As the early morning light crashed into my room, I found myself stirring awake. My eyes exhaustedly flick open, followed by me breathing in the strong scent of pine that engulfed the house. Once a bit more awake, I force myself to sit up with a stretch. My lengthening hair tousled over my eyes messily. I push it back in exhaustion as I release a breath.
The house was deathly quiet- a rare state of peace that could only exist when everyone was either gone or sleeping. Today, it was because of the latter.
I sling my legs over the edge of my bed, reaching for my phone to check the time. Minutes past six was apparently the time my body demanded to be awakened. I didn't bother groaning my annoyance at this as I pulled myself off my bed and made my way out of my room and then the house, quietly.
My toes caressed the slightly damp earth while I stretched my arms behind me as I let myself soak in the early morning light. I sag back before letting my body shift. The process was always unfairly painful for me as I didn't have the support of a wolf.
Nevertheless, I landed on all fours and shook my body slightly as I adjusted to my secondary form. I wondered if other werewolves felt the way I did when they shifted. Did their already heightened senses peak? Did their range of eyesight improve tremendously? Did they feel the fear of the other woodland creatures at their presence? Did they feel more animal than man?
Surely they couldn't; it must've been a side effect of my uniqueness in comparison to others.
I force myself to push forth and my legs begin rising more and more until I'm sprinting through the woods. Avoiding the ancient trees that laid littered throughout the lands, I continued to run at my fastest pace. My bones was shaking at the feeling of those addictive sparks crawling their way through me as my wolf form connected with the earth that surrounded me.
When I ran, I felt as if I were no longer a werewolf, and just a wolf. Sometimes, that scared me. I feared that I'd act like one but I never did. I was strong enough to restrain my animalistic needs and enjoy the pleasures this form brought.
Since I'd been much more integrated into the human civilization over the last few months, I rarely had the opportunity to stretch my hind legs.
All too soon, I found exhaustion to be creeping up my spine so I made my way to my own little spot. The place I hid out when people were a bit too mean, when the world seemed to be pushing me down. I guess, when I just wanted to get away.
As I slowed to the edge, I panted exasperatedly, catching sight of the sun climbing over the shallow mountains. It'd been way too long since I'd seen it or appreciated it and the many promises it held.
The view overlooked the entire valley that went beyond our pack lands, lands that were practically begging to be explored. And even though I didn't have an inner wolf to guide me, I still had natural instincts as well as alpha tendencies, both of which compelled me to explore the world just beyond my grasp. The world I could possibly claim as my own, but dad would never let me, not with that thing out there.
I pushed the thought from my head as I laid down. The woods were a little louder now- the pack was slowly waking up and taking the peaceful atmosphere with it. I wondered if I'd meet anyone on my way back, and would they welcome me back or would they stare like they used to? They were useless thoughts, I know, but when did that ever stop me from indulging in them?- Never.
I couldn't hide here forever, no matter how much I wished I could.
So after a wonderful hour of lazing around the grass, I push my body up, taking one final look at the view before taking off once more. This time not heading back to the house but my third favorite place in the pack.
As I neared her home, I forced myself to shift back. This was always the hardest part. It was like my bones had become brittle as they broke down for reconstruction to support my human figure. It always drained me. My formed felt as if it changed a little each time, leaving me feeling as though someone else possessed me; as if I was a fraud in my own form and I absolutely hated it.
"You look like shit."
My eyes dart up from where I was breathing heavily against a tree, only to be followed by me releasing a forced chuckle when they landed on Aunt Katty.
"Thank you." I reply with a smile as she approaches me. She forced a cup in my hand, causing me to frown as I look at the disturbingly orange liquid before downing it. Almost instantly, my strength and energy were restored and I could finally straighten up. I released a strained breath as I prepared to vocalize the gratitude that my entire body was feeling. "T-"
"Shut up." She cuts me off before pulling me into her arms. I chuckle slightly as she holds me tightly. "I know this hurts but bare with it a little, juvenile."
"I love your caring nature." I say sarcastically as she squeezes me before letting me go.
Aunt Katty was one of the few people in the pack who related to the mental isolation I felt sometimes. As a witch living amongst wolves, this was inevitable. Though she was no longer a member of the pack, she was still highly valued and respected by mostly everyone. I loved her immensely because she did what I didn't dare to do- she didn't care. She didn't care if people cursed her when she couldn't hear or glared when she couldn't see. She didn't care one bit because she was happy. After everything she went through, she managed to come out on top with a mate she loved and a hybrid child everyone adored. So she didn't have to care.
I envied her.
The only other person I felt connected to like this was Uncle Beckett, or at least, I did when I was a kid.
"Still being a shit excuse for a werewolf I see." She muses making me frown.
"Where's Caspar?" I question wanting nothing more than to get my friend and leave.
