Page 44 of Emerald Moon
“I know, but we’re friends!”
“Right.”Cass smiled.“I’m glad.”
“Plus you gave me flowers and good bacon, so I wanted to do something to say ‘thanks.’”
”Do you mind if I try it now?”
”No, please!Go ahead.”As Jo wrung their hands together, waiting for what Cass would say, their eyes met Alexander’s across the table and Jo had the feeling they were being observed, not unlike an animal in a zoo.
Cass picked one macaron and popped it into her mouth.
Jo grinned.”Is it any good?”
Cass had trouble chewing the mouthful and trying to respond at the same time, so she nodded and gave Jo two thumbs up, like the other day, but these morphed into finger guns.
Alexander reached for one of the remaining macarons, and Cass smacked his hand.She finished chewing while protecting the plate from his grabby hand.“Jo made them for me.Go eat something else.”
”I just want to try it.You can’t eat all of those.”
Cass glared at him.He didn’t back down and glared back, still reaching for the corner of what was left.She grabbed his wrist and lifted it up towards his head.“There’s only a few hours left until we’re wolves and unless you want to be tormented by me the entire time as my instincts act on their inner rage, I suggest you look elsewhere.”
Alexander weighed his options.“Fine.”He stood.“I didn’t want it that much, anyway.I’ll leave you and your friend to talk alone.”He emphasized the words “friend” and “alone” in a way that made Jo’s cheeks warm.
“These are great.They’re just tiny versions of my favorite bagel from that deli near the butcher shop.”
“They’re definitely not that good.And they look so gross.The black sesame seeds make it look like bugs.”
Cass shrugged.“Tastes good, though.”She held up the rest of the macarons.“Want to try another and see what you think this time?”
Jo picked up one and popped the whole thing in their mouth.Taking care to actually chew before the spoke to Cass, they added, “You know, it kind of grows on you — slowly without you realizing it.”
Jo clasped their hands together to keep them from tapping their sides as they walked with the Pitch Mountain Pack towards the edge of the forest.They tried to remember what Cass had said — even if they didn’t remember anything, the feeling would still remain.As much as Jo longed to remember being a wolf with their pack, they could focus on what they did get to take away from the monthly experience.They didn’t look forward to the exhaustion that awaited them on the other side of a transition back into their body, but Jo always held out hope that maybe this time they’d recall more than just a feeling.
Walking beside Jo, Wil reached for one of their hands and took it within her own.Her grasp was firm and grounding.Jo was grateful she was always there and squeezed her hand back to say as much.
Alpha Clyde guided them to the forest’s edge.The Crooked Creek Pack kept the majority of the land for themselves during the full moon run, but they allowed the Pitch Mountain Pack to use enough for the small pack to roam, hunt, and play during the full moon.As a pack who lived in the city, there was no place to go during the full moon, so their close ties to the other pack allowed them a small territory to claim during the run.
There was a time last year where they were forced into a smaller area due to an aggressive, emerging Alpha in the Crooked Creek Pack, but Alpha Parisa had decisively taught him a lesson in submission and he’d since left to start a new pack in another town.Jo still had about a billion questions as to what exactly had occurred during that fight between Alphas, but politeness, and Wil reminding them to keep their mouth shut sometimes when necessary, kept them from asking awkward questions.Still, it was yet another reason that Jo was proud that Parisa was their Alpha.
Jo’s senses had been sharper in the last few days leading up to the full moon, but it was nothing compared to how they felt as the moon crept higher in the sky.The lingering scent of the wet earth after an afternoon thunderstorm was more powerful than usual.The cracking twigs beneath their feet and the skittering of animal feet in the forest rang loud in their ears.Even Wil’s hand wrapped around their own was warmer.
As the moon neared its peak in the night sky, the hairs on Jo’s arms stood straight and they felt the telltale tingling in their body that the wolf was closer to the surface.Jo used to fear their wolf, but, even though their relationship was complicated, they were excited to get to know them better one day.They were also looking forward to letting their wolf roam free.After keeping their wolf barely contained for days on end, it was amazing to finally let go.Despite the exhaustion, the feeling that remained after a full moon run was a great one and, looking at the forest, Jo couldn’t help but be glad for their wolf and what they’d get to do.
Alpha Clyde and Alpha Parisa stopped and the pack came to a halt behind them.It was quiet except for the wind rustling the leaves and the footsteps of animals in the forest.No words needed to be spoken as they all prepared to shed their human selves for a couple of days.Jo gave Wil’s hand one last squeeze, then went in their own direction to take off their clothes and invite the wolf to be free.They still couldn’t get used to this whole “being naked in front of your entire found family” thing.
Jo focused on the last of their humanity before it was lost to the full moon, as though it’d help them return on their own on the other side of all this or remember something from when they were the wolf.If they could just hold on to more of themselves, maybe it wouldn't be so difficult.But as the moon rose higher, Jo’s wolf clawed just below the surface, ready to be free, and Jo knew there was no taming them.
fourteen
Jocamebackintothemselves with Seraphine pinning them to the ground.
“They’re back,” Sera said with a relieved sigh.She eased her grip on Jo’s arms before letting go and getting up.She held out a hand.
Jo took it, using their other arm to try to cover what little they could.Their nakedness mixed with the shame of needing so much help to come back to their human self left them too vulnerable and raw.Their bones and muscles ached from use and exhaustion.
“Thank you,” they managed, though their voice was weak.
“You okay?”Sera asked.
