Chapter Three

Rose

I woke up the day before my eighteenth birthday with the same familiar sweaty skin stuck to leather feeling. “Why do I even own a bed?” I muttered to myself as I pried my skin from the leather-like I did most mornings.

I stretched before placing one of my well-loved books about the moon goddess back on the bookshelf. The songs of the cicadas crept into the room, letting me know that today was going to be hot. I opened my bedroom window further, desperately hoping a breeze would circulate the dead air. Nothing....nothing at all to ease the stifling atmosphere. I groaned before making my way to my dresser. 

“Let’s go for a run.” Delilah was raring to go this morning. Tomorrow held the potential of our mate, and she was overflowing with energy.

“Do we have to? Today would be the perfect day to hide away from everyone and read by the creek.” I groaned at the peppy wolf echoing in my ears.

“Compromise? Hike to the creek, go for a run, and then you can hide from the world?” Delilah always seemed to get her way. I did not have the heart to shut her down completely, and she knew it.

“Fiiiine,” I sighed as I perused my books. I lightly thumbed their spines before picking a couple of books to take with me. I tossed the books in my well-loved khaki-colored canvas backpack along with a throw blanket. I slipped off the wife beater I slept in and kicked off my linen sleep shorts.

There was no point in even showering when you know you are going out to grimey in the sweltering summer heat. I threw on a pair of black biker shorts and a black sports bra. Quickly I shoved on socks before I sunk my feet into the familiar embrace of my old and very well-loved pair of hiking boots.

I stepped into the bathroom groaned at the mirror. Hastily I threw my hair in a messy ponytail, and attempting to pin up some of the baby hairs that framed my face was the most effort I was willing to put forth. I did a once over in the mirror. Before traipsing out of my room with my backpack slung over my shoulder.

“Hurry up! Let’s go! Let’s go!” Delilah was demanding as I scampered down the stairs. I made one last stop in the kitchen to fill my canteen and grab some snacks to dump everything into my backpack. I dashed out the front door only to be suffocated by the humidity.  

“Where are you off to, Rosebud?” My mom was crouching down in the shade, pulling weeds out from one of her flower beds.  

“Hiking, running, and reading.” I kissed the top of her head.

“No Harriet or Heather?”

“Not this time. I want to embrace my inner loner today.”

“Okay, well, be careful. People will start showing up with the Carnival tomorrow.”

“I know, Momma.” With that, I was off. I slipped out the front gate breathing in the scent of wild avens and bluebells. I briskly made my way down the street towards the forest. 

“Rose!” a voice called out to me. I knew exactly who that was.  

“So close…” I muttered to myself as I turned towards the voice. “Oh hey, Matt. What’s up?” I started to walk backward, praying that maybe he would get the idea that I didn’t want to talk. 

“Have you seen Harriet?” Matt sheepishly grinned. Matt was tall with thick curly dark molasses-colored hair pushed on top of his head by a sweatband. He was strong but not really muscular. He had dull gray eyes that only held any real emotion when he had his tongue shoved down my friend’s throat.

“She and Heather are helping their mom today.” I shrugged.

“Damn. Wanna hang out then?” He teased and winked at me.

“Uh, nope! Bye!” I took off in a sprint into the woods, trying to slip away.

“Hey, you might like it!” He called after me.

I glanced one last time over my shoulder as I started my trek. Thankfully Matt didn’t follow me. I touched the bark of trees like I was being welcomed home by my loved ones. Slipping through the trees was second nature; I could make this hike with my eyes closed. After about twenty minutes of blissful silence, I made my way to the creek. I glanced around before stripping my clothes off and tucking them in my bag.

“Ready?” I softly muttered to Delilah.

“Always,” Delilah giddily smirked. Slowly my hands thicken and expand into paws. The sounds of breaking bones echoed throughout the forest. Cream fur started to envelop my body as I thudded onto the forest floor. Delilah was a beautiful wolf spirit. She had cream fur with light honey brown markings contouring her nose, winging her eyes, and hugging the edges of her ears.  

At last, Delilah took over completely and was finally released to be free. Her paws thundered through the woods as she finally got to feel the wind in her fur. She ran through the forest, splashed through the creek, and let her soul soar. I truly felt blessed to have Delilah as my wolf spirit. I had occasionally heard stories about people being at odds with their wolves. That their personalities chafed against each other. I knew the Goddess had blessed me.

Delilah was an old soul, but she was also a free spirit. The forest called to her, and I tried my best to let her answer as much as I could. The forest was my second home. This is where Delilah and I could really fulfill both of our needs. Her run and my reclusion. I loved my two best friends, but sometimes I just need to escape the little village.

