NightStar Summit

9. Home

COLTON

I knew they were both sleeping by now, so I didn't think I'd be sleeping inside today, but once I walked up to the back porch, I saw that the sliding glass door was just barely cracked open. It was just enough for me to slip past.

All the lights were off but I knew where I was going at this point. I walked threw the kitchen and down the dark hallway to Kat's room. Man, my luck was pretty good today.

The door wasn't fully closed so I pushed it open the rest of the way and walked in. Kat was laying on her bed, fast asleep, her legs tucked up close to her chest. She didn't look as peaceful as she should have.

I jumped up on the bed and curled up in the space between her and the wall and came to me faster than it has in a really long time.

KATARINA

I opened my eyes just a touch, light from my window being just a little too much for me at the moment. After stretching, I rolled over onto my other side, now facing the wall. I opened my eyes and was immediately met by a very happy pair of silver ones.

I sat up just as he was and seriously debated whether or not I was completely insane. Did he really run away or did I think that up? I couldn't tell and it was really eating at my brain.

"Where did you come from?" I started scratching between Chewbacca's ears. "I thought you ran away."

He jumped off the bed and ran out of my room, his ears all perky like he heard something outside. I got out of bed and chased after him.

I didn't want him to leave again.

I watched as he slipped out the backdoor, growling rather loudly.

It was then that I spotted another dog in the backyard.

Chewbacca flew off the porch and pounced on the other dog. I was actually starting to question whether or not he was a dog. He looked like a wolf.

I thought Chewbacca was going to murder him, but then it seemed like they were just playing. They were definitely just playing, I concluded.

So much for a guard dog.

They rolled around in the grass, ran around the yard and playfully pounced at each other. It felt like a long lost dog reunion, but that idea was pretty ridiculous.

Could dogs even remember each other?

I decided that this was way too cute to not to get a picture of or record, so I ran back in the house to get my phone.

I had my phone and was ready to go outside when my dad walked out of his room groggily. The man was by no means a morning person. "Chewbacca came back," I told him.

A small smile formed on his thin lips, "That's nice, sweetheart." I knew he didn't feel the same way, but I was still happy and that was all he actually cared about.

I went back outside and it was like my heart broke all over again.

They were gone.

COLTON

Forrest and I hiked up the summit.

I never thought I would miss this place so damn much. It had been what...like three days? It felt like an eternity though.

"You probably broke her heart," Forrest said, breaking the silence that we had. "I saw the way she looked at you. Must be an animal lover."

She hated animals, but she had enough of a heart so that she would take one in if it absolutely needed it.

"Not in the least," I said.

"Well, that's awkward."

Home was so close I could practically smell it. Someone was cooking something good and that was what I wanted the most. I was so f*****g over dog food. It was literally the worst thing I've ever put in my mouth.

"Dad might have left already," Forrest said. "He kind of just wants to get this whole thing over with. What started that fight anyway?"

I got mad just thinking about it again, "Words," was all I said as other people started to come into view. I missed them more than I thought I would.

"Colt," a female voice said softly, a touch of excitement poking through. I looked to my side and saw Bex, a girl I grew up with closely. She took a few steps closer, "I thought you got kicked out," she said cautiously. "How come you're back?"

No one else, other than my family, knew that it was only a temporary thing. As far as I was concerned, the rest of the pack thought I would have been gone for good.

I could've named a few people here that would have been happy to see me leave permanently. Sadly, Forrest was probably one of them.

"My dad's leaving. He thought it was best if I came back."

I could practically feel Forrest's eyes roll behind me, "I could have protected us just as well as you could."

Bex smiled weakly at him. She was way too nice to ever say that he wasn't as strong as even the youngest pup here. "We're all strong in our own ways, Forrest."

"Some of us are just stronger," I added before walking away.

If I was lucky, I could catch my dad before he left.

As I walked deeper into our land, more and more people popped up. I mostly got confused looks from them but the occasional brave soul would greet me. I'd give nothing more than a nod to them in return.

I walked up the front steps to my house and pushed the door open, not knowing that my dad was right on the other side as I nearly hit him right in the face.

"Ah, Colt," he said while reaching out to stop the door from opening any further. "Almost knocked me out there, bud."

He was off. Really off. That's not how he would have acknowledged me coming home before I was told to if he was his normal self. He would have kicked my ass.

I walked into the house and he pushed the door closed behind me.

"You're going to the Feral Moon Pack by yourself?" I questioned.

He had to have known it was a bad idea. He wasn't an i***t.

He nodded simply, I could see the worry in his eyes though. He knew this wasn't smart.

"Well, I'm the i***t that couldn't control myself. I'll go fix this, dad. It's not your problem."

"It is my problem," he raised his voice and that's when I knew I was starting to cross the line between dad and Alpha. "You're my son, Colt. I know you don't know what it's like to be a parent, but someday you will and then you'll understand where I'm coming from when I say that sometimes you can't let your kids fix their own mistakes because it might only hurt them more," he looked completely...dead inside. "Take care of your brother and sister. Felicity has a school play tomorrow and you need to be there. Make sure the rest of the pack doesn't kill each other."

"You say all of this as if you know you're never coming back," I said, now really angry with him.

None of this was even a big deal. Connor and the rest of his family could suck it up and if not then they should come to me.

My dad opened the door and left without saying anything else just as Forrest came inside.

"He's committing suicide," I deadpanned.