NINETEEN | POSSIBILITIES

***Author update: Sorry for the late update, been having issues with my vision lately so writing/reading is semi-painful for me right now. Hope ya'll are doing well. I'll try to update more regualrly**.

**Avie***

- - -

I'm calmer by the next morning. The rawness from last nights vision has pretty much faded, just leaving faint stings in a few spots I remember getting seriously shredded. Still, it's nothing compared to last night. Blue's waiting for me in the front of the school, watching as I park and get out of my car. The other Azure's are nowhere to be seen.

"Hey." I greet him with a little nod. His expressionless mask weakens a little as he cracks a smile at me in response.

"Hand." He orders, holding his out for mine. I cast a quick glance around, but no one's looking at us as they pass. I hesitate anyway, slowly dropping my hand on his. We both tense - waiting - searching each other's eyes. Nothing.

"Thank God," I breathe, feeling my shoulders slump a little as a sigh escapes my chest. Blue nods, the rest of his mask falling away before he gives my hand a gentle squeeze.

"We'd better get to Lewis' room." He releases my hand and ducks into the building.

Knowing we don't necessarily need to avoid touching has Blue more relaxed through Homeroom. He slouches in his seat beside me, tapping his foot against mine every few minutes. It's oddly comforting. The hollowness I've been feeling for the last few days is almost completely gone. In it's place seems to be a new bond, like an invisible string connecting the two of us. Kind of like a spider's web. I feel reverberations echoing in my chest, the faintest hint of emotions that aren't mine. Peace, contentment, and an undercurrent of anger.

I raise an eyebrow at him and he gives me one of his stomach-fluttering smiles. I feel that peace shiver through me, down my spine, curling through me like a physical touch. I look away, feeling my face flush. I don't understand the emotions coming off him, but these days I hardly understand my own. I don't ask him about them. In fact, I try to keep my mind off the practically thrumming connection between us all throughout the day.

Though I'm no longer actively avoiding him, we only really talk about school or upcoming assignments. This tentative new thing between us like thin glass or egg shells. At the end of the school day, we go our separate ways. Again, the understanding that we'll probably meet up in the morning, despite it being a weekend, hangs in the air unsaid.

My phone starts ringing a few minutes from home. At first, I frown, not recognizing the area code of the number, but answer it anyway. I don't immediately speak, listening intently to the other end of the line for a clue as to the identity of the caller. There's a full beat of silence before I get my answer.

"Ms. Holland?" The Alpha's voice comes through the line. Relief floods through me, then a stripe of worry.

"Yes, sir." My tone is immediately respectful and slightly submissive. My knuckles begin to turn white around my steering wheel as nerves tingle through my body.

"Hope I didn't catch you at a bad time," Alpha Salvador begins, and I can hear a car door slamming in the background, the jingle of the bells from Lia's. "We'd like for you to start today if you can. My wife will be handling your training." Training? Work. Right. I remind myself, relaxing.

"No, sir. Now's fine." I cast a look at the sky. "I can be there in fifteen minutes." I turn my car around, just a half-mile from home and start back towards the opposite end of Kiwina. I allow an extra five minutes for myself so I won't be late. Crossing town barely takes ten, but arriving late wouldn't make the best impression on my first day.

"You must be Scarlett," A woman greets me as I walk into Lia's. She's maybe in her late forties, chestnut-brown hair wavy about her shoulders, dark brown eyes warm and kind. Her smile is gentle, almost shy...I instantly recognize it.

"And you must be Luna Azure-" I say the title for the Alpha's wife automatically, but she just laughs a little and waves her hand dismissively.

"Just call me Sandy or Sandra. None of that formal talk, missy." She half-scolds good naturedly. I give her a little smile back, nodding, but not using her name immediately. I can't seem to get used to the casual use of names when it comes to adults or leaders. It feels disrespectful somehow. "Now, come on, let's get you an apron."

"Apron?" I frown. Not that I'm an expert, but in most of my experiences with other grocery stores, employees don't cook. At least that's what pops into my head when Mrs. Azure says the word apron.

"Yeah, it's simpler than having a proper uniform. Sal and I decided when we first opened that the dress code would have to be uniform in some way, but not overly...formal." She walks with me to the very back of the store and through swinging double doors that have a red sign saying Employees Only. "We give each hire two aprons, but let me know if you want more." She directs me to the corner of a back room that seems to wrap around the entire store. We reach a corner with a row of lockers and pegs of hanging aprons. She pulls two from one of the pegs and passes me the black fabric.

"Thank you, but I think this will do for now." I take them, catching the scent of pine from them as I do. A little wave of surprise hits me when I realize I have yet to smell the scent of Mrs. Azure. By now, you'd think I'd have caught it, but she's like a blackhole. No scent at all registers when I take an experimental sniff. Huh.

"Come, now, I'll begin by giving you the tour." The Alpha's wife doesn't even seem to notice my confusion as she directs me through the large back room and proceeds to give me a tour. Two hours later, I'm given a printed form to fill out for my week's availability. I tell Mrs. Azure I can come in to help tomorrow, since the weekend tends to be open for me, which she gratefully accepts.

