Visions of Wolves

If not now, then when?

The next morning I woke up to the sounds of running and hurried voices outside my door. I got dressed and walked out to find people running in all directions. Most of them wore a type of soldiers uniform. The uniform consisted of navy blue pants paired with a matching jacket. Most of their jackets had a variety of green badges and embellishments. Despite being formal, it looked comfy. It must be so that they can shift easily I thought to myself.

I walked down the passage, staying close to the wall so that I didn’t get in anyone’s way and then made my way to the front door where people were starting to line up in front of Alex, Jay and Adam. Seeing Alex in his uniform brought back flashes of last night. As if he could sense the sensations coursing through my body, he turned around and made eye contact with me.

He then called Ally over. She had been standing nearby in casual clothes. He chatted to her for a bit before turning back to the guards standing in front of him. Ally however turned around and headed straight for me.

“Hey, what’s going on?” I asked her meeting her halfway.

“There was an attack on a nearby pack and our watch picked up rogue scents on the outskirts of the village. We’re going to send some guards to the nearby pack just for safety but were also doubling up on our security around the perimeter.”

“Are you not going to join them?” I asked, sensing her worry.

“Jay decided I still need one more day before he’ll give me the all clear.” Clearly she did not agree with this decision. “Look, Alex won’t be able to chat to you until much later. He’s asked that I keep you company and show you around the village today - to keep us both preoccupied.” She looked back in their direction and rolled her eyes.

I was disappointed too, and my face clearly showed it. Ally gave my hand a small squeeze and then invited me inside to get breakfast. We ate in the main dinning hall and she introduced me to the kitchen staff who were all really friendly and welcoming. We sat with some of the other shifters who work around the house and I slowly started to loosen up, enjoying their company.

After breakfast we headed outside. There were now only a few guards standing around. She told me about the history of the pack, what Alex’s parents were like and a little about how the village was self sufficient.

Not far from the pack house was a warehouse they used as a storage unit. Everyday “keepers” who are humans that know about shifters but keep the secret, come to drop off or collect groceries, post, and anything really from the storage unit. The village also had large farming areas where families farmed animals and crops for a living. Some of what the farms harvested were sold outside of the village and the keepers would come regularly to collect.

Ally introduced me to John. He had a pickup and came by every morning to collect or drop off supplies. He was an elderly man but very sweet. His family had been keepers for generations. We helped him load his truck and then headed inside for lunch.

The rest of the afternoon we spent helping some of the house staff with chores. By the time dinner came around I was exhausted. But also more anxious than ever. I’d now been here three days. I needed to get back. It wasn’t unlike me to go quiet for a while, but this was pushing it. I needed to let my family and friends know where I am.

We were chatting with some of the other shifters when Ally’s eyes turned yellow and she stared off into the distance. This whole linking thing still unnerved me. When her eye colour returned she told me Jay, Adam and Alex were back and in Alex’s office. I followed her there to find the guys huddled over a table with various files and maps. They were so deep in conversation they barely heard us open the door. 

When we entered Adam came over and gave Ally a huge hug and a kiss, while I went over to Jay and Alex. “Teal, I’m sorry. I know I said we’d talk today but this really isn’t a good time.” Alex said abruptly. Barely looking up at me.

“If I could just get my stuff from the hotel…” He cut me off before I could even finish. “Teal. This isn’t a good time.” This time he spoke even sharper, almost shouting.

“Oh, sorry. Later then.” My voice quivered, it took everything in me to stop myself from crying. I turned and headed out the door as quickly as I could. I heard Jay’s sarcastic “smooth Alex” comment as I left.

I went straight to my room, closed the door and sobbed. A little while later Ally came to check on me, I didn’t open the door. I just told her I was fine and going to bed. I cried until I gave myself a headache and then fell asleep. Am I ever going to leave? Will Alex ever let me? 

Kissing by a fire place, a full moon, women dancing in white flowing dresses… these were the images playing in my mind just before I woke up in the middle of the night. They were different from a lot of the other dreams I had recently, somehow they were peaceful and calming.

I tip toed out to the sculpture again, our special rendezvous spot these past two nights. But Alex never showed. I waited for two hours, often falling asleep against the sculpture before I decided, brokenhearted that I should just go back to my room. 

This time my dreams were less peaceful. They were filled with panic and anxiety. I saw a note left on the desk in Alex’s office, Mabel cowering in the Flower Moon Hotel kitchen and the back of John’s truck.

I woke up to Ally knocking on my door. When I opened the door I was greeted by her all dressed up in the same uniform I saw the others wearing yesterday. “You ok? Alex didn’t mean to snap at you like that last night, he’s under a lot of pressure.” She said sheepishly. It was clear that I’d be alone today and she was going off to join the others.

“I’m guessing you’re off to patrol then?” I didn’t mean to sound snappy but seeing her in her uniform made me feel sad. I’d enjoyed our time yesterday and now I’d be left alone.

“Uh, yeah. Jay has given me the all-clear.”

“Do you know if Alex is in his office? We need to talk.” I started heading out the door but she stopped me.

“Sorry Teal, he’s out already. He won’t be back until this afternoon.”

“Ally this is getting ridiculous, I have to go! I have to let my family and friends know where I am.” This time I was shouting.

“I know, I know. But Alex has to officially sign-off. Look, I’ll tell him when I see him that it’s been long enough, I’ll do what I can I swear. For today maybe you could help the kitchen staff again? Just, let me talk to Alex.” 

I know Ally was just trying to help, but I was too frustrated to play nice.

“Fine. I should shower. See you later I guess.” I practically closed the door in her face. 

The dreams from this morning flashed in my mind. The note and John’s pick-up, they didn’t seem like a dream anymore, they seemed like a plan.