~ JACKSONS POV ~
With Kali gone for another two weeks, life is definitely boring. Phone calls and texts are out of the question, leaving me to find some form of entertainment.
I really hate to admit it, but the Big Bang theory just about saves my sanity. Even with everyone that comes and goes daily to see the Elders and ask for help, or advice, not a single person is familiar. That has to be only thing I miss about being in a pack, always having familiar faces around.
Kali is putting on a brave face, choosing to ignore what she really wants because she's convinced that the past will repeat itself. She still loves him, but I suppose all the cruel words Hardin spewed at her three years ago does play a part in it.
Considering how Kade and that bitch wife of his raised Kali, she's very easily hurt by words that come from people she loves. It's like she has this defence mechanism, when she's hurt it either turns to anger, or she'll kind of shut down.
"Sam is taking Apollo to Sicily for the week, you're welcome to join them if you'd like." Luther says as I pour myself a glass of water.
"What's in Sicily?" I ask curiously, wondering why Apollo's trainer wants to head down there. Doesn't she need to ask Kali?
"Equestrian escapes, some kind of horse riding holiday. Kali likes Apollo to have a change in scenery, thing is...Apollo is a lot of horse even for Sam, she could use some back up." Luther tells me.
Kali takes her horse all the way to Sicily, for a change of scenery? Sounds a little nuts to me, but I guess that's Kali for you.
"Alright, I'll go but I'm not going near that thing unless I have to." I retort with a grimace.
I recall the one time as a teenager I got hit by one of those things. Thought it would be cool to ride one, except it freaked out and attacked me, that was the day I learnt how terrified horses are of wolves.
How Kali handles such a beast is beyond my knowledge.
"I'll let Sam know, you'll be leaving in the morning so pack your things." Luther says.
"Will do." I sigh, exiting the kitchen and heading off to do just that.
A whole week with my best friends nutty horse. What could go wrong?
*
*
*
"Grab him!" Sam yells as the thing yanks itself free, the rope slipping though her hands.
"I'm not touching it!" I scowl, waving my arms in some attempt to send it back towards Sam.
Except the damn thing rears up, doubling in size. I immediately move out of the way before it crushes me, which causing the thing to bolt entirely.
"Shit! You absolute idiot! Do you know how much Kali loves that horse!? She's going to kill us!" Sam rants, slamming the trailer door shut and taking off after Apollo before he gets too far.
"I warned you that he'd freak on me! But no, you know better!" I angrily stomp after the stupid human and her stupid horse.
This time, I'm keeping my distance no matter what she says. The damn thing will only freak the second I get close.
We walk for what has to be over an hour, before Sam finally slows down, talking softly as she approaches the beast. It's lead rope tangled between a nest of thick shrubs, it's breathing still a little heavy with panic.
I maintain my distance, watching with boredom as Sam soothes the thing and untangles the lead rope. Knowing it won't come this way with me here, I begin walking back to the car, staying ahead as she leads him from the trees.
Once he's calm and Sam decides it's not injured, she loads him up and we set off on the road again. This time I take the back seat, laying my head against the window and drifting off.
Luther said it's a ten hour drive.
So far it's been fourteen, and we've stopped three times, and we're barely three quarters the way there.
"How long has Kali had Apollo?" I ask, merely to make conversation as the atmosphere is a tad awkward.
"A little over a year, she took him from some humans that didn't have time for him anymore, sure cost her a pretty penny though." Sam tells me with a slight frown.
"They took her money when she was just giving him a better home?" I half scowl.
"Some horse people are like that, in it for the money with no interest in the horses well-being." Sam shrugs, like it's normal.
"It's strange actually, Apollo wasn't used to affection or people near him. I helped them but they bonded quickly, he trusts her completely." Sam smiles slightly, glancing at me as if to see my reaction.
I just frown.
"It's just a horse." I respond.
"If he's just a horse, explain to me why Kali is the only one that he will allow to ride him?" She gives me a pointed stare.
Well, when you put it like that.
"If he can't be ridden by anyone else, why are we taking him to a goddamn equestrian escape holiday thing?" I ask with irritation.
Does she plan on walking the thing everywhere?
"There's a very well known horse trainer that agreed to see Apollo and work with him, hopefully by the time Kali comes home he'll at least let someone else saddle him." Sam states.
For the most part silence fills the rest of the journey, but once Sam starts talking horses, it's hard to get her to shut up. Being the lovely person I am, I'm forced to smile and nod like I'm listening, despite my absolute zero interest in the beast.
I already regret coming, and the week hasn't even started.
Why, Kali? Why did you have to leave?
*
*
*
The smell of manure is prominent in the air, a scent that is quiet literally ten times stronger on my heightened senses than a humans. So while they get a small whiff of it in the breeze, I might as well have it jammed up my nostrils.
"Why the sour face?" Sam chuckles, unloading Apollo carefully, double checking for any swelling or heat spots.
"Not much of a people person." I say the first thing that comes to mind, she is human after all, with absolutely no clue about wolves.
"Really? Could've fooled me, the way you wouldn't shut up the entire way here." Sam shrugs as she leads Apollo away.
I stare at her back, gaping like a fish. I wouldn't shut up the whole way? Has the woman lost her mind?
Begrudgingly, I follow behind the human and the beast like a lost puppy. Let's face facts, this isn't my scenery, nor my kind of thing. I'm all for adventure and exploring, but a horse holiday? It's nuts.
My best friend just might actually be insane.
YOU ARE READING
ENDURING {Sequel to Everlasting} ❗️EDITING ❗️
WerewolfLife after the ceremony was different. Kali was completely alone for the first time in her life, no parents making her obey, no mate to confide in. Still, she found ways to adapt. Five years. Five years since she laid eyes on the man she once ador...
