LII. I Smell Human

Raine’s POV:

Finally, after three days, I saw Sonny.

“You look happy,” he said.

My body shakes eagerly, “My friends are coming today!” I couldn’t hold in the eagerness and jump around the living room. “They’re coming! They’re coming to pick me up!”

Sonny sat down, “It’s nice to know you had a nice time here.”

I grinned widely before I twirled towards the seat beside him. “I had an amazing time here.” Even though I met him only a handful of times the past three days, I grew to like Sonny.

He brought me two new pairs of clothes. Granted. He did say I stink, and everyone desperately needs me to wear washed clothes.

Well, he didn’t say that. He left a note on top of a bag outside my bedroom.

I also found out he’s been telling everyone to share their food with me.

Everyone here may not talk much, but they’re not too bad to be around.

Sonny chuckles, “I heard you did some chores around here. You know you didn’t have to do it.”

I shrugged, “I don’t feel comfortable staying here for free.”

“Oh. Just in case I miss your departure.” Sonny reached for the inside of his jacket and pulled out a card. “Here.”

I took the card from him and opened it. Inside the smiley face card, there was a bunch of random writing and signatures. My eyes narrowed, and I turned the card in circles until it made sense.

“It’s everyone’s names. Well, not everyone, but don’t bother trying to read it. Some of them can’t write.”

I press the card against my chest, “How sweet.” Even though we barely talked to each other, it’s a nice gesture. “What’s this big paint like mark?”

“Like I say, some of them can’t write. They don’t have hands.”

“Oh. So-”

“They splashed on paint with their feet or something.”

“Oh.”

“Still sweet?”

I shrugged, “Nice gesture.” I look at the card again. “Where is your name?”

“In the upper left-hand corner.”

My eyes narrow, and I lean in closer until I see a small cursive. “That’s very small.”

“Yeah. I got the card last since I’m in charge of giving it to you.”

I press the card into my chest again. “Thank you, Sonny.”

Sonny chuckles, “You’re pretty talkative compared to when we first met.”

A young man entered the living room and marched towards Sonny. He leans down and whispers into his ear.

“She’s here?”

The young man nods.

“Out front?”

He nods again.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Nothing. Mind being in your room for an hour or so? I need to go take care of someone.”

“Well, sure.” I rub my arm, “It’s just my friends are coming here soon. So-”

“Oh shit,” he mumbled underneath his breath. “Just go to your room, and I’ll figure it out.” Sonny doesn’t sound like he’s in the mood to discuss alternative options.

“Alright.” I stood up and made my way towards the room. The young man followed me, and the moment I stepped inside, he closed the door.

When the footsteps disappear, I walk backward until I reach the window. Cautiously, I lift it - not too much but enough where I could see what’s outside.

Sonny walks towards the car with a group of people - some were familiar. Others? Not so much. They stop in front of the car and divided into two lines. Sonny stood in the middle near the car.

The car door opened, and a small girl stepped out. Then, a young boy. Lastly, a young woman. The young boy rushed towards her and hugged her arm.

Everyone bows their heads.

“Woah,” I whispered.

Sonny walks towards her and bows his head slightly before they talk.

I couldn’t hear the words, but I concluded that the young woman is important.

Her eyes met mine.

Immediately, my body dropped to the ground.

“Shit,” I grumbled.

I crawled away from the window and towards the bed. Once I reached the bed, I hid underneath the sheets.

This is what happens when you get too curious.

The bedroom door opens.

“Aiden.” That’s Sonny’s voice.

I can hear someone sniff the air. Without a chance to escape, the blanket was torn off my body. The young boy from earlier kneels in front of me.

“Who’s she?” The young girl asked.

“Abby.”

Abby pointed at me, “Who’s she?”

Sonny exhaled, “Look. She’s lost. So, I took her in for a few days. She’s harmless. Her friends are picking her up today.”

“You know we aren’t supposed to take in outsiders.”

“She’s not dangerous.”

“She’s not.” Abby slipped out a small knife from her long sleeves. “But, we are.”

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

The little girl got a knife.

She inched closer to me. Without a thought, I rush towards the window. This is the second floor, so I have a good chance of survival. I may break a bone or two, but I’m willing to take the chances.

From what I learned this past year. Everyone in this world is dangerous - even the children.

When I tried to escape, Aiden held me back. I clawed my way towards the window, but he grabbed me by the ankle.

For a small boy, he’s freakishly strong.

I turned around, and the messy hair scattered all over my face.

Aiden’s eyes turn red.

Not a normal boy.

Sharp teeth.

Not a normal boy!

I tried to kick him with my free leg, but he caught it. He dragged me back into the bed.

I closed my eyes, “Transport. Transport. Transport!” I mumbled to myself. This is a desperate situation, so my inner power may surface.

My dead dad better not be lying.

“Stop!” Sonny shouted. When I didn’t feel anything piercing my body, I opened my eyes.

Abby had a knife near my neck.

The sweat dripped off my forehead and landed on the knife.

“I lied,” Sonny said. “She is one of us.”

Huh?

Aiden shoved his nose into my hair, “You lie!”

“No,” Sonny said. “I mean, smell me. I smell like a human, don’t I?”

“You smell weird,” Aiden said.

“Smell her some more.” That’s a sentence I never thought I’d hear. “Like really smell her.”

Aiden shoved his nose further into my hair. “She smells...weird.”

“Exactly! That’s what I thought.”

“She smells like fear and desperation to me.”

She’s not wrong.

Abby threw her arm back.

“Stop.” Immediately, Abby stops her action.

