Untitled chapter
His Impression
It’s just me……………
Let me just start by saying I am different. Though I hear in my head, every teenager I have ever met, say those exact same words. For me thought, it is true. I don’t know anything about my linage. I was given up when I was only a month old. Tossed into the system like many other kids. I however was never adopted, even as an infant no one wanted me. See I was left with a large black line running down my chin. Not like a birth mark but an actual tattoo. I guess no one wanted to look like a sadistic parent, and getting an infant with a tattoo would definitely draw some looks. I know because I lived with those looks every single day of my life. I also have a scar, it’s on my palm. It’s the infinity symbol but in a cross, like some messed up clover. My hair is reddish brown, I would say a light auburn. Or as the kids in school called it, shit brown. I honestly think they eat too much fat in their diet in order to get shit brown color, but what do I know. I have tried to dye my hair, I’ve been every color under the rainbow, and the next day however, it is right back to my natural color. I gave up on it long ago. Same with cutting it, I cut it short or even shave it, as I did in my rebellion days and the next day, it’s just above my hips. My eyes though, they are emerald green, not like contact green but they actually change color, continually. One minute they are dark like clouds passed the sun and the next they are bright and vibrant like looking into the sun. The change is always going, never stops, it moves slowly so you can’t actually see it with the naked eye as it changes. One minute to one minute. I’m also freakishly strong, even though I am 5’8 and only weight 120 pounds. I can bench press over 400 pounds. Not many people know that about me. I think I am strange enough in looks without the he-man power.
I asked my case worker who my parents where, if she ever had any idea. I just got a shrug in response. I gave up asking when I was about ten. I never had a friend, besides my paper dolls. I don’t think they really count. I was an average student, I passed with a B average. Never joined any groups or sports, I mostly just went under the radar, I just blended in with a crowd.
My case worker came to me the day after I graduated. I figured this was going to be my “see-ya” talk. The one when they hand you a hundred dollar bill and say “hey it was nice knowing you.” Not that I really know but I heard the rumors growing up in the homes. She handed me a vanilla envelope instead. “This was with you, when you was found.” I remember those cold words and I remember feeling like she was lying to me right then. I had begged for years to know something anything and all I ever got was a cold shoulder. I remember how I ran my fingers around the envelope, wondering how it was so clean, not a dent or smudge on it. You would think in all those years someone would have opened it. I mean it’s not case workers aren’t the nosiest people you will ever meet. My life changed that day. The only thing in the letter was a business card with no name but a phone number.
“Hello Oliva.” Said a man’s voice. It was gruff but clear.
“Hi, um I am sorry I was given this number by my case worker. How, um how do you know my name?” I asked quizily
“Olivia things are going to change for you rather fast and I need you to keep this number with you, mesmerize it. I am the only link to you have to your past.” he replied shrugging off my question.
“Oaky, like if you’re a stalker or some weirdo I have enough crap going on that I don’t need a crazed fan to stalk me.” My defenses going up immediantlyat the notion of a past.
He laughed at my defiance “Olivia I am the only family you have. I need you to listen to me, your life depends on it.”
I stood in the coffee shop with the receiver to my ear looking out the windows. I didn’t have my own a phone and at the home there is 15 of us. So there is no privacy. I opted to borrow the phone in the coffee shop in town, it’s not much quieter but I knew no one would be ease dropping on a teenager on a phone.
