SHAPESHIFTERS
The Part 28

While walking slowly with Adaline through the thickets, among the big trees in the forest, Marco thought about Adaline's words that sounded quite sad, and made Marco even more curious.

That's right Sister Martha's story.

The original Daddy Marco was Alpha, who died, and was succeeded by his brother.

Marco, then, is the heir to Alpha, as well as the new leader of his people.

Marco doesn't want to think about that.

Marco does not care much about his leadership status.

It is more important to find out about his people further.

What about the people who fled?

Do they still have a common partner, or perhaps marry a common man?

Where have they split up?

"Either where Alpha's heir is now... That stupid thing just pisses me off" Adaline said.

Marco flinched, and looked at Adaline who seemed to be frowning.

"Why indeed?" ask Marco.

"If the Alpha heir has returned, then there is a possibility that people from other places can gather in this place. So, it's not just our family that will be considered cowards" Adaline replied.

"By the same token, my brothers and I may find a partner, among other cowards," Adaline continued.

"Is there anything you know about the Alpha heir?" ask Marco.

"Hmmm... According to Mommy, the Alpha heir was born many years ago. But, hidden or banished, because of the power struggle. Mommy doesn't know for sure" Adaline replied.

"How does your Mommy know?" ask Marco.

"Mommy works as Alpha's partner's servant" Adaline replies.

Marco's eyes were wide.

Alpha's partner is the real Mommy Marco.

"Is your Mommy still working there?" ask Marco.

"not anymore. Something happened, a dozen years ago, and then Mommy and her friends were laid off, and no longer allowed to go near the Alpha couple's room" Adaline replied.

"Is the Alpha couple still alive?" ask Marco.

Adaline looked towards Marco, with her eyebrows furrowing.

"You know nothing at all? Or are you too curious about something?" adaline said, asking Marco.

"Hmmm... I really don't know anything. My parents died when I was very young. So, they haven't had time to tell me anything, unless there's someone else who's the same as me" Marco replied, lying to reason.

Adaline nodded her head.

"Let me tell you again. If you want to ask my parents, I can too, because we've arrived at my house!" adaline.

"That!" adaline continued, pointing to a simple house, which seemed to stand alone among the corn plantations.

The stone-walled house, which still looks the indentation of the rock on the outside of the wall.

Looks sturdy with a fence made of the same material, which surrounds the building of the house.

From where Marco stands now, white smoke billows from the chimney, which is at the top of the house.

Walking slowly, while still in line with Adaline, Marco looked back and forth.

As long as his eyes could see, there was no other house that Marco could see.

"Why?" ask Adaline.

"Hmmm... Its alright. I was just looking around." replied Marco.

"Why aren't there any other houses nearby?" ask Marco.

"Hey! You didn't listen to my words?" ask Adaline ketus.

Marco was silent when he heard Adaline's loud snapping at him, and walked over with his gaze lowered.

"I'm sorry." said Marco quietly.

Adaline seemed to take a deep breath, then exhaled slowly.

"Sorry, I don't intend to yell at you... I'm too sensitive. I always get carried away, remembering the title that was pinned to our family," Adaline said.

"That's it... Let's get into our house!" adaline continued, taking Marco into her house, after opening the front door.

In a house that looks comfortable, with household furniture that is quite complete, although still simpler, when compared to the one in Marco's house.

A man who appeared to be in middle age, two young men who looked to be the same age as Marco with very similar faces, was sitting together at one table, which seemed to be in the kitchen.

The fireplace furnaces were lit, with a pot on top, and gave off a fragrant cooking aroma, with the woman who also seemed to have entered middle age, looking busy stirring the contents of the pot over the fire.

"Mommy, Daddy, Fint, Fent! Here, Marco! The young man I told you about yesterday," said Adaline, introducing Marco, as the two of them were already standing near the table.

"Hello, Marco! I'm Flints Sums, and that's my partner, Seba!" dad Adaline said, greeting Marco, pointing to the woman near the fireplace.

"Hello! It turned out pretty handsome. It's worth Adaline to pick you up!" said one of the young men there, who was Adaline's brother.

"Copy! Watch your mouth!" adaline said, and it sounded like she was yelling at the young man.

"I'm sorry, my stupid brother!" adaline.

Marco smiled at Adaline, then glanced at her in the room, looking at the Adaline family members.

"Hello!" said Marco.

"Please sit!" said Seba, Mommy Adaline.

"Marco can have lunch with us. Must be tired, right when I have to travel here?!" continued Seba.

"Thank you, Ma'am!" marco said, then sat on one of the empty seats there.

"Said Adaline, you live in the city of Bridget, but she said you don't know much about other members of the tribe" said Seba.

"Yes, Ma'am! I only know my parents, but they've all been dead since I was a kid" Marco said.

"Hmmm... How poor! It must be hard to pass the time when you have to be alone like that" said Seba.

"It's not that hard... I was left with a house, which I could live in, and it felt quite comfortable" Marco said.

Adaline sat next to Marco, having finished arranging the tableware.

Both Flints, Adaline's brother, are most likely a pair of twins, Fint and Fent, smiling at Marco, and Adaline taking turns.

"What's wrong?" adaline asked in a high voice.

Flints, Fint, and Fent chuckled, taking their eyes off Marco and Adaline, and pretending to be busy themselves.

Adaline seemed to shake her head, then looked at Marco who was beside her.

"There is no need for you to respond to the stupid behavior of Daddy, and my brothers," Adaline said.

Marco just nodded his head, smiling.

"I'm sorry, if it's too presumptuous." said Seba, putting the pot in the middle of the table.

"Are your parents both shapeshifters?" ask Seba.

Reaching the question, all eyes turned to Marco.

"Sorry, Ma'am! But why are you asking?" marco said, to deflect Seba's question, Mommy Adaline.

"Hmmm... Because as far as I know, many of our people who leave here, choose to pair with ordinary humans...

But, most of us do not succeed in giving birth to the same child as us...

For the most part, it only gave birth to ordinary humans." said Seba.

"My parents, both of them were shapeshifters" Marco told a lie.