A Cub!?

Chapter Thirteen

(River's POV)

I drove my truck into the driveway of a familiar medium sized old Victorian house. It was two stories with a gorgeous brick exterior and a subtle cherry wood porch. An apple tree grew to the left of the yard while a flower garden grew to the right, giving you that home-y feeling. Just what I'd expect from Weston's wife, Clara.

I took the three steps of the porch in one bound. I was excited to see how Nyxton would react to meeting Wes and visa versa. I was bordering on antsy too. This introduction could go any way really. There was no telling what Nyxton would do. At least not while he was in the state he was in right now. Good thing Wes is a former military soldier. He'll be somewhat capable of handling himself. Well... as much as anyone could going up against Nyxton.

Knocking on the door, I called out to Weston. "Yo bro, you ready to go?"

Clara opened the door to let me inside. "Wes is just upstairs getting Jace dressed to go. He'll be down in a moment. Why don't you come have a fresh muffin I've made."

There was no way I was going to miss out on one of Clara's famous cream filled cinnamon banana nut muffins. They were like gold. No one ever wanted to share and everyone struggled to get one. They were that good.

"Why's he dressing Jace? Where is he taking him?" I asked as I stuffed half the muffin into my mouth. God did I need this to start my day. No telling the amount of stress I'll pack on with just introducing Wes and Nyx.

"Wes thought Jace should meet his new uncle with him. Plus we heard Nyxton takes to children better than any adult. He could help ease the situation or calm Nyxton should the need arise."

I thought about it. They had a good point. Nyxton was going to have to meet Jace eventually. So why not now? It would be perfect for calming him and nothing too serious could break out should harm befall Jace.

Now don't get me wrong. I don't particularly like the idea either. I mean it's kind of sick to use a child to contain someone as dangerous as Nyxton. Especially since he just became free from years of pain, torture, and loneliness. Nyxton is unstable. There isn't a guarantee this will work but it's worth a try.

It's better to give something that provides even a bit of comfort to Nyxton than making it stressful and uncomfortable. Let's just hope nothing negative happens today.

Right as I was about to scarf down my third muffin Wes came following down the stairs after an excited Jace.

"Uncle bear!" Jace hollered as he flew into my open arms.

"Hey buddy. You ready to go?" I asked as I smiled towards the little Wes doppelganger in my arms.

He literally looked almost exactly like Weston. He had the same color of tan skin and deep dark brown hair. His eyes were completely different though. He had the same caramel brown eyes as his mom. He was a hyper, positive boy.

"Yeah! Can we go now? Please! I wanna meet Uncle Nyx." Jace shouted with glee as he squirmed from my grip and ran to the front door, dragging Weston with.

"Well I guess we're out then. See you later Clara. I'll tell Weston to call you and tell you how it goes afterwards." I waved and headed out and into my truck.

After a duration of 45 minutes in the car Jace had fallen asleep as they made their way to the cabin Nyxton was staying in. He was so hyper that he tiered himself out.

"So what's he like? What's his story?" Weston inquired as he turned to me with a serious face.

With a sigh I replied, "Not much about him was recovered. But his relation to us and mom was verified. He is our little step-brother. As for his story, you know most of what I've already informed you about. Kidnapped at 16, tortured for 10 whole years, he's able to change into three kinds of wild cats at will, he's got a temper and PTSD. He doesn't like any type or form of medical facility or medical practitioners. He's got some...scars. But I think he'll get better. It's just a matter of learning to adjust to change. He's got to get use to difference in his life from what he's lived with for the past ten years."

"I think bringing Jace with was a good decision. It might help when you meet him for the first time. I'm not completely sure how he'll react to you. He wasn't too excited when he found out about me, let alone mom. He was pissed when she was brought up."

Wes rubbed his hands down his face before glancing out his window. "I guess we will just have to jump into it and see how it plays out. At least I can trust he most probably won't ever harm Jace."

We turned down the dirt road to the cabin an hour later. It was only 9:15 am. and everyone in the car was anxious, Wes and I more so. Jace just wanted to run into the cabin at the speed of light and give his new found uncle a crushing hug.

We got up to the front door and knocked a couple times before waiting for a response. A few minutes later we knocked again and called out for Nyxton. Again he didn't answer.

"Just use the keys River. This is our family cabin anyways. What if something happened while we weren't here to check? He's not answering so he might of run away. We need to be sure." Weston pushed.

Agreeing, I dug out the keys to the cabin and unlocked it walking in. Jace went to the back of the cabin to play while we were talking, having lost interest in waiting for us to hurry up.

We glanced around the first level of the cabin before finding no signs of Nyxton then proceeding to hunt for the unsocial feline on the second level. The bedroom provided little evidence that Nyxton had been here either but other than a slightly messy bed and the kitten hiding in the closet, there was no one around.

"If there was an intruder here we would know. Signs of a struggle or fight would be present. Hell, the intruder would be dead lying at Nyxton's feet. He must of left of his own accord sometime during the night." I reasoned towards Weston.

"Even though I have yet to meet him and get to know his personality, from what you told me I doubt he is the type to cower and run when he gets the chance. He must be here somewhere. It's only a matter of looking for him." Weston fiercely believed as he answered back.

Before either of us could take action in finding out Nyxton's whereabouts, Jaces' voice shot out from outside. "Dad! Dad! Come quick! Uncle bear!"

