The Johnson estate hadn't changed much. Same tall white pillars, same stubborn rosebushes still blooming like they didn't know the season, and that same old gatekeeper tree leaning a little too close to the driveway,like it was always eavesdropping.
As Marcel pulled in, the staff poured out like he had been gone a decade.
"Welcome, Master Marcel! Welcome, Sir Jeremy!"
"Please," Jeremy whispered as they got out of the car, rubbing his stomach. "Tell me there's real food. Paella. A burger. Even hummus. Anything but another scoop of protein powder."
"You sound like you just escaped boot camp," Marcel said, heading toward the porch.
Before he could knock, the front door flew open.
"Marcel!" his mum cried, hurrying out in a blue short gown that made her look like she was in her 20s. "My baby! Come here, let your mother hug you!"
He barely had time to brace himself before she wrapped him in a bone-crushing hug.
"Mum… air… can't breathe."
She finally pulled back, eyes full of pride. "Look at you! Still handsome. Still stubborn, I'm sure. But at least you're eating."
She beamed. "I made your favorite ,grilled chicken souvlaki, buttered rice, and sautéed asparagus. And Jeremy, you eat like someone who hasn't seen food in months, so I added baby potatoes too."
Jeremy gave her a dramatic bow. "You have my loyalty for life."
Inside, Mr. Johnson was in the living room, pretending to read the newspaper like it wasn't obvious he had been waiting.
"You finally made it," he said without looking up. "What happened? Got lost in your own ego?"
"Good afternoon, Dad," Marcel said, grinning as he leaned in for a quick hug.
His father gave him one of those awkward back-pats before turning to Jeremy. "And who's this? Hype man?"
"Best friend," Jeremy said proudly. "He needed someone sane around."
Lunch was loud and full of laughter, just like always. Mr. Johnson cracked jokes between mouthfuls. Jeremy kept up without missing a beat. Even Mrs. Johnson got in a few jabs, especially about Marcel's so-called "mystery girlfriend" from highschool, the one he still insisted never existed.
"Remember when you broke the garden bench?" his dad asked, chuckling.
"It was already falling apart…"
"It was made of cement," Mrs. Johnson said, laughing. "This boy sat on it and it split like a cracker."
Jeremy stared. "Wait… a cement bench?"
"Yep," Mr. Johnson said. "Even as a kid, he was tossing chairs like they were made of paper. I said maybe he was special. Your mum said maybe he was dangerous."
"I was five," Marcel muttered, hiding a smile.
"And remember the school slide?" his mum added. "You dragged the whole thing across the playground because it was 'too slow.' Scared the poor teachers half to death."
Marcel laughed. Yeah, that happened.
Marcel's mum smiled warmly, settling into her chair. "You know, when Marcel was six, he tried to race Bruno, our German Shepherd."
Jeremy laughed, shaking his head. "Bruno gave up halfway. The dog was smarter than me!"
Mrs. Johnson chuckled. "Exactly! Bruno quit, but Marcel just kept running,five laps around the garden without breaking a sweat."
Jeremy snorted. "That's not normal. He was like a little tornado."
She nodded. "And when he was seven, he had a tantrum and slammed his bedroom door so hard the hinges snapped clean off."
Jeremy leaned forward, grinning. "Dude, that's some serious power. Who slams a door that hard at seven?"
Mrs. Johnson smiled but said, "None of us ever really understood why he was like that. Not his father, not me, not even the doctor. They just kept saying, 'He's strong,' like that explained everything."
Jeremy shook his head, laughing again. "Strong? Man, that's an understatement. That boy was basically a wrecking ball."
Marcel rolled his eyes but smiled.
Mrs. Johnson's eyes twinkled as she added, "And don't forget his secret high school 'girlfriend',the one he always swore didn't exist."
Jeremy burst out laughing.
''mom,she doesn't exist,''
Marcel said,
Jeremy laughed furthermore.
"Oh, come on! You can't fool me, Marcel,I know You were so nervous around her, you always looked like you wanted to disappear."
Marcel groaned. "I wasn't nervous! She was just... annoying."
"Sure, sure,I thought you just said she never existed ." Jeremy teased. "Annoying, but you definitely had a crush."
Mrs. Johnson laughed along. "We all saw it. But that's Marcel,always stubborn, always trying to act cool."
Jeremy shook his head, still smiling. "Yeah, stubborn. But man, I wouldn't want to mess with you in a tantrum."
