The Thin Line Between Reality And Fantasy

After the incident on the first day of EL's class, which caused a commotion of fear, the boys were lucky that the same morning their mother left on a trip for her business.

It was Lucian who had taken it upon himself to occupy all this tumult. To their astonishment their father was not critical of them, on the contrary, he defended Howie and arranged for Hugg to apologize to the boys for his remarks.

Hugg maybe the mayor's son, but the Morgensterns carry the town's history on their shoulders. You don't go after a Morgenstern without paying the consequences for whoever you are.

And Todd was warned, that it's because of him that this whole thing is taking this unexpected turn.

If he hadn't been fucking putting these ideas in other people's heads, all of this wouldn't be.

Hugg was the first to lie about what happened completely unaware that there was evidence of his act of barbarity.

When he noticed the mess he got his father into it was too late for him to back down from his story.

Howie was sternly warned of an upcoming slip-up, he was spared this time because he only wanted to help his friend and Lucian considered his protective side of his son.

even if he is suspicious of the intention of this one when he saw the video, he said to himself that this boy is dangerous he must be taken away from the twins as soon as possible before Maryse is aware of their friendship.

El fretted because the whole thing nearly ruined his plan to make a grand entrance on his first day. But he understood the situation and he flew into a rage, which surprised the other three.

How dare he put his dirty paws on him and what were you doing to let such a thing happen under your nose, huh?

Howie, who was distracted in thought, doesn't know how to explain to El in front of the others why he couldn't anticipate the action. He just glared at him and walked away from them, grumbling to himself.

Three days had passed after the meeting which preceded the skid between the young people, this year not a single day goes by without Wood Hill not being a spectator of a new conflict within its walls, which once was a kind refuge for those who were choking at home, and who had practically no right to invest in activities of their choice which were deemed inappropriate.

At Wood Hill, it was forbidden to sit idly by, you have to discover your artistic gifts, your creativity for yourself, and the parents found it interesting to see them invest themselves in things that bring them the smile and peace.

Despite the concentration and effort required by the courses they take, they always have a smile when the time comes for personal development.

For them it was balanced, so they do not complain about the level required and the fighting spirit that drives them to challenge and surpass their predecessors keeps them alert, which makes studying at Wood Hill become an activity full of competition.

But not everyone is invested with this desire to challenge others, there are those who are content to have the required grades and participate with an open heart in other activities of their choice. While there are others who don't care much about both. There's always that category, the one who isn't interested in anything other than appearances.

Just shouting that you're in Wood Hill can open doors for you, but living up to those open doors in front of you is one thing.

They are always in competition whether it is with their classmates or the previous generations.

And for this generation the competition in question takes on another level, they have never had a student with such a tantalizing appearance as Howie. Not to mention that this one didn't register his true identity in high school, so for them, he's a poor guy who was lucky enough to have an incredible brain who allowed himself to sneak among them, and who snobs them as if they were the beggars who live at his expense.

Some are jealous of him because he has almost everything going for him naturally. He's handsome as a god, he has the most impressive brain and he's an artist at heart. he is as good at drawing as he is at music without even daring to mention his abilities for sports. It is for them a mystery and a challenge that they could never overcome in their life.

If Howie had signed up on his identity he wouldn't have so much trouble with the boys' story, which is his biggest enemy because they believe he's poor and they have to look after him while he does what he wants without ever worrying about them.

He imposes himself, he doesn't mix with them, he hates the food they eat, and he does everything with precision and impeccably. he repulses all who approach him and others do not even take the chance to approach him for fear of upsetting him.

He has never been defeated in the inter-school competitions, Raphael is very good too but since Howie participates under Celine's request, he has never lost a match so the individual matches have been reserved for him because he never loses no matter the subject: science fair, history, technology, sport, inventive genius. he has good logic and he thinks quickly.

He's good, that's what they say about him every time. His teachers respect him but they also know he's the biggest pain in the ass they've ever had to deal with.

This is the reason why Celine also tolerates him, despite her difficulties and her irritating ways, she is ready to defend her place within her establishment, and she regrets every day more that she cannot only arise when needed by the school. He needs his donors who turn out to be the most influential parents of his students.

And almost all of its students come from the bourgeoisie. the ten members who are not part of it are the most interesting of this generation.

And the only person that drives them to want to put in a lot more effort every day is Howie. Because they all have a grudge against him. Because it represents everything they are not.

