Old Man in the Woods

<<Narrator>>

"Are you okay?" Xavier asked for the nth time that night and received the same response, "Yes, I am fine. Stop asking that."

"Just checking." He shrugged.

"Don't." Zoe rolled her eyes and huffed.

He knew that for the first time on this journey, she was less mad at him and more mad at the weather.

As they were stranded in the middle of nowhere with no idea how to call for help, the clear evening sky had turned cloudy and it had begun pouring in the matter of half an hour. 

Zoe and Xavier had taken refuge in the car. Zoe sat with crossed arms, occasionally sighing at the weather in the driver seat and Xavier burned the battery of his useless phone while playing offline games.

They had no idea how long the weather was to continue and they couldn't go anywhere in that weather without being soaked to the bones. Which was why, they had no choice but to spend the night in the car.

It had been a long day, eating on the road and driving non-stop. Zoe didn't know when she felt sleep overtake her senses and her head rolled to the back of the bench-style seats as the pitter-patter of rain played music soothing music on the windows.

Xavier noticed Zoe dozing off and her neck placed at an awkward angle. He shuffled closer to her after making sure that she was truly asleep. Gently he pulled her towards him, enough to place her head on his shoulder. She immediately hugged his shoulder and snuggled in it. He smiled to himself as his heart skipped a beat. This was what his life was missing. Zoe. Her little actions only made him more steadfast in his quest to seek her forgiveness.

He wanted to stay guard but slowly, the darkness and the rain lulled him to sleep as well. Thus, on an empty road surrounded by woods in the middle of nowhere in the early hours of the night, Zoe and Xavier hugged each other to sleep inhaling each other's scent. Finally, their animals had the freedom to break the mental barrier and converse. A chance they were eager to take on.

A persistent knocking woke Zoe up. She got up with a start and hit her head on something pointy but warm. She looked up to see Xavier rubbing his chin. He was way too close for someone who was supposed to stay in the passenger seat at all costs as per the rules set before starting the journey.

She was about to pull away and get upset when the knocking came again. The rain seemed to have stopped. Then, a light shone from outside and hit Zoe, making her shield her eyes to see who was knocking on the window. It was an old man with an umbrella and a torch.

"Wait!" Xavier warned as Zoe went to roll her window down.

"What?" Zoe asked confused.

"He could be dangerous," Xavier said and they both were reminded of the dangers of rogues on empty roads.

"He is an old man," Zoe stated. She was sure he could be dangerous but she just stubbornly wanted to rebel against everything Xavier had to say. She had already taken his advice to stop for dinner and sleep last night. She wanted to prove to him that he was an Alpha in his pack but he held no power to order her, even when he hadn't ordered her anything since they started.

"Zoe-" Xavier started but Zoe had already rolled the window down.

"Are you sleeping her by choice or are you two stranded?" The old man asked in a sweet and humorous tone that conveyed that he knew they were indeed stranded.

"We are sleeping by choice. None of your business." Xavier answered simultaneously Zoe said, "We are stranded, sir."

Zoe and Xavier glared at each other while the old man laughed to himself softly, "Ah, young love."

Wanting to clarify that they were not a couple, Zoe opened her mouth but the old man beat her to it, "You are neither the first, and surely not the last people to get stranded here. This is a long road with no cell service."

"Then, what are you doing here?" Xavier asked suspiciously.

"I live in a cabin nearby. My son is a mechanic. We have fuel, too. For travelers." The old man told with a gentle smile and offered, "Looks like the clouds are not done here yet. If you don't want to spend the night cramped up in the car, you are welcome at my cabin."

"That's so kind of you, sir," Zoe said gratefully.

Xavier pulled her arm and whispered in her ear despite her resistance, "He is suspicious. Stop being so gullible. He looks like a human. Humans hunt our species, or have you forgotten history?"

"Stop breathing in my ear," She whisper-yelled back, covering the shudder that raked her body as his hot breath fanned her ear and neck, "And, he looks harmless. I remember history. But what can one human do compared to two of us?" She narrowed her eyes at him defiantly.

"I thought there was no us." Xavier raised a brow and smirked. It was probably not the right time but he was not going to let any chance slip.

She glared at him, "You know what I meant." 

Then, she turned to the old man, "Sir, is it possible for your son to come here and fix our car? We would really rather be on our way as soon as possible. We have to get somewhere."

"He would, if he could. My son went to the next town for a job. He won't be back until noon tomorrow. You are welcome to wait until then at the cabin." He gave a sweet smile.

"Convenient," Xavier coughed making Zoe glare at him while sending a fake smile to the old man.

A strike of lightning brightened up the night sky before thunder roared and Zoe closed her eyes. She cursed in her head.

'What's wrong?' Dahlia asked worried.

"I'm scared of the thunder and lightning. I never grew out of it since childhood." Zoe told her and tried to keep her breathing under control but she knew it was a failed attempt. She used to spend such thunderstorms snuggled in her bed with her father as a kid wearing headphones to cancel out all noise. And then, it was Maisie who was usually always there to prevent Zoe's panic attacks that resulted from this fear.

"Zoe? Are you okay?" Xavier asked but this time, she did not have it in her to open her eyes, let alone get annoyed at his question.