Chapter 4

Chapter 4

It was finally Friday evening, the evening Skylar has been looking forward to all week.

He’s played how things would go in his head over and over, in different scenarios.

He was currently standing in the mirror trying to figure out what colored shirt he’d wear.

“You should do that black shirt, Sky. It’d look better than that green one.”

Skylar whipped around to see Nadia in the door way, smiling.

Skylar chuckled a bit.

“You don’t like my green button up?”

“It’s a nice shade of green but I’d go with the black.”

Skylar smiled, taking the shirt off the hanger and shrugging it on.

“See, so much better.” Nadia said.

Skylar nodded in agreement.

The black button up framed his large, broad frame perfectly. It showed his muscles and perfect tones in the right spots. He knew that his mate would definitely notice.

“You should leave your hair out, Sky.”

Skylar turned to see Chaskai standing next to Nadia.

“Show off a little for her.”

“Are you sure?”

“Definitely.”

Skylar took his hair out of the messy bun on top of his head and let it fall down his back. His hair was slightly wavy from being in the bun all day.

“She’s gonna love you, Skylar.”

Skylar smiled and looked at the time. The digital clock read 6:14pm.

“I’ve got to go. I’ll see you guys later.”

“Have fun.”

Skylar smiled, walking past them and down the stairs and out the door.

Once he got in the car, he texted Cheyenne letting her know that he’s on the way.

Right before he started driving his phone dinged.

“Meet me on Carter’s street. We can walk to the gallery together from there. :)”

“I’ll be there soon.”

He smiled and pulled off on to the streets.

Skylar managed to get a parking spot in a parking garage right across the street from Carter Street.

Skylar got out of the car and locked it. Pulling out his phone, he called Cheyenne’s number.

It rang once before she picked up.

“Hello.”

“Hey, Love. I’m right across the street from our meet up spot. Are you close?” He asked, as he made his way towards his destination.

“Hm, I’m walking down that way now. Very close.” She said, and he could hear her smile through the phone.

They stayed on the phone as he crossed the street and she turned the corner.

Skylar caught her scent when he got to the corner of Carter Street. He had to stop himself from saying so, not wanting to scare her off.

“Hey, I think I...see you...” Cheyenne trailed off, her voice sounded breathy.

Weaving her way through people, she finally came into sight. She smiled at him, yet her eyes held something other than simple politeness, when finally they were standing right in front of each other.

“Hey.” Skylar smiled.

“Hey.” Cheyenne smiled, slowly taking the phone from her ear and hanging it up.

“Care to show me this art gallery?” Skylar said, hanging up his phone as well.

Cheyenne visibly shivered and looked him up and down, slowly.

Skylar stole his glances just as she did.

Cheyenne was in a casual high low, off the shoulders, black dress and wore black closed toe wedges. Her hair was in a high low style with the dreads at the top of her head being in a bun while the rest cascaded down her back.

Skylar’s wolf practically did back flips at how beautiful she was.

She was his and only his. He just had to tell her and ease her into it slowly.

“Yeah, lets go.”

Skylar offered his elbow out at her and Cheyenne threaded her arm through his as they walked down the street.

“I hope it wasn’t too much trouble coming down this way.”

“Not at all. It doesn’t matter the distance, I will always come to you.”

Cheyenne looked at him a bit surprised and looked back down at her feet. Skylar could sense her doubts. It’s clear to him she’s been hurt before.

“I assure you, my intentions are completely pure, Cheyenne. “

“Of course, I don’t doubt that, you’re very sincere. I can tell.“ Cheyenne said, almost in a daze.

“But?”

She was quiet for a moment before changing the subject completely.

“When did your family start domesticating wolves?” She smiles up at him.

Skylar was a bit taken a back by the sudden change.

“Oh, no. We don’t domesticate wolves. They run free in the wild as they’re supposed to.”

“Really? Then why call a wolf yours? And then bring him to the vet with a name and everything?”

Skylar smiled.

“Chaskai and Aaron stumbled upon that wolf in the woods when he was shot. Completely by chance. “

“But you claim him to be yours?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“He, as well as all the wolves may be wild animals but they live rather close and always visit. So we’ve given them all names.”

Cheyenne giggled.

Skylar looks down at her smiling slightly.

“What’s funny?”

