Chapter 3: The Cave

Elias

I move effortlessly through the woods, every tree, every turn, imprinted in my mind from a lifetime of navigating their depths.

"Elias!" comes my father's call again but it's quieter this time, lost in the distance between us.

Though he could easily follow me if he wanted to, I have to have faith that his arrogance will outweigh his concern. As a respected member of the pack, it wouldn't do for him to leave the party early, even if it was in search of his unruly son.

"It's not much further," I say, blocking out his voice and turning, instead, to Amy. 

Her hand is still firmly clasped in mine and as I look at her, I catch a glimpse of those hazel eyes again. Her full pink lips are curved into a mischievous smile and it's clear she's enjoying this adventure.

I'm not sure why I invited her to join me, but something about her is intriguing, different. She's a flicker of curiosity in the darkness of my discontent. And there's something else too. The title of her photo series, "Incomplete," resonates with me. Maybe that's how I feel, incomplete, supposed to find fulfillment within the pack, yet always sensing that something crucial is missing.

We weave through the trees until we reach a secluded part of the woods. A small cave entrance beckons, and I lead Amy inside.

"Wow," she breathes beside me, and I notice she's still holding my hand. "I didn't know there were caves in these woods."

I smile, leading her deeper into the cave, and watching with something approaching joy as she drinks it in.

"I come here when I need to think," I tell her, suddenly aware that I've never told that to anyone else. "It's like a safe haven, away from everything else."

She nods slowly, finally letting go of my hand to set down her camera and tripod. 

"It's beautiful," she breathes, and when she looks at me again, I can tell she genuinely means it. "How did you find it?"

I smile sadly then, remembering the day I first stumbled upon this sanctuary. I was only seventeen and had just witnessed another brutal tirade from my father towards my mother. I can't even remember what it was about -- not that it mattered. If he wanted a fight, he got one. Only this time, I'd tried to stop him. 

I remember the rage in his eyes as I told him exactly what I'd thought of him. By then, I was almost as tall as he was, and just as broad. The fight had reached a fever pitch, the two of us screaming at each other as my mother begged us to stop.

In the end, it was for her that I left, roaming the woods aimlessly until I'd come across this place.

But I don't tell Amy that. Instead, I say, "Just luck, I guess."

Amy smiles. "Well, thank you for showing me. It must be so nice to have a secret spot like this."

"But wait, there's more," I tell her with a grin and I take her by the hand again, leading her through the dark.

Something about the way she takes my hand so effortlessly makes me smile, and when I crouch down to kneel on the mattress, she follows me easily.

"Oh my god, is this a bed?" she asks, and I can hear the incredulity in her voice.

"Sometimes I have a lot to think about," I chuckle as we sit on the makeshift bed, side-by-side.

I turn then, reaching through the dark with the help of my wolf vision. My fingers alight on a book of matches and a candle and when I strike the match, a bright yellow flame dances crazily across the walls.

The light of the candle illuminates the whole cave and when I turn back, I see the flame reflected in Amy's eyes. It gives me the chance to finally see her properly and I realize her eyes aren't hazel but an arresting emerald green. Her long hair flows over her shoulders, its red-brown hue only amplified by the warmth of the candle light. Her skin is pale, her round cheeks looking soft and supple. And her lips, slightly parted now, are way too inviting. I force myself to stop staring at them and instead try to meet her eye but I find, to my surprise, that her gaze seems to be on my mouth.

She suddenly looks up to meet me, caught in the act, and I swear I see a blush spread over her cheeks.

"So, tell me about your photos," I say, allowing her a respite from the awkwardness. 

"Right," she replies, but to my surprise, she doesn't look away. Instead, her eyes seem to light up. "It's something I'm working on for college, but I hope it can be more than that. I feel like I've had this series in my head my whole life and I'm finally figuring out how to capture it."

"Incomplete," I murmur, and she nods.

"I was adopted," she reveals, and for the first time, her gaze falters. "I love my adoptive parents, they've been wonderful to me, but I've always felt like something was missing. Like if I just knew my biological family..."

She trails off, and the cave is silent for a moment as her words hang in the air.

"You know," I say finally, my voice gentle. "Biological family isn't all it's cracked up to be. I come out here to get away from mine. And I still feel like something's missing. I just don't really know what."

Amy nods, and instinctively, it seems, she places a hand over mine. A warmth courses through my fingers as she does -- more than just the warmth of her skin. It's like a heat is slowly spreading from where she's touching me, rising up my arm.

I glance up at Amy, finding her gazing into my eyes. In that moment, it's like a force beyond my control propels me forward. I lean in, pressing my lips against hers.

Amy's lips are soft, even softer than I'd imagined and I feel that heat continue to rise, enveloping my whole body now.

As the kiss deepens, the world outside the cave disappears, leaving only the heat of our intertwined breaths.