HOWLER

Chapter 25: Self Centered, Sleazy, Pragmatic Fox!

Cynthia screams as she throws the freshly folded sheets off the metal tables as she looks around the room for more tongue compressors.

"Austry, can you please help me look for the tongue compressors? I hate to think I won't have them in handy if someone comes in", she huffs walking past me as she look in her covet for the hundredth time.

"Sure", I say somewhat annoyed because she messed up the sheets I had just folded. I look around the tent. The metal tables and the small wooden counter is really the only places the compressor could actually be in. I squat down to look under the metal tables to see the tall plastic container with colorful tongue compressors.

"Found them", I say as I turn the lid and pop open the tall jar. I quickly put the jar back in its place as I walk over to Cynthia who was still in a panic looking around her office.

I tap her shoulder as she jumps and smiles when she sees the compressors in my hand.

Then I hand them to her, she walks over to her table. She's meticulous about her equipment, the tools for surgery is all lined up by size and occupation and the small tools like her cotton balls and compressors are organized in little boxes. Guess, it's easier for her to get to then walking around and looking for them when someone comes in.

"So, Austry. How do you like the pack so far?", she asks as she writes something in a little post-it pad and sharpens her pencil. My eyes look away from her equipment as I think about her question.

"Good, I guess", I plainly say, walking toward the sheets that were tossed on the floor and could easily make someone trip and crack open their skull.

Harrison asked me to help Cynthia as much as I could but like Cynthia has been telling me for the past three hours, "It's a healthy day so it's a good day but slow". Basically, there is nothing to do.

"How is the apprentice thing coming along?", she asks, finally sitting down, looking at me fold the sheets. She smiles sweetly at me as I turn away, not smiling. She moves her long wavy hair to the side as she begins to knit the strands into that nice maid braid she usually wears.

"What does it even mean to be an apprentice?", I ask, sitting on top of the metal table in front of her as I set the folded sheet on the edge of the table.

"What? Alpha Steven hasn't told you?", she says shocked covering her mouth with her free hand.

"Nope. His riddles annoy me", I grunt, scrunching my face. I'm a bit of a work-a-holic, I love to do stuff and when I am not I feel anxious to find something to do, everything but exercise of course.

She giggles, "That's the Alpha alright. He really is a good guy once, he opens up to people", she says placing a living flower in her braid.

"Can't say I've seen it. He mostly acts like a self-centered, sleazy pragmatic fox", I shrug.

"Well that's rude", she frowns as a bright red tail appears behind her and wags side to side.

'Opps..', I gulp

"I'm sorry!", I say bowing my head looking down at my jeans, gripping my pants. She giggles which makes me look up at her.

"You wolves are all the same, yet you didn't mean it in the same way werewolves usually mean when they say that. I must admit stealing and singing men to sleep can be quite fun", she giggles before looking at me with her big brown eyes, mischief dances in her eyes.

"Stealing? You?", my eyes widen as I look at her.

"What? I don't look the part", she says with her mouth slightly opened and her hand on her chest.

"No You really don't", I say honestly, shocked. I didn't notice I had stood up and moved toward the door along with Cynthia until my eyes wander to my surroundings. 'Wow, that's interesting, almost sounds like that one greek story I forgot the name of. But the powers sound alot like the siren when the men were at sea and hypnotized by the siren's songs'.

Then Cynthia looks outside to the other little houses and huge buff men that stomped around showing off their long thick beards.

"You'll learn a lot of the people here aren't any different from any human out there", she turns to me as I look at her.

"What do you mean?", I ask sincerely enjoying our conversation. I feel comfortable and welcomed as Cynthia smiles at me again, but a bit shy as I scratch the side of my leg.

"The people here all are looking for that moment when you feel complete. The moment that can drive away loneliness, rejection, sins and other harmful stuff. We aren't here because we are better than the others who died, we are here because we are the worst and we accepted that fact and hate ourselves for that", her voice shakes a bit as I stand behind her, looking at her in amazement.

She slowly turns to me, her eyes are closed as she takes a deep breath, "I hope you know how amazing this pack is and protect it with your life The sooner you discover the meaning why you are here, you will be able to answer your own questions", she opens her eyes, looking at me piously.

I stand there, looking at her unable to decipher what she means by that. Does she mean like destiny or something? Does she mean I need to have wisdom or find that purpose God made me for? Do I agree with her? Do I not? All the questions flood into my mind, but one stands out of all of them. Do I trust Steven or not?

Her tail splits into two as each wraps around her waist like a belt as she looks down somewhat sad.

"We all have our dark stories you know", she says quietly, almost like a whisper. I turn back to look at her, I wanted to ask but as usual I stay silent and let her express what she wants to and not force out information.

When I stay quiet, she sniffs as one of her bright red tails rubs her face and she smiles at me. A thumping sound fills the room as I look around to see where it's coming from.

"Cynthia? Do you hear that thumping? I been thinking of asking you this for a while, I hear this loud yet mumble thump in my ears sometimes it makes my ears hurt", I say as her eyes widen slightly.

She looks down and smiles, "Steven did you tell you, that you were a howler right?".

I scrunch my face a bit and nod.

"Howlers had strong hearing, extremely strong", I give her a blank stare not understanding. She giggles, "You're hearing my heart, Austry".

'Her heart..' many other questions rose to the surface but she cuts me off.

"To answer your question, an apprentice is someone who can become a leader in our pack like Executioner, Beta and even Alpha. Steven must expect a lot from you three if he choose you guys to be of the four people he can choose".

"What do you mean by four people?", I ask. She sits back down as I walk closer to her.

"Steven had chosen one apprentice before you three arrived. He stated at the welcoming meeting that you three would be the last three. So do you best, Austry", she nods.

I stand there puzzled. She clears her throat before standing up, "Well Harrison will probably want you back because he probably has other stuff he wants you to do", she smiles as I follow her to the door.

"Right, thanks", I smile shyly. She laughs gently as her tail falls back and disappears which had me nerding out on the inside, 'So freaking want one of those!'.

"Bye Austry. See you around", she waves walking away to talk to some huge men.