Chase the Moon (On Hold)

Twenty Three

"Amelia," I said into the quiet forest. "I know you don't know much about me, but I'd like to know more about you."

I stopped pacing for a second and mumbled, "No, that's stupid."

Running my fingers through my hair, I tried again. "Amelia. Please come with me to get some lunch."

"No, that sounds too desperate."

Sighing, I stared straight at a tree and said, "Go on a date with me."

That one sounded a bit more aggressive, which I had a feeling she would respond more to. I also had a feeling it might get me a slap in the face.

Maybe if I brought flowers. Or chocolate. Or money.

Could I bribe her?

"Amelia, I'll give you twenty dollars for every date you go on with me."

That didn't sound like enough money. She could still say no.

"Fifty. I'll give you fifty dollars for every date you go on with me."

I didn't really have that much money left on me, so I would have to win her over in just a few dates. Hopefully I could do that.

If not...

"Amelia, please love me forever and come back to Canada with me so I can be there for the birth of my niece and nephew."

"Amelia, I am a werewolf and you are my soulmate. We are meant to be together and you really can't fight the bond."

"I'll love you for all of eternity."

"I'll never stop loving you."

"You're absolutely amazing and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Sighing, I ran my fingers through my hair again and decided it was getting a bit long. I needed a haircut. I should probably get one before going back to ask her on a date.

Yeah. Good plan. That way I looked less like a crazy homeless person.

Hiking my bag up further on my shoulder, I decided it was far enough past the full moon that I could start heading back to the city.

Malachi hadn't killed anyone this go around, and for that, I was extremely grateful. Maybe the whole mate thing was taming him, even with how little we've actually interacted.

Maybe it was wishful thinking, but I really hoped it was true. If Amelia was curing Malachi's murderous nature, then maybe I could tolerate having him inside of me for the rest of my life.

If I remembered right, there was a quaint little barber shop in one of the towns I'd walked through to get here. I knew whatever their going rate for a trim was would be significantly cheaper than anything within the city.

Setting a quicker pace, I decided to get there before they closed.

^^^°^^^

I softly hummed to myself as my hiking boots crunched against the gravel road. It seemed to help pass the time, and before I knew it, gravel turned to concrete and I found myself entering a small town.

I wasn't sure what its name was, but like a lot of small towns, its downtown was a strip of small connected storefronts on either side of the road.

Among them was a barber shop.

As I came to a stop in front of the swirling red, white, and blue barber pole, I pulled open the door and stepped inside.

"Hello, Sir. How may I help you?" A middle aged man with a nicely trimmed beard, a round belly, and a friendly smile asked.

"I need to look less like a homeless person," I chuckled, running my fingers through my shaggy hair.

"I think we can do that," he grinned and gestured me towards one of the chairs. I noticed there was one other man in another chair, getting his hair cut by a middle aged woman. It was probably the man's wife.

Setting my backpack down on the floor, I sat down in the chair and met my own eyes in the mirror across from me.

It had been a long time since I last saw myself in a mirror. It'd only been my reflection in windows and water since I left the Little Valley Pack. Seeing myself now, I figured I could use a shave as well.

My line of sight was broken as the man draped an apron in front of me and fastened it around my neck.

"A trim?"

"And a shave."

"Coming right up," the man smiled as he grabbed a spray bottle and dampened my hair. Then he got started with the scissors.

A half hour later, I walked out feeling a lot better and a lot cleaner.

I turned, staring off in the direction of New York City. I was about to continue on my way, but when I glanced at the store across from me, a display in the window caught my attention.

I wonder...