4

My eyes wander around the city and, inexplicably, I feel as if I know it, something like dejavu is present, causing me a certain shiver and anxiety.

He got out of the taxi, stopping in front of a small but very beautiful house, it was something simple and it hadn't been that expensive, which is great since I want to save as much money as possible while I don't find a job.

I go towards the entrance and after fumbling a little with the keys, which is normal for someone clumsy like me, I literally enter with the right foot, something that really is cliché, but if somehow it brings me luck then who cares? Luck is never too much.

I look around me noticing how cozy my little house is, everything neat and in its place, of course it still needed to add the Scarlet way to the place giving it personality, but for now it's very good.

I open the windows, letting it air out inside the house, and mentally thank the former owner, who, by the way, is a very kind and friendly lady, for having left everything clean and sanitized.

I pass through the rooms that in all are the living room, kitchen, a small laundry room, bathroom, and two bedrooms. Upon entering one of these rooms, I jump up and down with happiness doing a shameful victory dance, after all it was a suite, of course nothing too big, but I would have the privacy of having my own bathroom.

I leave my bags by the door and throw myself on the fluffy, comfortable, soft bed. It was so good that I almost let myself be carried away by the tiredness that the trip brought on me, however I still have some things to tidy up, like my clothes, for example.

I get up saddened to leave the pleasant snuggle I was in. I approach my suitcases and quickly take the clothes out of there to start organizing them, I'm glad I don't have an exaggerated amount and just the essentials.

✦ ✧ ✦ ✧ ✦ ✧✦ ✧ ✦ ✧ ✦

After changing all the sheets and linings on both the bed and the sofa, after all, even if you left everything very clean, I still felt safer changing them.

I feel my stomach rumbling and I'm amazed when I look at the clock and see that more time has passed than I thought, I had even missed lunch.

I decide to take a walk around to see if I can find any restaurants that are still serving lunch, but if I don't find one, I would gladly accept one of those hot dogs from the stall.

My mouth waters just imagining it.

I take a quick shower and put on a light dress that goes just above my knees and a pair of flats. Today the day was very hot, which I don't particularly like as I love winter, apart from the fact that for wolves this heat is not very pleasant since we are naturally warm.

Before going out I put on my dark brown contact lenses and my equally dark sunglasses, I want to prevent people from somehow seeing my eyes which are so light blue that they border on the abnormal.

At school, the aunts tried to stop the other girls from talking about them, but I've heard words like freak and monster come out of their mouths. So I started to always wear the lenses, even though they bothered my eyes at times, it was better than being seen as a monstrosity.

She left the house, locking everything and almost tripping on the small step of the stairs, so distracted was she with her purse. I believe I was born with two left feet, just to justify my incredible lack of motor coordination.

I walk through the streets getting to know a little more about the place where I will live, I observe a square where there are a large number of children and their respective parents, apart from the couples in love who are also present.

I sigh, returning my gaze to the ground, after all, that was far from being my reality.

I'm snapped out of my thoughts when I hear a very soft cry, apparently a child's. I look around trying to identify where it comes from and I'm surprised to come across a little boy of about three or four years old sitting on one of the benches in the square.

I'm apprehensive about going up to him, as I'm a stranger and could scare him, but I follow my instincts approaching and sitting next to him. As soon as he notices my presence, his little body shrinks and automatically moves away, but even with apparent fear he faces me with frowning eyes in a challenging way.

Those eyes... They're so similar to his.

I shake my head trying to get the non-existent man out of my thoughts.

- Hey, what happened little one?- I ask affectionately trying not to scare him even more.

His still suspicious little eyes analyze me as if he needs confirmation that I'm not a bad person. I can clearly see you're still apprehensive.

And who wouldn't be?

- I took care of my mother- I am surprised to hear her saddened voice- I didn't want that to happen, I just wanted to play with the other girls and she didn't let me, so I went out with- she curls up with a few words, in addition to having the little eyes full of water. It breaks my heart to see that.

- Tell me how she is and where you were, maybe I can help this noble warrior to find his mom- I say suggestively and I notice that the mention of the warrior made him puff his chest and sniff trying to contain the tears.

I mentally chuckle at his bravery.

- She's the luna of Jackson's leino and we were near a stool that was in front of a thing that comes out of water - well, I have no idea what he was talking about luna and kingdom, and I see that maybe it's his imagination of child speaking louder.

However, the description of the place he spoke to reminded me a lot of a fountain I had passed before.

- You were lucky to find me little stick, I think I know exactly where your mommy is- yes, weird nickname, but he's so skinny and small he reminds me of a little stick.

- My mom said I shouldn't talk to strangers, but since we are a couple, the ghee and the damsel, so there's no problem, right?- her look pleads for me to agree- oh and my name is Henlique- even the way he squints his eyes and crosses his arms angry looks so familiar.

I'm getting crazy!

- And she is absolutely right about that, but as you yourself said, now we are a dear pair, the warrior and the warrior, no maiden here- I wink in her direction- your name is beautiful little one, but I still prefer little toothpick- your frown from replaced by a shy smile that fills her lips.

- I liked you... - I see your curiosity about my name.

- Scarlet, my name is Scarlet- I smile- now let's look for your mom- I offer my hand which is promptly held by him.

We walked towards the fountain and on the way he was giving me some details about his mother's appearance even though he was kind of surprised that I didn't know her.

