Zyl shifted and shook his head "it's your time to spend with him. You two should enjoy it. Plus you know I'm not too fond of going out into town." He stood from his crouch, pulling her with him "I'd tell you to be careful but you wouldn't listen," he winked teasingly
The wolf in a red hood (romance one on one)
The wink sent butterflies in her stomach. "Alright." She gave him one last hug. "Conner won't let anything happen. So you don't have to worry so much." She squeezed him a bit more then let go. "I'll see you later." She said as she ran off. Conner sat in a chair on her porch waiting. Though he didn't necessarily hate Zyl, he knew Harlow would ask him to come along. He liked Harlow, he wasn't sure when he stared feeling like this, but he didn't want her time with her to be taken by him. "Conner, I'm back." He smiled and stood. Conner walked over to his jeep and opened the door for her. "Thank you." She got in and they headed to town.
Zyl squeezed her tight, never wanting to let go but reluctantly letting her pull away "I know, I'll try not to." He waved as she ran off and shifted back into his wolf form, slipping back into the shadows. He trotted around for a while before reaching the lake and resting near the rocks
(Should I skip to when they come back?)
(sure)
Conner pulled up into her driveway and Harlow hopped out. She grabbed a few bags that had new clothes in them. "Let me help you." Conner got out and grabbed the bags from her hands. "Thank you." They walked to her door and she let Conner inside. "Do you want something to drink?" Conner just smiled and shook his head. There was something he needed to do. "I have some stuff to do. Thank you for today though, I had fun." He set the bags down and before he could leave Harlow ran over and gave him a hug. "I had fun as well." When Conner left he went to the clearing and turned to his wolf form. He howled for Zyl to come since he needed to talk to him.
Zyl picked his head up and tilted it slightly in confusion. He'd never called zyl before, only to ask if Haow was around and he'd been with Harlow the whole day so it couldn't have been that. He stood and ran over to the clearing. Once there, he stayed on the outskirts of the clearing glancing around for any sign of Conner
"I can smell you. You should just come out." He still felt it was weird for Zyl to keep such a distance. Sure they weren't exactly friends, but they didn't straight up hate each other. "I need to talk to you." He looked around looking for him. Zyl had always been good at hiding in the shadows and his fur color didn't help.
Zyl flicked his gaze up, the yellow in his eyes showing through the shadows. He stood and walked over to him "sorry about that. Is something wrong?" He asked
"If you're talking about Harlow, then no, she's home safe." Conner crossed his arms and sighed. "It's no secret how I feel about her. So, I'm going to tell her." Before I leave that is. Conner was moving, and he wasn't sure when he would be back. But he wanted Harlow to know how he felt. "I'm telling you this because, even if you don't notice, I know you feel something for her as well. And I respect you as a person." Conner knew going away meant he had little chance with Harlow, and probably won't ever be with her. But it might help him move on as well.
Zylfer nodded, processing everything "I notice, I just choose to take a backseat and let her make the choices she wants. If she wants to be with you, fine, I'll respect and support both of you." Zyl stepped fowards and placed a hand on Conner's shoulder "if you ever choose to come back, know that we'll welcome you with open arms, no matter what you did no matter who you are later." He gaze a pat on the shoulder "tell her." He nodded and took a step back
Conner smiled and nodded. "Thank you." He felt they were always sort of friends, but nothing close to best friends. He then walked back towards Harlow's place. And when he got there he knocked on the door. "I thought you had something to do?" Harlow smiled as she looked out from the balcony from her room. "I did, and now it's done. Let's talk." She waved him up. Harlow was now too comfortable to leave her spot. Conner sighed a bit nervous about what she will say. He made it to her room and walked over to the balcony. "So, what's up?" Her hair blow in the wind which made her look even more beautiful. "I'm moving, and I don't know when I'll be back." Harlow was a bit shocked. Conner has been here with her since she was six, now she's seventeen. "I see.." You could hear the sadness in her voice, which made Conner's heart ache. "There's one more thing." Gently touching her shoulders he turned her towards him. "Harlow.. I'm in love with you. If you don't feel the same that's fine. I just wanted to tell you before it was too late." Harlow stood there shocked. She did like him, but she couldn't tell him that since she had feelings for another guy as well. "I will come back some day. So, will you wait for me." All Harlow could do was just look at him. She thought about what she should say. "I'm sorry. I can't do that. I'm not sure of my feelings and I don't know what will happen in the future. But, when you come back and both of us are single, I'll keep an open mind about it." It hurt a little, but it made sense. He just hoped she would remember him and not get a boyfriend before he came back.
(twilight…..but with wolves….)
