Sweet Fire BY: My bestfriend in school DUSK pt5

Part 2
12 Months later…



Sherry had been right, she had given birth to a son. It was a beautiful baby boy, I was so glad to have been there with her, and Bay waited with George who was extremely nervous. That was all three months ago, and it was a Saturday and Bay and I were babysitting our godchild, Peniel Klaret. Bay absolutely loved Peniel and so did I, Bay was playing with him on the floor. I sat with them and scooped up the child, he was still giggling, I changed his diaper and laid him down for a nap, until Sherry and George came back and picked him up. Bay and I invited them to stay and eat with us, so they did. They asked about how Peniel had behaved, "He did fantastic, it is always a joy to have any of you three around." Bay smiled, at them and I asked them how their day had been and they told us about how they had spent their day together. Peniel had started to cry after a little while, so Sherry and George had to leave. Time passed aimlessly, and Peniel grew older and spent as much time with me as Sherry, he was everywhere since he knew how to crawl and walk, at two and a half he was talking to everyone and he was just as sweet as his ten year old Uncle had always been. He was sitting at the kitchen table with me while eating an apple for a snack, and he was talking about everything, "Yesterday Daddy and I went to go see Mamie and Paw-Paw. And then Mommy and I went to go see Keltin and Mamaw." He always put an L in Ketin's name for some reason, "It sounds like you had a busy day." He nodded, "Yeah, and then I got to come here and see my Mama Shay and Papa Bay today while Mommy is working." He always referred to Bay and I as Mama and Papa, and his parents as Mommy and Daddy. Sherry and George never minded, so that is just what he always called us, Sherry actually thought it was cute, "Well, Papa Bay and I always love having you over to visit." He smiled at me, "I finished Mama Shay, can I go play in the living room now?" I cleaned up his mess and wiped off his face, "Let me get your toys down." Bay had carved him a whole set of wooden animals to play with while he was at our house. Peniel's favorite was, of course, the wolf because Bay had told him it was special. He didn't know about the family secret yet, but he knew his family was special, just not that they were the wolf. I went back into the kitchen as he played with his toys, I quickly was putting some food into a basket to take some to Bay for lunch. He saw me step out with the basket and his eyes lit up and he placed all of the toys in their bin and he stood up and took my hand, "Are we going to see Papa Bay and Trevor?" I nodded, "I need to bring them lunch, you ready to go?" He nodded and we walked over to the stables. When Peniel spotted Bay brushing down Rain he ran up to him, "Papa Bay!" He turned around and picked up Peniel, and he kissed me. Peniel petted my horse while I put the basket of food on a desk and Trevor came around the corner and he gave me and Peniel a hug and then he had to usher us out of the stables. Peniel and I walked home and it was a little after noon and I knew Sherry would be here soon to pick him up, so I let him play with his toys while I sat on the couch and watched him. All of a sudden I didn't feel so good, I calmly stood up and grabbed a bucket in the kitchen and I lost my lunch. I didn't remember hearing of anyone getting sick recently. I heaved again, I didn't think I was going to get sick again for another minute so I went back to the living room, Sherry came in soon after, "Mommy! Mama Shay and I went and saw Papa Bay and Trevor today." She smiled at me and hugged her son, "Sounds like you two had fun." I nodded and smiled at my friend, "Peniel, clean up your toys and we can go home and see your Daddy." He quickly started to clean up and I got a strange feeling in my throat and I covered my mouth and ran back into the kitchen and threw up again. I hit the table with my hand, and Sherry placed a hand on my back, "Are you sick?" She asked me instantly worried, "Not that I know of… That is what makes this so bizarre." She looked at me worried, "Well, if you aren't sick…" Peniel stepped up to his Mom, "If what Mommy? What is wrong Mama Shay?" I looked at him, "Don't worry about me. I am going to be fine." He looked at me, "You promise?" I smiled at him, "I promise." Sherry and Peniel left me alone, what could the possibilities be? Well I could have some sort of stomach virus, but since Bay wasn't sick that wasn't very likely. The only other thing I could think of that this could be that actually made sense was, morning sickness. After I had entirely emptied my stomach I lay down on the couch, until Bay came home. When I heard him come in I stood up and I ran up to him and hugged him, he seemed a little confused, "What happened?" I pulled away from him and I went into the kitchen and he saw the mess, "to be more specific what happened in here?" I looked around and bit my bottom lip, "I… I think I just had morning sickness." I looked at him, he didn't move at first, but then all of a sudden he wrapped his arms around me. The next morning I was throwing up pretty bad still, Bay just told me to relax until it passed. Well as it turned out I was right, and over the course of nine months it became obvious that I was pregnant. Ms.Larant and Sherry were there with me through the labor process, and George and three year old Peniel and Trevor were all there for Bay, who was just as nervous as I was. We decided that George and Sherry would be the godparents, they were all very happy for us. We had a daughter, and Peniel felt very protective of little Naomi Jauder. She was walking around and talking at a little over a year and a half old. She and Peniel were like a brother and sister, he always shared his toys with her and even told her the same stories we had told him and her. Naomi looked up to Peniel, and Peniel looked out for Naomi. He even shared the wolf Bay carved for him, which was his favorite. I personally liked it as well, it was a wolf howling. We often went out as families together, life seemed at its peak for all of us. Until the day that Peniel and Naomi discovered our family secret. Sherry, George, and Peniel, as well as myself, Bay, and Naomi had all gone out to have a picnic. Ketin had tagged along to watch the two year old Naomi and the five year old Peniel so they would let the four of us alone. Sherry had brought a book along because she loved to read but hardly ever got the chance to sit down and just read. I had brought along a small sketch book that I hadn't touched since before Levi died, so near seven years. I wanted to see if at twenty-two I had the hand I did at fourteen. We all seven of us ate lunch and Sherry started reading, and Bay and George started a conversation, and I started sketching a picture of my husband. After I had finished Bay looked down at the picture and smiled, "Trying to draw a picture of me?" I laughed, "I'm not very good, but I try."He smiled at me and leaned closer, "I think it looks amazing." I closed the small space, and he kissed me fiercely, I pulled away and saw the looks on Sherry and George's faces and we both laughed at them. He sat beside me, and before Sherry could bury her nose in that book again George took it from her hand and flipped it over saving Sherry's place, "Hey, I was reading that." He lay down in next to her placing his head in her lap, "What? Bay gets time with his wife but I don't?" she looked down at him and I started drawing their picture, "Sorry, my name is Sherry, not Shay. And my husband is George, not Bay. Don't worry, you will get your time." He leaned up and she leaned down, their lips touching. Bay just watched my hands and ran his lips up and down my neck lightly as I drew, George rested his head in Sherry's lap as she read. Life felt good, almost normal. Ketin all of a sudden ran up with both Peniel and Naomi in his arms, "Bay, something is out there." I grabbed Naomi and Sherry grabbed Peniel, George seemed a little unconcerned, "If we just stay quiet it might pass." Bay looked at him, "No, the wind isn't in our favor and if it catches the scent of Ketin and I, then it will try to attack." George soon was holding his family close. Ketin changed into the Black wolf that was going to soon take over responsibility, the little ones almost cried out in fear, Bay nodded to him, "Stay low and keep quiet shield Peniel and Naomi." His form morphed and he and Ketin went a couple yards ahead of us. I shielded Naomi and George and Sherry did the same with Peniel. I looked out to see the same creature Bay and I had seen out here almost six years ago, I doubted they could scare it off. I saw Ketin and the creature charge each other, I saw Bay jump in to protect Ketin. I couldn't focus on them anymore, I instead focused on my toddler clinging to me in fear. Time seemed to slow with every yelp I heard and speed up with every roar, what seemed like hours was probably only near twenty minutes. I heard the beast retreat and felt Bay's nose nudge my shoulder, Naomi and I watched as the wolf morphed into the man we both loved, he fell to his knees. Naomi ran to him, "Papa!" she leapt into his arms and I came over to him and hugged them, "Papa that was scary. There was a big wolf." He smiled, "I know baby, and you were very brave. But you need to know a secret." He looked over in the direction of George, Sherry, and Peniel, "You too Peniel." We all gathered close together, "Remember how I told you that our family is special?" they both nodded, "Well, I am related to Ketin and Sherry. And remember the Wolf? The one everybody in the village hates?" They both nodded taking in all of the information, "You can never tell anyone about this. I am the wolf, we pass it on generation to generation in our family. Ketin is the next wolf, and we are here to protect the village. Whether they know it or not." They stared at Ketin and Bay in amazement, they went over to Bay nervously, he grinned at them, "Don't worry, I'm still going to be the same." They tackled him is a hug and he laughed, they got off of him, and stood in front of Ketin looking up at him, he got down on one knee and looked at them seriously, "Now where is my hug?" they tackled him too, and the three of them laughed. Peniel looked at Bay, "Papa Bay? Does that mean I am the wolf after Ketin?" He picked up Naomi, "I honestly have no idea. But there is a legend of a Wolf surpassing all others, he will be the best wolf. He will also be the last one, and he will end the start of all the troubles eliminating the need for the line of the wolf. He will be The Wolf." Peniel was lifted up by his dad and all seven of us went to our separate homes.  