"Zyl." Harlow quickly stood as he ran off. "Hey, where are you going?" Unlike him, Harlow didn't sense anything. She stretched her legs and ran after him. Of course she wouldn't be ae to catch up, but as long as she kept him in sight she should be able to follow him. "Zyl, I'm losing you, could you slow down a bit?" As Harlow was talking she missed a step and tripped over a tree trunk. "Ow." Damn! Theres no time for this. She pushed herself up from the ground and continued on, the only thing was is that she was a lot slower now. When she fell, Harlow landed on her knee. But when she continued walking, Harlow noticed she couldn't see Zyl. "Lost him."
The wolf in a red hood (romance one on one)
Zyl growled before launching himself into a clearing, finding few adolescent wolves, not old enough to be an adult but not so young either. Zylfer shifted "want to explain to me why you're spying on me or so I have to tell Alere?" He asked crossing his arms over his chest. "Stay right here." He ordered, shifting and running back to where Harlow was. He nudged her hand in apology, and pressed against her side to help stabilize her
"I'm fine. It will just bruise that's all." Harlow made sure to smile so that she wouldn't worry Zyl. "What did you run after? Sorry, maybe I should've stayed behind." Now Harlow just felt she was in the way. He is a werewolf after all, she didn't need to be in his business too much. It made her a little sad that she didn't know everything about him, but she was only human after all.
Zyl growled at the two softly and shifted, "these two." He said, standing beside Harlow. Two smaller wolves trotted up to them and shifted. "Aw so this is your girlfriend Zyl?" They asked with excited smiles. "She's a friend, yes and she's a girl." He said akwardly. "Harlow these two are Liliana and her brother Asterix." He introduced "Liliana, Asterix, this is Harlow."
"Awe," Harlow bent down to their level and smile sweetly. "It's nice to meet you, I'm Harlow." She held out a hand for them to shake. Even if they were kids, Harlow liked to treat them like the people they are and not just some random kids. Although Harlow was trying her best to not hug them. How come werewolves are so cute? It was a mystery to her. "Zyl and I are just friends."
the two shook Harlow's hand "sure…friends…" Lilliana giggled "No one in the pack calls him that, just the pups and younger wolves like us. All the adults call him Alpha even if he denies and hates it." Zylfer shot her a warning look before nudging them to the edge of the clearing "Go back home, I'm sure Alere is worried about you two."
"Alpha?" Harlow looked over Zyl. "So, you're the Alpha huh?" He just keeps surprising her. "When were you going to tell me?" Harlow crossed her arms and did her best to put a fake pout on her face. She never good at trying to be cute, it was weird to her how some girls could make it work though.
After zyl had sent the two off, he turned back to harlow and sighed "I'm not anyones alpha. They just seem to come to me for advise and help…and everything else…" He groaned softly and ran a hand through his hair "I didn't mean to keep that from you. I just don't consider myself above anyonelse. hell somedays I'm as reckless as the adults and as playful as the youngest pups. I'm not cut out to lead." He shrugged and glanced up at her, a smile crosing his features "are pretending to be mad at me?"
"Maybe… depends on of it's working or not." She took a step closer to him and looked up trying to look even madder. "Is it working?" Of there was any change she could get him flustered or to smile, she would do it. Maybe those kids will know if humans and werewolves are allowed to be together? I'll have to ask them if I see them again. Zyl's eyes were beautiful, and Harlow had always loved his hair. She just loved him.
Zyl smirked and gently grasped her chin in his hand, Forcing them closer together until he lightly brushed against her "Nope, you faking it will never work on me. I know when you're truely upset or when you're flustered or happy or sad. you can't hide those emotions from me, harlow. and right now, you are far far far away from mad." He let her go and took a few steps back. "i'll see you later, I need to get back. remember the rules," he teased " never stray from the path, keep your hood on at all times and never fall in love with those creatures who inhabit the forests." he winked and shifted into his wolf form, bounding off into the woods.
