Meeting In The Middle

The Wooden Conveniant Store

I pushed open the door to Damian's room and both their heads snap to look at me. It looked like they were in a very serious conversation. I set the soup on his table and quickly retreat back to the door. Ryder stops me.

"Nothing is going on between you two am I correct?" He implies. I shake my head.
"Of course not!" I exclaim, staring at him. I look past his broad shoulders and point at the soup. "Drink up."

"I'm just looking out for the injured, Ryder."

He shrugs and continues talking quietly with Damian. I couldn't hear a word he said but I didn't stay to listen. I mount the stairs, heading back to my dorm. I had nothing to do here, just like Fern said. I'd rather clean up than sit on the couch doing nothing. It was still early and there was no noise coming from outside. The rest of the pack was probably in mourning if they even were wake, moping about in their rooms. When I turned the corner, I smacked into someone. It was Lucian and Caleb. I sigh in relief when I see them, stepping back so I wasn't so close to them.

"Hey Luna." Lucian smirked. "A day here and you're already in a higher position than us. We've been here for over 10 years now."

He joked but I could tell he envied me. Just a bit. I roll my eyes at them. "I was just lucky I guess. Anyways, can you guys bring me to the convenient store today?" I ask them, Max's giggling face floating around in my head. Lucian nods and jingles the silver car keys in his hand. "Now?"

I smile at him. "If that's alright with you."

I follow him down the dark marble corridor. The design was black marble and our shoes made loud noises as we walked over it. The marble was so clean and clear that I could almost make out my reflection in it. The walls were creamy white. A mirror was placed every couple of hallways. As I passed by one, I noticed what a mess I was. My hazel hair was tangled and my cheeks were so pale. I wondered how Ryder could stand me in this state. I run a hand through my hair and keep tailing Lucian and Caleb who were a couple steps ahead of me, mumbling about something. The halls were quiet, the only sound were us moving through them. Caleb pushes open the front door and holds it for me. I was so glad to go back outside after staying indoors for so long. I just couldn't come out alone. Alpha's orders. I sigh and breathe in the fresh air like it was the oxygen of heaven. I felt so much more free. Caleb grins as we approach the forest.

"Ready to run?" He quickly bends down to tie his neon green running shoes. I frown.
"I can't run as fast as you." I whine as Lucian speeds down the trail before we even took a step. The bushes rustled as he passed by, then slowly becoming still again. Lucian was gone like the wind. I pout as Caleb is about to run.

"I'll run slower for you." He promised. I nod and we start running down the trail at a speed I liked. Halfway across the woods, he pushed me to go faster and faster until I couldn't feel my legs anymore. We passed by the stream where I first saw the werewolves. There was a lining of frost by the bank and two deer were drinking the cold water. I stopped and Caleb whooshed past me, then coming back when he realized I had stopped. He steps up from behind me and his eyes wander around the scene. The deer raised his head, stared at me straight in the eye with her big and innocent doe eyes and then lowered it to drink more water. She knew I was here, and she was okay with it. What happened to the third one, I didn't know. Perhaps he got separated, or killed. I stuck with the first idea. They were just as beautiful as when I first saw them. I knew it was them. After a couple minutes of holding my breath, they finally gave me one last look, then disappeared into the trees. That was their way of thanking me and that was enough. Caleb was quiet when he watched them gallop away.

"I never noticed how beautiful they are."

I nod mutely staring into the trees where they had vanished. Their footprints were imprinted in the snow. Caleb turned from the river back to the trail and took a deep breath. "Ready?"

I grinned at him. "Whenever you are."

We race down the path, my breath even and strong. I felt as sleek as a deer, dashing through the thick forest trees. My senses were sharp and colours were vibrant through my eyes. I laughed when we reached the car, Lucian already there, clapping his hands when I approached him.

"You made it in 19 minutes." He slow claps. "I made it in 2."
"Well you're a werewolf and Caleb was kind enough to wait for me." I retort, opening the car door. "Take us away."

Lucian hops into the driver's seat and starts the engine. The car shakes as the engine roars to life. I peer out the window, taking in the view. We backed away and drove onto the pavement road. As I got farther and farther away from the camp, the emptier I felt. It was Ryder. I couldn't be too far away from him without feeling lonely. I seal the feelings inside and sink into the car seat. The drive was quiet and peaceful. A wooden shack came into view after 10 minutes of driving. It was small and brown, a very tiny but cozy home. A faded sign hung by the door.

The Black SkyLiners.

It seemed like nobody was inside, the lights were out and a breeze moved the sign and it flapped against the wooden door. I reach out for the door knob but Lucian stopped me. He inhaled deeply.

"I'll go first, Caleb, stay behind her." He ordered. His weight makes the floorboards creak loudly, giving me the feeling that I was in some horror movie. I follow in his shadows, as close as possible. He pushes open the heavy door and the small wooden shop comes into view. It had a faint smell of ink, alcohol and cigarettes. There didn't seem to be anyone here, but a slight movement catches my eye. There was someone. He was sitting in the shadows of the store, all silent and unmoving. His deep black eyes followed our movements with keen interest. He had a thick grey beard and bushy eyebrows. He watched us like a hawk, puffing out a breath of cigarette smoke once in a while. I feel uncomfortable under his intense stare.

"Look who it is." He muttered to himself. "It's a human girl."

He puffs out a breath of smoke and gets up from his rocking chair. He limped his way towards us, Lucian getting protective in front of me, bracing for an attack. The old man held up a hand to calm him down. "I ain't tryna kill anyone, mate."

Lucian doesn't leave his tense stance.

"It's just unusual for me to see a human in my store." He studied me with his eyes that sucked me in like black-holes. I tore my eyes away from his and began searching the store for toy cars, any that could hold up sand. I move the buckets away and Caleb follows me around, always between the old man and I. The old man seemed to be a good person, he just made me feel uneasy the first time I laid eyes on him. The smoke scent still lingered in the room.

"So what's your name?" I ask while looking through the bins.
"Thomas. Been a werewolf of the SkyLiners once but I left them to become solitaire, and therefore I was claimed to be a rogue." He tells us, picking up his pipe again. "They weren't the best people I've met and that's okay. I opened up my shop here for the werewolves in this area, particularly these two packs. They occasionally swing by and we exchange a couple of words and they're off on their next mission."

I finally find a shiny red pickup truck in a dusty old bin at the back of the store. I inspect it for a couple of seconds before turning to the man.

"How much?" I hold up the truck and he thinks for a second thoughtfully.
"Three dollars if you tell me your name and where you come from." He inquired curiously. "And why you're with these two fellas."

I sigh and rummage through my pockets for spare change. Four dollars.

"And if I don't tell you..?"
"Then it'll be five bucks." He finished, sensing a deal when he sees the change in my hand. I groan and hand him three dollars. He whistles as he stuffs it in the cash register.

"I come from the town beside this woodland area. Dylan, my ex boyfriend wanted me back so he broke into —"
"Dylan?" He interrupts me quickly. I nod.
"Dylan J. Cads?" He asks, completing his name.

"How does everyone know him?" I sigh, exasperated. He shoots me a concerned look.

"Watch out for that guy." He warned me. "He's the Alpha of the pack you don't want to mess with him."

"Which pack are you talking about?"

"The pack next door, the SkyLiners." I could sense something in his voice because I suddenly backed away and in the blink of an eye, the world turned black as he covered my head with something. I gasp for air but the world dimmed slowly and I fall into a deep sleep.