Chapter Five: Wolf Father

I turned slowly in Dad's lap to stare up into his face. I knew that when Uncle Edward had said most of the people in this room were at least part vampire, Dad had been the exception; where their skin was pale and cold, his was fiery warm…warmer than Dom's when Uncle Carlisle had put him in the hospital for his fever.

"She's wondering about you, Jacob," Uncle Edward said quietly.

Dad smiled down at me. "What about me, Pooh Bear?"

"Are you…human?"

"Yes," Dad said instantly, "but not entirely. I'm a werewolf, Winnie."

I sat frozen, staring at him. Images flashed through my mind; the talking wolves that served the White Witch; the werewolf that had attacked Prince Caspian. "I can lie a hundred nights on ice and not freeze…I can drink a river of blood and not burst…Where I bite, I hold till I die…Show me your enemies"1 …I had always been afraid of the wolves.

"Winnie, stop," Uncle Edward half groaned. "You're giving me a headache." He got up and came to squat beside Dad's chair, putting a hand on my shoulder. "That werewolf was in a story; he acted the way the author thought he should. It has nothing to do with what real werewolves are like…and technically, your father is a shape-shifter, not a werewolf."

"He hasn't changed, Winnie," Aunt Bella put in quietly. "He's exactly the same person you've always known. The only difference is, you know what he is. And he's the same person as a wolf as he is when he's human."

I looked up hesitantly; Dad was looking at me almost fearfully. "I wouldn't hurt you, Winnie," he whispered.

No…of course he wouldn't. I had been so sure earlier that he wouldn't let anyone touch me… "He won't, Winnie," Uncle Edward assured me quietly.

"Am I…part werewolf?"

"No; you're one-fourth vampire and three-fourths human with the potential of becoming a werewolf…but I doubt you will."

"Why not?"

Dad smiled slightly. "Well, for one thing, there's only ever been one female werewolf. But the transformation is triggered by exposure to vampires, and you've been around them so much — besides being part vampire yourself — that you're probably immune."

"Why do vampires trigger it?"

Dad sighed. "Because…the purpose of werewolves is to protect the tribe from vampires."

"Protect them?" I asked in a small voice.

"Yes," Uncle Edward said quietly. "But Carlisle made a treaty with the wolves; we won't bite humans, and they will let us live in peace."

"But I broke the treaty." I knew now why Dad had said he had the most reason to be upset…

Dad grinned. "Well, the kid's still human and walking around; I guess I can let you live." His face sobered. "Honestly, Winnie, I'd never hurt you; can't you believe that?"

I suddenly flung my arms around his neck. Of course I believed it. Aunt Bella was right; he hadn't changed. "I love you, Daddy." I pulled back. "Can I see you…as a wolf?"

He looked at me a bit doubtfully. "Are you sure you want to?"

"Yes," I insisted.

He sighed. "All right."

"Not in the house!" Aunt Esme protested.

Dad chuckled. "Of course not. Coming, Ness?"

I slipped my hand into Momma's as we followed Dad out of the house. I had said I wanted to see, but part of me wasn't quite sure… I hoped Uncle Edward wouldn't give me away.

Momma stopped just off the porch, but Dad ran on into the woods. "Where's he going?" I asked timidly.

"His clothes don't change with him," Momma explained; "if he doesn't want to ruin them he has to undress first."

I watched the woods where Dad had disappeared, and when the wolf emerged I pressed against Momma, clutching her hand tightly. I hadn't realized how big he would be…

Momma gently brushed my cheek with her fingertips, and suddenly I saw the wolf as she saw it; saw that its eyes were somehow Dad's.

He stopped in front of me and crouched down, like a dog asking to play. * His tongue hung out the side of his mouth in what looked like a grin. I giggled and hesitantly stretched out my hand. His warm tongue licked me from my fingertips to my elbow, and I wrinkled my nose as I wiped my arm against my side.

"Jake!" Momma scolded.

He gave a short bark that sounded like a laugh, and crouched low to the ground. Momma pulled her hand from mine and ran to climb onto his back.

The wolf looked at me and yipped softly.

"He wants you to ride, Winnie," Uncle Edward explained softly.

I took a step back, unsure.

"He's your father, Winnie; he won't hurt you." The memory of Uncle Edward's voice saying something very similar flashed through my mind… "That wolf won't hurt you." Had the howls that had scared me that night been Dad? No wonder Uncle Edward had sounded like he was laughing…2

"Yes," he said quietly. "He changes into wolf form to take Nessie hunting. Come on, now." He led me to the wolf's side and lifted me onto its back. The reddish fur was thick and warm as I buried my hands in it to hold on. I felt Momma wrap her arms around my waist.

The wolf looked over its shoulder with another wolf-grin, and then began running in a smooth lope. I released one hand to shyly pat its neck. It was hard to think of this huge animal as Dad…but why not? Was it any stranger than being part vampire?

"Howl, Daddy," I said suddenly.

Dad stopped running and lifted his nose to the sky. And as I felt the howl vibrate through his body, I knew I would never be afraid of that sound again.

The End

from Prince Caspian, by C. S. Lewis, Chapter XII: "Sorcery and Sudden Vengeance"

2 from my story "Wolf Song"

* Link to illustration can be found on my profile

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