Once she finally got the run that her heart desired, she relinquished control, and I started to pad back to the creek. I shifted back into my human form before I slipped on my clothes. I spread out the blanket under a lush oak tree by the stream. I plopped down on the blanket with one of my books and tried to escape the heat by disappearing into my book. Each word I read was coaxing me into a world with far-off places, daring sword fights, changing your fate, unconditional love, and finding your voice. I was unaware of my eyelids drooping, and slowly sleep engulfed my body.

~~~

I was walking through an unknown foggy forest; I had no idea where I was. Nothing was even vaguely familiar. I wanted to turn around and try to go back where I came from, but then I spotted a field of wildflowers. Now those flowers seemed familiar; they seemed to almost call to me.

My feet had a mind of their own as they led me to wander through the flowers. I nonchalantly dragged my hands over the flowers. It was a beautiful and serene sight. I deeply inhaled the sweet scent of the flower and gave a slight shudder of bliss. I closed my eyes and just absorbed the moment wanting to remember it.

Suddenly the sounds of paws hitting the forest floor overwhelmed me. Then in a flash, the forest was ignited with flames. Everything glowed vibrant oranges and reds as heavy smoke smothered me from above. I threw myself to the ground, desperate for any trace of clean air. As I attempted to crawl out of the flowers, new sounds began to harmonize; screams, howls, and cries for help terrorized me.

I clawed at the ground; dirt and soot caked underneath my nails. I was desperate to escape the menacing choir. Fire licked my skin, and I screamed for help. Sobs escaped lips as flaming branches fell on me from above. The smell of burning flesh was the only thing that consumed me as everything went dark.

~~~

“...”

“...”

“...” Shaking and a muffled voice tried to coax me to open my eyes. I squinted my eyes, silently pleading with myself to give in to the unknown person. They lightly patted my cheek and rubbed my forearm, attempting to wake me up completely.

“Rose! Hey, come wake up!” The voice was so familiar, but my head still felt like I was in the smoke. My mind scrambled, trying to connect the voice to anyone I knew. I felt my body being lifted from my blanket, cradled in two strong arms.

“Goddess, Rose! Come on, open your eyes!” I knew their scent, but in my fogged brain, I couldn’t put my finger on who it was. Without any warning, I was dunked in the creek, and my whole body reacted. I gasped loudly, and my eyes finally peeled open. Two arms pulled me up into an embrace. “Oh, thank Goddess! You scared the shit out of me.” I rubbed my eyes and took a deep breath in relief. It was Matt.

“Oh, hey? What’s up?” I stuttered as I wiped the water from my face. I slightly pulled away before I realized Matt was completely naked in the creek with me. His breathing was heavy, and his face was pale. His wary eyes scoured over me, trying to decide whether to kill or hug me.

“What’s up?!?!” Matt’s low growl made me slightly jump as he grabbed my forearms and shook me. “I’m out running in the forest to blow off some steam, and I hear screaming. I take off running, thinking that one of my pack mates is being brutally attacked. The next thing I know, I found you writhing and crying on the ground. I tried to wake you, but nothing was working. After I finally get desperate enough to jump into the creek with you. You finally snap out of whatever nightmare you were having and have the nerve to casually ask me what’s up?” 

I stared at Matt. He was clearly shaken up, and I knew I definitely was. He helplessly tried to pull me out of the lucid nightmare that had taken over me. I lowered my eyes, not daring to make eye contact at the moment. I submissively put my forehead to his heaving chest and waited for his breathing to even out. I usually didn’t submit to Matt since he is my best friend’s boy toy, but I gave him it this one time, hoping he would not bring it up later.

“Honestly, I don’t know what was going on, Matt. One minute I was reading and then I fell asleep. I had a dream; I was in a forest, and at first, it was peaceful, but then everything changed. There was fire and screaming surrounding me. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t escape….” I trailed off and shook my head side to side. “Thanks for waking me up.” I looked him in the eye as I spoke those last words.  

I decided to keep the fact I knew he was trying to wake me up, and I couldn’t wake up fully to myself. I was kind of freaked out by that, and I did not need anyone else on that roller coaster with me. Plus, he had a big mouth, and the whole pack would know by the end of the day. He pulled me back into his arms and hugged me.

“Shit.” He muttered to himself as he stroked my wet hair with one hand and continued to hug me with the other arm. After a minute or two I. pulled away and smiled at him. It was time to throw him off, so hopefully, he would not blab about my possible psychotic episode to my friends or worse...my parents...or even worse the Alpha.

“Thanks, Matt. You were a lifesaver. As a thank you, I won’t tell Harriet you hugged on me while you were naked…with a boner.” I playful tease him as his cheeks turned as red as the flames in my nightmare.

He looked down at his hard-on and bit his lip as he thought. A devilish grin spread across his face, and he grabbed my waist. He brushed his length against me and licked my face. I pretended to vomit in the creek in retaliation.  

“Just for that,” Matt threw me into the deeper part of the creek. I gasped for air and surfaced. “Seems like you should have taken me up on that offer earlier to hang out. You would not have had that weird nightmare, and we could both be naked together on the ground.” I groaned at him before I submerged myself under the water.