Antione
Smoke filled his lungs, and the world refused to stay still as Antione groggily pushed himself up, looking around in desperation as events replayed in his mind. Bruno was trying to confront a giant cat on top of my car, and… A groan near his left distracted him from his thoughts as Antione turned instinctively… and immediately began crawling forward, giving a burning shelf a wide berth as Bernard groaned again.
The scent of blood met his nostrils, but Bernard was thankfully unharmed when he reached him. He didn’t know if it was luck or distance that saved them from the worst of it, but he was grateful all the same. He shook his brother’s shoulder, grinning like a fool as the other boy finally looked at him.
“What… happened?”
Antione shook his head. “I don’t know. Lighting struck the cat thing. Twice. Thought that wasn’t supposed to happen?”
“It’s not impossible…” Bernard began, wincing as he sat up and leaned against Antione for a moment. “The shop is on fire.”
“Yeah, probably from the lighting.” Antione would have let Bernard lean against him longer, but his brother’s next question quickly drove that away. “What happened to the others?”
“I…” He shook his head and looked around again. Despite the heavy stench, most of the shop was unharmed. The worst damage came from the now-broken window and several tongues of flame leaping from what used to be his car and reaching into the shop. But there was no sign of Longnose, Bruno, or Rose.
Did they leave to confront that creature? But why would they leave us behind? Antione knew Longnose cared about him and his siblings. But not seeing the older Alpha was almost worse than finding he’d been beaten to a pulp. He didn’t know what Longnose’s ability was. The older Alpha didn’t talk about it.
But he knew Bruno wasn’t the type to stand by and do nothing during a fight, especially when it involved Longnose. Bernard rose, swaying as Antione moved to steady him, only to be gently pushed aside as Bernard said. “We need to look for them. We need to leave. The police and firefighters will investigate. We–”
“Antione?”
Both boys froze as the shop door fell apart at a woman’s feet. A woman wearing a thick black leather coat over a pair of blue jeans that flared at the ankle, a white sweater, and short-heeled ankle boots.
A woman with long black hair and eyes so blue they glowed as they met his, and a relieved smile pierced the smoky air as she threw herself at him, hugging him close as Bernard stared at them in confusion. He wasn’t the only one, but the only thing Antione could think to say was, “Mom?”
“It’s me, baby. It’s me. Where have you been? I told you to come home. Do you have any idea how scared I was?!” She pulled back slightly, looking him over like she used to do when he was small, and sighed… only to finally notice they weren’t alone. “Oh, hello, dear.”
Bernard waved, looking between them before saying, “Hello, ma’am.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No, ma’am.”
Antione waited for one of them to start talking normally, but his mother only smiled and lightly tapped Bernard’s forehead. “I think you should get some rest, dear.”
Bernard’s eyes closed instantly as he fell, but Theresa caught him before he could hit the ground, making Antione blink in shock. He didn’t see her move. His mother had been everywhere when Antione was growing up, but this speed… this power… It wasn’t something he could ignore.
Not after everything that’s happened.
“I can’t tell you that without your mother present. I’m sorry, but we need to have that talk with her.”
“Maybe your mom’s a werewolf?”
“I doubt it. She hates dogs.”
Antione stepped back as Theresa turned to him with a calm that he hoped was real because he was anything but that as he stared at her.
“Mom?”
“Everything will be alright, dear.” She lifted Bernard onto her shoulder and held out her hand for him to take, just like she used to do whenever they crossed a street when he was little. He didn’t take it.
He couldn’t. Why didn’t I pay better attention? Mom was furious with Robert when he brought me home, and he… He was scared of her. What can make an Alpha werewolf scared? Antione wasn’t sure he wanted to find out, but he couldn’t leave. He doubted his mother would hurt Bernard.
She wasn’t a violent person. Theresa liked to keep to herself but didn’t complain when Antione asked her to help at school bake sales or let his friends come over. She was always there when he needed her, and… And she’s not human! But she was still his mother. Antione didn’t want to even think about fighting her.
It went against everything he’d been taught. Men don’t hit women unless they try to kill them. That was drilled into him by his uncle the first time Antione had gotten into a fight with another kid. He didn’t remember what started it, but he was the one who finished it, and it was Theresa and Uncle Abe who comforted him when everything was done.
He’d known her his entire life, and yet he didn’t. Even his inner wolf was confused over what they should do. Antione had to come up with a plan, but Theresa’s sigh let him know that he was out of time.
“We don’t have time for this. Come here.”
“What about Longnose, Bruno, and Rose? We can’t leave them.” Antione winced at the whine in his voice, but he didn’t care. His mother was staring at him, slowly growing exasperated as she asked.
“Are they the ones you were with?”
