Epilogue???

During the graduation ceremony, Zoe walked up to Bret and introduced him to her man. The way she spoke about him filled him with pride. The man looked very concerned. He was aware of the importance of Bret in Zoe’s life. He was sizing up Bret.

Ordinarily, Bret would shy away from such a sizing up. However, this time, he stood his ground. He chatted. Joked about. Even tried to learn a thing or two from the man who was holding on very protectively to Zoe… despite her protest.

Bret felt the insecurity. He felt that the man, albeit older, was not more than he was. In the pecking order of masculinity, for the first time, Bret felt he was the dominant man. He was the alpha male. He was the powerhouse.

The boyfriend’s discomfort was not out of fear really. It was out of unfamiliarity. He was accustomed to being the top dog. He was used to having others cower before him. He now was proudly ready to show off his lady and was confronted with the reality that another was more than capable of taking her from him.

Yet, the boyfriend was confused. The normal testosterone fueled dual was not happening. Zoe was keenly aware of this too. Try as she could, she couldn’t help but blush.

Her knight of steel, her protector, was really every bit as tough as she knew he was. And she was pleased that he was starting to know it for himself. Zoe had no way of knowing that this very slight glimpse into his power would take a while to mature. However, she saw it. She understood it.

The raw confident power blazing out of Bret’s eyes was making her insanely wet once again. Unlike prior times, she was also very aware that Bret was aware. Granted, not sure why, but aware. Bret understood that he was sensing things well in advance of his understanding, but he was loving it.

For the first time, his primal nature was awake. He knew that once he understood his powers, he would reign as king in his tribe.

As their chat ended, the boyfriend made a quick and hasty exit. Bret stood his ground watching and taking notes. Zoe turned twice, during the retreat, and the look on her face confirmed the gut feeling he was starting to better understand. While she was happy with her man, her man was not perfectly hers. Bret was the perfect one.

As the boyfriend looked back one last time, Bret noted with curiosity that the inside lining of the suit jacket was covered with the imprint of that white ladder from years back. Some weird electricity seemed to flash between space and across time. Bret recognized that hand movement. The boyfriend was starting to experience the tummy pain he had once experienced many years ago.

The school principal was also walking in their direction. He too looked like he was in pain, that tummy pain. Bret shook his head. They must have something yet to learn. He was beyond it. He was fine.

As he turned to leave, some lady handed him an envelope. He looked it over. On the stamp was that ladder. That white wooden ladder. The one that started it all.

Instead of pain, this time he felt awash in a weird sense of power. Opening the envelope, there was a note. The imprinted image was of that same white ladder.

The note read:

“You’re about to unlock a whole new world of opportunity and learnings. Don’t waste any of it”

Weird Bret thought to himself in Zoe’s voice.

Yeah. Weird.

Checking his tummy, it felt fine. It felt strong. Bret put the letter away in his suit jacket. As he rejoined his family to finish celebrating, he was aware for the very first time in his life… how some of the women were feeling in his surrounding. Something was different. Something had shifted. He was seeing degrees of arousal in others he never once seen before.

It would be a long long time before Bret would uncover the secrets of what he was now able to sense. For now, he had a sense that his set of memories was now a distinct thing of the past.

On a roof top

She looked down on the audience. Bret had learned enough. Her messing with his head was done for now. He had grown. He had seen and tasted his powers. Her job was done for the time being. No more messing with his dreams.

She just was kicking herself for having to pretend to be a boy to get his attention. Now she would just have to patiently wait for another moment to show up in his life and guide him along his growth.

No one in his life was showing him the ropes. And this was hurting her. This was a total sad waste of unique power. Few mortals were trusted with this power.

She had time. Plenty of time. The next time they would meet, she’d let him see a different side of her. The sass. The venom. The attitude. The cranky. If he passed, she then would get to show him the wonders, the comfort, the peace that he deserved.

She really hated having to do this to him, but she didn’t have any other way. There were no alpha males in this king’s life to guide him. She was not versed in the ways of the leading male wolf. She just hoped he was smart enough to not let too many years go by before he uncovered his gift.

to be continued or concluded…

the end?

the promised links…