The alarm chimed the morning, and though Miquel and Nani didn't want me working yet, it was Prestons last day before going away on vacation, he pushed his time back due to me being sick. But I needed to get back there. I felt enough guilt about this, and I didn't want to hold Preston from spending his time off the farm and with his friends.
I gave a stretch, the breeze hitting my skin as my arms left the covers. My ears rang from my movements, once I had lowered my arms I noticed a mumbling coming from outside. At first, I didn't listen to it until I heard Riot's voice. "I've got to go into the pack lands today, see the Alpha and get supplies." He said, referring to Eddy, the Alpha of the Jasper pack. Though Nani and Miquel were on the farm and seemed to be on their own, they were still in a pack, and Riot was presumably in that pack as well. I wasn't sure if Preston was with him being a shifter, but I could only assume that that's where his parents were from, though I guess I could ask.
"You should take Star with you," Preston's voice pipped in, I heard a clicking akin to the footsteps on their porch.
"I don't know man. Maybe he can stay here with you this time. I'm not sure we're ready to be alone together."
"Riotâ "
"Of course I waited all this time just for my mate to be a drug-addicted kid." He said with a sigh, their voices getting further away, going towards the coops.
"I know, but he's a great kid."
"I'm sure he is. But I don't know if I can handle thatâ" The coops door shut, blocking me off from what they were saying now. I felt frozen, I felt hot tears in my eyes as regret started to pool in my stomach. Angrily I took to fists and rubbed my eyes, I wanted to scream, I wanted to growl and run. But I couldn't, I couldn't even make a squeak to show my frustration.
I didn't even know how old Riot was, I just knew that he was older, and he was alone all this time. I've been alone nineteen years and I felt like I was a failure for not finding my mate sooner, I couldn't imagine how he felt. How lonely he must have been.
I sat in bed a little longer trying to compose myself. It took a few minutes but I finally made myself get up and dressed.
It was awkward, but I followed behind Preston, following his lead as he showed me everything I needed to know and watched me as I did things for myself. I was getting the hang of the whole farm thing. Or I liked to think I was, the animals didn't hate me and Preston didn't have any completes.
I wiped my brow as he called for lunch as I made my way to the guest house with him. I hadn't been in it, or really inside of it. My stomach churned, the smell of RIot taking over the space that used to be free of him the last few days while he was away. He hadn't left yet. I didn't know if he would, or if he had changed his mind. But I followed Preston into the small home and was greeted by the modern set up. A large TV was on the wall adjacent to the entrance that was walled off by a sofa. It was pretty open, the kitchen was next to the living room with an island to eat at, and one halfway. Riot was standing in the kitchen, eating a sandwich when we walked in. "Afternoon," Pres said, going to the fridge and grabbing two water bottles, he tossed one towards me and I caught it effortlessly.
I gave Riot an awkward wave when he looked towards me, he mumbled a hey back and I bit my lip feeling silly for even walking into his space. "You still going in to town?"
"Yea, why you need something?" Riot asked as he swallowed his food.
"Yea, I need to finish packing. Star is going with you."
I supported, looking towards Preston, Riot looked caught off guard as well, his browns knitting together as he stood up with his plate. "Umâ"
'It's fine, I can stay here.' I tried, "
"Nah, the farm will be fine. You go, it's a three-hour drive to Banff. It gets lonely. Plus the alpha would love to meet you." There was no getting away from it, Preston wasn't going to let Riot leave without me. Riot nodded, washing his dish before grabbing keys off the island.
"Come on then." He said, he walked towards me, before walking out the door and towards a nearby blue pickup truck. I didn't really want to go. But yet, I did. I didn't want him to go without me. I wanted to be near him, learn things about him, be around his smell.
God damn it this was happening too fast.
We sat in the truck, my palms starting to sweat as we drove the dirt road. I didn't know what to do. So I did the first thing I could think of and took out my phone. I had been talking to Ivan earlier in the day, but I hadn't had facetime with my dads as we had promised. â mainly because I had been asleep. But they had been texting me. That was enough to keep me busy for a few minutes replying to everything they had said to me. I started with Silas, his blue messages lining the screen.
