5

Reunition

In a heartbeat, he dashed towards them. The alleyway, dimly lit by a single flickering streetlamp, seemed to narrow as Claud closed the distance with inhuman speed. The five men, dressed in dark clothing and clutching crude weapons, barely had time to react. Their faces twisted in surprise and fear as Claud-seemingly ordinary just moments before-unleashed a savage fury upon them.

His first victim was a burly thug holding a metal pipe. With a swift, almost effortless motion, Claud disarmed him, the pipe clattering loudly on the cobblestones. A powerful punch followed, sending the thug sprawling to the ground, unconscious before he hit the pavement.

Two more of the assailants tried to flank him, coming at him from both sides. Claud spun around, his movements a blur. He caught one by the wrist and twisted it with such force that the snap of breaking bone echoed in the night. The man howled in pain, dropping his knife. Before he could react further, Claud’s elbow met his face, knocking him out cold.

The second flanker hesitated, his confidence waning. But Claud showed no mercy. He grabbed the man’s collar and slammed him into the brick wall with enough force to leave an impression, the impact rendering him unconscious.

The remaining two men, witnessing the brutal efficiency with which their comrades were dispatched, attempted to flee. Claud’s senses were heightened; he could hear their panicked breaths, smell their fear mingling with the night air. With a low growl, he pursued them.

The first of the fleeing men stumbled, looking back just in time to see Claud leap through the air. He tackled the man to the ground, pinning him effortlessly. The man struggled, but a quick, sharp blow to his head ended his resistance.

The final man, desperate and terrified, reached the mouth of the alley. Freedom was just steps away. But before he could cross the threshold, Claud caught him. Grabbing the man by the shoulders, he lifted him off the ground, his eyes burning with a feral light. The man whimpered, pleading for mercy but Claud was not listening to him.

With a final, decisive motion, he tossed the man aside, sending him crashing into a stack of garbage cans. The alley fell silent, save for the distant hum of city life and the faint groans of the injured.

Breathing heavily, Claud took a step back, and rushed to meet me. He grabbed my hand and helped me get up.

“Are you okay?” He asked

“Yes, it was just a little slap.” I said “What about them, are they ok?”

“Probably not” Claud said chuckling “What’s that loud noise?”

The police were approaching the alley. I was hearing the sound of their siren beeping loudly. Someone must have called when they heard the screams coming from this alley.

“Shall we?” Claud asked, offering me his hand.

“We shall.” I replied, accepting his hand.

He lifted me effortlessly, his strong hands gripping my waist. For a moment, I felt the sheer power coiled with him, his touch gentle yet firm.

With a swift motion, Claud bent his knees and then sprang into the air, carrying me with him. We soared over the back wall of the alley, the ground below blurring as we were ascending. My breath caught in my throat, a mix of exhilaration and fear flooding my senses.

As we landed on the other side, Claud set me down gently. His blue eyes soon reduced in glow and was soon as it was before the fight. We fled the scene of his brutal yet necessary defense for our next stop on our exploration of the city.

Or so I thought.

“Can we go see my mom now?”

“We can but it’s a bit Complicated,” I started. “Your mom is a very important person so if we want to see her we have to make an appointment. We can’t just enter her company and demand her to see us.”

“But I’m her son.”

“I know that but I don’t think she does.”

“What if I told her?”

“That might not work but I guess it’s worth a try.”

I had no idea of what I was going to say to the receptionist that’ll convince her to allow us go upstairs to Mrs. Tara. But who knows? We might just get lucky. I entered the company and found myself in a spacious and modern lobby, where the first floor exuded an air of professionalism and warmth. The reception area, centrally located, featured a sleek, curved desk made of polished wood and glass. Behind the desk, the company’s logo was prominently displayed on a wall covered with a tasteful, textured wallpaper.

The receptionist, dressed in a crisp, professional outfit, greeted visitors with a welcoming smile. To the left of the reception desk, a comfortable seating area offered plush chairs and sofas arranged around low coffee tables, adorned with fresh flowers and the latest industry magazines. Soft lighting and modern art pieces added to the inviting ambiance.

On the right side, a large digital directory screen provided information about the various departments and meeting rooms located on the upper floors. Nearby, a set of glass elevators glided quietly up and down, white a stylish, open staircase offered an alternative way to access the upper levels.

