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Family Secrets and Good Grief

I said, “I need to tell you something, I did meet someone.” We reached the cemetery and she shut the truck off. She asked, “Is that why you were late?” I said, “Yes, we met on the highway of all places, but he is the most attractive man I have ever met.” She just stared at me, very quiet. She said, “Did you fuck him!” I pushed her shoulder and said “Yes, I did!” and jumped out of the truck. She jumped out after me and we started unloading the shovels, and she said “Are you shitting me Karina! What if he is some creep!” I said, “He is not a creep, I know a lot about him and he is coming here later to meet you and help with the cemetery.” She said “Oh, well thanks for telling me and that’s why you smell!” I said, “I am very drawn to him, and he is me. I don’t know where it will go but we both want to see how it goes. He owns his own company which is so different than anyone else who hits on me!” She said, “Well yeah, you are the successful one of us all.” She said, “Would he be willing to drink with us tonight or is he a pussy?” I said, “He is not a pussy and will definitely drink with us.” I said he said “He knows of Codger and I assume through the company he owns. He said they come through here sometimes.” Charise said, “Well Christopher is back and plans to plans to see us tomorrow.” I said “Well let’s get busy with this then.” The cemetery had about 80 stones or so and I started with the weed eater in the back. Grass didn’t really grown in the cemetery but weeds would take over by the woods. Charise motioned for me to weed eat by the church first so she could open the door to get out our chairs. We both walked in and the old musty wood smell hit our noses. This church was beautiful and unique as it had stained glass on the side windows of angels and wolves. The windows were boarded up from the outside but the windows were intact. My father told me stories of our family’s history and believing in the power of wolves and even in our blood line. When I was taking classes learning labs and studying blood cultures, we had to examine our own blood. I took a sample of my blood but had to hide it. I asked a friend of mine to give me a sample of hers because my blood was so unique, I didn’t want to draw attention to myself in the class. I called my father immediately and he surprised me and said yes, we have a unique, special bloodline that needs to be protected. My father told me he would talk to me one day about our bloodline because there were important things I needed to know and then he died. I never got to have that conversation.

I finished weed eating and started to get the cleaner out to spray down the stones. I learned a certain chemical mix as a biochemist to clean stones that wouldn’t damage them. You spray it once and wait one minute and brush off the debris and they are bright and readable. I sprayed down one row at a time. After working for two hours, Charise and I took a break. She got out the chairs and I got out the cooler. It was a nice spring day with a slight wind, but we had worked up a sweat. I grabbed a couple of wine coolers and we sat down. She said, “You didn’t go to father’s grave yet.” I said, I know I will, he is last. Mind your business.” Charise said, “You know, I know what he wanted to talk to you about.” I said, “You know it was about our bloodline? I have learned more about it.” Charise rolled her eyes and said “Yes Sherlock, dear father had us protect you once mother died. You were so much younger and he wanted you to have a normal life, but here you show up smelling like dog and its happening anyway. Who knew!” I chugged my wine cooler and threw it on the ground. I stood up and said “What?” She stood up and said “You were always the smart one but you don’t put simple things together do you? We are werewolve’s sis!” As shocking as that would be to anyone, I wasn't surprised. My life made sense and I knew Charise wasn't joking. I said sarcastically, “So that is why I smell like a dog?” Charise laughed hysterically and said “No honey you fucked one!” I walked over to father’s grave and dropped to my knees. My mother died when I was very young, and they never recovered her body. My father grieved for my mother and I looked just like her. I knew deep down Charise was right, he protected me. What Charise didn’t know was that I had a lab built to study my blood line, to keep it protected and away from the public. I knew more than she thought I did. I know our cells can change and respond to stimuli, we are resistant to disease and don’t age as fast. I wasn’t sure if we would be called humans or not but our blood is definitely not the same. The difference made me fearful and I studied my children’s blood as well. Two of my children had the same bloodline and the other two had it slightly but were more like my husband’s. Those of us with it are definitely more tenacious, aggressive, and independent but what did she say about Lucian? She is right, I didn’t connect it, I was in LaLa land the last two days. My husband was human, and he would make comments on how different I was but how he loved it. Lucian has to be like us! That makes sense and why we were so attracted to each other.

My mother’s name was on the stone beside my fathers to honor her memory, but her body wasn’t there, and I used to say to my father, “I can’t feel her here” and he would just kiss my head and hug me. I looked at Charise, with a tear in my eye and said “Do we turn into werewolves? How does that work?” Charise came and sat down by me and said “If you pay attention, all of your senses are heightened, and you can use that to your advantage. We don’t turn into dogs necessarily, but we do turn into hybrid human wolves. You did once when you were little, and it happens when you get too angry or emotional. I would say it’s why you don’t allow yourself to lose control, deep down you know. Me, I let it fly bitch.” I said, “He is coming here. I’m not sure what to say or do.” Charise twisted my hair playfully and said “Well, I know he knows what he is and he knows what you are! I’m sure he has picked up by now that you are clueless. You are the most wholesome person I know and father did a good job keeping you that way. You had a good life with Grant, you got most of your kids raised. It’s now time for you, sis. What I’m interested in is what clan he is from. We don’t have rivals anymore but lots of history with different clans. I’ve messed around with some of them. I can’t date humans, their dumb.” She laughed and helped me up. I looked up and heard him coming. Charise grabbed my hand and said “Believe it or not you heard and felt him before I did and I’m your older and wiser sister! You see you have it.” I looked at her and said “How do I look, she went to the cooler and said “You need another drink, girl! Then proceeded to laugh hysterically. “I looked at her and said “Get out the good stuff!” She looked at me and said “Well there she is! That’s my girl! You would look good in a gunny sack, don’t fret. He could care less, trust me. I just hope I don’t know him!”

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