Chase the Moon (On Hold)

One

My eyes were closed, the skin of my eyelids creating an impenetrable barrier between my eyes and the outside world. With the lack of one sense, the others became stronger.

My sense of smell alone had the ability to paint a picture of my surroundings, but my ears helped bring the details to clarity.

I could smell the damp earth below me. It was still wet from this morning's dew, which consequently made the scent of decomposing vegetation and earthworms stronger to my nose. If I concentrated hard enough, and brushed away the sound of leaves rustling around me like rushing water, I could hear something small moving on the forest floor.

The movements were small, skittish, and light, which indicated that the creature was an insect. It scuttled across the surface of a freshly fallen leaf, creating a series of dull clicks as its legs propelled its body forward. Some sort of beetle, no doubt. 

Turning my head slightly, I could hear the call of a mourning dove in the distance. I could hear the soft coo of her song reverberating deep in her breast before making its airy escape through the skin of her beak.

A branch broke nearby, startling the bird from her perch. The beat of her wings pulsed through the air as she took off into the sky.

Another twig snapped, closer this time, and I recognized the sound of footsteps.

Opening my eyes, I sighed and leaned against the musty bark of my maple perch. I looked out over the rolling hills to see the vibrant greens of summer. 

As the footsteps got closer, I allowed myself to dwell on who might be coming for a moment before the breeze brought her scent to me. She stopped directly below me, but I didn't look down, not yet. I intended to enjoy my moments of peace while they lasted.

She cleared her throat, but I continued to ignore her as I closed my eyes again. She groaned in annoyance before calling my name, "Mark."

"Hm?" I asked, eyes still closed.

She sighed, "Teddy wants to know if you're coming to the ceremony tonight or if you're going to ditch like last time."

I raised my brow as I glanced down at her, "Why would I go to the ceremony?"

She stared up at me, arms folded over her chest, "Because your best friend is getting married and he's asked you to be his Best Man."

"Oh yeah," I smiled as her frustration grew. It hung in the air around her like a perfume, palpable almost, a musty scent symbolizing her emotions. In truth, I was just messing with her now. She acts like I wouldn't know about my best friend's wedding. He talks about it enough, "So he found his mate," I shrugged, "What does that have to do with me again?"

"Best. Man." she said very slowly so my 'pea-sized brain' could comprehend it.

A light bulb clicked somewhere in my mind and I peered down at her again, a grin on my face, "Hey! Aren't you the Maid of Horror?"

"Honor." she replied, no amusement in her tone.

I stood and hopped down from my perch, landing gracefully only inches in front of her, "No. I think it's horror."

She scowled at me before turning on her heel and stalking back off to the pack. She didn't correct me a second time. I shrugged and caught up to her easily.

"Relax Izzy, I'm just messing with you. You don't think I know when my own best friend is getting married?"

She gave me a look that said she knew that could be something I'd blow off.

I sighed, "Look, I ditched Luca's wedding because I really didn't like his mate. I had no important role in the wedding so I didn't feel it necessary to see one of my friends be eternally bound to a bitch."

She glared at me and I decided to hold my tongue. I really needed to be more careful about what I said around the Alpha's daughter, "So you'll be there?"

"Yes, Isabella. Gwen's a nice girl. Her and Teddy will be good together. I would like to be there to support my best friend while he gets married to his one and only love in this world," I spoke to her like a child. She flicked me on the side of the head.

I sighed as we continued on our path. All my friends seemed to be finding their happy endings. I often couldn't stop my mind from wondering whether or not I'd ever find mine.