The vampire and the wife

Chapter 8

I went and dug out my flat boots after I'd finished my toast and shoved them on, headed down the stairs, and wrote a quick note to the boys saying that it felt like a good day, so I'd gone out with a friend for coffee and a hike, and then grabbed my bag, purse, phone, and keys.

I wasn't sure how long this mood was going to stay but I certainly hoped I'd make it through today with the mood I was in, which would be enough time to at least convince myself that I really could do this and that I really could move on if I didn't give up.

Before long, I heard a car horn honk, so I ran out the door after grabbing my jade wool coat, locked the door, and ran to Hunter's car and got in the front. As I slid in, I heard howls of protest. I turned around to find that in the boot was a large black and white Siberian husky with gorgeous ice blue eyes that seemed to be behind a cage.

"He's pissed because I put the guard up to stop him from getting in the back and getting up front with me." Hunter grinned. "See, this is why I stopped you, because we have company, like I told you, Shadow."

I couldn't help but laugh as I shut the door and buckled up. "A husky, that makes sense—what dog you have now."

"Why what did you think I had a little terrier or something?" I noticed the way Hunter looked at me at the comment and I couldn't exactly picture him walking a tiny little dog.

"No, I just guessed you had a German Shepherd or something like that." I shrugged. "He is gorgeous, though." I added, hoping that Hunter would forgive my comment.

"Hear this, Shad; she thinks your gorgeous, so now you have to be nice to her." Hunter laughed and then pulled away. I glanced back to see him pace around a little, then seemed to settle down and then vanish behind the back seats.

"He's laid down now he knows we're going again." Hunter glanced across at me. "So what made you want to meet up?" He asked. "Not that I'm not happy you called Jen and asked or anything."

"I just woke up feeling a little lighter than I have in a few weeks if I'm honest." I looked over at Hunter as I couldn't believe how easy it was to talk to him about it all. Maybe because he's been there.

"I told you it would get easier, but just take each day as it comes and don't force it upon yourself."

"I don't plan on. I told myself that today because I was feeling hopeful, I want today to be a good day." I shrugged a little. "And clearly it is going to be a good day meeting this gorgeous."

"Aww, Rosa, we barely know each other." Hunter grinned.

"Now I understand why Shadow doesn't like people if he has to listen to you saying crap like that." I laughed and it felt nice and right. Maybe it isn't because of Dorian and Zack that I'm trying again? I wasn't sure why I was trying, but I certainly wasn't going to question it, not right now at least.

"Hear that Shad, you've got an admirer." Hunter grinned as he seemed to take a turning and that I knew took us out of the city.

"So where are we going?" I asked.

"You'll see soon I promise."

"This isn't the part I regret agreeing to this hike or walk or whatever because your planning on killing me?"

"Damn your on to me." We both laughed at his comment and I couldn't help but appricate Hunter for trying. "I was thinking, after the walk, I'll drive up to the pack and I'll run Shadow home and then we can go and get something to eat, maybe go and meet my sister?" He suggested.

"Like I said, I have all day as my house mates aren't up at the moment."

"Hows that going and I hope that vamp didn't give you too much trouble." I bit my lip and looked out the window for a moment as I thought back to that night.

"We ended up having an arguement because I was drunk, but his partner got between us before things spilt over and he kicked both our arses and told us both what we needed to know. We said sorry and hugged and made up." I shrugged. "Although, I'm not sure how he'd feel about me being out with you. Then again, I don't think he'd mind too much as it doesn't involve self-pity or alcohol."

"Did you end up being sick?" Hunter looked over at me with a grin. "Annie told me what you had drank before hand. How you were still standing after her cocktail I have no idea."

"Stubborness." I grinned. "And I was sick in honesty. Dorian was massively pissed at me when I was sick and told me to not expect him to look after me as I'd brought it on myself. Which I agree, I did bring it on myself..." I let out a sigh.

"Stubborn arse." Hunter muttered as he shook his head. "We're here now." Hunter pulled into a car park at the bottom of a wooded path. "Can you just wait until I get Shadow out before you get out. I don't want him going for you or anything."

"Sure." I muttered as I took off my belt and turned to watch Hunter get out the car and go to the back and get Shadow on a leash and then put the muzzle on him. Once he shut the boot of the car, I got out and walked up to Shadow and held out my hand to the muzzle.

Hunter tightened his grip on the lead as if he was expecting Shadow to jump, but Shadow sniffed at my hand and then began to lick his muzzle as if he was trying to lick my hand. "Does this mean we're friends?" I asked him and then stroked the top of his head.

"I'll be damned." Hunter muttered. "Never met humans he likes. He doesn't even like Jake." He laughed as he relaxed the lead a little. "We'll walk for a little and then I'll take the muzzle off him. At the top of the trail is a nice coffee shop. My treat." I laughed a little and put my hands into my coat and walked next to Hunter. The whole way up to the top we talked. It had been about silly things. Hunter had told me about Jen and Eric and what had been going on in the pack. I could have swore alot of what he'd been saying was just to keep my brain busy, but I'd honestly not minded in the slightest.

By the time we got to the top of the hike, I was more than ready for the coffee. Hunter had took off Shadow's muzzle and Shadow had came and licked my hand and had nudged my hand a little for fuss and when Hunter was happy that Shadow wasn't going to attack me in anyway, he headed in to go get the coffee's.

