"Are you done dwelling in self-pity?!" A voice asks, disturbing the
calmness he was enjoying until now, Adryan doesn't take his eyes away
from the twinkling stars that were scattered throughout the sky.
The person takes a seat beside him on the cliff with legs dangling, they
were on the cliff that was situated deep in the forest, underneath it was
surrounded by water. No wolf wandered so far into the territory hence
why Adryan liked to come here and spent some alone time mostly to
think and relish in the quiet.
"You know running away from things doesn't magically present you
with a solution,â The person says, looking out at the sky as well.
âI'm not running away from anything," he says back, which makes the
person look at him in amusement, he tries to ignore her look but turns
to face her when she doesn't deter from her blatant staring at him.
"She wants to meet you, she didn't physically ask about you, it was
more of her looking up eagerly whenever the door to her room would
open, she even tried sniffing out your scent but you already know that
she couldn't scent you since you have been hiding there all the time.â
the person says.
Adryan stays quiet for a while, "Why are you telling me this Joan?!" he
"Because you need someone in your life to guide you," Joan says.
"I never asked for your help or guidance.â he retorts.
"You're right, you didn't, because you'd rather die than ask anyone for
help. Am I right?!" Joan says sarcastically, but her words were also
meant to be a jab. She was one of the few people along with Jade,
Brian, and Violet who got away with insulting him. He ignored her jab
like usual.
"Why are you here Joan? Is it because you feel the need to insult me,
everyone, in while?" Adryan asks her.
She stares at him for a few moments, "You know why I'm here, don't
you?" it wasn't a question, but a statement. They both were aware of
what she was talking about.
"You should go see her, she had been looking for you," Joan says
causing Adryan to look at her suspiciously.
"I'm not lying if that's the reason you're staring at me like that, boy.â
"I'm not hidingâ Adryan bares his teeth at her, to which she just rolls her
rise.
"You know showing your teeth at me isn't going to intimidate me, boy.
I'm centuries old and have been here long enough to not be affected
by Alpha male power." Adryan hated it when she called him that, boy.
As if he wasn't a grown male capable of making his own life decisions.
It also felt like she was condescending to him by calling him immature
indirectly.
Both of them stay silent for a while, "Do you think her soul is at peace?â
he asks in a low voice after a while, his face tilted towards the sky,
looking at the twinkling stars in the sky, Joan imitating his actions.
"She is, she's more at peace up there than she was ever down hereâ
Joan replies, her voice light. "Also she would want you to move on, not
give up your chance at finding your happiness againâ Adryan stiffens
when Joan brings her up, his fur bristling, fists clenching as claws dug
into his palms. Adryan and Joan both knew he was asking her about his
mother, not about her, he never asked about her.
Adryan turns to stare at Joan, his blue eyes turning red as his Lycan
fought to come out.
"I had told you not to talk about her ever again,â he says through
gritted teeth, his cuspids piercing his gums, causing them to bleed, he
could taste the familiar metallic taste of blood on his tongue. His
breathing uneven with the need to shift.
Joan feels anger course through her at his words, "You think I can just
forget about her so easily? She was my only family left, She was my
niece, I was responsible of looking after her after her parents died, I'd
promised my sister I would do so and I failed her" tears glisten in guilt
filled eyes.
Adryan looks away from Joan, his anger vanishing with her words.
Claws and cuspids retracting immediately. Adryan had also felt the guilt
too, he could sometimes feel them weighing his shoulders down, often
he tried to brush it off but sometimes he felt the familiar tugging in his
chest.
"Talk to her" Joan repeats her words from earlier, and with that Adryan
finds himself alone once again.