#8 The Archer and her Wolf

Chapter 21: Xaiver

After loading up the car and saying goodbye to Logan, Thea and I climbed into my Land Rover and began our journey to Maine. It would take us over twenty hours to reach Alpha Sal’s Warrior pack so we made a plan to stay the night at a hotel in Virginia. Thea was settled in the passenger seat staring out the window while I was driving.

“Passenger picks the tunes.” I said, nudging her with my free hand. Thea looked at me as if I startled her out of a daydream.

“Oh, I don’t care.” Thea shrugged.

“I insist.” I said and she sighed before poking away at the screen on the dashboard. Once she was down, the screen went back to the GPS and Thea went back to staring out the window.

“What are you thinking about?” I asked after a few more minutes of silence.

“Nothing, really.” Thea said without looking at me.

“Seems like you’re thinking about something.” I pressed. She glanced at me from over her shoulder and flashed me a small smile,

“Well, I suppose I’m always thinking about something.” She teased and I laughed,

“I guess so.” I snatched up her hand and rested our entwined fingers on my thigh. She looked at them for a moment before seeming to decide that she was okay with it.

“I was just thinking that it’s been ages since I’ve been back to Alpha Sal’s pack.” Thea said,

“Are you worried about something?” I asked, squeezing her hand.

“No, not really. I was just wondering who all was going to be there. Sal has mentored and trained up so many great wolves, Alphas, Lunas, Warriors, Archers, the list goes on.” Thea had a far off look on her face as she spoke.

“I’m sure none of them look as beautiful as you, though.” I said and her gaze finally focused on me. She smirked and rolled her eyes,

“Are you going to be saying stuff like that the entire trip?” She asked, trying to hide the blush on her cheeks.

“Why? Does it embarrass you?” I grinned, pressing her knuckles to my lips once.

“In front of the other wolves, maybe.” Thea frowned and I laughed loudly,

“I’ll try to contain myself, love.” She huffed at me but said nothing in response, “Will your father be there?” I asked,

“No. He was invited but decided to stay home since I’m going.” Thea explained.

For hours we drove on, mostly in silence with the occasional casual conversation or two. Thea wasn’t much for road trip talk and I didn’t want to push her too far. I was just thankful she let me come along in the first place. It was nearly lunchtime and I was pulling off the highway, following the GPS to the nearest town center.

“Where would you like to eat?” I asked Thea as we stopped at a traffic light, a giant street sign looming over us with a list of restaurants on it.

“Wherever is fine.” Thea shrugged and I let out a frustrated groan.

“Please, pick.” I said and she glanced over at me, grumbling quietly before looking back at the sign.

“Cracker Barrel.” Thea finally said. The arrow next to the restaurant she chose pointed left, so I switched lanes and turned at the light.

“Where are we, anyway?” Thea asked as we pulled into the parking lot. I glanced down at the GPS,

“Columbia, South Carolina.” I answered. I put the car in park and turned off the ignition, “Ready?” I asked and she nodded.

I slipped out of the car and moved quickly to her door, opening it before she had the chance to. She scowled at me but accepted my hand anyway. We walked, hand in hand, through the front door.

I had never been to a Cracker Barrel before, so I was surprised to see the rustic aesthetic of the restaurant. The floors were old barnwood, squeaking under our feet. The walls looked the same, and various old styled farming equipment dangling from the high ceilings. We entered into a crowded, overstuffed shop with everything from decorations, to clothing, to candy spewing on the shelves and tables.

“Have you been here before?” I asked Thea and she shook her head, her eyes wide as she took in the room. It was overstimulating, that’s for sure, “Come on, I think the hostess stand is up here.”

I led her through the labyrinth of racks and towards the other side. There was a long counter in the center with two cash registers, on the right was a woman standing behind a tall booth.

“Hello, welcome to Cracker Barrel. How many?” The woman asked with a smile. She had three stars stitched onto her red apron and a name tag clipped onto her chest, it read: Tammy.

“Just two.” I replied. She pushed a few buttons on the tablet in front of her and then grabbed two menus.

“This way, please.” She said and we followed her through the large dining area, past a massive stone fireplace. She sat us at a table against a window which overlooked the parking lot.

“Thank you.” Thea smiled politely to the hostess, Tammy.

