Chapter 106: Chapter 106

After what happens at the lake, the whole pack sympathizes with Kira, mourns her loss and theirs.

As the crowd disperses, Charlotte and Azraiel make their way to the packhouse. Daniel left the room when Azraiel received Josh’s call. He must have been waiting for them.

They enter the office and Azraiel calls Daniel to ask if they can continue their conversation. He answers a yes and agrees to come to the office in five minutes.

“I’ve asked Ayleen to not leave Kira alone.” Charlotte says to Azraiel.

He nods. “I wish I would have killed Josh when he was here.”

Charlotte doesn’t say anything. It is a sensitive topic and she already feels like an outsider in this matter.

They sit in silence, both wondering about what happened and what is to come next.

Soon, Daniel arrives and takes a seat.

“Is Kira alright?” He asks Azraiel. Charlotte almost forgot that Daniel knows them all.

“She will be. We’ll make sure of that.” Azraiel answers.

Charlotte nods and turns to Azraiel.

“Therians…Is that what the text said?” She asks.

Daniel and Azraiel glance at each other at her question.

Azraiel nods.

When none of them opens their mouth to tell them what the term “Therian” means, she asks the question herself.

“What does ‘Therian’ mean Azraiel?”

Azraiel looks at Daniel again and then finally starts speaking after a long pause.

“Therian is a general term for shapeshifters, Charlotte. Therianthropy is the mythological ability of human beings to metamorphose into other animals by means of shapeshifting. Humans describe therian as someone who believes spiritually or mentally that they are an animal.” Azraiel looks like he can’t find better words to describe the term.

“So..it just means someone who can shapeshift? In that case, Werewolves are therians too?” She questions.

Daniel answers her question this time. “Yes. It is a general term. Humans discovered the term around two centuries back. Now there are a lot of crazy humans who think they are therians. Years ago, when the species were first discovered they were all put under one term, therians. Werewolf, werecat, werecoyotes, weretiger, werebear, werelion, etc etc. All shapeshifters that could shift into an animal were commonly known as therians. Later, when Vampires and Witches entered our world, the therian definition changed. As the species were named after the animal they turned into, therian definition started becoming smaller and smaller, until we had no species left to call as therian. Each specie had its own name now and we stopped using the term therians altogether. But then…”He pauses and sighs.

“Then?” Charlotte pushes him to answer.

“Then, around some eighty years back, a myth started circulating. Now, I don’t know anymore if it’s a myth or not..but… the myth was that a new species has been found. A human that could turn into any supernatural species. There was no proof that such a species existed, or if there was one it never came to light, but the council members of the Supernaturals Committee believed it to be true. So, instead of finding a new name for the species, they termed it as ‘therian’ since it wasn’t in use anymore. So, now, the term ‘therians’ means someone who can turn into any supernatural species.” Daniel finishes with a sigh.

As soon as Daniel completes his answer, Charlotte’s stomach drops in her stomach. Her brain starts racing in different directions. She recalls every memory, every encounter that has made her question her identity.

The werecats, fairies….

The different versions of her she encountered during her meditation session with Matt.

The flickering of her eye color…

Oh God…!!!

Therian

Is…Is she really a myth?

But it can’t be…right?

It was just a myth….

She tries to reason but her brain and heart both knows it is true…

All the signs point to only one thing…

She is indeed a Therian.

“In werewolf world, therians are a myth but in human world, there are various influential groups that believe they are therians. You can find many of them on the internet.” Azraiel adds.

Charlotte’s and Azraiel’s eyes clash and she knows they both are thinking the same thing.

Daniel notices them and looks at Azraiel with questioning eyes.

“Um…I think the head is right. She might not be a therian in the strict sense, but she definitely has more than one species inside her.” Azraiel answers.

Daniel leans forward and puts his hands on his knees, “Tell me more!”

Azraiel narrates the events that have taken place till now. The ‘episodes’ as they call them bring back the memories and Charlotte feels like her head will explode.

When Azraiel is done narrating the events, Daniel’s face is painted in shock.

“What the hell! So, therians weren’t a myth after all!” He chuckles and Charlotte feels like she could punch his face.

“I-I don’t understand. I thought you already crossed out most of the species?” Charlotte asks Azraiel.

It is true. Azraiel had researched and Theo and Katya have been assisting him in determining what she is. If a term such as therians existed, then it should have been the first they should have thought about.

“Yeah. We did. But- therians have been a mystery. Everyone in the werewolf world has always assumed it to be a myth, something conjured by the officials to confuse humans when they were about to find out more. No one has ever been identified as therian and hence we eliminated this term from our lives altogether. The term was reintroduced way before any of us was born. In fact, this is probably the only time I am thinking about it. It has never been taught in our schools, or by our parents…hell…I can bet that more than 95% of the werewolf population has no idea that such a term has been coined and may possibly be coexisting in the same world. The idea- that- that a person can turn into any supernatural species somehow gave therians a mystical and dangerous aura and no one talked about it. Since it has never been used all my lifetime, it never crossed my mind. It’s – it’s not even in the books from the royal library.” Azraiel answers frustrated.

Charlotte lets his words sink in.

Okay….therians have been a myth so no one considered that she may be one.

But…but how the hell can therians survive till now and not get discovered?

How is this myth not busted that they are a myth?

And…why the fuck does her pack not know what they are?

From what Nicholas told her, they have no idea that they are something more than werewolves!

“So, my whole pack might be therians too?” Charlotte vocalizes her fears.

Daniel’s face changes when she asks the question.

“Yes.” He stiffly answers.

“I am actually surprised and irritated at the same time.” Daniel’s voice reeks of frustration. “If therians were identified eighty years back then there should have been more information on them. There should have been records of encounters, a proper directory of people identified as therians. I can understand the need to not let the public fear them but it is highly unlikely that no one knew that the red-eyed wolves are therians. It-it really is mind-boggling.”

Charlotte has the exact questions as Daniel.

“Even if we know that she is a therian, we still have no idea what it means. We have little to no idea how therians are, or how they turn, or what happens when they turn. The fact that she can turn into any supernatural just increases the fear of the unknown.” Azraiel says what’s been on everyone’s mind.

“I think you should inform your pack.” Daniel suggests and Charlotte agrees.

Let’s just hope this doesn’t turn out to be a disaster!