Brody looked around his room nostalgically. The bed was made, sheets that he and Nate had spent countless hours in were now pulled against the corners and tucked under neatly. The desk in the corner was completely blank, no papers or hardcopy books scattered over its surface. The black, high backed chair was pushed neatly under the desk, no remnants of the copious number of hours he had spent reading while in that chair, of the words that had sunk into his mind or the lessons that he had learnt. The drawers beside him were bare, all of his clothing now packed in piles inside the black suitcase that sat next to his feet.
The room was awfully empty. A few days ago he would have thought that this sight would be saddening, like the end of a great movie or the final leg of a road trip, like the end of something special, and yes, he knew that he was going to miss this camp. He was going to miss seeing Lucy's face every day and talking with Kayden. He was going to miss Lucas's sarcasm and Annie's sweet nature. There were a lot of things about this camp that he was going to miss, but on the final day he wasn't feeling sadness, he felt hope. He was leaving this place to start a new life, to really start living his life. This place was magical, an experience that he wouldn't go a day without remembering, but life awaited him outside of these tall fences, and he was okay with that.
Brody wrapped his fingers around the suitcase, taking one last glance at the room before he left it. He made his way into the hallway, closing the door behind him softly. There were many people in the hallway, saying their goodbyes with tearful eyes and promises of phone calls and messages. He headed towards the elevator, watching with a smile as a group of guys standing in the doorway of one of the rooms were deciding when they were going to catch up next.
He pressed the button for the lobby, waiting silently for it to arrive. When the elevator opened he stepped in, riding it down to the bottom floor. The mirrored doors opened into the lobby. The room was crowded with people leaving their bags in the small space. He looked across the large room, his eyes searching for his friends. He found them standing against one of the walls.
Kayden and Lucy were laughing about something, not noticing as Brody walked up to them. Nate, on the other hand, pushed past them the moment he saw his mate. Brody suddenly had bulky arms wrapped around him gently for a few seconds. He smiled as he leant into the hug, breathing in Nate's scent and letting its calming sensation wash over him.
They walked back over to where Lucy and Kayden were and Brody parked his suitcase next to Nate's.
'I told you they were adorable,' Lucy smiled proudly as he spoke to Kayden.
Kayden smiled, 'Yes, yes, they are adorable,' he replied to humour her, but Brody knew that he wasn't bothered by their relationship. Nate had told him the night before, Brody kind of wanted to be there too, but he knew that Nate didn't have many friends and it meant a lot to him to be able to tell him himself. He hadn't seen Kayden since he had found out, but Nate had told Brody that their friend had taken it quite well, even saying that he had been suspecting it the last few weeks.
The four of them left the lobby, walking towards the gardens.
Nate and Lucy walked ahead, chatting about something that Brody couldn't hear.
Kayden walked beside him, 'Hey,' he smiled.
Brody smiled back, 'Hey.'
'Nate told me,' Kayden said somewhat awkwardly. 'You know, about you guys.'
Brody nodded, 'Yeah he told me.'
'I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry about your father,' Kayden told him in a turn of events. Brody was sure that he was going to say something about he and Nate, not about his father. 'Nate told me that he's really sick and that must be really hard on you. I'm always a phone call away if you need me. You know, my mate and I can always come out and see you guys whenever, just call and we can be there.' There was a sincerity and caring in Kayden's voice that made Brody feel yet again that he had found a real friend in Kayden.
'Thank-you,' Brody replied. 'Means a lot.'
Kayden nodded, not saying anything more.
They reached one of the picnic tables, Lucy and Kayden sitting down.
'Aren't you joining us?' Lucy asked them.
Nate shook his head, 'We have something we need to do.'
Brody nodded, 'Yep, but we will see you guys at the closing meeting. Save us a seat.'
They left Lucy and Kayden at the bench walking across the gardens towards the tree line.
'So,' Nate looked over at his mate as they walked. 'Last day at camp, how you feeling?'
Brody shrugged, 'I'll miss it here but I can't wait for us to start out life outside these walls.'
Nate nodded, 'I agree. We can go on real dates and do couple things. Also, while we are in Seattle we can go to this little coffee shop that I absolutely love.'
Brody smiled, 'I'd like that. Do you have the tickets sorted?' he asked just as they breached the tree line.
'Yep, from here to Seattle tonight and then from Seattle to Montana in a week's time. I'm really excited for you to meet my family and see where I grew up.'
'Me too,' Brody reached over and linked his hand with Nate's.
They walked silently around the trees, their footsteps crunching leaves underneath their feet. Brody couldn't help but remember the countless times that they had been to the pond. He remembered the way that he had felt the first time that they had come there, the way that he and Nate had fought and he had ran away from him. Their relationship had changed so much since then, they had been more and more in love every time that they had walked in through these woods.
Maybe he would miss the pond the most of the places at camp. It had a serenity and peacefulness that he had never found in any physical place before. The way that the sun bounced off the body of water and how the grass was always impossibly green was all a part of its charm. However, one of the best things about it was that Nate had been the one to introduce him to the magical place. They had gotten to know each other while laying with their backs on the ground. They had looked after each other in the trees above it. It was their place, and it was a place that they wouldn't return to.
