Wolfdale

TWENTY-FOUR (Iselen P.O.V)

"How did I get into this mess?" I think while running, dodging rocks and bushes, tree branches hit my body scratching my skin. Shit, if I start bleeding they'll smell it... although their noses can catch my human scent easily most likely... I'm doomed. "Where are you? Rosie, help me!" I yell desperate in my mind, trying to reach my fiancée through our bond despite the fact I have no idea how it works since I'm not a werewolf. The sun is setting behind the mountains and the woods are getting darker, I trip over a tree root and I'm about falling on the ground... suddenly, a choir of howls blast behind me, not far away, and I realize... this is like my dream... but this time I'm not going to wake up before they catch me... I grit my teeth and keep running stoutly despite I don't fully understand what's happening or why Claire has betrayed us.

I was so happy when I walked out of the police station, the evening was beautiful and warm, the sun grazed my face while crossing the avenue and I still felt the taste of my girl on my tongue and her perfume on my skin, could I be any happier? I was walking through the area of square in front of our building since the supermarket was right behind but something stopped me: Claire was standing next to a van with the back door open, struggling with some life jackets which were really heavy judging by her pants, trying to make room for them between the oars and other equipment she already shoved into the vehicle. She let the life jackets drop on the sidewalk and kicked a tire exasperated.

"Can I help you?" I asked with a smile and she looked at me surprised for a second before nodding with enthusiasm.

"Thank you, Luna Iselen. I could really use a hand. I need to take all this to the boathouse at the lake and..."

"The boys didn't help you?" I asked shocked while we joined forces to carry all the stuff into the van.

"They're already there... I think... they told me they'd be there to help me to unload..." she answers hesitating.

"Do you want me to go with you?" I looked at my watch, it was early still and it'd take one more hour for Ruby to leave her office, I could go and come back with Claire, buy the chicken wings and wait for them to be ready to eat while drinking a glass of wine with my mate. I couldn't believe that the boys had ducked off this task and left her alone.

"That would be great, Luna. Thank you. We won't take long... the lake isn't far away and the road is in good condition." I nodded and jumped on the passenger's seat waving my hand at the doorman son who was passing by at that moment. Claire dropped her phone in the glove box after sending a text, turned on the engine and we accelerate down the avenue.

"Did you have fun on our trip?" I asked while fastening my safety belt and trying to find a classic rock radio station.

"Oh yes, it was great fun. I purchased tons of things in the mall... and found everything I needed." I was happy for her, Claire wasn't the taciturn teenager I met a few weeks ago anymore and she turned into a more sociable person since we came back... I came to believe that there was a chance for us to be friends since we were more or less the same age, although our experiences in life were very different. We hummed some songs together, I asked her about the boys from her high school and she scrunched her nose in a funny grimace... the typical answer from a girl... that would change when she found her mate. We arrive soon to the lake, not only because the road was good and clear of other vehicles, but because she was a skilled driver: the boathouse was in front of us but there was nobody in there.

"I'll help you to take these things out of the van..." I told her while jumping from my seat and opening the back door. I just stood there, with my hands on my hips staring at the pile of life jackets and bags, because it was hard to know where to start.