Diesel swooped me into his arms and spun me around. A cheerful laugh vibrating throughout his chest. He pulled back just enough to kiss me. People giggled and applauded around us which made my cheeks burn. Six months down the road, things were starting to get better. It's still hard when I think about her, and I wish she were here to see me become Luna, but I'm okay. I'm Luna now. Irma is so very proud of me. Diesel couldn't be happier. The pack's thoughts bouncing around my head couldn't be happier. I now got to lead beside him. His eyes sparkled when he looked down at me. He was the rest of my life. Everyone shifted - I climbed onto Alastor's back- and we took a few celebratory laps around the pack.
This was it.
"I love you too mom." I kiss her forehead for the sixth time. She sobbed and tried to clutch to my baggy sweater with our state team on it. Tears ruined her face and smeared her makeup. Her brown eyes were blurry with water. "Please don't leave me." She whispered. I chuckled and wrapped my arms around her again. "Don't be so dramatic, I'll be back." I soothingly pet her blonde hair. "Stay safe kid," Dad patted my back. I looked up and smiled at him. He had a receding brown hairline and vibrant goldish eyes. He stood a head taller than me and my mother. "No promises," I wink and beam at him. With a couple of more hugs, my father helped me haul my suitcases into the back of my silver Suv. I kissed his cheek before climbing into the
I was out of the room as soon as my eyes were open. The vibes I was getting were setting me on edge. After running to the car, I locked myself in and tried to calm my breathing. I turned the car on and before I went to pull out, a familiar face caught my eye. I locked eyes with crystal blue ones. She was leaning on the door, her arms crossed over her chest and a cigarette in between her lips. She took a drag off the cancer stick and waved me off. I nervously waved back before reversing and swerving out of the parking lot. Utah here I come. The drive went by quickly from the time I left the hotel and then soon I saw the Utah sign. I smiled when I realized I was only one state closer. Utah was very pretty, the dusty orange earth made sculptures. The road was straight for hours, the pavement cracked. My car was the only one I saw for miles. I pulled into the first gas station I had seen ye
Ah, Nebraska. Large open fields and small festering towns. Driving through another city, I stopped at a red light. A father and his son walked hand and hand crossed the crosswalk. My lips upturned in a smile when Wolly popped into my mind. Nebraska was very bright, but it seemed to go by way too quickly. Suddenly I was in Iowa! This state had me flabbergasted. One momentI was driving throughvintage-looking towns and nextI was passing skyscrapers.My phone rang and it didn't surprise me when Eliza's name was on the dash. "Eliza! I'm in Iowa!" I yelled before she got the chance to say anything. Honestly, I was bouncing in excitement. It was eight at night but I didn't want to stop driving. "You're about five to six hours away!" She squealed and I joined in with
"Wakie Wakie California!" A groan rippled off my lips as my eyes open. Her face lit up at me and her giggle filled the room. "What time is it?" My voice was deep due to the lack of use. "Four." She replies, my eyes shoot open. "Four?!" I jump up, hitting my head on the bunk bed. I grab my skull in pain while muttering curse words under my breath. "Yea, we've got work to do silly!" I glare up at her and stand, stretching and cracking my body. I run a hand through my tangled hair and then dragged it down my face. "Can I take a shower first?" I mumble, her bottom lip jutted out and she contained a laugh. "If you wanna take two in
The next morning passed quickly. We did the morning routine and had a hell of a breakfast. After a shower, Eliza finally convinced me to get on Badger. I'm not gonna lie when I said I was afraid. He was huge and unpredictable. But she assured that he had never bucked her off or been nasty like that. But she did comment on his nipping. I was not prepared to be bitten by the monster of a horse. She geared him up and he followed her out into the pasture. I was pretty sure I was supposed to follow too, but I found myself slinking away from the barn."Dan? Oh come on, don't tell me you're chickening out." She came out of the barn and grabbed hold of my arm."Maybe it's not a good idea," I whispered. My throat had dried up. But she disregarded my fear and scoffed before pulling me out into the pasture. She shoved me toward his side and direct
7 o'clock seemed to be teasing me. It came very slowly. Waking up at four and doing all the chores, it felt too slow. Taunting almost. But after breakfast, it was time for me to hit the road if I wanted to make it on time. I jumped into my uniform and threw my hair into a ponytail. Just like the time this morning, the drive was dreadfully slow. But I wouldn't let the time kill my mood. I was excited. More than I had been in a while. I was working at a zoo! How cool is that? Finally, I pulled into the parking lot and walked into the office. I clocked in and found Kari."All right new girl, we're just starting breakfast," She handed me two buckets. "This one is Teddy's and that one that one is for Cuddles." What odd names. They must be red pandas or otters or something. But when she pushed me toward the tigers, I looked at her in confusion.
