Kale-

I storm out of my dad’s office. Lucca is standing right outside waiting for me, and when I walk past him he silently follows me until we end up outside the pack house.

“What’s the plan, man?” he asks when he catches up to me, walking backwards with his hands in his pockets.

I keep walking silently, my anger slowly growing with each step as we pass tree after tree, finely manicured shrub after shrub, all positioned along the driveway neatly in an alternating row; a testament to man’s attempt to control nature. Hilarious, since we’re werewolves; the ones more in tune with nature than simple humans.

“I need a good run, Jesus fuck.” I grumble as I quicken my pace while fighting the anger that’s rising in me, and from my wolf. He growls and hunches lower with each step.

“Mind if I tag along?”

“God yes, I need something to chase.”

Lucca snorts, knowing full well that I couldn’t keep up with him even if my life depended on it. He quickly shifts and takes off like a blinding mocha colored bullet; his fur flattened back from his speed.

“Hey! That wasn’t fair you goddamn- !“ I don’t even finish the sentence, well, I can’t, since I shift in the middle of it.

He lets out a playful bark from a few hundred feet ahead of me.

I catch up to him and tackle him to the ground. Pine needles become kicked up in a cloud from our landing and with a shared growl, we both shift back. Pushing myself up from above him I glare down when I say, “You let me win, you bastard.”

He only smirks up at me and raises his hands in a sign of defeat. “Nah man, you got me this time. Must have been pissed enough.”

“I’m about to be pissed if you’re lying.”

“Nah. You won for sure.” He says as his smirk grows wider.

He’s fucking lying.

“You mind getting off me? You’re making me hard, dude.”

I push off and stand up with an scoff knowing full well that he’s just fucking with me, then rub my hands down my face. “I can’t believe this. He’s forcing us to go.”

“Forcing you to go.” he says while slowly standing back up, then mumbles to himself, “God that was a good run.”

“And by extension, you too.” I tell him.

“Got me.” He says, taking a step back while raising his hands defensively again with a chuckle. “Kale my man, it probably won’t be as bad as you think. Maybe you’ll have fun? Who knows?”

“...maybe.”

“Okay so…Should we head back? Feeling better?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

I don’t even shift back to my wolf when I start to head back home. Instead I walk through the forest and take in the cool evening air. It, and the chirping of insects, the rustle of leaves in the trees above from the soft breeze, the random call of a bird that I don’t know the name to; all helps to clear my head somewhat.

Lucca’s right. It might not be as bad as I’m making it out to be. For all I know I’ll meet someone. Maybe by some small chance I’ll see my mate that night, from some other pack that’ll be there. I don’t know.