66.

-HER-

The rest of the evening is spent talking or just exploring the woods in dark. Most of them don’t have any problem because they can see in the dark. I get the opportunity to see more wolves but I am not as scared as I was before. They chase around, play, entertain each other with their antiques and have fun. It’s like watching dogs play, just that they’re not dogs and are way bigger than dogs.

When it’s late in the evening, we finally return to the campsite. Then we spend the rest of the time sitting around the campfire, talking and eating. I am aware of Tiffany’s presence there.

Her eyes are set on me and Jake. He doesn’t leave my side for once through the evening and night. Even if I don’t have the supernatural abilities of a werewolf, I am aware of the tension in the air. Everyone else also seems a bit uncomfortable when she joins us.

She tries to get Jake’s attention but he blatantly ignores her. Even though by doing this he upright appears to be very rude, but deep down, I couldn’t help but feel satisfied by his reaction. All I get from her are mean looks but I continue to ignore her just like anyone around the camp.

When she leaves, everyone seems to sigh in relief. We stay up quite late in the night. It’s sometime early in the morning when we go to sleep. I realize how tired I am as soon as I am back in the camp. My eyes flutter shut as soon as I get into the sleeping bag.

I am awakened in the morning by some commotion. It’s around noon and everyone is up, packing to go back. I offer to help, but as their guest, I am only allowed to sit and watch the wolves work. Jake goes missing right after I wake up. I know that he must have been involved in some pack duties.

He is back when we are ready to leave. I feel empty and unreasonably sad all of a sudden. Maybe it’s because the weekend is ending and I have to go home after having so much fun here. I made more friends in the pack in a day than in my class in a whole semester.

I am already dreading going to classes tomorrow. Lisa has somewhat the same feelings for it and so does everyone else. When we finally reach the pack residency, everyone bids me goodbye but not before making me promise that I’d visit the pack often.

After we return, Jake again has to leave my side to do his duties. Davis doesn’t seem to be in the mood to pick on anyone today because he has been assigned pack duties on Sunday. Brooke isn’t around too so June keeps me company.

“Are they always this busy?” I ask her.

“Yeah, you’ve got to look after a lot of things when you’re living deep in the woods,” She answers. I couldn’t help but agree with her words.

“Er… can I ask you something?” Her eyes soften after hearing the hesitancy in my voice.

“Yeah, sure!” She smiles at me.

“Does it matter that I am a human? I mean… what if I am not accepted?” I cringe at my question but her understanding eyes are anything but judgemental.

“Cybele,” Her voice is gentle yet there is an edge to it, “Let me tell you about my past,” She says, folding her legs on the couch on which we were sitting. She smiles at me before adding, “And also a little bit of history about this pack,”

“I was previously the part of the current day Walker’s territory. When I used to live there, it was called Night Walkers. It was a separate territory. You’d be surprised to know that both the packs used to be enemies once,” Her revelations surprise me but I am shocked when she adds, “I was an assassin in Night Walkers,”

She chuckles lightly at my reaction before assuring, “Don’t worry. I am retired,” She winks at me. I shift uncomfortably in the couch before she continues, “So basically, I met Jake’s dad when I sneaked to this pack to gather some information,”

“He was the Beta at that time, right?” She nods with a smile playing on her lips, “As their natural enemy, I wasn’t accepted at first but trust and respect are something that is earned. I knew my pack wasn’t up to any good and the things they were doing was dangerous for the whole werewolf kind so I knew I had to do something about it. I risked my life to come to this pack and inform them of all the evil things that my pack was planning. I was neither trusted nor accepted but I earned them by being honest and working hard,”

Silence follows her words as she closes her eyes and leans back in the couch as if remembering something. It’s after a prolonged pause when she speaks again, “I don’t think that you being human matters that much. As far as you are willing and hardworking, everything should be alright,”

“But the council-“ She interrupts me with a groan before and waves her hand dismissively at me, “Their opinion is the last thing you should care about. Don’t take them seriously and as for that girl,”

“Tiffany?” I ask.

“Yeah whatever her name is... don’t take her seriously as well. Actually no one in the pack does,” This makes me giggle while she smiles at me, “Besides, our Luna is a human too. The alpha couple will be here in the holidays. You should definitely visit us then. They’d love to meet you,”

This makes me aware that I’d have to introduce Jake to my family too but I don’t know how to tell them the part about him being different. I’d have to consult Lisa for this.

“You’re a lovely girl. I’d love to have you in the family,” Her words melt me instantly and drives the self-doubts away for now.

I spend the most part of the evening with Jake’s mother. Jake’s father is back early too while the three of them are still missing.

I end up talking to them instead. Personality-wise, I think Jake inherited his father’s traits. He seems serious about his duties and an overall very responsible person, just like Jake. Meanwhile, Davis seems to have inherited somewhat of his mother’s traits but he seems to be a very free-spirited person. Mere responsibilities aren’t enough to limit him.

It’s around dinner when they are finally back, looking tired and worn out. I follow Jake to his room instantly. A huge grin in decorating his face when he pecks me before having a shower. I choose to call home then and inform my mother about my plans tomorrow.

Jake would be dropping me to classes tomorrow and from there I’d be going home. I couldn’t wait for the classes to end and the holidays to start. Although I am dreading it at the same time because after the holidays, I’d have to write finals.

“So, what did you do while I was gone?” Jake asks after he’s out of the shower. I lay on his bed, rolled over my stomach, supporting my face with my hands while watching him trim his hair in the bathroom.

“I talked to your mother,” This made him stop and glance at me once. A silent nod is exchanged as a confirmation of me having the knowledge of June’s past.

**..
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