We run through a few more points of the business and things I need to know about stocking and running the register. By eight o'clock I'm driving home again, filling Mom in about my new job and the events of the day.

- - -

Sunday night, I get home from my new job to find Blue waiting for me again. He's made a habit of this rendezvous at my house, either sitting on the counter in my kitchen or cooking something when I arrive. It feels surreal. More and more so each time. I can almost picture a life with him. A life where nothing else matters and we could be together, like a normal couple. Normal mates. It's giving me this warm, fuzzy feeling in my chest, having someone to come home to. Someone who knows what I am and seems to accept it, not care that I'm different. To have a constant presence in my life. But I also know it's going to hurt like hell when I have to leave.

And that simple thought nearly rips my heart in two.

"Sure, make yourself at home." I call, setting my black work apron down on the counter.

"I like to keep my hands busy." Blue glances up at me, a slight flush painting his cheeks. I have the urge to caress them, cool the flush with my touch. "It's a bad habit, but I can't just sit here and wait for you come home. I get...antsy." It's almost cute how he explains himself, not that I expected any explanation. The need to be in constant motion just comes with the territory as a Wolven.

"Let's get this over with, I have to get up early tomorrow." I tell Blue impatiently, holding my hand out to him. The longer he's here, the more this place ends up smelling like him. I'm starting to get used to falling asleep to that scent of fresh pine and parchment.

"Fine." He sighs and turns off the stove. He wipes his hands on his pants nervously before taking my hand and looking me in the eye-

-*"-so what do you think?" Blue asks, keeping his arms wrapped tightly around my shoulders, face resting beside mine. I stare out across the amazing view. Acres and acres of uncultivated forest, wild greenery, the intense freshness of the crisp breeze on my skin. I take a deep breath, leaning back into his chest as I take it all in.*

*"It's amazing." I admit, avoiding answering the question I know he wants the answer to. I'm still waiting to see how long he'll hold out before asking again. I can feel his impatience in the bond, the silent connection between us has only gotten stronger recently. Tempers in the Pack have finally cooled and everything is settling down*.

*"And?" Blue prompts, pressing his face into the side of my neck, tickling me with the beginnings of a five 'o clock shadow. I squirm against his hold, unable to stop the giggles that escape my grinning mouth*.

*"And?" I repeat back once I've managed to wiggle away. He lets me go reluctantly, but he doesn't let me get far. Without a word, he backs me into the nearest tree, silvery-grey eyes warmer than the sun. *

*"Are you really going to make me ask again?" He murmurs, nuzzling the side of my face with his. My eyes flutter shut, arms automatically winding around his waist to draw him as close to me as possible*.

*"Does that mean you won't?" I evade again, still smiling into his neck. We both know my verbal acceptance is just a formality. He already knows the answer to his question. It's not like I've been keeping it a secret*.

*"Is that a yes?"*-

-There's a crushing sort of emptiness as the vision ends, brief, but heavy enough to shock me to my present reality again. Much shorter than past ones, but also way more pleasant. My skin prickles with the aftermath, but the feeling isn't all-together unpleasant. Kind of like that feeling you get when you walk into air conditioning after being in the sun all day.

"You can't tell me you didn't feel that." Blue breathes, much closer than before, now that the vision is over, touching isn't an issue. He's holding me, arms around my waist - like in the vision - almost holding me up. My knees are still weak, but strong enough to hold me up as I gently push at his solid chest, getting some space between us.

"Maybe." I hear myself utter the word, the confusion of the dramatic change of scenery - not to mention the experience out of context - is incredibly jarring. I can feel my mind trying, racing to keep up as my present seems to connect back to me. Blue lets me go, obviously not satisfied by my simple answer, but allowing me the physical space I need. I find myself leaning back against a counter, trying to take deep, even breaths.

The vision was a hell of a lot more pleasant than the ones we've previously had, and I can't help but wonder at the sudden change. It seemed to be farther into the future, the slight facial hair on Blue's face and the brightness of the greenery proved that. More than a month. Maybe more than three. Beyond that, I'm not sure. For all I know, it could be a year or five - but not more than ten - based off those facts alone.

"Hey, Red," Blue's voice calls me from my thoughts. "Don't over-think this one, okay?" For once, his words sound like a request - almost a plea. I search his silvery-grey eyes, watching as the shadows there make the ethereal colors dance.

"'Kay." It's a small sound, that word that slips past my lips holds no real weight, but Blue visibly relaxes after I say it. It wasn't a promise, but I know I'll try. The joy from the vision, the feeling of belonging and carefree sort of peace that, even now, clings to my skin is enough for me to want to try. Whatever it is we're doing now, it seems to be going towards a happier path.

I so desperately want that. To belong somewhere and feel free. So badly, it almost physically hurts.

"Alright." He seems almost hesitant when he says it, watching me carefully. "I know it's late, and you got that Choir thing, so I'll go. But try to get some sleep, okay? I'll see you tomorrow, Red." He leans forward briefly, his lips brushing my forehead lightly before he turns on his heels and disappears out the back door before I can say another word.