Visions of Wolves

Still mad?

“What did you do?” Ally asked mockingly while squeezing the breath out of me in hug at the airport pickup zone.

“What do you mean?” I asked while we slipped into Adam’s pickup and headed to the pack house.

“Well, Adam and I were in the middle of a rather romantic dinner. One of very few we’ve had recently I might add. When Alex linked Adam and they spent all night discussing security and according to Adam it’s because you decided to dig your heels in about coming to visit?” Ally rolled her eyes at me.

“I mean, do you blame me? He marked me, I spent two days in the infirmary, then he sent me home and then told me not to come back because it was unsafe?”

Ally laughed. “Ok yes, you’ve got a point.”

“I didn’t mean to upset him though. I was so excited about coming and when he called and said don’t, with no real time frame of when it would be safe again, I just kinda snapped. But out of disappointment, not because I was angry with him.”

“Upset is one way to put it…” Ally sighed.

“Was he really mad? The conversation between us has been a little strained on calls ever since.”

“He was on edge already, so I wouldn’t stress about it too much. But I would warn you not to push anymore of his buttons while you’re here. He is in 100% Alpha mode.”

For the rest of the drive we chatted about how everyone else was doing. She explained some of the new security measures and patrols that were happening around the village, how training had doubled so being my chaperone for a week was actually a nice break for her. 

When we got to the house Alex and Adam were outside speaking to a group of guards. I gave him a short wave and he nodded in my direction. I had begged to be here, I couldn’t be upset that I didn’t get the same candles and moonlit romantic welcome I got the first time I came back. 

I still needed to hide my scent from people, so Ally and I spent the afternoon chatting in the upstairs lounge. I told her that I’d like to spend the day with Aoife tomorrow and she was more than happy to go hangout with them. I wanted to tell her about the visions too, but knowing her loyalty to Alex and how worried he was about my safety already, I didn’t feel like adding to the issue.

When it got late Ally walked me to Alex’s room where I showered and got into bed. I left the lights on so that I wouldn’t fall asleep properly and miss him when he came in.

The basement, small windows, my hands tied, Alex’s guards and shifters fighting in a field, some still in human form, some as wolves…

“Hey hey hey, Teal? Shhh, it’s ok. Wake up. Teal? Shhh, shhh c’mon, wake up.” Alex’s voice and presence on the bed startled me awake. He was staring at me with great concern and stroking my back.

“You were sleeping. Shhh, come here.” He said pulling me into his arms.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and gave him a big squeeze. He gave me a kiss on the forehead and we both just lay there until my breathing and heart rate normalised. 

“Want to tell me what all that was about? Was it a vision?” He asked still stroking my back.

“I don’t know, I can’t remember. Bad dream I think.” I lied. There was definitely going to be an attack and the sooner I could get Aoife to help me understand and tap into these visions the better. Right now it was too blurry to be any use to anyone. I couldn’t remember precise details when I woke up. Just the story it was trying to tell.

“Sorry it’s taken me all day to come see you.” He sighed.

I looked up at him from where my head had been rested on his chest. “Is it really ok, that I’m here?” I pleaded.

“No,” he snorted. “But I learnt the hard way not to tell you what you can and can’t do,” and with the he poked me in the side causing me to jump and giggle. Despite how strong I felt since I had been marked he could still effortlessly shift my entire weight. As I giggled he moved us down the bed and got on top of me. He held my head and kissed me deeply, a gesture to prove he still wanted me here. I accepted the gesture by matching the passion in my kiss back. It was an apology that neither of us needed to say out loud.

We lay in bed awake, both drawing circles on each other’s skin with our fingertips. 

“I won’t be around much tomorrow as well I’m afraid. I’m going to speak to neighbouring farms and see if they have any news or sightings to report. I also want to offer patrols on their land if they want them.”

“That’s really nice of you. But don’t worry about me. I’d like to go spend time with Aoife. I still can't get a candle to light or blow out with just a wriggle of my fingers.” I reached up and wriggled my fingers in the air. He laughed.

“Just Teal please, make sure Ally is with you. In the pack house and out with Aoife. Just make sure she is always nearby.”

“I will, she has already agreed to come tomorrow.”

“Promise?” He begged.

“I promise. I will make sure Ally is always nearby.”

“Good.”

I slept soundly that night. No visions, no bad dreams. When I woke up in the morning he was already gone but I had expected that. I went to shower but when I came back out there he was with a tray of bacon, eggs, croissants and jam as well as coffee.

“I thought you had gone already?” I squealed running over to join him and tuck in.

“Well, I’ve got to eat. May as well be here with you.” He shrugged.

Breakfast was delicious and he stayed a little longer afterwards to chat about everything I had been up to back home and at work. It felt so good to just sit there and chat. I was worried that after our argument and with everything going on, things would be strained between us. But we fell right back into the same groove we had the last time I was here.

I used the short gap I had between him leaving and Ally arriving to update my journal with the latest visions or dreams I had seen.

Ally arrived and we slowly made our way to Aoife’s. I wore Alex’s hoodie again to mask the scent but we also took the long way round the house to get there. The increase in security was clear. There were guards in uniforms everywhere we turned. 

Just before we turned off the perimeter path and into the the dense part of the forest between the pack house and Aoife, I heard that voice that makes my skin crawl.

“Oh hey Teal, you’re back. Again. I haven’t seen you since the Harvest Festival. You and Alex left so early, you missed all the fun.” Julz’s passive aggressive tone wasn’t lost on me. What she was really saying was why are you still here and getting in the way of my chances with Alex. 

“Hi Julz, you look well.” I choked out

“Julz,” said Ally with a nod, it was barely a greeting. 

“We decided to go to Aoife’s. They had invited me to see how they celebrate and I wanted to check it out. Alex was kind enough to take me.”

“And kind enough to lend you his hoodie I see. I actually bought him that one, when the two of us went to Italy for a weekend once.” She eyed me out, toying with the thin summer scarf around her shoulders.

I felt dirty. It was just a hoodie and I didn’t really care that she had bought it for him, he probably didn’t remember. But just the way she looked at me. As though I was the secondhand item, that’s what made me feel dirty.

Ally however flinched and then stepped in front of me, grabbing both shoulders and holding onto me while leading me away. She shouted a goodbye over her shoulder and said we had to run. I just gave Julz a short wave and followed Ally. 

“What’s wrong?” I asked once Julz was out of sight and earshot. “The whole hoodie thing doesn’t bother me. Just the way she looked at me gave me the creeps.”

“No. It’s not that. It’s your scent. Out here in the wind, it’s easier to pick up.”

I gasped, “do you think she knows? Do you think she will tell people?”

“I don’t know. If she did she hid it well, but we can't be too careful. Especially around her. She’s smart.”