She had emerged from around the nearest corner, ready to strike, but stopped herself as soon as she recognized her nephew. Darren ?! She exclaimed, dropping the bat with a glare. Do you know how close you came to getting your block knocked off ?!
Darren gestured to the small distance between the two of them. About this close ?
She promptly smacked him upside the head, but not too hard. Ow. He mildly muttered, knowing he completely deserved that since he hadn’t considered the consequences of bursting in so early in the morning.
Jasper snickered behind Darren. Hello Mrs. Dodson.
Oh Jasper ! She blushed and held the robe closer to herself. I’m not quite decent, so uh…
That’s okay. The Alpha replied, amused. I would have knocked, but someone seemed to think bursting in unannounced was a better idea.
She’s family ! Darren exclaimed.
Sophie shot the rogue a look, then sighed. Anyways, what can I help you with ?
The pictures. Darren replied. The ones you have of the missing kids. Can I see them ?
Sure, but why ? She wondered as she made her way towards the bookshelf. Doesn’t Jasper have a better collection ?
Nope.
Yes.
The Alpha and rogue stared awkwardly at each other before falling silent. Sophie noticed the strange tension but didn’t say anything as she handed the cut outs to Darren. I’m just gonna… She gestured to her robe, then towards her room. Both men nodded in understanding and let the woman leave without question.
Once she was gone, Darren started filing through the images, which mostly comprised of cut outs from the local news stand. Jasper stared after Sophie for a while before speaking. Why was she still in her night gown ?
What time is it ?
The Alpha quickly checked his phone. Almost ten.
That’s why.
Somehow, that answer did not suffice and he glanced back at Darren, confused. However the rogue was too busy sorting through the pictures. Eventually he took pity and explained with an eye roll. Because normal people sleep in till at least eleven if they don’t have work.
The look of disbelief on Jasper’s face made it appear that the Alpha couldn’t imagine a full grown adult sleeping in till noon. This made Darren briefly wonder what kind of strict schedule Liam had this guy on for him to be so ignorant, but the rogue had to focus on more important matters, so he continued examining the images. Once he was done, he sorted again, and then a third time.
What is it ? Jasper asked.
Darren looked up. She’s not in any of these.
Are you sure ?
Yeah. He walked over towards the couch to sit. This doesn’t make any sense. She looked so…Alive ! I’ve never encountered a ghost like her before, but she’s not one of the missing kids. He thought about it a little harder. Have any other kids gone missing ?
Jasper shook his head.
Another idea occurred to him and the rogue sat up straighter. What if she was an old ghost ?
A what ?
An old ghost. One who died a long time ago and the person they wanted to haunt is gone ? That would explain why she was alone. Popping out of the chair, Darren began heading towards the front door. Take me back to town.
What ? Jasper hurried to follow just as Sophie returned wearing jeans and a T-Shirt.
Where are you going ? She asked, bewildered by their sudden departure.
Jasper smiled politely at her. Back to town, I guess ? Sorry for the intrusion, and thanks for your help !
She watched the two intruders leave just as quickly as they arrived, then sighed as she returned to her bedroom.
Wait ! Why do you want to go to town so suddenly ? Jasper asked.
I need to see if there are any other ghosts.
But haven’t you already tried that ?
Darren nodded. Yeah, but that was before I actually agreed to work with you. I think they might be starting to appear more since I have your…Er…Support, I guess ? Jasper tilted his head, and Darren growled. It was YOUR idea ! Remember ?
Unable to deny this, Jasper agreed and they returned to the heart of Parkwood. Along the way, Darren couldn’t help but feel a little excited.
He had encountered many spirits as a kid and while he had helped most cross over, there were a few that chose not to move on. This meant that there was a good chance they were still in town, haunting some building or random person. It would definitely be nostalgic see the Bus Stop Ghost again, or the Flower Stall Lady, or even the Baseball Ghost, which was a kid who always hung out around the baseball field because he decided to haunt the entire school baseball team just so he could watch them play.
Despite the harassment he had endured, Darren had to admit that his childhood hadn’t been all bad. He had always enjoyed the sense of accomplishment whenever he helped a spirit cross to the other side, or when another pack member thanked him for something a ghost had asked him to do. It was like a warm, welcoming feeling that bloomed in his chest and spread until he felt like he was walking on air. Those moments of pride and happiness made him want to keep helping others, despite how much the pack had let him suffer.
Hey, what are you doing ? Jasper asked, snapping Darren out of his nostalgic thoughts.
What ?
You smell like…Uh… The Alpha tried to keep his eyes on the road, but they kept flitting towards Darren’s direction as a blush spread across his face.
It took the rogue a moment to realize he had started giving off pheromones again. Embarrassed, he turned away and cursed to himself. Why was his body suddenly acting up ? Was it because he let himself get comfortable ?
The most likely cause was the fact that he was right next to Jasper, and the whole car was filled with the man’s scent, plus he wasn’t currently annoyed with the Alpha, which was his go-to emotion to keep his heat in check…Oh…Oh no.
Darren started blushing profusely when he realized he had let his guard down. Their close proximity was causing his body to react, and he had to think of something to distract himself fast.
Quickly he ripped open the door of the Nissan, causing the Alpha to slam on the breaks and slow down just enough for Darren to jump out.
Running up the nearby hill, Darren paused when he spotted two ghosts not too far away. One was a lady wearing a bonnet, and the other was a gentleman in a button up shirt. The two were speaking to each other casually as an old woman sat on a nearby bench, a newspaper in hand with her glasses perched right on the bridge of her nose.
Judging by their dated attire, Darren had a feeling that the ghosts were most likely the old woman’s parents.
What the hell was that ?! Jasper panted as he finally caught up. Do you know how dangerous that was ?!
Darren’s focus was ripped off the newly discovered spirits when he was blasted by Jasper’s scent. His body began to heat back up, and he realized quickly that he was going into heat at the worst possible time.
Shaking his head, Darren pretended to be angry as he stormed to the top of the hill, trying to keep his distance from the Alpha.
Remember, he’s the arrogant asshole who harassed you out of the pack, Darren thought to himself in a desperate attempt to reignite his petty anger. Unfortunately it didn’t seem to be working.