"Catherine, I love you more than anything in this life. It's been a while I told you this." Alpha said, looking into Catherine's eyes lovingly. He loved how beautiful she looked on the satin dress she was putting on.
"I love you too and I am sorry I had focused more on building back the city than you."
"I understand. You have changed me. I know that. I know how arrogant I was before but now I've found more friendship in and it's all thanks to you, You helped me with that and I can't be more greatful" Alpha smiled.
"I have learned so much from you too. I was afraid of everything before but now I think I'll want to do more, with you and I wouldn't have to be scared anymore because you got my back".
"Are you sure?" He said.
"Yes, and I'm serious about it. Only that after the imprisonment thing, I became more inward. Like I don't want to talk much about anything with anyone again. It made me want to be alone but not from you. I mean it." She hugged him and he hugged her back.
"We've all lost lots of things. Loved ones and more. It was after the death of my mother I became numb and then arrogance set it." He smiled.
"I met Damien before then but even when I became a brat he wouldn't stay away from me. I guess somehow he was to be my brother but my parents never thought of having another child."
They both laughed.
"By the way, he's older than me. Two years gap. I knew that since we were kids. I think I was always nosy like Tina."
"Ah, Tina!" They both laughed.
"Yeah, Tina because I was a talkative child."
"You are still talkative now Alpha." She said smiling.
"I doubt that. Possibly but not like when I was a kid. Damien would always be there whenever I got into trouble. He's still like that now. He's the older brother I never had".
"He's good. Sarah, I've missed her. I think something is eating her up but she's not telling me."
"Perhaps, it's because you've been quiet lately too. Maybe she doesn't want to disturb you as you also didn't want to open up so she decided to stay quiet too.
"Perhaps. Lots of stuff that bonded us back then weren't there again."
"Books?"
"Yeah. Novels and science. Researching things too. You know I just drifted away from everything. I think my new growth is taking me somewhere different."
"Are you going to stop being friends with her?" He asked.
"Not that. We'll be friends but we need to redefine things. It's hard trying to connect what is not connecting. The only time we bonded for some time now was in that prison when we communicated with our eyes. That bond was real."
"Hmm, that's amazing. I want to bond more with you too. I want her bond to be stronger. When I was dying from that poison, I always think of you. I think of the first day I found you a worthy mate. I never knew you weren't a she-wolf then. I never really knew your dad wasn't a werewolf too. You know your sister always behaves like one. She's hyperactive."
"Hmm," she sighed.
"She's your twin sister, right?"
"Yeah. Though we grew apart. We never really related. I don't think we've spoken for two hours before."
"That's weird."
"I was with aunty Jenn."
"Hmm, Jenn."
"My aunty happened to all of us. I still miss her so much." She said and looked up at the sky. They sat on the balcony close to Alpha's window. It's at night and the stars were out.
"Sam became a strong man from timidity." Alpha smiled.
"Yeah, I love his transition."
"He became really brave. Sometimes I see him as the Alpha. Sam, my man anytime."
"He's really kind too. Very inquisitive. We did lots of shitty science together." She smiled.
"I wonder sometimes what I can do to make everything better for once and stop trying to connect them every time."
"Think about it. What about music?"
"Which one?"
"John Lennon's." She looked into his eyes.
"I can be your hero baby…" he sang in a sing-song tone and kissed her.
"Elle, you came into my world and you made me a flower." She smiled.
"I was a thorn before but you made me a rosy flower. I have never dreamt of the day I'll be with a woman and she'll care for me like you are doing. Elle, let me be your hero."
"Hmm. Would you dance if I asked you to dance?" She smiled.
"I'll over dance if you make me your hero, baby?"
"Sure, you are my hero. I came here because the first time I saw you I was infatuated with you but then everything turned right. You are my hero."
"So I can start dancing now?" He laughed.
"Yeah, yeah. Dance." She giggled and rested on his chest.
"Yeah, I'll dance for you, my love. I love you more than anything in this life."
"So sweet. I love you too."
"Now, would you tremble if I touch your lips?"
"Yeah yeah."
"You don't mean it. I want to see that."
"You are amazing, Sam. Your love for knowledge was part of what bonded us."
"I wish us a stronger bond."
"Would you save my soul tonight?"
"Sure sweety."
"Play me Lennon's"
"Right away."
