Fighting Instincts

Chapter Fourteen - Shopping

The engine purred to life and then we circled the round driveway toward the connected private road. It turned here and there so there was no straightaway to the house. I understood this was tactical. I took in all the sights. Mostly trees danced, their leaves changing colour in the crisp autumn air. It was a but chilly but still warm enough to go out with just a light sweater. I was happy to be out of the house. Supposedly I wasn't a prisoner and still I was feeling a little trapped.

The public road connected to the private drive was not busy. We didn't see our first car until we reached the third intersection. Walker then hoped onto a busy main drag before entering the highway. Whereever the pack was located was the outskirts of town. I didn't ask questions and the silence between us was comfortable. However there was something I had to pry out of my chest.

“Walker, I never got to thank you for your help and the role you took on. I needed time to process and I hope you didn't see me as too heartless but I do appreciate what you have done.”

His smile was all the confirmation I needed. His eyes twinkled as pulled a smile from the depths before speaking. “You make it easy to help Sylvaline. No offense but you remind me of an innocent pup, unaware of the harshness of the world. I do know you have met the worse of the world's harshness of course and I know the comparison is not exactly a match.”

I nodded, understanding what he meant and not taking offense. He wasn't far off. I didn't know what to expect in the world of the weres.

Walker brought me to an open air shopping mall. I knew of this one. I had always wanted to come. In the winter a glass dome was erected over the roof. Otherwise you were exposed to the elements. I studied the way people huddled together today. It was growing a little cooler, I didn't mind the cold at all. In fact I hated the heat of summer. It made my head hurt. Still I never told my parents the adversity I had to hot weather. I feared what it might mean if it was just me.

“Lead the way,” Walker said when I looked to him, expecting him to show me where he wanted to go.

“Uh,” I looked to my right and then left. “I haven't been here before so I might need to explore a bit. Unless you would rather...”

“Only job this afternoon and evening is as your protection detail. So explore as you wish.”

Walker was a gentleman beyond gentlemen. I knew this because of the kind and tender means he went about treating his daughter. It was further distinguished by his mannerism while I did some shopping. I was not allowed to carry anything. I couldn’t properly shop and feel the clothing or things I wanted if I was overburdened he declared. It didn’t matter if the items were light. For example, the first bag carrying a couple pairs of pajamas I had grabbed. Or the second bag of tanks and shorts as Walker has said I would likely need those if I was going to do any training and I couldn’t break his heart telling him I didn’t think I would be training. If he felt I didn’t get enough of something he would tell the salesperson to throw in a couple more of the same style. Such as shirts or yoga pants. I did say I only needed a few days of things because I could wash them. Walker wouldn’t listen to such nonsense. Yet his paternal instincts would kick in at times. If he didn’t approve of the store he would refuse to enter with some muttering of no she wolf I know would wear such restrictive clothing. Or, being represented as an object was self deprimating and he wouldn’t allow such things in the pack or support of a*****e promoting such offenses.

It was an odd feeling, the sense of a male being involved in the going ons of the females and yet there was a comfort I couldn’t explain. As if I knew he would have my back and I was sure Xena likely pushed his buttons but I could sense the fatherly love and protection and I knew she too loved her father. It made me curious if the love I felt for my parents was the same. I shook my head at the thought. Of course I loved my parents. No one could tell me otherwise. I pulled the dress over my head and tossed it in the corner.

“Uh, Walker, this one isn’t going to work out. It’s too tight.”

“Where is it tight?”

I was glad to be hiding in the change room where the blush across my cheeks couldn’t be seen by him. He was bound to think something was wrong with me. I just wasn’t accustomed to someone else taking an interest in my clothing. Plus I knew I was on the chubby side. It was an embarrassing moment pointing out your flaws to someone.

“My chest,” I tried not to whisper but I also lacked confidence and my voice shook a little. “I am sure if I get it in a size or two up I will not have to worry about it though,” I added, holding the changing room curtain to my body and sticking my head out to look at him. “But honestly, I don’t see why I would need a dress anyway, I mean I won’t be here permanently so I think just something to tie me over.”

“Nonsense, you never know when you need a dress or two. I won’t let you go around wearing a sack either. Hm… that silly girl might be right,” he grumbled at some grim realization. His eyes flicking from me to the rack beside him. “Get changed and come on out. Let’s get a bite to eat after I make a call.”

Walker didn't bother to register the glances he received walking with the food tray piled with burgers, fries, tacos, a couple sausages, my plate of Chinese noodles and fried chicken as well as a couple drinks and cheesecake cups for desert. He insisted going to every one of his favourite places because he didn't get to eat out often. He picked a place to sit after looking over the vast space. This area had three exits and so he picked the corner away from these exits and placed his back to the corner. He gestured for me to sit across from him.

“Uh, so this friend,” I began, picking at the noodles when Walker set them in front of me. “how is that going to help? Why can't I buy the bigger dress if you want me to have one?”

“A bigger waist means it won't fit as well. I know I wouldn't hear the end of it from Xena if I let you come back in some ill fitted dress. Shirts, shorts, pants, these don't matter as much. A dress, even my wife said a girl needed three nice fitting dresses. A formal, a semi-formal, and long, preferably bright, summer casual dress. I understand the first two but never the last. Still, the statement has stuck with me all these years.”

“So I can't upsize the dress because the waist will be too big and the size down is too small for the top. What is your friend going to do?”

“Not really my friend. More Xena's friend, a pack mate.”

“Quinn,” I offered, recalling the name from earlier and Walker's similar distaste.

“Yes,” Walker growled out and bit aggressively into his burger. He finished in just a few bites and then moved to the next item. He finished half his tray before I finished my noodles. He offered me a burger and I contemplated it a moment too long. “You're not eating enough for a wolf.”

“I'm not trying to be a wolf. I just wanna be a human.”

“Even so, you aren't going to be a healthy human if you don't eat your required calorie intake, and protein. Always have protein with every meal.”

I took the burger. Oddly, holding it reawoke aI hunger I was blind to. I unwrapped it and took a small nibble. It wasn't my first choice but I did find it satisfying.

“The longer you spend in your wolf skin the more calories you need to intake. You were out in the wild, barely eating, for a couple weeks. You ignoring your food needs somehow. It isn't normal, but I can see how it could be a survival technique for your situation.”

“Survival technique?” I questioned. “I don't understand. What do you mean by that?”

“We have to adapt to our environment even when it is ideal to our wolf needs. Perhaps to survive in your home and city life your wolf has adapted. It likely leaves you weaker than you should be, however, it explains a lot.” Walker finished his drink and piled it on the tray with the rest of the garbage.

“Let me take that,” I said reaching for the tray.

I half expected Walker to say no but he allowed me to removed the tray. I cleared it into the appropriate recycling and trash bins.