“You named a wolf after yourself. A bit narcissistic are we?” Cheyenne smiled.

Skylar chuckled.

“Maybe.”

Cheyenne smiled up at him.

“It’s a good fit, I’d say. You both have the same eyes.”

Skylar smiled down at her.

“You think so?”

“Well, yeah. I’d say you picked the right wolf to look after. I’d like to meet him again some day. If that’s alright.”

“Of course. Some day. He’d be ecstatic to meet you.”

“You must really love this wolf of yours.” She smiled.

Skylar chuckled.

They continued down the sidewalk, arm in arm.

“Tell me something about you, I know you’re a vet, and a pretty good one at that. Do you do anything else?”

“Not really. After work I just go home and stay home.”

Skylar looked at Cheyenne.

“You don’t go out at all? With friends or family?”

Cheyenne shook her head.

“Why not, if you don’t mind me asking.”

Cheyenne was quiet and Skylar could sense that she was anxious, uncomfortable.

He definitely hated smelling that scent on her. She should never be anxious or uncomfortable around him. That’s the last thing he wanted her to be.

Skylar wanted nothing more than to hold her and fight away all her problems. Skylar could tell, Cheyenne has been hurt before. He just doesn’t know how bad, and if he could guess, he’d say really bad.

He’d kill anyone who’d hurt her or will hurt her. And that’s a damn good promise.

“Right here.” Cheyenne said.

Skylar hummed in response before he realized she meant they were finally at the art gallery.

“Shall we, then?” Skylar smiled down at her.

Cheyenne smiled and followed Skylar’s lead.

They walk into the air conditioned museum of art away from the heat as soft piano music plays over head.

The art gallery was pure looking. Everything was white marble and the paintings hung quite a distance apart.

“Where would you like to go first?”

“Sculpture, it’s a favorite of mine.”

Skylar smiled and headed down the hall that read ‘sculptured art’

“You hungry?” Skylar asked as they left the art gallery.

“I could eat.” Cheyenne smiled.

“Any place in particular?”

“I want some pasta. Any place like that near by?”

Skylar thought for a moment but then nodded.

“Yeah, an Olive Garden not too far. Just another two streets.”

Cheyenne nodded and followed as he began to walk in that direction.

“Do you come up here often, Sky?”

“Every once in a while. My, uhh, family members gets married it seems like one after another, we come up here to celebrate.”

“Everyone in your family is married? Like everyone?”

“No, not every last member. But a lot of them are.”

“You make it sound like your family is huge.”

“It is, I refer to them as my pack. Just seems like the right term to use.”

Because they’re wolves.

“A pack. That’s kinda cute.”

“You mentioned a love for wolves, I remember. Any reason why?”

“I just love the way they look out for each other, so protective of those dear to them. Makes me wish I had something like that.”

Skylar looked at her but Cheyenne kept her eyes downward, towards the pavement in front of her.

This is the first comment Cheyenne had made that confirmed she was hurting. Confirmed she had no one. Confirmed she needed someone. Confirmed she needed him.

Skylar stopped walking and Cheyenne noticed before she stopped walking as well.

“Come here.” Skylar said.

Cheyenne looked at him hesitating before she took baby steps towards him. He could see she was uneasy and anxious now.

She stopped in front of him but still too far. Skylar went to take a step towards her but she took one back.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Cheyenne. I would never.”

“I’m sorry...I shouldn’t have said–“

“No, it’s okay. It’s okay that you said that. I want you to be open, tell me how you feel. I want you to do that. So don’t ever apologize for feeling how you do. Never.”

Cheyenne stared at him, wondering what she’d done to deserve Skylar. What luck she had to save his wolf and that he’d be a man to take her out for it. What luck it was that he found her in the grocery store reaching for a box of cereal. What luck she had...

Cheyenne hadn’t noticed that Skylar was closer than before and before she had the chance to freak out and create distance between them he’d stopped her.

“Don’t move away from me.”

He lifted his hand to touch her cheek and she visibly flinched.

“Trust me.” He whispered.

He gently touched her cheek and held his hand there looking into the eyes that won’t meet his directly.

“Look at me, Cheyenne.”

He could feel her shaking under his touch. Cheyenne hesitated as her eyes moved to his.

“I will be your wolf.“