Chapter one - Rumor
[REN]
"Slow down, will you?" he yelled from behind me. A small smile crept on my lips as I started running just a bit faster, ignoring his pleads for me to slow down. After all, this was a part of our training, not a peaceful walk in the park.
"Ren, you're about to kill me! Please, slow down!", he once again started begging. I don't get it; I don't. How can a grown man act like a baby after running for only three hours?
I sighed and forced myself to stop. Not just slow down, I stood next to the tracks and waited, obviously irritated. Nate was less than a mile away from me, panting for breaths, his right palm pressed roughly to his side. This better be fast.
Soon, as he ran out of the forest zone, I crossed my arms in front of my chest and glued the fakest smile on my face.
"Since when you are so fast?" he asked, as he got closer to me and stopped in his tracks, leaning down a bit, adjusting his weight on hands, placed over his knees.
"Since you left me to travel around the world, maybe?" I said sarcastically. If it sounded like a question, he didn't catch a glimpse of my sarcasm. The safest way to mess with him.
"Holy Moon Goddess, you weren't joking, when you talked about literally living around the training grounds," he gasped and placed his right hand onto his chest, faking a surprise.
Meet my best friend, Nate. Well, Nathaniel, he hates his "full name," so we go by the shortened version of it.
Sometimes, when I want to irritate him, I do use his full name, each time ending up with him storming after me, yelling and threatening to kill me. Good, old times.
Anyway, Nate is one year older than I am; he recently returned from his 'I need to find someone' journey. He didn't see or find him/her yet, but he won't lose hope, it's in his DNA, to hope for best no matter what comes his way. My best friend is gay. The sassiest, most dramatic Queen I know for sure. I love him more than anyone, he and our packs Beta is the only family I have, and I'll stay thankful for having them until the end of my days.
"I might have trained a bit more recently, but I have an excellent reason for that," I said as we slowly started walking towards the packhouse. I can't force Nate to run again; he might puke his lungs out, nobody should see something so utterly disgusting.
"And that reason is?", yes, that's my best friend, nosy as always. Some wolves don't change, I guess.
I giggled, trying to dodge his question. Not the best idea. He soon stood in front of me, completely frozen in place. He narrowed his eyebrows and squirmed, demanding answers.
By the look on his face, I have two options - one; explain myself, two; stand here until I pass out and spend the night outside because he won't let me go if I won't grant him answers.
I let out the breath; I didn't know I was holding.
"Rumor has been going around. I mean, it's just a rumor so that it might turn out as a cruel joke, nothing more. Did I say it's a rumor already? Yeah, well, the rumor has been going around. People say that Alpha Valentino might visit our pack. Maybe. I don't know. Rumors, you know", I was looking down at my feet, as I whispered my last words. I kept switching my weight from one leg to another while nibbling on my nails and biting down my lower lip. Do I look nervous? Pft, never!
"Is he coming to destroy or take over?" Nate casually asked, his hands sliding into pockets of sweatpants he is wearing.
"I have no idea, rumors, you know," I laughed and decided to rush towards the packhouse. I slipped past Nate like a little snake and ran.
"Yes, run away from me. I shall find you anyway! Also, take a shower, you reek of a filthy dog!", Nate yelled, from behind me.
Now I genuinely started laughing. Nate knows how to cheer me up, for sure, even if it's just one of his 'wannabe' offensive jokes.
"We're going to a party after evening training, make sure that you have your outfit, and makeup lined out! You and I, we shall slay that unholy place!" he yelled, his voice calm, yet filled with a disturbing amount of excitement.
My legs stopped moving on the instant moment; I stood frozen as if I would have bumped into an invisible wall. My breath fastened, hands trembled, heart raced so violently, it felt like it could rip through my ribcage with ease.
"No," I sighed, as this one, simple and unimportant word escaped my lips.
"Did I asked for your opinion? I don't think so," he stated, placing his hand on my shoulder. I didn't even notice how he moved closer to me, even more - this close. Damn it; I have to get myself together, I can't be so careless. Next time it might be an enemy who approaches me. Nate winked at me, and the brightest smile ever was glued on his face. Ugh, why can't I say no to that smile of his? Because he's my best friend, he's my family.
Defeat.
"Ok," I whispered, finally gaining enough courage to admit my defeat out loud.
Nate instantly clapped his hands like a little pup, getting something he wished for on Christmas morning. He gestured towards the packhouse and kept whining about how we won't have enough time if we won't hurry up — drama queen.
I rolled my eyes and slowly walked away from him.
"Keep rolling them, Ren, you might find your brain back there," he spoke from behind, obviously amused from his own "joke."
"One day I might snap that neck of yours, watch yourself, Williams!", I yelled before flipping him off.
Well, this is going to be a nightmare.
