'She's 22 already mom. And she's so beautiful. And she said she didn't want to go to university but become an apprentice at he local clinic. Apparently, the doctor there is certified in both werewolf and human medicine. Isn't that amazing? She'll be able to help whoever needs her.'
'Slow down, Don.' mom holds her hands up, laughing at me, 'I got it. She's the best thing ever.'
She is grinning at me now, a twinkle in her eyes. I feel myself blush at how funny she apparently finds this.
'Sorry. It's just, since I've met her, there's little else to think about.' I mumble.
'I know, I know. I'm sorry for teasing you. It's just so cute. I'd have never thought you'd be so different.'
It's true as well. I have been different since the date two days ago. Actually, I've been different from the moment I met her, but the more I find out, the more my mind is occupied with her.
The feeling is the weirdest thing ever, and I can't really describe it, but it's an amazing one and I don't want it to stop.
'Let's change topic then.' I suggest, considering the only things we've talked about for past few days has been Sheila and sometimes, in association, Raphael.
'What was that with the alpha the other day?' I ask, the twinkle in my eyes now. I grin when I see her struggle for words. I know I decided to wait for her to tell me by herself, but I'm way too curious now.
'He was... is a friend of mine and your father's from college.' she finally says.
We've long since gotten over dad's death, but that doesn't mean we talk about it every day. We do try to avoid the topic where we can, but it's so much easier now than in the beginning, especially for mom, I had barely really known my dad. He was killed before I could get to that point.
Four years after his death, mom stopped looking for the hunter that had killed him because she felt guilty for ignoring me in favour of dad's murderer. That was eleven years ago and since my ninth birthday, when mom came in with a giant birthday cake as an apology, we've been so close, she's probably been my best friend as well as my mother for some time now.
'You went to college here?' I ask, eyes wide.
'No, and neither did your dad or Tim. But right after college, Tim left for university here, found his mate and became alpha of her pack. We didn't really stay in contact, but he's part of the reason I was so comfortable with moving here.'
I raise an eyebrow at the word comfortable and she concedes by rolling her eyes.
'Alright then, I could get used to the thought of moving here. Better?' she asks and I just grin victoriously. Half of our conversations go like this, where one of us would talk and the other would just answer with facial expressions. It's weird really, but it's our weird so it's a good thing.
'It was a weird thing, Ben and I were mates, but the three of us got along so well and it never got awkward, even if there was no one else there. Maybe it's because our children would be mates too, some sort of premonition friendship thing.' she contemplates. I only shrug, who knows. It's entirely possible, I don't put anything past the werewolf gene.
'Should we go for a run?' I ask then. I haven't really been since I got here and neither has she. I did get my need to let my wolf side out from her, so I know she's just as fidgety as I am.
She nods and we quickly leave the house, deciding to find the forest. It's not as big as the one close to our former house, but it'll do for a quick run.
We change and bold through the trees. Mom's always been faster than me and she still is, but that never stopped me from trying and it doesn't today. We race and as always, I lose. But it's fun and it feels good. I never had a problem with losing to her. She's the one who trained and raised me, it's only natural that she would be the superior wolf.
Sometimes I feel as if I have a strange relationship with my mother, but as soon as I contemplate the importance of what it appears as to the outside, I know not to care.
We lie side by side somewhere in the middle of the forest on our backs, paws stretched upwards. It's a bit awkward because unlike all the weird movies, there isn't always a meadow when you want to lie down, so we had to wiggle in between trees and to have enough space. It's also not exactly the most comfortable position, but after running like that, it's more than enough.
I paw at her and we change back, getting into the bathrobes we always take with us while running. Again, another weird habit, but it's actually so much more comfortable than wearing just underwear and carrying a whole set of clothes with me is way too much work. So we always have the light weight bathrobes with us.
'What's up?' she asks me. I normally don't ask to change back when we're out like this.
