Chapter 3: Elmwood Spring

Stepping off of the bus into the hot, humid air, Zalena cursed that she didn’t wear something lighter considering she was in a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. She glanced down at the papers the elders had given her, reading the name of the hotel several times before glancing around, no doubt looking lost as she walked over to a town map they had displayed right at the bus stop. Moths hitting the lamp above her as the light barely illuminated the stores and motels on the map. She squinted at the plexiglass that was smeared and dirtied, until she found the motel on the map, only two streets over.

Her wolf was on high alert as she began walking, glancing around at her surroundings, she took that there weren’t many out this late at night. Save for a few that were stumbling out of the bars that were still open, she wrinkled her nose at the smell of the cigarette smoke that followed them. They merely tossed a glance her way before continuing on their way, laughing about tourists in this town. Sighing, she glanced down at the papers again, reading the motel name and looking up the street that it was supposedly on.

‘Elmwood Spring Motel: Vacancy’

The small neon sign illuminated the front door, otherwise blocked by a giant curtain. She pushed the door open and was surprised to find someone still at the receptionist desk. She walked up, clearing her throat to catch the older woman’s attention. The woman glanced up at her, eyeing her from the tops of her glasses and then sighing rather dramatically as she set her newspaper down, no doubt in the middle of doing the daily crossword puzzles.

“Are you the one that those elders booked and called about?” The woman questioned as she pulled open a drawer and began to dig through the multiple room keys.

“If you mean from Fallen Grove, yes.” Zalena responded easily as she leaned forward slightly on the counter to watch her.

“Why did you want to come to a town like this?” The woman questioned as she pulled the right key out and slid it on top of the counter to Zalena. “Whatever they put in those advertisements, it’s a lie. This place is nothing. I’ve lived here long enough to feel confident saying that.” She laughed.

Zalena pocketed the key before a sigh escaped her. “Long story short, the ‘alpha’ I’m married to… It was an arranged marriage, and well…” The lady held up her hand as though to stop Zalena from talking any further.

“You don’t need to explain the whole thing to me. Well, welcome to Elmwood Spring, if you need anything at all. Just let me know okay?” The woman offered a pitying smile that Zalena was slowly beginning to hate. She didn’t want their pity, she wanted someone to speak up for her. But rather than be rude, she nodded in response and offered a small smile in return.

“I may ask for some good places to go… Thank you.” She made note to read the nametag the woman bore before being pointed in the direction of her room.

She dropped off her suitcase on the bed and locked the door, deciding that some fresh air would do her good as she made her way back outside of the hotel. Zalena glanced around, noting the other stores along the street so she would be able to navigate back here better as she headed towards the forest at the end of the street. A convenient location for a motel for shifters, Zalena mused quietly as she pushed her way through bushes until she was far enough away that she could no longer hear the music playing from the bars.

Tugging off her clothes, she stashed them carefully in a hole in a tree, taking a deep breath and slowly releasing it, she began to shift, fur sprouting along her body as she lowered to the ground. Now on all fours, she stretched, letting her wolf instinct take over as a yawn came from her. It had been awhile since she had been able to shift comfortably without the worry of anyone seeing her. Andros never let her shift without someone being there, she was kept under a watchful eye at all times.

She took off deeper into the forest, deciding to follow a stream to see how far it went, the wind rustling her fur as the various scents assaulted her senses. There were only a few she could pick out, some native flowers that bloomed around Fallen Grove and the scent of the earth. Her paws dug into the soft ground as she ran, her wolf enjoying the temporary freedom as she then found a small pool of water, which she was more than happy to jump into.

But that moment was short lived, she snapped her gaze towards some bushes that were surrounding the stream. Her fur feeling heavier as dread began to set in, she sniffed at the air, no sign of rogues anywhere but maybe one had crept up on her? She hesitantly climbed back out of the water, shaking her fur out as she stared at the bushes, slowly making her way towards them despite everything in her body telling her to run.

And in that moment is when she caught a glimpse of silver eyes, her body on high alert as she stared at them. The moment was short lived, too enamored by their coloring to notice that the wolf that bore them had already left until it was too late. Zalena growled softly at herself, the feeling of dread washing away and being replaced by something else completely. She followed her trail back to the tree and slowly shifted back, dressing again in her clothes, she made her way back into town and back to the motel where she locked herself in her room.

It couldn’t be. She didn’t want to meet him now, she couldn’t. But… The way she was drawn to him immediately… She shook her head, adminant about those eyes being the ones of her fated mate. She tugged the blankets up over herself with an annoyed grumble. Deciding to ignore the draw she felt to him, and ignore the obvious signs that might as well have been neon signs pointing to well, everything she was trying to convince herself it wasn’t.

Only the moon goddess had other plans for her as she slept that night. As she tossed and turned, she was lured into a deeper sleep as a vision began to swirl in her mind.