CHAPTER THREE

“Perhaps, we could hang out some other time?” Bran asked as they stood up to leave.

“Uhm yeah sure!” Sierra turned to him as they walked out. “The chocolate pie tasted so good”, Bran said. “Yes sure it did: but mine tasted better and you can’t argue about that”, Sierra said with a sense of satisfaction. “You win! Yours tasted better”, Bran concluded.

As they walked back to the party, Sierra held him slightly above the elbow. “I’m so full, I can barely walk”, she said, giggling and using her other hand to rub her stomach.

She was tipsy but Bran didn’t notice—

“Hey! Are you okay?” Yes yes, she replies still giggling, this time more than before. Bran joined her and over ten minutes, they just went on and on and on.

“That wine had alcohol in it. I don’t know who’s more wasted you or me”, Bran said, still laughing uncontrollably— 

“It has to be you. As for me, I can handle my liquor better than you think” Sierra brags.

“You’re so funny! Come on, let's go. I’m sure your family is wondering where you ran off to”.

“They’ll be alright, but sure let’s go”. They walk back in silence,

Sierra still holding Bran above the elbow—

“Thanks for tonight”, she said as they arrived at the party grounds which was less filled than it was before they left. Hugging and giving him a peck on the cheeks, “goodbye stranger!” Sierra said smiling and walked off to look for her family.

“Hey! Wait! Don’t leave yet please”. Sierra turns around to see Bran coming closer to her.

“How do I find you”? I want to see you again please, although shy Bran said to the feisty girl who might just steal his heart. “Feasibly, when you come visiting Pasteria, you can ask around for the girl with the moon tattoo. I hope you didn’t forget my name”— grinning, she runs off before Bran could utter a word. “Damn!” He muttered. “I guess I have to add “visiting Pasteria” to my to-do list. Bran watched as Sierra ran off.

“Where have you been?” Sierra’s brother Ezekiel asks. “I’ve been looking all over the place for you” he said. “I’m sorry I went off without telling anyone”, Sierra said— “is mum upset?” 

“What do you think? She was scared for you, you know how she is,” Ezekiel said.

“I’ll talk to her now but first I want to tell you about a guy I just met”, she said, turning red at the cheeks and forehead. “Yeah?”

“Uh huh” Sierra replied, swaying her body side to side with both hands held together in front of her, she continued. “He’s really calm and a gentleman. I think I like him and I feel he likes me too, but he’s a bit shy: plus I want him to take the first big step. I mean, look for me and ask me out on a proper date. Am I being reasonable or you think it’s a fool’s errand?”

“Is he still at the party?” Ezekiel asked. “Yes”, Sierra responded and pointed towards his direction, careful not to be seen by Bran. “Reasonable”, Ezekiel said and began teasing her.

“Let’s see what happens. You want me to dig about him a little?” Ezekiel asked Sierra. “No no I think I’ll take my chances with this one. Fingers crossed”, Sierra said in response.

Moving to the rhythm of the music, talking to a few friends over drinks, Bran spent a couple hours more at the party before deciding to go home with his pack.

“Ask for the girl with the moon tattoo”. The words kept ringing in Bran’s head as he found his way home. “She’s crazy! No no, more like free-spirited. I’m definitely going to look for her, he said to himself”.

“Did you say something? You’re smiling to yourself again”. Gale interrupted his thoughts.

He continued; “I saw the girl you were with. She’s cute!”

Yes she is, Bran replied, looking at his feet as they talk.

“You like her? I think you do”. Gale asked and immediately answered the question himself.

“I do! I think somehow, she compliments me. Do you understand me?”

Bran and Gale have been friends since Bran saved him from being bullied by rival packs.

Totally different people, but somehow they were always there for each other. A sort of ‘bromance’ they had going on. Gale was his second-in-command in the pack. The mid-level wolves gave him as much respect as they did Bran.

“I understand!” Gale said, putting his arm around his neck and pulling him closer as they laughed and continued walking home. “She’s from Pasteria and she said in the event that if I do visit there, I should ask for “the girl with the moon tattoo. Crazy right?”

“Yes, let’s go together, I’ve never been to Pasteria anyway. Maybe next Saturday? Seems fine but I don’t know.” 

“I’m a bit skeptical”, Bran said, shrugging his shoulders.

They walk in silence as they continue their journey back home.

“Where did you run off to? Your brothers have been searching all over for you!” Sierra's mother, Caithlyn asked.

“I am sorry mum, I just needed to eat something different from what was being served at the party: so I went to the diner at the end of the street and I just lost track of time”.

While explaining, Caithlyn chipped in; “Well you need to do better. You’re the Alpha now, everyone in the pack looks up to you for directions. You understand!?”. “I do”, as she exits and heads towards the direction of her room.

I hope he looks for me. Sierra said, talking to herself as she laid down on her bed.