Once Upon a Wolf

Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

"We're only halfway!" Maddox bellowed. "Today, we all need to move quicker if we want to make it to the mountains before sunset tomorrow."

I swallowed the last of my muffin Poppy baked for breakfast on our second day. It was a rough night; I couldn't sleep a wink. Did I mention I hated camping? All the pack members packed up and started to trek east.

At least they didn't shift into their wolves. I didn't want that kind of pressure again, and then feel instant shame when I couldn't get my wolf out by my command. I followed Poppy, who walked a few steps in front of me. Suddenly, my stupid hiking boot tripped on a rock.

Prepared to fall flat on my face, I closed my eyes. I should've used my wolf-y senses, but didn't. Yet, my body stopped before it hit the muddy ground. Sturdy hands pulled my backpack up so I could return to a standing position.

"You need to watch it," a deep voice of Maddox grumbled. He didn't look at me but walked past to lead in front. His icy breeze made me wince. But then again, he did rescue me from falling.

The guy was a complete enigma.

I sighed. Great! He doesn't just think I'm an idiot. He thinks I'm a clumsy idiot, too.

Two hours later of walking through rocky terrain, we entered a small clearing. The sky was blue, and the sun played hide and seek behind thick white cotton clouds. The walk was pleasant and peaceful as I took in nature at its peak before it all got covered in snow. The tree's leaves shaded crimson, gold and amber. My favorite colors. My favorite season — Autumn. My boots crunching above the mosaic of dried leaves.

"Hey, Zoey." A timid voice called out to me. I looked ahead and saw Alice stand and wait on the side.

Completely taken off guard, I stopped in my tracks. My eyes blinking. This was a surprise. "Hey..." I said with a frown and cautiously walked up.

Alice gripped her backpack straps tighter over her shoulders and bit the inside of her cheek. "Can I walk with you?"

I blinked and nodded dimly. "Yeah, sure."

She gave a small smile and walked in step with mine. We glanced at each other. The silence was awkward and palpable. This was weird, not knowing what to say to each other. The last time this happened was when we were thirteen and we liked the same boy. Naturally, I lost him to her.

She glanced at me again. I could tell as I dropped my eyes to the ground. Alice needed to start the conversation. There was no way I was going to. She's the one that came to me.

Taking a deep sigh, she spoke. "So, what's up?" she started. This journey is brutal, huh?"

"Yeah, it's a long one," I said flatly.

"I'm sure not as brutal for you, since you're a wolf and all, like the others." I couldn't help but hear the bite in her tone when she said wolf.

"Well, not that much of a good one, since I can't shift properly yet." I shrugged.

She looked at me with a lift of her manicured eyebrow. "What's with that? I thought shifting came easy being a wolf."

"It's more difficult than it appears to be, apparently." My eyes fixed on a distant hill.

Alice bit her bottom lip. "Zoey..." Her voice became a plead. "I owe you an apology."

I side-eyed her with a scrunch of my nose.

She took a deep breath in. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm so sorry for avoiding you."