Returning to school on a Thursday was a terrible idea. I had to stay after school to catch up on everything I’d missed. It was five o’clock when I finally got out, which was usually the time the late bus came.
Except, no one told me that the late buses had switched to a new schedule, so I ended up waiting in the rain. I tried calling Aria but it went straight to voice mail. Surprise, surprise.
I was about to call home but I realized my parents were out on a business trip, again.
I’d been standing in the rain, locked out from the school and wondering what to do. The heavy downpour soaked my clothes, drenched my hair and caused goosebumps to erupt on my bare skin.
I sneezed, shivering at the cold water being dumped on my head.
Suddenly, the rain stopped falling on me and I noticed a blue umbrella was covering my head.
“You must be cold,” A familiar voice made my heart skip a beat and when I saw who it was, I blinked to make sure my eyes weren’t seeing things.
“Even? What are you doing in Appleby?” I asked, tensing when our shoulders touched. I was unsure of whether to lean in or keep my distance; I felt like I was invading his personal space.
“I need to talk with Harry but the doors are locked,” His piercing blue eyes forced me to look at the stormy clouds, “What are you doing out here in the rain?”
“I missed my bus.” I said glumly.
“I can give you a ride,” He offered but I shook my head.
“No, it’s okay, you’re busy right now, so. . .” I trailed off.
“It’s better than waiting here in the rain, you’ll get sick,” Maybe I shouldn’t stand out here, it was pretty cold.
“But don’t you have to talk to Harry?” I asked, remembering what he said.
“It’s not urgent,” Even shrugged and gestured to head to his car with his blue umbrella, “Come on, I’ll drive you.”
I didn’t argue, honestly needing the free ride.
We sat in comfortable silence, listening to the rain patter on the windows.
I wiped my face with the towel Even gave me, feeling the heat blast onto my face. His car, a 2016 Mercedes with a black leather interior and heated seats, was polished with the most expensive materials.
“Is this your car?” I blurted, face-palming myself as soon as the words came out. Hazel, he’s a twenty-something-year-old man, of course he can pay for his own car.
“Actually, no,” He shook his head, “I could never afford this car,”
“Then it’s your parents?”
He nodded and I realized I knew nothing about him other than the fact that he was the pack doctor. And had rich parents. Were his parents werewolves like him?
“Do you have another job, you know, besides as the pack healer?” I was curious, I couldn’t stop the questions coming from my mind.
“No.”
I hummed, trying to sound nonchalant, “Really? I thought someone your age would have another job or something.” He could be a model if he wanted.
He looked at me from the corner of his eye while also focusing on the road, “How old do you think I am?” I grinned at the slight amusement in his tone.
“I don’t know, early twenties?”
And he said, in his most serious tone, “No, I’m seventeen,” I widened my eyes, not believing it for a second.
“Are you sure?”
His lips twitched, “Yes, I’m sure of my own age. People always say I look older, my father was told the same when he was my age.”
“Are your parents werewolves? Do I know them?”
He paused, “Yes,” He didn’t elaborate and I took that he didn’t want to talk about them.
“Must be genetics.”
“Must be.”
Another five minutes passed with us just enjoying the sound of silence. When he finally pulled into my driveway, I didn’t see Aria’s car.
I stepped out of his really expensive Mercedes and turned to say thank you. But when I turned around, I saw that he was staring so intensely at me that I wondered if I’d done something wrong.
“What?” I couldn’t handle the stress anymore.
Even did a double-take, studying my face, “There’s something about you that seems so familiar, that’s all. What is it about you that I’m so drawn to?” He murmured that last part and I’m not sure if he wanted me to hear that or not.
I swallowed, not expecting that to come from him. He always seemed so guarded, incapable of displaying any emotion.
“Well, when you figure it out, can you let me know?” I replied quickly, “Thank you for the ride,” I pivoted on my heel, feeling my face heat up.
“Hazel,” Even said suddenly and I turned back, “There’s a festival on Saturday to honor the Moon Goddess, I think you should come.”
“Why? Everyone hates me, they see me as dead weight,” I crossed my arms, “No one wants me there.”
“I want you there.”
I opened my mouth but nothing came out. I tried to say no but I couldn’t, not when he was looking at me like that.
I guess I should clear my non-existent plans this Saturday. . . and find another bloody dress.
*****
Aria begrudgingly drove us both to the castle. She didn’t talk to me during the whole ride, which was beyond strange. It was the opposite of how she acted before my disappearance.
The full moon was high in the sky, enhancing the mystical mood. But I just wanted today to end as soon as possible.
When we arrived at the festival, the path was illuminated with lanterns shaped into crescent moons. The festival was reinvigorated with a new clarity, decorated with strings of flowers and peppered with the scent of rain.
People were showing off their new spring dresses and I caught wisps of conversations. Some were chatting about how the warm weather would inspire a better hunt, some were discussing the pack’s political alliances.
I faded into the background, no one really noticing me.
Until someone finally did.
“Glad you could make it, Hazel,” Even had walked right up to me, talking to me when others would just ignore me.
I managed a shy, “You, too,” We didn’t have a chance to talk because everyone was called into the large dining room.
Everyone seemed to know where they belonged, taking their seats without hesitation. Ares took his place on one end of the table while Alex took the other.
Even was the one to gesture to the open seat next to him. I waited to see if someone else was supposed to sit there but when no one took the seat, I finally sat down.
I looked around, seeing Alpha Ares and Beta Abigail talking to each other and Ken next to a girl I’d never seen before.
Aria was seated next to Harry, who was still as scary as ever. I tried to catch her gaze but she kept looking away from me, like I wasn’t even there.
Just notice me.
“I was wrong,” Even mumbled under his breath and I looked at him in confusion.
“Wrong about what?”
“Casting you aside, I wish I noticed you before,” Even murmured lowly before standing up and making a toast, “Can I have everyone’s attention please?”
Everyone stopped talking and stared up at Even.
“This festival is dedicated to celebrating the Moon Goddess’ presence in our pack,” I glanced at Aria, who smiled so proudly that she showed her full set of perfect teeth, “And I believe everyone knows Aria Brook as the Moon Goddess,”
Even cleared his throat and I, along with everyone at the table, waited patiently to listen to what he had to say.
“But the Moon Goddess is sitting right next to me.”