Luna Raine

XIV. The Wish

I plug in the earphones, "Hello?" Wolfie and I had been talking more and more with each passing day. It's comfortable talking to him.

"Hey there Little Piglet."

I smile, "What's up?"

"What are you doing?"

"Riding home from work."

"This late?"

When the green person lit on, I jumped onto the bike and peddled. "Yeah. I wasn't supposed to work today but my coworker called."

"Sounds like your coworker is taking advantage of you."

The breeze grazes against my skin. "Her mom is sick."

"Make sure to tell me when you're at home." He changes the topic. He knows parents are a weak spot for me, particularly mothers. "You may be in the human community but it doesn't mean it's safe."

I laugh, "I'm fine. I got a taser. I got a r**e whistle. I got a knife." Weird enough, I also have a gun and firecrackers signal inside my purse. Yes, I'm still shocked.

"How are you today?"

"Better than most days." I stop and look up at the stars. "Is it dark over there?"

"Well, it's dark in my room."

I close my eyes and laugh, "When was the last time you opened your curtains?"

I can imagine him shrugging on the other side. "Depends. What day is it?"

I continue to peddle back home. I may have all these protective gear with me, but who knows what may happen when it gets too late. "It's the day you open your curtains."

"Meh. Maybe later."

I halt at a trail that leads into the forest and straight towards my apartment complex. Shaking my head, I continue biking along the public trail. I could use it and get home twenty minutes earlier, but I would rather be safe. "Tell me the truth," I said. "Are you a weird forty years old man with a nice voice living in his parent's basement?"

"You think I have a nice voice?"

I passed a couple with a cute dog. "That's really what you got from my question?"

"I take all the compliments I can get."

"I thought you said you were an Alpha." I teased him. "Doesn't Alphas always get compliments?"

There was a moment of silence. "Not all Alphas are the same. There are some who don't really get praised by others." His voice sounds dejected.

"Are you really an Alpha?" This time, I wasn't joking. It was a genuine question. I was quite serious about the guy on the other end of the phone.

"What if I am? Do you not like Alphas?"

"Well-" I twist my lips, "I don't really have an opinion towards them. Never met one in life to have an opinion."

"That's a lie."

"Who are you to call me out like that."

He laughs, a sweet sound inside my ears. "Come on. Tell me the truth."

"Okay. Well-" I exhale, "I'm not too fond of them. But, I'm not fond of other creatures, to begin with so-" I shrug to myself.

"So far, what have you heard about Alphas?"

I scratch my nose and wobble slightly on the bike. Quickly, I grab the handle and re-capture the balance. "Well, Alphas are pretty similar to every werewolf except they're stronger. Like a werewolf but everything is enhanced ten times. Something like that."

"That's all?"

"Not really interested. I mean, I probably won't meet one in my life."

"So, you don't want to meet me?"

I stop in front of my apartment complex and unlock the front gate with my card. "Ah, yes. Alpha. You."

"Wow. It's amazing how you will not believe I am an Alpha."

"Bitches," I said his username.

He laughs, "Why don't you believe me?"

I lock my bike against the rack and dig for the keys inside my purse. "I don't know. You just don't feel like an Alpha to me." I jogged up the stone steps and opened the front door. "You sound too nice to be an Alpha."

"Then, what do I sound like?"

I turned on the light and threw off my shoes. Mister Oink snorts and wiggles his jiggly butt towards me. "You sound more like a Gamma or a regular wolf."

"Why Gamma?"

I pet Mister Oink back, "I heard that Gammas are the nicest compared to Betas and Alphas."

"Well, then I guess I have to adjust my attitude. Be mean and ruthless."

I set out the food for Mister Oink and opened the window to allow fresh air to enter the dampen room. Having a pig isn't a walk in the park. They stink. Thank goodness I can purchase these weird witch's potions that heavily dilutes the scent. Another hole in the financial checkbook. "Don't," I said. I grab the water bottle from the fridge. "I like you this way."

"Even if I am a forty years old man with a nice voice who's living in my parent's basement?"

I lower the water bottle from my mouth. "Are you?"

He laughs, "No. I'm an average twenty-something years old man living in a Pack House."

I closed the water bottle. "And you're talking to a high schooler? Isn't that a bit creepy?"

He inhaled a sharp breath, "Now that you said it out loud. I do sound like some creeper. How old are you?"

"I'm seventeen. Completely illegal."

"Legal in the werewolf community."

I sat on the couch, "What?"

"Here. Everyone is legal at seventeen."

I laid down, "No way." I feel like I never sleep on my bed. Then again, that's a way to never make my bed.

"Look it up."

I put Wolfie on speaker and look up what he said. It's true. "That's weird," I said.

"How is that weird? Human communities' legal age is eighteen. We're simply a year earlier than you all. You want to know what's really weird. Werecats. They're legal after ten years."

"No way," I said, and looked up the information again. "That's really weird."

"And don't get me started on vampires and their prolonged life with that youthful face."

I laugh, "Please, don't."

Mister Oink finished his food. He rubs the food on his floor on the floor and I glare at him. Mister Oink squeals and rushes back to his bed. He knows he is in trouble.

"Mister Oink?" Wolfie question.

"Yup. Wiped his food face on the floor."

"I cannot believe you have a pig as a pet. Now, that's weird."

I got up and grabbed a towel, "You want to know what's weird? Werewolves growling while they're in their human form. Yeah. How do you like dem apples?"

"Yikes," he chuckles. "I give. Don't hurt my emotions anymore."

I sprayed the liquid on the carpet and patted it. I swear, witches come up with the best cleaning supplies. No wonder why they ruled the industry.

I wash my hands and flick Mister Oink's head. He squeals lightly before flopping on the couch with me. I know he's trying to snuggle his way out of troubles.

"Hey," Wolfie said.

I yawn, "Yeah?" I laid down and Mister Oink curled towards my chest. He wrestled around until he found a comfortable position.

"I'm glad I met you."

My eyes felt heavy. School in the morning and work in the evening really does take a toll on the body. I should go eat something or turn off the lights, but I'm too comfortable to move. "I'm glad I met you too."

"You're amazing."

I chuckle, "I know."

"Hey." His voice holds a teasing warning.

"Yes. Yes. You're amazing too."

With each word exchange, the lighter my heart got and the heavier my lids became. The smiles and laughter will eventually become toxic, an addiction. But, it felt nice. His voice. I wish at that time, I didn't fall asleep. If I didn't then, then I may have heard him say: "I wish you're my Luna."