They reached the pond, just as beautiful and perfect as ever.
Brody led Nate over to the water, hand in hand. They stopped just as the grass faded into water, looking out over the serene water that was laid out as if it was just for them. Brody wanted to savour this moment, one of their last at this place.
He leant over and kissed Nate, their fingers tightening around each other's.
Suddenly a young girl's voice broke the quiet serenity that they had been engulfed in and shocked them back into the real world, 'I knew it!'
Brody let go of Nate's hand, turning on his feet to where the words had come from. To his surprise, Annie and Lucas were standing only a small distance away from them having just walked through the trees and into the open space. Annie was smiling cheekily and Lucas looked a little annoyed.
'I told you!' Annie laughed, looking at Lucas. 'How many times did I tell you this would happen?' she asked teasingly.
Nate caught Brody's eye, laughing slightly. 'I guess that's one way to tell them,' he mumbled so only Brody would hear.
Lucas huffed at Annie, 'Fine,' he admitted. 'You were right.'
Annie smiled, running the distance between he and Nate, wrapping them both in a hug. Brody smiled and hugged the girl back. When she pulled away, she looked up at them both with a wide grin, 'I totally thought you guys were going to get together. I mean, Lucas was all like no, no they won't, and guess what, I was right!' she smiled triumphantly, as if she had just won a gold medal.
'Shut up,' Lucas muttered. 'Yes, you were right.' He told her before turning his attention to Brody and Nate. 'Thanks guys, now she's going to be holding this over my head forever. She was right and I was wrong blah blah.'
Nate laughed, 'Sorry? I guess.'
Lucas rolled his eyes in a way that told Brody he wasn't really all that annoyed.
Brody took a few steps away from the water and sat down with his legs crossed underneath him, 'I think we all need to talk.'
The other three joined him.
Lucas was the first to speak, 'So, I'm guessing that this was why you guys asked to meet us today. And here I was thinking that you two were just going to miss us.'
Annie nudged him with her elbow, 'Of course they will miss us.'
Brody smiled at them, 'Yes, we will, but you were right Lucas, we did ask you guys here so that we could tell you about us.'
Annie frowned slightly, 'What is the plan when you two find your mates?'
Nate answered that one with a smile, 'Actually, we are mates.'
That left both Lucas and Annie looking like fish with gaping mouths.
'Really?' Annie asked. 'That's possible?'
Brody looked over at Nate with a smile, 'Well, it is now.'
Lucas got his composure back, 'Well, all the power to you then.'
Annie smiled, 'So what happens when you guys leave here?' she asked them, a little bit of concern in her tone.
'We will go back to Nate's pack and he will pass his responsibilities over to his brother, then we will go to my pack and start our lives there, as Alpha leaders together,' Brody explained.
Annie grinned, 'That's great!' she told him, all concern vanishing from her words.
'Oh Nate,' Lucas changed the subject. 'I forgot to tell you how kick ass Professor over here was in wolf combat yesterday!'
Nate smiled proudly at Brody, causing him to blush. 'He was kick ass, huh?'
'He was amazing. The teacher said that he had never seen anyone pick it up that fast. He even did well against wolves who were at least a third bigger than him,' Annie interjected.
Nate smirked over at his mate, 'Did he now?'
Brody blushed harder, 'It wasn't that impressive.'
Lucas huffed, 'You were awesome.'
Brody's blush only deepened further.
'I told you that you would be great, now didn't I?' Nate asked.
Brody scrunched up his face at his mate, not admitting that Nate was right. Nate, in turn, kissed the look right off of Brody's face in a chaste kiss that Brody had not been expecting. Apparently Lucas and Annie weren't expecting it either, what with the awwweee that sounded from one of them and the muttered comment of keep it pg-13, there are kids here.
I think we all know who said what.
They then spent the next hour or so together, Brody loved every moment of it, not knowing when they would next have this opportunity. Before they knew it, the final meetings was only minutes away from commencement and they were forced to leave their secret spot.
'You'll call us from Montana, won't you?' Annie asked as they walked back towards the main building. 'We could have a three way video chat or something?' she suggested.
Nate strung an arm around her in a side hug as they walked, 'Anytime Annie. Anytime.'
She smiled up at Nate, hugging him back.
Brody was standing just behind them, Lucas at his side. Brody looked over at him, catching his eye. 'You know, if you ever need help with homework or you just want to talk, just call me.'
Lucas nodded, 'Thanks professor.'
Brody pretended to wack Lucas over the head, 'Stop it with the nickname,' he demanded with a laugh.
'Nope,' Lucas smirked proudly. 'Never.'
Brody smiled proudly at Lucas, hoping that the sarcastic teenager would never lose his spark.
He realised then that they had reached the grand hall. People were excitedly filling the building, masses of teenagers laughing and chatting casually as they entered through the double doors. The four of them joined the mass of people, slowly walking into the building and through to the grand hall.