While they were still teasing him, Marcel's mind drifted to when he was Eight.
He sat in the hospital, legs swinging as he waited for Dr. Fredo.
The doctor walked in, smiling like always, his white coat almost too bright for the dim room.
"How's my favorite superhero today?" Fredo asked, playfully ruffling Marcel's curls.
Marcel shrugged. "I guess… normal."
"Still strong, though?"
"Yeah… I guess."
Fredo pulled up a chair and settled in across from him. "You know, I've seen a lot of kids, but no one quite like you."
Marcel frowned. "Is that a good thing?"
The doctor hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "It's… something special."
Marcel looked down at his shoes. "Sometimes when I play with other kids, it feels like they're moving in slow motion."
Fredo smiled softly. "Ever tried pretending you're not stronger than them?"
"Yeah," Marcel said, frowning. "But then I almost tripped because I slowed down too much. Am I sick?"
"No, no," Fredo said quickly. "You're just… built differently. Not a bad thing. You're like a sports car in a world of bicycles."
Marcel blinked. "I wish I was a bicycle."
Fredo laughed. "You can't be. But you can learn to steer better. Strength only feels scary if you don't control it."
"Will I get stronger?"
Fredo stood, opening the door. "You will. That's why we'll keep checking on you so you stay awesome and safe."
Dr. Fredo understood all this because, like Marcel, he was a wolf too.
Now Years later, at the dining table, Marcel watched Jeremy imitate his dad's goofy walk. Suddenly, something clicked.
He hadn't had a tragic childhood. He wasn't abandoned or feared. He was loved. Even when he didn't understand himself, his parents wrapped him in love, roast turkey, and way too much Mac and cheese.
"Son," his dad said, resting a hand on his shoulder. "We joked a lot, but seriously,we always knew you were different."
Marcel looked up, surprised.
"We didn't know how, but you've always been strong. In all the ways that really matter."
Mrs. Johnson nodded, dabbing her eyes with a napkin. "And stubborn, too. Lord knows you could argue with a wall."
Jeremy leaned over, grinning. "Hidden abs, man. That's what makes people emotional."
Marcel leaned back, stomach full and heart fuller. The scent of roast beef still lingered, but it was the laughter that filled the room.
His dad was sharing yet another embarrassing story about Marcel climbing the neighbor's fence to "rescue" a cat that turned out to be a squirrel. Everyone laughed even Jeremy, who kept giving Marcel those "Bro, you did what?" looks.
Marcel cleared his throat.
"Dad. Mom."
They looked up, smiles still warm.
"I need to tell you something."
"What is it, sweetheart?" his mom asked, napkin still in hand.
"I'm getting married."
Her eyes widened. "Married?"
''Yes, tomorrow,''
Jeremy added,
Marcel's parents gave eachother a surprise look,
''No o... Jeremy I was just joking,the wedding is in five days.''
Jeremy laughed and left the table,
''sorry I need to use the restroom,''
''and you are just informing us now,So where is the girl and why the rush.''
Mrs Johnson replied.
Marcel chuckled. "We are in love mom,We'll come visit tomorrow.i was waiting for you two to come back so I can tell you in person."
Mr. Johnson leaned forward with a grin. "Well, about time. She must be something special, huh?"
"She is," Marcel said softly, a small smile tugging at his lips. "She really is."
Mrs. Johnson narrowed her eyes playfully. "And you didn't think to tell me sooner? You're lucky I love you too much to strangle you."
He laughed genuinely. "How was your vacation, by the way?"
She sighed dreamily. "Italy was beautiful. Your father nearly got arrested for yelling at a taxi driver in broken Italian."
"Hey!" Mr. Johnson raised his hands in mock surrender. "I was perfectly polite. Just… expressive!"
Their playful banter filled the room, and Marcel felt a quiet ache,not sadness, but gratitude.
They weren't his real parents. Not by blood. Not by species.
But they loved him like their own. Raised him, protected him, cheered for him,even when he didn't understand himself. Even when they didn't understand him.
They never once made him feel like a mistake.
Now that he knew his real family was out there, that he had finally been found, it didn't make him love the Johnsons any less.
He could still hear Elena's calm, sure voice.
"Yo
ur family is out there."
"And I promise we will find them. I promise."
She was right. He found his Kind,His bloodline.
But no matter what, this house, this family would always be home.