I opened the door cautiously reaching out with sharp senses to ensure that nothing would catch me by surprise. But sadly something did. Always expect the unexpected, thats what I had been taught, that's one of the many life lessons I learned first. But when is anyone ever going to expect a 3000 pound fat lady to come rushing up at them? I most certainly did not see it coming.
She rushed up towards me, way faster than she should have been able to move given her huge size, and instinctively I backed up and the beginnings of a growl worked its way into my throat.
"Oi Joseph you were supposed to be here hours ago!" She squawked in an infuriating shrill voice.
I had to resist the urge to snarl and clamp my hands over my ears.
"The king has summoned me, somethings about what we're gonna do with the brat. Watch her while I go see what the hell he wants," she commanded before briskly turning to dash out the door.
The door slammed abruptly in her wake and I was left alone in the shed.
"Well that was…..convenient," I whispered to myself and slowly started to walk towards the makeshift crib that had been hidden behind a dense pile of tools and other odds and ends.
This place wasn't exactly something befitting of a summer princess. A confusing thought then entered my mind. Why was he so insisting on getting rid of her? Why so frightened, so terrified of this little halflig child? He has had children with humans before. He has had many occasional flings before, much to Titania's displeasure. So what makes this so different?
I shook my head to displace these persistent thoughts and moved closer to look into the crib. Inside it lay the most….beautiful thing I had ever seen. Now i'm not the sentimental type, i'm not the type to coo at babies and melt at their cuteness, and I am by no means a family man but this…..this was different. She was awake. Her bright green little eyes starting up at me with a childish curiosity as I looked down upon her. But as soon as I met her gaze…everything changed.
"MINE!" my animalistic side screamed.
It took all I had not to shift. To revert back into a wolf and forget about this whole terrifying encounter. Because this is terrifying. What I feel for this tiny child in front of me scares me, it shakes me down to my very core and paralyzes me in fear. Never, NEVER in my entire existence have I ever felt this way. Never have I ever felt anything remotely close to this all consuming love thats eating its way out of my heart. I love her. Its as simple as that. And those three words that I just admitted to myself have to power to destroy me. This tiny halfbreed in front of me holds my beating heart in her fragile new hands. And there is nothing I can do about it. Nothing I can do to stop it, and if i'm completely honest …I don't think I want to.
A loud cry from the baby brought me back from my thoughts. Tears were starting to stream down her face as she wailed, her arms outreached and waiting for me. My unsure hands shook as I reached down to grasp her. Her screaming was suppressed to small whimpers as she snuggled into the warmth and security my arms offered. I let a small soft smile slip though by barriers as I gazed down at her.
"Mine….." My instincts whispered. But this time…Kinda wanted to agree with them.