When Caleb initially showed me he would confront Darius, I didn't care that I had hurried out of my room without warning, leaving me barefoot. Following that, a commotion broke out, with people screaming for them to stop as fists flew, bodies crashed into tables, and objects broke. Only to be met with echoes of growls. Everything got to be too much for me. I was not too fond of those kinds of disputes. It always gave me anxiety and concern. In the apartments where I grew up, I often heard arguments.
I could hear the words and fists being thrown and the crashing. I immediately began racing into the treeline after leaving the Pack House. I spent a good deal of time there with Caleb and Alexandra. I had a couple spots I could go if I took the straight route, but tonight I just rushed towards the treeline in search of some darkness to hide in.
I stopped when my feet hurt too much and cried beside a tree. I raised my eyes to the sky and fixed my gaze on the moon while my silent sobs begged forgiveness.
There is nowhere I can go. I gripped myself until the chilly air made me shiver rather than the tension. A creature sprung out at me as I heard twigs snapping and rustling just past where my eyes could see anything in the darkness. His fur was a cinnamon shade with some of the hazel I knew and adored mixed in with the gold sparkles. He had broad paws. I cried, "Jesus, don't jump out at me in the dark." He puffed and knelt down in front of me.
He wanted me to climb on, I knew. He desired to transport me back to the community. Although I didn't want to return, I couldn't stay here. I knew he was mentally cursing me for coming out here in the first place. Once he returned to his human form, I could hear those words. I decided I had created enough drama for one evening, and we parted ways amicably.
I saw that the Packhouse was deserted when I got there. For the meal that is scheduled for tonight, everyone must have left for Townsquare. Caleb had to look for me, so I felt bad he was missing it. After shifting and grabbing the clothing waiting for him on the stairs, he forced me to turn around and look at him. "Why would you enter the woods at night barefoot?
Sincerely, Julie, you made me anxious; I had to find your fragrance, he growled as he took my hand and led me upstairs.
I'm really sorry for everything that's happened tonight, Caleb. You shouldn't be arguing with your best buddy or skipping dinner. Just leave, please." I was terminated.
Julie, halt. Nothing requires an apology from you. I made all these decisions independently; you didn't ask me to. I'm sorry if the fighting scared you. It was necessary if I wanted to make my point. Otherwise, Darius wouldn't respect me, he said.
His lip was recovering after being split by a punch, but any other bruising or other damage had already disappeared. I wasn't sure what he was doing when he led me into the bathroom and pointed to my feet before he proceeded to draw a warm bath. He grinned, "We need to soak those. My feet were filthy and might have been sliced. I nodded as I sat on the tub's edge to lower them into the partially full tub.
"Please, I know how much this evening means to you. I said, "Go join everyone; I'll be fine here." I gave my friend a half-smile. Although I wasn't in the mood to smile, I tried to reassure him. "I don't feel like having dinner with them. Him," he reprimanded. The words "Caleb" came out of my mouth with sorrowful and possibly imploring eyes. "Everything is resolved; it's OK. You didn't want to leave, and neither did his parents. He remarked that we were all idiots when we turned on him, and he laughed at that.
He said I could stay. I needed to hear it. He rolled up his pant legs and removed his socks before responding, "In his own words, yes." "What in the name of hell are you doing?" He put his feet in the bath with me, and I giggled. My best friend pushed me and said, "Where you go, I go, kid."
I started crying again, but this time for a different cause. We sat on the tub's edge with our feet inside, and I put my head on his shoulder. "Caleb, you don't realize how much you mean to me. I can't express my gratitude for everything you've done for me. Sincerely," I blinked back tears. "I promised to have your back. Darius is my closest buddy, yet when he wants to be, he can be a dick. And you're my friend. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and held me close as we allowed our feet to soak.
He never returned for dinner outside of the city. We walked down into the mancave to watch a movie and unwind after I argued with him about it, but he ultimately prevailed. I did not consider how the approaching Alpha might not want me present. Caleb assured me it was handled, but I felt strange staying if I knew I wasn't welcome. He had battled for me. Literally.
I would enjoy my friend's company tonight; the rest must be resolved tomorrow. I was at least aware that I needed to escape the Pack House. I was unable to share a home with Darius. I am aware that he wants me out of the way.
I must have dozed off because a sleepy Caleb was helping me to bed when I awoke. When he saw I was awake, his worn-out voice crooned, "It's late, sunshine." When he said that, he told me to go back to sleep, which I did right after bed. It had been my bed for a while, yet I suddenly felt like a guest again. Caleb knew I loved to sleep that way, so I heard him click the latch as he left my room, and I immediately stopped thinking and fell asleep. Darius's parents came to find me in the morning.
