Fang

Crescent Moon

Forrest easily dismissed me from his office, leaving me to wander until it was time. The salve that Stovall had rubbed on my chest and arms was doing wonders for easing the pain, helping to keep my energy up. 

Even though it was brief, simply being around him helped ease my discomfort. Now alone, the anxiety of what was coming in a few short hours settled into my stomach. 

The pack house remained quiet as I moved back down the stairs, though I knew how large this pack was. Forrest's face kept flashing in my eyes each time I blinked. 

The fading rays of sunlight beamed into the rooms from open windows. 

"Sneaking around huh?" A familiar voice said from behind me. I spun around and recognized the lanky frame of Wexley. "And you weren't even going to come see me." 

"Wexley," I smiled. "I'm so happy to see you."

"What kind of friend disappears for several days and doesn't tell you where they are?" He crossed his arms over his chest, staring me down. 

"I'm really sorry, I'll explain it when I can." I kept my face pointed slightly down, ashamed of my missing fang. 

"You'd better." He gave me a small smile, which I appreciated greatly. Surprisingly, I'd found that I had actually sincerely missed Wexley. 

"I have some good news," I hinted. Wexley raised a brown eyebrow at me. "I'm joining the pack." I clasped my hands behind my back, shifting my weight between my feet. 

The faked anger washed from his face, replaced by a broad smile. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me, lifting me off the ground in a tight hug. "That's great Lennet! Now you're stuck with me forever." He tightened his embrace for a moment before setting me back on the ground. 

A twinge of guilt surged through me at the use of my fake name. He apparently truly didn't know that I had been spying on them. I'd have to explain it to him sometime. But I don't want to hurt him, I thought silently. 

"So where were you sneaking off to anyways?"

"I wasn't sneaking. I just wanted some damn food before the ceremony tonight."

"It's tonight? He's not wasting time. Huh," Wexley said. "Anyways, follow me." He jutted out his elbow for me to link mine through, as he always did.

Keeping my lips together, I gave him an earnest smile and locked my elbow with his. Relief that he hadn't seen or pointed out my fang flooded through me. It felt good to be in a friend's company once more. 

Wexley and I were perched on one of the soft, black couches that lined the main room of the pack house. Whoever had designed the pack house had great taste. 

A grand TV decorated the wall opposite of me, taking up the majority of the wall. Wexley sat beside me with a remote in his hand, flickering through the channels. 

The food that I have previously binge eaten out of nerves settled uneasily in my stomach, like a rock. 

The windows behind us blew in crisp, night air that did practically nothing to soothe me. I kept my arms wrapped around my middle, hiding my tainted flesh from his eyes. I bounced my leg, barely paying attention to what Wexley had put on. 

"Calm down, it's not like we are going to hate you." Wexley chuckled, taking in my nervous appearance. "Well, I mean. Maybe they will, I don't know."

"Don't say that!" I shot him a glare. 

"Or what? What are you going to do with those baby hands?" 

"Baby hands?" I turned to him. "I'll show you baby hands."