Claws of Fate

New Beginnings

Canada Rockies, 1983

I woke up in a cold sweat, the remnants of the nightmare still clinging to my mind. Victor's face, twisted with anger and betrayal, haunted me. It had been almost 6 years since that fight in the forest, but the memories were still fresh, and raw. I looked down to see that my claws were out, I must've subconsciously extracted them during the nightmare.

I shook it off and swung my legs out of bed, feeling the cool floor beneath my feet. The cabin was quiet, accompanied by the faint smell of something delicious wafting from the kitchen.

As I padded down the hallway, I couldn't help but appreciate the peacefulness of this place. James had finally found some semblance of normalcy here with Kayla. It was nice to see him settle down after everything we'd been through.

When I entered the kitchen, I saw Kayla at the stove, humming softly as she cooked. The sight made me smile. It was a stark contrast to the chaos of our past.

"Morning," I greeted, my voice still a bit groggy.

Kayla turned and smiled warmly. "Morning, Morg. Breakfast will be ready in a bit. How'd you sleep?"

I shrugged, not wanting to delve into the details of my nightmare. "As well as can be expected."

Just then, James walked into the kitchen, a grin spreading across his face as he went straight to Kayla and kissed her good morning. I couldn't resist the opportunity to tease him.

"Blah, gross! Can you two get a room?" I said, pretending to gag.

James rolled his eyes and shot me a playful look. "You're just jealous, Wolvie."

Kayla laughed, giving James a playful nudge. "When are you going to find someone, Morgan?"

I smirked, leaning against the counter. I wasn't one for relationship in the end I would just outlive them, might as well save myself from the pain. "I'm working on it."

James chuckled, shaking his head. "Sleeping with girls from the bar doesn't count."

Kayla nudged him again, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You know, there was a redhead who seemed to always be looking at Morgan."

I raised an eyebrow, playing along into Kayla's antics, she was always trying to set me up with someone. "Oh? And who might that be?"

Kayla turned back to the stove, flipping a pancake. "Her name is Anna. She works at the diner in town. Every time you come in, she can't seem to take her eyes off you."

James grinned, clearly enjoying this. "Maybe you should ask her out. Might be nice to have some company other than us."

I laughed, shaking my head. "I'll think about it. But for now, I'm just enjoying not being shot at or hunted."

James's expression softened, and he placed a hand on my shoulder. "You deserve some happiness too, Morgan. Don't be afraid to go after it."

I nodded at James, thankful for his words, but deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that settling down with someone just wasn't for me. I'd outlive them anyway, so what was the point? It was a burden I didn't want to place on anyone.

"I appreciate it, James," I said softly, giving his shoulder a squeeze before excusing myself from the kitchen. "I'm gonna get ready for work."

Kayla smiled at me as I left, and I could hear her and James talking in low tones, their voices filled with warmth and affection. It was nice, but it also reminded me of what I'd probably never have.

I dressed quickly, pulling on my work boots and a flannel shirt. The lumber yard was hard work, but it kept me busy, kept my mind off the past. Kayla drove James and me to work every day, and today was no different. As we pulled up to the yard, the familiar sounds of saws and hammers greeted us.