Vanessa

I put on a black short sleeve, and black ripped jeans. I pull back some of my hair into a half ponytail using a red ribbon. I wear matching wide red velvet choker around my throat. I grab my black leather purse. I put everything I need in it. I microwave some bacon, snacking on it until I get to my car. I check my texts.

Can we meet up at my place? - V

2 work? - Charlotte

K, see you then - V

Ross texted me too. Apparently Cheryl’s doing better. Leo had drove with her to the hospital. Ross and V soon fallowed. Jordan waited for me wanting to make sure I was alright. He drove up after dropping off my car. Leo won’t leave her side. She angry with me. I knew that. I could say it is something personal, (which lets be fair isn’t really a lie) but I was off my game. If I say that now would that seem believable. The truth is me being a jerk is more believable than changing my story from I’m too busy, to personal. I wonder if even if it was something personal and human, if someone could say that in some instances, but I don’t think Cheryl thought about that. Besides she fell off a cliff, I’d want to be pissed at someone too. I should have been fast enough to catch her. My getting sick explanation made sense. (Apparently Jordan had sent a ranger after me, and had put two and two together after that.) We had texted a little before I went to sleep. He gave me an update, and let everyone know I was ok. They had been worried. We also talked about relationship stuff. I then not so subtly informed him I was fine with a kiss on the first date. I think he got the hint. I drove to Dillies, slowly. Could tip over a car if I tried, but still couldn’t master driving one. I pulled into the parking lot. Dillies is a cute place. A bit of a fast food joint, but with a few more options thanks to not being a chain. He’s already at a table when I enter.

“Am I late?” He smiles when he seems me.

“Right on time.” We order orange juices. Then sit down looking at the menu. He gets my order then gets up to put it in the food kiosk. The food comes quickly. He got two breakfast burritos, and hash browns. I got blueberry pancakes, and bottomless bacon and a sausage. I’m coming here again. While eating we trade questions.

“What’s your favorite color?” I ask, starting off with an ice breaker.

“Blue and green.” He says. “You?”

“Red.”

“What’s your favorite thing to do?”

“Hunt. Animals.” He adds quickly. I nod.

“What’s your favorite food?” He doesn’t add besides the obvious, but it’s there.

“Um- hamburgers, no bacon, no lamb! What about you?”

“Pizza, or Shepard’s pie, or blueberry pie. Basically anything in a pie form.” I laugh.

“What’s your favorite non outdoor activity?”

“Reading.” I say, and he similes.

“We should go to the library sometime.”

“We should.”

“What’s your favorite animal?” He laughs.

“A wolf actually.” I smile.

“Mine too.” I take a sip of juice.

“What’s your favorite flower?”

“Silver Fox.” I say. “What’s yours?”

“Marigolds.” He says.

“What’s your favorite sandwich?”

“Um Italian. So do you like it here?” I don’t answer right away.

“Yes.” I answer. He waits. “I like the company, but there was a stronger sense of community there. At least to me. I’m not really into the small town, no secrets vibe I get. Seriously some of those people in school are serious gossips. There’s the whole farm thing. Farmers make a big deal about animals going missing. I can’t excuse myself from school, and no job here is something I can see myself doing. I’m glad I came, all the same.” He nods when I’m done ranting. I’m relieved he’s not offended.

“What do you want to do?”

“Lead.”

“Like in general or-“

“Did you know a pack leaders an Alpha?” I ask. “My parents were Alphas. Officially they were city managers. Like Mayors. I’m born to lead. It’s in my blood.”

“Oh.”

“What about you?” I ask.

“Hunt, and sell meat. If that doesn’t work out I always have a place at Rodgers farm.” I nod. He fit in here in a way I didn’t. That place for him here didn’t disappear in a puff of smoke. “I was thinking you could barrow my journal if you want? It may be useful, and you may find James Mannix’s journals interesting. Obviously I can’t show you my fathers.”

“Ok. But I can’t touch them. They burn me though clothes though not as bad.”

