Into the storm

Goodbye

I hadn't been able to sleep well the night before the ceremony and had packed and repacked my bag at least 5 times. Everything was accounted for. My dress for the ceremony check. Pajamas for the next two nights check. An outfit for the introduction dinner the night after the ceremony check. An outfit to go home in check. Shower items check. Tooth brush Check. Shoes check. I had even added extra socks and underwear. I couldn't think of anything else I might need so I zipped my bag up and headed to shower. We only had a few hours left before we would be on the plane heading to the island for the binding ceremony and I wanted to be ready early. After showering I put on the shorts I had picked out, black crop top and finished the outfit off with my pair of black sneakers. By the time I was done Lilly was just about ready too. Lilly wanted to make sure we were early enough to the plane to help everyone load up and to make sure we got decent seats.

Alpha and Luna Sutherland were standing at the front of the plane as we boarded Luna smiled at us as and motioned for us to come to the front. As we got closer I realized that Brock was setting in a seat behind the front row and across the aisle from him setting next to the window was Rico. The seat next to Rico was open and so was the aisle seat next to Brock before I could stop her Lilly dropped her purse in the seat next to Brock and pointed me towards the seat next to Rico.

"Are you for real Lil?" I growled

"Oh stop it. I promise he won't bite. Isn't that right Rico?" she chuckled. He pulled an bud out and looked up at us. He had dark bags under his eyes and looked like he would rather be any where else.

"What did you say?" he mumbled.

"I was just asking if my sister could set next to you?" Rico shrugged his shoulders and put his ear bud back.

"Whatever." I mumbled and sat down next to him I planned on napping for the 4 hour flight anyway so Rico ignoring the world worked for me. By the time the flight was loaded a solid 60 wolves were on board. Not a bad turn out for the midlands. As the plane took off I felt myself start to nod off next thing I know I'm dreaming.

It's a dream that I have had many times before. A solid white wolf is running through the woods dodging unseen trees and boulders that are nearly invisible due to the the thick snow falling around it. As it runs the sound of rapidly approaching paws can be heard getting closer and closer. But the wolf continues to pound its paws at a steady pace just as it starts to leap over something buried in the snow the wolf who was pursuing it barrels into it taking it to ground. For a few moments the scene will blur and all that can be heard is the wind whistling through the barren trees. Just as panic sets in the white wolf reappears but with spots and streaks of red along its body now. Slowly the wolf starts off again but at a jog instead of a run. Once again approaching paws can be heard but this time the wolf seems less worried as it moves on blood begins to dribble down its snout. By the time it sets a small bundle down at the base of a tree, near a small brick building, blood is pouring off its entire head. The white wolf only makes it a hundred or so yards into the forest when it comes face to face with a giant gray wolf. It lounges at the white wolf and slams its strong jaws down on the white wolf's neck. As the sounds of the white wolf being murdered fade away the faint sound of a baby crying can be heard. The grey wolf heads in the direction of the baby and the crying grows louder and louder. Just as the grey wolf is about to step out of the forest I jerk awake like always.

Except this time instead of smacking my pillow or rolling off the bed my hand connects with something solid and my eyes pop open.

"s**t that hurt." mumbles Rico as he pinches his nose.

"Sorry. I have really bad nightmares. " I explain while trying to see if his nose is bleeding.

"Clearly."

" I told you not to wake her up." Lilly said while trying not to laugh.

"She was whining like she was hurt. What was I supposed to do just let her suffer?"

"Definitely seems like the safer option bro." said Brock while openly laughing.

"I really didn't mean to hit you and thank you for wanting to wake me up."

"It's all good just maybe next time try to remember that assault and battery is not how you thank someone."

Rico let go of his nose and to my surprise there was a little bit of blood. I had never hit anyone who was stronger than Brock before and I was kind of impressed with myself. Half asleep or not I made an alpha's nose bleed and that made me feel really strong. Rico absent mindedly rubbed his nose a few more times before putting his earbuds back in and turning towards the window again.

"How much longer until we land?" I asked as I turned towards Lilly.

"About 30 minutes. Why?"

"Cause I have to pee and wanted to know if I had time before we have to buckle back up."

As I walked towards the bathroom I could feel someone's eyes on me. People staring at me wasn't anything new really but the way it felt was. I tried to resist the urge to look for who it was but at the last moment as I opened the bathroom door I did and to my surprise it was Rico and he wasn't even trying to hide it. And the look on his face wasn't hate or disgust. In fact if I didn't know better it was almost like he was curious or interested. I had never really felt envious of another she wolf before but in that moment I did. Whoever ends up mated to Rico is one lucky wolf.