Struggle for Love

Chapter 6 Time Flies

Time seemed to fly by. Every six months like clock work, my "heat" would creep in and I would be confined to my room for a could of weeks. The more it came the easier it was to deal with.

Zachariah continued to attempt to come to the house but his efforts were thwarted by Momma Beth. He tried to gain her trust but it was futile. Momma Beth hated him.

I stayed true to my word. I avoided the man at all cost and just stayed focus on school. It felt like I blinked and I was graduating.

During the ceremony I could see Momma Beth and Sadie crying with pride and happiness. I had applied to a dozen colleges and was over come with joy and excitement when I was excepted into Georgetown University. I was eighteen and I was ready to start my life.

I blinked and I had finished my undergrad program. I once again was surprised when I was accepted into John Hopkins University. It was an exhausting and grueling four years but finally I was entering my residency program. Finally, I could go back home to Georgia. I missed Momma Beth. I missed Sadie. I missed Max. I even missed Zachariah coming by the house.

The plane landed at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport at 9:27pm. Although I was tired, my brain was wired, my body excited to be home. I grabbed my suitcase from the baggage claim area and made my way outside to look for Sadie. I looked at my cell phone and I had a message.

Sadie: Running late. Traffic sucks.

I sat on a bench outside playing on my phone while I waited. I waited for half an hour before Sadie pulled up in her old beat up Ford Explorer. She put it in park and came barrelling out of the driver's seat, running around the car to grab me. She hugged me so tight.

"River! I missed you so much! Granny has been baking all day!" I could smell apples and cinnamon on her clothes mixed with something else... pine. Peppery pine.

" I missed you too Momma! I'm so glad to be home. I get three weeks off before I start at Emory!"

"Emory smimory! You need to relax. Let's get you home. Guess who has been missing his momma?" She hops in the car and rolls down the rear window and Max pops his head out. His muzzle is white now and his gray eyes are dotted creamy gray from cataracts but he sniffs excitedly at me, recognizing my scent. "Max!" I climb in the back seat and cuddle with the large brute the whole way home. I missed this so much.

We pull into the house at about midnight but every light in the house was on. I help Max out and grab my suit case. We walk up the porch just as the door flies open.

"Wolfie girl!!!" Momma Beth hobbled out onto the porch and grabs be into a crushing hug and I just hold her closely, inhaling her sweet scent of vanilla and lavender. Wait... I can smell her.

"Momma Beth, I can smell you."

"I ain't seen you in eight years and you're telling me I stink?" She looked at me through round purple framed glasses. She had aged a little and her hair was white now.

"No, that's not what I mean. I couldn't smell you before at all. You had no scent." I said.

"Well, my magic ain't what it use to be or maybe I forgot to cloak us. No matter, come in child! Oh I missed you." She kissed my cheek and tugged my hand, pulling me into the house. Everything was exactly as it was, except one thing. I let out a guttural growl.