Chapter 26: I Promise…
My heart drops immediately.
"Mason?" I say in a hoarse whisper.
The wolf bows his head and huge tears fall from his huge eyes. He whines gently and tries to avoid eye contact with me. I just know he doesn't want to see me, after the way he treated me, but right now I don't care. The man I love is back and now my child will have a father.
I don't know what I'm thinking, I just run over to him and wrap my arms around his huge neck. I can feel my own tears coming.
"I missed you so much!" I sob. I bury my face in his thick fur. No wonder I kept seeing this wolf, he was watching over me. I can already guess this is why he left, to keep his secret from me. He was probably afraid that I would reject him for what he was, but he was so wrong. If I can be The Dark One's child, he can be whatever he wanted. It doesn't matter who or what we are, he stood by me and I will do the same. He was also probably trying to protect me, I know wolves can be unpredictable, but I'm more than capable of protecting myself.
I know I'm making a scene on the street, but the love of my life is back and I'm so happy.
Eventually, Emma clears her throat. I pull away from Mason, hating that I need to
"Sorry, Emma, Lisa, Ruby, David, Henry, Hook, Mary Margret, Regina, Belle, Rumple...this is Mason...my boyfriend."
A small grin spreads across Ruby's face and Emma, Regina and Mary Margret's faces are priceless. Rumple and Belle seem wary and keep their distance from us.
I turn back to Mason, his blue eyes staring at the ground.
"Is this why you left?" I ask quietly.
The whine becomes louder and his head goes up and down in a nodding fashion.
I can almost assume what he's thinking.
"I'm not mad," I reassure him, with a comforting smile. I lean forward and kiss his furry snout. Part of me is wishing he's human right now so I could kiss his lips again, feel his arms around me instead of big, clawed paws.
He whines again and looks me in the eyes.
"I'm not, now I have the reason of why you dumped me," I say gently.
He bows his head down low and nods.
"I missed you...we have a lot of catching up to do..." I say.
Mason leans over and licks my face.
"He's the biggest wolf I've ever seen," Granny says coming out of the restaurant in her apron. The fact that there is a giant wolf in the middle of Main Street is drawing quite the crowd.
Mason leans over and sniffs Granny. His tail wags a few times.
"Yes, I'm one of them," Granny says reassuringly. She leans over to Ruby. "The one in the hood is too."
"Can you understand him?" I ask.
"Only telepathically and only in wolf form too." Granny answers. "I'm also really good at reading body language."
She walks around Mason's thick furry body. She stops at his back leg.
"Lift your paw please." she says.
Mason does so.
"Ah!" She says aloud. "Shadow Clan."
I go up behind Granny and engraved on the padding of Mason's paw is a small design of a star and sword.
Ruby peers over at me.
"What's the Shadow Clan?" Ruby asks.
"A dark and powerful pack of wolves from an adjacent enchanted forest," Granny explains. "Our clan has been at war with them for centuries. You see, while we try to limit our killing and show restraint, these ones tend to be cold-blooded animals. Their will power to shift from man to beast is also a lot stronger than ours, which only comes at the full moon. Some I even hear, can change at will, but it's rare." She puts the paw back down. "They're a lot bigger too. The most massive of all wolves."
She's not wrong there, Mason's enormous frame towers over even David.
"Each clan has specific markings on their back feet and a distinct scent, it's how we tell each other apart."
"So that's what that is?" Ruby asks. "I thought it was a birthmark."
"Our clan is an image of an elk horn and a thistle," Granny says.
"It was cool, I had it tattooed on my ankle and foot," Ruby adds.
Granny turns back to Mason.
"Were you born into the clan?" she asks.
Mason shakes his head no.
Granny doesn't miss a beat. "Who bit you? Someone from the Shadow Clan?"
Mason nods.
"Do you have control over it?"
Mason shakes his head.
"Did you abandon the Clan?" Ruby asks.
Mason nods again.
"I feel like we're talking to Lassie." Emma mutters. I shoot her a look.
Mason's paw scrapes against the pavement.
"Can you change back?" Granny asks.
Mason shakes for no. My heart drops then. He must have left me, knowing he had no control over what he was doing. It seems that he's been cursed by someone or something to remain a wolf. It must have been the week he left. He did it all to protect me?
"Can we change him back?" I ask.
"Unlikely," Granny says, not sparing any of my feelings in the process. Dashing hope on the spot. "If he can't change at will then there must be some kind of curse."
"There has to be a spell or something we can do to help him!" I practically whine. I want my Mason back. I want him to hold him again, I want to feel his kisses on my lips, hear his beautiful voice in my ears.
I turn to my father in haste. "Don't you have a spell or potion or something that could work?"
"I'm afraid not Crystal...My repertoire was in the dark arts, but never in dog training."
Belle stomps on his foot at that remark and I glare at him.
Ruby snaps her head back at him in a glare.
I look over at Regina.
"Regina?"
"I've never fully studied transformation magic, much less on wolves." she answers.
I'm running out of options.
"Granny is there some..."
"I'm sorry, Crystal. This is out of my control," she says sadly.
I want to break down in tears. I look up at Mason and he avoids my eyes.
"I'm not giving up that easily, there must be something in this town that can cure him."
I look up at that clock tower with the library underneath. There must be something that can undo this curse on Mason. I turn to Belle.
"I can help if I can." Belle nods.
I go up to Mason and hug him tightly.
"You won't be like this forever. I promise." I whisper. "I won't let my baby grow up without a father."
Mason's eyes go wide and he steps back. He lets out a small whine and pokes my stomach with his snout.
"It's yours...I didn't know until a week ago. But I don't care what you are, I'm not losing you again! I'll find a way to help you... I promise.."
I know it's an empty promise, but there's no way I'm losing him again. The first time almost cost me my sanity. I really don't care if the baby I'm carrying is part werewolf, I make it worse with being the Dark One's child, but this baby will grow up with both its parents, no matter what.
I turn and start walking towards the library. A burning passion has been ignited within me. I will find a cure for him and he will be there in human form when I give birth in 8 months. I love him!
I can hear my father behind me.
"So the father of my grandchild is a wolf." Rumple murmurs, he leans on his cane. "I will have to ask him if he's worthy of my daughter," he says with a small grin. Belle nudges him hard.
I continue walking towards the library.
I promise...!