Chapter 83


    Without a thought, I rush out the door and down the steps, past my mother and through the front door,


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    forcing the mother and son to part. My mother voice calls after me, but I continue to run off towards the


    trees. Once I am covered and alone, I take a deep breath and look around for an extra presence.


    Taking my clothes off, I set them at the base of the nearest tree and shift.


    The process hurts a bit due to the fact that it''s been awhile, but when the missed feeling of my fur


    against the breeze and my paws in the dirt return to me, I feel free. Without wasting another second,


    I''m off into the forest to blow off some steam.


    I haven''t been on a run like this in a long time. My father and I used to go on runs together when I was


    young. He would take me off of pack territory to go down to theke just a mile away, and there we


    would swim and I would tell him things that I could never tell my mother. I didn''t whine about how I''ll


    never have a Mate, but I told him that I was unsure about my future, where I would end up. He told me


    not to worry about it now because things end up how they are supposed to end up. All I can do is hang


    on until the end, and enjoy the journey to it.


    Maybe I have been overdramatic. Maybe all I need is to do my best and see where I''ll end up. I just


    have to follow my heart, follow what I want, and things should be the way they were meant to be.


    I don''t want to be alone, old, and trapped in that house for the rest of my life, and I will do what I want


    to make sure it doesn''t happen. Even if I fail, I will know that I tried.


    After a few more minutes, I return to my clothes and shift back, slipping them on and heading towards


    the house.


    When I tiredly walk through the front door—left unlocked for me—I hear their voicesing from the


    dining room. My mother must have heard the door open and close because I hear her call, "Rae,


    pleasee here."


    I take a deep breath before going to her. "Yes?" I ask while appearing in front of them, scanning over


    the strangers at the table. Their eyes turn to me and I try to not disappear.


    "This is Esther and her son, Noah," she smiles at me with a hidden frustration behind it that only I can


    see.


    I nod and look at them. Esther is around my mother''s age, maybe a tad younger, and beside her is


    Noah. He is a handsome guy and he smiles at me. Like his mother, he has light brown hair and dark


    brown eyes, his skin more tan than pale. Even though he is sitting, it is clear that he is tall. He''s just like


    the others, the people I grew up with who all seemed to be perfect. He is one of the boys at the


    gathering who I see dancing with many girls who aren''t his mate. I don''t smile back and I can''t help but


    think of James.


    "Hello," I say ndly, not trying to sound rude.


    Esther smiles. "It''s nice to finally meet you. You''re mother''s told us about your trip to see a friend at


    another pack and we''ve been waiting to finally put a face to the name."


    My heart caves in. "Oh, yes. I stayed a little longer than I expected to, but it''s good to be home." My


    mother looks at me with satisfaction. "I should get cleaned up." My clothes were dirtied by the forest


    floor.


    "Alright," my mother says, e back down when you''re done."


    I nod again and head for the stairs, but before I make it to the first step an unfamiliar voice grabs me.


    "Hey, I uh, thought I should introduce myself."


    I look back to see the guy, Noah. I stay quiet.


    "I know it''s weird that our moms are trying to set us up, but I would like to get to know you if that''s


    alright."


    I swallow and cross my arms. "I have a Mate."


    He looks somewhat surprised, but I can''t tell if he''s faking it or not. "Oh, I''m sorry. Your mother said it


    didn''t work out between you two so—"


    "She said that?" I drop character but quickly pick it back up. "Well, I don''t know why she would say


    that."


    Noah nods his head awkwardly. "I''m sorry for assuming—"


    "No." Now I feel guilty. "You don''t have to be. It''s not your fault." He smiles half-heartedly and shifts


    back towards the dining room, but I say, "I wouldn''t mind making a friend, though. I mean, ever since I


    got back I''ve had no one to hang out with."


    Noah nods. "Yeah. That would be cool."


    I motion to the stairs and he lets me go. Never would I have seen myself asking to be someone''s


    friend, to have someone to hang out with. It is terribly unlike me, but my boxed-up-hidden-away attitude


    cannot be good for me. Making a friend for once can''t hurt, right? I''m not sure what we would do


    together or talk about, but he seemed keen on the idea of it. I hope he was not just being nice about it, I


    hope he took me seriously and not seeing it as an offer out of pity.


    I get an uneasy feeling as I walk towards my bedroom, my brief moment of aplishment fading


    away as something tickles my nose. Hesitantly, I open the door to see a figure inside. My heart jolts


    forward.


    The stranger turns around, making my lungs gasp for air.


    "James?"