Snow Trouble

Charles looked up and the corners of his mouth pulled up into a small smile as he watched SeoHyun bounding through the snow in her wolf form. At the deepest points the snow was up to her chest, but she didn't let it bother her. She just plowed through it like it was nothing.

At fourteen years old she had seen snow before back in her native Korea but she had never had this big an expanse of snow to play in and she was going to touch every inch of it she could. She had been young there and her parents were forced to always look over their shoulders for fear that someone would turn them in and they would be dragged back to North Korea and certain death. Now that she had been adopted officially by him and his wife they could not deport her to either Korea because their adoption made her an American citizen with a social security number and as much right to the protection of the United States Government as any other American. It was a relief to not have to worry about someone trying to get her deported to North Korea; where she would, most certainly, be killed for her parents’ defection.

He couldn't believe it had been nearly five months since he took in a tiny, skittish werewolf girl. Now he could barely recognize the wolf in front of him as that same girl. He kept watching, his amusement growing as he saw his mate break through the tree line after SeoHyun. It was almost Christmas and the whole town of Aspen Creek was getting into the spirit of the season.

SeoHyun's school was planning a weekend ski trip to a nearby resort to celebrate the end of a very good semester. Charles had been hesitant to let SeoHyun go, but his Da reminded him that Tag was one of the trip chaperones and he could easily care for SeoHyun, so it was with much trepidation that Charles signed the paperwork to let SeoHyun go on the trip. The full moon had already past so that was a concern no one had to worry about.

Charles couldn't keep in his chuckle as Anna tackled SeoHyun into the snow and they began to play fight. After a few minutes the play fighting became far more interesting than his routine truck maintenance and he joined in the fun. That evening they would need to start packing for SeoHyun's trip, but for the moment they could all just play.

Bran drove up the old road that lead up to his son's home. He knew his son was worried about SeoHyun going on the trip despite his best efforts to convince him that it would be fine. He knew that Charles had a gift for knowing things and he had a bad feeling that this was one of those times when he really should listen to his son.

He had a gift for SeoHyun; she didn’t have any ski equipment of her own so he got all of her measurements and bought her some special for this trip. He was happy to be a grandfather again and more than willing to spoil his granddaughter as much as he possibly could much to Charles’ chagrin and Anna’s amusement. Really Samuel could have told them this would happen, it had happened with almost all of his children, all of the ones that Bran was a part of their lives.

Charles heard his father’s vehicle coming up the road to his house but didn’t try to stop the play fight with SeoHyun and Anna.

Anna on the other hand did stop when Bran arrived; which left Charles and SeoHyun playing in the snow which was fine by both of them.

Charles joined her a few moments later and SeoHyun sat in the snow and pouted as she wasn’t ready to stop playing just yet. This action made Bran laugh.

“I brought her a gift for the trip.” Bran told them as they all started into the house, Anna shot into their room to change while SeoHyun ran into her room to change.

Charles had cocoa ready for everyone ready by the time the two females finished their respective changes and got dressed to return to the kitchen.

SeoHyun took her cup and came to stand by Bran while Anna took hers and sat on the counter next to Charles.

“I have a gift for you.” Bran told SeoHyun as he presented her with a long box. She put her cup down and opened it to uncover a pair of skis and incorporated in the design on the toe of the skis was her name in Hangul.

She gasped in surprise “Thank you, Bran!” she hugged his neck then began to look over the ski design. They had a design in her favorite shade of green with on a white background with the Hangul in a light lavender color.

“Da how did you get those,” Charles asked.

“I know some people.” Bran replied with a smile. Sure they had cost a little more having the custom name put on them but he saw them as being completely worth it to get that reaction out of SeoHyun.

Anna showed SeoHyun that they too had a gift for her; it was a new ski outfit that matched her skis.

“This… this is too much… thank you.” She smiled weakly as she looked at the gifts her new family had given her.

They ate dinner and began to pack her things for the trip. Charles knew that this weekend was a good thing for SeoHyun but there was this nagging feeling in the back of his mind that told him that this trip was going to end up a nightmare, he didn’t understand the dread that welled up in his gut and sent his brother wolf into a protective rage. Was there something sinister in the future of this trip? He wished he could explain what he felt, maybe he could convince SeoHyun not to go, he could take her skiing another day, but he couldn’t explain it, he could never explain those feelings and it frustrated him to no ends.

Breakfast the next morning was a quiet affair, but then again it was unusually early for them. The early start meant they got to the school on time to put SeoHyun on the bus to the resort. She hugged Anna and Charles and got onto the bus with the other students that were going on the trip. She soon found a seat with Kara.

“This is going to be so much fun!” Kara said excitedly.

“I know… I’m so nervous.” SeoHyun replied.

“Don’t worry, everything will be fine.” Kara assured her.

SeoHyun gave a smile as they watched Tag get in the bus and come to sit near them. They knew Tag wouldn’t let them be harmed, Tag was fiercely protective of those he claimed as his and on this trip he claimed them.

SeoHyun sat back in her seat relaxed by the presence of two dominant wolves, sure neither of them was anywhere near as dominant as Charles but it didn’t matter anymore, they were her pack, her family and she trusted them unconditionally.

Tag chuckled under his breath when he realized SeoHyun was asleep. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that this was the same SeoHyun who hid behind Charles the first time they met. He had worried about her, submissive, abused and scared, now there was little trace of that SeoHyun left. She was a vivid and lively teenage girl with an unparalleled lust for life and a smile that lit up a room and to many people’s surprise they had Charles to thank for a lot of that.

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