The Fall

Chapter 13

Zoe- Present Day

During the week leading up to my return to Aurora Falls, I found myself casually flirting with Kamden. By the time I landed in Knoxville, my stomach was a bundle of nerves. I was filled with anxiety about going back to Aurora Falls, but at the same time, I couldn't deny the excitement bubbling within me at the thought of seeing Kamden again. My wolf was eager about the prospect of running with other wolves, something we had never experienced before. This brought a tinge of guilt, as I had kept this side of myself hidden for so long. Over the past week, Kamden and I had grown closer, getting to know each other on a deeper level. We shared stories about our days, vented about work frustrations, and exchanged playful banter along with memes. Our conversations flowed effortlessly, covering topics like music, books, and television. I even fibbed about my movie-watching habits, claiming I never watched anything. I wasn't ready to reveal the truth about Easton to him or anyone else in Aurora Falls. So, I couldn’t admit that Big Hero 6, Frozen, and a handful of other movies played on repeat at our house.

We had exchanged numbers, and I pretended that my number hadn't changed since my time in Boston, maintaining the facade of living in Washington, D.C. While I felt a twinge of guilt for these deceptions, I also believed they were necessary to protect both myself and Easton. The flowers had ceased for a while, but this morning brought two bouquets, both with "Happy Birthday" on them. One was from the hospital administration, while the other remained unsigned.

After a thousand hugs and kisses for Easton, I left for the airport and everything went well.

Driving through Aurora Falls, I noticed some changes. Certain businesses had closed down, their asphalt parking lots slowly being reclaimed by nature, weeds, and grass breaking through the cracks. On the other hand, new developments had sprung up in places that used to be empty fields, transforming the town into something different. I had booked a room at the only commercial hotel in the area, the Holiday Inn, situated at the edge of this newly developed section, right next to an Outback Steakhouse and Chick-fil-A. The town had certainly seen some transformations since I left.

Kamden: Did your flight land okay? Let me know when you are in town.

Zoe: Flight landed, pulling into the hotel now, gonna drop my stuff off. See you soon!

After checking in, I made my first call to Easton. Brock had them building a couch fort, so I ended up being more of a distraction than anything else. Jenna reassured me that everyone was doing fine and told me to have a great night. I asked her to text me at bedtime, and she agreed. With that reassurance, I felt a bit more at ease.

Changing into my pink string bikini, I threw on a white cotton top over it and paired it with lightly distressed denim shorts. Low-top white Converse sneakers completed my outfit. My makeup was kept simple, and a solitaire stud earring adorned each ear. I aimed for a look that was attractive without seeming like I had tried too hard. You look good. In a small tote bag, I packed a towel, a change of clothes, and condoms, at Jenna's suggestion. I probably checked myself in the mirror about 17 times before finally deciding it was time to leave.

As I made my way through the lobby, I spotted Kamden before I heard him. He was sitting in a black lifted jeep, and his eyes were locked on me. I could hear Dolly Parton blasting from his car. His grin widened, and he tipped his head to acknowledge me. I smiled back but shook my head, intentionally ignoring him. Pretending to head towards my rental car, I refused to get into that jeep while it was blaring "Sweet Summer Lovin'."

"Okay, okay. How 'bout this?" He called out, switching the music to "Shivers" by Ed Sheeran. Kamden hopped down from the jeep and extended his arms towards me. I must admit, his f*******: picture hadn't done him any justice. Kamden had grown up, and he now had this rugged cowboy charm about him. His jeans were a bit too tight, and his belt buckle was slightly oversized. His white v-neck shirt clung to his chest and biceps, emphasizing his toned physique. Sandy blonde hair, short on the sides but wavy and highlighted on top, framed his chiseled jaw, which was adorned with a stubble that highlighted his soft lips. Damn. Yeah, my thoughts exactly.

"Are you expecting me to run into your arms for our reunion hug?" I stood my ground, hand on my hip, challenging him with a playful smirk.

“Oh, I’ll run and jump into your open arms if you’d like.” The way he openly drags his eyes down my body while biting his lip before he smirks at me feels like a mating call. Jesus, I need to get out more.

He chuckles, “Ya know you may be wearing sunglasses but I felt your eyes roll.”

“Mmhmm.” I smile at him as I walk over and throw my arms around his waist. He pulls me up and spins me around and I can't help but breathe in the scent of him. He smells like cologne but his baseline scent is a citrus pine scent, not like cleaner but almost like a Christmas spice.

“You smell like Christmas,” I tell him. His head buries into my hair.

“You smell like a summer thunderstorm.” He says putting me back down on my feet. He has nearly a foot on me now.

“Wolves are weird,” I say pulling back from him, walking to the passenger side of the jeep. He follows and opens the door, offering a hand to climb up. I hoist myself up, sans the hand.

“Anywhere you want to go before we head to the packhouse?”

“Goddess no, it feels weird to be here. I don’t miss this place.” For a second I can’t read the expression on his face. I don’t mean to insult the Falls, it's just... I only lived here for about two and a half years and in that time, I lost everything. Yeah, I don’t miss this place at all.

“You look different.” He says. We are still parked, he has turned down the music and he is openly looking me over. I don’t shy away from his gaze. I am confident in my skin, I love my body, something that has evolved since I was a teenager. I was forced to grow up too soon. I was parenting my parents and my sister before middle school. I never really established an identity for myself in high school. I lived in baggy clothes and hand-me-downs while I helped keep my family going. While I’ve had this same face and same body since then. I look like a woman now, I have confidence and own who I am and how much I have accomplished. I have definitely grown into myself.

