Rhythms of the Wild

Chapter 3: Maybe

The four of us entered the kitchen, Carly one of the kitchen Omegas spun "Oh my dear! What happened to your hand?" Before I could respond Erin said "Oh Carly it was great I wish you could have seen it, her fist met the nose of an arrogant ass..." "Erin!" Chesney bawked as she rounded the large entrance connecting to the packs game room. "That is no way for a future Luna to speak, even if its true" Carly really tried to hide her grin, she really did but failed. she whispered "The way I see it hes had this coming for a while now", she winked. "Let me go grab a bag of frozen peas, be right back dears." Ches straighted her hem. "Nick, you and Erin need to go file a report with your father of the incident". "Yes, Luna" They bowed on their way past to their father's office. Chesneys gaze softened as she looked at my now swollen and purple hand "Honey im sorry that you hand had to get hurt in the process but im glad that is all you walked away with" Darren huffed in agreement which just made me feel awkward. I chewed on my lip thinking about the way it could have turned out but something in me settled. I would do it again without hesitation. I snapped out of my thoughts as Carly came back holding a bag of peas. Darren stepped forward and took them from her slowly like he was trying not to spook a deer before pouncing. Carly handed them over and made herself needed elsewhere. As she left I realized Ches must have left to. He brought the peas over and held them on my hand. "I dont know if you are really brave or really stupid" he said. It caught me off guard that he spoke to me. I shifted onto the counter. "Maybe a bit of both" I shrugged my shoulders "or maybe just stupid" I huffed quietly. His caramel eyes seemed to stare into my soul. I caught my eyes wandering from his short black curly hair to his muscles showing under his black t-shirt. I shifted back some more trying to create distance. "Maybe just brave" he all but whispered. My eyes found his again and I felt a pull, I had to shake my head to keep myself up right. I laughed "Maybe" He let go of my hand and I sagged a bit. He turned opening a cabinet and pulled out a box. "This will do" he pulled out an ace bandage wrap. His hand found mine again "keep it as flat and straight as possible, healing will be slow but at least not human slow" he chuckled low. He held me just above my wrist as he started wrapping my hand. His olive skin made my pale tone pop like casper next to it and I laughed at the observation. He pinned me with his beautiful eyes once again "what's so funny, little wolf" he said as he finished up wrapping my hand. He leaned in closer, i could feel his breath on my neck as he whispered "I like to laugh too". This man is going to turn me into a puddle of mush. "Just that your olive skin makes my pale skin seem much more.... well pale." I choked out. He lifted an eyebrow at me "thats an odd observation." I quacked "welp, im an odd duck." He actually laughed with a full smile with perfect teeth on display. "You are funny, huh? Maybe I will get to see a lot more of you and your humor if im lucky". Goddess Above! How did I manage to make this man actually smile and laugh all in one night. Im pretty sure I glitched because I said "Oh yeah, that would be cool beans." Cool beans? Am I stroking out right now what is he doing to me. I felt like my brain was overheating and it may melt through my ears. Erin rounded the corner on her way back, typing on her phone. "Nick is finishing up paperwork for the report, but he will be down soon." Darren stepped back creating some much needed space for me to think clearly. "Oh good you got your hand wrapped." I waved the bandaged hand "YeP. Nothing says bad ass quite like a wrapped hand." I smiled. I quickly glanced at Darren who seemed to be back in his Im a scary Alpha phase. A bit disappointing but life shall go on. I looked back at my hand and felt butterflies in my stomach thinking about how close we got and his smell, it was masculine but had a hint of sweet. "Uhhh, Earth to Sammm!" Erin waved her hand in front of my face. I looked up to see Darren, Nick and her were all looking at me like I had two heads. "What? Sorry." I grimaced. "Where did you go just then?" she giggled. "I asked, are you ready to head back to the party there scrappy doo?" I huffed out a laugh, "sure thing princess" I hopped of the counter and linked my arm in hers as we all walked back out to the side by side and made the ride back to the clearing. I texted my mother a quick Have a goodnight text. Before I could hit send I heard Nick laugh "No way, you owe me 50. I knew he would do it. " I look up to see Gage standing on one leg at the top of the stadium light like he was in The Karate Kid. Darren huffed "What an i***t". I chimed in "I dont know, its kind of endearing. He is almost like a Labrador Retriever, lots of personality." I looked over to see Darren's scrunched eyebrows before they were gone. Erin chimed in "Yeah, I can actually see that, He never sits still and he will do anything he considers playful. But im going to tell him you compared him to a dog." She giggled "I need a beer" I said in my most exasperated tone. "Well let's go love" she said as she pulled me out of the Polaris. We linked arms and were off again. Once we had beers in hand, it was smooth sailing. By my 6th or was it 7th, I could no longer feel the pulsing sharp pain in my knuckles. I smiled to myself, yep still worth it. As the fire started to die down and the party goers started to leave, I went to work half zoned out cleaning up what ever was left behind. Nick called out to me and Erin "We are going to run back for the truck to take the cans up tonight." Darren was right they were some delequents who still couldn't manage to find one of the many trash cans. After what felt like a hour of clean up, we started pulling the cans one by one to the side of the clearing by the trail in and putting on the tops. Erin came over with the last can and smashed the top on aggressively. "Uh oh, what's wrong?" I asked. "Ryan never came." I gave her a half smile "You know he is with his father learing the ropes to take over as Alpha, dont be to hard on him." She sighed "I know I just really wanted him here for a night, hes my mate and I miss him." I hugged her to my side as Nick backed up the truck. Darren and Gage standing on the bed of the truck. Darren bent over and slapped the side of the truck before jumping off. He slowly walked by me to grab the

trash can closest to me. Oh help me, he even looked good carrying a freaking garbage can. "Drive the Polaris back?" Nick asked Erin as the last can was placed on the truck. "Can do capitan" she said with a salute. We turned arm in arm and made or way back to the Polaris, climb in and started the drive back.