A sigh fell from my lips as I poured myself some coffee. “I’m going to put this out there and say she’s not coming back?”.
He shrugged. “It will be really shitty on her part if she doesn’t come back and I’m sure Jake won’t be happy”.
“I still think there should be more than two people out here all night. It doesn’t sit well with me”. I spoke.
“It’s safe”. He grinned. “There’s no need for there to be more people. We’re only making sure the outsiders stay out and the territory stays secure”.
“Right”. I nodded a yawn escaping my mouth. I was tired, soaked to the bone and ready for my bed.
“Tired?”. He asked.
“Shattered”.
A laugh fell from his lips. “It takes a while to get used to and the first one is always the killer”.
“I don’t know how you do it every night. I’m already thinking about a hot shower and my bed”.
“I don’t really have a choice, and I don’t want to say anything because I don’t want Jake or his dad to think I’m ungrateful”.
“They wouldn’t think that”. I frowned. “Your part of this pack just like everyone else and if you don’t say anything then how are they supposed to know you need a change?”.
“So, I should say something and hopefully Alanna gets my shifts”. He smirked.
A laugh fell from my lips. “If she doesn’t come back tonight then I’m almost certain she’ll be the one taking your place. Has she done this before?”.
“I’m not a grass sweetheart whatever she does or doesn’t do out here has got nothing to do with me. I do my bit and that’s it but when it’s Alanna we barely cross paths”.
“So, she has?”.
“I never said that”.
“You didn’t need to but don’t worry I’m not going to say anything. She’ll land herself in it just like always”.
“You being out here going to become a regular thing?”. He asked.
I shrugged. “Do you ever feel like you don’t belong sometimes?”.
“I’m the outsider Leah so what do you think?”.
“I’m the outsider too remember. I wasn’t born into this pack heck I didn’t even know I was a werewolf. I was brought here on false pretences and my life changed forever”.
“Do you miss your old life?”.
“I used to but when I really think about it there wasn’t much to miss. Everything I had back home I have here. It took a little time for me to adjust and even now I still feel like I don’t belong sometimes”.
“Your dad’s got the werewolf gene right?”.
I nodded.
“You ever hear from him?”. He asked.
“Sometimes”. I didn’t want to go down that path. I hadn’t heard from him in weeks, and I wasn’t sure I was going to again. But I wasn’t worried it’s not like I was used to having him around.
In my mind I was back to having no parents and I was okay with that. I made peace with it a long time ago. Jake and his family didn’t replace mine because truth was, I didn’t have any.
“How about we finish up here, we’ll do one more sweep and call it a night?”.
It wasn’t 6 but I was more than ready to go home and go to bed. It had been a long-wet night, and I was ready for it to be over.
“Sure”. I packed away all my things before we took off into the forest.
….
The house was in darkness when I got home but I expected as much. I quietly closed the door behind me making sure to lock it. I wanted to shower badly but I was so tired.
I kicked off my shoes and took off my wet clothes before making my way upstairs. I could already hear the light snores coming from our bedroom. I honestly thought I’d see him tonight. Thought he’d make some excuse to come out and see how I was getting on.
But he didn’t.