Chapter Twenty-eight
October, 31st
Cherub was bouncing with excitement and tightly clutching Vincent's hand as new people began to arrive. All morning they had been preparing for the big Halloween party tonight. They had all pitched in. Tables and chairs had been set up. Two big piles of wood had been set up in an empty field for the bonfire later that night. The pumpkin and turnip jack-o-lanterns were set up all over the place with a candle inside ready to be lit. Cherub had spent most of his day in the kitchen helping to make cookies, pies, cakes, bread, soup, and more. Shaping the colorful marzipan figures had been his favorite part. Now it was time for the villagers and the werewolf pack to join them. Ms. Dragonheart said there would be games, then afternoon tea, and after that they would do a ritual during which the kids could run off and play if they chose to. Then dinner, which Cherub was really looking forward to; all of that pumpkin had been cooked into treats which he had smelled baking all day!
Cars began to turn up dust on the narrow road into the valley. Cherub bounced even more and moved closer to Vincent at the same time. He heard a car park and doors slam shut and a minute later Cherub saw their first guest.
"Marcus," Vincent called out happily to the young man coming up the walk. He was broad and well muscled with short, dark brown hair. Next to him was a young woman with light brown hair which curled around her shoulders, following them were two children, a young boy and a little girl both with honey-blond curls. Vincent walked towards them and Cherub followed along close behind. When they met Vincent wrapped his arm around Marcus's shoulders. "How are you, Vivian? Looking lovely as ever, and look how much your children have grown!"
"Marcus!" Freja squealed and ran towards them.
"Mum," he said setting down his packages and rushing to meet her. They hugged fiercely. "Oh, Mum, it is so good to see you."
"I have missed you. Look how handsome you are. And Vivian," Freja said turning towards her daughter in law. "You look just lovely. How are you feeling, dear?" she asked as they embraced.
"I am good, Mum," Vivian said with a heavy Swiss accent.
"I am glad, now where are my grandchildren?" Freja asked turning to the two children. Kneeling down Freja held out her arms and the two blond children rushed into them.
Cherub couldn't tell what they were saying as they began to speak in German; Cherub had been told that not everyone spoke English.
"Cherub, I would like you to meet my grandchildren. This is Albin, he is five, and this is Gisele she is three. Albin, Gisele this is Cherub, he is new to our troupe."
"Hello, it's nice to meet you," Cherub said with a small wave.
"Hello," said Albin and Gisele together with thick accents.
Freja led her family over to her tent with the promise of gifts and catching up. "We will be back in time for tea, Cherub; keep an eye on the boys for me."
Cherub giggled and pointedly stared at Vincent who was trying to look innocent. Soon most of the village had arrived, everyone chatting and laughing. Cherub walked over to the house and hid behind some rose bushes watching all the commotion. He was so caught up in watching everyone he didn't hear the people approaching from behind.
"Well what do we have here?" asked a deep, gravelly voice.
Cherub squeaked and jumped up spinning around at the same time. There were a group of about ten people standing there. They all wore clothing of brown and green, mostly made of thick warm material and leather. Cherub was wide-eyed with fear and he looked into the amber eyes of a large stocky man in front. His dark brown hair was curly and wild, with a few leaves and twigs in it showing they had walked through the forest to get here.
The man smiled and reached out his hand. "I am Lucas Nef."
Cherub could feel an unusual energy coming off the man, but Freja had taught him to be polite and the man had the same last name as her; maybe he was part of her family. "Nice to meet you, my name is Cherub," he said holding out his hand.
Just as their hands connected Cherub heard Soto yell, "Cherub, no!"
Suddenly Lucas was pushing energy into him, it was wild and angry and it felt like it was trying to control him. Cherub didn't like it and pushed at the energy with all his might. Lucas flew back from the small boy landing on his back a few feet away staring in shock at the boy. Cherub was gasping for breath as his knees hit the ground hard. Seconds later Soto was in front of him one arm around his, the other cradling his jaw.
"Look at me," Soto demanded. "Cherub, look at me; you're fine, everything is okay. Just breathe nice and slow. That's it, nice and slow. Vincent is heading this way and he will help you ground again. Just breathe and look at me."
As soon as Vincent got there he sat behind Cherub and pulled him into his lap. "It's okay, sweetheart, just close your eyes and ignore everyone else but me. We are going to do the same meditation that we did this morning." They both closed their eyes, and began to breathe in sync.
"What in the hell did you do, Lucas?" shouted Freja as she stormed up to the group, her family not far behind.
"Hey, Dad," said Marcus looking at Lucas with sympathy.
"Hello Marcus." Turning to Freja he hid his flinch as he looked into her icy blue eyes. "I don't know what happened. I just shook his hand."
Freja placed her hands on her hips and glared. "And did you try and alpha him and shove your energy into him?"
Lucas sighed, "Yes, I do it all the time; no one seems to mind."
Freja arched a thin honey-brown eyebrow. "Except Vincent."
Lucas' eyes widened. "I didn't know he was sensitive like that. You know me, I wouldn't hurt a kid."
Freja nodded, Lucas never hurt children on purpose, but sometimes he didn't think.
"How did he push me away?"
"I can make a guess, but I will not tell you right now. Go and say hello to your family, I need to make sure Cherub is all right."
Freja began to turn away when Lucas caught her arm. "I am sorry."
Freja smiled. "I know Lucas, I know."
A few minutes later Cherub opened his eyes and smiled. He felt much better. He still wasn't sure what had happened, but he would be much more careful about shaking hands from now on.
"Are you all right, Cherub?" Freja asked as she knelt in front of him and checked him over.
"I'm fine now. Is Lucas okay? Is he part of your family?"
Freja smiled into the bright open face, a bit more rounded now that he had been eating with them for three months. "Lucas is just fine. We were married long ago. He is Marcus's father."
"What happened?" Cherub asked his brow furrowed in confusion.
"With the handshake or our marriage?" Freja asked with a chuckle.
Cherub thought for a moment, "Both."
"Okay then. When Marcus was five, a werewolf bit Lucas. He couldn't handle it and fled to one of the packs we had met in our travels. He felt like he couldn't be around us anymore, that he wasn't safe. Once he got control over himself he had friends within the pack, and saw how some of the alpha werewolves were mistreating their pack members, he never came back to us. Lucas has spent the last twenty years removing bad alphas from packs when he could and rescuing newly infected werewolves and children from packs and regular society."
Freja stopped for a moment and looked to see if Cherub understood then continued, "As for the handshake, Lucas is an alpha wolf. He sends out his energy when he touches people to show strength, to offer comfort, and to maintain his position as a leader. I doubt he even thought about it when he shook your hand."
"Oh, okay I think I understand," Cherub said still a bit confused by everything.
Freja laughed and kissed Cherub's forehead. "Don't worry sweetheart, it will make sense to you someday."
