Lone Wolf.

I yawn before burying my face into the pillow, realizing that the only thing left was the scent that lingered. My eyes open to see the empty space next to mine. She must have left for work by now. I knew her father would be coming home today, but I was content with the fact that we'd gotten to spend the last night together in my bed. My room had a lot more life to it now after Serena had stepped foot in it.
I longed to be with her again.
The estranged feeling was indescribable; I wanted to be with her at all times. I wasn't the kind of person to get clingy, but I could feel it, deep in my being. My thoughts revolved around her, remembering the way she felt, how she tasted, and the strangest part was, I didn't know which side was calling for her more.
Forcing myself to get up and face the day, I make a quick breakfast before wondering where to head to first. I could stop by Bartlett, but I much more strongly preferred going into the bookstore to see her. Maybe I could even buy a book on wolves.
After the short drive there, I park and walk inside, the small bell above the door chiming at my arrival. I notice Serena at the front cashier desk with her back facing me as she bends down to sort through a few things. I figure I'd amuse her and walk over. "Excuse me, do you have any books on wolves in the wildlife?"
It takes her less than a second to swivel around smirking. "I believe so, but I'm not too sure where. Perhaps try looking in the Zoology category by the canine section. Right next to 'How to Train Your Dog 101.'"
"Funny," I scoff, unable to stop the smile on my lips. I want so badly to lean over and kiss her but I know I shouldn't. The last thing I needed was to get her fired. She'd chop off my tail later if I did that.
"I'll let you get back to work," I mutter as I run a hand through my hair. "Still having lunch later?"
"Of course," she giggles. I pull a random book off the shelf and slide it onto the counter to please her. After ringing me up and thanking me for stopping by to say hi, I leave Serena and find the nearest coffee shop to read. There's a light breeze, rustling a few of the trees along the other side of the sidewalk and bringing a chill to my neck.
Time seems to pass slowly, my coffee taking a long time to get cold and by then, I'm halfway through the novel. I can't say it's the most compelling book, but one of the characters has a strong, mysterious personality. He himself was a mystery, something I could relate to.
A hand waves in front of my face and I look up, the horizon behind her glowing a soft yellow and casting a halo around her.
Serena smiles, sliding into the chair across from me. "You look engaged there."
"Hardly," I muse, placing the book down. She's apparently already ordered and stands to grab an iced coffee that's called.
"How was your day?" she asks lightly, sipping through a straw and tilting her head.
I chuckle. "Bland. What I need is a good run."
"You really do belong in the forest," she sighs, bringing her raven hair over her shoulder. I could run my fingers through it again and again.
Entranced, I tug on the end of her ponytail. "You'd look good there. Yknow, the whole skirt made out of leaves-"
"Oh no, you're not turning me into some freak of nature," she laughs. "I said you belong there."
I was going to mention that I belong with her, but think twice of it.
"Well do you want to get freaky with a freak of nature later?" I ask, wiggling my eyebrows.
With a giggle, she swats my arm. "I'd love to, but unfortunately, I have to be at dinner later. Now that my dad's home, I'll have to make the meal, and I think Jackson's coming over-"
"Jackson?" I say, my shoulders stiff. Was that one of her dad's younger police buddies or something that he was trying to get his daughter close to?
She crosses her arms as she leans back in her chair, amused. "My brother? The one I haven't introduced you to yet?"
I clear my throat, drinking from my coffee. My cheeks were warmer than it was. "Oh," I say simply.
"Hey!" She sits up, grinning brightly. "Maybe you can come over. My dad already knows you."
I choke on my drink. Did she really just say that? Dinner with her family? She was bringing a wolf to the table? With her brother and her sherif dad?
"I...I'd love to but, are you sure that's a good idea?" It's a horrible idea, I say in my head. What if they felt something was off about me? They were her family - they were bound to sense I was different.
Serena shoots me a funny look. "Well, why wouldn't it be? Can wolves not be around a large group of people?"
"That's not it," I laugh. "It's your dad. Don't forget I've forgotten you mention that shotgun."
She rolls her eyes. "He's not going to shoot you. As long as you don't go showing claws or fur."
"Right," I mumble, thinking about it. It wouldn't be too bad, would it?"
I'm about to answer when my phone rings. I dig it out of my pocket and read the screen, seeing it was Jared calling.
"One sec," I mutter before answering. Pat's apparently demanding band practice, so we could have a chance to discuss the setlist and other things regarding the tour that was only creeping closer. I had yet to make any mention of it to Serena.
And I could feel the fear of telling her the truth creeping into my mind seeing her sitting right in front of me.
"Who was that?" she asks and sips from her cup.
"My buddy Jared," I sigh. How could I tell her no to dinner and break it to her about tour in the same afternoon? "I'm afraid I can't go to dinner, darlin'."
She pouts. "Why's that?"
I rub my neck. "I sort of have band practice."
