If you're serious, Dad, this was a fucked up way to tell me!" I shouted, and the anger struck me like lightning.
"Do you know how fucked up this is? What are you even suggesting? Am I going to turn into some crazy wolf on my eighteenth birthday and run around and kill my enemies? The Bergerons?"
"Yes, Greyson, that is exactly what I'm telling you. One day, soon, my son, you will be forced to bow down to your wolf. It will no longer be your choice. Unless.."
"UNLESS WHAT?" I screamed and kicked the stool behind me.
"Unless you break your wolf or break the curse. But breaking the wolf means years of fighting with yourself, losing control, and risking hurting those around you until your wolf either submits or breaks you. Either way, I will be forced to lock you up because you will be out of control!"
I screamed in rage, and my eyes went black.
Late that night.
I opened my eyes and looked around. It was pitch dark.
"Where the hell am I?" I mumbled.
"This is a cave, and it's your new home for the next few years unless the curse is broken before your birthday," I heard my Dad's voice, but I couldn't see him. As I tried to get up, I realized my arms and neck were chained to the cold wall behind me. "Dad, get me out of this," I said, panicking.
"No, Greyson, you need to understand what life will be like if you don't cooperate," he replied. I gasped for air, feeling like the collar was going to choke me. I couldn't remember how I ended up here. I knew I had been in Dad's office, and we fought. But after that? I must've totally lost it, and that freaked me out. I'd never lost control like that before, and not being able to remember what happened next was terrifying.
"Dad, please," I begged, but he stayed quiet. "Come on, I'll do whatever you want; don't do this to me!" Still, he didn't say a word, and it was so dark that I couldn't even tell if he was still there.
"DAD!" I yelled, panic rising in me, yanking at the chains.
But it was hopeless; I knew I couldn't break them, and I forced myself to rethink everything my father had said, puzzling it together.
I knew our family crest featured a wolf, but I thought it meant we were somehow tied to wolves, not that we could transform into one.
My Dad, an Alpha?
Looking back, it became clear how the people around my Dad responded to his authority—even me.
Tonight was the first time I questioned him. And now, Logan and Dakota's behavior made sense. They followed my lead like shadows, no matter what I said or did. At first, I thought their behavior was a twin thing, but I realized I was their Alpha's son, and they were inherently linked to our Tribe.
I've read countless tales of our ancestors. The wolfmen chose a leader and were protectors of the Tribe. Only the males among us could channel the wolf's power while the females danced alongside them.
The wolf's spirit would pass to the children of the wolves, but only to the males; the females would inherit a fragment of that spirit, destined to become the other half of another wolf in this life and beyond.
However, I recall reading that the wolfmen had become restless over the years. While the war calmed, they began fighting each other and struggled within. Tribes were broken and scattered across the mountains. Our Tribe, Montes Rocky, is one of the few still living on the same land we claimed hundreds of years ago.
My thoughts swirled in a chaotic dance, overwhelming me. All I could do to silence them was to scream.