"Lucius, I don't feel good," Faline says some years later. She's now what they estimate at eighteen years of age.
Lucius immediately pays full attention to her. He's at work and it's rare for Faline to call him there. She knows that he doesn't like to be interrupted, although, he's left instructions with his secretary that Faline is to be put through if she ever calls. Like now.
"What's wrong, little one?" He knows that she's not so little any more but she will always be so to him.
"I think I'm starting the change." Faline says holding back her tears.
"I'll be right there." Lucius has known that this was coming and is pleased that it's happening now and not sooner. He just doesn't like the idea of his little one growing up. Soon she'll be wanting to leave him. He doesn't know how he's going to handle that.
The memory of the one time he'd tried to find a mother figure for her pops into mind.
Faline goes into his bedroom and stops short. She looks at the female sharing the bed with him and turns around and leaves.
Lucius hadn't expected her to wake up before him. He jumps out of bed and hurries after her.
"You're late, Lucius. You have a meeting in an hour and you still need to drop me off at school." Faline says her voice controlled but he could detect something in it. He just couldn't tell what.
"My alarm didn't go off. I'll be ready shortly." Lucius assures her.
"Who's the bitch in there with you?"
"Faline, that's no way to speak about someone you don't even know." Lucius chides.
"It's my girlfriend. I thought you might like to have someone as a mother." Lucius tells her.
"She doesn't like me. She wants you and will do everything she can to get me out of your life. She wants your money and power, not your baggage."
"Give her a chance, Faline. You might actually like her." Lucius finds himself more than a little pleading with Faline.
"I'll give her a chance. Far be it for me to keep you from having sex." Faline had said and left to go eat taking her school bag with her.
Lucius goes back into the room and gets ready to go. Within ten minutes he's set. By the time he's done his girlfriend is awake.
"Do you have to go already?" Tia ask petulantly with a pouty look.
"I have an important business meeting. Do you know why my alarm didn't go off?" Lucius demands and she can't ignore the command.
"I turned it off. I wanted you to myself this morning."
"Tia, I have responsibilities and can't just dump them like that." Lucius holds back his temper with difficulty.
"But you would for that bitch of a ward you have, wouldn't you?" Tia says acidically.
Lucius narrows his eyes but otherwise holds his temper. "From the start Faline knew that I have responsibilities that need to take precedence over her at times. You're several times older than her, it's a concept you should be able to grasp." Lucius knows it's a low blow to bring in a lady's age, but she deserves it.
"I have a meeting that could potentially earn a lot of money for me or lose a lot of money. If I lose this deal, Tia, I'll be taking it out of your flesh." Lucius says while smiling at her.
"Faline, means more to me than you ever will, so I suggest you learn how to be nice to her or you'll find yourself back where I found you." Living on the streets, barely able to survive on the blood she is able to hunt. Faline would survive better than Tia was.
"Yes, Lucius." Tia tells him but he can smell her resentment and fears that Faline will have to deal with the fallout. He'll deal with it later he's running late now.
Later that day he goes to check on Faline and finds her with a huge bruise on her face. "What the fuck happened?" He'd demanded.
"You're little girlfriend decided that she wants me gone. When I told her that I wasn't leaving she didn't like it. You might want to take care of her though, she's in far worse shape than I am."
Faline had indeed done far worse damage to Tia. That night Tia was dropped off at the very same spot he'd found her.
Lucius had never bothered to look for a mother for Faline again.
Now he wishes that he had.
He races home and finds Faline in tears on her bedroom floor. "It's alright love. I'll take you to the pack. The females will know how to help you the best." Lucius does his best to calm her and ease her pain even as he gathers her in his arms and heads for the pack.
Once at the pack house the females take Faline and shoo him out. When Faline cries out at that they assure her that he'll be allowed in after they undress her and place a covering over her.
With that Faline nods and Lucius leaves.
Soon after that Lia invites him back in. "She'll be in too much pain to touch. The first transition is the most brutal. After that they hardly even hurt. Talk to her in a soothing voice, let her know you are here and that you care."
Lucius nods his head and sits where Faline can see him. "Faline, I'm here. Look at me." Lucius orders.
Faline turns her head and looks at him. Lucius connects with her eyes and doesn't let go of the visual contact.
"Accept the pain, Faline, you'll still feel it, but it won't own you. You've suffered worse and survived you can do this." Lucius keeps eye contact even as he winces at the sound of her bones breaking and realigning.
Faline whimpers but doesn't howl at the pain. "You're doing great love. You've got this. Show these wolves just what you're made of." Lucius keeps up the dialogue of encouragement and once she's fully changed Faline goes over to him.
She lays her head down on him and nudges his hand. "You want me to pet you?" Lucius asks and she nods. He looks at the females that had stayed with them and they look back at him in shock.
"If the wolf requests that then she'll be fine. Go ahead, but be very gentle, she'll still be in a lot of pain from the change." Lia says softly.
"Do you remember how to change back to your human form?" Lia asks before she follows the other females out.
Faline nods. "Very well. We'll leave you two alone."
"Lia, is there a mirror where Faline can see how beautiful her wolf is?" Lucius asks. Indeed he'd never seen a wolf as beautiful. Her coat is midnight black yet has clusters of silver markings making it look like she is the midnight sky.
Lia smiles at him, "Indeed, she should see how beautiful she looks. I'll have one in the hall for her when you are ready to come out." Lia goes out the door and softly shuts it behind her.
"Do you feel like running with me like this?" Lucius asks after petting Faline for a bit.
The wolf jumps up, excited to go. "Do you have a name?" At the wolf's head shake Lucius continues, "If you like I could name you like I did Faline?"
The wolf thinks about it then nods. Lucius smiles.
"How about Midnight Starlight? We could call you Midnight, Starlight or even Star for short if you like?" Lucius asks as he shows the wolf her form in the mirror.
The wolf turns all around to see herself from different angles. "You're beautiful Star." Lucius says pleased.
The wolf looks up at him and yips.
Lia comes out, "We'll be running the territory together. Would you let the sentries know?" Lucius doesn't want to attack the wolves but he'll kill any that attack Faline.
"I've already let the entire pack know. There shouldn't be any problems." Lia smiles, "There is normally a celebration when a wolf presents itself for the first time. Won't you stay for that?"
Lucius looks to Faline who shakes her head. They've been to many pack celebrations in an attempt to find her mate. Although they are considered a part of the pack, they don't ever feel all that welcome.
"No, we'll be having our own celebration after our run. But if the pack wants to celebrate than by all means go ahead." One thing Lucius has learned over the years, the wolves love to party. They'll find the simplest things to celebrate just to have an excuse to party.
Lucius is thrilled that they want to hold one for Faline, but is even happier that they won't be staying for it. He's also thrilled that they never found her mate. He doesn't think any of the wolves measure up to her.