Zyl trotted around the forest, sad that Conner was leaving. He decided to hunt a bit to get his mind off him and fill his hungry stomach a bit. He hoped that Harlow would take it well, knowing that she and Conner were close friends, possibly even lovers. He swallowed down jelousy and sighed through his nose, knowing that he'd always put his friend's wants and needs before his own. That was a part of him that other wolves in the area admired, and part of our the reason as to why they thought thathe should be alpha even though he didn't want the position.
Harlow said goodbye since Conner was leaving immediately. So it's just me and Zyl now. Harlow held back the tears until he was far enough away that he won't see. She sat on her porch and just cried. It was hard to see him go, especially since they were so close. Does Zyl know? Harlow would tell him later, since she didn't want him to see her cry. She hadn't cried in front of the boys in a while.
Zyl stood and found his sister close by, giving her a gentle nuzzle with his nose before sitting down next to her
"have you heard?" She pulled up in his mind
"About Conner? Yeah, I heard. Came to talk to me before he left,"
"You sound sad, would've thought yod'd love the idea of having him out of your fur." She teased.
He shook his head "I might not be able to stand him at times but he's never done anything to question my trust in him. Plus he's dood with Harlow, and loved by many so it'll be hard to see him leave."
After a while, Harlow wiped her tears. She felt sad and didn't want to. She walked into the forest and to the clearing. Seeing Val would be nice. Once in the clearing she called out Val's name. She didn't like her at first, but throughout the years they grew close. And Val was Harlow's only girl friend.
Val's ears flicked and she looked to zyl
"Go ahead, she probably needs another female to spill emotions to." He winked and stood, licking her behind the ear affectionately and heading back into the trees. Val laughed softly and shook her head as she trotted over to where Harlow was in the forest
"Val!" Harlow ran over and hugged her. "What am I going to do? I just got the shock of my life." Harlow was unsure of how she felt at this moment. Conner is gone. She has feelings for him and Zyl, and now she's not sure if she'll see him again. "I feel sick."
Val shifted and hugged Harlow back "which one do want to be with the most? Which one can't you live without?" She asked with a tilt of his head. "If you say both, don't bother with Zyl then. I won't stand around while my brother stands around waiting for you." She stepped back and looked up at Harlow with a pointed look.
"I'm sorry. I don't know yet. I'm just a bit confused." Harlow knew Val was very protective over Zyl, like he was with her. "I want to get my feelings straight and be one hundred percent sure before I answer that. I don't want to be unsure and hurt the wrong person." Harlow sat on the ground and looked to the sky. Who can't I live without? It was a good question, she just wished she had the answer right now. "How is Zyl, does he know?"
Val sighed and nodded, sitting down next to her "yeah, he knows. He's sad to see Conner go and welcomed him back anytime he wishes. He also knows you'll miss him."
"Yeah, I will." Harlow looked around. She had a feeling Zyl was close, but maybe she was wrong. "How have you been?" She wanted to talk about something else to get her mind off of all this.
Val tilted her head "I've been okay, being a teenager is hard but fun." She glanced around and shook her head "he's not here if you're worried about him."
"I'm always worried about him." She laughed. Zyl was one of the people always on her mind, she worried about all her friends constantly. "Yeah.. being a teenager is difficult. But you'll make good memories. I know I have." Thinking about him now, Harlow was starting to miss Zyl, even though she saw him this morning already.
She nodded and smiled "is's fun and wild. Hey speaking of fun, you should come to Zyl's acceptance ceremony!" She said excitedly, bouncing in her seat
"Acceptance ceremony?" Must be a werewolf thing. Harlow smiled and laid back on the ground. "Of course I'll be there. But since I'm human am I even allowed to go?" She hasn't met any of the other members of the pack. So she wasn't sure if they would accept her. But Zyl would be happy to see her there. "When is it?"
She nodded "yeah! Is's like a sweet 16 for werewolves. Others outside the pack can come if they're invited by a wolf of the pack. I'm inviting you so you can go. It's tomorrow night, starting around 7:00. I know your parents are iffy about letting you out late but it would mean a lotfof you could come. If not then at least stop by beforehand to see him." Valerie glanced over at Harlow with round pleading eyes
"I could probably sneak out." Harlow laughed. If it was for Zyl she would do it. "I can't wait. What should I wear, should I bring anything?" When she thought of Zyl she always got excited. She thought about what he was going to wear. He would look so good in a suit. When she realized she was daydreaming about him her face turned a bit red and she looked to the ground.
Val stood in excitement and apples happily "come by tomorrow before the ceremony. I'll send zyl off gunting or so.ething and we can pick out an outfit. s've been working on a few designs that i Think might fit you."
"Okay. Sounds good." Harlow stood and wiped all the leaves off her. "I'll see you tomorrow." She waved as she walked home. What will Zyl's face be like when he sees her at the party? Will Val keep it a secret from him? She couldn't wait to see him. (Should we time skip?)