They all got pissed off when they noticed the latter's academic prowess, they all wanted to prove that he wasn't that smart.

Except for the twins, Celine's children, Kaeli, despite her cheeky side, never showed a sign of slacking off in her studies. Oleck is naturally an attentive and diligent student, that's why he never had to compare himself to Howie on the contrary he perfectly embraces the artistic and genius side of the latter.

These are the people Howie has respect for, even if he doesn't show it, but they know they are who they are and have no issues with aspects of his physical and mental. except for Kaeli who is excluded from the list of people, he respects a little bit. She is too superficial and shows no compassion for those who find her a friend.

Howie doesn't allow himself to be approached but he has never abused his charm to use others, except for Celine sometimes.

The match is approaching and the tension is rising a little. Saint August is one of their best adversaries, whether for scientific or sports competitions. But what worries Howie is that it will be an open house match. So you never know who can slip in among the students, parents, and the many fans that the two schools have made over time, who will also be present during the meeting.

He couldn't stop thinking about this presence watching him under the parking lot. He hasn't raised the issue with his father or even Bravael, he doesn't want to be banned from going out alone as he does, and he especially doesn't want his father to increase the guard around him. He can't stand all his people following him in the shadows like predators.

Not to mention he made a promise to the twins to be there for them and be their driver. With the full moon approaching, there is a lot of commotion and tempers are heating up. so no question for him to leave them alone under any pretext.

When they think he was moved to America to avoid falling on his fellows among whom could be his so-called stimuli.

Here it is today invaded by ferocious wolves who seek only to feed on fresh flesh, cold-blooded killers who are not afraid to attack humans in the middle of the street. It is a delirium that he is not ready to forget.

First, all the efforts of his father and Marc who went up in smoke, to protect him and help him keep his inner under control until he withered away, were their first failure.

This entity in question which should be Fenrir, whom he thinks he is fighting all this time is none other than Lyke the wolf god himself. Who voluntarily hid his true identity from him, until this chatterbox Bravael-Ursoc came into his life.

And if we talk about the fact that only a wolf of his kind could turn out to be his "stimuli" that could wake him up. This implies a pure-blood or particular member especially the wolves of birth of his pack who could play an important role in his life, like his mate's life.

But who would have thought that to take him away from home was to follow exactly what was written for him. and that a human could turn out to be the important person who was going to push his inner to fight against him to come out under his control? when everyone thought he was safe away from his fellows.

What other surprise does this life have in store for him? Howie grabbed the drawings that Bravael held before his eyes like a trophy, he bent down to examine them better and the memory of him walking down the stairs with Aike in his arms came to the surface.

It's not his memory but he saw it as if he was the one in charge when it happened. Slowly he moved towards an armchair where he let himself fall heavily.

He remembers when he drew his sketches when he spent nights awake for fear of crossing his inner in his dreams which turned into a nightmare.

He had dreamed that night, that the wolf in him had taken over and had murdered the only friend he had, a friend he turned to when his nights became unbearable.

A friend he only had when he closed his eyes. a friend who right here was the figment of the imagination of a child in search of comfort.

Who could have told him or made him understand that this friend did not exist only in his dreams that somewhere in the world he existed for real?

He checks the drawings one by one remembering those times when he was chatting and laughing with a friend he only saw when he was sleeping.

But he had completely forgotten that he had drawn this portrait of him and his friend who had been devoured by him.

Since then he has never seen him again until Bravael put his sketches under his nose.

Lug muttered the latter under his breath and a burst of memory began to spurt through his head like a torrent.

He took his head in his hand when he felt a headache of varying intensity taking hold of him little by little which made him uncomfortable, particles of color were forming under his eyes which made him dizzy.

He lifted his head to call Bravael for help, but he couldn't make out properly everything was blurry in front of him and no sound came out of his mouth.

As he struggled like a wretch to stay conscious, particles of color gather before his eyes to end in a burst of light that knocks his balance so dazzling and powerful. he clung to the arms of the chair as if his life and survival depended on it when the light struck him violently in the face, which caused him to fall backward crying out in horror and surprise. He didn't know a light could hit him so hard, it was physical.

Bravael raised his hands in front of his eyes to shield them from the onslaught of the sudden burst of blue light, which invaded the room and the house, which began to glow like a giant light bulb.