We all turn our heads toward the door.

“Mommy!” Aiden shouted. He rushed towards her and embraced her.

Aiden’s mom, who seems too young to be a mom, rests an arm around him. “Explain.”

“I met her in the forest,” Sonny said. “She was lost. Scared. I was going to leave her.” What? Was he going to leave a lost and scared girl? “But, her scent. Smell her, Mia, and you’ll know.”

Mia walks towards me. The closer she appeared, the more my body trembled. There was something about her - something unsettling.

Her nose twiddle.

“She smells like you,” Mia said. “How?”

He shrugs, “I’m not sure, but killing her won’t help me figure it out.”

Mia gave me one last glance before she said: “Does she know about us?”

“Not much.”

“Alright.” Mia walks toward the exit with Aiden hot on her trail. Abby shoved the knife back inside her clothes and walked out with them.

Once Sonny closed the door, I let out a deep breath, and my body flopped on the bed. “Please tell me my friends are in the front.” Paradise is over. It’s time to return.

“Fingers cross. They’re not here.”

I sat upward, “Who are they?”

“That’s Luna Mia.”

“Luna Mia? The Luna of this territory?”

“Yes.”

I gasped—no wonder why Crescent Moon is afraid for the next generation in their packs.

“Don’t worry. She won’t kill you unless you step on a nerve.” How pleasant to know.

“Thank you,” I said.

“You’re welcome.”

Amid the silence, the question arrives. “Why? Why are you doing all of this for someone you barely know?” Sonny had no reason to go against a Luna. Even though I barely know the hierarchy outside of the human community, I did read about it.

For werewolves, after the Alpha would be the Luna.

That would be the past.

In today’s time, Alpha and Luna hold equal power in their pack.

That’s why - kidnapping a Luna - is considered medieval.

Sonny chuckles slightly before he shrugged, “I’m not sure,” he said. “Maybe. It’s because I’m in the mood? Maybe. I feel like I want to do a good deed once in a while?” He looks at me, “Maybe. It’s because you remind me of someone I used to know?”

“Someone you used to know?”

“Yeah.” The edge of his lips twerks slightly, “When I was younger, I met this girl.”

“Please don’t tell me I remind you of your wife.”

After a brief silence, Sonny burst out laughing. “No. No. You’re nothing like my wife. She’s a demon.”

I want to ask Sonny why he married her if he considers her a demon.

“But, she’s my demon.”

But, I know the thought of her will only hurt him.

“I meant as a child,” Sonny said. “I met this girl. I was in elementary school. She was in high school.”

Please, don’t tell me it’s his first love.

“No. She is not my first love,” he said.

He must be a mind reader. Magic exists in this world, so someone having the power to read minds isn’t too far fetched.

“What is she like?” I asked.

“Always cautious?”

“Huh?”

“You know, her guard. It’s always up. She’s-” he exhales, “She’s always smiling, but she’s not really there, you know.” He turns back towards me, “Like you.”

“Not really there?”

“Her mind. It’s always floating somewhere. Never at one place.”

“Where is she now?” I asked.

“Last I heard, she went missing.” Why does it seem like all the people that are close to Sonny somehow die or go missing?

“How did you meet her?” I didn’t want to dive into the ‘missing’ topic any further.

“My father introduced us.”

“Your father?”

“Yeah.”

“Where is he now?”

“Hopefully...dead.”

I’m under a strong assumption that Sonny doesn’t have a strong relationship with his dad.

He chuckles, “Our relationship wasn’t the best.”

“Oh. That’s unfortunate.”

He shrugs, “Yeah. It happens.”

Now, I have two choices. One, I can talk about the missing girl. Two, I can talk about the possibility of a dead father.

“What makes her so memorable?” I should’ve stood up and walked away.

Sonny exhales, “Nothing really. She was an average person.” He scratches his head, “But, I guess the reason why I remember her...is probably...because she’s special to my father?”

I should’ve walked away.

Sonny smiled, “Not that kind of special.”

I release the breath I was holding.

“I’ve never seen my father consider anyone’s emotions. But, with her... it’s different. He would always give her everything she wants.” The wind gusts past us. “Just to see her smile.”

“Why?”

“Why?” He repeated my question. “Not sure why. He just did it.”

“Did you ever ask him?” I feel like I’m probing too much into personal matters. I shouldn’t dive any further.

“Yeah.”

I didn’t respond to his statement.

“He said...she’s special.” He smiles, “That’s all.”

After my heartbeats settle down, I smell my clothes. There’s also the fact that I know Sonny didn’t want to talk about his private matters anymore.

“What are you doing?” Sonny asked.

“Earlier. They said I smell like you. Is it because of the bathroom soap I used? Does it belong to you? I just grabbed whatever I saw in the bathroom when I showered.”

Sonny settled beside me, “That’s not it.”

“Then...what?”

His brows furrowed together, “You can’t smell it?”

I shook my head.

“You read about it, though, right? How in this world, each species has their own scent? Even hybrids have a dominant scent.”

“I think I read about that.”

“Well...you and me...We don’t smell like them. Any of them.”

“No. I smell human.”

I cannot believe I said that out loud.

I can’t distinguish creatures by their scents like others, but I’ve been told many times that I smell like humans, which is why they put me in the human community.

“That’s what I thought too.” The atmosphere in the room felt twisted, stomach-wrenching. “But, you’re not human.”

The sunlight in this world dimmed - something is blocking the sun from outside.

Sonny’s eyes went from the ground towards me, “At least...not from this world.”