Forrest Starr

I REPEAT!! I Do NOT! Own the photograph above!! Or any others in this story!!

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Forrest

Skitch skitch skitch

The noise fills my quiet room.

Skitch skitch skitch

I've been sketching a drawing of a made-up place in my sketchbook for hours.

Skitch skitch skitch

Usually when I sketch, my mind overflows with ideas, thoughts, or problems, but I guess I ran out of them.

Skitch skitch skitch

Because of it, all I can think about is that skitching noise.

Skitch skitch skitch

I stop, finally having enough. I turn on my chair to look for my phone, which laid on my bed. I quickly grab at it and put on the earbuds that was already plugged into it.

I put on Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven and turned the volume just right for my quiet room. I don't listen to songs with lyrics, I prefer classical instrumentals. It soothes me and allows me to think clearer.

I continue to sketch and add the finishing touches. The skitching could no longer be heard.

After I was done I leaned back and raised the sketch to eye level. If only such a place existed. A quiet, safe, haven with a beautiful view be it day or night.

I lay the sketchbook down on the desk and look ahead through the window before me. Trees. Just trees.

I live with the Alpha and my room is at the back of the house. So, through my window you just see a continuous ocean of dull emeralds under the changing sky.

Knock knock knock

The sound didn't reach me. The vibrating, however, did. I pull out the earbuds and lay the phone with it on my desk next to my fishbowl of guppies, turning on my chair to face the knocker.

"C'mon, Depressed Charming! Dinner is ready!"

I reply with an unamused face to the Alpha.

"Aww, look who's actin' all seerriouus~♡"

"Stop it", I groan.

She snickers, "Oh, fine! But come on down and eat dinner!"

"Yes, Alpha."

I saw her mouth still smiling yet her eyes drop their humor.

"You know...you don't have to address me as your Alpha. Calling me Lavender is all right..."

"Yes, Lavender."

She sighs and shakes her head as she smiles sadly at me, "Oh Violet, he's hopeless!!"

~~~~~~~~during dinner~~~~~~~~~

"Forrest."

"Yes, Alp-"

A knife aimed at my face is thrown, but I catch it just in time. I look at her emotionless face, confused, and hesitantly return the knife to the Alph- oh...

"Yes...Lavender...?"

She smiles happily, "Well, 2 things: first, do you know what today's date is?"

"The 30th of July, I believe."

"Yes, good! Now, do you know or at least recognize the name Axel Saroon?"

"...He's the wolf that the pack's been talking about...I believe."

"Oh you don't sound very confident, Forrest~"

I stay silent, cutting at the steak before me.

She chuckles, "Oh Violet, he's hopeless as always~!! It's alright, I know socializing or even the simple task of remembering your pack members' names is a task beyond you, you extreme introvert or maybe you're just rude..."

Getting irritated at the topic I changed it, "What of Axel Saroon?"

"Oh!! Yes, right! Well....how to put this...well...you are to be his tutor from now on and you're first lesson with him will be at the first of August at 5:09 SHARP!!"

I quickly look at her, shocked. It took awhile to process what she just said.

"What...?"

"You are tutoring. Axel Saroon. At 5:09 sharp. First of August. 5:09 sharp."

Tutor? Someone? Me?

"Wai...wait no...I ca-!"

"Oh I don't wanna hear it," she waves her hand, "you're tutoring him. Final."

I already finished my dinner and excused myself as I put my dishes in the dishwasher. I head to the stairs but before I went up she says, "Don't worry~ He's far more scared of you than you are of him~"

When I turn the corner from the stairs, I hear the Alpha anxiously whisper,

"Oh Violet, I hope I'm right..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After dinner, I got ready for bed and afterwards, sat on my chair once again.

I'm going to tutor someone. And it's the day after tomorrow. I groan as I massage my temples. Ugh, I'll just think of it tomorrow. I let out a sigh and calmed myself for a few minutes before staring off out the window.

I stared out at the trees. So many trees.

So many tall, proud, green trees.

Burning to the ground.

I jolt back into reality and look around the room. Everything lay quiet. I sigh and rest my head on my arms atop the desk, turning my thoughts to bigger problems.

It's been 6 years. 6 years without any sign of my mate. It's rare for a wolf and their mate to have a 5+ year age difference, so any older, the mate is presumed dead.

I want my mate. I've always wanted to find them. Ever since the Alpha took me in. Ever since she told me stories of her mate. How everything she did afterwards is for her mate. Like me, the Alpha desired, craved to have her mate in her arms far long before coming of age (which is 17). So, she trained with unbelievable motivation and completed her Alpha training in a year, at age 10. Unlike me, who took 2 years. It usually took at least 6.

After taking me in, it took me a month to fully heal from all my injuries. And as soon as I could walk properly, my Alpha training started. The Alpha decided on this herself and, back then, especially back then, no one dared question her.

During my training, the Alpha told me stories of her mate. It amazed me how such a dream could come true.

True love.

Someone unexpected. Beautiful. Safe. Understanding. Everything beyond your wildest dreams in that someone. Someone made for you. And you for them.

I trained hard and kept up with the Alpha. I saw the way the adults of the pack look at me with worry and fright, but I ignored them all. As I grew closer to 17, I grew impatient. When I finally turned 17, I was beyond ecstatic! I did extra errands  for all my energy to waste on.

When a year passed, my excitement remained. It lingered on until my 19th birthday, 20th birthday, but then faded until my 23rd birthday. 6 years. My mate's very most likely dead. The only wish I ask of the Goddess... all I wanted since I was young: my mate.

My reason for living. My safe haven. My everything.  So I could escape those filthy, bloody, BAST-!!

I sit up.

No.

I don't want to remember.

It's over anyway.

I look at the clock behind me, it read 3:02 am. How long did I rest my head?

I sigh. Time does have wings.

I grab my phone, unplug the earbuds, and restarted Moonlight Sonata. I get up from the chair and morph into my wolf form, after tossing the phone next to my pillow. It was much more comfortable to sleep this way. Sleeping atop the sheets and the playing of the music feels so peaceful.

Moonlight Sonata always makes me think of a rowboat in the middle of the ocean. Under a glowing, full moon surrounded by stars. The dark royal blue of the the sky and ocean reflect each other so that the stars swim in both water and sky. The person on the rowboat, I'd love to think, is just sinking to the bottom in peace. Not drowning nor swimming, just at peace.

The scene lulled me to blissful sleep.

My last thoughts being that the Alpha was the one to free me from that hell, but the memories, I've known, only my mate can free me from.