After supper we tucked Naomi into her bed, "Papa?" Bay looked at her, "Yes Naomi?" she sat up looking scared, "What was that thing out there today?" he leaned over her and kissed her forehead, "I don't know but you need to go to sleep and don't worry. I won't let anything hurt you, or your Mama." I leaned down and kissed her forehead, "Go to sleep now okay?" She rolled onto her side, "Goodnight Mama, Goodnight Papa," we both stood, "Goodnight baby." We gently closed her bedroom door behind us and I stepped out of Bay's reach and I went to our room and sat down on the bed, he latched the doors and sat down next to me, "What is wrong?" He wrapped his arms around me, "I just… The thought… They were so…" I just leaned into him, "Yeah, I wish that they hadn't found out that way too. The thought that they are still little like that with this big secret. The fact that they were so scared of us makes it worse. Seeing the look in her face when she saw me… My own daughter was afraid of me." His arms dropped from around me and he put his head in his hands, "She was afraid of me." He muttered into his hands, I couldn't stand seeing him like this, "Remember how when you were trying to teach Ketin about controlling his strength? Remember asking me if you had ever hurt me?" He nodded and looked at me, "Where are you going with this?" I smiled and I kissed his cheek, "I'm saying that since the first time you hurt me, you have shown that you will never do that again, even accidentally. You also have no intention of letting anything hurt me." He sighed, "Was that supposed to cheer me up?" I Laughed lightly at him and I went over behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist while sitting on my knees, "I'm saying that you love your daughter just as much as you love your wife." He pulled out of my arms and stood in front of me with his arms crossed, "Shay, we have been here six years. Daniel is still on my case about his old suspicions. Any chance they get to kick me out as viciously as possible they intend to take. I'm twenty-three years old and I have a two year old daughter and a twenty-two year old wife. For a while Naomi was just a hopeful dream, now with reality… She is afraid and I can't stop it." His blue eyes pierced through me I just flopped back onto the bed and sighed, "You can't help it. You can't eliminate fear from her mind." He leaned down over me, "I know… That doesn't mean I won't try." He leaned down and pecked my cheek, I leaned up and I gave him a long slow kiss and then I dropped down again, he ran his hand down my side and whispered into my ear, "I Love you."  A pulled apart the buttons on his shirt and the buttons on the side of my dress fell away as well. I woke up in the middle of the night about to scream until I remembered it was just a dream, it was horrible but a dream nonetheless. Bay propped himself up on one elbow, "What? Is something wrong?" I stood up and slipped on a night gown, and he sat all the way up looking at me puzzled, Then we heard Naomi scream, I bolted down to her room, and Bay was grabbing a pair of shorts and was soon behind me. I went into her room and sat on the edge of the bed, "Naomi? Are you okay?" she jumped up into my arms and I held her close Bay sat down beside me and I looked at him, "Mama, I was afraid something had happened to you." She started crying and Bay placed a hand on her back, "Naomi? Why would something happen to your Mama?" She rubbed her little eyes and looked at him, "Because the Dragon said he was going to take her." My hands went numb as she hugged me tighter, I looked at Bay who had worry written all over his face. I stood with my daughter still clutching me, "You can stay with me and your Papa for the rest of the night." Bay rose and we all three went to mine and Bay's room. She lay between us with no question, Bay looked over her at me, "Shay? What exactly startled you?" I bit my down on my bottom lip, "I had a dream, it was dark, and all I could see was, well for lack of a better term, the dragon. It stalked me and spoke to me, asking things like, 'Where is your wolf now? Why isn't he here?' and what scared me most was, 'They love, but their love falls to me. You are my next victim.' I woke up when it pounced at me. Hearing her dream about a dragon wanting to kill me. I'm scared Bay." He tangled his fingers into mine, "Please don't be scared. I want you to feel safe, I want to protect you more than anything." I smiled at him, "I know, let's just take this moment at a time." We did eventually fall asleep, it was Sunday so a lot of people were near the center of town. At noon there was a roar and the Dragon jumped to the center of the large group of people. It scanned the crowd, "There is a stranger here… If you wish the town to survive you will do as I say… I want the one person that the stranger loves… I want her here, as a sacrifice… To appease me… I want her alive… and only her… by night fall…" The Dragon bounded