All Chapters of Panther: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Silence.Silence was buzzing in my ears and had been for the last few minutes.I was awake. Sort of. I could hear things around me and feel my body, but it seemed as though everything wasn't quite in sync yet. So, for now, I was just laying here. Listening.I could hear the a.c running, so I assumed I was indoors somewhere. I could smell Ike all around me, and whatever I was laying on felt soft and warm. I was probably laying in our bed.My entire body ached, and don't even get me started on my head. I'm sure it would be much worse if not for my panther healing, but I could still feel everything screaming and throbbing in pain.I wanted to wake up now.I struggled trying to pry my eyes open for a few minutes before they finally listened. It was so bright. Why was it bright? Shit. Was it the next day? Did I really miss my after party? I never got to eat.My eyes felt crusty and heavy as I blinked, trying to clear my vision. Finally, my eyes cleared enough for me to focus on where I was

It looked like there had been a frat party here last night.That was my first thought when I stepped outside our home and into the cool, fresh morning air.There are tables everywhere, all scattered and missing chairs. The aforementioned missing seats are in a circle, musical chairs maybe? There are bottles and cups and other trash littered everywhere. I shake my head, bend down and pick up an empty beer can. Wolves who litter. I continue to pick up trash here and there, piling it onto a stray table for lack of a better spot. It was ironic to me how much wolves liked to preach that humans were filthy monsters who polluted the earth with their existence, and yet here I was, picking up after their night of debauchery. "What are you doing?" A voice pierces the silence, making me jump a little. It's Nate. He's fully dressed and to be honest, looks like he's been up and ready for hours. Did he stay up all night too?"I was just picking up some of this trash before it ends up in the forest

I stopped for a moment, watching her. She looked so cute, in her baggy outfit and messy half dried hair. She was picking cans up and setting them on a table, grumbling like an angry mother the entire time.Finally, I started walking towards her. I stop behind her and shove my hands into my pockets. "What are you doing?" I ask after a few moments of just watching her pick cans up. She makes a little "whoo" noise and jumps, quickly whipping around to meet my eyes. I had to fight a smile. Such a killer warrior and yet I can still manage to startle her. She seems to settle a bit once she sees it's me."I was just picking up some of this trash before it ends up in the forest." I feel my heart fluttering again. Oh, so now recycling gives you a hard on?It takes me a moment to notice she's fallen silent and is staring down at the ground with a sad look in her eyes."How are you feeling?" I ask, taking a step closer. She rolls her eyes and smirks before opening her arms. I swallow thickly and

Even though Ike had agreed to let me go alone, he didn't look happy about it.I think he had finally realized I had been suckering him along and that's what annoyed him more than anything. He did make me take one of the pack cars so I wouldn't have to deal with rouge wolves in the woods from here to there. I was okay with it. I found out it would've been a three day walk and I ended up being kind of relieved he was making us take a car.We were standing at the edge of the forest now, me giving Ike a goodbye hug and Nate lingering behind us, clearly eager to get going."Don't talk to people you don't know please. And charge your phone so I can call you if I need to." Ike nagged me as I backed away. I nodded and smiled at Willow and Levi, who were saying goodbye as well. Actually quite a few members of the pack were floating near us, trying to discreetly wave us off."Thanks mom." I say, rolling my eyes. Ike grabs my chin roughly and plants a firm kiss on my mouth before letting me go a

"I'm sorry. I really was just trying to get alone time with you when I was kissing Ike's ass. I know that doesn't make it any better, but if you think about it, I was doing it for you." I look up at him through my eyelashes and meet his gaze. He was already watching me. "The car thing is one percent my fault though. I'm sorry. I had no idea. I don't particularly like long car rides either, but I can tell it's affecting you more than me. So, my bad."He's just staring at me. But it's still making me want to clench my thighs. I swear I see his nostrils flare. He can't smell me, can he? We're not that close yet. Right?"Here you go." I untangle myself from Nate's arm as the waitress sets our food and two cups of coffee in front of us. She's no longer making goo goo eyes at Nate at least. She slides a bowl filled with cream onto the table and then walks off."So, Cleo." I hum an acknowledgment as I pull the toothpick out of my sandwich. "Can I ask some questions about you now?" I nod, tak