Page 2 of Emerald Moon (Pitch Mountain Pack #2)

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They had two options for the hike to the campground.

The first went straight there. The other led to a waterfall first before making its way there.

Jo was delighted when Cass suggested the waterfall route, but that delight quickly faded as they realized the pace with which Cass took on a trail.

She kept pausing when she noticed birds and taking notes in a small notebook she carried with her.

Jo was used to seeing how quickly they could reach the destination. They could go slow on a trail, but only if the conversation was good and, since the car, they hadn’t done much of that. Cass was absorbed in her task. Also, the slower they walked, the more Jo was being eaten alive by mosquitoes.

They weighed their options. The trail only went one direction. If they went ahead, Cass could catch up and they could enjoy more time at the waterfall. But that would probably be rude.

Jo felt an itch spreading throughout their body. Whatever. It was worth it to at least ask. “Hey Cass?”

“Yeah?”

“Mind if I go on ahead?” Jo motioned to the trail ahead of them. “I can meet you at the waterfall.”

“I don’t mind. I want you to enjoy yourself, too. See you there.” Cass smiled in a way that made guilt pinch at Jo’s stomach, but the moment they turned and walked away, the taste of freedom won.

By the time Jo reached the waterfall, they were sweaty, panting, and grinning from ear to ear.

They dipped their feet into the cold water.

This was it. This is why it was worth it to rush to the destination.

The view was stunning. Here Jo wanted to take their time and soak it all in.

The trail was a means to an end — a challenge with a built-in reward.

When Cass finally caught up, Jo was half asleep on a rock with their feet dangling in the water. She sat down beside Jo and tucked her notebook into her backpack and the pencil behind her ear.

“Spot some good birds?”

“All birds are good.”

Jo puffed out a laugh. The way she said it with such an honest expression was adorable. “You’re right.”

“Do you want to know my favorite bird?”

“Absolutely, yes.”

”Carolina Chickadee.”

“Why are they your favorite?” Jo asked.

“They’re the cutest.”

“Oh, I thought you’d have some fact that made them the most interesting, but I’m all for loving things because they’re cute.”

Cass smiled. “Did you have a nice hike?”

“It was great, but this —“ Jo gestured to the view in front of them. “This is what it’s all about.”

“It is spectacular. I haven’t been here before.”

“Me neither! Always meant to, but never made it out here. That’s how a lot of things go, though, isn’t it? You have all these intentions, but then other stuff gets in the way.”

Moment passed before Cass spoke, the sound of the rushing water filling the air between them. “I find that all those little detours are just as important as the other things I thought I wanted to do. At least that’s how I try to look at things.”

Jo turned to look at her, a warm feeling in her chest from the sentiment. “I like that. I’d probably feel a lot less like a failure if I thought that way, too.” They laughed.

Cass’ smile faded. “A failure?”

“Well, yeah, I mean I’m thirty. I’ve never had a long-term relationship. I can’t seem to pick a degree and finish college. And I only work an hourly job at my pack bakery without any plans of getting a ‘real’ job. My life is, like, only detours.”

Cass nodded in a way that made Jo feel listened to, but not in a comfortable way. They were used to people laughing and piling on with their own failures, not actually listening. It was nice, but unsettling.

“None of those things sound like failures.”

“Tell that to my mom for me, will you?” Jo laughed again, kicking their feet in the water.

The sound of the rushing water filled Jo’s ears.

“Our lives have taken similar shapes, though I’ve had some long-term relationships and finished my degree.

Those things don’t make me special, though.

They were detours in their own right. I work at a butcher shop and a flower shop.

There’s no use for my biology degree at either of those places.

And while each relationship was significant in shaping my life in some way, they obviously didn’t work out.

Everything is a detour. I think if you go through life in one direction, that’s fine if you’re happy, but I’m happiest when I chase whatever is best for right now. ”

“I guess I’m just confused about what’s best for me.

I don’t have enough of a backbone to decide for myself yet.

” Jo waved a hand. “Don’t mind me. That’s part of my personality, too.

I make things gloomy and weird for no reason sometimes.

But thanks. You’ve given me some stuff to think about.

” They smiled. “So, what’s better — butcher or florist? ”

“Well the butcher is owned by my pack, so I take the most pride in that one – sort of like you and your pack’s bakery, I bet. Though, the florist was started by a fellow pack member. Some of us take turns helping him run the place. He does all the arranging. We just run the register.”