"It's beautiful up here Shadow." I muttered as I looked around the view as all I could see was green for miles. "I'm guessing from the way you wanted to lead the walk, you come up here regularly. I can see why." I carried on stroking his head feeling calm and feeling content. I wasn't sure if it had been the fresh air and walk that had done it, the company or even simply Shadow, but I was now beginning to hope that things really would get better for me. I wish I could have come on a night up here with Xander. I bet the moon looks beautiful up here. I shook my head and Shadow growled a little as if he could sense what I was thinking. "Your right. I can't think things like that."

"Like what?" Hunter asked as he sat down next to me and handed me a coffee and I wrapped my hands around it.

"What it looks like up here on a night."

"Beautiful, when a full moon is up it's amazing beyond anything. Shadow and Blake have came up here to play a few times. No one comes up on a night with the path being so dark." Hunter went and stroked Shadow as he laid down between us. "So did you send your letter?"

"Letter?" I asked a little confused for a moment and then realised. "Oh... No. I think it's still on the floor of my room somewhere. I'm not sure in honesty, because as much as Dorian said it was my fault and I had to deal with my sick myself from the alcohol, he stil came and checked in on me." I laughed as I took a sip of the coffee.

"Are you planning on sending it to him?"

"No." I answered. "Somethings... somethings are better left unsaid and that letter is one of those things." I took a deep breath and looked out across the green again as a small shiver ran through me. Hunter put his coffee on the table and took off his jacket and put it over my legs.

"You looked like you were getting cold and your leggings don't look warm."

"Thanks." I looked at Hunter with a smile and then looked down at Shadow. "Is he always like this?"

"After a walk? Nope, not normally. He's normally still full of himself after walking this hike." Hunter laughed as he picked up his coffee again.

"Are you not cold?"

"Nah, my body temp is higher than a normal human, which is why we have pack doctors. That way we don't have to explain away everything as they already know everything."

"Oh." I hadn't really thought about it. I'd been in the pack's hospital. That had been where I'd awoken, but I hadn't really given the doctors and nurses a thought on who had helped me, but it did make sense to have doctors and nurses that were already in on the secret rather than trying to convince a human to take the job.

"So is this going to be a regular thing now? I mean, Shadow will probably be expecting you to come on these hikes with us." Hunter grinned.

"Smooth." I laughed shaking my head at him. "I'd like it if we can be friends and come on this walk together with or without Shadow." I told him. "I need to try and fix myself and... Being around people who won't judge or expect things of me, I think is what I need right now."

"What if I am silently judging you?" Hunter grinned.

"Silently judge away." I laughed. "But you don't expect anything of me, you don't expect me to talk and open up."

"Yeah, I know that its hard. You have to do it when your ready." Hunter nodded. "And I was only teasing Rosa. I'd like us to be friends too." He laughed. "I know I've enjoyed the company and to top it off it seems like Shadow has finally found a human he likes."

I certainly couldn't help but laugh at the comment as I drank my coffee. Both Hunter and I sat in quiet looking around. It was nice to have company but not expected to fill every silent moment.

"We should head down. The wind is starting to pick up and I don't want you getting cold." I finished off my coffee and passed the coat back to Hunter and stood up.

"Come on Shadow, time to go back to the car. You can go off lead." Hunter went and unhooked his lead and Shadow seemed to spring up and then take off running. "Of course the t**t decides to go off in the deep end now." Hunter laughed. I laughed as well and shook my head as I followed Hunter back down the path as I drank my coffee.

By the time we got back to the car Shadow was no where to be found.

"That little bastard." Hunter muttered as he whistled for Shadow to come back, but we heard a splash. "I'm going to kill him." Hunter went and unlocked the door and told me to get in. So I did. I looked in Hunter's rear view mirror to see that Hunter had also vanished for a moment and then had come back with a wet Shadow walking next to him.

"Get in you." Hunter opened the boot of the car and Shadow jumped in a little bit under protest for a moment and then paced around while Hunter shut the boot and came around to his side of the car. "The arse hole went and jumped in the pond after a bloody duck." I couldn't help but laugh.

"Maybe next time you should leave him on the lead." I suggested.

"Or maybe next time I threaten to shoot the twat." Hunter muttered under his breath as he started the car. I couldn't help but laugh a little as I looked over at Hunter. It was obvious he loved Shadow very much, but I understood that sometimes pets would be frustrating. I remember when I was a kid and I was allowed to have a pet. We had a cat and even though it was my cat, it seemed to enjoy the evils of torturing me on a night by swiping at my feet with its claws out, yet it seemed to adore my sister. I laughed a little at the memory and shook my head.

Today sure was shaping up to be an entertaining and good day for me and it had also lightened my mood and kept with the hopeful feeling I'd woken up with. I was really thankful to Shadow and Hunter for offering to let me come along with them.

Before Hunter started the car, he took out his phone and called someone. "Hey Annie, can I drop Rosa off with you while I take a wet Shadow back home..." He broke off and looked in his rear mirror to check on Shadow. "Are you sure? I mean... Ok, then. Just make sure the others the run is locked for him, as you know what he's like... Ok, see you soon." Hunter hung up and put his phone in the middle section. "It looks like the three of us have a date with Annie." He grinned. "This is going to be entertaining, I'll say that." At his comment, I bit my lip. Just what had I let myself into?