The Silver Dagger

Human

Tuesday.

Three exams down, three to go.

If she hadn't promised Nate she'd be there, she wouldn't bother going out to the farm tonight - she'd just phase in her room and back and be good for a month. It was fun to run in the moonlight though and it was her favorite time of year and Nate would be there. She hadn't seen him since Sunday when they'd moved him back to the farm. Yeah, she couldn't lie to herself. She was excited, and scared. What if he changed his mind? What if he didn't like her wolf? What if... Stop it, she scolded herself. If he didn't like her wolf then too bad.

At 7:30 she put down her note cards and changed into her nicer jeans, then tried to figure out what to do with her hair. If she braided it like she usually did, it would just be undone when she changed back. It actually looked good down for once. Maybe Nate would like it. Would he even notice?

At 7:45 she went downstairs to wait for Kobe. She didn't have to see him to know when he pulled up. His old green Chevy Sonic backfired, eliciting a screech from one of the girls going into the building.

She pulled open the squeaky door and slid into the passenger seat. "When are you going to get that fixed?"

"My dad's going to look at it when I go home." A slow grin spread across his face as he observed her. "You look nice."She reached back and grabbed the seatbelt, doing her best to make it very obvious that she only considered him a friend. "Thank you and thanks for giving me a ride."

"It is my pleasure."

As usual, he didn't talk much. Aiyana didn't mind. She stared out over the green fields of rapidly growing wheat and just enjoyed the view.

The front yard was already full of vehicles and the smell coming from the three smokers was mouth-watering. A long line of students had already formed in front of the loaded folding table manned by Alpha Miguel.

"Think there will be enough for everyone?" Kobe asked.

"There better be or things are going to get ugly."

"Who are you going to run with tonight?"

"I don't know. I might just visit. Nate is supposed to be here. It depends on how he's feeling."

"You can both come."

Nate was near. Whether she felt it or she just imagined she could, she wasn't sure. "I'll let him know. I'm going to go find him. I'll see you later."

"All right. I'll save you a place in line just in case."

There were a surprising number of people meandering about considering it was finals week. On second thought, it was the last full moon before the end of the semester and no one wanted to miss out on the end-of-the-year barbecue. She waited for a trio of giggling girls to pass in front of her then headed toward the front of the house where some extra tables had been set up. She didn't see anyone in wolf form yet. Maybe Nate was inside? Alpha Miguel was standing behind the table next to one of the smokers wearing his big red apron and wielding super-long tongs. A blond-headed young man she'd never seen before was laughing at something he was saying. The blond was tall - taller than the alpha. He turned enough that he could see his blue eyes. Why did they look so familiar? She should stop staring before he caught her. Too late.