(Under heavy rewriting) The Wolf and The Wolverine Book One (Completed ✔️)

Chapter 2: Cold Weather

After I spent almost two hours eating and catching up with everyone, I left the dining room. A sick feeling coming to my stomach of anxiety and uncertainty, was I really supposed to be here? With a sigh, I grabbed my phone, swiping a few of the apps to calm my racing mind. Then out of curiosity, I looked at the weather, I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "Yeah, just my luck, rain is coming." I shook my head with a tiny grin on my face.

As far as I knew I was the only one still up. With a grunt, a rather loud one I might add, I lifted the last and heaviest box from my truck, it's a wonder that I even got it in there, to begin with. Another heave and I set it down, looking at all the work I had ahead of me. I sat down at the foot of the large staircase and contemplated on what I'd set as the priority, that's when I heard the footsteps coming down. It scared the hell outta me if I'm honest, the house was quiet up until that point. "I guess you're a night owl like me." I mentioned turning my head to see the man I'd met previously. "Sorry about earlier didn't mean to run into you like that." I propped my head on my arm. The man named Logan looked at me, a sour expression painted on his face, especially his lips, his eyes looked like they held a lot of anger, though looks can be deceiving, I can be a testament to that. "It's fine." His rough voice was something I expected, though not nearly as deep.

Rolling up my sleeves and standing up I placed both hands on my hips. "Well, it was nice to meet you. I won't keep you any longer." I bowed my head slightly to him and went back out to work. "Sorry about the mess, just moving in. A little short notice I know." I tilted my head to the boxes. I expected some sort of laugh, though that wasn't the case, but I did see a slight shadow of a smirk. I needed to quit messing around. I turned to start moving the boxes again, stacking them on a dolly then I heard his voice again."I know we met earlier, but I didn't catch yer' name." He said leaning up against the banister of the stairs crossing his arms, keys in his hand as if he had been on his way somewhere before he saw me. The sound of stretching leather and heavy boots shifted as they scraped against the wood and carpeted stairs. I turned around with a box and in my arms and answered him. "I'm Madelynn. Madelynn Hope." My eyes met his, and his harder look from before had softened a bit, It was nice honestly. "I take it Charlie told ya' who I was?" I let out an airy breath as I set down the item I was moving. "Yeah he did, he also told me you were our history and combat teacher." He replied with a scoff and smirked this time."Sure." His arms fell to his sides as he straightened his back. "So tell me.. What are you doin' here, you're obviously too old to be a student, but Charlie didn't tell me we were gettin' a new teacher." I smiled, the first real one since that afternoon. "I'm not a teacher, I'm the new head librarian. Smart-Aleck." He tilted his head. "So, you like books?" He said walking towards me. I nodded with one hand finding its way back to my hip. "Love them, in fact, some of the boxes I have here are full of just books." I gestured to the pile of personal items behind me. "Then I guess we'll need to trade books sometime. I may not look it, but I do like a good story." I kept stacking boxes on the dolly while we talked, he seemed to steal glances at me once in awhile but I thought he was simply being nice.

He cocked a brow watching as I pushed the Dolly over to the elevator. "I'll help if ya' want." My ear perked up at his offer as I glanced over my shoulder. "It's ok you don't have too. I got it. really." I assured him as he moved a little closer again. "Ya' need help don't cha'? You'll be here all night if ya' don't take my help." He said picking up a short stack of boxes and joining me in the elevator. "If you want I'm not going to stop you." Making room in the elevator I couldn't help but watch him.

"Red, where ya' from?" Logan asked, keeping his sight ahead of him. He must have been referring to my red hair, or at least I hope he was. I'd been called that name before, though it was either in insult or affection between family members. The way that he said it made me think a little, and a flame of attraction burst as he said it. I hid a smile from my face as I glanced to him. "Texas, born and raised." Nodding to him I kept it civil, though I was quiet, I felt awkward but at the same time though. Logan hummed while his eyes closed for a moment. "I'm sorry?" I said looking a little confused. "I was thinkin' I never would've guessed you were from Texas. Been there a few times myself." He said with a straight face. "So uh, where are you from?" I staggered a bit, his demeanor shaking my confidence, he seemed to notice that too. "Canada." He said bluntly. "I've always wanted to go." I mentioned looking back at him. "Well if ya' ever decide to visit, I'll join ya' and show you around some of my favorite places." He offered looking at the doors, then smirked again as if he knew what he was doing, which I had no doubt that he did. The elevator opened and we went down the hall to my room.

These exchanges and stories were swapped as the night went on, and so it led into the early morning hours and eventually it turned into a goodnight. "So I guess that was it." He said standing outside my door with his hands in his jeans pockets as he ran a hand through the side of his hair. "Thanks for helping me out, you really didn't need to." I said in an almost apologetic tone. "Nah, it's fine. I had nothin' better to do anyhow." He paused as I heard the keys in his pockets jingling. "I guess I'll see ya' around then red?" I folded my arms and leaned against the door frame. "It's Madelynn, Logan." correcting him seemed to make him want to laugh, at the very least it made a slight smile come to him as I messed with him. "Yeah, see you around." He turned pacing down the hall. "G'night" He tipped his head to me and I went into my room. "G'night."

I stood there in my pajamas looking at the sad sight that was my room, sighing and putting down the mattress I was soon laying down teetering on the edge of sleep, and soon, everything went dark. The next morning I woke up to a stormy, cold, fall day. I didn't want to move. Half asleep and half awake. as I turned over I looked at my phone. It was early. I never slept well in new places. Really who did? throwing the sheets to the side I staggered up onto the dark ebony floor. After a quick shower and the putting on of fresh clothes, I put on a fake smile and made my way to the kitchen. "Good morning Madelynn." Said Hank walking out of the kitchen, his own coffee in hand, steaming and dark as I remember it being, last I saw of him. "Morning Hank." I returned the pleasantry back as I walked in to get some coffee myself. As I got done making my cup I turned to see Logan walk in. "Morning Logan, Did you end up going to the bar?" I overheard Kurt ask him. "I stayed in." He said rubbing the back of his neck. "Hey elf, we get the paper yet?" He asked, changing the subject quickly. He nodded to Kurt in thanks and walked over to where I was standing near the coffee maker I could smell... Whatever it was he either washed with or wore. It smelled of musk and maybe evergreen, and a sweet scent of tobacco. "Mornin'," he said nodding to me. "Morning," I said back with a smile. After he got his coffee, he left the kitchen reading the newspaper and sipping his black brew. I hummed to myself watching him, I felt a pull of wanting to know him more. "Maybe coming back wasn't such a bad idea."