After I left the coffee shop I followed my instructions and went straight back to the house, closed my door and started packing my stuff. I was 19 and I was an adult. I could leave when I wanted to. With everything packed I put my pillows under my covers to look like I was asleep. My head phones connected to a clock that played music set snuggly under the cover. Music blaring, it really did look like I was sleeping with my head phones on and anyone could have heard the music and not bother me. I needed to buy as much time as I could. My radio clock said it was almost 1am and time to go. I slipped my brown hoodie on over my black tank top. I choose my black skinny jeans and boots to complete the ensemble. Out my window I went as a black suv pulled up and parked out front. “Shit!” I mentally screamed as I took off behind the building. I could hear the screams and destruction going on in the home. I never looked back. Climbed the 6 foot fence and darted across the field. Did I mention with my he-man strength I am also fast? Really fast. I rounded the 8th block I had come to and came to a halt in front of a Man who undoubtly was my family. He is tall, like freakishly tall almost seven foot to be exact. He’s also built. Wide shoulders and brown hair that comes to his shoulders. His eyes shown that same green as mine. He has 4 lines down his chin and the same scar as me on his palm. He lifted it to halt me. “They’re at the home!” I huffed out catching my hands on my knees. Trying to catch my breath. he mutter a cuss word as he started scrambling to the driver seat of his truck. “Don’t just stand there! Get in!” I tossed my bag in the back as I slipped through the door onto the seat. The clock on the dash read 1:03a.m... My personal best and I couldn’t help but to grin.
All these years later and I still have no idea why I jumped into the truck with Uncle Mike. Maybe I had nothing better to do then see where life took me. I mean, I could have just jumped in the truck with a serial murderer. I don’t think it matter to me to much then of the whys. It’s the hows that I wonder about now.
That was six years ago. A lot has changed since then. Uncle Mike explained to me that I am freak because I am a shifter. Not like a werewolf or such nonsense that Hollywood tells spooky stories about. I shift into a full blown wolf. He explained there are shifters of many breeds. Birds, reptiles, even goats and monkeys. You can’t catch it like some disease it’s in your DNA, something you are born with. I’m friends with a bear shifter now. She’s the best, her name is Stormy. I’ll tell you more about her later. Uncle Mike and stormy helped me through my first shift. They also taught me love and friendship. Stormy taught me about good food. My butt and tummy belongs to her cooking skills. Uncle Mike and I train every day so I am not big by any means. I have learned a lot from him. He once was the warrior of our lands. He defended the place as well as my parents, the alfa and Luna. He wasn’t the beta, but he was next in line. We all have a high archy, like in the military. My parents, the alfa and Luna then the beta who takes over if anything happens to the alfa and he is the alfas right hand man. And it goes down from there. Uncle Mike was my mom’s brother. Uncle has taught me many skills including how to kill. That’s kind of my job now. I am a trained assassin. I will never be like my parents or my family. Sweet and loving completely understanding. I am vengeful and I take my job seriously. Uncle Mike sat me down one day and explained what had happened to them. He told me about another group of wolfs that wanted what we had. How our group always took in those in need and we had taken them in. They turned on us and all but three of us survived. He still didn’t know where the third had went off to. He didn’t know who the third person was but he seen a male figure leaving the lands that we now own. While everyone was dead and littered the ground. I have all but found a handful and killed them. The rest we have been hunting down slowly. They will show up, they always do.
For right now though I am happy the way things are. We live on hundreds of acres. A small town to our south with 600 people. Everyone knows everyone. There is a mountain to our north and we own well over the other side of it. Between is the valley where we call home. After my parents were killed and the houses where burned to ash the monsters who wiped us out ran out of food and everything that was left to them. They moved on and spread out looking for other territories to take from. My uncle kept the land and started rebuilding. He didn’t know where I was. He thought I had perished with my parents and my brother. He tracked down a wolf that had made its way into my town. That’s where he spotted me. He knew the second he laid eyes on me that I was his kin. Slipped the case worker a hundred and the rest is history.
There are eight houses lining our road that snakes back through some dense forest to a clearing where we are. The houses are pretty much the same, give or take a few rooms and accessories. All are wood cabins. Mine is the first one, followed by an empty one. Next is Uncle Mikes and the forth on this side is Storms. Across from her is Larry’s. Larry is our handy man/lumberjack/farmer. He’s pretty much the jack of all trades. He and his wife are humans. They know what and who we are. The rest of the houses on that side are empty. We just look like one big ass Ranch to any outsiders. My house is my favorite it’s small and homely. I don’t own much so upkeep is pretty easy.