“Yes. They should have been near the door. Did you…” Antione’s voice trailed off as he swallowed. Did she what? Did she hurt them? Why would she? How… He swallowed again and asked. “Mom?”
“What is it now?”
“How did you get here?”
“The same way I’m going to get you out. Now stop standing there and come with me.”
And he did. Antoine’s legs propelled him forward before he could question her again. Her hand wrapped around his, and… they walked out of the shop as if everything was fine. The heat from the fire was worse once they stepped outside, but a breeze was already moving the worst of the smoke away.
Antione could hear the faint sound of sirens approaching, but if Theresa was concerned, she gave no sign. She simply adjusted Bernard on her shoulder and continued walking, forcing Antione to keep up with her as the two went down several streets before stopping outside a park.
“This will do,” Theresa said as she carefully placed Bernard on a bench.
“What are you doing?” Why is she acting like this? I can’t leave Bernard here.
Theresa sighed, stood so she blocked Bernard from view, and placed her free hand on Antione’s shoulder. He tried to move, but his body refused to obey as she held him in place.
“I need you to listen to me.”
“I am, but–”
“Antione!” He winced, feeling as if she had just shouted into his ear, yet he knew she was still speaking in a normal tone.
It reminded him of the first time he made Robert angry. Antione didn’t like how readily Robert was willing to use the Alpha command on him, but this somehow felt worse. His mother wasn’t hurting him. Not really. But her method felt worse because of that. She was his mother, and she’d already proved she didn’t need to do much to get him to obey.
At least with Robert’s will choking him, he felt like he had a chance to fight back. But this… this was domination without violence. It was absolute. Unbeatable to the point that he couldn’t do anything else. And it scared him. Antione shivered as he looked at his mother, hoping for some shred of familiar warmth he’d always felt from her.
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
Antione held his breath as she continued staring at him, studying him like a puzzle before slowly relaxing and hugging him.
“I’m sorry, too. I’m so sorry. I tried to warn you, Antione. I tired… I never wanted it to come to this. Never!” She was crying then. And it no longer mattered what she was. This was his mother, and Antione couldn’t stand hearing her cry. It was the worst thing in the world.
It didn’t occur to him to do anything more than hug her back. It didn’t matter that he could move again. All he wanted was to make her tears stop.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” he repeated.
“I know.” She didn’t apologize again, but her arms tightened as her breathing slowed until she sighed. “This isn’t how I wanted it. You were supposed to grow up happy and healthy. That’s all I ever wanted for you.”
“I can still do that. I’m happy and healthy enough… when I’m not being attacked by zombies, I mean.”
A short laugh puffed past his ear, making him smile as she continued. “I don’t think I’ll ever forgive your father for that. He swore he’d keep you safe. All of you were supposed to be safe. I swear if Robert hadn’t killed that worthless mutt. I’d…”
“You mean Jean-Claude?”
He winced as her grip tightened but relaxed immediately as she straightened. “Let’s stop speaking about him. He’s gone. We need to focus on ourselves now.”
“What about Bernard? We can’t leave him alone.”
“He’s not alone. The three that were with you are inside the park. They should be waking up in a few minutes. He’ll be fine.”
“Can’t we wait for them, then? We’re all on the same side, aren’t we?” Haven’t we always been on the same side? When did I start thinking about things like that?
Theresa shook her head. “They mean well. But all of you are taking a huge risk. I can’t stop them from risking their lives. But you, Antione. I can stop you. I can help you. You’re my son. My world. I can keep you safe, even if the world burns… You. Will. Survive!”
He shuddered, but Theresa either didn’t notice or didn’t think it was important enough to comment on as she cradled his face. “I love you, Antione. You do know that, don’t you?”
“Yeah, Mom. I love you, too, but–”
“Hush. It doesn’t matter. Nothing will happen to your brother or your friends tonight. You have my word. But this… problem… It isn’t yours to handle, son. You need to come back home where you’ll be safe.”
“What about Robert? Can’t you help him, too?”
Antione regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth, but it was too late. His mother’s eyes grew cold as she slowly shook her head. “Your father got himself into this mess. He can get himself out of it. He hasn’t been my concern for some time–”
“But you still care about him, right? You must have loved him once. Because you kept me and let him take on that family bonding trip!”
She snorted. “I’m afraid it’s not that simple. I let him take you that day because I thought it was the best thing for you. You deserve a chance to know your family, and I couldn’t ignore the possibility of you being a werewolf.”
“What about…” What are you?
Theresa smiled sadly and kissed his forehead. “My boy… my poor, dear boy… If you were… like me. I’d still have let him bring you. A parent’s duty is to protect and guide their children. Robert has constantly disappointed me, but I won’t fail you… Go to sleep now.”
Antione tried to resist, but he was once again engulfed in darkness for the second time that night before he could protest.