Walking into the room, Brody couldn't help but be reminded of the first time he had come here. It had been the first day of camp. He had walked into the room and seen the photos on the back wall and realised that he was here with a purpose, that everyone here was special and had responsibilities equal or greater than his own. He remembered how he listened to Mr Woods with admiration and then when he had invited 'Mr. King' up to speak he had felt privileged to even be in his presence. Then that same boy had made those jokes and Brody had been so annoyed that he confronted him. Brody laughed under his breath, remembering how he had grabbed Nate's arm and said 'maybe you should take your responsibilities more seriously'.
'What's funny?' Lucas asked just as they approached the rows of chairs.
'Nothing,' Brody smiled over at Nate, who smiled back warmly.
Nate and Annie stood next to them and Nate spoke to Annie and Lucas, 'You guys should join your friends.'
They nodded, giving them both warm smiled before running over and joining their friends.
Nate brushed his body up against Brody, sending those warm sparks along Brody's side. He smiled at his mate, 'Do we want to go and find Kayden and Lucy?'
Nate nodded in agreement. They both looked around. Brody saw a glimpse of Lucy's bright red hair and pointed in her direction. Nate apparently agreed that it was her as he led Brody towards her. As they got closer Brody noticed that Kayden was sitting next to her.
There was two spare seats next to Lucy and they sat down in them. 'Hi guys,' Brody smiled as he took the seat next to the girl. She and Kayden smiled brightly at the couple.
'You guys got here just in time,' Lucy told them.
She was right, the lights in the room dimmed slightly just as she said the words. Then spotlights lit up the main stage and Mr Woods walked out onto the platform. He looked the same as usual, sharp suit and hardened expression on his face.
'Welcome to the closing meeting for Alpha Camp this year.'
The crowd cheered, most of the clapping and whistling was coming from the final years around them who were very excited to go back to their camps where they would all become leaders over the next few months.
Mr Woods spoke for a few minutes but Brody wasn't really paying much attention. It seemed like the speech was ending and so Brody listened in again.
'I would like to introduce you all to a man who we are privileged to have in our presence today; Council member Mr. King.'
Brody was surprised to see Nate's father take the stage. He shook Mr Woods hand with a polite smile on his lips before taking the stage to himself. Brody looked over at Nate but his surprised expression told him that Nate didn't know his father was speaking today.
Nate's father stepped up to the microphone and looked around the room. 'It's great to see all of you here, the future of the werewolves of America. I was asked to speak here today and remind you all how lucky you are to be able to attend such a prestigious Alpha Camp and so I sat down and I thought about what I wanted to say to you.'
His father then looked into the crowd and surprisingly met not only Nate but also Brody's eyes.
He continued; 'I then decided that it wasn't you who were the privileged ones, it was us. This is a new time for us wolves. The rules are changing and I've been reminded recently by some very special young people that if you have the will to change something then you can do it. I would like to tell all of you that no matter what pack you come from, you have the power to create change in the world. My son reminded me the other day that while we have a rich history of tradition, we have a duty to do right by not only our packs but ourselves.'
Nate's hand reached over and squeezed Brody's. Nate's father finished up the speech with some general thank-you's and all that. Then it was over, the end of the camp just like that. Cheers echoed around from the soon-to-be leaders and Brody smiled as Kayden stood up from his chair to join in with the cheering. Brody's attention was then averted to Nate as his mate let go of his hand and wrapped his arm around Brody in a side hug, pressing his lips to Brody's cheek softly. Brody smiled brightly.
They stood up then, and said their goodbyes to the people around them. Now was the time where they left and went their separate ways. Everyone would be getting into town cars and going to the airport, leaving the camp with more skills and knowledge than they had arrived with.
Lucy wrapped her arms around Brody last, holding on tight. Brody returned the hug, trying not to think about how much he was going to miss this girl. She pulled back, her bright grin not faltering, 'You and that mate of yours better call me all the time, otherwise there will be hell to pay.'
Brody nodded, knowing that he would call her even if there wasn't a phony threat looming over his head about it.
Lucy smiled, turning her attention to Nate. Kayden, who was just talking with Nate then crossed the distance between him and Brody, wrapping him in a light hug. No words were said, but Brody knew that he would always have Kayden to call on if things ever got rough, and that was more than he ever wanted.
Brody found Nate's hand again and they made their way outside of the building. They collected their bags from the lobby of the administration building and found their way to a town car together. Nate piled their bags into the trunk and then got into the backseat, scooting over to the other seat and leaving the door open so that Brody could get in after him.
Brody placed his hand against the door but paused before he got into the car. He looked around the camp, trying to capture the image in his mind. This was always going to be the place where he and Nate had found each other. He knew that he was leaving this place as a different person than the timid yet determined guy who had wandered into the camp five weeks ago.
'Come on,' Nate spoke from inside the car, his voice happy and words comical. 'We've got people to meet, a life to build, the world to see.'
He knew that Nate was being facetious but his words were truer than he realised. Brody smiled and got in the car next to his mate without hesitation, 'Yes we do.'