The Wolves: Part One: Lost

Chapter 6: Old Crushes and New Awkwardness

Chapter 6

Ally's house was perched near the edge of Raven Falls woods, a sprawling cedar-sided home that practically screamed Black Hollow royalty. The McCalls were one of those families—long-standing, well-known, and practically stitched into the foundation of the town.

The moment we pulled up the long gravel driveway, my nerves kicked in.

"Relax," Ally laughed as she parked the convertible near the garage. "It’s just my house, not a firing squad. And Nate doesn’t bite. Much."

I rolled my eyes, though my pulse quickened all the same. I didn’t have feelings for Nate anymore, not in that way, but I couldn’t deny the nerves creeping in at the thought of seeing him again—the wild, carefree boy who always made me laugh. His teasing jokes and easy hugs had a way of making this place feel like a second home, even in the hardest times. Every time I saw him, he was with a new girl—and honestly, who could blame them? Nate McCall had always been the kind of guy people noticed. Tall with broad shoulders, sun-kissed skin from working outdoors, and that effortlessly tousled dark hair that never stayed in place. His sharp jawline and easy, crooked smile only added to the charm. He had that rugged, golden-boy energy—the type who looked like he belonged on the cover of a hiking magazine, laughing at the rules.

The last time I saw Nate McCall, I was barely fourteen—awkward, shy, with a hopeless crush on my best friend's older brother. Nate was twenty-five now, only a year younger than Mr. Draven, which made the memory of my childhood infatuation feel both ridiculous and humiliating.

Still, I couldn't help the flicker of nerves tightening my chest.

Ally bounded up the porch steps, fishing for her keys. "You remember how obsessed you were? Writing his name on your notebooks, swooning whenever he smiled—"

"That was years ago," I groaned, trailing behind her. "I’ve seen the light. Nate's basically family at this point."

"Sure, sure," she teased, pushing the door open.

The familiar scent of cedar and vanilla drifted through the house. I stepped inside, glancing around the living room, but before I could even settle, a deep voice cut through the space.

"Ally? That you?"

My stomach dipped.

Nate McCall emerged from the hallway, taller than I remembered, broader too. His sandy-brown hair was tousled, jawline sharper, his sea-glass eyes crinkling with easy warmth as he took us in.

"Hey, troublemaker," he greeted Ally, pulling her into a side hug.

Then his gaze landed on me.

"Lena?" His brows lifted in surprise before a slow grin curved his mouth. "Wow, look at you. All grown up."

Heat prickled my cheeks. "Hey, Nate. Long time."

He crossed the room and pulled me into a warm, familiar hug. The faint scent of his cologne clung to him, triggering a soft smile as memories of childhood and this house washed over me. Back before everything got complicated—when life still held that comforting illusion that everything would be okay.

"Too long," he agreed, stepping back, eyes gleaming with amusement. "What are you now, a senior? Makes me feel ancient."

"You kinda are," Ally quipped, plopping onto the couch.

“Watch it,” Nate fired back, though his gaze lingered on me. “How’ve you been holding up? Sorry I haven’t reached out… feels like it’s been forever.”

“It’s alright,” I replied with a teasing smile. “I’m sure college has been brutal. I mean, look at you… all polished and professional now. Who would’ve guessed, Nathaniel?” I added, deliberately drawing out his full name.

His expression immediately twisted into a playful grimace, the familiar irritation flashing across his face — I knew how much he hated being called that. I couldn’t help but grin wider, my eyes drifting over his freshly styled hair, the faint scruff along his jaw, and the broad shoulders filling out his button-down shirt. He looked older, more put together — but there was still that same carefree glint hiding behind his smirk.

Nate’s eyes gleamed with mischief as he took a step closer, his voice low but playful. “Better take that back, Lena, before it’s too late.”

I feigned innocence, tilting my head and crossing my arms with exaggerated sweetness. “I have no idea what you’re talking about… Nathaniel,” I said, dragging out his full name just to tease him.

That was all the invitation he needed.

In an instant, Nate lunged forward, wrapping his arms around me and launching a tickle attack that sent me bursting into uncontrollable laughter. His fingers danced mercilessly along my sides, and despite my desperate attempts to squirm away, his grip only tightened.

“Stop! Nate, seriously!” I gasped between giggles, my face heating up as warmth spread across my cheeks, mixing embarrassment with the joy of the moment.

With a quick twist, he spun me around to face him, holding me firmly as his eyes locked onto mine. The teasing smirk on his lips softened, and his tone dropped to a teasing whisper. “What’s my name, Lena?”

Still breathless and flushed from the tickling, I leaned in, my heart fluttering unexpectedly, and met his gaze with a steady smile. “Nate,” I said quietly, savoring the closeness.

For a brief moment, the cocky bravado in his eyes wavered. A faint blush colored his cheeks, and I could feel the sudden, electric charge between us, thick and unspoken. The silence stretched, charged with something neither of us wanted to acknowledge out loud.

Just as the tension built, Ally’s voice cut through the air, playful and sharp. “Nate, leave Lena alone! We have way too much gossip to catch up on.”

Grinning, I ruffled Nate’s dark hair affectionately before slipping out of his hold. He pretended to protest but let me go without resistance.

“See ya,” I called over my shoulder, feeling the lingering warmth of the moment as I headed up the stairs toward Ally’s room, my pulse still fluttering from the unexpected closeness and the comfortable familiarity of Nate’s presence.

"Alright, I’m heading out for a bit," he announced, grabbing his keys from the counter. "We’ll catch up more later, Lena."

"Sure," I nodded, watching him disappear out the door.

Ally grinned once the coast was clear. "Still totally your type."

"Stop," I groaned, tossing a pillow at her.

But deep down, I knew she wasn’t entirely wrong.

Only now... my type was getting a lot more complicated.

Nate’s POV

The moment I saw Lena walk through the door, something inside me shifted—a mix of nostalgia, relief, and that old familiar warmth I hadn’t realized I’d missed so much. She looked different now—older, more composed—but the same spark was still there in her eyes, the same quiet strength beneath it all. And damn, she was even more beautiful than I remembered. Her olive-toned skin had a natural glow, her dark hair falling effortlessly around her face, framing features that had matured into something stunning yet still so genuine.

I crossed the room without hesitation, the scent of my cologne faint in the air, hoping to bridge the gap the years had stretched between us. When I pulled her into a hug, I felt it—the comfort of a place that had once been home, a feeling I needed more than I’d admit.

She laughed when I caught her off guard with a tickle attack, the sound light and genuine, breaking through all the distance time had put between us. I could tell she was surprised by how easily we slipped back into this rhythm, the way we could just be ourselves around each other.

Leaning in close, I caught the flush on her cheeks and decided to tease her a bit more. “What’s my name, Lena?” I whispered, the smirk on my lips a mix of challenge and affection.

When she answered—just “Nate”—it hit me how much that one word meant, how it held the history between us, all the memories we shared. For a second, the playful bravado faded, and I saw the girl I’d once known.

But before I could say more, Ally’s voice cut in, reminding me that there were other things to focus on. Still, I watched her walk away, feeling that pull, the unspoken connection hanging in the air. This visit wasn’t just a reunion—it was the start of something new, and I wasn’t ready to let her go again.