Seems Like Yesterday

Chapter 3 - The Pack

        I wake up to the rooster's morning call, I get out of bed and put on my usual running outfit. I decided to eat breakfast after so I go straight downstairs and put on my shoes. I grab my earbuds and start down the driveway, I follow my usual path to the forest, this time I will be more prepared. 

        As I start my jog I look around and take in the scenery I never really have looked at before. I smell the dirt and the earthy scent, I hear the birds chirping and the crunch of the leaves under my feet. Everything is more defined, heightened. I stop in the middle of my trail and take out my earbuds, I could hear everything with the music still playing.

          I look around at all the trees and the rocks, the logs that have fallen years ago. I hear a branch snap behind me and I turn faster than I have ever before.

"What are you doing out here?" I ask

"Just watching you from afar, I was ordered to." Says the guy I first met.

"Okay, what's your name?" 

"Max Freeman"

"Mine is Rowen Slade." I nod

"Nice to meet you, sorry for disturbing your run. I was just walking when Ashton told me to see if you where out here yet, I should get going. I have to tell Ashton you're out, so I'll see you later." Then he runs faster than I have ever seen, he's gone in a matter of seconds.

I feel a presence behind me, "Hello Ashton"

"How did you know?" He asks

"I felt your presence, and I hear everything." I say, I turn around and he is sitting on a rock.

"You are finally getting your heightened senses, good for you." 

"When did you turn into a wolf first?" I ask

"Eight, I was still working out my wolf when I hurt you. I was scared to hurt you again so I just stayed in the distance, that's why you never saw me again. I remember when you went through a faze, you would bring out meat every chance you got. I never took it though, never wanted you to come farther into the forest." He explains

        I laugh at the thought of me doing that when I was eleven, I completely forgot about that whole year. 

"I remember that year, mom got mad at me for taking hotdogs without cooking them. She would ask me what I was doing, so I told her I was having a snack outside. I was so sad when I came out the next day and they where still there, I thought something happened to you." I shook my head and smiled at my old ways.

"I would sit by the porch every night just to make sure you never came out when you weren't supposed to. My friends always called me a pussy because I was so young and I wanted to be so close to you."

        I move closer to him and I pull him up, he's not as heavy as I thought he would be. I start to jog down the trail and I know he followed me.

"Why do you run?" He asks

"I used to be chunky, I hated my body and I had a lot of spare time. I took up running and mom got me some gear for the winter."

"You weren't chunky, you where loosing your baby fat Rowen." 

"I still have some to lose." I look down at my stomach then back at the path.

"You don't, have you ever been to New York? All of them girls starve themselves to have a better body, you work for yours, when you don't need to."

"Anyways why do you look after me?" I ask

"Because mates can't be apart for a certain amount of time, I've spent years getting as close as possible. You used to be a cute little ten year old, to a gorgeous young lady, I am still older than you though." I look over at him and roll my eyes, how does he know all of this about me.

"How do you know all of this?" I ask as we pass the half way mark.

"My father and your father where best friends, both alphas, my dad came here and brought our pack with him. When your dad passed away my father took over, I always thought your mother moved away. None of us knew she was pregnant, so I never thought of you as her daughter , never really knew who you where till I asked my dad."

"Can I meet your dad?" I ask

"Why?"

"So I can ask him about my dad."

        We reach the front of my house and start to walk up.

"Do you want to come in?" I ask

"Your mother home?" He looks up at the house questionably.

"Yes, you can meet her."

"She knows who I am, used to watch me with my mother at the pack house."

"Well come on inside."

"Okay"

        I open the front door and walk in, he follows behind.

"Mom!" I yell

"Yes?!" She yells from upstairs

"Someones here to say hi," I look over at him as he is looking around the living room.

"Okay, coming." I hear her foot steps and she walks into the living room.

"Is that, Ashton?" She asks

"Yes, ma'am" He walks over and holds out his hand, she dodges his hand and pulls him into a hug.

"How have you been, you look so grown up!" She cheers

"I am good, training to be alpha soon, and I am eighteen now so I hope I look grown up." He replies

"I remember when I would watch you, even at two years old everyone loved you. You look just like your father, and how's your mother?" She asks

"I get that a lot, thank you. Mom is well not doing so well, she just got out of the hospital. She doesn't have cancer or anything like that, she is just getting to the point of wanting to seclude herself from the pack."

"That's why I took my pregnant ass out of there before I got bombarded with the questions and sympathy. I couldn't take it, and now that I hear she is done with her time, I really want to see her."

"You should, I am taking Rowen to see my dad soon. If you would like to come with you can." He says

"I am going to shower, you two can talk."

        I walk down the hall to the very last door at the end, I walk downstairs and get undressed. I start my shower and turn it on full heat, I get inside and wash up. 

        After I get dressed and I am ready to meet Ashton's dad, I walk upstairs and into the living room.

"I still can't believe how fast you are at getting ready, I wish I was still that young." Mother says

"It's nothing, so are we ready to go?" I ask

"Yes" They say, and now we are walking down the driveway and through the woods.