"Inside throwing a b*tch fit." She says making my frown deepen. "Anyway, why didn't you come yesterday?" She questions folding her arms.
"I was busy." I retort and she shoves me making me fall to the floor with a hiss.
"You were being a turd." She answers and I pout slightly. I realized a long time ago, Aunt Katy used me as a visual replacement for my dad when he wasn't around. As the only kid with black hair and red eyes despite not being blood relatives, many thought my dad and I shared a resemblance in features. It was a nice sentiment I held onto when I was sad, but not one I let myself believe otherwise.
"Sorry?" I reply as more of a question than a statement.
"Yeah whatever." She grunts, rolling her eyes before settling them on me once more. "You okay though?"
"I'm okay." I reply with a weak smile, making her return a small one. "Seriously."
"Say the word and I'll make you your own mate." She says with a smirk and I shake my head with a chuckle, knowing she'd actually try something that crazy if I asked.
"No thanks." I say as my smile settles. It wavers however when I hear screeching nails from inside her house. I turn back to her with a small growl. "What'd you do to Caspar?"
"I locked him inside." She snickers making me sigh.
I push myself off the ground and walk past her and towards the house. The moment I push the front door open, whatever block seemed to be present dropped and Caspar immediately came lunging out.
I smile widely as our bodies crash into the ground, him lying above me as his light green eyes locked with my own. I laugh as he immediately begins licking my face. I push his head away before circling my arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. I knew he couldn't hug me back, but the feeling of familiar black fur brushing my skin was so damn comforting that I couldn't help myself.
You're never leaving me again - Caspar's heavy voice rasps and I can only smile as my chest warms.
I wouldn't dream of it - I reply honestly as I push him off so I can stand before he has the chance to attack me with his tongue again.
After I dust myself clean a little, Caspar tucks his head under my palm while rubbing his body against my leg like a cat.
"I love being God." Aunt Katy says making me roll my eyes. She liked to believe that because she gave me Caspar, she was basically the Moon Goodess … but better.
This woman never shuts up - Caspar groans making me chuckle while Aunt Katy narrows her eyes.
"Whatever he just said, he's a little b*tch for it." She grits out and Caspar hisses angrily.
"Okay, let's go home." I say trying to separate the two pronto. "Thank you for checking up on him."
"Yeah whatever." She replies swatting me off as she makes her way back to her own home.
"Tell Uncle Apollos and Nikola I say hi." I shout but she just slams the door shut behind her.
And you actually like that woman - Caspar says looking up at me with that look that was his way of saying 'I'm stupid'.
Let's go home - I say rubbing his head before we begin walking back.
Luckily, Aunt Katy lived far enough from others that we didn't come across any unwelcoming faces and quickly made it home with no troubles.
Walking inside, the house was no longer lying in a state of silence but in building chaos instead.
I turn the corner to the kitchen, not surprised to find my parents making out with ice cream between their lips. Caspar's little disgusted roar makes the two jump apart to look to us.
"There's a bedroom for this." I inform as I try to delete the image I'd just witnessed from my memory.
"My house, my kitchen, my mate." Po growls like the bear he was and I just roll my eyes. "Go play with the other shitbags."
"Stop calling them shitbags!" Dad protests despite the heavy blush on his cheeks.
I decided to take my leave from the two as I head to my room for a shower instead with Caspar at my side as we climbed the stairs.
About halfway up and we were met by the heavy, rushed steps of Hagen as he comes sprinting down the stairs. Josey immediately pops out from the corridor behind him, her eyes blazing with a fire that said his time left on this planet was short.
"I am going to castrate you." She grinds out while Hagen laughs like a mad scientist running for his life.
When the two disappear down another hallway, I look to Caspar who gives me a small shrug and we continue to climb up the stairs.
Peter's door was shut so I didn't bother stopping, and Damon's door was the exact same. When I opened mine, I couldn't help the growl that escaped my lips. Damon was lying on my bed flipping through one of my old books while Amelia was sprawled out on the floor.
"Get off my bed." I snap and he immediately jumps off with wide eyes. Alphas got a little territorial with their sleeping areas, and another alpha just laying in my territory didn't settle well. I was fine with Damon doing so when I was present, when I invited him to my room and basically chaperoned. It was a completely different story when it was just him.
"Wasn't thinking." He answers with a lame excuse of an apology and I just take a deep breath to calm myself while Caspar attacks him- a little violently but mostly lovingly.
"You never think." Amelia comments while she brings herself to her feet. Damon glares at her but she ignores him as she turns to me. A sweet smile immediately spreads across her lips and I just open my arms. She instantly jumps between them, and I catch the jealous glare Damon held but just stuck out my tongue childishly.
"You've gotten taller." I comment as we withdraw, Caspar now resting on my bed after becoming bored with Damon.
"Growth spurt." She explains with a small smile. "Perks of having a six foot two beast of a dad."