457- The Growl She Couldn't Take Back
POV Thalyndra Moonclaw:
Anton was at Edric and Lunara’s house first thing in the morning, just as he had promised.
There was a road leading toward the city. He drove a pickup truck along it while absentmindedly humming a song that played on the radio.
I tried to focus, to calculate how far we were from civilization, to memorize anything that might help me in the future, but I couldn’t. Without meaning to, I found myself distracted by how handsome he was. Anton wore a red plaid shirt, black pants, and brown leather boots. His hair was tousled, and his grown beard gleamed in the sunlight.
I was an idiot. Completely and utterly.
We didn’t exchange a single word during the drive, and I wasted one of the few opportunities I would have had to get my bearings. All because of a handsome face.
I still didn’t know whether it was his scent, the coexistence with other wolves that I had never experienced before, whether I was going into heat, or whether I was simply a shamelessly attracted she-wolf. I still didn’t have an answer to the question that haunted me every single day.
The pain of losing my parents was still a constant visitor during the nights, when I was usually even more alone. None of the tears I shed were enough to make it go away.
It wasn’t easy getting used to this new life. Eldoria was a wonderful place. Aurelka and Lana were incredible friends. Edric, Lunara, Vladren, Celindra, Lyris, and Nicoleta were gracious hosts. And Myrion was funny and entertaining.
But they weren’t my family.
Sometimes, it felt strange being surrounded by so many people who knew the truth about me, who interacted with me. They talked too much, made too much noise. It wasn’t bad, but it was odd.
My mother usually stayed focused on her own tasks, just like my father most days. Keeping him company meant sitting in silence reading a book while he lost himself in his studies. It was so... quiet.
Anton parked the truck on a busy little street, turned off the engine, and looked at me.
“I’m not sure what you want to do first, but there are clothing stores, a small bookstore, a bakery, and a pharmacy on this street. I think you’ll find everything you’re looking for.”
I nodded and got out of the truck.
It felt unusual being around so many humans after spending days living only among werewolves. I watched them, analyzing the way they behaved. They seemed to move far too slowly and always appeared distracted, focusing on nothing except whatever happened to interest them at the moment.
I walked beside Anton toward a women’s clothing store I had found on Google before deciding I was coming to the city the day before.
We strolled side by side, trying to match the slow pace of the people around us.
“I thought you came to the city on foot,” I commented, making conversation.
Anton shoved his hands into his pockets and walked with his head held high. The looks he received were impossible to miss. Women and men of all ages stared at him with desire and admiration. Yet he didn’t seem to notice—or, if he did, he didn’t care.
“Most of the time,” he answered simply.
“Then why did we come by car?”
He finally glanced at me.
“First, because I didn’t think you’d want to walk for miles, and you don’t seem very inclined to shift, considering you haven’t done it once since arriving in Eldoria.” I opened my mouth to respond, but he raised a finger, silencing me. “But mainly because I have no idea how much you intend to buy, and I’m not interested in carrying shopping bags all the way home and creating unnecessary work for myself.”
“I didn’t even know you had cars,” I commented, looking ahead and ignoring him.
“We do. How do you think we bring supplies into the village? Do you think we carry everything on our backs?” he mocked.
I rolled my eyes.
“Oh, forgive me for not knowing how people survive while living in the middle of nowhere.”
A loud laugh escaped him.
“You really don’t understand, and because of that, you’ve missed all the fun. You don’t understand your wolf, you don’t know how to hunt, you’ve never tasted fresh meat, and you seem to reject your wolf side.”
I looked at him, frowning.
“I don’t reject any side of myself!” I shot back. “It’s just... not something I needed to use.”
I could smell scents, notice details more precisely, use my strength and speed when training with my father. I relied on the senses that were necessary.
A strangled laugh made his shoulders shake.
“You’ll learn to use every one of them eventually. Don’t worry.”
I didn’t answer. I knew he was just trying to provoke me.
He was right, though. As a wolf, I was completely useless. But... that wasn’t all I was. I knew a great deal about our history, far more than most wolves, and I could take down a strong male of our species—as long as he wasn’t one of the gifted wolves of the new generation.
I had my flaws, but I also had my strengths, and that was enough to satisfy me, even though I knew I could improve.
I shoved Anton aside and marched into the store. He made a sound of indignation at my lack of manners but said nothing.
I didn’t even know why I picked so many fights with him, aside from the obvious fact that he had kidnapped me and imprisoned me in his pack.
A girl who looked about my age came to help me. She looked me up and down, trying to figure out my size before directing me to the appropriate racks.
I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to buy. They often held celebrations in Eldoria, and I had noticed that women usually wore dresses to those events. There was also Anca’s bar, which Lana and Aurelka loved visiting. I needed outfits for going out, comfortable clothes for everyday wear, and others for training.
I missed the intense training routine I used to have with my father, and if I didn’t get back to it soon, I would become rusty. He always used to tell me that practice was what led to perfection. I could train alone, as long as I trained.