Flash back
"Pack meeting," I hear Alpha's familiar voice. But his command wasn't so familiar lately, there hasn't been anything to discuss with how everything has been straightforward in the forest. Zombies run every show often, and only the familiar creatures have been present.
"Oh goodness, I hope it's something exciting," Chetan said getting up, we were just cuddling and staring up at the morning sky.
My feet drag their way to the gathering of the packs. Alpha Cricket holds his daughter Atsila, with my twin Kiara clinging to his arm. Smoke and Forest approach us, Smoke with a visible cup of coffee in his hand.
"What's up boss," Dev says, approaching with a grin.
Ajay laughs with Nora by his side.
"With the holidays coming up and everything is calm in the forest, I am going to offer everyone to return home for the holidays if they wish to. Ash and Abookisgun have volunteered to stay back considering they have no family for them to visit. I myself am also staying back."
Everyone claps, excitedly besides me, of course. The girl with too many feelings, that's often how I think of myself.
I hear everyone's happy conversations about returning home and seeing their family, and I can't help but notice my fiance's grin from ear to ear.
Moments later, I sit by the fire and I know Chetan has scattered off somewhere with Dev, probably off hunting, a new hobby he picked up from the time I was a vampire, and he used to enjoy getting me blood to drink. He kills small game like rabbits and squirrels, and Ajay uses it in soups.
I watch Ajay kiss Nora, and it's not jealousy that takes over me, just sadness of our lost relationship. I mean, I still have some deep respect for Alpha, but we're not as close as we used to be on a friendly level.
My eyes see Chetan approaching carrying two dead rabbits, and the blood dripping from its mouth makes me tremble with bad memories. I'll always remember my time in the clan and how I hated to end little creatures' lives.
I see him drop the rabbits in front of the fireplace for Ajay. He takes a seat next to me, and I smile, feeling his hand on my leg.
"You didn't join Kiara and Kirsten swimming at the river?"
I shake my head.
I notice the frown on his face. "Sorry, I wouldn't have left if I knew you weren't going."
"It's fine, we don't always have to be together."
He chuckles and brings my hand to his face, kissing it.
"I can't wait for my mom to see who I'm marrying."
This time, I am sure my reaction was all over my face. "Chetan, I don't want to return home."
I see his eyebrows cross, and I know he has a different plan than me. "Well, I do miss my family."
"And they all think you're with Kiara."
"So, she's with her mate Cricket, they will understand."
I feel myself biting my lip in frustration. Oh how I long for a drama-free relationship with my boyfriend, but I know this is real love and not a fairy tale book fantasy, and that's just not going to happen. Every relationship has problems.
"And they'll just be disappointed." I stand up, ready to dash off into the forest.
"Zare, no they won't."
"I'm not leaving."
"Fine, but I don't know if I can pass up the opportunity. I need to return home with or without you."
I give him one last look before I walk in the opposite direction.