Althena

29. Mushrooms

The next morning, Monte has us stretching. I don't mind this. I love stretching. I guess if a person stretches and holds a position, it's also strength training. I don't care. I enjoy the stretching and the sun. Then I run away. I don't want beta picking on me today.

I run to the woods where nobody goes and strip. Then I turn into my wolf. I run through the trees and smell everything. I dig my claws into the earth and stretch them. I jump over the downed trees and walk on them. I can't believe how good my balance is as a wolf. I run through some streams and splash. I love being a wolf. It's so fun.

Then I see a bunny. I sneak up on it and pounce. It barely gets away. I chase it but it's fast. And it nearly zigzags me into a tree head first.

I bounce back and go after a fly. Then I jump on a tree.

A weird smell comes from somewhere. I sit on the tree and glance around. I don't see anything, but I can definitely smell something. Something moves and I lay down on my belly. It seemed big. I'm not very good at camouflaging, but maybe I can stay still. I slide off the tree slowly and lay beside it.

The smell starts to get stronger, and it hits me all at once, it's a rogue.

I know I'm going to have to run. My only hope is the wind is blowing my scent away from him. I hold as still as possible. Then I hear growling. He knows I'm here. I have to run.

I plan my route and see something move from the way I was planning to go. This is bad. I plan a different route. I have to run between them.

I take off as fast as I can. I hear the wolf behind me snarl. He was close.

A big black wolf comes straight for me from the other direction. I close my eyes. This is going to hurt. But he jumps over me. What I hear sounds horrible for a minute. Then it's over.

I look back, and the black wolf is sitting on the tree watching me.

"What the hell was that, Monte?" The alpha and some warriors come from one direction.

I sneak off in the other. I don't think anyone else saw me. I find my clothes and change quickly. Then I run back to granny's.

She gives me lunch then shows me how to make things float. It's easy and kind of fun. I have to focus on it then lift my finger at it. Then I get ready for dinner. I take a shower and do my hair nicely. Then I do my nails in red. It's black and red today. I wear black heels again. Boys never notice that stuff. I get my makeup done, and the car shows up right at 5.

Granny perks up and follows me out. "Where are you going?"

"Dinner with alpha Jax."

"Does Mike know you're dating?"

"It's not a date. He's curious about my marks. I'll tell him over dinner."

Granny nearly falls down the stairs laughing. Then she waves me on. "I'm fine. Have a nice dinner."

I'm in the car for an hour. I play on my phone the entire time. Then we pull up outside a tall building. It's not a skyscraper, but it's 10 stories or so. The door opens and Jax offers me his arm.

He really is nice looking. "Where are we?"

"Market district. I had meetings all day and couldn't get away."

People stand around and watch me get out of the car. I hold him a little tighter. I don't know why they're staring.

He takes me up to the top floor, and we have a room to ourselves. It's a nice table. Table cloth with fancy dishes. The windows overlook the market district. The seats are comfortable, and the lighting is dim. It's perfect.

"What do you think?"

"I love this. It's so cozy and nice. I love the view. Music is light. The lighting is perfect."

"I like to relax here after a long day. Wait until you try the food. You'll be back."

"I get the packland scent here."

"We're about a block away from my pack's border."

"Convenient for you too. Super close to where you live."

"It is that."

"Wine, sir?"

I perk up, and the waiter looks away from me. "1 glass won't hurt."

The waiter gives him 2 glasses and leaves. I give the door the dirtiest look.

He laughs and slides a glass to me. "They can't serve you."

"I don't know why. The coffee shop gives me liquor." He puts an eyebrow up. "Spirit and spice flavor. I guess it's liquor. I could not figure out why it burnt."

"You drink that a lot?"

"No. Somebody told them to give me mocha magic instead. It's chocolate. At least it doesn't burn."

"Yea, don't drink the spirit and spice." He hands me the menu. "What are you thinking?"

"Poulet aux Porto."

"Do you know French? You said that perfectly."

"No. Lucky I guess. It sounds amazing. I love mushrooms."

He orders everything from the waiter. "So, tell me about these marks."

"I don't want to."

"Why?"

"It's a very long conversation."

He smiles. "Give me the short version."

The waiter sits something down in the middle of the table.

I take a deep breath.

He laughs. "Not the loud version. Short. And these are stuffed mushrooms. Try them."

I have to eat 2. They are amazing. "I need to take this restaurant home with me." He smirks and shakes his head. "Fine. Short and quiet. I can do that." I point at the marks as I tell him the story.

By the end of it, he's really mad. I can feel his aura.

"Why are you mad?"

The waiter puts down a couple of dessert plates.

"That was a lot to go through in such a short time."

"I guess it was. But I'm here now and I found my grandma. I'm happy to have a grandma. And you said make it short."

He smiles. "I guess I did. And demontail pack is gone?"

"The king said, they'll never be 100% certain, but they think so. And they increased the security system at my place. I changed the code."

"That's a start. Where are you going to live in a year?"

"I don't know. Crimson and woodland would probably take me. Frank from the full moon might take me, so I never bother him at 7 am again."

He chuckles. "Mystical moon won't?"

"I doubt it. I have no attachments there. Other than my grandma. And she said she might come with me. She would like to see where I grew up. I don't know if she will or not, but it's a nice thought. Real family." I shrug my shoulders. "What about you? What's your story?"

"My parents had me young. I don't think they meant to. But they made it work. My dad built the pack and claimed the ground. There was a lot of defending it as I grew up. He was injured in one of the fights when I was 21. I had to take over then."

"Is?"

"He's fine. Not as strong as he used to be. But he's with us. I've been running the pack for 5 years. We have to defend the territory occasionally. We have amazing warriors. So, for the most part, people leave us alone. It stays quiet. I do a lot of trading." He slides me another glass of wine.

"Trading would be fun. Seeing what all you can get for the pack."

"Yea, trading is fun. Training is more fun. I like to focus on that too."

"I do some training where I am. I never heard of training open to everyone before now."

"What kind do you do?"

"For 2 hours every morning, they set up an activity anyone can do. So far, I've done running, archery, hiking, baseball, stretching, and map reading. All kinds of stuff. It's fun."

"Where did you hike to?"

"In the trees. The lead warrior showed us moss that grows on the north side of trees. So, we can always know the direction. Then some animal tracks and he explained what we could eat. It was a fun walk."

"What was your favorite training?"

"Stretching or archery. I was good at those."

"I might implement something like that. It sounds like it would be good for people."

"I think so. Even old people attend. A bunch of them went when we did the walk. The Delta said physical training can help everyone, not just the warriors. For me, I enjoy the company. It's nice meeting everyone. This is the first pack I've been around where everyone knows each other." I cover my mouth and yawn. "Sorry."

"That happened quicker than I thought it would. The 2nd glass really did it. I'll get us out of here." He gets me into the car, then sits beside me.

I lay my head on his shoulder, and I am out.