It’s around eight at night and I have the fireplace going. The smell from the logs burning always bring a sense of relief to me. It’s cozy and soothing to me. Uncle told me earlier he would be out late, said he has a business meeting so I didn’t cook for him that night. It was just me and a bottle of wine. I love my home. Other than me turning a few pages in a book I was reading and the fire crackling it was quite. I picked out my home when Uncle brought me here after several days of slipping through the fingers of whoever was in the black SUV.
When you walk in right after the small nook threshold, living room to the left, kitchen to the right. Hallway is straight down the middle. On the right side is a spare bedroom and bathroom the left side is mine with a master suit attached. Because of what I do, I have several false floors that give way to separate tunnels under the ground. Other than the tunnels it is pretty basic. The past shall not be relived. Most of this was done before Uncle Mike brought me here. I take on small odd and end jobs to keep me limber and cash flowing. Uncle Mike is an attorney so there is some funds flowing through him as well.
“Groundhog to volcano” the ham radio cracks.
“Go for volcano” I reply holding the button. My uncle’s voice carries over with our key nicknames. Depending on the nickname depends on what the emergency is. Volcano tells me he found a wolf. I lay in waiting until I erupt spilling death and destruction. I think the name fits.
“Gear up, its cold out and I have 15 logs left.” he replies
“I hate the cold.” I reply a bit grumbly.
We just had a whole conversation in those few words. I’m not much for talking and he’s not much for listening. Though I understand, where ever we are going it’s going to be damn cold and I have 15 minutes to get out the door, gear in hand. He knows I hate the cold. In truth, it’s about five below outside and we have a storm coming our way. That’s means snow and black ice on the roads. I also know I have a job to do. I push back the thought of the bitter cold and grab my bag after changing into something a lot warmer. I always keep a bag full of my supplies ready. Two changes of cloths, rope, zip ties, my headphones, chargers, mutitool, fishing line, and such.
I throw my duffle in the truck and hurry to the passenger seat. Wrapping my arms around myself and blowing in my hands to warm them,” fucking burr.” I mutter while bundled up in my thick under cloths and heavy jacket and boots. I refuse to look over at Uncle Mike, I know he is in shorts and a tank top. I’ll just about bet a hundred bucks he’s wearing flip flops. He has thrown me before and be in tennis shoes but I doubt that’s the case this time. “Where are we headed? It’s supposed to storm you know.” I ask him of our destination. “Alaska!” he says like some bright eyed 16 year old with a new car, he loves the cold. I side eyed him, with a ’if looks could kill ’glance before I rolled over hugging myself towards the window and away from him. He just snickered at me and kept driving.
“What time is it?” as I fist a yawn and stretch my legs out.
“It’s about three.” he replies with a heavy sigh, “we need to refill and I need something in my gullet.”
“Holy shit, its daylight out.” I exclaimed as I tried to rub the sleep from my eyes. “Why didn’t you wake me? I could have taken over some. “
Uncle Mike turned into a diner and gas station combo. “I know, I just had some stuff I needed to figure out.” he said putting the truck in park. “Food first before the questions.” he eyed me knowing I was going to question him. I left it alone as I opened the door to the diner.
