Chasing October

Fourteen

"Where are we going?"

Sam looked over at me as he held my hand,leading me towards his car. A few of his warriors flanked us, butaside from them, everyone had been sent away with a task. As heopened the door, the warm scent of pine wafted out, and I smiled tomyself.

"A small trip first, and then we have to gosee the first Alpha of the warriors you will be training."

Fear gripped at my heart, and I slid into thefront seat silently. Sam walked around, not speaking, and he slidinto the driver's side. As the warriors stepped into the back ofthe car, I looked up at them, and Will smiled at me before he lookeddown once more.

"Why are you so confident that I can dothis?" I asked slowly, staring at my hands. The soft surfaces werecracked, and I ran my finger over the callouses that were on my palm.

He moved his hand over and squeezed mine. "Youhave the determination and willpower unlike anyone I have ever seen."

I took a small glance at him, but he wasfocused on the road. There was a small amount of tension thatstarted to bubble up in the car and I sighed.

"You have too much faith in me."

Sam started to chuckle but said nothing else. As we drove, I started to look through the radio, groaning whennothing popped up. Sam smirked, lowering down the visor on my side. I looked through the CDs, and I smiled brightly as I found the one Iwanted to listen to.

Noticing my pick, everyone groaned, but Istarted to laugh as I plucked the CD in. As Taylor Swift began toplay, I watched Will cover his ears, and Sam lean his head back witha groan.

--

The car pulled to a stop at the edge of theroad, and Sam unbuckled his seatbelt. "All of you will stay in thecar. I will be back."

They nodded, and I fell out of the car withSam. He started to walk into the forest, and I followed him slowly,looking around. The birds chirped at our presence as we entered, anda few flew from the trees. I touched the leaves of the plants thatlittered the forest floor, and I caught Sam looking at me with anamused smile on his face.

Plucking one of the flowers, he walked over tome and took my hand, gently pulling me along. "Come on, love. It'stime to go. I do not want to be late to either."

A part of me grew sad, but I nodded, walkingalong with him. I held onto the flower as we followed a small trail,Sam's fingers laced with mine.

"I will be bringing you back, Star. Do notworry."

I nodded and followed him. When we stopped, Ilooked around and started to frown. "Where are we?"

He smiled, sliding his hand over my eyes, andmoved me slowly. "It's a surprise, but it is something that I amgiving you."

A small round of butterflies hit my stomach,and I allowed him to move me through the forest slowly. My fingersbrushed leaves every now and again, and I stumbled around slowly,hearing Sam laugh as he guided me.

"Are we close?" I asked.

He didn't say anything, and instead, hepulled me to a stop. "I am giving this to you because I know thatyou had your own place back at your own pack. Though I want you tostay in my kingdom, I feel like you being on your own would be muchbetter for you."

As he pulled his hand away, I took theopportunity to rub my eyes, adjusting to the light once more. Focusing, I stared at the cabin in front of me, my heart leaping intomy throat. The wood seemed to radiate the warmth that the sun hadgiven it, and I smiled to myself. Sam took my hand, leading me ontothe porch, and I looked around excitedly.