I soon fell into the routine. Feeding in the mornings, cleaning up pens that needed an extra hand, and tour duty. I put my ten cents in anywhere they needed me. Each day was a bit different, I would feed different animals or clean different pens, or get different questions during tours. But the one thing that never changed, was Alastor. According to the manager, I was on Alpha duty. I was the one to feed him every meal. It was kinda an inside joke around here. I was the Alpha's little pet."Hey Dan," Kari came around the corner while I was fixing up Alastor's lunch. "Good to see he hasn't ripped you apart yet." She patted my back. Some other staff members that were working on the females' lunches decided to eavesdrop."More like got her pregnant. You see the way he looks at her? Plus, he won't even consider touching any of our females a
"You're what?!" I hid under my blanket, attempting to hide from the wrath of the curly-headed demon yelling at me. Good thing I waited tillafterbreakfast to tell her I was going on a date with Lucas, or she'd wake up the whole house."I can't let you go alone with that guy!" She screeched and I suddenly had a light bulb moment. I threw the blanket off me and tackled her to the floor. First, she yelped in surprise but then started hitting me."Eliza! I have a brilliant idea!" She scoffed in disbelief."You? Brilliant idea? You're going on a date with a complete stranger." I pouted and she raised her brow."He's not a complete stranger," I mumbled. "Anyway, why don't we go on a double date?!" Her eyes went wide for
Diesel swooped me into his arms and spun me around. A cheerful laugh vibrating throughout his chest. He pulled back just enough to kiss me. People giggled and applauded around us which made my cheeks burn. Six months down the road, things were starting to get better. It's still hard when I think about her, and I wish she were here to see me become Luna, but I'm okay. I'm Luna now. Irma is so very proud of me. Diesel couldn't be happier. The pack's thoughts bouncing around my head couldn't be happier. I now got to lead beside him. His eyes sparkled when he looked down at me. He was the rest of my life. Everyone shifted - I climbed onto Alastor's back- and we took a few celebratory laps around the pack.This was it.
He re-wrapped my sliced hands and gave me a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. I was focusing on little things. Like how gently he held my hands. Was that a trait that was taught, or something from experience? Maybe he was born with it and that's why he went into this field. Why would anyone want to be a doctor? Having to experience all this sadness every day. I wanted to ask him, question after question to focus on something else other than this burning feeling in my chest. But I don't think I could anyway. My mouth was very dry."How are you doing Ms. James?" I nodded glumly which he frowned at. I stared at the wall, not wanting to look into his eyes. Diesel wrapped his arm around my waist and helped me to my feet. Penny barreled through the doors when we walked back into the waiting room. Her eyes were crazed, her face blotchy with tears. She saw me and sprinted to my side.
DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE SENSITIVE TO GORE. SKIP TO ************Eliza flew across the intersection and landed on the opposite cross-walk, her body skipping in between the white lines. The shinny truck skidded to a stop, the smell of burnt tires filled the air. The commotion on the sidewalks halted instantly. An odd feeling filling the air, one I had never experienced. People's gasps of fear were loud, but the numerous amounts of people dialing 911 were louder. The glaring sun now watched behind thick clouds. The street was covered in shadows but her firey hair seemed to be like a lighthouse, laying in the middle of the road. A scream ripped through me. I clawed against Diesel's arms that were caged around me. Finally, he let me go when the man in the truck stepped out of his vehicle. The man looked surprised, his eyes wide with fear. I ran toward her motionles
The City was too packed to drive through so we left the car at the hotel and took out on foot. The tops of buildings were blurred by the sun and the sound of nature was completely obscured by honking cars, yelling drivers, and shuffling feet. You could also smell the difference in the air due to the pollution and the hundreds of lungs. We finally walked into a breakfast cafe, the smell of bakery was a new hit in the face compared to outside. Eliza, Diesel, and I slid into a booth and started up some casual conversation that was interrupted by a waitress."What would you girls like?" Diesel asked while sharing his menu with me. Eliza sucked on her teeth across from us while staring deeply into the menu."I'll take a coffee and a buttered bagel please," I said simply and Diesel seconded me.
