I love fall. The way the leaves turn vibrant shades of red gold orange and brown, falling gracefully to the frost covered ground. The early morning chill just before the sun comes up when you can see your breath in the stillness. The way the air seems to be charged with possibility and wonder. The way everything warms up just enough during the day. The way everything fades into twilight that seems to stretch on forever. The almost hazy nervousness that lingers though you don't know why. The nearly empty highschool at four in the morning. The way I get to exist for for a few hours without judgement or hatred. I love fall.
The early morning cold seeping through my black jacket to caress my skin as if to reassure me that everything is going to be okay. It's gentle and soothing, nothing like the biting cold of the winter that sends shards of ice through my veins no matter how many layers I put on. All the bright lights and vivid colors that seem to blind everyone to the obscene amount of money that's thrown away for selfish desire. The loud music that seems to drown out the cries of the broken and alone. The way my stepdad accused me of not trying to be part of the family while reminding that my efforts mean nothing. The way my mom always says I don't want her to be happy. How I try to hide from my step siblings and still get blamed for anything that goes wrong. The feeling of being trapped with no escape. Screaming without making a single sound. I hate winter and the forced smiles that go with it.
Summer is a different hell but a hell nonetheless. I visit with my dad in Wyoming. It's hot and dry during the day and so cold at night. My step brother tries to include me in activities with his friends but I'm unable to keep up. My dad tried to spend time with me but was relatively busy. It didn't matter though. At least I could breathe. At least I wasn't forced to pretend to want to be there.
The only bright point was Dante Grimheart, one of Derik's friends. When I couldn't keep up he didn't get annoyed with me like the others. Instead he slowed his pace to walk beside me and we would talk as we strolled along the forest paths. We'd sit and laugh as I picked herds in clearings and meadows. It wouldn't take long for Derik to find us chatting on the path.
Everything is about to change though. It was my eighteenth birthday and I had been planning with my dad for months. As usual my mom didn't even acknowledge my birthday but that suited me just fine. I was busy packing up the truck my dad had bought me for my sixteenth birthday when my bitchy stepsister came out holding the keys.
"Dad says you have two hours to pack your shit and leave." She said as she tossed the keys onto the floor board with a smug look.
"He's a little slow on the uptake isn't he." I said and finished securing the tarp over the bed of my truck. "Well. Can I give you some advice before I leave... Nobody wants to be around a bitch so adjust your attitude or you'll die alone." With that I grabbed the keys from the floor board and got in the truck. I didn't even look back as I pulled out of the driveway and was gone.
I had been driving for a few hours when I pulled into the rest stop and Dante opened my door for me with a huge grin. "Hey! How was the drive?" He asked as he pulled me into a tight hug. "Ouh..... You smell good....." He added as he lifted me out of the driver's seat.
"Dante.... I have to pee...." I giggled as I tried to free myself.
"So pee... I won't tell anybody....." He said and started to leave open mouth kisses on my neck. Suddenly he was pulled off me with an animalistic snarl.
"Let her pee Dante!" I heard Derik growl as I sprinted for the girls bathroom.
DANTE POV
I hadn't seen Raven in since mid August. As her truck pulled into the rest stop I got out of my truck and walked across the parking lot to greet her. My wolf was howling excitedly in my head. I pulled open the driver's side door and pulled Raven into a tight hug as I greeted her.
"Hey! How was the drive?" I inhaled and her scent caught me off guard. It was just the same as it had always been but it was different some how. Stronger... More intoxicating. "Ouh.... You smell good...." I said as I lifted her out of the truck. I could feel my fangs extending and I wanted to sink them into her marking spot.
"Dante..... I have to pee....." She giggled.
"So pee..... I won't tell anybody...." I said only half joking as I began to leave open mouth kisses on her neck. The thought of her urinating was almost too arousing to resist. Suddenly I felt strong hands grab me and pull me back. I let out an animalistic snarl of anger as Derik stepped between us.
"Let her pee Dante!" He said firmly as Raven sprinted for the girls restroom. He rounded on me the second she was out of hearing distance. "The fuck is wrong with you getting all over her like that!" He half snarled.
"I..... What is wrong with me.... I almost marked her... What the fuck is going on....." Havoc was roaring profanities in my head as he paced like a caged beast. 'We had her! We had her and he fucked it up!' he screamed. "D... Derik... I need you to take my truck and head home... Havoc is pissed..."
He looked to where Raven was strolling across the parking lot toward us then back at me before taking my keys and driving off in my truck.