Wolf Country

Chapter 12- Guilt

The next morning, I wake up to find Adam still sleeping soundly next to me and I notice for the first time that he's shirtless. The stress of his new life has melted away from his face during his slumber and his snores have turned into soft breathing. Bright sunlight filters through the window and I smile a little to myself and yawn into my hand. Adam's eyelids flutter open, revealing bright green eyes, and he stretches his arms out before wrapping them around me.

"Hey," he says in his raspy morning voice. "How are you doing?"

"I've been better," I admit with a sigh, "but you made me feel okay."

He kisses my forehead softly and takes a deep breath, his chest expanding gently before he lets out all the air in his lungs. We lay like that for a few more minutes, just listening to each other breathe. I rest my head on my chest and listen to his heartbeat thumping softly away inside.

We finally decide to just miss first period and go to the small cafe in town for breakfast. After throwing on some clothes, Adam drives us back to Main and we stop inside for some coffee. The line is almost nonexistent and most of the tables are empty. We get our coffee and pastries and Adam chooses a spot by the window so we can watch the cars go by.

"I'm doing so terrible in school," he laughs, his eyebrows raising jovially. "I think the counselor said I could be held back if I keep going this way."

"I've missed nine days apparently," I say, giggling a little as he takes a sip of his coffee, keeping his eyes trained on me over the rim of the cup. "We've got to do better."

"Okay, but you agreed to skip today so this isn't my fault," he teases, biting his bottom lip. I laugh as we look each other in the eyes, and all the stress briefly ceases to exist, but some curiosity still lingers in my mind and I get serious.

"Adam, what happened that night?" I say tentatively. "You know, after...after...?"

"The bite," Adam finishes before sighing. "Yeah, uh...my mom said she came outside and saw you lying on the ground. She took you in the house and dressed your wound and called your mom. She came, picked you up, and you were gone.

"When my mom let me out of the cellar, she told me what I did and I felt so bad," he says, pausing and rubbing his temple. "I...I tried to go see you but your mom wouldn't let me in. Said I was too dangerous for you. I didn't say anything because...well, I kind of agree."

"You are not too dangerous for me," I say seriously, looking at him. "My mom just wants me to be safe. I think she knows, deep down, that I'm actually the safest when I'm with you. Adam, the last time I spoke to her it was a shouting match. And now..."

"We're gonna find her," he says before I can finish my chilling thought. We finish our coffee and pastries and leave the cafe, the bell above the door tinkling on our way out. Adam drives us to the school just in time for the last few minutes of first period. We go to the front office to check in late and walk hand-in-hand down the empty white hallway, talking quietly and not caring that we're probably gonna get in even more trouble for not going straight to class, despite there only being two minutes left.

The bell rings and we reluctantly let go after sharing a short kiss. "See you at lunch," he says, smiling before turning to walk through the throng of students to his second period. Lunch time rolls around after a few hours of boring classes and even more boring teachers and I practically run to the cafeteria, excited to see Adam at our usual spot.

I'm one of the first ones to enter but somehow he's already sitting down, eating his lunch with his phone in hand. I come over and sit down in front of him.