Faylen's POV
It was a day like any other when I found out the truth. The sun was shining, and my midnight blue hair was gleaming. The sun hitting my emerald, green eyes just right so I had to squint to see them. Now that I had found my wolf and finally shifted, I could return home. I let out a small, relieved sigh. It had been forever since I'd seen my brother. The only one left of my family. I sighed quietly, a look of sorrow passing over my face.
After our parents passed when I was ten and my brother fifteen, we had been separated. He was able to stay with the pack as he was close enough to finding his wolf. I on the other hand had been shipped off to California. Where I lived with a pack until my eighteenth birthday. I had found my wolf a year earlier but was unable to rejoin my pack due to complications between our packs.
Now on my eighteenth birthday I would spend the next two days traveling back to Arkansas. I know the time seems ridiculous right? I sighed as the train pulled up. Grabbing my bag as I tilted my head to look at the ground. With a small smile I looked back up and made my way onto the train. Finding my bunker I placed the bag that held all her belongings onto the bed. The past week I had spent getting rid of everything I absolutely couldn't live without. All that remained now were pictures and a few pairs of clothes. The only memories that would remind me of this pack and the friends I had made here.
As I sat in my bunker car I curled up on the bed suddenly feeling exhausted and weak. Letting my mind drift off to think about what my brother had been up to while I was gone. Although the more I thought about him the more an unsettling feeling began to rise inside of me. I was exhausted yet it seemed I wouldn't be sleeping for a while. With another annoyed sigh I sat up and brushed my hair for the millionth time that day. It was something I always did when stressed or nervous.
I could feel my wolf seemingly pacing around my head. With a small shake of my head I return to my thoughts this time turning to the hope of finding my mate. I groan quietly at the thought. It's not that I didn't want a mate, in fact part of me was really excited at the chance of finding him. The other part of me though dreaded the mating process and the fear of being rejected by them.
An hour later I found myself writing in my journal. I was absent mindindly writing kind of just scrawling whatever came to mind on the piece of paper. If someone looked at it, they'd probably be confused and think I was some crazy person. Most of my writings ended up looking like this. A scrambled mess. Though to me it made perfect sense. I continued writing for the next hour and a half before fatigue washed over me. I yawned silently and curled up on my bed. With a small smile on my lips and the journal tucked safely against me I drifted away to sleep.
I was in a dark deep slumber dreaming about presumably nothing when I was startled awake. A loud screech filled the air and my eyes flashed open in an instant. I recognized immediately that we had come to a sudden halt. I sniffed the air curiously and worried something happened. Panicky I would glance around my room first then out the window. Looking for anything abnormal. A reason why the train had come to a halt so suddenly.
The more I looked and listened the less I knew. T was rather jarring. Finally I went to the door of my bunker cart. Silently sliding it open as I peeked my head out. I was met with other confused faces. I took notice of everyone scanning the area quickly. Most of them looked around my age. A few bunkers held two people. It made me thankful that so far I was able to be in mine alone. The only thing I despised more than vegetables was unnecessary interactions.
Suddenly over what I can only assume to be an intercom came a male voice. It was rough but soothing all the same.
"We apologize for the delay but due to a stalled train we will have to wait before proceeding." as the male stopped speaking, I heard a small chime. Rolling my eyes, I dipped back into my bunker. Looking out the window once more I finally saw it. About 50 feet away sat the end of another train. Glancing once more I did my best to peer out. I was able to make out the outline of this train joining the tracks we were also on.
I grumbled softly and sat back down. Pulling my phone out so I could text my brother that I would be later getting home.
To Darius: A train stalled out and we are now stuck. Will be running late love you.
I watched closely on my phone as the message popped up as it was delivered. I smiled, relieved that I still had a signal. I figured we wouldn't be moving for a while so I sat my phone on the bed not expecting my brother to actually respond to the message. Opening my bag I pull out the rough draft of a story I had been working on for the past two years. I figured now was as good as any to try and continue it. Taking out my pencil I begin to write making sure every line was precise and legible. No one knew I had been doing this. Not my closest friends from California down to my brother. I made sure to keep it a secret. I couldn't stand the comments if people knew. The constant begging to read it. Just a sneak peak until I finally caved or snapped off. Out of the corner of my eye I watched as my phone screen lit up.
To Faylen: Alright sis. Love you too just let me know how delayed you will be. I was hoping to catch up before I have to return to work.
I smiled reading the message not opening it but just glancing at it from my notification bar. I was rather surprised he had responded. Half the time he didn't even bother to read my messages. Though a part of me wondered if he had actually missed me. Closing my eyes I returned my focus to the task at hand deciding to respond to him later. Flipping my phone over so that I wouldn't be distracted by it.
It was about four hours later when the intercom switched on again. The same male voice spoke again.
"We once more apologize for the inconvenience. We will begin moving once more when the passengers from Train 105 have boarded. If you have room in your bunker please allow someone to join you" Once more the intercom switched off. I groaned quietly, running a hand through my midnight blue wavy hair, it laid mid back when straight down so it took a moment to run my hand all the way through.
