Hidden In Plain Sight: Book 2 (Wolves)

I was shook to the core when the woman of my dreams married another man. I thought my life was over before it had ever really begun. To make matters worse, my family lost everything in a house fire and we were forced to move and become neighbors to my dream woman. How do you get over heartbreak when you are forced to see the very person that ripped your heart out day in and day out. Everyone considered me a kid; they didn’t realize my intense feelings for Susan Bannon, now Susan Lykos, are not those of a child with a crush. My feelings were those of a man that would do anything for the woman he loves. About eighteen months I watched her, assisted her as she worked for my family in taking care of my sister, courted her, and twice I made my intentions known. My intention of course was to marry Susan, treat her as the queen she is, and raise a family together. All very honorable and never a question in my mind she would be mine. Unfortunately, Susan is now married to another man. The cherry on top of my rotten milkshake is that they have a son together and another child on the way. “She should be my woman,” I yell angrily into the early spring air of the Minnesota River Valley. I, Alistar, have been living here about seven months, and know that if I don't get away daily, and burn off some of my anger, my agitation, I’m likely to take it out on someone that doesn’t deserve it. I’d be fine if it wasn’t for the man who stole my woman. I lay in bed most nights and fantasize about the many ways I could get rid of Travis Lykos. The ways I could make him disappear, never to return. I know that if he were gone, Susan would be mine. Those should have been my children that grew in her womb, but I’d take care of her children. They are Susan’s children and are completely innocent in this complicated, topsy-turvy, f****d up, completely backwards situation. If I was rich, I’d simply offer Travis money to disappear. Unfortunately, at age 18, that isn’t the case. In fact, I graduated high school recently, so I have basically no money other than my minimum wage job that I work at the local fast food restaurant. I hate the job, but it’s money and they will pay for a good portion of my college education, if I commit to work a minimum of hours every month during college. I’ve actually been working almost daily since graduation to attempt to build some savings for college. I work in the mornings, come home mid afternoon, change my clothes, and jog out to this beautiful location by the river. The gated community we live in feels like it’s out in the country, but it’s actually in the suburbs of one of the largest cities in Minnesota. I jog about 15 minutes to get to this beautiful area that is just off the main channel of the Mississippi River. The bluffs are part of the upper waterway and most towns are nestled between the river and the bluffs. River towns are much more spread out than most cities as a result of the river and the bluffs. Outdoors amongst the wildlife, the water, and the vegetation, I can be alone. I burn off my anger by yelling, fishing, skipping rocks, swimming, running, or whatever my little heart desires and no one is the wiser. I try hard to be a well mannered, helpful, loving son and brother. My sister has developmental and physical disabilities and is in a wheelchair. The time will come, when my parents are either too old or have passed on to the next life, when I will have to take care of my sister Allie. I do all I can to be there for her and my parents. Allie is the main reason I need a college degree. I have to make a decent living to support her and the family I hope to have one day. My younger brother, Addison has never been fond of our sister, and I’ve never understood it. They just aren’t close, so it’ll be me that will end up caring for her some day if she outlives our parents. We do all we can to prevent spreading illness to Allie, as her immune system is almost nonexistent. Life would have been so damn perfect with Susan who already has a great relationship with Allie. Susan cared for my youngest sibling part-time while she attended college. That was how I first met my dream woman when I was only 16. The day she came to meet Mom and Allie, I was smitten with her immediately. Her hair was so dark brown it was almost black. Her eyes were a dark, chocolate brown that sparkled when she smiled. She had one dimple in her right cheek, very noticeable with her high cheekbones that showcased her Native American heritage. I had never met a more beautiful, down to earth woman. Susan made me actually take notice and think of the future instead of thinking about tomorrow or next week. I had female friends in high school, but I made up my mind to save myself for Susan. I honestly am not sure if she believed me or not when I told her that after I graduated, I was going to buy her a ring and make her my wife. Maybe I should have been more foreword and less polite. Lord knows Travis Lykos isn’t polite. I’ve seen him many times touching Susan inappropriately, kissing her neck, or sticking his tongue in her mouth. The crude bastard doesn’t seem to care who is watching. It’s a wonder I’ve yet to see him strip her down and f**k her with everyone watching. Just the thought makes me so angry so fists are balled up, my teeth clenched, and I can’t help but yell, “f**k you Travis Lykos, you crude bastard!” I look down into the murky, blue water and watch the tadpoles swimming back and forth in the shallows. Every few minutes, the little school quickly shoots off in all directions, as larger fish strike in anticipation of an easy meal. This little pool of water had access to the main river, but the water was less turbulent, so many species of fish, frogs, snakes, otters, all called this channel home. It was a great fishing area as crappies and sunfish liked to swim around the dock that sat at the far end, nearest the main channel. As I concentrated on the tadpoles, a mosquito bit my neck, causing me to slap myself in an attempt to stop him from sucking my blood. Of course I missed. I had forgotten to apply bug repellant before leaving for my run, so I was a tasty meal to many mosquitos today. With that thought, I figured I should head back home and get cleaned up for supper. Now that dad was working security locally for Gannon, and no longer driving semi-truck over the road, we had supper between 5:30 PM and 6:00 PM nightly. Mom cooks most nights, but upon occasion, Dad or I will make the meal and give her a break. I turn quickly to head toward home and spot a flash of fur from the corner of my eyes. I stop and look off to the left as a dark colored wolf, with various shades of brown interspersed with grey across the back and head, can be seen amongst the grass. The coloring becomes lighter with grey and white interspersed across its flanks, shoulders, and lighter to almost completely white on the ventral aspect of the belly and inside its legs. I watched the wolf turn and run through the grass and brush until it began to climb the bluff. My trail to the gated community went the opposite direction. Just as I began to turn again, the wolf stopped and turned its head like it was watching me. I stood there and watched until the wolf went on it’s way up the bluff. I could no longer make out the wolf, but just a figure moving, until it was gone completely from my sight. It wasn’t unusual to see wild animals, but to have one this close to me and be unaware was a tad disturbing. I jogged back to our home at a good clip so I didn’t miss supper and recounted my interaction with the wolf as I went. It was strange that the wolf had left, but it didn’t appear scared, it was jogging more than running away, and for it to stop and watch me instead of hiding, was a unique experience for me. Maybe I should inform my parents, Gannon, or Caitriona so they can warn the other families to keep an eye on their children. It could be a lone wolf, and I’d heard they can be more dangerous than wolf packs. Arriving at the house, I step out my shoes, kiss my mother on the cheek with a “hi Mom,” mussed Allie’s hair as I walked by, gaining me a huge smile. To no one in particular, I announced, “I’m going to shower quickly, then I’ll come back and set the table.”