"Oh," she says with a slow smile spreading on her face. "I understand, don't even worry about it. You're trying to be professional and take your music career seriously."
"Uhh, yeah," I say a bit stunned, taken aback how comprehensive she was being. Did she...know?
Serena raises a brow. "Why do you look so surprised?" she chuckles.
I shake my head. "I just...didn't think you'd be this understanding about it."
She merely shrugs, shaking the ice in her cup. "Well if you guys are just starting out or something, then that takes a lot of commitment and hard work. I wouldn't take you away from something as important in there."
I smirk, touched but amused. "We've been doing this for a while now actually. But thank you. I appreciate it." I rest my hand over hers, giving it a light squeeze. She smiles and I could feel the guilt in my stomach, my conscience shunning me for not telling her.
But a smile like that, I wouldn't dare break.
~
After a long session at the studio, I return my truck back home before stripping and shifting to take off in a run to the woods late at night. Everyone was sleeping by now, and with such perfect weather like this, I couldn't resist from stopping by my favorite hideout.
The branches move with a woosh as I pass by the bushes and scarce trees, eventually reaching the outskirts of the forest. I eventually pass the spot where I park, grinning and dashing the rest of the way before letting out a howl when I reach my goal, hopping onto the low boulder as I tip my head back, the sound humming in my throat.
The minutes passed and I felt at ease, staring up at the moonlight that made the lake glimmer. Everything felt calm, where it should be.
There's a rustle in the bushes and I swivel around. My ears were pointed and my fangs were drawn, a growl grumbling deep within me. The scent my nose picked up was not one I recognized, but at the same time, it was familiar.
A different kind of familiar.
I sniff, searching for any kind of sign that it was human. A cologne or perfume, fresh or even dirty clothes, sweat, blood, but I picked up none of those. The only thing I could come to decide was earth and something resembling damp warm fur.
The last thing I saw in the bushes, was the undeniable flash of deep blue specks.
~
I couldn't shake the image of last night out of my mind. I could have sworn those were eyes. I even chased after what I thought I saw, but I found nothing. Whatever it was, it must have vanished into thin air.
Or whoever it was. I hadn't gotten a good enough look to find out. If someone had seen me, I don't think I was in any harm since I had shifted back at the house. But any kind of spectator could be a potential threat. What if they started coming here? This may not be my property, but this was sure as hell my territory.
Because I may not have been positive on what I saw, but I know what I smelled. It was too strong and like myself for it to have just been in my head. For all I knew, though, it could have been a regular wolf, or any wild animal at that.
At this point I wasn't sure about anything other than one thing:
That unmistakable blue.
It couldn't possibly what I was thinking. That was impossible.
The idea sits in the back of my mind, sighing as I crawl out of bed. The dirt was still beneath my nails and a bit in my hair so I had to shower. I didn't want to give myself more time to think or doubt what I saw, but I needed to get clean.
Washing up quickly, I move back into my room with the towel around my waist until I hear the doorbell.
"Ash?" I call, but she didn't seem to be home. Where was everyone half the time? I'm the one with the secret alternate life.
I approach the door and see Serena smiling through the glass, jumping when she pounces on me as I open the door.
"Hi to you too," I chuckle, pulling her inside and holding up the towel to make sure it didn't fall. I guide her to my room and she sighs. "I'm surprised you didn't come rapping on my window last night after dinner. You were more than welcome to swing by."
"Why would I rap at your window," I tease, twisting her words a bit for the joke. She smacks my shoulder before plopping down on my bed. "Well feel free to rap at my window anytime."
"Oh I may just surprise you," I chuckle, smirking to myself. I rummage around through a few drawers to look for shorts or pants when I feel her slip her arms around me. I could feel her fingers softly caressing my stomach and I bite my lip. That was hard to ignore.
"So how was dinner?" I ask, hoping to change the subject, not that it was one being talked about. But oh, was I thinking it.
She rests her chin on my back. "Good. I talked about you a bit, to get a feel for how my dad took to you that day at the store. Good news, he says you seem like a good man." She presses her lips to my shoulder blade, humming. "If only he knew how good."
I swallow thickly and turn, taking a hold of her wrists. I keep my eyes steadily on her and my heart races at the intense look she shoots me from beneath her lashes. They were so vivid in clear and, like a flash yet again, I see the eyes from before.
I'm taken off guard as she pushes me onto the bed, straddling me and crashing her mouth onto mine. I groan at her taste, grabbing her by the back of her neck and deepening the kiss. I feel her shiver in pleasure and soon, we've leaned back and are a pair of panting messes and tangled bones. I had one bone that wasn't going away though.
"Fuck, Ser," I moan, her nails slipping subtly across my waist. I bite down on her lip and she pulls away. She moves down to my neck, sucking lightly and biting away. The feel of her teeth grazing my skin makes me want to all but pin her beneath me.
But they also make those blue irises appear in my thoughts, again and again.