The white pup runs to her, and I realize she’s actually Selena's daughter? Wow... The werewolf world is amazing. Selena smiles and grabs her daughter to carry her. I hear Kelsi squeal next to me, and I can't blame her. Stella is as white as snow, with two adorable, big blue eyes; she looks like a little plushie. Selena smiles.
"This is my daughter, Estelle," she says. "Come, we are having brunch. Nora wanted to meet you, too."
I feel a bit nervous, following her into the garden. Bobo the big wolf seems to have completely accepted us now, he actually goes back to play with all the younger wolves.
As we arrive in the middle of the garden, I suddenly feel really nervous. Those are the most powerful werewolves in town, the Black family... Liam's family. Strangely, I had imagined them in some scary underground location or an impressive building, but instead, they seem to all be gathered for a family brunch in the garden! There are several adults present, and for a minute, I'm a bit intimidated and also trying to figure out who is who. It's hard to recognize people from a picture where they were all dressed up...
However, a beautiful, young woman immediately stands from the table and walks up to us with a bright smile. She is wearing a short cotton dress with floral patterns and a pretty headscarf. She looks even younger than I thought... With her long scar on her left eye, it's impossible not to recognize her. She's the Black Luna.
"Hi, Mara, nice to meet you," she says with a gentle smile. "I'm Nora!"
I want to open my mouth to say something, but before I can, I see their expressions sink.
"M-Mara, are you okay?" Kelsi asks, looking confused too.
What's going on? I realize I'm crying.
What the hell? I feel big tears running down my cheeks, and before I know it, I'm sobbing uncontrollably, as if I was completely overwhelmed by sadness. What is going on?! I can't control myself, it's just unstoppable. I wipe my tears, completely lost. I'm making a complete fool of myself, crying for no reason, and I have no idea why!
Selena hands me a tissue, but I can tell she has no idea how to react. She glances toward her cousin, frowning.
"You don't normally have that much effect on people..."
Nora seems really sorry, but I have no idea why I am reacting like this either. I just keep sobbing uncontrollably despite my attempts to control myself. What the hell is this? I glance at her again, but I'm overwhelmed with this pain. I thought it might come from her aura, as I see that white, bright halo around her, but that's not it.
Damn, this needs to stop. I close my eyes and take deep breaths, trying to control my emotions until I can stop sobbing like a baby. Just as I finally calm down, I hear someone else sobbing. I re-open my eyes, and Nora is glancing down at the little boy holding her skirt, who looks like a mini male version of her. The boy looks like he's about to cry too. She chuckles and crouches down to hug him.
"Will, it's okay, honey, it's okay. Do you want to go play with James and the others for a bit?"
The little boy shakes his head, and tries to hide behind her skirt, stuck to his mom. She gives me a little apologetic smile.
"Sorry about that, Will is a bit sensitive, and he is too young to shape-shift, so..."
"He can't turn into a wolf yet?" Kelsi asks, looking interested.
"The youngest shape-shifting we have seen so far was around three or four years old," explains Selena, pointing at the wild pack of pups running around in the garden, "and those were very precocious."
"Anyway, are you alright, Mara?" Nora asks.
I nod, feeling totally embarrassed to have cried for no reason in front of her. I don't know what came over me, but it was damn weird and unwelcomed, especially with so many strangers around... They probably think I'm the weirdest witch ever. I take a deep breath to repress my tears and turn to Nora.
"Sorry about that... So you are... Selena's cousin, right?"
"Yes, and her sister-in-law too."
I nod. I'm starting to understand more about their family tree now. Actually, the two men behind them with scary auras help... They really stand out from the group. I recognize Selena's husband instantly, with his ice-blue eyes. Nathaniel Black. He is sitting at the table, but instead of the deadly glare from last time, he is actually focused on the baby girl on his lap. She's blonde, just like her parents, with big blue eyes... I remember the little announcement on that website. This must be little Aurora… She looks like any happy little girl, smiling at her dad like he's the sun itself.
It's actually rather easy for me to tell which children are the Black children, even among the pups: they all have the same pure white halo as Nora. It's such a strange feeling. It's not something I can actually see, yet it is so clear, it feels like I could even touch it... I only feel Estelle and another young black wolf with this, though; the other pups look... like regular wolves.
"I'm... Mara," I sigh, "but you already know that."
"Yes," Nora chuckles, "I do know who you are. Actually, do you want to sit with us? I'm sorry we brought you here without asking, but I wanted to get to know you, and from what I heard, you're not fond of hospitals."
"That's the understatement of the year," I sigh.
I hesitate to give her a definitive yes about sitting down with them, though, because aside from Nathaniel Black, there is another dark aura, and I really, really don't feel like getting closer to that monster. He is standing a few steps behind his wife, but it’s like he’s her shadow. This man really feels like a dangerous beast. Although, the fact that he is holding a little baby so tenderly offers a very strange contrast.
Nora seems to notice my glance, and unaware of my fear, she smiles.