We picked a booth in the back as our waitress came to greet us and take our order. After being together on the road over the years, we knew what the other wanted and usually one went to the booth and ordered as the other went to the bathroom to clean up and scouted the place out. Uncle taught me to count the steps the second I walked into a place to know how far it was from the door to the back door, the bathroom and the kitchen. Just by looking around I knew where the office was, the kitchen, back doors, freezer, fire alarms, light switches, how many tables and how many people. I had the place mapped. If I had to get out in a hurry I knew the plan already. “I’ll have lemon water and the biggest chunk of meat you have available, hold the veggies” I winked at her. “I will have the special” uncle ordered, “With a sweet tea.” The woman looked back at me and grinned. Ohm I know that look she thinks she can go wrestle the cow out back and give me the biggest steak they have and I won’t be able to finish. I love when others call my bluff. “Lemon water?” uncle asked. I rubbed my belly” Storms killing me man, I have got to loose what fifteen pounds?” I said leaning over to look at my hip and butt. He just shook his head and grinned. “Have you figured how we are going to get into Alaska? It’s the middle of winter and planes aren’t flying.” I stated I liked flying, he however did not. “Drive all the way” he replied as the waitress dropped off our drinks she gave me a sideways glance that unnerved me. But then again I always suspect everyone. He looked out the window with his fingers laced under his chin, back into deep thought. “What’s the mark?” I ask casually. Being pulled from his thoughts, he looked me in the eye. For a second I felt cornered. Like he was looking through me at some invisible threat that I couldn’t see yet. Instinctively my hand went to my knife at my side. I usually never have to use it as I go into wolf when I am fighting another wolf, but here we are among humans and that wouldn’t look to good in the news. I relaxed as he shook his head and turned back out the window. “family.” he said under his breath. My eyes shot up as I choked a little on the straw I was using.” You found the third?” excitement in my voice. “yea.” is all he offered. I knew to drop it by the tone of his voice but I was going to get family. Meet someone other than my uncle who shared my pack. I doubt they are blood but it’s still family to me. In our pack we are all considered family, even if there is no blood bond. It’s like a group of best friends living next door to each other. Everyone has a duty and a role within the pack and we all help out. At least that’s what I am told. So why isn’t he excited and ready? Why hadn’t this person come around sooner? Why are they hiding and how did uncle know this person is in Alaska? All questions I need answers to. We ate our dinner in silence. Used the bathrooms and refilled the tanks. All without a single word to each other. I knew Uncle would explain when he had it all figured out and I never questioned uncle when he was in this mood. He did the thinking and I did the doing, plain and simple and it always worked out.
I drove this time. Every now and then I glanced at Uncle as he was still wrapped in his thoughts. This must be a doozy as he usually has it all planned out in a few hours. He checks the weather, looked at the cameras, if there was any, and the area view of the places and has even gotten the blue prints of buildings before he sends me to do my job. No stone is left unturned, everything to the smallest detail is worked out between that man’s ears. “Spill it old man.” I say breaking the silence after hours of driving. “Get it off your chest then get a nap.” same words of wisdom he tells me when I can’t sleep. “Olivia, things just aren’t adding up and I think we are headed for a trap.” he finally admits. I glance at him and he is worried, the wrinkles on his forehead are lean and deep. The bags under his eyes tell me he hasn’t slept in days.
“Start from the beginning.” I muster watching the road. He tells me of a letter he found on his door the night the pack was killed and I was orphaned. It warned him to get me out of the pack lands and some place safe. He did the only thing he could do and that was to drop me off at a hospital as he went back to fight. I had already knew this. I knew he was the one that left me behind. Then he told me of a letter he got a few days earlier with an address, it was signed with the betas signature. “That can’t be right. The Bata died right? ” I said in reply. “That’s what doesn’t make any sense Livie, but I swear it is his hand writing. The same hand writing from years ago. I didn’t know it then but I know it now as good as I am living and breathing, it’s him who wrote the warning.” I thought this over for a little bit, not saying a word. I just let it tumble in my brain. “Do you think he was in on it?” I asked soberly. He looked back out the window without replying.
I drove well until the morning only stopping to refill the tank. Uncle had programmed the destination with every fuel stop accounted for in the GPS. My steak that the waitress had given me was just what I expected, it was huge and I devoured all of it and took the bone with me to chew on. Now my gut was telling me that I needed a refill. One thing about shifters we use up a lot of energy even if we haven’t shifted. Our hearts beat faster, hearing is impeccable, and we are usually hotter than most other hot blooded animals, even if I got the short end of the stick on that one. Just about everything about us is more enhanced.
