Wild Calling

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

By the time the sun rose, Ariella found herself standing in the kitchen with a cup of tea and staring blankly out of the window towards the direction that Julian was carried from last night. So much had changed in a few short hours and it honestly took her breath away but explained so much, so much.

Her dreams of the bears and wolves, of Julian and Dax discussing their boundary lines? She wasn't a hundred percent sure but that seemed the best case. Actually the fact that Good Glen was on the border of a magic forest – though somewhat fairy-tale sounding – made a lot of sense for a lot of things.

The superstitions, Minna, a few other regular neighbours she bumps into and everything. Her mother was a free spirit and Ari grew up believing in impossible things, she just wondered if there were other creatures besides Fairies, Wolves and Shifters.

"You okay?" Sam asked as she came in to see Ari staring out the window deep in thought. "I know it's still a lot to take in and can be overwhelming."

"It can be but I grew up believing in the impossible, surprising yes but easy to accept. I'm just curious about what other creatures live here." She explained while turning to face the other woman. "Minna especially."

Minna should be back by tomorrow morning at the latest and then Ari can inform the woman that she allowed two people to stay here but knowing Minna the woman would already know.

Sam chuckled at that. "She's a witch; her elder sister was my neighbour in Hollow Fields."

Surprise ran through Ari at that, her eyes flicking all over the kitchen and taking in the old book by the stove that Minna liked to write down her recipes, the dried herbs and other items. How she always knew when Ari was up and or about to do something or needed something, just the way everything around the woman was calming and yet mysterious.

"That... makes sense." She replied slowly with a huff of laughter. "And please call me Ari."

"You can call me Sam," Samantha replied with a grin. "There's also Fae, Succubi, Selkie's, leprechauns – though I only met the one and he wasn't short at all... to be honest the main ones are the Fae and the Wolves with the Shifters coming in third."

"Huh," Ari hummed as she turned her eyes out into the forest once more, her mind drifting to those she had passed and tried to figure out if they're human or something other. Silas must be a Shifter and George can't just be a human...

Sam eyed the woman briefly before nodding to herself and pulled out the small pad and pen she always kept on her and jotted down her number. "Anyways, I just came down to say goodbye, Dax needs me to go back to the pack and let them know what's going on, here is my number. If you need anything, even if it's just to talk give me a call."

"Thank you," Ari replied relieved, turning back to face the woman. "I don't really know anyone my age here besides Julian and those that work in the shops but at least I know I can trust you."

The two women smiled at one another and said their goodbyes while Sam made her way outside and taking off in a run towards Hollow Fields, leaving Ari to her thoughts once more. As accepting Ari felt of the supernatural it was her place in it that she was uneasy about, she didn't believe in soulmates, that there was some higher being pairing you off.

She believed in free will and choosing who to love. Did Julian actual chose her or was it because his animal kind just forced his hand?

The walls of the kitchen began to get to Ari and before she knew it she was out the door with her coat and making her way to the trailhead for the overlook was. She had spent many days over the last few weeks up there, mostly with Julian when he had the spare time; sometimes it was by herself and her laptop. It didn't take her long to reach the top and stare out over Good Glen, letting all her worries drift away.

That was until the sound of crunching snow reached her ears.

"I figured this is where you would be." Julian's voice stated warily from behind her, but she refused to turn.

"Shouldn't you be resting still?" She asked softly, worried.

"I woke to find the house empty, waited an hour to see if it was because you were out or not but when lunch came and left I noticed your bag still by the door," Julian explained as he made his way to her. "I grew worried when Dax told me you knew when I saw him on my way here."

Blinking Ari turned slightly to glance at him. "I thought Dax was still at the house."

"No, he followed you here," Julian explained softly as he stepped closer to her and pulled her flush against his chest. "He was concerned for you out here alone so deep in thought and knew that it would ease me if he was here even hidden."

Ari stiffened and took a step away from Julien, her eyes flashing up briefly to catch the hurt on his face. "They told me everything, about Hollow Fields, Good Glen, the boundary and... us. When were you going to tell me, Julien? I had the right to know that I was tied to you or the fact that you were forced to be stuck with me."

"What are you talking about, Ari?" Julian asked with a frown. "Forced?"

"Yes! Apparently, I'm your mate, which usually means you're only attracted to me because of some bizarre fate or chemical compounds or whatever and not by choice!" Ari hissed furiously whirling around to face him fully.

Julian was bewildered and confused, where on earth did she get this information. "Ari, I like you because you're witty and sarcastic, kind and generous. You don't let the dark days drag you down and you take everything in stride. My animal side knows you're meant to be mine but that doesn't just make me instantly like you, it's more like a giant neon sign pointing you out."

"What?"

"Ari, I could have chosen to ignore you, allowed the game of cat and mouse to continue. My animal side just points out you're my best match but unless we complete the mating bond then we can still choose whoever we please. You could go and find someone else if that's the case or me; it just means that though we could be happy, we wouldn't be content." Julian explained hesitatingly. "I'm not like the Werewolves where mates will continually be pulled to one another, nor are Shifters like the Fae."

She took all that in and tried to make sense of it all but she got the gist of it really. "It's still our choice?"

Relief flooded through him at that, "yes Ari, always. It's always a choice, I just chose to get to know you more and Ari, the more I knew you the more I knew you'd be the one for me. You're everything I had ever hoped for and more, even before I began to shift. Please let me prove it."

Silence hung between them at that, at all the emotion he put behind those words as he gently took her hands between his and brought them to his mouth. His brown eyes were glistening and Ari couldn't tear her gaze away, she had never had anyone look at the way he was her in this moment before and she couldn't describe how she felt. Though she could tell he was being honest, that it was indeed their choice and it settled the panic in her heart.

She had come to care for him, could see herself come to love him.

"Okay," she breathed out slowly, watching as he blinked in surprise and laugh as he hoisted her up into the air and spun her as he laughed with joy.

"I promise I'll never make you doubt me, Ari," Julian whispered as he lowered her to the ground and pressed his forehead to hers. "As long as you promise to never make me doubt you."

"I can promise that at least. I care a lot about you; can see myself loving you one day." She confessed, her eyes slipping closed. Good Glen was a strange town that held a lot of secrets, but Ari couldn't complain... not when it led her to him.

Julian felt his heart nearly burst with that confession as he pulled back and cupped her cheek. "And I can see myself loving you too."