I pulled out the chair for Thea and helped her into it before sitting across from her. We both picked up our menus and stuffed our faces into them. I couldn’t help but think that Thea was avoiding looking at me.

“Are you okay, my love?” I asked, tugging at the edge of her menu. She dropped it and nodded,

“Why wouldn’t I be?” She asked.

“You’ve been quiet and you seem worried about something.” I observed.

“I’m not worried I’m just….overstimulated.” She chuckled to herself.

“What does that mean?” I asked, c*****g an eyebrow at her in question.

“I’m not used to being around someone constantly. I’m more of a lonewolf, if you will.” She smirked at her own joke and I couldn’t help but laugh with her.

“I’m overstimulating, huh?” I felt the sly, crooked smile curl my lips and Thea was suddenly blushing.

“That is not what I meant.” She blushed even harder as the waiter came to take our order.

“Pretend I’m not here if that makes you feel better, I’m just glad to be along for the ride.” I smiled.

The waiter brought over my coffee and Thea’s tea. We both took a few moments to fix our drinks and sipped on them quietly.

“I don’t want to pretend you’re not here.” Thea admits after a while.

“I’m glad to hear that.” I said, sitting down my coffee cup to reach across the table for her hand. She gave it to me willingly,

“And I’m glad that you came along.” She adds, her eyes never leaving our hands.

“Look at me, my love.” I said, reaching across the table with my free hand to tilt her chin forward. Her eyes fluttered up towards me, full and dark and mysterious, “My enchanting, strong Luna.” I said softly. Her face caught fire and she wrestled free of my grip.

“You’re too much.” She mumbled but she couldn’t hide the smile that played on her lips.

“Tell me what it’s like to be an Archer.” I said suddenly, changing the subject.

She blinked at me in surprise before composing her face. She leaned forward in her seat, resting her elbow on the table and her chin on her hand.

“What do you want to know?” She asked.

“How did you first become an Archer?” I asked the first question that popped into my mind.

“Alpha Sal recommended me when I was 16, a year after I joined his pack for training.” She answered.

“You joined the Warrior pack at 15?” I felt my eyes widen.

“Sure, it’s not uncommon.” She shrugged.

“And you left for the Archer’s at 16?”

“Not exactly. I was recruited to the Archer’s at 16 by the leader of my base, Effie. She mentored me, became like a surrogate mother when I couldn’t be at home. She even met my parents first, to make sure they were all okay with me being recruited as a teenager. But, I stayed with Alpha Sal for another year, training. I had more rigorous training than anyone else. At 17, I went to Effie’s base and started my Archer’s training.” She explained thoughtfully.

“That seems so young.” I mumbled.

“I became a Captain at twenty.” She went on to say, “But, I mostly work alone.”

“So you keep saying.” I smirked and she shrugged again, “What do you do, exactly?” I asked another question.

“What do Archer’s do?” She c****d her head to the side.

“I know what Archer’s do. I mean you, specifically, as a Captain.” I clarified.

“When necessary, I lead my squad or platoons into missions. Each Captain has a squad of six under their command. When it’s required, squads join forces to form a large platoon. I’m a high Captain, so I’m the platoon’s authority.” She said,

Thea’s eyes scrunched up as she tried to explain something that was so natural to her. It was like me trying to explain what life inside a werewolf pack was like.

“But, I mostly go at it alone as a solo Archer. I only lead when absolutely necessary. I’m more successful, more useful that way.” She adds.

“You speak like you’re some kind of weapon for the realm to deploy on rogues.” I laughed without humor. The look on Thea’s face made the words catch in my throat.

“I am.” She stated simply.

“You’re more than that. So much more.” I tried to assure her.

“207 kills.” She says nonchalantly.

“207?” I felt my eyes bulge out of my head.

“That’s my number. The Crimson Archer, 207, Captain. That’s my official title, that’s what it says in my file and that’s what it’ll say on my gravestone. Well, hopefully more than 207, then. I am the realm’s weapon.” Her eyes were cold and her face stern.

I was frozen, unable to respond or react. The waiter came with our food then, breaking the tension between us. I pulled away from her, releasing her hand as the waiter handed out our plates.

“You sure you want me in your packhouse?” She asked once the waiter left, leaning back in her chair.

“Nothing you can say will ever scare me off, Thea.” I replied with an equal amount of stubbornness in my voice as she had in hers.