"Not fair." When he was gone she fell to the ground and hide her face. It was completely red and she was glad he was gone. If he saw her like this he would be able to read how she was feeling in an instant. He only sees you as a friend. Get over your feelings. Her heart raced inside her chest. All she wanted to do in that moment was kiss him. Rules, right. Ever since that day, everyone has worried too much. She was an adult, no longer a child. Even if she did stray from the path she would be fine. But where is the path? Standing she looked around. Following Zyl into the forest she was so focused on him, that Harlow hadn't realized how far she had gone. "Oh well." She turned in the opposite direction that Zyl went. "I'll find it eventually."
Zyl reached him home, a small, secluded house near a lake. Valerie, his sister stood by the door "so how's she doing?" She asked, hugging her brother
"How'd you know?" He asked, walking inside
"Youre covered in her scent as always," she said "you two really need to get together."
"What do you mean? We're always together."
"Yeah but never together together. Like romantically."
Zyl blushed "I can't get close to her, I pushed it far enough today."
"aw! So youre finally giving into your heart instead of the rules!" Valerie clapped in happiness
"She belongs with them, not me. I'd love nothing more than to be hers but i won't force her into this life."
"And how do you know she even want to be with 'one of them'? Zyl I've seen it in her eyes, she wants you. As much as you want her."
It had been about thirty minutes, or at least Harlow thought, that she had been wandering the woods. "I'm seriously lost. Zyl could have at least pointed me to where ethe path was." She sighed and decided that was enough, someone eventually would find her, she just hoped it would be a nice somebody. All alone to her thoughts Harlow went back to when they were kids. They would always play hide-and-seek. Of course Zyl always won, but Harlow was stubborn and swore she was going to win. Harlow laughed at the memory, but was caught off guard when a girl walked up to her. "Hey, you lost?"
Zyl sighed 0bit I can't have her." He muttered, heading out for fresh air "I'll be back by moon rise." He said, shifting and bounding off again. "Stop running Zyl, you're not helping yourself" he chastised himself, only pushing himself to run harder, to let the wildness inside him take over. God help whoever dared cross his path and mean harm when he was wild.
"Oh, um actually yes." Harlow looked up and saw one of the most enchanting girls she has ever seen. Her blonde hair was cut just right above her shoulder. It was wavy and shined in the sun. Her blue eyes looked like the Caribbean ocean. "Here, let me help." She held out her hand and immediately Harlow took it. "I know my way around this forest. She smiled and lead Harlow off into the forest. "You're trying to find the human path, am I correct?" Human? She must not be human then. "By any chance are you a werewolf?" A small laugh escaped her lips. "My name is Macy, and you would be correct." It was nice meeting another kind werewolf besides Zyl. Maybe, just maybe she could have another friend. "Have you heard of Zyl?" Macy stopped and turned around grabbing Harlow by the shoulders. "Is he here? Do I look Alright?" Weird. Harlow smiled not sure of what's going on. "I'm trying to become his mate. But I heard he's very stubborn and picky." Macy saying all this made Harlow want to laugh. Why, she wasn't sure. But she didn't. "No, sorry he left a while ago."
Zyl had reached a cliffedge. He stopped to take a breath, everything in his body roaring with adrenaline and power. He was at his most dangerous, an elite among his own kind. A howl tore through his chest, he could hear echoing his from the other waves in the area and smiled to himself. He backtracked to lower grounds and continued running through his beloved forest
Ears appeared on Macy's head when she heard a howl. "That's him! Come." Without a word from Harlow, Macy dragged her along to find Zyl. Macy followed his scent. It lead them to a cliff and Macy looked down. "There he is!" Harlow got down next to her and looked down. And sure enough he was there, but he was running deeper into the forest. "Alpha!" Macy screamed, hoping to get his attention.
Zyl skitted to a stop when he heard someone call for him, thinking it was one of the adults. He turned and glanced up at the cliffs. He tilted his head in slight confusion before making his way back to the base of the cliffside.
Macy waved, while Harlow stood back a little. For some reason it felt awkward. Was it because she got lost, or maybe because Macy liked Zyl but so did she. Harlow couldn't help but look at the ground. Her left hand was rubbing right arm. Weird, this is weird. "Hi, I'm Macy and I'm here to win your heart." She winked. Macy was a fun loving, sweet girl. Harlow could see them together. "I mean technically you are an Alpha, and it's weird you don't have a mate yet," Macy threw her arms in the air, "So here I am."