***
"Hello, Christoph."
"Damien, what's a good man?"
"I'm fine, sir."
"Today that you came to visit again, we have chicken in the oven. You'll wait to have some wings.
"Alright. I'll."
"That's good." He put his pipe in his mouth.
"While I wait for the wings, where is your grandson?"
"Oh, him. He's down there in the pen reading poetry. That's all he does."
"Alright. I need to see him."
"Alright. Over there" he pointed at the pen.
When Damien got there, he found him seated on a mat reading.
"Whose is that?" Damien asked. The boy didn't turn to look, he just responded.
"James Baldwin. Titled Amen."
"Alright. Can I have a seat?"
"Sure. Feel free."
"How are you doing?"
"I'm good. You?"
"Pretty much fine too. I came to say sorry to you. I have been through a lot recently. Some of these you know. I was told we read poems together and also have plans to write books together, but I can't remember any of these. And I couldn't connect to it but I'm sorry. I just think I should stop by to let you know I'm sorry."
"It's fine. We all have our epiphanic moments. I always wish you the best. But poetry was good for you. I still think it'll be good for you."
"Alright, so I should start reading it?"
"Yeah. I can bring you back your books if you want them."
"They are yours now. I won't want any of them back."
"Thank you. Should I read you another one of his poems?"
"Please do."
"Alright. He then began.
"Wow! This is amazing." Damien exclaimed after he was done.
"Yeah, it is. Though that's not the end of the poem. It's longer. Just want you to have a feel of it. Baldwin died at 63. We werewolves leave longer than that."
"You are right. But I have a question."
"Please ask?"
"Back then was I really that good at this?"
"You were the best. You were my teacher." He said and his eyes glowed.
"Oh,"
"Yeah. We read chapbooks and other collections. There was a time we read this Gaelic poet. What's her name again? I have forgotten. It was an elegy she wrote. Later you recited it in your trance."
"Oh. Do you think I can do it again?"
"Why not. We all learn things we don't know starting from somewhere. When you were a poet, I saw the happiness in your eyes even though back then you seemed weird and out of place too."
"I see. I want to give this poetry of a thing a chance again."
"I'm glad already. You were the best back then and you are still the best."
"Thank you for your words. They are encouraging."
"Let's read one more poem, right?"
"Yes."
.******"
"Hmm! I'll embrace this poetry again. I'm giving it a chance. Thank you."
"You are welcome."
"Folks, the chicken is done. Damien, I told you you are gonna wings."
"Yeah. I'm coming."
"Awesome. My homies are waiting for you. You know, Damien, this is the first time you are eating here. It means so much to me."
"Thank you, sir."
*********
Forensic lab
"Sarah, these bones have bruise marks on them. What do you think?"
"It's not really what you see. "
"Why?"
"The child died 300 years before the 6th century." Sarah
"But, Sarah, I wouldn't say that. Look at the lines, they call it the Harris line. Evidence of malnutrition."
"That is not it Elizabeth," said Sarah. "Teeth don't carry Harris lines. Harris lines are typically considered to manifest in tibiae. These are some forms of enamel hypoplasia. Seen this before?"
"You asked me to always challenge you. I think your age estimation is off as well. These teeth can't be those of a two-year-old."
"Elizabeth, enamel hypoplasia is correct -harris lines are on bones ... I think you need to do a little research and reading on these -but this pathology is as extreme as I have ever seen for LEHs."
"Okay," Elizabeth said.
"You see, we could use this to piece the puzzle together. Harris' lines can also fade. Go away after bone growth and development while LEH is permanent. I discovered this in my radiographs from my childhood growing up in Figma p."
"Hmm!" Elizabeth sighed but Sarah continued to explain.
"Severe malnutrition. And for a very specific period that alleviated. There looks to be normal dentition above and below. Bad harvest year? There should be some on the 1 sts somewhere as well. Besides, maybe other osseous signs."
"I'm getting lost."
"Let me make it easy then or we should discuss this later?"
"Let's discuss it later."
"Alright and you are really learning fast. This takes years to master you but is here doing them effortlessly."
"Oh, thank you."
"I noticed you miss your dad, right?"
"I miss him a lot."
"Sorry about your loss. I missed my mum too."
"Parents are light."
", You are right. I miss my father."
"I saw an interesting article, I'll share it with you."
"Alright."