The drive into town was long, I wasn't exactly sure where his cabin was even located. Eliza and I jammed in the back seat to whatever we commanded Diesel to put on. Which was mostly Disney music. I didn't know exactly what Kari was going to say when I got there but I think I could take an easy guess. Pulling in, Eliza was impossible to control and we lost her almost imminently. You couldn't keep that girl away from the rhino enclosure if you wanted to. Diesel and I ambled through the park and even with the incident almost a month behind us, people still stared at me. Diesel kept a hovering hand on my lower back and his brows were pushed down. Though questions bubbled at people's lips, no one approached. Brett-curious by the sudden silence of the crowd- turned from the Tazmanian Devil's and searched for the cause. His eyes rounded and a smile flitted across his face. He eyed Diesel and cautiously pulled me into a hug.
I woke up to warm hands around my face. I mumbled an incomprehensible response to which he chuckled. When I didn't open my eyes he stubbornly wrapped his arms around me and hoisted me off the bed at great speed. I let out a sound of surprise. When I was upside over his shoulder I finally could take a breath. I stared down at the white tile and panted in shock."Diesel!" I exasperated. He chuckled again before flipping me back over and holding me tight to his chest. My feet floated off the ground and my face was not an inch from him. His eyes were lit with excitement and his face was crinkled with a huge smile. Butterflies attacked my stomach and my heart dropped."Mon amour I want to apologize for last night's occurrences," his smile flattered and his eyes drifted to the floor. "Thing's have already been taken care of this morning. Thou
-Self-harm trigger warning-"Here we go!" Jamie said while yanking the zipper up my back. This dress was way too small for me. Why did I have to wear a dress anyway? I was just meeting everyone. Not like its a party. She cussed when the zipper halted halfway up my back."Suck it in Ms. Snicker!" She hissed. What does that even mean? I sucked in my stomach and when the zipper went all the way up, I let out a heavy breath. She spun me around and grinned at me. Then she sauntered from the room. I dared a peek in the mirror then regretted it immediately. I was trapped in a tight black dress. It stuck to me like a second skin. It was off the shoulder and the bottom reached mid-thigh. I grabbed the bottom and tugged it down self-consciously. I turned around and gasped softly. It was even shorter in the back. This dress showed my every flaw. B
Just like I thought, Diesel was sleeping beside me. I chuckled softly and ran my hand through his hair. His eyes slowly opened and a lazy smile lit his face."Good morning mon amour," he whispered."Mornin," his smile grew. After getting dressed Diesel and I walked downstairs and moaned at the smell of breakfast. Alma and Jamie were in the kitchen again."We made omelets," Alma said, not bothering to turn around."Have fun last night?" Jamie wiggled her brows. I stared at her confusingly before looking over to Diesel. He was glaring at her and his face was hot pink. He could read what she was thinking right? It clicked for me then when she wiggled her brows again."No no no no no!" I
Diesel was there when I woke up. His hand still wrapped around mine, his sleeping face next to my pillow, his body crouched beside the bed. I smiled softly. I squeezed my hand out of his successfully and stretched my body. My calf stung when I slid onto the ground.. But it didn't stop me from trying to shove Diesel onto the bed. After that failed, I crawled back onto the bed and tried pulling. I got him halfway up when Jamie peeked her head in with a raised brow. I laughed nervously when she snorted. She helped me get the rest of him on the bed and I lightly tucked him in. I pushed his hair from his face, smiling at how peaceful he looked. Jamie grabbed my hand and towed me from the room."We're making breakfast Luna, care to join?" She asked. Luna? I didn't question it. There was too much information I still needed to learn, I'll get it eventually. I nodded.