DadS: Nani told us you were sick
I hope you feel better soon bud
We Miss You!
Text me when you're awake.
Love yea Stardust.
Your brothers are dying to hear from you too, sent pics to yea?
Where were you hiding the extra phone charger?
Found it!
Star: Feeling better. Thx for asking. Awake now. Miss you too. Going into Banff with a guy on the farm. Being safe. Stop going through my room. Send pics when I can. Love u too
DadD: Sleep well
For the love of god text ur dad back
He won't stop pacing
God, does he ever stop talking?
I broke the phone charger lmk where you hid urs
Nvm got a new 1
He found it anyways, got u a new charger yay?
Star: lol thx. Awake, all good. Just like talk to him? Is he better now?
I rolled my eyes at my phone, I darkened the screen and shut it off. I wanted to speak to him, ask him questions, but without my voice and his eyes on the road, it was the first time I actually felt mute.
Which was saying a lot because I didn't learn to sign right away. I was three when I lost my voice and was taken in by Charles. I had words beforehand, but it was frustrating, though I can't remember most of it because I was a toddler, learning sign was slow, and mostly in front of a screen with Eli. I tapped my fingers gently on my legs as Riot drove, the radio the only break in the silence. His music played over the Bluetooth because judging from the static I heard when we first got into the truck, there wasn't much reception on the roads.
"You hungry?" He asked, eyes still on the road for a moment before he turned his head towards me, while his eyes were still facing my way I gave him a quick nod. I wasn't overly hungry but I could use a bite to eat, and if we ate, I wouldn't be worried about speaking to him because he would be able to see my hands without going off the road.
We didn't get off the road right away, but we pulled off soon and landed ourselves in a Tim Horton's parking lot. I followed Riot as they left the truck and made their way into the small restaurant, the place was dim-lit and smelled like coffee. Which was almost comforting, and the fact it was nearly empty also helped.
"What do you drink?" He asked as we stood to the side of the empty line, the teenage worker stood on cash looking rather bored.
'Large triple triple and a chocolate chip cookie?'
"All you want is a cookie?" He questioned, his brow arched. I nodded to him and he gave me a shrug, making his way to the counter to give our order. "Hey, I'll get a medium double double, large triple triple a chocolate chip cookie, and a turkey club."
Once we had our order, I followed RIot to a table and I felt like a lost dog, I couldn't help but be behind him, the idea of walking alongside him terrified me, especially with the fact that he intimidated me to no end. I picked at my cookie once we sat, my fingers still shaking with the withdrawal. Riot took a bite from his sandwich, his eyes looking down. I tried not to look at him, but I couldn't help it. And because of that when he looked up as he swallowed, I was caught.
'So, how do you know sign?' I asked,
"Oh," He started, putting his sandwich down and grabbing his coffee. "My cousin is deaf, we grew up together."
'Really? They older or younger?'
"She's older, but two years. You'll meet her when we get to Banff I'm sure. Most of the pack is in the house there, give or take a few like Preston, your grands, and I. There are a few members in Edmonton and Calgary too."
'Big pack then?'
"Huge, we're the only other pack in Alberta. It's us and the Blackfoot."
I nibbled my lip for a second, wondering if I should bring up what I was thinking. It wasn't something that had come to my mind until he told me that he was just one of two packs in the province. Not long after I was adopted, my dads told me about an aunt I had to live in Calgary, from my mother's side. But if I didn't ask now, then when?
'Do you know a lot of the members?'
"I good bit, but not all, because there's too many. From everywhere. Wolves come in from all over the globe to find their mates here yea? So knowing everyone is impossible."
'My mom's sister is part of an Alberta pack.'
"Is that so?" He said, a little smile playing on his lips as he sipped his coffee. "Maybe we can find out what pack she's part of then eh?"