'I'm really jealous of Raphael. And I really don't want to be because at the end of the day, we're in the same boat. But I can't help it and it makes me mad.' I explain.
It's very true and I wish I could think like that when I see him face to face. But usually I just immediately get so angry, that such thoughts simply don't have any space and don't even occur to me.
'It's natural to be jealous, Don. I know it's not the best situation, but for what you've been dealt, we've made it the best we can. We're all trying to make this work and I know you are too.' she tries to pacify me.
'It's not just that,' I explain, 'It's more that I feel like I can't measure up. She's known him for so much longer and they're so close. I can tell it's far more than being mates. They're friends, you know and her father already thinks of him as a son. I won't ever have that.' I finally say.
It's really daunting. Every time I see her, these thoughts keep appearing under all the elation. It's like I can never truly be one hundred percent happy when I see her because I know I'm only second best.
'Honey, I know it's hard. But it won't change even if you keep thinking about it. There is a difference between you and Raphael, you know it and I know it, but you don't need to be the same. Sheila will want you and like you for different reasons.'
I smile at that.
We're sitting here, in the middle of the woods, legs crossed and facing each other, wearing silly bathrobes and it feels so right.
'Besides, don't you have that double date next week?' she asks, referring to the day my mate and I will go out again, only this time Raphael will be there too. I nod in confirmation, immediately dreading said day.
'Well, you can show her then how much better my son is.' she winks and lightly punches my shoulder after speaking.
'Race you!' she then suddenly screams, shredding yet another bathrobe while changing mid jump and running off howling happily.
Date night arrives way too quickly. I don't want to go on a date with Raphael. I'd rather it would just be me and my mate, but she asked for it, so here we are.
They arrive in the same car Raphael dropped her off in last time, only this time, he doesn't obnoxiously kiss her in front of my house.
Also, after awkwardly greeting each other, my mate gets into the back seat, leaving me to sit in the front with Raphael, who is driving.
The car ride is pretty awful. My mate keeps talking on and on about unimportant things and its painfully obvious that she wants to make this easier for both Raphael and me. She's trying to make us get along.
I appreciate the gesture but there is too much hateful tension between the two of us for that.
Once we get to the restaurant, Italian this time, it gets a bit better, but only because there's other people around to fill in the silence that is still settling between us.
We're sitting on a round table, which means I sit next to Raphael. Again.
We're all far too intently staring at our menus for far too long before our waiter decides that we've waisted enough time and just asks for our order.
We all rattle down what we want and with nothing else to distract ourselves, it's up to my mate to fill the silence again.
'Did you know you're the same age? You're both two years younger than me.' she laughs at that, a very forced laugh, but I will myself to at least slightly lift the corners of my lips to make her happy.
'You also scowl the same way.' she adds, suddenly very interested in her nails.
I immediately turn my head towards Raphael, only to see he's doing the same.
We're both frowning, leaning back in our chairs with our legs and arms crossed. It probably would have been quite comical if we weren't both so on edge.
'I'm going to the bathroom.' my mate then announces and Raphael and I helplessly watch her walk away, leaving us alone at the table.
Neither of us wants to be alone with the other, so we end up just staring at the table for ten minutes.
I sneak glances from time to time, just to make sure he wasn't trying anything funny, but he too is just glaring the table to hell and back.
I notice his stark black hair and his grey eyes again. It is a rather unusual combination but it actually suits him quite well.
It makes him look stronger and I can see why alpha Tim holds him in such high regard. I can see him being a strong alpha one day.
Of course, none of that is actual contributing positively to my position at the moment and just makes me angrier because once again, he is far more suitable than me.
I'm not a pack wolf. I like being on my own and with a small group of people. I'm not really fit to take care of other people either, it's hard enough trying to not fail at my own life.
The rest of the date is just as awkward as the start of it and honestly, I'm just glad when I can close the front door behind me and just collapse in my bed.
I'm going to worry about the fact that my mate once again drove off with Raphael tomorrow.