Chapter 155 - First Meeting
Chapter 155 – First Meeting
"Who in the hell…?"
I glanced at Hugo, who was sitting beside me on the settee with his wide eyes on the boy covered with a sheet across from us. Not just him, but most of the members of the pack were inside the guest room — the room where Toby slept. Yes, he had his own room because he was already a young master, even when he was a bear.
I shifted my eyes to Tito. He was sitting on the other settee, staring at Toby in human form blankly. I studied Ivo, Reks, Winter, and Nathan. They all bore the same shocked expression.
I sighed heavily. I was the only person who was surprised by this. This morning, I woke up when someone knock on our bedroom in panic. Since the servant that disturbed us looked so concerned, Hugo and I rushed to this room.
Now, here we were. Staring at Toby, covered with a white blanket.
"Who is this fatty?" Hugo gasped, staring at Toby's chubby face. "Was our security going downhill? First, those fucking bats. And now, a child? Ivo, can you ask Cuthbert to check the food storage? He looks like someone who ate all our food supplies!"
"Papa…" Hugo's face froze when the adorable voice I had been hearing in my head caressed his ears. Toby frowned as he turned his head to me. His eyes instantly welled up as soon as our eyes met.
"Mama… why am I… cold?"
My face softened, standing from my spot, and walked over to him. When I sat down beside him, I placed my hand on top of his head.
"Do you want more blankets?" I offered warmly, seeing him nod. "Can you –"
Before I could finish my sentence, a strong gust of wind blew past me as Tito dashed away. I blinked, setting my eyes on the door that nearly broke down because of Tito's lack of control in his strength.
"He will return in a minute." I gazed down at Toby and smiled. "Tito will be quick. I just hope he doesn't break everything down."
I cupped Toby's round face. His jet black hair had the same color as his eyes. His cheek and the tip of his nose were pinkish because of the climate that he wasn't used to without his fur. He was adorable.
"Alpha Hugo, is he actually your son?" out of nowhere, Ivo spoke, which grabbed everyone's attention. "I see some resemblance."
"What?" Hugo scrunched his nose up.
"Well, I'm just saying. The eye color and hair color are different, but overall, he is like a younger version of you."
While Ivo explained and pointed out Hugo and Toby's resemblance, I blinked and gazed at Toby. Of course, we all knew Hugo and Toby weren't blood-related, but there was some resemblance indeed. However, I knew it was the gift the Tarsa tribe had.
A member of the tribe couldn't change their human appearance. However, they could choose what they would look like if, deep in their heart, they wanted to look after a particular person. That was why the Tarsa tribe chose to stay deep in the forest.
'I forgot about that.' I bit my tongue to keep quiet. 'But that also means Toby looks up to Hugo so much he shifted to look like him.'
"Hugh," I intercept in their conversation and smiled. "Language, please. Toby is still young. How old are you again?"
"Four…"
"See?" I cast Hugo a knowing look as profanities started slipping out of his mouth. "I know you're surprised, but at least you can now hear and communicate with him."
"Rinrin, I understand what you're saying. But how can he be a human? I mean, I know I shouldn't be asking this since we can also shift from humans to wolves." Hugo pinched the space between his brows. "My point here is, if the little bear morphed, does that mean those bears in the forest also did?"
"…"
Silence instantly descended the room as soon as Hugo brought it up. Ivo's jaw fell as he gasped as realization kicked in.
"No," came out an answer after a moment of silence, watching how the attention shifted on me. "The Tarsa tribe said they will have to enter a month's slumber. So, they will morph in a month. Toby isn't with the tribe and had been in our care. That is why his body is getting used to our life. Therefore, he morphed earlier than the rest."
It wasn't that I was lying. What I said was nothing but the truth. Thing was, I left some details behind.
"Luna, how did you know this?" asked Nathan blankly.
"Bowie told me."
"So in a month… the bears will shift into humans? Can they shift to bear form again?"
"I'm not sure." I shrugged, despite knowing the Tarsa tribe could now shift just like the werewolves. The lamb returned. Although the lamb was still broken, I could still lift the curse the wolf put upon them.
"This is shocking…" Winter muttered, studying Toby beside me while tilting his upper body. "So Luna can really hear the bears, huh? Toby, can you call me uncle Winter?"
"Uncle Winter…?"
Winter gasped, covering his mouth. "Luna, how can he sound so cute? Also, can you still carry him like that? I don't think your arms can, though."
"Hmm. I can hold his hand." I chuckled, ruffling Toby's soft hair. "Bowie said the Tarsa tribe are strong even as humans; be it children or adults. Toby might need some help to control his strength. So, if you lend me your help, I will truly appreciate it."
Toby was looking up at me with doe eyes, squeezing himself close to me. "Mama. I can hold Mama's hand now." A bright smile slowly dominated his adorable face that could melt anyone who was staring at me.
"Hey." We turned our head in Hugo's seat, seeing him bent over, arms on his thighs, eyes on us. "Come here."
"Mama…" Toby hid to my side, intimidated by Hugo's demeanor. Who wouldn't? He looked like someone who was calling his enemy to come to him.
"It's alright." I chuckled, pinching his cheek lightly. "Papa just wants to see you up close."
Toby darted his eyes from me to Hugo before he reluctantly jumped from the chair. The blanket covering his wide yet small physique swept the carpet. I could not help but cover my mouth.
"So cute…." Toby was like a bucket. Small and wide. Watching him approach Hugo with his little steps, my heart drummed against my chest. Not because they were meeting for the first time, but how Toby looked like a caterpillar!
"This is unfair. Alpha, are you this adorable when you are a child?" Ivo also gasped, flustered at the sight of Toby walking. "I want to help him and just carry him to his destination."
"Go for it, little one… you can reach Alpha in no time…!" Nathan cheered as if Toby had to walk a mile to reach Hugo's spot.
That was Toby's effect on everyone. The only person who kept his stoic expression was Hugo. He raised a brow when Toby stood in front of him.
"Papa, please don't bully me," came out an adorable voice, bringing out all the softness in our hearts.
Hugo frowned. "I don't bully you. You're the one who is bullying me since you only like Rinrin." He then pinched Toby's pinkish cheeks.
"Huh… it's real." He rocked his head lightly, bearing this complicated look in his eyes. "This is weird…"
"Do you… hate me…? Papa?"
"Papa…" Hugo repeated under his breath, staring at Toby's eyes squarely. "No. I just said it feels weird. Not that I dislike you. Come up here."
Hugo carried the little boy to his lap. "You weighed like a boulder!" he paused, looking at Toby as if studying him. "Do you like me?"
Toby nodded profusely.
It was an awkward first interaction, but it was expected. Hugo was the most honest person I had met in all my life. I could only hope for their relationship to be better in time.
BAM!
Suddenly, we all froze and turned our heads at the door. I flinched when the door landed on the floor with a bang, eyes moving up only to see Tito with a bunch of blankets with him.
'Toby will suffocate if he used all that blanket.'