Alex drove David home and helped him inside. He told David's mum everything that had happened in the woods. After listening carefully, she thanked Alex for bringing David home safely, and he left.
David's mum cleaned and bandaged his wounds. When she was done, she sat him down and took a deep breath.
"It's time for you to know about your father," she said.
"But you've already told me about him," David replied.
"No," she said gently. "I haven't told you the real truth. Your father was a supernatural being."
David stared at her in shock. "What do you mean—supernatural?"
"Your dad was a werewolf," she said.
David stood up and laughed nervously. "Come on, Mum. Seriously? This is a joke, right?"
"It's not a joke," she replied firmly.
"Mum, have you been drinking?" David asked.
"I'm serious," Mrs. Dunbar said.
She walked into the kitchen, picked up a knife, and returned to the living room. She knelt down near the wooden floor.
"Mum, what are you doing?" David asked anxiously.
"We used to live in this house when you were little," she said. "You wouldn't remember. I need to show you something."
She scraped away the old paint on the wooden floor. Beneath it was a massive claw mark carved deep into the wood.
David's voice shook. "Mum… what's that?"
"That's your father's," she said quietly.
David swallowed hard. "So you're not kidding. My dad was really a werewolf?"
"Yes," she replied. "He was the alpha of his pack."
"Mum… you married a werewolf?" David asked in disbelief.
"I didn't know at first," she said. "One night, werecoyotes attacked the house. Your father transformed right in front of me and fought them off. I was terrified at first and avoided him, but I was already in love with him. Eventually, I accepted it. Then you came along."
"You never got sick," she continued.
"What does that have to do with anything?" David asked.
"You're immune to all human diseases," she said. "But you didn't show any werewolf abilities—no healing, strength, speed, heightened senses, or transformation. Your father said your abilities were dormant. They would awaken when you reached a certain age—or if you were bitten by an alpha."
Her voice trembled. "When you were still very young, your father went to fight a dangerous pack of werecoyotes. He was killed. His pack brought his body back, and I buried him. I was frightened, so I moved us to another town far away from here."
"Then you got accepted into Beacon Hills High," she added.
David clenched his fists. "Why didn't you tell me all this before?"
"I never planned on coming back here," she said. "And how do you expect a mother to tell her child that the monsters in movies are real—and that he's one of them?"
"You should've tried," David said quietly.
Suddenly, sharp pain shot through David's right hand. He screamed and collapsed onto the couch.
"Mum!" he cried.
She rushed to him. "What colour were the eyes of the wolf that bit you?"
"I—I don't know," David said through the pain.
"Think, David," she urged.
Then he remembered. "Red. They were glowing deep red."
Her face went pale. She sat beside him and placed a hand over his.
"It was an alpha that bit you."
David swallowed. "Does that mean I'll become a werewolf?"
"Yes," she said. "By the next full moon."
"When is that?" David asked.
"In three days," she replied. "Which means we only have three days to prepare."
David suddenly remembered the woods. "Mum… there was also a coyote there. The wolves were actually after it. I saved it—that's why they chased Alex and me."
Her expression hardened. "Stay away from coyotes. They're cunning and bring destruction. They killed your father. I've barely recovered from losing him—I can't lose you too. From now on, you must be very careful."
"Yes, Mum," David said softly.
"Go upstairs and rest," she said. "You're exhausted. We'll talk more in the morning."
David stood up and went to his room to sleep, while his mum quietly cleaned the living room, her thoughts heavy with fear and memories.