Potted plants strategically placed throughout the lobby brought a touch of greenery, atmosphere enhancing the overall calm and sophistication. The floor was tiled with polished stone, reflecting the natural light streaming in from the large windows that lined the front of the building, offering a view of the bustling City outside

We approached the receptionist and as expected, I did the talking.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning. How may I assist you?”

“We’ll like to see Mrs. Tara Wolf.”

“Alright. Do you have an appointment?”

“Actually no, but this young man here is the son of Mrs. Tara Wolf.”

“I’ve been working here for years and I have never heard Mrs. Tara talks about a son.”

“Let me handle this,” Claud smiled at me and then turned to the receptionist. His eyes started glowing with blue colour “Can we go upstairs to see Mrs. Tara now? We’ll ask her personally if she had a son and if she didn’t we’ll just leave.”

“Definitely.” The receptionist said “She’s on the top floor. She uses the whole floor for her office because she loves the view from up there. Is there anything else I could do for you?”

“No, that will be all.” Claud’s eye returned to normal. “Thank you.”

“What just happened?” I was still shocked by the whole incident. “Why did she suddenly agree to let us see her?”

“There’s something werewolves do.” Claud started as we both entered the elevator before pressing the up button. “It’s called coercion. We just maintain eye contact with the person we want to coerce and activate our power. Then the person will do whatever we say. Even if it includes suicide. The effects are short-lived and will wear out immediately our eyes stop glowing but it only works on humans and werewolves that we are stronger than physically. That’s why I’ve never tried it before, I’m really surprised it worked.”

The elevator soon reached the top floor and we got off. We saw a figure standing by the glass looking outside. The walls and ceiling were made entirely of glass, offering a breathtaking 360-degree view of the sky. The floor-to-ceiling windows allowed natural light to pour in, illuminating the sleek, minimalist décor. The atmosphere was airy and ethereal, as if the space was floating among the clouds. The sky seemed close enough to touch, it’s blues and white shimmering and shifting with every passing. Moment. The overall effect was one of weightlessness, as if the very boundaries between indoors and outdoors had been blurred.

“I heard you wanted to see me,” Mrs. Tara said as she turned around to face us but as she set her eyes on Claud, her face changed from being straight and firm to an expression of surprise and shock.

“Claud, is that you?” She moved closer and held his face, completely ignoring me. She hugged him and sniffed his hair. Pretty weird but I wasn’t really surprised. They’re wolves after all.

“It’s me, mom.”

“What happened? Where have you been?”

“I’ve been dead.”

“Typical. But as long as you’re here now, I’m ok,” “Yeah.”

“Who’s this?” Yes, finally! Someone noticed my existence. For a moment there I was wondering if I was actually still here because her gaze didn’t move in my direction one bit.

“This is my friend…”

“…Stacie.” I said, completing his statement. It just occurred to me that I was the one asking him questions all this time without revealing any truths of myself to him.

“She helped me come back from the dead.”

“If she helped you come back,” Mrs. Tara started, "then she knows that you are…”

“…a werewolf, yes.”

“I’m sorry but I can’t have that.” Mrs. Tara removed her glasses.

She was a status-quo woman with a regal presence, her tall frame commanding attention without demanding it. Her long, curly hair cascaded down her back like a rich, dark waterfall, framing her heart shaped face and bright, piercing eyes that seemed to see right through to the soul.

Her skin was a radiant porcelain-like complexion, with a subtle sheen that hinted at an inner strength and vitality. Her features finely chiseled, with high cheekbones and a determined jawline that spoke of a fierce intelligence and unwavering resolve. Her dull lips curved into a cunny smile, the smile of a person that was about to do something drastic. “I’m going to have to kill you.”

Those words she spoke hit me like an arrow. I didn’t even know if I should run or beg. So I just started moving back slowly. Her brown eyes started glowing. I guess maybe Claud got his eyes from his dad because his mother’s eyes were not even close to how beautiful his looked when they glowed. She charged at me but immediately Claud stepped in front of me.

“Mom, Stop!” He said putting out his hand to stop her charge. I felt safe for a little bit. Then she lifted him up with a hand and flung him across the room.

He just laid there, barely moving. She approached me slowly just like a predator cornering her prey. She smiled with one cheek, exposing her already elongated fangs. Her claws were now very visible. She kept smiling as she approached me. That smile was scaring the life out of me. She kept coming closer and closer and I was just crawling away. I couldn’t stand up and run but of the fear that had already clouded my mind.