With open eyes

The phone call

Lola strolled over a field from the packhouse, her low-cut boots barely laced. Her denim shorts was frayed and her tank top was worn and faded. Her long hair was put up in a messy bun and her eyes were distant as her gaze mindlessly fell to the barn before her. She walked up to a door and opened it, having to pull on it a bit to get it to open. It creaked like it was a prop in a ghost movie, barely hanging on its hinges. Lola entered the barn and looked for any light source. Along the wall she found a switch, she turned it on to reveal a messy garage. Along the walls were benches filled with tools, cans, and rags. On the wall over the benches hung more tools in straight lines. Under the benches laid tires, a couple of jacks, and a couple of wooden crates. In the middle of the room was a big item hidden behind a large tarp. Lola went over to it and gently pulled the tarp off revealing a vintage sportscar. Lola took in the sight, moving around the car. She gently put her fingers to the side of the car and let them slide over it as she walked another turn around the car. She let out a loud sigh before she went to the driver's seat and reached under the dashboard and pulled a knob. The hood popped up and Lola went over to prop it up. She leaned her elbows on the car as she inspected the engine. She screwed off a small cap pulling out a long rod, then she went over to a rag and cleaned it. She went back to the car and stuck the rod back in. She pulled the metal rod out and inspected it. Then she went back over to the bench, grabbing a plastic can. She took off the cap and poured in some of its clear amber content where the rod previously was before she put the rod back in and screwed it back on.

Lola leaned in and took a hand to the engine feeling around. She felt around a bit, leaned back, and sighed. She looked at the benches and the walls looking for what she needed, she found a couple of the items and walked over to them. She inspected the parts that looked like circular bands made from some flexible material. It looked like a tightly woven fabric of industrial quality. Lola reached for a measuring band and pulled it along the circular band.

She reached into her pocket fished out her cell phone and typed away for a while. As she was looking at the screen she was gently biting her lower lip. When she was finished reading she put her phone back and gathered the tools she needed. With all the parts at hand, she started to swap the old worn-out part in the car with the new part. She had to bend over and lean into the engine to do so. It was a tight fit, but with her slim hands, she was able to do it without disassembling the engine. It took her a while to get it done, but she was content when it was fixed, evident as she made a drawn-out but light sound. She wiped her hands on a rag and admired the car with a smile on her face. Her eyes had a new glint that had not been there for weeks.

Suddenly her phone rang and she quickly answered it, as she was listening to the caller she hurried out of the garage through another door to get to the other side of the barn. Exiting the barn at the back she could have seen mountains in the background, with large rolling hills filled with meadow flowers in front. Lola did not notice the breathtaking view as she was listening intently to the caller. Her eyes watered and her lips were quivering. She was now walking slowly towards the few trees that stood in the meadow before she slumped against a tree trunk as tears rolled down her cheeks. Her head fell in a slump as she barely whispered into the phone, “thank you alpha. I would like that very much. She would have loved that, it was always her favorite.” She hummed a response into the phone as she was unable to form any more words before she ended the call.

James was sitting in a large leather chair in front of a huge desk. Behind it sat a large man with a similar shape as James. While James had pulled his long hair in the middle of his head down to his neck the other man had a short and preppy cut. James was wearing a simple white v-neck t-shirt and dark jeans. His boots were planted firmly on the office floor. The man behind the desk was wearing a white button-up shirt and suit pants. His shiny black shoes looked hardly used as one foot was resting on the other knee. Both men were relaxed and the atmosphere was cheerful.

“It’s so good to be back brother, those five years could not have gone slower. And things have been well in my absence I can see.” James rubbed his chin as he said that.

The other man grinned from ear to ear “goddess I missed you, things have been good but it hasn't been great. It's hard to enjoy the good times when my only living relative can't be here to share it with me.”

James nodded at that, “but I'm here now Joseph, and I'm not going anywhere soon.”

Joseph grinned at that, “you better not James, I've had it with your responsibilities.”

They both chuckled at that. “Let me have some time to adjust, then I will take over my responsibilities. I just need to breathe a bit.”

Joseph scoffed “more breathing? You came back home and hugged me before you ran off to the mountains. We didn't see you for a week! That's a long time wolfing about in the wild.” Joseph winked at his brother.

“Don't forget, for five years I was not able to shift, I owe it to my wolf to let him roam for a while.” James leaned back and let out a long exhale.

Joseph had a soft smile as he dropped his head to look at his hands. He rubbed them for a bit before he spoke again “I miss them so much James, I don't know what I'd done if I lost you too.”

James sighed “I'm not going anywhere, Joseph. It's always been the two of us, that will never change.” James then chuckled “until you meet your mate, then she'll whip you around and I’ll never see your sorry ass again.”

Joseph threw his head back and laughed a hearty roar, “you wish! If anyone will be whipped by their mate it will be you!”

James grinned and shook his head.

In the kitchen, four men were leaning towards a wall sipping a cup of coffee each. They were all enjoying the silence between them. All four had similar mannerisms, you could easily see that they were close friends.

A fifth man entered and addressed Joseph, “where is the new girl? I haven't seen her all day?”

The men looked at each other, shrugging as if none had seen her.

James sighed and put his cup down, “I’ll go, I'm done with my coffee anyway.” He then strolled out of the packhouse to the chilly night.

The stars were twinkling brightly as there were no city lights to hide them. He walked towards a small gathering of houses. As he walked over he noticed that the barn door was slightly ajar, he turned and walked in that direction instead. Entering the barn he could see that the sportscar was being worked on. The light was still on and the door at the other end was wide open. He went to the car and looked into the engine, the sight made him frown and his brows lifted as he noticed the changes. He walked out the other door and went out the same way as Lola had earlier that day. As he stepped out to the back of the barn he was met with the same stunning view, but now dark as it was late in the evening. His shoulders did a little roll before he walked over to a tree. He slumped down leaning his back to the trunk and sat on the ground next to Lola. Her head was leaning forward almost between her knees. James took one hand and gently grabbed one of hers and squeezed it a bit before he just held it.

He then leaned his head back and whispered to her, “I’m so sorry!”