THE LYCAN'S LOVER

Mason's heart pounded in his chest as he raced through the dense forest, the moonlight casting scary shadows on the ground. He had just transformed back from his werewolf form, and he wasn't even sure if Sheila had seen him or not. 

His thoughts were mixed with anxiety, filled with confusion and fear. Did she know his secret? Could she ever love him if she did? Why did he turn when it was not a full moon?

He knew the only person who would have these answers was Venus, his ever-caring mother.

He was happy that he left UpTown in his human form. If not, it would have been a disaster as he did not know how he would have dealt with humans. 

“Mason, are you sure nobody saw you or did she see you change? Venus asked, referring to Sheila, Mason’s human friend.

Mason lifted his head and looked at his mother, “I don’t know Mom, it happened so fast. You could have told me I  would turn so early.”

Mason, Listen to me, you will tell no one you have turned,” replied Venus.

“Mom, I felt dizzy, my eyes were turning yellow and quickly dilating. I only ran when I noticed the hair all over growing abnormally, rapidly. I told Sheila to stay back, but she ran after me into the woods,” Mason replied.

“I hope she did not see you for her sake and yours. Nobody has turned in our clan before the full moon. So you are probably a Lycan,” Venus said with mixed feelings.

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing,” Mason asked.

“It depends on whose side you are,” replied Venus.

“I don’t understand,” Mason said.

“If this girl…,” Venus was interrupted before she could finish her sentence.

“... Sheila, Mom. Her name is Sheila,” Mason told his mother.

“If Sheila, or whatever her name is, has seen you turn, then you may have to kill her. If you don’t, you will be risking me, your brother, Sheila, our clan, and also the humans,” Venus said.

“Okay Mom, I got it, I will be risking everyone, I will ask her,” Mason said.

“No, Mason, you do not understand. She has to go,” Venus replied.

Mason was shocked even though he knew what his mother was implying initially. “But I love her, and I cannot live without her,” Mason said as he left his mother’s presence.

Immediately Mason left, Alpha Jona entered. He wanted to make sure that Venus knew that the full moon ceremony was close and Mason would be called out again.

“Jona! To what do I owe this surprise visit,” Venus asked, pretending not to know why he came.

“Call the acting off, I only want you to know that the full moon ceremony is near and Mason will be tried again,” Alpha Jona said.

Alpha Jona was Mason’s uncle rumoured to have killed Mason’s father to succeed him as Alpha. Mason’s father was a strong believer that Lycans still exist and was hoping that he would get one in his lineage until he was killed.

“Why can’t you leave my boy alone?” Venus asked.

“Leave your boy alone, he is my brother’s son and he is in my care also,” Alpha Jona said.

“You took his title and crown, what do you want from us, please leave us alone,” Venus cried.

Alpha Jona looked at Venus, he was very upset at her words. “I took his crown? No woman, you committed a taboo, slept with a human, gave birth to a human and you think I am in the wrong,” Alpha Jona said.

“Max was dead and there was no one but Felix by my side. You killed Felix because he was a human and my lover so that you could take me as a wife and when I said no, you took my son’s title away from him. Yes! Jona! You are in the wrong,” Venus was shouting at this point.

“Stop it! I say stop it! Woman! You begged not to kill the human’s son in you. I should have killed Thomas! He is not one of us and, for his life, you sacrificed Mason’s title and inheritance, and now you want justice? Please respect the laws of our clan, do not mock me again,” Alpha Jona said.

“Your stupid barbaric laws, if your brother, my husband, was here he would be disappointed in you,” Venus said almost in tears.

“Alpha Max, my brother, was a good man. But his time has gone, this is my time and you must obey me like you did him,” Alpha Jona replied.

“Is everything okay, uncle? I heard you and Mom quarrelling and shouting, what is the matter? Mason asked, interrupting their heated argument.

“Everything is okay, son. I was just leaving. I will speak to you later,” Alpha Jonah said.

“Mom, why was Alpha  Jona shouting at you? Is it because of me or Thomas? Are you okay?” Mason asked. For a boy that has just turned eighteen, there were so many things on his mind. He often wondered why his beloved uncle was so unkind to his mother and especially to his brother, Thomas. 

Venus took her son’s hand. “Mason, please ensure that Sheila does not know that you are a werewolf. If she does, the whole clan would be in danger. It is only the forest that divides both towns.”

Okay, Mother, I will see to it right away,” Mason said.

His mother, Venus, had always been his guide, his anchor. She had told him he was a Lycan, but never explained what that truly meant. Mason had always thought it was just another word for werewolf, but there was a gravity in her tone that suggested otherwise. 

Venus was a formidable woman, wise and strong, but even she could be wrong sometimes, he reminded himself. He pushed these thoughts aside as he approached Sheila's apartment, the place where he always found solace, his lover’s nest.

Sheila greeted him. Sheila looked up from her book, her eyes lighting up when she saw him. She had a way of making everything seem right, of calming the storm within him. As he crossed the room to her, she put down her book and stood, wrapping her arms around him.

"You're trembling," she whispered, her voice filled with concern as she spoke.

Mason held her tight, burying his face in her hair. "I needed to see you," he said, his voice muffled.

“Is that why you’re trembling, Mason?” Sheila asked.

“I don’t know, these days I don’t know anything,” Mason replied.

“What is troubling you?” Sheila asked.

“A lot of things I cannot seem to explain,” Mason replied.

Sheila placed her palm on his cheek. “You left in a hurry, earlier on. I couldn’t catch up.”

They stood there for a moment, just holding each other before Sheila gently pulled away. "Let's sit by the fire," she suggested, guiding him to the sofa. They sat in silence for a while, the crackling of the fire from the chimney, the only sound in the room.

Mason's mind raced back to the events of the evening. He had witnessed a fierce argument between his mother and his uncle, Alpha Jona. The tension in the air had been noticeable, and the words exchanged had been sharp and hurtful. He didn't know the details, but he knew it had something to do with him and with his destiny.

Sheila seemed to sense his state. She took his hand in hers and looked into his eyes. "Mason, there's something you need to know," she began, her voice steady and calm. "I know you're a werewolf."

Mason's heart skipped a beat. "You... you know?" he stammered.

Sheila nodded. "I've known you for a while now and I saw you this morning. I am quite sure you were transforming this morning, but I didn't want to say anything until you were ready to tell me."

Mason was at a loss for words. He had feared this moment, but now that it was here, he felt a strange sense of relief. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Sheila squeezed his hand. "It's okay. I understand why you didn't. But there's more you need to know. You're not just any werewolf. You're a Lycan."

The word hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning. Mason frowned. "How did you know I was a Lycan? My mother told me that, but I don't know what it means."

Sheila took a deep breath. "A Lycan is the most powerful of the werewolf clans. Unlike regular werewolves, who transform only during the full moon, Lycans can transform at will. They are the leaders, the protectors of their kind. It's a great responsibility, Mason."

Mason felt a chill run down his spine. The weight of her words settled on him like a cloak. "Why didn't my mother tell me this?" he wondered aloud. “And you know all that?”

"Maybe she was trying to protect you," Sheila suggested. "Or maybe she wanted you to discover your own path." turning back to get a book on the table, Sheila gave the book to Mason, “Here, I read some of that, but trust me, I know a lot about Werewolf, especially those of you from DownTown. I knew you were not humans.”

Mason nodded