SWNOVELS Chapter 5 Teary Reunion
“Are you insane, Davy? That’s a monster wolf!” Melissa was hysterical. I sent Cordelia a mental message to stay out of sight. I whined at my mother’s harsh words, even though she was correct, they still hurt. ’Don’t do it Reese, not yet!’ Cordelia cautioned me mentally. I barked and my parents leapt back. My body convulsed and burned as I summoned my human form. My wolf body shrank painfully and broke as the girl uncurled from the fetal position. Davy tugged his shirt free from his shoulders and wrapped it around my shoulders. “I knew it! It knew it was Reese!” He announced gleefully. My mother stood there in a stunned silence. She couldn’t wrap her head around what just happened.
“Come inside Baby,” Davy directed. “You’ll catch a cold out here.” He put one arm around me and one arm around my mother. He gently guided us into the house. He motioned for us to sit at the table, mother and I sat while he finished dinner preparations. Davy brought three large plates of food and placed them in front of us. He said a quick prayer of thanks and we dug in. Melissa just sat there. “Eat before your dinner gets cold, Melissa,” Davey instructed. “You’ll be happy to know that I don’t actually make adult films.” I casually mentioned. “I just panicked and it was the first thing out of my mouth.” Melissa sighed with relief; she began to show signs of life. “Reese, you seemed a lot bigger than I remember,” Davy questioned me in between mouthfuls, “Your wolf I mean. Is that the right way to say it?” I blushed slightly.
“Yes, I call it my inner wolf, Casey calls it “being extra fuzzy”. Oh uh Casey is one of my pack…er friends. And yes,” I continued before they could ask about Casey. “I am a bit bigger than I used to be. It’s confusing, I know.” They asked about how I was and where I had been. I told them I was off in college a few days’ drive away. It was technically true because I was still enrolled in classes for this semester but I had no intention to return. Quinn and her health was my highest priority. Melissa asked if I had met any cute boys, I told her that I hadn’t. I figured I let them get used to the werewolf bombshell before I dropped the lesbian bombshell on them. It was kinda nice to have a conversation and meal with them. A part of me wondered how long this peace would last.
We had a surprisingly good chat and enjoyed each other’s company. Melissa revived herself and joined the conversation. I got the impression that Davy had done the most personal growth although Melissa had definitely made some good progress. All too soon, it was time to go. I waved goodbye and strolled off into the woods. I let Davys shirt slip off my slender form. I knelt on the ground and forced myself to change into my wolf. I closed my jaws gently around Davys shirt and carried it to the porch. I let out a soft bark to draw his attention. I took off into the night and ran here and there.I let the wolf get its energy out. About an hour later, I found myself near my hotel. Cordelia dropped my backpack as I twisted back into a human. I dressed and returned to my room. Cordelia flew off into the night to entertain herself.
I collapsed on the bed; sleep took me quickly. Luckily enough I had a peaceful night without nightmares. I woke up to the sound of my phone’s ringtone. Phoenix called to check in. I told her about the occult shop and how easily I found most of the ingredients. She warned me that none of this was easy. She had a valid point. If things were progressing this well, the bottom was about to fall out. My luck was never this good for this long. Quinn was strong enough to talk on the phone for a few minutes. It made me incredibly happy to hear her voice. I missed her something awful. She told me she was going to take a nap. Quinn returned the phone to Phoenix. We spoke for a few minutes before my phone vibrated in my hand. I checked it real quick and saw Dylan’s name flash on the screen.
I ignored Dylan’s call and finished my conversation with Phoenix. I was happy to hear everybody was amicable. Drew and Kai grew closer, Robin continued to push and nudge them. It was adorable. Robin had returned to her wolf form as she was most comfortable as a wolf. I didn’t blame her, I saw the positive reasons for life as a wolf. Phoenix told me about how her garden grew larger and larger. I heard the joy and excitement in her voice. I was glad she began to be happy again. She had a very difficult several weeks. We all had rough weeks together with the hunter problem, but she experienced the worst of it. The man she loved had betrayed her and had died as a result of his betrayal. I wished I could be there to support her.
River taught Ellis how to cook. It was well past time that kid learned some life skills. Casey, Max and Ash were in competition to see who was the strongest. The victor varied each week, but I bet I was stronger than them all; being alpha had some pretty awesome perks. Phoenix made sure everybody got enough exercise as wolves. We didn’t need another of my rampages. She came into her own as a leader. I was proud of her and made sure to tell her so. The smile in her voice warmed my heart. My stomach growled loudly, Phoenix giggled. She let me go find some food. I sent Dylan a text to see what he wanted. His response mentioned his desire to chat and catch up. My second message stated I’d call him after breakfast.
I found a little mom and pop breakfast restaurant that had sprouted up in my absence. Their food was delightful, I never had more delicious biscuits and gravy. I called Dylan back on my return walk to the hotel. He told me that he had been sent to the hospital here in town after I scuffed him. I decided it would be easier and better to go visit him in the hospital instead of over the phone. I changed direction and hiked to the hospital. I stopped in the gift shop and bought Dylan a small clutch of flowers and a small wolf plush. Dylan grinned sarcastically when he saw the wolf plush. “For protection,” I giggled. He rolled his eyes and smiled. I told him what happened between Chance, the leader of the hunters, and me. He listened intently to the story of the rogue hunters, how they poisoned Quinn and Chance’s response. I didn’t mention the gargoyles, he didn’t need to know about them just yet. I told him I was on a quest for the cure and I found some ingredients here at the occult shop.
That led into the story of how I bumped into my parents and that whole adventure. He howled with laughter at the joke I told Melissa in the coffee shop. “You actually said that? And she believed you?” I nodded, “It made for an interesting conversation at dinner.” I filled him in on how they responded to my shift out of my wolf and Davy insisted that I stay for dinner. Dylan was just as surprised as I was at Davy’s behavior change. “He used to be a dismissive absentee,” he commented. I nodded in agreement. Now that Dylan was all caught up, he told me of being sent to the hospital and being so unbelievably bored. He had physical therapy twice a week. The docs planned to kick him out at the end of the week. He didn’t know where to go.
He told me how he had lived with his girlfriend, but she dumped him. He apparently wasn’t man enough so she found a ‘real man’ and left his stuff on the curb. She didn’t care the next day was trash collection day; Dylan was homeless and didn’t have anything but the clothes on his back. My heart broke for him. He had been instrumental in my navigation out of the whole hunter situation. I wanted to call my pack and ask to let him mend his broken leg and collect himself on the basement couch. I didn’t see a problem with it but my pack would appreciate it if I involved them first.