Chapter 5

Three years later, in Lochport, Altaria, three-year-old Oliver stood in front of the mirror, tugged at his tie, and whined, "Mom, I don't want to wear this."

He was dressed in a tiny suit, his silver-white wolf ears sticking straight up and his fluffy tail swishing behind him.

"Put your ears away," I told him, crouching down to straighten his tie.

Oliver puffed out his cheeks and held his breath.

Then, his ears and tail disappeared, but they popped right back out a second later.

"I can't keep them hidden," he said, his eyes rimmed red with frustration.

I sighed.