Three - Asher
Three - Asher
Our alpha was gone and quickly replaced. Gabe was a great guy and also a great dad. His two kids, even if one wasn’t really his, turned out pretty fine. David’s composed, a little aggressive, a great leader so far, maybe too stubborn, and he’s a good friend. He’s dealt with his father’s death a lot better than anyone thought he would. It’s hard to lose someone. A parent is rough, they were pretty close.
Amina is David’s adopted sister. Gabe adopted Amina when she was ten and we all accepted her. She was pretty much already part of the pack, but now she’s a Shaw. She’s smaller than everyone by a longshot. So, everyone refers to her as the runt. Amina’s quiet, stubborn as hell, anxious, and she's become a shadow since Gabe died. David thought she came to my house, but apparently, she went into the woods and didn’t come back. To David, is this normal?
I’ve always been the guy that lightens people’s spirits. I’m funny, loud, a little stupid, and always smiling. That’s what Amina said, anyway. She's good at assessing people. Also, she’s got a good ass snout. Amina’s the best seeker in the pack by far. I’m surprised she is not being studied in a lab. Working at a security company is never boring. There are hot chicks in the building. We’re always on the move, and we get free food when we have work events. David doesn’t go with us on jobs anymore. I ask him if he wants me to stay with him, but he always says no. David’s not the guy to push around; he’s got a short temper.
The last job David went on was a wedding. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t like jobs anymore. I know, like the rest of the pack, he’s alone. No mate, no kids, and as much as it pains me to say it, no dad. He’s 23 and is already the CEO of a security company. During the wedding, they informed us to keep an eye out for anything suspicious. We were told that the groom was going to be leaving and returning a few times, but that was it. David hates couples, I think. We sat in a circle to go over the wedding plans, and that was it. I stayed around either Milo or David just because Amina wasn’t there that night.
A slow dance was almost every hour. That was when you could see it. In David’s eyes, there was nothing but hurt. When we were kids, he was a little more lively and a lot more energetic. David doesn’t want anyone to know, but he likes solitude sometimes. He’s told me before that he doesn’t want to be alone for the rest of his life and he wants to make his dad proud. I can relate.
A dear friend of mine, Milo, is a guy with nothing but endless flair. He’s pretty goofy when you get to know him. When the slow dance finished and everyone began jamming out to Miley, Cyrus, Milo and I sat at a table to eat. Milo is not the guy I’d expect to have kids and get married. Maybe that’s an asshole-type thing for me to say, but he's good alone; with his cat anyway.
I know I'll be alone. No one in the pack can handle me, so I doubt anyone else can, either. If the world throws me at someone or someone at me, I’ll see how it goes. If I mess up a relationship, which I have before, no hard feelings. Messing up a relationship is an easy thing to do. I’ve messed up a few, and I don’t think I’ve changed much since high school. To be someone that's goofy, hurting others is accidental. I’ve never wanted to hurt someone unless they really deserved it. It’s hard to be someone you’re not. I’ve done it a lot.
David stands outside and I’m pretty sure he’s crying. I get up from the tab; e and rush over. He almost instantly knows I’m there and is quiet. He breathed out, leaning against the stone balcony. I gently punch his arm, jokingly laughing.
“Hey, big guy.” My voice sounds raspy since I haven’t talked all day. David sniffles, giving me a look. We stand there as we watch the bride and groom run towards the water. The moonlight shines against the water, making them nothing but a silhouette. They hold each other, swaying to the music. David turns around, leaning his back against the stone. This was back when Gabe was shrill alive, but everyone knew how alone David felt even then.
“We shouldn’t be doing weddings,” he says before walking away. For the rest of the night, David stood by the front doors, watching. He hates seeing relationships. He doesn’t know how they work. It’s actually kinda funny, watching his face scrunch each time he sees people kiss in public. I want to cry when the couple leave for their honey moot. At least some of us can be happy. Being smiley and energetic doesn’t mean being happy, though.
The end of the night finished with a bouquet toss. A woman with a light green dress caught the flowers, laughing. My eyes searched the room for the lucky guy that’s gotta marry her. Three guys surround another tall one, patting his back and clapping their hands loudly. Maybe everyone knew they’d end up getting married next. We got a request for their wedding by the fall of that year. David didn’t come.
Milo messes with the radio on our way to his apartment. I love Milo’s house. Mainly because Agro is a cute cat. When we arrive, Milo tells me to stay quiet since there’s a new old lady across the hall. I tell him I can’t promise anything. He laughed. We sit on the couch and watch Agro roll around in the catnip I gave him. Milo isn’t much of a talker unless he has to. His Dad was a DPI and that brought a lot of anxiety into Milo’s life. He knows everything and anything about Department Investigators. We don’t meet them often, though. Mile says they’re boring and annoying.
Around eight am when I leave. The dark sky covers me while the stars blink like Christmas lights. My apartment isn’t a far walk from Milo’s. Walking is something few people do these days. I guess that’s why I like it so much. The different street signs are funny to me when I try to say them aloud to myself. For as long as I can remember, I’ve looked up at David. He’s born to be a leader. To me, he’s like a brother. He’s cared for me, stood up for me, and he’s kept me in check. I feel bad he’s got to deal with me all the time, but he’s told me that sometimes he needs me to keep him on his toes; I can do that without hesitation.
I get home and flop onto the couch almost instantly. The TV turns on and my body sinks into the cushions. The volume is soft enough to where I can hear it. Breathing out, I close my eyes and drift off to sleep. Normally, my dreams aren't very easy to remember. However, the dream I had that night was so easy to recall when I woke up.
I was sitting at David’s desk, and he was showing me papers. There’s something I notice looking at them; he has a ring on his finger. He’s married? The door opens behind me and David packs his things together; me following his actions. Two young women, about our age, walk over to us. One wears a pair of jeans and a lace crop top with matching white leather boots. The other is wearing a hoodie from our security company, black leggings, and black converse.
“You two ready?” The one in the hoodie asks. David walks over and gives her a peck on the lips. They walk out, leaving me alone with the other girl in the room. I can’t see her face very well. Come to think of it, I couldn’t see either of their faces. She takes my arm and leads me out of the room. That moment is when I woke up.
I want that in a few years.