Finding the Orphaned Luna

Over the Hill and through the Washington Woods

Avery relaxed back into the seat, her knees up against the door as she leaned into the arm rest. She could feel the heat off Conley’s body, and while she was comfortable, her motivations might have to do with the very handsome man beside her that her body wanted despite her mind’s hesitations. They’d been driving about for some time. She had moved to Portland, the second she had gotten the chance, and her pack was located all the way up in north Washington. The car ride with Conley had been amicable, if slightly awkward, and she felt quite bare in front of him after this morning. Conley seemed a bit tightly wound, and she wondered why, but she assumed it was due to her, and not knowing if she would stay. She could tell he was constantly having to control what he called his wolf instincts. The primal protection and mating instincts, the very same ones that were stirring beneath her skin. However, he’d told her, it was worse the stronger you were, and the more in sync you were with your wolf. Apparently, being ranked made them even stronger, especially Alphas, which made sense to Avery. He was desperately trying to give her the space she’d asked for, and she was incredibly grateful for his kindness, and quite surprised by her perceptive and thoughtful nature. If she had seen him under different circumstances, she’d have assumed from the way he looked and carried himself, she would have assumed him to be some arrogant asswhole frat boy, probably a wannabe lawyer. He wasn’t really like that; sure, she was sure he could probably shotgun a beer, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he was a bit of an adrenaline junky, but his ability to see farther, to think deeper, consistently surprised her. Avery thought that perhaps being in touch with one’s wolf might be closer akin to being very intune with one’s emotional and mental health but more intense. 

“So, can I ask a little more about what the last few years have been light for you? You mentioned something about graduating early when we talked last night.”

The question nearly startled her, pulling her out of her own thoughts as quickly as if he had shaken her. She blinked a few times, and readjusted. He realized she'd nearly jumped out of her skin when he'd spoken, almost like she'd forgotten he was even here. He loved that she thought that deeply, but he hoped she wasn't forcing herself to panic too much by overthinking everything. He gave her a reassuring smile, which she returned automatically, and he felt his stomach flutter. She was ridiculously beautiful, all smiles and curves, with eyes that made him feel like he was swimming in a green ocean. The black curls fell loosely today, yet out of her face as she had it up. Realizing he’d taken his eyes off the road for too long he snapped them back into place and cleared his throat. 

“Yeah. Once I hit high school, I knew I wanted to do whatever i possibly could to become self-sufficient as soon as possible. I didn’t want to get caught in a situation where my hands were tied and I would become homeless. So I started taking on extra classes, and babysitting and whatnot to make enough money to start saving. After about 2 years, I graduated at just under sixteen. I got into the University of Portland to study social work. As a result, I was allowed to petition out of foster care and get emancipation status, which meant I could work full time. I started working at a smallish café as their counter person, and eventually worked my way up so I'm the assistant manager at the very same place. My best friend, Jordan, works there as well, and we actually go to school together. She's 19, just starting her first year," Avery babbled a little bit, comforted by talking about things she understood. She noticed an odd look in his eyes- recognition?- when she'd mentioned Jordan, but he didn't say anything. She'd ask later if it came up again. She talked about how lonely highschool had been, and what she enjoyed about her college classes. She was just now breaking into her major, and she had about two years left. She talked about why she chose social work, explaining that often the only bright spots in her very dim world had been social workers, therapists and the like that had been kind to her when she’d had no one to turn to. She felt Conley’s pain in her chest when she said that, and the shame in his eyes almost brought her to tears. He silently snagged her hand and held it in his lap as he listened and drove, giving her a squeeze whenever she stopped talking to encourage her to keep going. She gave him a bright smile, and was shocked at how deeply he listened, and how thoughtful his questions were. When she ran out of steam, and the memories were a little too much for her to bear, she started to reciprocate, asking him similar questions about his upbringing. 

Conley talked about how it had just been him, his dad, and his sister since their parents had been killed. He told her stories of Ana, his sister, and of the pack that was to be hers. He managed to get her laughing so hard her sides hurt, and there were tears rolling from her cheeks. She snorted and cackled, incredibly unattractively, and yet he seemed endeared. He would brush his lips against her knuckles, almost unconsciously, and while there was certainly mirth dancing in his eyes, she could tell that he too was haunted by something much darker. She could only wonder what it was, unwilling to ask him to relive anything that he wasn’t yet prepared to. She could see how fiercely he loved his family, but she also saw just a hint of glittering, hard anger whenever he mentioned his father, despite how much he clearly loved and looked up to the man. He had nothing to say but good things about Andrew’s leadership, but little enough to say about him as a father that she had her suspicions about the source of the anger. But despite it all, and the dark topics they brushed over but didn’t really broach,and the anxiety at the thought of their destination that threatened to overtake her,  the drive was comfortable, and at moments fun. Once they reached Bellingham, she knew they would arrive soon, and she braced herself. She felt both lighter and heavier than she ever had before. Would she finally find a home?