As soon as Luka stepped out of the house to make his quick phone call, I paced the living room. Did I do something? I wondered. Something just screamed at me that something was wrong. I don't think I did anything wrong. However, I did share some of my strange ideas with him. Man, I felt like an idiot. I lay on the couch and placed a pillow over my dumb face. What was I supposed to do? Should I ask him? How would that make me look? Oh hey! Did I scare you with my crazy thoughts? It's okay I am starting to get used to people leaving me. I yelled in frustration into the pillow.
"Beautiful you okay?" Luka asked. Fuck when did he come back inside? Thank god I was thinking those thoughts in my head and not speaking them out loud.
"Yeah I am fine." I lied.
"You don't seem fine. Is there anything I can do?" He asks.
"I'm fine." I responded.
"That was the most unfine fine I have ever heard," Luka tells me. "If you don't want to tell me, it's fine. I understand if you want to keep things to yourself. I decided not to ask. I kept it to myself.
"So what do you want to watch or do?" I ask him. He eyes me over, assessing me ever so carefully before saying.
"I got us a movie we could watch?" Luka said.
"OK, sounds good." I agree a movie sounded wonderful.
Luka smiled at me, "Okay, let me go make us some popcorn."
RING RING RING
I heard my phone go off. I pick it up to see my manager, Kelly, calling. I forgot she said she was going to call me the day I got out.
"Hey!" I answer.
"Hey Danni! How are you feeling?" Kelly asked.
"Much better, but I am still not at 100 percent yet, but I am getting there," I tell her honestly. I was glad she wasn't expecting me back to work anytime soon.
"That's great to hear! Don't worry about coming to work before your birthday. We have it covered. After your birthday, we can start you off slow to make sure you are ready! Anyways, how's your mom?" Kelly asked.
"Thank you, I really appreciate it." And I really did, Kelly and the rest of the staff at the den always made me feel like part of the family there. I was so grateful for them. "She is still in a coma. They were going to do some more tests when I left today." I don't tell her everything. At least not over the phone. It didn't feel right.
"Oh, I am so sorry, dear! If you feel up to it. The staff wants to do something for you. Come by for a special dinner tomorrow night? I know you are probably going to check on your mom tomorrow morning." Kelly tells me.
"Really? You guys already do so much for me." I tell her. I notice Luka coming back with popcorn and more of my favorite soda. He smiles sweetly at me. The sight warms me.
"You are part of the Den family! You're one of us, whether you like it or not!" Kelly laughs, and I can't help but smile as tears burn my eyes. It felt good to belong. It is not something I get to enjoy often. Luka mouths. 'You good?' I smiled and nodded my head that I was.
"Okay, Fine. What time do you guys want me there? Does 6 pm work? If not, we can do it later." Kelly tells me.
"Yes, 6 works great, I will see you guys there!" I tell her. Then we say our goodbyes and hang up the phone.
"Got plans for tomorrow?" Luka asks curiously.
"Yeah, that was Kelly, my manager at the Den. I guess they want to throw me a dinner?" I tell him.
"That's really sweet of them." Luka smiles happily at me.
"Yeah, they have always been like another family to me."
"That's good to hear you have such an amazing support system," Luka tells me as he moves over to the TV to get the movie ready.
Luka starts the movie. I pull over the blanket, and he pulls me in. He asks if I am okay with this, and I agree. Breathing deeply, I rest my head on his chest, inhaling his scent. It could drown me. I don't really pay attention to the movie he puts on. I quickly feel myself fall asleep.
I find myself running in the woods. Excitement fills me as I run. Howls sound around. There is a new howl. I see the very familiar white wolf running beside me with her glowing green eyes. I smile at the wolf as we make our way through the woods. We keep running. I seem to be running faster than ever before. I also notice I am not out of breath. Sometimes dreams were fun. I look over at the wolf and tell her my thanks for helping me the other night with getting me to my house quickly. You're welcome, little one. The wolf tells me back in my head. The voice is clearly fem, but I have never heard it other than when the wolf speaks to me.
"How do you do that?" I ask the wolf, I guess now is better than never.
Because little one, we are one.
"What does that mean? That doesn't make sense." I tell her.
It will soon, during the full moon.
Full moon? I think there was one on my birthday? I think it was supposed to be a fall harvest full moon. I'm curious if anything would happen. At that, I find myself laughing. This was just a dream. Nothing but being one year older would happen on Friday. A chuff sounded in my. I look over at the beautiful White wolf. We slow to a stop, and I look at her. She approaches me slowly. Green eyes glowing. I don't move. I watch, she watches me.
"What? You're telling me something will happen?" I ask her.
Yes, do you accept me? The wolf asks.
"Yeah? Why wouldn't I?" I ask back. Then it will be as it should be. I look at her, confused. I knew if I asked her what that meant, I wouldn't get a straight answer.
"What is your name?" She tilts her head as if she's thinking. Does she know what a name is? Or is she debating on telling me? I almost don't think she is going to answer me for whatever reason, with how much time passes. Luna
"Lu…" I start NO! She shouts in my head. Do not speak it yet. Speak it on your birth moon.
"Wh—" I start to ask, but I notice a pair of eyes glowing behind her. Without thinking. I shriek, "WATCH OUT!" I grab her, making her duck from a massive all black wolf. It quickly recovers and turns to face both of us. I am surprised by his blue eyes as he jumps at us. Growling a deep and low MATE.