"Honey, we just wanted to stop by and express our regrets for yesterday. Our son is a lovely kid who has a strong will. You recall how the locals behaved when you initially arrived. Luna Eira apologized and recalled my beginnings in the community at the same time. "I wanted to apologize to you both for what happened yesterday, but that's OK. I didn't mean to do that...I don't like to cause a scene," I said haltingly.
Oh, don't get all worked up. That is how wolves converse. Alpha Arles gave me the same firm slap on the shoulder that Caleb had used to reassure me. Confronting an Alpha can be risky, but the wolves in command apparently had to use force when the others refused to cooperate. I would never want to take Caleb's position away from him. His mother supported him, saying, "Our boy's hard headed but ultimately fair." At every statement they made, I nodded. I was unable to speak about it.
"Oh, good," I'm pleased we spoke. After you left inconsolably last night, I felt guilty about this. We can now concentrate on the upcoming celebrations. You'll enjoy it. Just before she and her husband left, Luna Eira quickly embraced me. I was relieved the two hadn't seen me putting together a bag. I didn't want to look elsewhere for fear of upsetting them.
It was Alexandra's home for now, but I couldn't stay there permanently. Since there were no phones in this area, I had to actively locate people when I needed to contact them or ask someone else to mind-link them.
Since I was up early helping to make breakfast, I asked one of the other employees to inform Caleb that I had gone to Alex's and taken my bag before anybody else in the house woke up. This early in the morning, I wasn't about to go barging into Alexandra's home, but at least I was out of the Pack House, which meant I was out of the way. Alex's garden is where I left my bag before heading back into town for a coffee.
Behind me, I heard a voice say, "Good morning, sweet girl." It was Mr Finn, a senior citizen for whom I frequently buy groceries. Hello Mr. F, Good or bad? I inquired as I brought a chair out in front of the store I was visiting for him. On days with favourable weather, they had several tables and chairs outside. He grinned, "As good as these bones will allow me to be." "How are things going with the next Alpha and Beta? The girl giving Mr Finn his coffee questioned me, knowing who I was, "I assume you met them yesterday. I was unsure.
Speaking poorly of Darius would be inappropriate because these folks adored him. My flimsy response was, "They've been so busy with everyone." I tried to appear as if I hadn't even spoken to them. That's something I almost wish was true.
Mr Finn was an ageing man who had suspenders to keep his pants up and had seas of wrinkled skin. He had been using a cane for several years, so his posture was somewhat slumped, but he continued to go for his morning coffee strolls. The coffee girl sat down next to me after delivering Mr Finn's coffee, leaning slightly onto the table.
She flipped her hair, the same colour as the liquid in my cup, over her right shoulder and replied, "So." She was waiting for me to respond to a question she hadn't asked and that I couldn't understand. She huffed and leaned in once she realized I had no idea what she wanted.
Finally, she inquired, "How was he really?" She attempted to cover up the sneer on her face that told me she knew my earlier response was a load of trash. I responded honestly but evasively, saying, "He's not thrilled I'm here." I had no intention of promoting Pack House.
"I was aware. With all due respect, a few girls in town were betting on how he would react to you. I know better than some girls who claimed he would be courteous about it. She informed me that we attended the same school. I thought, "Oh lovely, people are placing bets," but I wasn't amused. She tapped the table and rose, saying, "Darius is Darius." She walked back inside before I could ask her what she meant when she said it; I had no idea what she was getting at.
Mr Finn interjected haphazardly, "I think they dated in high school." I wasn't aware he had been paying attention until I quickly turned my attention to him. This was a nosy community. Everyone is aware of one another's affairs. "Many women will be keeping an eye out for our future leader. When she-wolves want something, they can become vicious. You're familiar with how things work, he said, trying to help.
They all appeared to warn me not to obstruct anyone's path, including them. I nodded in agreement, which prompted him to continue. "I just say that because I have eyes and ears. If the ladies talk over him liking you, they must already have preconceived notions about you and him. The way he looked at you yesterday was apparent. I'm not trying to embarrass you; I'm just trying to explain," he said.
I admitted it, saying, "He was staring at me because he's mad I'm here." "It doesn't matter why, beautiful girl. These gals will want it as long as you have the Alpha's attention, he thought to himself as he sipped his hot beverage. I questioned, "Even bad attention?" He gave a nod.
"Darius is getting close to meeting his soul partner. They all are aware of it. Chances are he has a girl at home if he hasn't met anyone while away at training. All of them will be hoping it's them. Just take care, my love. When the new moon arrives, cycles come to an end, and new ones start. He wisely told me, "Change is coming. The older wolves frequently attempted to connect the moon to our current problems. She served as their compass.
We were all aware that something was changing. The new moon was chosen for the Alpha ritual because it was the ideal night for one Alpha's cycle to end and another to begin.
Not the she-wolves, who could have killed Darius, but the thought of my cycle ending terrified me.