The Hunt

Chapter 8

         There have been many speculations throughout history on family dynamics in the typical werewolf household. Originally we were under the impression that females were used for breeding purposes only while the males did the hunting and gathering. After the discovery of soulmates, however, we have found that the household is run similarly to humans. They do not breed as dogs would with heat cycles as was first believed by our ancestors. Instead they mate for life as an inseparable pair and have one child at a time. Because of this we should use caution when approaching suspected werewolves. They are the perfect hunters, being able to blend into the world of their prey. 

Hunter's Codex, werewolf lifestyles pg. 385

   I couldn’t believe I just did that. I spent all afternoon in the library with Will after Chris had told me to stay away from him. I couldn’t though. It didn’t startle me to see him when I turned around, if anything I felt relief, safe even. Something about Will put me at ease and I was still unsure if I liked it or not. 
    The sun had begun to set before I received a call from Chris saying he was on his way to get me. He kept apologizing over and over for leaving me for so long. I was still in the library with Will and didn’t notice how much time had passed. He excused himself after he heard me on the phone. 
    “Is your boyfriend on his way to get you?” His question had come out of nowhere and left me silent for a moment.
    “Yeah. I mean, no, he’s not my boyfriend, I don’t think. He hasn’t actually asked me yet.” 
    All I received in response was a smile and him saying he should be on his way before ‘the boyfriend’ got there. I couldn’t help but giggle at what he called Chris. His sly grin as he walked away made my heart flutter and skip a beat. 
    I was currently snuggled in the comfy reading nook by my window, the sky dark and only slivers of light shining through from the moon. I couldn’t stay concentrated on the book I had in my hands. My eyes kept wandering to the edge of the woods, watching. 
    There was a flash of movement in the corner of my eye, a little ways down the woods. My eyes darted to where I thought the movement had happened and there they were. A pair of glowing green eyes. The moon light reflecting off of them, they had to belong to a wolf. I was drawn in, standing up and pushing my hands against the cold glass. It stepped closer, almost asking me to come down. 
    I jumped as a ringtone flooded my room, breaking my trance. It took me a moment to realize it was my phone ringing on my nightstand. I reached down and looked at the caller ID, it was mom. 
    I let out a breath as I swiped to answer, "Hey mom!"
    "Hey baby!" Her voice sounded strained on the other end. "I was just checking in, haven't heard from you in a while."
    "I'm doing okay, I've just been busy with school and stuff." There was no way I was gonna tell her about the wolf attack, she would drag me back home without a second thought.
    "Too busy for your mom? I doubt that." I heard a soft chuckle come through the speaker. 
    "Sorry mom, I’ll make sure to save time for you."
    "Good, and as happy as I am that you're focusing on school, I'm gonna need to know what the 'and stuff' is." Her tone left no room for discussion. 
    Sometimes I forget how much I miss my mom. "Well, Chris and I are finally something. Not sure what though."
    "Don't tell me that boy isn't treating you right."
    "He's actually treating me great, mom. He's sweet and considerate, it's just…." My voice trailed off, it's just what? 
    "It's just what baby." It was a statement, almost like she knew what I was gonna say.
    "Well we haven't actually labeled what we are. I don't know if I should call him my boyfriend or what. We're supposed to go on a date so that would be considered dating, right?" I chewed on my thumb a little, worried about what she would say.
    "Why don't you just ask him, and I think you need to go on more than one date for it to be considered dating. I'm not up to date on how you young people do it these days."
    "Well apparently neither am I." I laid back across my bed and closed my eyes, imagining I was back home having this conversation face to face.
    "What else is up babe." I heard the TV in the background for a second before the click of a door closing. "Don't worry, I'm not around your father anymore."
    I could see her in my mind, standing on the porch staring out into the dark yard surrounded by woods. The longer I listened to the background noises and envisioned them, the more I missed home. I finally mutter out, "I'm worried that I'm gonna mess up our friendship."
    "Is the sex that bad?"
    "Mom!" I jerk up in bed and open my eyes wide. Her comment came out of left field. 
    "Are you having second thoughts because of it? You know that can always be remedied. Practice makes perfect."
    I was thoroughly dumbstruck. I can't believe my own mother just asked if I enjoyed having sex. "Mom, I wouldn't know if it was good or not. You know I'm saving myself." 
