INDIGO'S POV
I drove into the shared apartment parking lot. I exited the car and looked up at the sky, the sun was a few hours away from setting. Sometimes it still amazed me how bright it was at night during the summer days. It amazed me that during the summer the sun would set close to 10 pm and during winter it sets around 5 pm. Looking at my surroundings always managed to calm me down. I noticed a forest a few miles away and zoomed my eyes in on the tree line. I was able to see the trees closely as if I was standing a few feet away. A stag peeked its head out from a tree glancing at its surroundings. It stepped out of the forest into the clearing, right behind it was a doe and a small fawn.
~That must be its family.~
A part of me wished I could have a family like that. A normal family with a mother and father. Something I never had.
"Indy?" I zoomed out and regained my normal eyesight. I glanced toward Evan, he gave me a concerned look. "Are you okay?"
"I'm sorry." I shoved my hands in my pockets and began to fidget with my keys. "I was staring at the woods over yonder."
"I've known you since we were cubs, Indy. I know that the only times you stare off into the distance is when something is bothering you a lot."
"You're not wrong."
"Come on, let's go inside. We can talk there." Even gestured at the last door on the bottom right.
"Of course, just give me a moment." I took out my keys and locked my car causing it to light up and honk. Evan guided me to his apartment which was below a set of stairs to the second floor. His door hung the number twelve and was painted a bright shade of crimson. I heard the click of the door as the door was unlocked allowing us to go inside. I took one more glance at the forest before I stepped through the apartment threshold. Surprisingly Evan's place was clean, with no trash in the kitchen, dining, or living room.
"Alright who cleaned your place?" I snickered.
"What are you talking about? I obviously cleaned my own place."
"Let me guess...your mom came over."
"She did not as I said before I cleaned my apartment all by myself!" His tone was stern yet still sounded carefree.
"Whatever you say." I shrugged my shoulders before I sat down on the couch. I leaned my back against the cushions. My body ached as I relaxed on the couch and threw my head back. "I still don't believe a word you're saying."
"No one ever does," Evan sighed as he sat down next to me with two beers in his hands. He then extended one out to me. "Here, I have a feeling you'll need this."
"Thanks." I gripped the beer, condensation droplets still hanging on the glass bottle. I grabbed my bottle opener and snapped off the bottle cap. The cool, bitter booze was refreshing as it ran past my lips. It took the edge off a little but I still felt like shit.
"So...what is going on Indy?"
"You remember the party we went to a few days ago?"
"Yeah, how could I not. There were so many beautiful women there, plus that smell still haunts my mind."
"Well, when I split up I ran into some of our pack members. I ended up staying longer to catch up on how our pack was doing. As I was talking to them I got distracted because...I found my mate."
"I can't fucking believe it!" Evan roared in laughter. "Are you glad I asked you to come to that 'stupid party' now?"
"Evan." I frowned.
"You lucky bastard. Did you mark her yet? Have I met her?"
"No, and no."
"Shit." Evan's grin turned sour. "Did she reject you?"
"Yes and no. She doesn't know how to properly reject our mating bond, but she said that she never wants to be in a relationship with me."
"Fuck man, that sucks. Let me guess...she's human."
"Yeah."
"So that's why you were being such a major dick."
"I'm sorry, I've been miserable and pissed. I don't know what to do. I don't want to reject her, and even if I did she would still have to properly accept my rejection."
"The only way for her to know that is if you tell her about our werewolf customs."
"Are you crazy Evan!? Wouldn't that just scare her away?"
"I don't know Indy, she might. But there is also that chance that she won't give a shit." He opened his beer and took a drink before placing it on the coffee table. "Your mate...was she that woman who tried to talk to you earlier today? The one with the pasty white skin and long black hair?"
"Yup that's her."
"If that was your mate why did you blow her off today? She looked worried and was obviously trying to talk to you about something."
"I wasn't thinking. I was angry and hurt, what should I do Evan?" I placed down my beer and wildly ran my finger through my hair. "I don't want to lose her but I also don't want to be stuck in a one-sided relationship."
"I would not want that either, trust me. Maybe you should just talk to her. I'd start by apologizing for being a giant asshole."
"Yeah, you might be right. What would I tell her?"
"The truth."
"The truth? You want me to tell her I'm a werewolf?"
"Yeah. She's your mate, she needs to know what is happening to her and why. Maybe that will help her feel more comfortable."
"But what if she doesn't take it well? What if she is scared of me and never wants me to be her mate?"
"Do you think she would be frightened of you and your wolf?"
"I don't know. There are days when I can smell her lust but then she runs away from me. Like she wants nothing to do with me."
"I would give it a shot. If she doesn't accept you as what you are then reject her. I know it is going to hurt. But I think it will hurt more if you don't."
I picked up my beer and drowned it down leaving the bottle now empty.
~Fuck, he's right. I'm gonna have to tell her. I have a bad feeling about this though.~
-You're wrong, Indigo. She'll accept us and love us for who we are. I just know it!-
~I hope so, Shadow.~
"Thanks, Evan." I leaned back and looked over at him. "I'll talk to her, I don't know when but I'll try."
"I'm glad, man. I really think this is what's best for both of you." I gave Evan a small grin as I stood up from the couch. He stood up beside me and held me in a hug for a few seconds.
"I'm gonna go home. I think I need some time alone to think."
"I think that's a great idea," he patted my upper arm, "Don't get into any trouble without me okay."
"I won't" I chuckled. "I'll see you later."
I waved Evan goodbye as I walked out and closed his door. I walked over to my car and reached in my pocket once again for my keys.
-Indigo, can I go on a run? It's been a while since I stretched my paws.-
~Yeah, buddy. A run sounds like a fantastic idea. How about we run in the forest we saw earlier?~
-Yes, please! I would love that!-
~Alright just give me a moment to drive to the edge of the forest.~
Shadow began prancing around in my head, howling in excitement. It was the first time since Lily and I's kiss, that he was this happy. I drove the car to a clearing near the forest and made sure I locked the car. I breathed in the crisp forest air, the sun was further down in the sky. I strode into the forest and found a spot to hide my clothes. I undressed and then put them in a hole I found in one of the trees.
~Okay, Shadow I'm ready.~
I felt heat rush through every corner of my body as Shadow began to take over. My bones shifted and snapped into place as black fur grew over my body. Within a second I was completely transformed into my wolf. I was seeing through Shadow's eyes, feeling what Shadow felt. Our claws dug into the Earth as we howled at the evening sky that peered through the tree tops.
~Come on, Shadow. Let's run!~
We took off sprinting, the trees became fuzzy as we rushed past them. The cold, rushing air felt amazing against our fur. We continued to weave through the trees for what felt like hours. By the time we stopped the sun was long gone and the stars had awoken in the sky.
~We should probably start to head back, Shadow.~
-Okay, I'll run back to the car. I'll follow the scent of our clothes.-
We ran back towards the scent and accidentally came across a clearing in the forest. A crescent moon hung above and reflected below on the lake now in front of us.
~I know this place. It's Northcaster Lake.~
We strolled around the lake, the scent of my clothes still off in the distance. We then caught a familiar scent and Shadow became excited. As we turned a flashlight shone right on our face. The person holding it was a woman with pale white skin, and raven black hair. Her hands began to tremble as I could hear her breath and her heart rate quickened.
~Fuck, Fuck, Fuck...what is Lily doing here!?~