Chapter 4: Quinn

I woke up to my dad putting me in my bed before tucking me in. like he did when I was little. “Dad?” I asked yawning.

“We are home honey. Tomorrow you will have off from school. Your mother and I think it's time that you know some things about the family that we think will help give you some answers that you are seeking.” He whispered before kissing my forehead.

“Wait what things?” I asked with a concerned look on my face.

He stood up and headed to the door. “I promise everything will make sense tomorrow. Please just promise me that no matter what you know that I love you and will always protect you.”

“I promise dad, you're scaring me.” I said I panicked.

“Don’t be scared honey. I love you and I will see you in the morning.” As he walked out my mother walked in and sat on the side of the bed. Before she could say anything Ryan came running into the room in his dinosaur pajamas and hopped into bed next to me. The kid clearly had a dinosaur obsession.

“Quinn, where were you?” he asked, snuggling into me.

“Sorry buddy. Tough day today. How did your show and tell go?” I responded by changing the topic. My mom walked into my room and sat on my bed as Ryan got comfortable.She squeezed my leg over the covers, stood up and kissed me on the forehead. “Not too late guys.” she said, looking at us.

I nodded as Ryan told me all about his show and tell and his day. He was talking so fast it was hard to keep up. He finally spoke so much that he fell asleep next to me. I dozed off as well. Hoping the nightmares would stay away tonight. I had a feeling sleep would be a luxury the next few days.

—

I woke up to Ryan hogging the bed and kicking me off the side. He had his entire body stretched out. For such a small human it was incredible how much space he could take up. Thankfully the blanket I had on me helped lessen the brunt of the fall. I looked at Mr. Sleeping Beauty and grabbed a pillow and threw it at him as a pay pack.

“Hey! What was that for?” he cried jolting up.

“That's what you get you little shit for kicking me off my own bed!” I huffed back. I stood up and gave him a tickle on his sides. “I think dad is making pancakes. Want some? “ I asked with a smile. Ryan’s eyes beamed and nodded quickly, hopping out of the bed. I followed him down the stairs.

The aroma of pancakes and warm maple syrup filled the downstairs. My sense of smell was heightening, I figured because my birthday was only a few days away. My body was preparing for my first shift with my wolf.

My mom was sitting at the table sipping on some coffee while my father was working on making pancakes.

As I passed the island I snatched a pancake in my hand and stuffed it in my mouth. As I turned to walk to the table I felt something warm hit the back of my head and make a plop sound on the ground.

“Dad!” I yelled realizing he threw a pancake at me.

“Well you seemed super eager to grab a pancake before any of us could eat so now that one can be yours too.” He joked with a smile.

“I am going to pass,” I responded with a grossed out look.

“Suit yourself,” Ryan said, picking it off the floor and stuffing it in his mouth. “10 second rule,” he mumbled with his mouth filled with pancake.

I just shook my head and laughed. I sat across from my mother who looked deep in thought. For a quick moment I had forgotten they needed to talk to me. My heart sank into my stomach when I saw the bags under my mothers eyes. She looked like she hadn’t slept and had been crying.

“Ry guy, take your breakfast in the living room please bud.” My father said, giving Ryan a plate of cut pancakes.

“Don’t have to ask me twice!” he beamed quickly, grabbing the plate and running to the living room.

“For the love,” my mother mumbled “Ryan please don’t run with a plate of food!” she yelled to him.

He yelled back something but sounded like gibberish. “You know there is going to be syrup on my new rug, don’t you?” my mother whined to my dad.

“Well it's either he eats in there or he stays in here and you know he won't shut up.” my dad responded as he placed a plate full of pancakes on the table. We all chuckled and nodded.

My mothers smile quickly fell from her face as she looked down at her mug. She fidgeted with the handle. “Think I am going to need something stronger than coffee this morning.” She mumbled more to herself than to anyone.

I shoveled some pancake in my mouth, trying to focus on the yummy deliciousness rather than the anxiety building in me.

She cleared her throat and looked at me.. “I have dreaded this day since the moment you were born. Please know what I’m about to tell you, it will make me relive some memories that I wished I could erase. But I can’t. You were brought into the world not under normal circumstances.”