Welcome to Adams Town

I lay on my bed, lost in thought, thinking about Harold.

Given all that had happened, I began to suspect that my father might be a werewolf as well. The puzzle pieces started to fit—connecting the dots between the werewolf attack, the information Annie had provided, and the hints I had uncovered. Yet, the idea that Harold could be a werewolf, like me, was difficult to accept. My mother’s portrait in the gathering room, surrounded by wolves, suggested that if Harold could transform, she might have had the ability too. This brought a new clarity to the circumstances of her death back home. I couldn’t help but wonder if she had been killed by the very monsters, she may have been a part of.

Everything that had unfolded made me believe my parents had always known the true nature of Adams Town. But the reason they kept it a secret remains a mystery to me; reasons that slowly are revealing themselves to me.

My conversation with Mel in the middle of the forest only deepened my skepticism. She mentioned that to transform into a white werewolf, as I did, one must possess primal blood, meaning they have to be born a werewolf, not created by a bite or infection. If that’s true, then my lineage is not a coincidence; it’s a birthright.

My father wasn’t simply kidnapped; he fought his captor. The signs of struggle in the kitchen, and the blood trailing to the porch, all pointed to a violent confrontation. I couldn’t ignore the possibility that Harold had battled with a werewolf, or something even worse. According to what Mel told me, if werewolves lose control in a fit of rage, their humanity slips away, and the beast takes full control. It’s a terrifying thought, but one I couldn’t push away.

As I remained lost in thought, I heard faint footsteps approaching the door to my room.

"Thinking a lot, I see," Annie said, observing me, leaning against the doorway. "I will resume my duties in the kitchen. I need to start preparing dinner."

"I apologize about breakfast. It wasn’t my intention to, well, vomit it all up."

"There's no need to concern yourself with breakfast, my lord. I'll adjust the sauce on the meat for dinner. It’s possible the spices were too much for your stomach."

"Thank you," I said, then remembered that Derrick and Antolio might return by the time dinner was ready. "Could you please prepare dinner for two additional guests as well?"

She smiled. "Absolutely. Werewolves, I assume? I will make sure the meal suits all of you."

I paused for a moment, reflecting on the gathering room and all the portraits that adorned its walls. Something about them intrigued me; a feeling that there were answers hidden within. "I have some things to sort out in the gathering room. I'll be in the basement for a while if you need me."

Suddenly, the faint sound of a bell resonated through the house. "That's the main entrance’s doorbell," Annie said.

"Could you answer the door? I'll need a minute to change my clothes. I'll join you shortly."

"I will answer it immediately, my lord."

As I stood in front of the mirror, pulling on a new shirt, I felt a strange sensation. If I concentrated, I could clearly hear the sound of Annie’s footsteps as she approached the door and even the subtle click when she touched the doorknob. My senses had become so heightened that I could perceive distant sounds with perfect clarity, even from across the house.

"Hello, welcome to the Reinhart estate," Annie said politely as she opened the door. "May I inquire about the purpose of your visit?"

As she spoke, a familiar scent quickly filled the room—the delicate fragrance of lavender that I had come to associate with Mel.

"Oh, he has a servant now?" Mel said, clearly surprised by the presence of Annie on the estate.

"Mr. Reinhart doesn't see me as just a servant."

I could practically feel the friction between them, especially from Mel, whose sudden irritation was clear in her tone. The hostility was evident, and it was only intensifying with each word they exchanged.

"If you are not his servant, then what are you? His entertainment?"

From my room, I heard the conversation as clearly as if I were standing beside them. Mel’s displeasure was obvious, and the confrontation was escalating. Realizing I needed to intervene and defuse the situation before it spiraled further, I quickly made my way toward the front door.

"He doesn't need a servant. Tobias can take care of himself. And how old are you?" Mel asked.

"My age does not concern you, madam," Annie responded politely.

"Let me guess...thirteen?"

I gripped the doorknob, prepared to dismiss Mel for her unexpected visit and her rude behavior. But as I looked at her, something stopped me. There was something in her eyes, that made me hesitate.

"Hello, Mel."

Mel's expression hardened, and her words carried a sharp edge. "You must be training your new dog to do tricks for you," she said, avoiding eye contact.

I didn’t appreciate Mel’s disrespectful tone, especially toward Annie, who had been nothing but helpful since she arrived. "You disrespect another member of this house like that again, and I will make sure you never knock on this door again. Understood?"

Mel frowned. "Really?"

"Understood?"

She sighed and paused, before relenting. "Fine."

Though she had backed down, I could see the resentment still simmering beneath the surface. But for now, the point had been made. I nodded slightly, satisfied that she had understood. "Good. Now, let’s keep things respectful."