    "Good. That's the response I wanted to hear." She had just tested me. Seeing if I was sleeping around. "Now tell me the real reason you're worried."
    I laid back down on my bed, relieved that we didn't have to revisit  that conversation.  "There's this guy. He literally came out of nowhere and now I can't seem to stop running into him, but….. I don't know why, but he's so easy to be around and I can't stop thinking about him." 
    "Who is he?"
   "His name is Will. Other than that all I know is that he knows how to get the best coffee around and loves books just as much as I do"
    I heard her shuffling on the other line as she sat on the creaky porch swing back home. "Sounds like he's right up your alley. I always pictured you with the quiet studious type more than a frat boy."
    "Chris isn't a frat boy." He was, but I couldn't let her know that now. 
    "Hmm, the way you always described him made him seem that way." The porch swing squeaked back and forth. "If this Will guy is easier to be around than Chris then it sounds to me like you're with the wrong person."
    "I don't know him though. What if he ends up being some sort of serial killer? I know Chris and even though we don't always agree on things,  he's been nothing but good to me."
    "You know your grandmother didn't know your grandfather but for a few weeks before they got married. They were so in love too." Her voice softened at the mention of her dad. 
    They really were a true love story. Met, love at first sight, had my mom and uncle. When my grandma passed away my grandpa followed only a few weeks later, doctors say it was because of depression. My mom says it's because he couldn't live without my grandma. I would like to believe that was the case. 
    "I don't think I'm in love, mom. That’s for fairytales. And grandpa."
    "Well all I'm trying to say is one day, you may wake up and regret having strung Chris along only to want to be in a relationship with Will. You're young sweety, don't let labels hold you back."
    "But what if it's the wrong decision? What if I realize I should have never let Chris go?" I was having a hard time believing that my level-headed mother was advising me to go 'have fun' so to speak. 
    "Can I tell you a story?"
    "I guess…"
    "I worked a part time job between highschool and college, there was a guy who was visiting family and we hit it off. He was so easy to be with and talk to, I had dated your father for over a year at this point, though and I couldn't bring myself to end things." She let out a shaky breath. "Don't get me wrong, I love your father and always have, but there was just something there with this other guy. A spark maybe, I don't know how to explain it, but when it was time for him to leave he told me he wanted me to come with him." She paused just taking quiet breaths on the other side.
    "Mom?"
    "I wanted to go, Michelle. There are some days that I wonder what would have happened if I did, but I didn't and here we are. So what I am trying to say is, yes, you can have a wonderful future with Chris like I do with your father, but you'll always be left wondering 'what if'. I still think of him to this day from time to time and I don't want that for you."
    "But mom-"
    "Don’t but mom me. You wanted my advice and I gave it. If you're worried that Chris won't take you back if you leave him then that's just further proof that you want to see things through with this Will guy. If Chris truly cares for you then y'all will work it out when the time comes."
    "So pretty much you're telling me to go for it."
    "No, all I'm saying is I don't want you to have regrets."
    I let out a long breath and rubbed my free hand up and down my face. If anything this conversation with mom made things more confusing. 
    "Tell me about him. I've heard you talk about Chris, but what does the other guy look like."
    "Oh he's so hot mom." My face turned red as the words just left my mouth.
Mom's laughter rang out on the other end of the line, "Well that's nice to hear. What you're telling me is he can give me cute grandbabies."
    "Oh my gosh mom." I couldn't help but laugh with her. "He has dark brown hair, almost black, his eyes are the most beautiful shade of green and he’s fit."
    "Oh so he's ripped huh?" 
    "No, he's just well toned, kinda like that summer help Uncle had at the farm a few years back. Lean but muscular in a good way. He's tall too, probably over six foot."
    "You always have liked them tall and fit." I heard the door on her side open and close. My dad's voice muffled in the background. "We're just talking about boys." She must have been answering his question. "Your father says hi, he loves you, and you're not dating until you're 30."
    "Tell him I love him too."
    "I will. I'm gonna go ahead and get off here, it's my bedtime. Love you dear."
    "Love you too mom." The line clicked as she hung up leaving me laying on the bed in the quiet darkness of my room. I had a lot to think about.