Tomorrow Never Dies (Moonlight 3)

Chapter 27-Fall

I crept cautiously outside. I was now filled with a purpose. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, before I started to walk the few blocks towards the forest. My thoughts were racing as I went over and over in my head what I was going to say to Ashton and just what I was going to say to him. I had to find the best way to explain why I was showing up at like three am to talk after all this time.

As I stepped away from the bright lights of the street and into the trees, I adjusted my vision once more. I sniffed the air and found my scent from the other day mixed with that of Lauchie's. Frowning, I looked around me to check that I was alone as I allowed my body to shift.

It felt great to be back in my wolf form as I raced at full speed. Racing through at night was always different to the day time. It held more of an air of mystery to it. I could faintly hear an owl hooting in the distance and I heard tiny nocturnal creatures dash to get out of my way as I passed.

I slowed only when I saw the log cabin appear just as the sun was beginning to rise on the horizon. It was so much easier to find now and there didn't appear to be an invisible barrier blocking it like before. The scent surrounding the building a giveaway that I'd been near here the other day. I could catch Ashton's scent faintly too. I knew I was in the right spot.

I shifted back again figuring it would be much easier to open and knock on doors with opposable thumbs rather than paws.

Cautiously, hoping everyone would be asleep I crept up the front porch and onto the landing. I pushed at the door and like the other day it opened on its own. Immediately I noticed the difference, there were no longer any plates in the sink. The place was vacant and empty and hollow as if no one had been here for weeks. There was little sign of the werewolves who inhabited it.

Where had Ashton and Scarlet been going though? They'd still all been living in the cabin the other day, right? I'd been talking to Ashton who had been standing on the front porch.

Disappointed, I turned around and walked in the opposite direction. It wasn't worth checking bedrooms, I could tell by the faint almost lack of scent that they'd all been gone for days.

I let out a loud sigh in frustration. There was no easy way of finding Ashton now. How would I ever talk to him?

Feeling defeated, I turned and headed down the steps on the porch. I had one last foot on the step, and it made a creak. I looked down in alarm.

"You know their all gone." A voice spoke.

I turned around to find that Mei was standing right in front of me. Just like the dream; she looked a little older now and wore a kaki coat rather than her normal hunters gear but that was the only distinguishing difference from when I'd last saw her in person. My heart stopped, my throat running dry. She was the last person I wanted to catch me here.

"Mei." I frowned, trying to keep my voice as strong as possible despite the fear I was feeling. The words from the dream still echoing in my mind. "What are you doing here?"

She shrugged, "Not sure really. I knew I heard someone. You know since the pack moved on, we've had a lot of trouble with our mail not arriving to the right place. So, I thought I should check."

I frowned. Knowing Mei would only show herself for a reason, one of which I knew I'd need to find out sooner or later. My hand went to the phone in my pocket, maybe I could send both my mother and Lauchie a quick text. Then keep Mei occupied in time for the hunters to show up. It was so early in the morning though that I doubted anyone would hear it.

"You're seriously not thinking of turning me in, are you Luke?" She questioned sweetly, her smile sickly sweet.

I didn't answer her question. I was still half stunned that she was standing right in front of me. Not in a dream. I knew she'd escaped but I hadn't been expecting her to show up like this. Not even after the dream I'd had.