“Wakey wakey old man.” I said cutting thought the light snores. He must have passed out several hours ago, maybe he had worked it all out in his head. “Where are we?” he yawned. “About 20 miles from the hotel but I want to fill up one last time.” I said pulling into the mom and pop store. The place could use a few coats of paint but it was well maintained otherwise. The snow had fallen in massive hills and gullies. Snow plows had come through at some point this morning and it made driving through it a bit easier. “Go” uncle said reading my mind. He didn’t have to tell me twice while he filled up the tanks I made a beeline to the door and into the heat of the store. The bathroom was my divide and conquer. Doing my business I could hear the charm of the door opening letting the owners know they had a customer. A few moments later I heard it again only this time I could hear my uncle’s footsteps coming closer. “Come on Volcano” my uncle grunted at the bathroom door a few minutes later. I knew from the nickname that a bad wolf must have come into the store. Maybe my families Kidnapper. I had heard a man’s voices and heard him walk out right before I heard Uncle. “I hate the cold” I whispered knowing he would hear me as I opened the bathroom window and leapt out. I swung right to look at the truck and pumps but there was no one there. I swung left and hugged the wall going to the back of the building. Stealing a glance at the metal reflection around the corner slightly. From the guard rail I could make out a male figure hugging the wall as well. He was waiting on me to turn the corner. I could smell him. Wolf. My heart started to pick up a beat. My hearing boosted and my heat started to rise. I always found it hard to be still when waiting out my prey. I loved the face to face approach, clean and simple. This was not one of those times. And this one wasn’t going to go down without a fight. I sprang up grabbing the overhang. Lifted my legs and body into a board. Counting on him to think I had jumped to the roof. When he darted around the corner, I lowered my legs to his shoulders. Grabbing onto his hair with my hands digging my nails in as I closed the gap on my legs wrapping his throat in them. He grabbed my legs and bent tossing me hard to the concrete like I was a rag doll. I imidiently rolled backwards to give some space between me and him. Landing on my feet he swept with his muscular thighs as I barely jumped fast enough back. He stood as white smoke bellowed from our lips in the cold. He waited for me to move and I waited on him. I followed his gaze as we locked eyes. I Impressed on him right then. My heart skipped beats and I wanted to jump into his arms, run off and have pups right then.
There wasn’t an ounce of this… man-god standing in front of me that I didn’t want to run my tongue all over. I have never seen a wolf so sexy in jeans and t-shirt. From his muscled thighs that bulged out from his jeans to his slimmer waist and his abs shown through his t-shirt like a beacon of hope on a rough sea. His chest was huge and barreled. Round nipples stuck out assaulting the black cotton. His chin square with a faded tattoo, a simple broken line. I barely made out the line through his stubble. His eyes shown like fire in the night. Deep blue and aqua edges moving like the colors where flames themselves. They moved similar to my own. Brown hair wisped over his face. As if he could hear the X-rated comments in my head he smiled with a dimple,” not so bad yourself.” He stated almost sounding amused as his perfect brows arched up. He turned behind him shifting into his wolf form midair as if he wanted me to follow. Cloths shredded to pieces as some hung to him and other pieces littered the snow. Solid grey with a small black patch just on his forehead. I barely caught it as he ran back into the snow. I wanted to run after him, leap beside him and submit right then but my body stiffened as his scent hit me with the wind change. Acorns and fire ash with a hint of Cyprus filled my nostles and I knew I would never forget that scent. Footsteps came at me from behind. I could tell they belonged to uncle. But my eyes stayed glued to the last place I spotted the wolf-god. “Where is he?” uncle huffed out as he got within ear shot. His eyes followed mine to the snow. “We have a problem, Uncle Mike.” I stated as I turned to go back to the truck.