"My Lord, I should remind you that any unofficial contact or activity with outside clan members can be interpreted as manipulative. Visits and interactions need to be scheduled through the proper channels to maintain diplomatic relations," Annie said.

I nodded, understanding her concern. "You don't need to worry about our conversation, Annie. You can tend to your duties now; I'll handle this."

"As you wish, my lord," Annie said, retreating into the house.

Mel crosses her arms, visibly frustrated. "Annie?"

I felt a mix of emotions as I observed Mel's behavior. Her hostility and rudeness toward Annie were puzzling and seemed unprovoked. There was no valid reason for such an attitude; instead, her actions felt more like those of a jealous child than a composed, professional member of the hunter's clan she was destined to become.

"Please, keep it brief. I have matters to attend to."

As Mel spoke, I caught a familiar scent in the air—a distinct, nauseating smell that immediately drew my attention. It was the same scent I had encountered when I first crossed paths with Utica.

"Chief Harrow will personally address last night's incident. The inquisitor will accompany him, you have three hours to prepare." Mel said as I noticed her tone of voice changed to a more professional endeavor.

"Who is Chief Harrow, if you don’t mind me asking?"

"He’s the leader of the Hunter clan in Adams Town and the current governor. The Inquisitor, on the other hand, oversees law enforcement, including the tracker and Enforcer teams."

I pause for a moment, surprised by the unexpected news. "Thank you for the information, Mel. I will make the necessary arrangements." I said, trying to maintain composure as I closed the door behind me. The visit of Chief Harrow and the inquisitor is earlier than anticipated, creating a sudden shift in my plans. I hope Derrick and Antolio can locate Dylan and his pack before their arrival.

"Tobias?"

My frustration with Mel’s persistence had peaked, and the sound of her rapid knocking, followed by a forceful kick at the door, echoed down the hallway. I could hear her voice still laced with anger, demanding my attention.

"Tobias, open the door!"

Growing irritated by her stubbornness, I grip the doorknob with more force than intended, causing the door to crack and splinter under pressure.

"Shit."

I felt the beast inside me clawing its way to the surface, my nails lengthening as the surge of anger flooded every part of me. I pushed the damaged door aside and fixed my gaze on Mel, as my irritation flared at her persistent and erratic behavior.

"What is wrong with you?" she shouted, stepping closer. "I’m trying to help you, and all I get is a door slammed in my face?"

But before I could respond, something changed in her. Mel’s anger quickly dissipated, replaced by a look of shock. She takes a few steps back, her eyes fixed on something within me, something that I'm unaware of.

"What is it?"

"Tobias, your eyes," Mel said, staring at my face. "They are bright red."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself and regain control. My heart pounded fiercely as I wrestled with the beast clawing to break free. Mel approached slowly, touching my hands. "I'm sorry. I just realized how I was acting. Please, calm down."

I find her serene tone of voice soothing, gradually easing the intensity of my emotions. At the touch of her hand, the rattled beast sinks back inside the darkness of my heart. "I came to help you, and maybe, finish that history lesson I owe you."

I sighed, as the tension in my body eased, regaining control of my emotions. But her presence, her kindness, brought a new concern to mind. "And Utica? If she finds out you came to visit me, it won’t end well for either of us."

"She won’t. Utica’s on a mission. She won’t be back at the barracks until tonight."

Utica's scent remains vivid around Mel. I slowly untwined my hand from hers, feeling the tension build within me. I knew that if we crossed a line, it could bring more trouble than either of us was prepared for. I hesitated, torn between wanting to trust her and fearing the consequences of Utica discovering us together.

"Please leave, before she finds out you came here. Her scent is all over you, and it’s not one I’m a fan of."

Reluctantly, I allowed her to take my hand once again. "She won't, I promise."

Before inviting her in, I wanted to be sure that Mel wouldn’t start another argument, especially with Annie. "Promise me, if I invite you inside the house, you will be polite to everyone, including Annie."

Mel nodded. "It won't be a problem."

I stepped aside from the entrance and extended my hand to her. "Let's meet in the gathering room," I said.

Mel followed me inside, and as we walked, her eyes drifted to the broken door. "You might want to call the Restoration Team to fix that door."

I turned around facing towards the hallway that leads to the dining room. "Annie!"

"Cute name," Mel said. "But she can be a real bitch."

"You call, my lord?"

"Do you have a way to contact the restitution team to fix the front door?"

"Yes, my lord. I can make the necessary arrangements."

"Thank you, Annie."

Annie smiled and then turned to leave. As she walked away, I hoped the peace between Mel and Annie would hold, at least for the duration of Mel’s visit.