“Already thought of it, which is why I’m working on typing out my digital copy.” He went though all that for me!

“What’s you email?” I ask. I type it in. We talk for awhile more.

“Well I got to get going I’m meeting V.” I can’t believe we talked for five hours. Because he bought breakfast I buy him an Italian sandwich for lunch, and a meatball footlong for myself to go. Her house is cute and historical. Wood, with grey shudders, white trim designs, and a blue door. Her mom calls for me to let myself in.

“Sit down.” V says as I walk in. Her tone puts me on edge. I sit in her desk chair, as she sits in her gaming chair. I sit with my back straight ready for whatever she has to say. Is she mad about Cheryl? Is she close to the truth? Probably not, I think. Taking a calming breath.

“Do you believe in the supernatural?” F*ck. That’s great, that’s just perfect. I think sarcastically. What answer would a human give? Does she know? How could she? Did she put two and two together with the dead hiker, and me leaving Cheryl? If so she wouldn’t know about wolf-shifters. How would she-“I’m physic.” She blurts out before I can answer. I’m glad I didn’t pause too long, but didn’t have to give an answer.

“Physic?” I prompt.

“Like I get visions, and dreams of the future. For me they’re pretty vivid. I get them way more often than the rest of them. I mentioned my Aunt who does psychic readings, and my cousin with a knack for seeing ghosts. My mom on very, very rare occasions gets clairvoyant dreams.”

“Ok.” I say wondering were this is going.

“Well I also have really strong intuition.”

“Ah huh.” Get to the point.

“If you would have stayed with Cheryl she would have gotten hurt wouldn’t she?” I must have a look on my face because she nods. “Are you psychic?” I shake my head. “But you’re not gonna tell me are you?” Another shake.

“Maybe eventually, but it’s gonna take a while.” She nods.

“You’re dangerous aren’t you?”

“What?” I act suprized.

“But not on purpose. Or maybe you’re just a danger magnet I haven’t figured that out yet. But you always appear in my dreams as a wolf.”

“A wolf.” What the-

“Yeah it’s not literal. Wolves to normally mean danger in my visions. I had a dream that tan wolf was running near a blood red creek. Freaked me out a little, and then you came. There were three others.”

“Rivers?”

“Wolves. One running while there was a forest fire, and a storm at the same time.” That was easy, Raina Firecatcher. “Then two others one running though a sliver forest. Snow on the ground. Every inch of tree covered in frost. The other running though a flower field.” I wrecked my brain for any wolves, I knew that could fit that description. I couldn’t think of anything. Maybe I just hadn’t met them yet. But there was no doubt in my mind that she was psychic. I was aware of psychics. Of course, I suppose some of them had to be real psychics. And I have always believed in ghosts. Still have never been in a situation like this. It was clear she was much more powerful than any other I had ever heard of. Besides maybe one, or two I’d seen videos of online.

“I want to make it abundantly clear that I have no intention of hurting our friends. I would never want to hurt you. But yes you could consider me dangerous, or it dangerous to be around me. It’s not on purpose. It just happens.” The main difference between us, and them. Humans didn’t have instincts to hunt. She nods. That is all I feel comfortable sharing, and even then I almost regret it.

“Ok. We’ll I told Ross about my vision, and my intuition about you. I trust you. Me, and Ross aren’t mad you won’t see Cheryl. That vision was very clear, though I don’t completely understand why. My moneys on you being bad luck, or something. He doesn’t know about that part. Just trusts my judgment. Cheryl’s-“

“Pissed.”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t get a vision, but I think she’s going to be mad for a long time. Oh, and nothings set in stone. The future can always be changed. I see whatever’s most likely to happen.”

“Cool.” I say. “You don’t see me, and Cheryl becoming friends again do you.” She shakes her head.

“I can encourage visions by trying to see if something happens, but I can’t force it. They come and go.”

“Interesting.” I say meaning it.

“Do you want to play Battle Fantasy?”