Unable to resist the force that invaded him any longer, Howie let go and his body began to float above the chair in which he was sitting.

her sports clothes have disappeared, giving way to lose, fine, and light fabrics of extreme bluish whiteness embellished with gold and precious accessories that sparkle in the light that surrounds her.

His hair comes loose and falls behind him in a vertical position to his body. they are dotted with accessories that sparkle like those found in the fabrics he wears. he floats in the air as if he were in a bubble but the most important thing in all of this are the patterns that form on his forehead, chest, and back...

They itch like tingles made by the needles of an experienced and very skilled tattoo artist.

Marc was on patrol for a few hours, since the incident with Alfred he often goes out under the pretext of patrolling but he knows he just wants to find him.

He told Howie that he had died so as not to harbor the hope that one day he would see him again which might be impossible to achieve if he really was.

He knows Howie would want to take responsibility anyway, and he wouldn't stop looking for him until he found him.

It is for this reason, that he lets her go to class alone while he spends his free time patrolling tirelessly every day.

He should never have left him alone, but who would have thought that a pack of hungry Rufus would come to town to cause such a panic.

On the way back he felt the change in the air and his wolf just waiting to come out, it's the first time he's been in such a state normally he's calm and shows up only when he senses imminent danger.

Painfully, Marc continued to drive when he felt his strength leaving him as he approached his house. but it was only when he arrived near his house that he realized that it had turned into a kind of giant light bulb ready to explode.

Rays of light were coming out everywhere, through the chimney, through the windows, and any crack capable of letting it out.

Without taking the time to understand and analyze the situation or properly park the sedan, he rushed towards the house, jumping over the gate. fortunately, they do not live in the middle of the city otherwise prying eyes would have already denounced them to the competent authorities, because there is too much irregularity with them.

first, a boy jumping from his terrace to land on his feet with agility, a wolf roaring inside the house, and now the father jumping over the gate, while the house is about to explode. Or it looked more like she was catching fire except there was no smoke or screaming and the light is a color that has nothing to do with a house on fire.

When he storms into the house what he sees leaves him speechless. Howie was covered in a halo of light as he floated unconsciously through the air completely transformed.

The accessories in his hair, his arms, his feet, and that thin white robe embroidered with stone and old-fashioned edge patterns in which he is draped make him totally unreal.

Marc noticed the presence of Bravael frozen in the room with his arms in front of his eyes like a shield to protect them from the aggressive light.

Without being able to take another step he collapsed to the ground unable to bear the power that emanates from his son in this bulb of light that covers him.

He had used all the energy he had left to jump over the gate, he couldn't wait to open it, he thought his son and El were in danger, adrenaline and his protective instincts took over.

When he regained consciousness he was no longer in his human form, lying at the foot of the sofa on the soft carpet in the living room where Howie was still lying unconscious. He stood up abruptly, sticking out his sharp fangs in a defensive position, grumbling. Howie's little pet pack begins to panic.

He turned to Howie, who had been put on the sofa by Bravael. He looks at him and looks at Bravael. Who understands that he wanted to know what happened to him.

They concluded their ritual without the full moon or the acceptance ceremony. he's fine don't worry, he just has to find his anchor point with the flood of memories that invades him. Once everything is back to normal he will wake up. You can rest, I'll watch over you.

The wolf turns back to Howie once again when he finishes listening to what Bravael said to him. he understood what he said but he cannot answer nor ask questions while he is in his wolf form.

He fled his muzzle under the hand of Howie who rested delicately on the sofa, the mark on his forehead shone weakly, it represents a set of symbols like a talisman of protection.

The Blazing Star, of the microcosm, constitutes the perfect emblem of the mystery, which is the corollary of the great divine and human mystery.

These are the drawings, which unlocked in Howie the last barriers of resistance he erected between him and his inner, which prevented him from connecting to his inner from birth and the one he received. which prevented him from being himself.

And as usual, Bravael was the one who discovered them where Marc left them.

He didn't do this in order to prevent Howie from fully accessing his abilities.

he wanted to prevent him from falling back into his nightmares which woke him up sweating and crying.

The only barrier was Lug, this friend he had hidden in his subconscious because he was afraid of what he had done to him, he managed not to think about it until he forgot completely about its existence.

He just discovered that Lug was not only imaginary but he was indeed real and it was his friend Aike.

And more, he has always been Lyke from his mother's womb.