Not a Missing Person

I woke up groggy. I wasn’t feeling going to school today, but wasn’t feeling another lecture from mom about the importance of school ether. I don’t know if she realized I was old enough to drop out. I got dressed. A black, and white plaid button down. Black ripped shorts. A black belt with a fake silver chain on it. A black velvet choker. I had gotten up late, and because I refused to miss breakfast I was going to be late to school too. Hollyne normally drove me and Conner, but I guess they had gotten to school on time. I checked my phone before starting the car. Yup message from Hollyne.

Hey we’re leaving - Hollyne

In their defense this is not the first time I’ve been late. On occasion, I’ll get up early for morning hunts. Sometimes they go longer than planned. I get to my first class handing in the late slip.

“I see we’re late again Ms. Amber.” Amber like the natural resin that comes from trees. A beautiful shade of gold. Able to entrap some thing, and keep it there forever. The same, never changing. Beautiful forever. I did a report on it for science once. One of the only As I’ve gotten. I shrug, and take my seat. This is one of the few classes I don’t have with Jordan. It takes me a moment to realize Raina isn’t in class. I nudge the guy next to me. He seems surprised by me talking to someone outside of my clique.

“Hey were’s Raina?” He nods, gossip, a completely normal reason to do something out of the norm for you. I swear the kids at school are worse than the shop owners in town. Word really gets around, and around here. I heard (sharp ears) one of the shop owners talking about me and RedCreek, how strange the situation was.

“I think she’s sick. The teacher got an email.” I nod. Good work. I wondered if she was out hunting. We typically hunted at night though. Less liking to be spotted. She could just be stressed, or something and not wanting to risk shifting in school. I talk to Jordan in class, and sit with V and Ross during lunch. To my surprise Jordan, and Leo sit next to me. We chat for a minute. I politely ask how Cheryl’s doing. He says fine she’ll be back at school soon. I get the feeling once she is that he’ll be sitting with her. It’s interesting Ross trusts me because trust V, and her visions. Jordan has no such visions, or strong intuition, and yet Leo trust his judgment about me. Perhaps Jordan would make a good Alpha. I think not for the first time. I check my phone. Texts and texts from Raina. I had never turned it back on. How could I have been so stupid. I never turn it off. For this exact reason. Wolf-shifter stuff is more important than if you can hear the movie in a theater, or a lecture in class. I try to go though all of them quickly. If someone’s talking to me I don’t hear them.

Found one of your pack on my territory could have given a she-wolf some warning. Hang on I’ll let him text you. - Raina

Hey Charlotte, my Alpha. I’m sorry it took me so long to find you. I’ve been keeping a low profile. I ran into this lone wolf in our first class. This was the only way I could think to reach you. I haven’t got a new phone yet. We’re in the woods near the school. Meet me when you can, if you want. - Cypress - Raina’s Phone

I must have a look on my face.

“Everything ok?” Jordan asks. I’m about to hand him my phone when I remember he doesn’t know about Raina. It’s not my secret to tell. I text him.

One of my pack members is here and alive. Felt sick. Had to drive myself home. - Charlotte

With that I get up. Faining that I feel like I’m going to be sick. Ross knowing I hate driving even when I’m well offers to take me home. It’s sweet, but I decline. With that I’m gone booking it toward the woods. Cypress was alive! My best friend was alive! I shift to wolf immediately, howling. I hear two howls in the distance. I rush toward them. I rub my head against his. He drops into a play bow, and if I could laugh as a wolf I would. Raina seems amused, and surprised by our interaction. Me and Cypress tend to talk on a more serous persona until we get to know someone. We both value respect. Cypress is loyal, rash, and a little shy. I’m over the moon. Raina starts to patrol the area.

“You’re here!” I exclaim.

“Took me forever to find you.”

“Where were you?!”

“In the woods. Didn’t have a phone for awhile lost it in the skirmish. Was too scared to go to town. Then I find out you’re alive. I head straight here. I’m enrolled now.” I’ll have to get him a phone. That can wait. I think for a moment about how before the death of our pack, before coming to FallenGreen, before meeting Jordan, just maybe in another life, we would have eventually grown to be more than friends. I have never had a crush on him, but there was always a possibility in the back of my head. The possibility had been taken from me when I thought he was dead. I never really thought of him as a potential mate before. Now he never would be. But my feeling for Jordan were strong, and he saw all off me now. I would have Jordan as my mate, (he said I could call him that) and now my best friend was back. I couldn’t be happier. We sparred in our wolf forms for a bit. Raina kept her distance.

“I missed you.” I say in human form. He leans on the same tree as me, shoulder to shoulder.

“I missed you too. Here.” He hands me neckless with a wooden wolf head. I put it on.

“Thanks.”

“So what have you been doing?” I tell him about Jordan, Ross, and V. I tell him about the thing with Cheryl. I skip over the Hunter, Jordan’s mom was a wolf-shifter thing. I don’t want to share that if he doesn’t want me too. I also don’t mention that he knows about me yet. I can ask him and Raina, and get all of us together or something, and make sure everyone’s up to date. I also keep V’s secret. Although she’s known to be superstitious, the whole I get visions so vivid, and accurate that I know (though haven’t figured out) you’re wolf-shifters.

“I can’t wait to meet them.” He says when we’re done. “I don’t like Cheryl though.” I defend her, but Cypress is good like that. A loyal beta.

“So this Alpha has a pack now?” I ask.

“If you’ll have me?” I laugh.

“Always.” A wolf threw a field of flowers. I wonder if they were Cypress.