Is she a celebrity around here?

Not much time passed when we saw a woman, who is even younger than I imagined, desperately coming towards us.

As soon as he was close enough, he pulled the chopstick into his arms, wrapping it protectively in his arms. Her eyes closed in relief make me feel sorry for the woman who must have been completely desperate looking for her son.

- Mom crushes me - I hear her growl - Look at Scalet who helped me find you, she's my little girl and she's really nice - She opens her little arms to show the "bitão".

His mother, who seems to finally notice my presence and stares at me with the same suspicious face that her son had made. The sense of familiarity doesn't let me think straight.

- He was crying on a stool so I approached to try to help- I'm sincere with my words.

He stares at me as if trying to decipher me and finally sighs pulling me into a hug, obviously after putting the straw on the floor. I have no reaction for being taken by surprise, but I reciprocate kindly right away.

- I see sincerity in your words dear - she walks away giving me a beautiful smile - I've never seen you before, are you new around here?- she asks curiously.

- Yes I am, I arrived a few hours ago and I was looking for somewhere to eat- I say after feeling my stomach give signs of life again.

- Let's eat something then, I want to know a little more about the female that helped my puppy- I frown at the peculiar way she speaks- in addition to clarifying some doubts about the city- she ends up seeing my curiosity.

I nod wanting to know a little more about this place, is it a bit of a pack? After all, I can identify some smells that remind me of my own species.

Not far from where we were, we managed to find a stall that sold a variety of different snacks. My mouth waters just looking at the big hot dog, which consists of bread, two sausages, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and lots of straw potatoes.

Exactly what I need right now.

We sat down and ordered our respective snacks, the stick even chose the same as me claiming that a pair of warriors should eat the same thing.

- Well, I'll basically explain how our city works for you to understand a little better- I focus my attention on it- we are separated into five kingdoms: the Müller kingdom, which has a level of command very similar to the Willer kingdom, they are at a level average in terms of strength. The Jacksons, to which I am a Luna, we have a high level of strength and power, as well as the Collinses. Finally, the kingdom of the Martins, which is the kingdom of the supreme alpha, which has an extremely invaluable strength, power and dominance - I notice a tone of pride when passing me the last information.

- So this last kingdom is the most powerful?- I try to understand better.

- Yes, my son was the first supreme alpha ever, he was about to take over the Jackson kingdom when he was chosen to lead not only one kingdom, but all the others- I'm surprised by all that, the guy should be really powerful for such.

- How was he chosen?- I ask and scold myself for being so interested in her son's life story.

But what's too much? It's important to keep me informed.

- The mark, our scriptures made it clear that the supreme chosen one would have the mark of sovereignty and he acquired it when he reached his greatest age- incredible, if I were human and didn't know about the existence of wolves, I would certainly be freaking out about all this, which makes me think...

- How do you know I'm a wolf? After all, you wouldn't tell me this if you didn't know—I know the answer is a bit obvious, but I want confirmation.

- His Scarlet scent, I can feel that he is a wolf even if he is strangely very weak - she says thoughtfully.

We are interrupted by the snacks that have just arrived and we pause to enjoy those delicacies, heavens, that was extremely tasty. The stick that was a bit bored before, soon has both hands around the huge hot dog and I can say that I'm not different from him.

- That's really good Scalet- says taking another big bite and smearing the sauces all over his little face. Me and Kath, I found out her name is Katherine, we had a lot of laughs at that little hungry guy.

We had a very pleasant time talking about different random subjects that made us laugh out loud, they were just amazing and adorable.

After a long time, I finally made friends.

Close to six in the afternoon we said goodbye, it was already late and the little stick had been yawning with sleep for a long time, that little one was completely exhausted.

- I want to thank you for everything Scarlet, it was a true angel that appeared in my puppy's life- hug me one more time and now I gladly return it.

- Imagine Katherine, I did what I would like to be done for me if I was in the same situation- I smile in her direction.

- I'm grateful for that and since I want us to keep in touch I'll invite you, tomorrow will be a friend's daughter's birthday, would you like to attend?- I'm apprehensive about going since I wouldn't know anyone other than her, but I finally accept after seeing her hopeful look.

- It won't be a nuisance right? Wouldn't it be better to let the birthday girl know about my presence?- I ask.

- The birthday girl won't be present Scarlet and before you ask me why I'm going to summarize the story, Elisa was kidnapped at birth, but unfortunately no matter how hard we looked we couldn't find her at all. Therefore, in order not to leave such an important date blank, the Collinses chose to celebrate her birthday anyway - it says it all in one breath and strangely my heart weighs with that information.

- I'll go- unexpectedly I find myself agreeing- give me your number and then we exchange messages about the address and time.

After writing down his number on my cell phone, I learned that it would be a costume party so the use of a mask was essential, I thanked him mentally for being able to better hide my eyes. We say goodbye again while a little straw mutters that warriors never part.

I wanted to put this little boy in a little pot and keep it.

"'Cause they say home is where your heart is set in stone

Is where you go when you're alone

Is where you go to rest your bones

It's not just where you lay your head

It's not just where you make your bed

As long as we're together, does it matter where we go?

man, man"

"Because they say home is where your heart is unchanging

It's where you go when you're alone

It's where you go to rest your bones

It's not just where you lay your head

It's not just where you make your bed

As long as we're together, does it matter where we go?

home, home"