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Swinging around, my heart beating hard in my chest, I throw my hands across the door as I stare at the 6’5”, burly black bear shifter known as Thorne. His deep black hair hangs just below his ears. Arms that are the size of tree logs are crossed in front of him smattered in thick, coarse black hair. His bushy eyebrows are furrowed together as he watches me.

“Oh, hey there Thorne. How did you know I was here?”

He breathes out hard through his nose. Almost like steam releasing from a kettle. “You don’t think I can smell your kind poking their nose around places they aren’t supposed to be?”

I act like I’m sniffing my armpits. “I didn’t think I smelled today, although it’s been a few days since I showered. Probably should do that…” I trail off as I move around the small room, picking up scattered projects thrown on each surface.

The ground thumps and almost bounces as he storms over to where I’m holding up some sort of leather thing that I couldn’t figure out if I tried. He snatches it from my hand before slamming it down on the table.

“You know you’re not supposed to be here, wolf.”

“Easy there big guy…I’m just here to ask a question. Then you can go back to,” I pick up some other project, dangling it between my fingers, “whatever it is you’re doing.”

He snatches the weird thing from my hands before glaring at me. “Get on with it then,” he says through gritted teeth.

Dipping my hand back into my bag, I pull out the compass and dangle it between us. “Someone asked you to make this and I want to know who.”

He snorts before turning around, storming off to his work table.

Smirking, I follow behind him. I’ll get my answer. He’s shuffling through a box when he produces two more that look exactly the same as the one I’m holding. My shoulders drop.

“As you can see, I make a bunch of them. Someone must have bought it from the vendor spotlight of Summer Solstice.” He shrugs his shoulders before dropping them back down into the box.

All my hope deflates when I realize this is a deadend. His tent had just as many people walking through it as mine did. There’s no way he would be able to pinpoint who bought this one.

Wait.

I flip over my compass holding it up between us flat in my hand. “What about this? Does it ring a bell? Surely you don’t carve all that into every one of them?”

His massive hand reaches over and picks up the compass, bringing it closer to his face. There’s almost a twinkle in his eye, like he does recognize it. But it disappears before I can say anything.

He plops it back down into my waiting palm. “I don’t carve messages into my leather. Pretty designs, sure. But not any messages. Sorry pup. Now, find yourself back on the other side of our territory, where you belong.”

He turns back to his chisel and slab of leather without a backwards glance. He knows I’ll leave, already risking enough being here. Not that our little town or packs will really do anything, but I don’t want to spend the rest of my night being lectured about why we respect each other’s pack lands and blah blah blah.

Holding the flap of my bag open, I slide the compass back into it while I look around at all the pieces strewn about. He sure could use someone to organize this mess.

Sneaking back out the front door, I slip down the side of the shop and back onto the common areas of the lands. Each pack having gaps between the lands so other shifters can move around without needing permission every single time.

I’m back to square one in my search to figure out who’s my mystery wolf, but I’ll have to put it on the bottom of the list. It’s finals week and I don’t want to be in school a minute longer than I need to.

Chapter 13

Selene

Saturday, June 28th - Graduation Day

My simple black dress hugs my curves as I shift from side to side in my full length mirror. I can’t believe this day is finally here. When you are growing up, graduation always feels like it’s forever away, until you are there and then it’s where did all the years go? Your nerves are shot from stressing over finals, turning everything in, making sure you have your outfit, and all the unknowns swirling around in your head.

For most, this is the final step before adulthood. For me it’s my second to last step, but the questions and fears are all still there. No more school means no more tests, but it also means entering the workforce. Being an adult wolf in the pack, instead of one ofthe pups. It’s a whole new way of life, one that I’m terrified to step into.

After a final exam in all my classes, and turning in the last of my school books, I’m glad this week is over. At least for the sake of the amount of stress I’ve been under. I’ve not been back to the valley since Sunday. Barely having enough time to sleep, let alone spend hours in the wildflowers with Shadow.

Then there’s the dreams that are more intense than ever, not sure if it’s from the stress or what. But, I’ll be glad to sleep well tonight and maybe all day tomorrow.

Knuckles lightly rap against my door before it slowly swings open. Mom peeks her head around the door searching for me.

“Over here Mom.”