Moonlit Fur Chronicles: Lucid Fur
Chapter 12 Devil in the Details

I woke up, helped make breakfast for everyone, and made coffee. It was surreal, this house and my parents all friendly. I felt like it was a dream and I would wake up to my parents’ cruel and nasty behaviors again. If it was to happen, it didn’t happen today. Davey and Melissa were kind and sympathetic, it creeped me out. Melissa drove up to her office with me in the passenger seat. We quickly arrived at our destination and Melissa led me to her office. It smelled musty and like old books. She led me to her desk and asked which language I needed. I shrugged and showed her the list on my phone. Her lips moved as she quietly read the words.

Melissa transcribed the words from my phone screen to a pad of paper. She sat in the chair behind the desk. “These words sound ancient. Southwestern European roots, possibly Mediterranean coast. Seventh to Ninth century. Reese, how did you come across this?” My mind raced making up a feasible response. “Read it in an old book. Thought it sounded cool.” It was technically the truth, luckily she bought it. While Melissa pondered the ancient script, I meandered about her office. The smells and colors of the books were a treat for my senses. My wolf even perked up at the new smells.

“I’m sorry Reese, I need to prepare for my classes. I’ll need more time to study your project.” I shrugged, I wasn’t happy about it but I sure wasn’t going to make a big deal and possibly upset her. I needed to stay in her good graces. “I’ll walk around town a bit before walking home. Thanks for everything.” I stepped out of her office and a few minutes later bell’s rang. Students filled the halls. I hastily retreated outside and took a deep breath of the warm air. I didn’t want to go to the occult shop where I used to hang out, not when Isadora and Isabella wanted to kill me and my pack.

I thought about the little coffee shop where I first re-encountered Melissa. I did like coffee and I did like little mom and pop joints. The leaves in the trees waved at me as I walked around town. A gentle breeze teased my hair. The fresh air was quite enjoyable. I took a deep breath and began my journey to the coffee shop. There were a few customers inside, not too many. The menu board hung over the cash register. I selected my drink and paid for it. I took the same seat I had last time I was here. I watched the people pass on the street, a few stopped in for coffee.

I spent an hour or two there, sipped my coffee and watched people. It was quite nice to have a moment to myself. My heart ached, I missed Quinn terribly. I wanted to sit beside her, to hug and hold her. A lone tear rolled down my cheek. I hurriedly wiped it away, I didn’t need to become an emotional mess in public. I quickly left the coffee shop and headed for home. I could feel a long cry coming on. Finally I got to my parents house and ran upstairs to my room. I barely made it to my bed before the torrent of tears poured from my eyes. I held my arms to my chest.

My emotions got the better of me. I wept because of all the responsibility of being an Alpha. It used to be just me, now it was me and a huge pack in less than a year. The shock had worn off but I still couldn’t handle it. I wept because the woman I loved was desperately ill and the cure seemed nigh impossible to retrieve. I wished I could go back to the time when it was just Casey, River, Sloane, Quinn and I. Things weren’t so crazy. I cried for Sloane, my best friend who was murdered by an evil Alpha. I still missed him too. My entire life had gotten so bloody and violent. I was sick of it. I just wanted to be safe and happy with Quinn.

My tears ran dry and I fell into a twisted uneasy sleep. I dreamt that a gargoyle with greenish skin gave me a flower. I dreamt of Quinn’s beautiful smile, she ran her hand across her exposed stomach. I dreamt of a fight in a firelit cave. Claws, fangs, and wings sliced the air. Flashes of bright lights soared and collided with their targets. Roars of rage and cries of pain bounced off the rocky walls. Blood dripped from the face and chest of a stygian statue and pooled at its feet. An obscure figure emerged from the darkness and threw a glass bottle at the statue.

“Reese! Are you here?” a masculine voice shattered my dream and jerked me awake. The dreams were burned into my memory. My body ached all over. I heard the voice again. Davey called me through the door. I shook my head and rubbed the nightmare from my eyes. “I’m here.” My voice was low and groggy. “I’m making dinner, it’ll be ready soon. Want to join us?” I stumbled down the stairs and trudged into the kitchen. Dylan sat at the table, Davey bustled about the stove. The squeak of brakes confirmed Melissa’s arrival. “Dang Reese, you don’t look so good,” Dylan remarked. I shot him a dirty look.

“Took a nap and had a nightmare. You’d look like crap too if you had to deal with all this, on top of someone trying to steal my girlfriend from me.” My hand snapped over my mouth. Dylan and I glanced nervously at Davey. His back was to us and his hand was still holding a serving spoon in the air. “Who is stealing whose girlfriend,” Melissa asked as she walked into the kitchen. Dylan looked at me with wide eyes, “If they can handle you as a wolf then you as a lesbian shouldn’t be that big a deal, right?” He commented blatantly. I shrugged my shoulders.

Davey’s voice was strained, “I don’t know who is taking Reese’s girlfriend from her.” Melissa’s jaw dropped. I knew it. I knew it was too good to be true. I knew my parents hadn’t really changed. Melissa was frozen with books in her arms. Davey slowly put the spoon on the counter and turned to me. His face was opaque. I could see in his eyes that he fought his emotions. My fight or flight response screamed, my anxiety was sky high. My hands shook. Davey carefully approached the table and sat down. Melissa’s purse dropped to the ground as she put the books on the counter. “I don’t know how to respond to that,” she breathed.

“It’s better than Reese being a pornstar,” Dylan commented. I punched his shoulder hard, “Dylan!” I hissed. “What? That was funny!” I glared at him. Davey ran his hand through his hair. “Reese I admit, I don’t know what to say.” “I’m still me, I’ve always been me,” I answered meekly. “Just like when you learned I was a werewolf.” Davey looked me dead in the eye, “Being a werewolf is different. You didn’t ask for it. It was forced on you. This…this is not. This is different.” My shoulders sagged, my eyes welled with tears. I stood up and slowly marched back up to my room.

“Reese,” Dylan called after me. I ignored him. “Reese, come back!” Angry tears seeped from my eyes. I found an old school backpack and emptied the school supplies onto the bed. I stepped down the stairs. “Do you have any new information regarding the translations,” I looked directly into Melissa’s eyes and asked. She was still in shock. “Um,” she mumbled. “I uh…lesbian?” I turned and walked out of the kitchen, out of the house and into the woods. I called Casey and told them I was on the way home. I hung up the phone and put it in my bag. Tears returned to my face as I ripped the clothes from my body and stuffed them onto my bag.

“Reese!” Dylan hobbled on his crutches through the front door. “Please stay with me. I miss you!” I looked over my shoulder at him. “I’m sorry,” the words left my mouth a whisper. My body contorted and fell to the ground. Fur rippled over my curves and covered my body. “Reese!” Dylan cried out. I threw my head back and released a bitter mournful howl. I noticed Dylan hung his head as I scooped up my backpack with my jaws and bolted away.

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