1 - Rowan

1 - Rowan

I smack my alarm. It is far too early for this. Even for a werewolf, I drank too much last night, but it was worth it. We graduated! Finally, I can start making real money and get out of this shitty little apartment. Maybe I can get Hazel out too. Although she seems to be just fine back home. But, she’s not an outcast. Copyright ©️ 2026 Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Productions

I can’t really complain, I could be out on the streets. It’s been a good apartment. A tiny little bedroom that holds a twin bed I got from the landlord, with a closet vomiting the ten outfits I own. A bathroom where you have to walk in and stand next to the toilet in order to close the door to be able to get into the stall shower behind it, but it always has hot water. And a living room kitchen combo that is only separated by the loveseat, the biggest piece of furniture in here. No table or chairs would fit. I have never had an issue Dom can’t fix, and he’s taken good care of all the college kids that live here. He’s like the black sheep uncle that recognizes all of the family outcasts.

I can’t believe it’s been 2 years already. I sigh and look at the picture on my nightstand of my sister and I. It’s on the front porch of our childhood home and it was one of the happiest days of my life. Blegh! I shake my head, adding to the headache I’m trying to ignore. I don’t want to think about that now. I have interviews next week and real friends to see today. Tomorrow. Tomorrow I can remember and reminisce with my sister. She knows how to help me get through this time of year.

Throwing my blankets off, I grab my workout gear. I need to run off the last of the alcohol and I haven’t let my wolf out to run for far too long. She hates being cooped up, but this last semester was really important for us. I passed with honors, and earned my Masters degree in teaching. My advisor wasn’t sure I’d be able to cope with the load, but with no one dependent on me, but me, I didn’t have anything to lose. I had no family or friends when I got here, so I put my head down and got to work.

Thank the Goddess I didn’t listen to Declan and drop all my classes. He thought they were a waste of time and money for a Luna, I thought it was an amazing opportunity to hone a skill I would eventually need. I stop and clench my fists, then shake off the thoughts again. It’s always so hard this time of the year. It’s like the anniversary wants to haunt me. I squeeze and release my fists three times to gain control of my emotions.

“Knock, Knock!” My best friend's voice calls from the other side of my apartment door. I open it confused. After a once over, she tilts her head, “You forgot, didn’t you?” Shelly gives me that look.

“Nope, I did not forget,” My voice pitches higher, “I just need to be reminded of the specific details of what I did not forget.” I laugh.

“Jerk!” She smiles at me. “You promised to go shopping with me. For my interview tomorrow…” She trails off, raising her eyebrows, hoping the little hint sparks something.

“Oh, right… your interview.” I point at her and turn to make coffee now that she is here. It’s her weakness.

I have no idea what she is talking about, but I can work with this. She probably brought it up when I was downing drinks, trying to keep up. I have to drink twice as much as the average frat boy to get drunk, cause my werewolf healing metabolizes it so fast. Normally, I just keep up with the girls and fake drunkenness, it’s easier to explain that good genetics keep me from getting hangovers than the truth. But last night…last night I was on a mission. I wanted that hint of a buzz, I wanted to make a move on this absolutely amazing looking guy that has been in at least one of my classes every semester that I have been here, and I needed the liquid courage. I haven’t been with anyone since Declan, and I thought last night was a great time to venture out. For the first time in a year, he did not show up to the local hangout, which was mildly disappointing, but whatever. We al had a blast celebrating the absolute last of school ever, then I came home to my trusty vibrator. My aftermath is better than Shelly’s though. The guy she’s been sort-of dating showed up with another girl last night and ignored her the entire time. That’s probably when she decided we needed to go shopping, right around the same time I decided she should drink more. She can always make retail therapy sound necessary when it’s disguised with a practical layer.

“I was going to try and sneak in a run before we go. You know, burn off the last of the booze in my system…”

“It’s Sunday! Who works out on a Sunday?” She whines like a child flopping on my couch.

“Plenty of people actually.” I swat her feet off so I can sit next to her. “And, I haven’t worked out in so long, my muscles are begging for it.”

She shoves me with her foot. “Go change, you can run after. You need interview clothes too. It won’t take long. You know me.”

I push off the couch. She’s going to win this fight and we both know it. “I do know you,” I throw over my shoulder. “This is going to take the whole damn day!” She just cackles as I close the door.

“Do you mind? I do need interview clothes. And I promise I won’t go out tonight. We can go on a long run, Maybe see Hazel sooner than we planned.”

My wolf grunts back at me. She loves Hazel and hates that we are two and a half hours away by human transportation, which I have to take. It would be weird for me to ‘visit my sister’ and not take my car. She understands though. She was weakened by Declan’s rejection and it has taken me a long time to get her strength back. Being around humans hasn’t helped, because I have to sneak very far away to let her out. They have no idea of the supernatural world, and it’s better that way. 

Having a purpose and friends here has helped a ton too, even though they have no idea what I am. With finals and internships the last six months, I have been too caught up in moving forward to truly take care of her. I owe her a weekend hike alone in the woods somewhere, but none of my friends would ever let me do that. To humans, doing things like that alone is unsafe and unthinkable. Copyright ©️ 2026 Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Productions.

“Once I get a steady job at a school, we can run every morning like we used to. I know this semester has been hard on you, but we are so close.”

“I know Rowan. And you will owe me. We leave tonight to see Hazel so we can run together in the morning.”

“Deal!”