I didn't find my mate that night and by the time I got back home Emerald and my aunt were gone. Johnson had found her hiding in the chicken coop at the Kyser's and he told me that she didn't burn anything else and stayed calm when leaving.
She didn't have many things to take with her, but I made sure to put my shirt in my aunt's bag for her. My aunt called me when they got there and I tried to see if she could get Emerald on the phone, but she refused. I knew she would be upset, but I didn't expect her to hold a grudge towards me. We had a special friendship and I figured i would just have to give her more time.
She apparently needed a lot of time because soon a year went by and no matter how many times I called my aunt, Emerald always refused to speak to me. I tried not to let it bother me and when the next blue moon started to approach I got very excited. Not because of the next chance I was being given to find my mate, but because my aunt Helen would be here soon and I would get to see Emerald again.
She was still upset with me, but it would be harder for her to stay mad in person. My aunt told me that Emerald has lots of friends and would always tell me about her report cards. She got high grades and was adapting great to her new life as far as I knew.
The last time we spoke I asked her if she would come a little early again so Emerald could stay for a couple weeks just incase it would take time to get her to warm back up to me. She agreed and I had been counting down the days till their arrival.
I had given Kacey's parents my aunt's number so that I could keep my promise to her about still having her friend. It was silly, but I really missed that pup and had planned to make her stay as fun as possible to make up for the last time we saw each other.
'Soft'.
I rolled my eyes at Zeb, he didn't want to admit that he had grown fond of her and pretended it didn't bother him that she wouldn't talk to us.
We weren't the only ones who missed her either. Anytime I saw Kyser he would ask me how she was doing and would always say it wasn't the same without her harassing his animals.
I had thrown myself into my work and was trying hard to keep busy to make time go by faster. Anytime I laid in bed at night though I could still smell her smoke scent, but it was almost completely gone now. I thought about her more then I was willing to admit and sometimes doubted if I had made the right choice.
I hoped this visit would make things better though and I was willing to start completely over if I had to. I didn't care if I had to bribe her with bacon every morning to get her to talk to me, she couldn't hate me forever. Or at least that's what I kept telling myself.
I had stopped seeing Autumn completely and focused on tracking down Scout. Nobody knew anything and no matter how far I traveled from our territory I never found anything either. I wondered how far Emerald must have traveled to wind up on the farm. I thought about how many nights she spent in the woods alone in the dark.
Helen said she never did have anymore incidents with the fire, but she was still struggling with getting her to stop killing wild game. I found it funny and thought about her stubbornness towards regular food amusing still. I was sure she thought about me too and I was willing to be patient and wait for her to come around.
I was in my office doing paperwork when Johnson came knocking on the door. Our relationship was still a bit strained from the situation last year. I couldn't help but want to blame Johnson for Emerald's silent treatment towards me.
"Come in" I said without looking up from my desk.
Johnson opened the door and walked in, but I still didn't look up at him.
"Alpha, your aunt Helen just got in".
He said this sounding hesitant and I stopped what I was doing and finally looked up at him. I didn't even try and hide the smile on my face and stood up and started walking towards the door.
"August wait." he said and moved in front of the door.
"Move, I want to see how she looks." I said and tried not to use my Alpha voice.
"She didn't come August. I'm sorry." he said giving me a sympathetic look.
"What do you mean she didn't come?" I asked.
How could she not come back? Did she really hate me that much for sending her away? How long was she going to keep punishing me?
"She just needs more time she will forgive you I promise."
I couldn't believe she was holding a grudge against me like this and stormed past Johnson and down the stairs. I went to go find my aunt and when I was outside I found her sitting in the rocking chair on the front porch.
"Why didn't she come ? Who is she staying with while you're here?"
She stopped rocking in her chair and cut her eyes at me.
"Well, hello to you too nephew." she said and I ran my hand through my hair.
"I'm sorry aunt Helen, you know I'm happy to see you always. It's just the last time we spoke on the phone.. I thought she was coming with you."
I tried not to let it show just how disappointed I was, but it was hard not to when I had been looking forward to seeing her all year.
"I'm sorry August I really did try to get her to come, but she is just so stubborn sometimes. I swear it reminds me so much of how you were at that age."
I let out a sigh and let my head hang low a minute. I ran my hand through my hair like I always did when I was stressed. I still couldn't get over her not coming to visit me. I thought for sure she would still come at least to see Kacey. Even if she was mad at me.
"She does miss you August. She might not want to admit it right now, but she does."
I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders.
"It's fine, probably better this way anyhow." I said to her before leaning over and placing a quick kiss to her forehead.
She gave me a sympathetic smile and patted my hand a minute. I walked away and left her in the rocking chair to go out into the field.
I missed Emerald going with me on our morning runs, it wasn't the same without that small puppy zipping around through trees and bushes. I hoped she was happy and even if she never wanted to speak or see me again, at least I knew she was safe.
Sometimes if I closed my eyes I could still see her one glowing green eye. It was like the image was burned into my brain and allowed me to recall it vividly. I should've sent her away sooner then I did, if I had then maybe I wouldn't have gotten so attached and this would've been easier.
Not only did she leave a soft spot in my heart for her, but she also left me with a new identity.
Kids weren't afraid to come up to me anymore and everyone actually spoke in hush about me being a gentle Alpha towards the rogue. It wasn't the same type of view people had before we found her, but that all seemed so long ago now.
Between still being unsuccessful in finding my mate, Scout, and losing my little friend. I was feeling very doubtful in myself as Alpha. How could I be a good leader if I couldn't even find my pack a Luna? We would never be at our best without her and Zeb had stayed especially quite after the last blue moon.
He told me it was my fault for not finding her and that if I hadn't been so distracted with Emerald, then we might've had better luck. I stayed sitting in the middle of the burnt circle that was still left from that night. I had contacted other Alphas and even some sorcerers to try and find anything about werewolves being able to do what she could, but nobody had ever heard of such a thing.
I knew in my gut that it had to do with Scout and it worried me that she wasn't the only rogue with abilities. I had a small fear that she would grow up and use it for the wrong reasons, but I would always remember the talks we would have about right and wrong.
I hope it sunk in with her what I was talking about. As far as my aunt said though she was just like any other little girl and never lost her temper with anyone, except when she tried to bring her here. I decided I would have to take a step back from Emerald and give her the space she obviously wanted.
Even though I desperately wanted to know what was going on in her life and how she was adjusting. I could still call and get my updates on her, but this would be the one and only year that I would ask my aunt Helen to bring her to visit. I wasn't going to force her to see me if she didn't want to. I would have to wait for her to come to me and a part of me was worried that she never would.
I stood up from the burnt ground and stripped my clothes off to shift. I ran towards the line of trees and took off into the woods to try and get her glowing green eye out of my mind. The only thing I could do was wait and be patient for her.