Heart of Stone

Unexpected Meeting Interruption

It's really bright outside today, finally the clouds have lifted. It had felt like an eternity since it was a clear day.

I stand as the metal kitchen sink, washing the remnants of breakfast from my siblings plates, looking out at the front yard as the sun splashes on the gardens.

The world looks so cheery, I wish I could be just as cheery,

"Em, Em, Em, Em, Em Em, Em E-", My little sister Sam screams through the house.

"What, Sam!"

"Where did you put my soccer cleats"

"Under the stairs, you know where they're supposed to go Sam", I think if I laid on the passive aggressive tone any harder, she might drown in it.

Some days I wish I had more patience like mom always had, and other days I kinda understand why somebody would abandon her family. I want to too sometimes.

My short live silence at the sink was interrupted by my little brother James clabbering down the stairs, " Shit, I can't find my homework from last night, Em have you seen it anywhere?"

I glance and ask, "Language, and did you check the math textbook in your hand, I can see pages sticking out from it,". There is a quick astonished face followed by an even quicker thanks as he runs to grab his shoes.

Some days I love him, but just because he is book smart doesn't mean he has a lot of common sense.

I watch their bus pull up as I dry my hands and walk to get my things together for work.

I might not have a shazy job like security forces or pack management, but being one of the agricultural logistics workers is pretty damn important. It is amazing how much food 200 werewolves plow through in a week.

If it wasn't for me, there would be no food for the pack.

"Better get your butts down here, the bus just pulled up. Or you both can walk", I shout up the stairs, heavy thudding down the stairs follows

"Love Ya!" comes from both of them as they race to the bus, I swear they will be late to their own funerals.

I walk over to dad's room on the bottom floor, despite how sunny it is outside, the room is darker than a crypt. Pulling open the curtains a bit to let some light in, I hear groaning from the bed.

"Come on Dad, a little light never hurt anybody."

I go over and sit down on the edge of his bed," Hey, I have a big shipment to schedule tonight, do you think you can pick up Sam from soccer practice?"

A grumble comes from the covers," I don't think I feel well enough to get her tonight Em,"

Anger starts to boil up in me, " No dad, you need to pick up Sammy at night. It won't kill you to get up out of bed for once"

"Emily don't use that tone with me, you have no idea what I'm going through"

"Oh really," I scoff, "Mom left all of us, in case you have forgotten. While you have gotten the chance to sit around and mope for a year, I've been taking care of my siblings like my parents should be. So get up, take a goddamn shower and start taking care of your kids Dad."

I abruptly leave the room, slip on my shoes, grab my bag and make it to my car. I feel so deflated from the argument, I can't stay mad at dad for long, he's trying to get through this the same as the rest of us. Mom was dad's mate, something every wolf dreams of but few get. Mates are rare due to the distance between most packs and the sheer number of werewolves there are in the world. She was from one of the surrounding towns, technically a rouge since she wasn't tied to a pack.

Mom left a little over a year ago, simply with a note that read, I can't continue to stay here anymore. I love you all but I must leave, don't look for me. - Mom

We had trackers for the first few weeks searching for her scent, we searched neighboring packs, and even searched the human world for her, but she vanished into thin air. Dad dealt her disappear the hardest, after all she was his mate. After the pack stopped searching, he refused to leave his bed or even talk to us.

So now being fresh out of high school, I take care of my two younger siblings, the house, and my duties in the pack.

By the time I pull up to the pack house I'm back to my now normal state, a simple shell that does her job and goes home. Shit, why are there so many cars out here. It's more crowded than the delivery room during mating season.

Getting out of my car, a strong gust of wind blows my dull brown hair hits me in the face while I struggle to keep my paperwork from flying from my hands. Thankfully, my boss Giles saves me at the last moment.

"Hey Kiddo, let me grab some things from you," He's definitely been a strong father figure to me since mom disappeared, married to his wife of 25 years with a kid who is around my age, being fatherly is his strongest personality trait. I'm apprenticing under him so hopefully soon I take over his position in the pack.

"Hey thanks for saving my paperwork Giles, do you know why there are so many cars here today?"

His eye shot a look of exasperation, "Don't you remember anything on the schedule girly, The Darkwood pack is reviewing our hydroponics systems today while we get to tour their training facilities in exchange"

"Ohhh, that's right, I forgot that was today, well we better hurry to the briefing room."

On our way to the briefing room, I'm hit with a strong smell of pine and rain. It's nothing signaling danger, but more of a comfort like fresh bread out of the oven. I stumble for a step, it hit me out of the blue and is nothing like the musty pack house.

I glance at my boss, "Giles do you smell that?".

"Smell what?"

"It's piney and strong", he shakes his head no,"Nevermind then, I must be going crazy."

"Wouldn't surprise me, I always had a feeling you'd be the first to go" I elbowed him in the stomach. That old man is gonna be the death of me.

"Hardy har har, your getting pretty funny in your senile age"

"Ouch Emily, I am not that old yet," he taps his head ," I might not be a spry but I still have my wits about me,".

The walk to the briefing room is short, the room is full to the brim with Darkwood pack members. We started up the exchange program a few years ago with neighboring packs that we had peace treaties with to continue peaceful times and to expand knowledge between packs. The Darkwood pack was the last to join out of our alliances, their attitude towards progress is harsh. They have always been resistant to anything other than the traditions of old. The Darkwood pack still believes in violent public punishments like whippings for severe offenders, our pack got rid of those practices almost 50 years ago. Recently there have been longer droughts in their territory leading to less crop production, so they finally took us up on our offer in exchange to help us with our defenses.

We made our way to the front of the room, the hydroponics system is Giles and mine's greatest contribution to the pack, our Alpha though it was fit for us to give the informative tour.

" Thank you all for joining us today, members of Darkwood. We are very appreciative of your cooperation in this exchange of knowledge. Before the tour begins we have a short presentation going into an overview of our hydroponics system. In the last two years-" a loud crash as the doors to the briefing room were flung open.

The scent of pine and rain overwhelmed me as I looked up to find the Alpha to the Darkwood pack frantically searching the room.

"Alpha Thompson, is everything alright?"

"Are we in danger?"

"Was there an attack?" His pack members frantically asked.

His nearly golden eyes darted around the room till they found mine. His stare bolted me to the ground, he stalks across the room till he's a breath away.

His hand slowly comes up and brushes a stray hair from my face and he coos softly, " My mate, my little mate I have finally found you".

**** My first time writing in a long while, let me know what you think of the start of this new book.