In a panicked frenzy, we dashed quickly down the stairs and out of the cabins back door. Jace stood at the opening of the woods a distance behind the cabin. So far it looked like he wasn't in danger or injured like we had first thought.

"Look at what I found!" Jace stated as his dad scooped him up in a hug, his heart racing with his fading fears.

"What did you find buddy?" I asked.

"There is a big black panther in a tree. I'll show you. Follow me!" He exclaimed with excitement as he jumped out of his fathers grasp.

I was relieved. I knew that the panther he was talking about was Nyxton because the forest area surrounding the cabin was free of any type of wild animal bigger than a fox or a rabbit. He would be the only one out here. I'm just glad we didn't have to call in a search party to  find him. It just took one small seven year old stumbling upon him.

By the time we got to where Jace was standing he was already jumping and pointing up at Nyxton trying to call him down.

"Honestly, I'm surprised he's not running in fear like most NORMAL people do. I think my kid got my wild side hahahah!" Weston said amused by Jaces' actions.

"Let's just hope he didn't get your stupidity too." I spoke back with a smug smile.

Ignoring Weston trying to punch me, I focused on our shifted little brother apparently sleeping in the top of a tree.

Weston looked up as well. "So that's him?"

"Yup. That's our little step brother with the blood of a different species flowing through his veins. He has two other forms as well. Pretty neat huh?"

"Color me impressed." Weston said smiling. "He sure is huge for a 'little' brother. I can't wait to see him in his human form. Is he a talker?"

"Not really. At least not to adults—mostly males. He hates humans. But kids are okay as far as I know. He's calmer around them. It's like he can relax and be himself because his inner animal knows their too small to be a threat. That's my theory at least."

"Hmm. We'll have to change that." Wes muttered as he folded his arms and called Jace back over to us. "For now we need to get him to come down and talk to us."

That I agreed on. "I guess we better get to it then."

(Nyxton's POV)

"Coool!!"

I was startled awake by a loud noise. Not my favorite thing when I barely got any sleep last night. That cabin was too confining. It felt like my chest was being squeezed tight in a vice. Breathing became unbearable.

It's like I'm finally free and now any small or enclosed places make me highly uncomfortable and squeamish. Not to mention the nightmares that continuously plague me. Sleep became a distant memory. After one of the worse nightmares scared me awake, I decided to escape the walls of the cabin and seek salvation in the trees. Being close to nature made it easier for me and my inner beast. Because of being kept from freedom and ultimately nature— which my whole being strives on— I haven't been able to fully relax my primal instincts.

I shifted into my leopard form to camouflage myself. Then I climbed to a good height in a tree and lied down on a thick wooden branch, hoping sleep would claim me. I didn't expect a wake up alarm two hours later.

Peeking one eye open slowly, I glanced down to the trunk of the tree to see what awoke me from my much needed slumber. There, attempting to climb up with its clawless hands and short arms, was a human child.

'How did he get here...?' I thought as I yawned.

He stopped trying to climb after the billionth fail. He huffed and kicked the tree, regretting it and grabbing his hurt foot a second afterwards. I huffed a laugh, not expecting the child to hear me. He yelled up for me to come down and that he wants to take me to his dad to ask to keep me. Ridiculous.

First, I wouldn't come down for other humans unless they too were just children. Second, a human would never keep me again. I'm no pet.

Ignoring him I laid my head down upon my outstretched paws and closed my eyes. He was an interesting kid for sure. No other child would try to get closer to a wild panther, they'd run scared out of their wits.

Once silence enshrouded the forest again I knew he had left. What I didn't expect was the loneliness in me he left behind. He was positivity in its prime. He was aglow like the sun— a guide that brightens the path for those engulfed in the clutches of darkness. When he left, my path slowly grew dark once more. At least... that's what it felt like to me.

I could sense no ill intentions from him, no negative aura, no shifting emotions. Just a happy, curious pure soul.

'Exactly as a child should be.' I thought as I drifted off....

Not ten minutes later did I wake up to the same noisy yelling. "He's up there daddy. Do you see him?! Can I keep him? Pleeeeaaassee!!"

This went on and on until I heard a familiar voice. It sounded like River. Looking below me, sure enough— standing alongside some other adult male human– was River. They were both staring up here and conversing amongst themselves.

When a bit of time passed us by River, it seems, decided to try and get me to come down. From what I could clearly hear, they wanted to talk to me. I didn't like that idea. I didn't want to talk with one male human let alone two. What made River think I'd want to talk to any of them?

I growled when the other male attempted to get up the tree to me. If he got up here I'd be cornered. There was no room for a fight so I had no choice but to climb down and confront them.

I jumped down and landed gracefully on all four paws. The male held onto the child as they, along with River, moved to give me space. I shifted back into my human form, standing to my full height and peered at them.

"Awesome! Did you see that dad?! Did you?" The little boy pointed happily as he looked at his dad. I could see the resemblance between them now. There was no mistake they were parent and child.

"Yeah I saw it Jace. That cool huge guy is Nyxton."The young boy's father stated with a surprised but happy smile.

I watched as the little boys eyes grew three times their normal size. He quickly turned my way and said, "Your my uncle Nyx?! COOOL!!"

Right as my mind registered those words, I put two and two together. This new male was my other human half brother. I also realized...he had a cub!

'River never told me about this!!'