Chapter 8: Getting Closer

[Abe]
He has finally gotten rid of that wretched thing.

Abe glanced at the full moon shining brightly above his village and grinned proudly. If you couldn’t be the best, then stay alive till the end to be at the top. He chuckled silently at the thought of his life motto.

After his older brother’s heroic sacrifice in a battle, Abe swiftly took over as the Alpha of his pack and got his first taste of power. Life was good.

It was so good that he wanted more.

That pale thing with silver hair weakened his powers the second it was born and all the other clan leaders - a bunch of superstitious idiots - lost interest in his views, and started avoiding him like wolfbane.

Then Cole Grey appeared out of nowhere, worsening the situation. Everyone was going 'Cole said this' and 'Cole did that'; and that arrogant son of a witch didn't even bother to attend the clan leaders' meeting. It was always his Gamma run the show - that darned freak who never stopped smiling.

But Abe soon discovered that giant's secret - one that could bring him and his whole pack down. Going against our dear Goddess is the worst thing a werewolf could do. It will bring a curse upon the Alpha and his entire pack.

Abe said his night prayers to the moon and turned from it.

Sending that damned thing to Cole Grey was an easy feat - Dan the mutt has always been too trusting.

Abe congratulated himself on his marvellous idea. It would speed things up, he thought as an evil grin spread across his thin lips.

Pretending to be a lazy clown in front of the know-it-all was also cub's play for Abe. Cubs will always be cubs, he shook his head, smiling as he stepped into his lavish lair, out of sight of that old forsaken place of his pack.

You can't beat an old fool, he laughed silently.

*****

[Dove]
I smiled at my reflection in the mirror, trying to hype myself up for another day in my new home.

My thoughts drifted back to Cole's confession of the pack's secret. Honestly, after knowing the truth, even just parts of it, I feel a tad closer to my new pack.

But with Cole, it was still a different story.

My reflection frowned back. It didn't go very well last night. In the end, I was thrown out of the room and Cole locked the door immediately to keep me out as if I had been assaulting him. What a big baby, I thought and a sour look appeared on my face.

I could've tried other means to get in. But something told me he needed privacy so I retreated to my quarters.

The sun glared through the curtains, nagging at me so I quickly rushed to the dining area for breakfast.

Cole was already seated at one end of the long table, reading something. I halted at the sight of him until he looked up at me and gave a quizzical stare.

I asked without thinking. "Why are you here?" I usually have breakfast alone.

He gave me a bored look. "You said that we should have at least one meal together a day. So I'm here. I hate breaking promises and watching someone cry cub tears over it."

I frowned, annoyed but still pleased, "I do not cry and I’m not a cub."

Oh, I see, he mouthed and nodded, then motioned for Claire who then brought out our breakfast.

We ate quietly in our separate ways. He munched as he read while I chewed and admired every line of grain in the wooden table. Finally ready to face him, I looked up and asked what he was reading.

“Owin’s report.” He answered without looking up.

“Did something bad happen?” I asked casually, taking another bite.

He lowered the paper in his hand and gave me a puzzled look.

“Well, you took a really long time reading that one page so--.” I paused because he was glaring at me. “Alright. I’ll stop asking. It’s not necessary.”

He slapped the paper on the table and focused on eating instead. But we were still eating quietly in our own way. This time he was admiring the lines on the table as I watched him.

Then, I just threw my head back and had a good laugh. He stopped munching halfway and rounded his eyes at me like I had gone crazy. I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes and smiled. We were acting like a human couple on their first dates, I thought.

“Care to share the joke?” He continued with his bored look. “I hope I’m not in it.”

I covered a giggle and then straightened myself to give a serious reply. “I just thought of a funny joke. That’s all.”

“Enlighten me.” He leaned back and smiled a challenge at me.

I searched my memory for all the jokes I have heard or read, found one and cleared my throat. “Okay, here goes: what do you do when a werewolf eats your candy?”

A brow raised, then Cole fell back to boredom with a sigh, “What do you do?”

“Get another one!” I bent forward and laughed.

Those shapely lips fell into a grim line as he flashed an annoyed expression. Finding his responses funny and wanting to see more of them, I was motivated to try another joke.

“Here’s another one, I promise it’ll be a good one.”

He folded his arms and waited.

“How does a werewolf eat an elephant?”

Cole scoffed at the question. “We don’t eat elephants.”

I gave him a secretive grin before revealing the answer. “One bite at a time!”

He looked like he wanted to strangle someone and my laughter rang across space. This werewolf really has an ox's sense of humour, I thought.

When it finally ended, he was smiling at me. “Do you often tell jokes back there?”

I suddenly recalled the cold place that had been my home since I was born and shrugged with a bitter smile at my plate. “I didn’t have a chance; I always ate alone.”

Cole pulled away slowly. I looked up, saw his somber expression and immediately added, “They weren’t nice to begin with so I was thankful for the peace.” I didn’t know what got into me but I started staring into his deep blue eyes, getting lost in them.

He suddenly cleared his throat and announced that he was done with breakfast. “I’m leaving.”

“Where are you going?” I quickly asked, already missing his presence.

He stopped and looked down at me, and the rules slammed into my mind. I returned to my plate and picked up a piece of meat. “I know, it’s none of my damn business.”

I heard a delighted chuckle and gazed up to see him smiling back. “I’m going around the village today.”

I turned from him and nodded at my food, comforted by his response. “Alright, then.”

“You can come along.”

My head shot up again and he was already at the door.

“Unless you’d rather continue eating.” He shrugged and cast a hand at the table of food.

I shot from my seat, throwing my chair off in the process, and brightened up like an eager cub on the day of her adulthood initiation ceremony. “I’m done!”