“It’s probably the fake boobs.” His eyes look at my chest, his eyes scrunch. I slap his arm. “I was kidding.”

“I know. They look just as good as they did in high school.” That does earn an eye roll.

As we drive through the back roads leading to the packhouse. I can’t deny the beauty, and the smell of this land. While it has hints of nostalgia. It is really just the land calling to me, every time I am out in nature, I have the urge to strip and run. The sunlight peeking through trees, a gentle breeze filtering through lush greens. It’s intoxicating. We are pulling up the drive and there are hundreds of cars pulled into the grass. A tingling sensation swirls in my gut, I can feel my pulse rise and my legs are suddenly restless.

“Everyone is in the back.” Kamden grabs my hand and leads me behind the house. The house is just as I remember, The driveway is paved, it used to be gravel. The porch bench is replaced with a swing. But everything is just how it was. There is a swell in my gut when I think back to the first time I kissed Eero. It was right there. A wave of heat sizzles along my spine. A flash of his dark eyes and dark curls are in my mind. I can almost smell him. f**k.

I am behind Kamden when a flurry of voices shout “Surprise!” While others say, “Happy Birthday!” Kari and Porter are rushing me with huge smiles and open arms. Logan is standing with a girl I faintly recognize, she is holding a huge sheet cake. Holy s**t. They remembered my birthday.

“Thank you,” I say as Kari has me in a tight grip. I feel the palm of Alpha Porter on my shoulder.

Reuniting with the Smiths feels kind of like a homecoming. They are good people and are genuinely kind. They cared for me during a really rough part of my life, I feel a bit guilty for not staying in touch. But catching up has been great, I am introduced and reintroduced to a ton of wolves. I am grateful that I have no weird fated mate things going off. My wolf has eyed up a solid 5 wolves though. Kamden is her favorite option. We agreed that we would not present on our first pack run. But I told her anything goes on Sunday night.

I love seeing people we went to school with and how their lives have changed. I almost slip talking about Easton when Logan introduces me to his family. The sun is setting and everyone is stripping down for a group run.

“I’ve never been on a pack run,” I tell Kari, as I shimmy out of my shorts. I am still feeling a bit uncomfortable with the nudity, that seems to bother no one. Her face is shocked.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve never been on a pack run. Like I’ve never run with other wolves.” Her face is in absolute shock and she takes a step back.

“Porter!” She calls. Alarm in her voice.

“What?” I say, I am mid-strip, down to my bikini and now I am holding my top over my front, feeling exposed.

Porter looks at his wife, who is giving him the same look she gave me, “Zoe has never run with other wolves.”

“Have you shifted?”

“Yeah, hundreds of times. I just don’t live near a pack.”

“When you first turned 18 when you were Alpha West’s pack, you ran with them then, didn’t you?”

“Uhh no I did not. I shifted alone for the first time.”

Alpha West gives his wife a look and his face hardens a bit. “I don’t know how that is possible.” He is shaking his head, Kamden is beside us a moment later.

“You’ve never run with any wolves, ever?” Porter repeats himself.

“No.” My eyes are looking between the three of them, “Is that a problem?”

“Well, wolves are pack animals, even wolves who are banished need to live around other wolves. If they don’t they go feral.”

“Are you saying my wolf is feral?” I am f*****g not!

“No, no. When a wolf is feral, they take over the body. You’d never be on two legs. You’d go live in the forest and succumb to nature. You’d lose all your human characteristics.”

“Ok well, I am obviously not feral so there has to be another explanation.”

“She could be a sigma,” Kamden says. “She smells different to me.”

“There aren’t female sigmas,” Porter says alongside my wolf snorting, bullshit.

“Well, can we run or not? Honestly, this was the biggest selling point of coming to the Falls.”

“Yeah, yeah. Uhh. Can you ask your wolf if she is a sigma?” Yes.

“She says yes, in a very annoyed tone.”

“Sigmas are lone wolves, they don’t follow the rules of normal packs, and they can be aggressive and territorial.”

“I don’t think you need to worry about that from us. Her biggest concern is presenting and being mounted. She is kind of a slut. I don’t think she will be aggressive towards anyone.” Hey, I can hear you.

Kamden smiles. “If that's the case, I’ll stay close.” Yes, daddy.

“I am sure you will.” I roll my eyes. But Porter and Kari still seem uncomfortable.

“I can sit copilot and if she crosses a line, I will take over.” They look at me like I am speaking a different language.

“We should talk after the run,” Porter says.

I step back and finish stripping, piling my clothes on the railing of the deck. I can feel the warmth of Kamden’s wolf. I’ve never shifted in front of anyone. Feels weird to do, but when I do I realize my own size. Kamden is a large, brown wolf, the largest in the group and we stand nose to nose. Looking at my white paws, I see that they are equal to his in size. We are a big girl. I can still hear you.

As we trout through the clearing, I can feel eyes on me. Wolves bow their heads or show their necks. Are you kind of a big deal? Sort of, sigmas are rare, female sigmas are even rarer. We are like alphas in the hierarchy but not bound to a pack, we don’t need a pack to stay in line. I never thought to bring it up because it has never been relevant to us.