Page 16 of Finding His Fox

Instead of following my usual path, a wave of nostalgia guided my steps as I found myself retracing an old trail I hadn't thought about in years.

I pushed my physical limits, running with such speed that the world around me became a blur.

Perhaps reconnecting with Nate had triggered a flood of memories from the past. Eventually, I arrived at a serene clearing.

The moon cast a dim light over the woods. The night sky adorned itself with a twinkling canopy of stars.

Amidst it all, a majestic and gnarled oak tree commanded attention. It stood as a solitary sentinel, its presence imposing yet devoid of the terror it once held for me.

As a child, this tree frequently appeared in my nightmares, haunting my dreams.

As an adult, the fear had dissipated, replaced by the realization that the creature responsible for Shawn's murder and the near-death of Nate and myself had vanished without a trace.

No one knew its whereabouts. Some of the elder members of my pack even dismissed its existence as a figment of my imagination.

The memories flooded back as I stood before the colossal oak tree, basking in the eerie beauty of the night.

The past intertwined with the present, reminding me of the darkness that had once haunted our lives.

Now, I couldn't help but wonder if there was more to the story.

The creature I had faced all those years ago—had it truly disappeared or did it still lurked in the shadows, waiting for its moment to strike again?

I was no longer a frightened and powerless child that couldn’t do a thing, as it tore my best friend to shreds.

My time as pack enforcer had molded me into a warrior able to hold his own in a fight.

Exploring the area around the tree yielded nothing. I only discovered a pile of small bones, probably belonging to a hare or some other small animal.

When I returned to my cabin, I felt a little better. After a quick shower, I sat in front of my fireplace with a cold beer.

For dinner, I ate leftovers from the stew I made the night before.

My cellphone rang. I ignored it. Owen and my pack mates knew not to bother me after dark.

It didn’t stop ringing. The caller seemed persistent. One glance at the clock on the wall above the fireplace showed me it was five minutes past midnight.

I answered the call, thinking Owen needed my help with something important. Nate’s voice came out of the speakers.

His voice sounded rushed and a little out of it.

“Hey Cal, I can’t stop thinking about you.”

I froze at those words, because Nate had been on my mind all night. Nate wasn’t done. He had a few more choice words to say.

“I’m hankering for some fried eggs, bacon, and pancakes for breakfast. Can you bring them over in the morning? Oh, I also need help with moving my things to the old house. See you soon!”

Chapter 6

Nate

“Well, today’s the day, Max,” I said to my cat.

I was sitting at the edge of my bed, absentmindedly scratching Max’s ear.

From here, I could see my old childhood house. I knew I told Rory that it was high time I went back to that house, let alone be comfortable with the idea of even entering it.

However, I was having second thoughts, which had been slowly eating away at my resolve like acid.