Chapter 315

I felt them leave this time; I don’t know how, or why, but I knew my grandmother and Carl were gone before I turned. “It’s done.” I turned to my friends. “Who’s staying?”

Toya and Wendy looked at each other and then back at me. Wendy stepped forward. “I called my mom. She made a bag for me for you guys to grab. We thought having Toya with you would be better.”

“Not better, but I need to figure out what pack I was sent to. I figure I could call and ask for leave after I figure it out. That way we can make sure we are set for the next while.”

Wendy nodded. “I already told my mom to tell the Alpha I have a position under you last night. She was ecstatic and the Alpha already agreed.” She looked at me weirdly. “The Alpha pair really likes you.”

I snorted and waved her off. “I’m likeable.” She snorted, but let it go. I crouched down to talk to Carly. “Are you going to be okay while we are gone?”

“How long are you going to be gone?” She bit her lip and looked up at me.

“We are going to be quick. We need some stuff.”

“And food.” Toya jumped in. I looked up at her and she raised her shoulder. “I meant to tell you after breakfast, but shit happened. We are almost out of everything.”

I nodded and turned back to Carly. “What do you want for dinner?”

She looked at me as she thought. “Can we have tacos?”

I tilted my head. “Tacos?”

She nodded. “If you’re home for dinner.”

I booped her nose. “Tacos it is.” I looked at everyone else. “Are we ready to go?” Hanna and Micca nodded. Toya reached over, patted Carly’s head, and nodded. “Are you okay?” I focused back on the child in front of me, and she nodded.

“I’ll be okay. Just don’t forget me.” She whispered the last words, and they broke my heart.

I kissed her forehead. “Never.” Then I stood. “Wendy…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take her in and we will find something to do. We will be good, won’t we pup?” Wendy held out her hand and Carly walked over to her, slipping her hand into hers. “What about we go see if we can find something to play?”

“Daddy has a box full of games we can play.” Wendy smiled down at her and they walked to the cabin, leaving us in the grass.

Once I was sure they were safe inside, I turned to the rest. “Shift. We will run back to school to see the mess we left behind.” I sighed and then shifted to Nix. She shook out our fur and waited for everyone else to shift. Then we ran towards the school. This was going to be a long run back.

We stayed silent through the entire run, all of us too wrapped up in our own minds to say much. The first scent of the school hit our noses when we were about twenty minutes away and Micca pulled up short. She barked, and we all turned back, coming back to where she was waiting.

“What’s wrong?” I rubbed my side down hers, trying to comfort her.

“When we get back…everything we know is going to change.” She shook her head.

“What do you mean?” Hanna came over, rubbing down her other side.

“These last three years we have lived in a little cocoon. We saw each other every day, sparred, grew into the people we are today. But as soon as we get back… Hanna and I are leaving. I don’t know when the next time I’ll get to see you again is.” She looked at me and Toya. “I don’t know if I’m ready for this to end.” She settled on her back legs and stared off towards the school.

“We will still talk every day. Still do FaceTime.” Toya came over and flicked her face with her tail. “You are being foolish if you think we are going to fade away.”

She sighed. “I know, but it’s just not the same.”

“It won’t be.” I nudged her. “But it can be better.”

“How do you figure?” She sighed.

“We aren’t the same girls that left home three years ago. We are stronger, smarter, and more mature. Plus…”

“Plus?”

“Plus, you can find your mates.” I finished.

Her head snapped to me. “I can find my mate?”

I nodded. “You are old enough to ask for a mate transfer. If you don’t find your mate, you can start touring packs.” I nudged her. “You can start at Hanna’s pack, or Wendy’s.” I stood and turned back to the school. “Now, we can figure it all out, but we have to face the music right now.”

Toya trotted next to me. “Are you worried?”

I rubbed my side down hers, calming myself as much as her. “A little. I don’t know where you are going to end up, Lynn has been quiet, and I’m worried about her mental health. But we have a mission.” She nodded, then Hanna and Micca joined us. “But we can’t focus on what could happen. Let’s go.”