The Last Wolf Standing

Chapter Eleven

        "Zack, you didn't have to do this." I said for the tenth time. He ignored me and continued to fix his makeshift bed, "Fine, just take my bed and I'll sleep on the couch."

"Maddie, I'm good. I don't mind." He mumbled. If he was going to be stubborn then I will be too.

"Then I'll stay out here with you." I decided then sat on the floor.

"Please, no cartoons. I'm so tired of them." He said in a defeated tone.

"No problem, you can choose." I was sad about the cartoons but he was being nice by staying here with me so that was the least that I could do.

He settled for a relatively new movie which was a romantic comedy. It was a pretty good one too, we talked a little while watching it but we kept the conversations very light and happy but after the movie ended, it got a lot heavier and serious.

"This is a really weird question, but, do you like being a werewolf?" I asked.

"From what I know, we technically aren't werewolves but shifters. Both terms can work but the meaning and mythology attached to the term werewolf is very misleading if you use it to represent us. I heard that there are more of us out there and depending on what animal is most powerful in those areas that is what those persons shift into." He launched into his explanation and I had to admit that I was very interested in what he had to say. "Let's say that panthers or bears are the most common in two different areas then I guess persons would be called werepanthers and werebears respectively... That sounds kind of dumb when I say it aloud." He laughed.

"That all sound really possible, albeit the names sound weird but maybe it's because we are not used to hearing them. Doesn't that then mean that the term werewolf is actually still correct?" I inquired.

"This is all so confusing." Zack sighed and I agreed. "But to answer your question, I do like being who I am."

"About Selena..." I changed the subject quickly, I wanted to get to know more about him and his family.

"She really smart for her age and looks older too." He replied lovingly. I already knew her age and he was right.

"She's very beautiful." I said. "I remember you said that Seth looked like your mother and you look like your father, I met your mom but I haven't met your dad."

"My dad is a strange man, he used to always be away and sometimes he would be gone for weeks without explanation, I guess this is just one of those times." He seemed uncomfortable so I did not push the matter. "How about you? I hardly ever hear you mention your family."

I went into a daze, thoughts of my past flooded to the front of my mind. "My old pack was awful, I won't get into the details now but it was either leave or be forced to do what I did not want to do."

"Fair enough. What should we watch next?"

"An action movie!" I said excitedly.

The night went by slowly but in a good way, I liked being able to preserve memories. Zack and I stayed up for hours talking and getting to know each other. I learned that he loved pasta and the colour blue. He was ranked pretty high in the pack and wanted children. Although he didn't say certain things to me I noticed them on my own. He was selfless and kind, he would give you his last and would never ask for payment. He graduated high school with honours and was saving to move away from the pack neighbourhood, he wanted his space.

Zack loved sports but his favourite was basketball, as was mine. We had a lot in common and often I found myself agreeing that I liked the same things that he did. He learned just as much about me as I did about him. It was fun and I was thankful that I did not have to spend the night alone. One minute we were talking then the next I was floating in dreams, good dreams, dreams that I dare not mention to anyone.