We didn't need much time to know where the crime had happened, there were two police cars, a fire engine and an ambulance, all around a large tree that was on the border between the center and the northern part of the city.
The smell of fresh blood and death caught up with me as I approached the isolation strip, Triton was next to me and his jaw was tensed.
Somehow, I knew he felt guilty, but we couldn't have guessed it was a trap, now we had to be more cautious.
- He's crossed the line. Triton watched the officers take care of the girl's body.
I felt helpless and would do anything to catch the culprit, it seemed Triton felt the same.
Suddenly, he came out of the crowd and ran, I followed him and we ended up behind the big tree, then I smelled that disgusting smell, I scratched my nose, it was really unbearable, but it was our only clue.
- I'll go after him.
- I'll go along.
"No!" he glared at me. "You must stay here."
"Why?" I stared at him. "You can't go alone!" If we go together it will be easier.- It
won't be any easier. He took a step towards me. - It's just going to be more complicated.
He wanted me to back off, but I faced him by taking two steps towards him, we were too close.
- Look, I'm tired of your macho attitudes. I growled. "I may not be as experienced as you, but I'm no slutty bitch who can't even clean her ass.
I was furious, clenched my fists and waited for him to say something.
"I don't care if you think I'm playing macho." - he scoffed. "But you'll get in my way if you go, that's a fact."
We kept staring at each other, I just couldn't believe he could be so rude.
"Kristine, I came here to do my job while you just want to see your city at peace again so you can live your happy little life," he commented dryly.
"Be honest with me, when you got here I seemed happy?"
He didn't answer, but his gaze softened a little.
- And you know what's funnier? I looked right into your eyes. "I was terrible before you arrived, but then I met you and you showed me how fun my life can be, how good it can be. And I thought, really, that once in my life I would have someone, a friend, who I could tell everything and who would understand me. I've always dreamed of meeting someone of my kind, but I just didn't know it was going to be someone so rude!
- Kristine, I...
"I don't want to know," I shouted, "If you want to go alone, go!" Just do me a favor!
He cringed a little and waited for what I had to say. I felt the tears flow, but I didn't care.
"Finish your work and be gone!" I shouted.
I turned my back and ran, I was angry that I had been so naïve and stupid, and the worst thing was that I believed him, I trusted him. I tried to stop the tears as I ran, but they wouldn't stop coming out, the next thing I knew, I was in front of Vivian's house.
I stopped and looked at the big gate, the garden full of roses and then, by sheer luck, my friend was coming down the ramp from the parking lot.
My face must have been terrible, because she started running towards me, opened the gate and hugged me, and I cried even more.
*
Talking to Vivian was great, too bad I couldn't tell the whole truth, but it was nice to be able to vent to a friend. When I left his house, I noticed how cold the night was, I hugged myself to warm my arms a little.
I took small and quick steps, I didn't pay much attention to the people around me, when I arrived in the center I realized that many shops were still open, even though it was eleven o'clock in the evening on a Monday.
An icy wind blew past me, chilling the back of my neck, I quickened my pace, I wanted to get home soon, take a shower and sleep. After the center, in the southern part, there was only silence, that was all I needed, a little peace to be able to relax a little.
Finally, when I got home, I looked at the moon, it was so bright, I gave a small smile, days ago I would have been in trouble, if it wasn't for Triton I would still be having the unexpected transformations.
I approached the door of the house, went in and went straight to my room, threw the bag in a corner and went into the bathroom, took a quick shower and, after putting on some cold pajamas and socks, I lay down on the bed.
The stuffed animal, Bryan's gift, was still there, thrown next to me, I pushed him out of bed, I wanted a man time in my life. I wrapped myself in the blanket and waited for sleep, and I'm glad it came very quickly.
It was a little windy, but the sun, which was weak, and my jacket managed to keep me warm. I was just out of college and my stomach was growling, I even thought about stopping to eat somewhere, but I was looking forward to seeing him, kind of silly of me.
In less than half an hour, I was at home, I was disappointed not to see him or smell him. I took a quick look around, maybe he doesn't know when I get out of college, or he said those kind things just so he doesn't have a wolf enemy anymore.
I made fun of myself, I was really naïve, I barely knew him and I already believed his excuses... What was happening to me?
I'm warning you, Kristine, one day you'll find a man who will make you stop and think: What did he do to me?
Was it possible that Triton had changed me that much? I've always been so cautious when it came to men, even with Bryan, it took a long time for me to fully surrender to him.
I open the door and walk into the house, throw my backpack in the living room and go to the kitchen, heat up the frozen food while a few moments from yesterday, in this kitchen, come to my mind. And what bothers me the most is that I remember perfectly his smile, his smell and his loud laugh.
I snorted as the microwave beeped indicating that my lunch was ready, I ate in silence, I had no one to talk to anyway. I had to admit, I hated living alone, it was horrible to have no one to talk to... Maybe that's why I trusted the Triton so quickly.
When I finished eating, a strange thought invaded my head... If I were part of a pack, I wouldn't have to live alone anymore, besides that I would live with people of my kind, but I needed to be more mature and less naïve or I would be fooled easily, just like I happened recently.Quickly, I
tidied up the kitchen and went to the living room, I had a lot of college stuff to do, since yesterday I didn't have time to do anything.
I sat on the couch, took one of my handouts and started studying, it wasn't a very difficult concept, but, as my teacher said, it's always good to do some exercises, especially when you have calculations.
I stayed for thirty minutes to do two exercises, not that they were very difficult, but my head wasn't very good and, in the end, I ended up giving up my afternoon of studies and went to my room. All I wanted now was a shower and maybe I'd give it a sleep.