Chapter 2: Chapter 2 : Follow the Leader
Scarlett wasn’t even given any time to try and come up with an explanation before her father was already dragging her through the forest and back towards their cottage.
“I don’t want to hear it, Scarlett. We’re going home, now.”
She tried to look back over her shoulder and catch sight of her mate, but no one was there, not anymore.
It was luck and the grace of the Moon Goddess that her father hadn’t noticed the pile of clothes on the ground when he found her. She didn’t exactly have answers she could give him when she herself was still at a loss for what just happened.
At the pace her father was going, it didn’t take very long for them to get back. Before them stood a little two-story cottage with a wonky little vegetable patch in the front—the only home she had ever known.
“There you two are. I was starting to worry.”
And there was her mother, stress-chopping a bunch of vegetables when there was already a large pot going on the stove.
“We told you it was dangerous,” her mother chided.
“Technically, you didn’t tell me not to go, though.”
At her mother’s sharp look, she bit her tongue and looked away.
“You knew what we meant. We just… you should be more careful,” her mother scolded her.
Scarlett thought it was unfair. Her father trained her how to fight, protect herself, and more. And yet here they were, scolding her like she was sixteen and sneaking out, when in reality she was twenty-one—and still not even allowed to join the guards when she was more than ready.
“I am—I was! I wasn’t even there for very long.”
“You weren’t supposed to be there at all. No—no excuses.” Her mother held her hand up before Scarlett could continue to protest. “Did anyone pay attention to you?”
For a moment, she contemplated bringing up her mystery mate who ran away from her, but Scarlett had a feeling that would just make things worse.
“No.”
“At least there’s that,” sighed her father in relief, shaking his head. “Come on, let’s eat—and then it’s bed for you.”
“Please don’t act like I’m five.”
“Then don’t get caught like you’re five.”
“Peter!” gasped her mother. “Don’t encourage her!”
“Eat, I’ll be doubling your training for tomorrow for this stunt of yours,” her dad warned her.
Scarlett gritted her teeth as she went to the cabinets, only pulling out two bowls, deciding very quickly that she wasn’t going to suffer through dinner.
“I’m not hungry. Good night.”
Neither of them chased after her. She was no longer of the age where a hug could fix everything.
She headed upstairs to her room, closing the door, letting her head thump against it.
It wasn’t like she was shocked with how things turned out. At this point, it was getting predictable.
In the past, she was afraid of getting found out, terrified to even shift. It took years before she trusted Velma and Gavin enough to tell them, let alone show them.
Now, though, she was just tired of hiding.
Her parents had given their reasons for why she had to countless times, but it felt like that wasn’t all there was to it—like there was something more they were keeping from her.
Just what was she supposed to be afraid of that they wouldn’t tell her?
Scarlett shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She made her way to her window, lifting it up to get some fresh air.
The moment she opened it, she could smell pine trees—which wasn’t so strange out in the forest, but she also smelled fresh cut grass.
It took a moment for her to place where the scent was coming from. When she did, she caught sight of bright blue eyes, which gave way to black fur on the form of a large wolf.
He was here.
With hardly a thought, Scarlett was sneaking out once again. She slid through the window, carefully hooking her fingers onto the top of the outside frame—she knew if she stepped on the windowsill, it’d just creak and alert her parents to what she was doing.
Once her body was out, she let go, dropping into a silent crouch.
As soon as she landed, her mate ran once again, off into the forest. She took off after him. Scarlett didn’t dare shift, not after tonight, but she did push herself to go faster so she wouldn’t lose him.
She didn’t think he was trying to lose her though. He could’ve done that a long time ago if he really didn’t want her to follow.
She almost tripped when the roots beneath her feet smoothed out into something flatter. They were in one of the smaller forest clearings—just big enough for a tiny flower field, with a few fireflies floating about.
The smell of wildflowers did nothing to hide the smell of grass and pine, and there was the owner of that wonderful scent, her mate—and now, Scarlett was sure she wasn’t just imagining it.
He was just there, staring her down in his huge black wolf form as if she had been the one to run away.
“Why have you been running from me all night?”
It was practically a demand, but at this point, Scarlett deserved answers after having to chase after her mate twice.
After staring for a moment longer, he slipped behind a tree.
Scarlett was practically fuming at that, thinking he was running again only to realize no, he was shifting.
“Sorry, just give me one moment. I need to get dressed.”
He peered out from behind the tree—only his head as if trying to reassure her he was genuine and not going to run.
Scarlett wasn’t worrying about that now, though. All she could focus on was him.
There was no mask in the way this time. Nothing to hide his handsome face or those lovely blue eyes she was already falling a little in love with. It was then that she knew she would wait much longer than just a moment to see all of him.
They were staring at each other now—he hadn’t yet ducked back behind the tree.
“It doesn’t take that long to get dressed, does it?” Scarlett asked, almost teasingly.
“Of all the days for me to wear a button up, it had to be today, huh,” He snorted, not bothering with the buttons—he almost couldn’t be bothered with them when it meant their gazes would be broken.
“I’ve never seen you around town before,” Scarlett managed to say as he stepped back out. His shirt was unbuttoned and his muscles were so very distracting to her.
But considering how long it took him to answer, she was just as distracting to him.
“Well, that’s because I’m not from town. I came in with my friends. We live pretty far, but we didn’t want to miss this year’s Ball.”
He tacked on the last part quickly, but Scarlett didn’t mind. It was nice to know that she wasn’t the only one who was nervous.
He flashed her a smile too, something breathless that she couldn’t help but mirror. Both of them were clearly thinking the exact same thing: ‘Wow, this is my mate.’ It didn’t matter that they were in the middle of the forest with a stranger whose name they didn’t even know, because nothing could’ve been more perfect than this moment.
That didn’t mean Scarlett wouldn’t ask—didn’t want to know.
“What’s your name?”
“What’s yours?” he countered, and Scarlett couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’m Scarlett.”
“Scarlett, huh?”
Unconsciously, they’d been creeping closer to each other, and now they were close enough to touch—something he took advantage up, reaching up and cupping her cheek. Scarlett feared he could hear how fast her heart was pounding.
His touch was electric, and despite how warm her cheeks, were his skin was somehow hotter. There was a small tremble in his touch, as if it was taking everything he had to restrain himself from going too fast. He was desperate for more—just like she was.
He was half a head taller than her, but that was the perfect height to be held in those strong arms, she thought—the perfect height to stand on her tiptoes and press a kiss to his lips.
“Yeah,” she said, a bit breathlessly, wetting her lips, noticing how his eyes trailed down a bit when she did so. “Don’t leave me hanging. What’s your name?”
Scarlett could’ve stayed there, just talking with him, for hours, but luck wasn’t really on their side.
She stiffened when they heard something snap. It wasn’t too close, but now they could hear the other people in the forest.
Scarlett didn’t know if it was his friends, or hers, or just a couple fooling around—but once she glanced up, she knew neither of them was willing to take that chance.
“I have to go,” she said, her voice strained.
He caught her wrist just before she could slip away.
“Tomorrow night.” He said quickly. “Same time, same place?”
“It’s a date then.” She grinned wolfishly. He gave his own little smirk before slowly letting her hand go.
And then they separated, each of them heading in the opposite direction.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone