Jasmin

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

"Stop!" I hear the strength of the command in my whole body. I turn to see Marcus' father outside the Cultural building that we had just past. The three of us turn and Marcus steps in front of me and sits. His father is in t-shirt and jeans, at least he has his boots on, I guess. His stance is big, aggressive. Feet apart, head high and jaw tilted just a bit down so he looks like he is looking down on us. Even his arms are out to the side a bit like he sprawled out of the building so fast that he had to catch himself.

Marcus doesn't move from right in front of me. He probably knew his parents were here, I am not sure what he caught while he hid in the woods. I lay my mittened hand on his head.

"Mr Peters, your son returned." I am master of the ice breaker. I just watch as Mrs Peters opens the doorway with an older gentleman, the one that sat in the middle last night.

"Eric, go grab some things for Marcus to wear, we can all meet in here and chat." Says the wrinkled old man. He is wearing a hand sewn hide shirt like he was last night. It suits his tan and wrinkled skin. He looks over at me and Marcus as he stands in the doorway, probably in sock feet.

Eric nods at the guy and turns to go the way we were headed. I don't move yet. I will wait for Marcus. This is his pack and he will know what to do.

"My name is Segenam, I am a friend of Marcus. Would you two like to join us please." His voice is pleasant and calm.

Marcus has yet to move, neither has his father. One sitting patiently, no outward agression, the other an angry statue. Family issues are not my cup of tea, so I decide to leave it to Marcus. I am still cold and want to go inside. I pat his head and turn to walk back to the centre. Marcus stands and walks with me, keeping between me and his dad. I try not to look at how Mr Peters is doing.

Seg, something or other, ushered me past Mrs Peters, down a hall and into a small office or something. He closes the blinds and I sit on an office chair with a wolf at my feet. My boots on a rack by the front door, I can remove my coat, toque and mitts. My butt is frozen and wet and sitting in the chair is a bad idea as now I realize just how long I was outside for. Thank goodness it wasn't windy or I never would of lasted that long.

The old man whose name I need to hear again to pronounce is standing at the doorway still and I feel bad for sitting now, but standing would be ver akward. I smile, "Thank you. Were you at the meeting last night?"

"Yes dear I was. A busy night. Are you feeling ok? I am guessing you learned a few things about our dear Marcus you did not know." He looks down at the gray wolf. Marcus whined a bit at this news.

"I am ok." The wolf turns and lays his head on my cold lap. Tawny eyes staring at me. I pet him like a dog, how I used to. Probably not the right thing now that I think on it, but comfortable. A way to tell him I am not upset.

"She was asked to a council, your parents are here with Elder Noskey. Your father shared a bit of your past, including the reason you are marked Rogue." The old man spoke firmly to my guy. I had left my hand on his head, as I just need to keep touching him. I was afraid he would leave again. Upon hearing that Marcus stood and tried to move away from me towards the door. I clenched my hand in his soft fur.

"You leave me again and I will find a way to get a wolf skin coat." I am not happy that things are going this way, I have had enough of his running. "If you want to leave me you better give me a good reason and a good bye. I deserve it." Anger seems to fuel my words well these last few days. I can not stand sadness. I do not like to cry. Guess my happy bubble burst with seeing Marcus' dad staring at me and his son like we were bad and in need of punishment.

A knock on the door revealed Eric with a bundle of clothes. Seg placed them on the desk and left the room. I finally let go of Marcus as he lays down in the small area of the floor and slowly his fur gets shorter, and I hear a crunch like breaking wood. I shrieked, jumped up and faced the wall, dancing back and forth on my feet, fingers in my ears as I hum tunelessly. I did not like the sound of the crunch at all. My whole body doing the shivers.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and I stop and turn my head just a bit. "Jasmin?" He's back, its real. My guy came back to me. It just wasn't quite as real when he was furry. I smile and start to turn.

Shriek again and my face is buried in my hands and my feet start moving again in a dance most two year olds know well. "Naked, your naked. Clothes, clothes, clothes." I don't care that I am almost 17. I am not exactly the most mature person when it comes to nudity.

"Jasmin please turn around." I hear a minute later. I finally look. He is dressed in dark jeans and a long sleeve dark shirt, no socks. His face looks tired, his hair a tangled mess, and his cheeks beyond scruffy. Its the best thing I have seen in a long time. I jump into his arms. He aims away so we don't kiss, just me wrapped around his torso with my face buried in his neck. "I missed you too."

"Kiss me," I breath out. His whole body moves as he chuckles.

"Wait for a toothbrush, you don't want to know what my breath smells like." I don't really care. I grab his hair with all my strength and mash our lips painfully together. I really need to work on my kisses, as I lick the seam of his mouth and he gives up.

It wasn't a long kiss as the door knocks soon after and I hear the old mans voice; "Time to face things Marcus." It is nice that the old man sounds simply resigned, not angry or upset.

Holding hands we exit the office together, "I am very sorry about this. It is not going to be easy to hear my past." His voice so quiet. I look over and see he is not walking as he should, his head is bowed down, shoulders slumped, that is not how my Marcus should walk.

"You past and mine?" I ask, as he leads me to the meeting room we were in last night. "I know."

If anything this makes his head bow more. "Yes, I am sorry."

"You saved me didn't you. You saved me and I forgot you." So sad, my eyes filled with tears. But I don't let any fall. "My dreams?" Not sure if he heard that part.

"I never forgot you." We stop and hug again. I don't want to let him go.

I hear a the heavy door open and know we must go. Must face our pasts, I will finally admit, I am shaking now realizing I have to say it, outloud. I am so happy to have Marcus hold my hand. I don't think I could do this otherwise. It helps that everyone here besides Marcus is really a stranger. Maybe I can get Eric to leave the room. I don't want him to know how weak I was. How broken I am.