off and Bay quickly helped me get Naomi in the house and we locked the door. I sat on the couch with Naomi clutching me, "Mama! They can't take you!" Bay kneeled down in front of us and Naomi looked at him, "They aren't taking anyone without a fight." I heard Daniel banging on the door, he had become the head law enforcer with his marriage to Maylani. We stayed in the house not daring to move, then we heard the door cave in and several men grabbed Bay who was trying to keep them away from us. Daniel entered with Maylani behind him, she took Naomi from me and he grabbed me and started to haul me away. Bay tried to stop him but they were just about to beat him senseless for his attempts, Naomi wailedd to his cheek, he held it there then kissed my palm closed my hand and laid it down in front of me. I slowly sat up as my body ached all over, he gently drew close to me and hugged me so lightly there wasn't any pain from the pressure, and I hugged him back so glad that he was there. I heard the door open and and cried in Maylani's arms as I was fighting Daniel. I slipped free of Daniel's hand for a moment and I fell down in front of Bay and I touched his face to feel him ripped away from me and Daniel grabbed me again, "Knock him out." I watched as they dropped him and Maylani let Naomi run to her Father. They dragged me out and Maylani tagged along behind them, leaving Naomi trying to wake up her Father. They bound my hands tightly at the wrists, and tied the rope to the top of a tall pole, giving me enough slack to fall to my knees. Naomi ran out of the house and she clung to me as the crowd cleared out, "Naomi, I need my baby girl to be brave. Can you do that for me?" She stepped back and nodded, "Get Mommy Sherry, and Daddy George. Tell them Papa needs help. Your Papa will take care of me, get him help so he can help me. Okay?" She nodded quickly and took off for Sherry and George's house. I fought the ropes and screamed several times, in both frustration and pain. The sun was sinking as Bay ran out of our house and over to me, my wrists were bleeding and the blood was running down across my hands and forearms. He grabbed me and I kissed his cheek, glad that he was okay, "Shay, I'm not letting that thing get anywhere near you." I kissed him and he kissed me back, Ketin ran up with Peniel on his heels, "If need arises I will help you. And I'm going to help inform Peniel. He may be ready for his first fight." Bay nodded and they took off as the sun disappeared, Bay sat several feet in front of me, "I Love You." Was all that escaped his lips as I tried to escape from the ropes. The dragon leapt out onto the open and saw both of us, "My enemy… Are you ready to watch your love die tonight?" Bay snarled at him, the secret was about to come out. The Dragon chuckled and jumped over Bay, he was on his feet and glaring at the Dragon who placed his d to his cheek, he held it there then kissed my palm closed my hand and laid it down in front of me. I slowly sat up as my body ached all over, he gently drew close to me and hugged me so lightly there wasn't any pain from the pressure, and I hugged him back so glad that he was there. I heard the door open andclawed hand on my ribcage, "Touch my wife, and you will die tonight." I cried out as I felt the penetration over the bone and the slash went down over my stomach and a wall of Grey smashed into the terrible beast, I could feel the blood pouring out of my side, "Ketin! Help Bay!" I saw a streak of Black and I heard an extra snarl. Peniel stood in front of me, "Mama Shay, Did that thing hurt you?" I saw his hands shaking in pure burning anger, "Yes Peniel. It did." He screamed in fury when Bay flew between us. He erupted into a full grown white wolf and he joined them in their fight. I had lost feeling in my arms and hands, my legs were going numb, I was losing blood too quickly. I was also losing too much. I heard a roar and I watched as Bay and Ketin stepped back and Peniel killed the beast. Bay's Legend, it was true, their enemy was vanquished. Bay severed the rope over me with his teeth as I hung there and I dropped as he caught me, and lay me down trying to come up with a way to help me as Sherry and George ran out with Naomi alongside them. Sherry tried to help but I stopped her, "Too… Late." Bay leaned over me shaking his head, "No, you are staying with me. I can't let you die on me!" Naomi grabbed my hand I was bleeding out and I knew it, there wasn't much time, "Bay, Naomi, I… Love you… Both…" I took my final breath with those last words. Daniel and Maylani came out, both were apologizing to all of them. Explaining they saw no other options. Bay closed my bloodshot eyes. You probably thought this was my story… It was from my side, not my story. This story told of how I found love, and how it killed me.

My name was Shay Jauder, and I died for The Wolf…

My name is Bay Jauder, and I lost my Love for The Wolf…

My name is Naomi Jauder, and I lost my Mama and grew up with The Wolf as a Brother figure…

My name is George Klaret, and I loved and married for The Wolf…

My name is Sherry Klaret, and I carried and raised The Wolf…

My name is Ketin Larant, and I trained The Wolf…

My name is Peniel Klaret, and I am The Wolf…