“That’s sweet. I mean, you’re right. I do take pride in the bakery, and I actually love working there. It’s my mom that makes me think it’s a detour, not a destination.”

“What do you want to do?”

“Make really good macarons.”

“An excellent goal,” Cass said so matter-of-factly that, for a second, Jo believed it.

“And what do you want to do?”

“I just want to be happy and helpful. And I want my life to have as little drama as possible.”

“I hear that,” Jo agreed. “It’s like, I love hearing about other people’s drama, but I never want to be involved in any of it. Give me that second-hand goodness, but do not include me ever.”

Cass laughed and Jo smiled at the sound, rich and deep like her voice. “I have to admit, gossip is sometimes a guilty pleasure of mine, as well.”

“Who said anything about feeling guilty? I freaking love it.”

“You and my brother would get along. He’s a collector of stories, too.”

“‘Collector of stories’ makes me sound a lot better than just ‘gossip-fiend.’ What’s your brother like?”

“Quiet and broody. So, like how I can be, but far worse.”

“You seem to be plenty talkative today.”

“Certain people make me feel comfortable enough to speak more. You’re that way, I suppose.” Cass glanced at Jo. “Like I said, we’re twins, my brother and I. I guess we could have turned out the opposite of one another, but we’re quite alike.”

“And you said he’s a werewolf, too?”

“Yes, same pack and everything.” Cass pointed to her chest. “I joined first, though. Alexander copied me.”

“You’re a trendsetter.”

“Or he just has to do everything I do and try to be better than me.”

“Is he better than you at anything?”

Cass raised an eyebrow. “He’s better at absolutely nothing.”

Jo took in her defiant expression and grinned. To their surprise, the friend crush still wasn’t there. Instead, the more they spoke, the more being around Cass felt like slipping into an old, favorite sweater after it’d been tucked away in the closet waiting for the right season.

The day had been unsurprisingly hot and humid, but the summer nights in Hickorywood had a crispness to them that was more than just the relief that came with a break from the oppressive heat. It was too warm for a fire, but they made a small one because they both agreed the s’mores were worth it.

They sat at their campsite with their backs to the tent on foldable stools they’d carried with them. The night sky poked through the trees and Jo could see a sliver of the moon.

“Kind of makes you wish the full moon was sooner,” Cass said, pointing up at the moon peeking through the trees.

Jo smiled weakly. “I guess so.”

“Still getting used to your wolf, I take it?”

They nodded. “Alpha Parisa said it takes time, but I’m impatient. Running with my pack was everything I wanted when I asked Alpha Parisa to change me, but I hate that I can’t remember anything, and I hate that it hurts so much to come back. It’s so embarrassing to need my pack’s help.”

“I’m sure they don’t see it that way. After all, they all went through the same thing.”

Jo thought about all the times the pack had helped them come back from their wolf, in addition to all the times the pack, especially Wil, helped them when they weren’t feeling like themselves.

Jo knew they were a lot to handle with their bipolar disorder, as well medicated as they were, and they didn’t want to be a burden on anyone more than they already were.

They didn’t share any of that. It wasn’t the right time. “You’re right,” is what they said instead. “I just have such a great time with my pack when we’re human, so I wish I could remember what we do as wolves, too.”

“The ability to recall your time as a wolf comes sooner than being able to transition back on your own.”

“Really?” Jo perked up. “So I could expect it soon?”

“I’m not sure how soon, but, for me, I definitely remember being able to recall parts of my time as a wolf before I was able to come back without my packmates' help.” Cass smiled fondly.

“Those early memories are some of my best. Don’t you get a sense of how your wolf felt while they were in control?

“I think so. I mostly just feel tired afterwards but you’re right, there is a lingering contentment I feel after a full moon run. And I have this weird, buzzy energy inside of me. That must be something.”

“It absolutely is. That’s your wolf sharing with you what they experienced.” In the firelight, Cass had a glint in her eye, a spark of something more lively. “Would you like to run as wolves now?”

Jo was tempted after a day spent in the woods to let go and let the wolf run, but they didn’t know Cass well enough yet. They needed to be around people they trusted to let the wolf be free. Jo needed to know someone could care for them. “I don’t know. My wolf is a lot to handle.”

“I can handle them.”