I stared down at the new page I had begun writing on. Smiling softly at the progress I had made. Deciding it would be fine to stop for a moment to let someone join me I tuck the pages back into the folder. Sliding off from the bed as I tuck the folder back into my bag. Turning to the door I slowly if not a bit reluctantly slide it back open. My wolf growled irritatedly in my head and I rolled my eyes telling her to shut up.
It didn't take long for someone to wander by my doors. He appeared to be a few years older than me. Definitely no older than 23 though. He stood about 5'10 which would make him six inches taller than me. A muscular build yet he didn't radiate power. Glancing at his eyes my head tilted curiously. His eyes were a piercing hazel that seemed to swirl with a hint of brown. I snapped back to reality as he let out a cough to get my attention.
"Is it cool if I bunk with you?" He asked his voice came out silky smooth yet had a weak undertone to it. He was definitely no Alpha or Beta.
"Yeah that's fine just make yourself comfy I guess" I shrugged nonchalantly. My voice quiet and barely audible even to the heightened hearing of a werewolf. I tended to be quiet when talking to others and really preferred keeping to myself.
I watched as he walked into the small room and turned around sliding the door closed. I watched his movements carefully as he went to the bed across from mine, dumping his luggage on the bed. I smelt the air as I picked up his scent. I wonder what pack this boy belonged to. Though I would never dare ask that would require me to actually get friendly with this mere stranger. However he seemed to have a different idea. As he sat down on the bed he turned to look at me with a bright smile on his face.
"I'm Drake" He stuck out his hand for me to shake. ``And you are miss?"
"I'm Faylen" I kept it short and sweet, connecting my hand with his shaking it firmly. I didn't let my hand linger with his as I pulled away from his touch.
"What pack are you from? I'm from Black Reach, one of the largest packs in Arkansas.
I visibly tensed as he talked of his pack. What were the odds that this stranger and I were in the same pack. I didn't want him to know so opted to lie instead. I mean I wouldn't see this guy again anyway. "I'm from pack Black Wood. Based out in California." I didn't offer anymore information and I mean it wasn't a complete lie that is where I spent my time growing up. At least that's what it felt like.
"Oh what has you going this way?" His eyes shone with curiosity. Halfway not believing this girl. What business did a wolf from California have on a train to Arkansas.
God this guy was relentless. I held back an eye roll as my wolf complained in my head. "Just going to visit family." I shrugged and looked out the window with a small sigh. Hoping he would be satisfied by my answer. But of course he wasn't.
"Oh who are you going to see? What pack do they belong to?" He leaned forward, narrowing his eyes to watch her reaction.
Turning my head I gave a weak smile. "My brother from the Black Reach pack." Now it was my turn to ask the questions. "Where are you coming from? Why are you away from your pack?"
He waved his hand dismissively at my questions. "When did the train start moving again?"
I rolled my eyes annoyed at the fact he ignored my questions. Deciding I would play the same game I looked over at my phone. Picking it up I turned the screen on to see I now had a flood of messages.
From Darius: Has the train begun moving yet?
From Alpha Jackson: Heard about what happened. The pack can't wait to see you after so long don't be holding out on us now.
From Ashylen: We must catch up when you're back in town!!
From Victoria: Hey bestie, I miss you already!!
From Roy: I hope that new old pack treats you like the special girly you are. Don't forget to text.
From Alpha Ace: Hope your trip going home is okay. I heard about the stalled training.
From Luna Morelia: Axel is already missing you. You must visit soon.
From Axel: I miss you so much! You must come see me soon or so help me I'm coming to you.
From Darius: Sis?
I smiled seeing all the messages but only decided to respond to certain ones. Not having the patience or attention span to keep up with all the conversations.
To Darius: Train started moving like ten minutes ago.
To Axel: Definitely it won't be the same without you.
To Victoria: I miss you too!
To Roy: I'm not special at all but thanks. Don't worry I won't forget to text i'll miss you. <3
I watched silently as all my messages went to delivered and stayed there. A small smile playing on my lips now. It was nice knowing I had so much support from my old pack. It was still weird calling Black Wood my old home.
The rest of the trip I spent either playing on my phone or ignoring Drake. He tried talking to me more than once but I wasn't in the mood to talk anymore. We somehow got stuck on the same train in the same bunker heading to the same pack. After what seemed like an eternity we finally pulled up to the train station. The place that marked the end of this long and painfully suffering journey. I hadn't received any more messages and had precisely one phone call with my brother about the time I would arrive. Luckily my timing was perfect. He should be arriving just as I am departing. I looked at the train station bustling with people. Nothing like I remembered it to be. Standing up I grabbed my bag and turned around accidentally bumping into Drake. I gave him a sharp glare.
"Oh uhm sorry" he bowed his head and shuffled by to the door. I watched as he opened the door and disappeared into the crowd. I perked up as he departed and only hoped that. I soon followed suit, not bothering to close the door as I left and joined the hoard of people fighting to get off the train.