Call to the Wild

Home...

Hmmmm... I didn’t realize how much I missed this bed, Lisa and I had gotten it from a yard sale and dragged it all the way up those darn stairs to get it in here. The first bed I ever owned, I breathed in deep and started to drift off. The walk, or run, had made me kind of tired. I pulled my favorite gray blanket over my shoulders and snuggled into my pillow. the smells that used to choke me. Lisa was always burning candles, the mixed scents used to choke me, but now I just relished in the familiar smells of home.

Before I knew it, dawn was shining through my bedroom window. Did I sleep all day and all night too? Maybe all the training had worn me out even more than I thought.. I decided to get up and make us breakfast, Lisa was a great friend, she was totally cool about me showing up all random.

I pulled some eggs out of the fridge, filled the coffee machine with water, then turned on the stove. I felt like making French toast, it was amazing with a little bit of sugar and cinnamon mixed into the eggs! I quickly made two for each of us then poured us a couple cups of hazelnut flavored coffee. Lisa liked more creamer than coffee, it was a wonder she didn’t just drink the creamer straight from the bottle.

“Hey!” Said Lisa standing in the hallway looking at me with two wide eyes.

“Morning! I got up early and made us breakfast.” 

“Something is wrong..” She said looking at me suspiciously.

“No I just slept all day and all night, even I can get up early after that.” I handed her a cup of coffee and scooted her plate across the table towards her.

“Uhhh.. Huhh.. Sure.” 

We both sat down and enjoyed our breakfast together in silence for a few minutes, then we got dressed, and headed down to the car. It was nice being here, most of the pack was nice, but I enjoyed waking up and getting breakfast without worrying about how I looked at 5am straight out of bed..

“So you and Dylan are okay?” Asked Lisa without taking her eyes off the road.

“Yeah I guess.”

“I knew it!”

“No. No, we are fine. It’s just a friend of his doesn’t really like me. She always trying to get to me.” I said finally giving in. If I couldn’t talk to Lisa, then who would I talk to?

“So did you tell Dylan this?”

“Not really. I don’t know, I feel weird about it.” I sighed. 

“Well is she an ex-girlfriend maybe or just a friend who wishes she was more?”

“Just a friend I think, Dylan swears he never really dated much before me.”

“Do you believe him?” She raised her eye brows when she asked this, I was ready to burst out laughing.

“Yes!” I giggled. “It’s not just that, I think you were right. Moving in with him after one crazy night was too fast...”

“Told.. you... so....” She laughed as she pulled into the diner’s parking lot.

I’m pretty sure she thought we had slept together that night, I couldn’t exactly tell her I wolfed out and attacked him then woke up at a witch’s cottage that night. I just told her we got lost star gazing and slept out in the woods. She knew I wasn’t telling the truth but accepted it while rolling her eyes.

The diner was already lit up with its nineteen fifties style neon lights, the sun was shining bright now. We got inside and prepped for our first customers. When I heard the bells on the door I froze. I breathed out hard after holding my breath for too long. That was going to be Dylan and his friends, I wasn’t sure how mad he’d be at me for taking off. I walked out the powder pink saloon style doors and looked to my left.

It was Dylan alone.

“You can have left today.” Whispered Lisa who was also looking at Dylan sitting alone in the corner booth. He was staring straight at us, no readable emotion on his face. He was just sitting there back straight, hands in his lap. He was wearing gray jogging pants and a white t-shirt. That wasn’t really his normal attire, I looked outside but didn’t see his car. Did he walk here? It wasn’t that far, this was a small town after all, nothing was really too far away.

“Hey.” I said walking up to him with my order pad in my hand. I tried to smile, I was more nervous then the first time I met him here.

“The sampler.” He stated without looking up or touching the menu.

“Okay.” I stood there for a minute not sure if I should walk away or say something else, he was obviously angry with me.

I walked back to the kitchen and leaned against the wall when I got inside, I’d been holding my breath again. My heart was pounding so loud I could hear it about to pop out of my chest!

“So... What did Romeo say..?” Asked Lisa who had been watching through the little pass through.

“That he wants the sampler.” I said flatly. At least we were entertaining someone.

“Oh.. You guys are into it good, huh?” She giggled.

“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes and looked back out at him too. He was looking out the window, still emotionless.

“Ladies..” Called Mr. Atkins. 

“Sorry. Here.” I left the order and walked back out to the table, I needed to talk to him before the customers started pouring in. Breakfast was usually our busiest time of day. I sat down across from him, he looked up at me and just stared. I waited for him to get mad or something.

“Why did you leave without saying anything?” 

“Veronica.” I started.

“Veronica is just flirty, I told you that she is a pack member, I can’t kick her out for being annoying.” He snapped.

“Veronica told me you were frustrated about waiting.” I said quickly before he could cut me off again.

“Waiting?” He seemed confused.

“Waiting for me, she said she heard you say it.”

“That’s why you left?” He wasn’t yelling, he was actually talking really low, almost a whisper.

“Yes, that’s embarrassing! Why would you tell anybody anything about us like that?” Why did he think that was okay! I don’t want anyone knowing about what we do or don’t do behind closed doors!

“Look.” Now he was laughing...

 Why was he freaking laughing? I could feel my face getting hot. I was ready to scream!

“Alex made a joke about being surprised we could leave the bedroom, because we just met... Sometimes new mates get carried away. I told him you wanted to wait until the bonding ceremony. I wasn’t saying anything bad about it, I told you I don’t mind waiting. I thought you left because of Shiri! I thought...”

Lisa brought his food from the kitchen so Dylan hushed up. She was smiling and watching both of us closely.

“Not to interrupt but we’ve  got more customers...”

“Sorry Lisa.”

“Apologies.” Said Dylan as he picked up his fork. “I’ll pick you up tonight Ayla.”

I went to work filling coffee cups and taking orders. The place stayed busy all the way until mid afternoon, then we only had the occasional trucker stopping in for coffee. That was a normal day for us, we closed up for Mr. Atkins, he had an appointment or something he’d said. It wasn’t dark yet but it was definitely getting late, the sky was clear and the wind was blowing gently. It felt nice.

Suddenly a scream pierced the air. I searched for Lisa, she must be around back throwing out one last bag of trash! I ran towards the side of the diner as I noticed a distinct smell wafting through the air. It smelled like saw dust, a werewolf was here, no one I knew, his scent was new... Just when I turned the corner I saw some thing standing over Lisa, she was on the ground and bleeding. I couldn’t see the wound, but I could smell the blood!

He turned towards me slowly. He wasn’t like any werewolf I’d ever seen, he was something from the movies.. He was huge and half shifted, he took a step towards me as I stood there in shock. Should I run? No I had to help! I squeezed my eyes shut begging my wolf to take control, but she wasn’t answering...