Zyl shifted, his eyes still holding the wildness of his recent run. He glanced over at Harlow before shifting his gaze to the girl in front of him "how do you know I don't have a mate yet?" He asked with a small smile, crossing his arms over his chest "and how do you know what I'm looking for in a mate?"
"Your smell. Werewolves have a different scent when they have mates. And about what you are looking for in a mate? I do have to say I'm not sure. But I'll try my best to become what you need." A huge smile crossed her face. But when she got a whiff of Harlow's scent all over him it disappeared. She looked behind her at Harlow and her eyes darkened. For a moment Harlow caught Macy's eyes, and shivers were sent down her spine. That was the same way that man looked at her. "You two seem busy with werewolf stuff, so I'll just go." Harlow took a step back without looking up. Then turned and started to walk away. "Oh, right the pathe is that way." Macy had a smile on her face now. "Thank you." Harlow immediately started to walk the way Macy told her.
"I'm not interested in Someone changing for me. As for the scent, yes you're right, I don't have a mate but thats not to assume I haven't found them." His muscles twitched slightly and he had to force down a growled as he saw the murderous look in Macy's eyes. "I don't think you understand how mates work, Macy. We don't just say well be mates and that's it." He nudged past her and headed into the woods again, everything in him telling him to go check on Harlow
Harlow's hands shook as she walked through the woods. Her eyes seemed to dart every which way making sure she wasn't followed. That was scary. Way too scary. It became harder to breathe and she had to sit down. "Damn, it's not him. You're fine."
Macy growled a bit as she watched Zyl walk away. "A human. He's in love with a human! That's impossible, it's against the rules." Macy wondered how that girl was so special to win Zyl's love. But, Macy wasn't one to give up, no she wasn't going to let this get her down.
Zyl shifted and made sure to put space between him and Macy before backtracking to where he last could smell Harlow. He ran for a few minutes before her scent became strong. He barked softly, hoping she'd respond and not think it was Macy
Harlow jumped at the sound of a bark. Her eyes slowly lifted, but relief took over her body when she saw that it was Zyl. "Ah, it's just you." She laughed and stood up, pretending she was fine. "I got a bit tired, so I decided to rest." Harlow touched his head to reassure him that she was fine. "Hm, it must be hard to be an alpha." She couldn't completely understand what he was going through, but she wish she could. If only I were a werewolf as well. "Macy seems like an interesting girl."
He nudged into her hand and sat down with a 'woof.' he growled a bark at both statements, not liking it when she called him alpha and not liking that she was pretending that everything was okay. He rested his head on his paws and glanced up at her
The way he looked when he looked up at her was adorable. She smiled and hugged him. "You're so cute. Being all worried about me." In this form she let down her guard a bit which wasn't the best, but him being in his human form made her flustered and her heart race. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Anyway, didn't you say you had to be home or something like that? If you show me to the path, I should be able to get home."
Zyl sighed through his nose, nuzzling into Harlow's embrace before standing up and flicking his tail. He trotted fowards, intending to brink her all the way home instead of just the path
Harlow stood and rubbed his head one more time. "Guess I'll see you later." She smiled and walked away before he could stop her. She wasn't a kid anymore, so being scared like that made her feel embarrassed. Especially since Zyl was there. She didn't want him to think that she couldn't take care of herself. She stopped walking and turned around to ask Zyl a question. "Hey if you don't mind, could I come over for dinner? I haven't seen your sister in a while."
Zylfer shifted, his eyes troubled as he glanced up at her, staying in the treeline "sure, Valerie would love to see you again." he smiled softly "I'll come and pick you up around 7." Zyl shifted back into a wolf and bowed his head in departure and trotted off. When had things become so akward between them? Since When had there been a line he couldn't cross? He remembered he pretended to be a lost puppy just to stay with Harlow for a few days before his mother came after him. Sighing softly, he stayed in the shadows, following the human path to Harlow's house, making sure she was safe