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Emily was a long-distance runner. For as long as she could remember, she was driven to run. Today as she ran, she felt sadness. Emily had run her last cross-country race of the season the weekend before, and her competitive career was on hold. She wasn’t eligible to compete in a marathon until she was eighteen in the summer. That was months away which seemed a long time to the high school senior. Emily had been training for a marathon for quite a while now and could run endlessly for miles on end. She simply wasn’t old enough to compete.
A glance at her watch revealed she needed to head home to make it in time to see her parents before they headed off on their trip. Typically, they left for several days every month. Luckily Emily was old enough to take care of herself now. She hadn’t had a babysitter since her sophomore year of high school.
She cut through the woods to save a bit of time so she could shower before they left. Her mom always turned her nose up at how sweaty she got when she ran. Complained that she was getting to smell more like her brothers every day. Emily didn’t think that was such a bad thing since she adored her brothers. The twins were a year older than her and had gone to Colorado for college.
Emily was beginning to slow her pace to cool herself down when her foot caught a tree root, and she went tumbling, her earbuds flying across the mossy forest floor. “Damn it,” she grumbled. She rubbed her knee that she’d scraped on the earth. Emily gingerly stood, stretching each limb to ensure no damage had been done.
When she was sure nothing was hurt, she put her earbuds back in and started her music again. A flash of movement in the brush beyond caught her eye. She took out one earbud and listened. As she stared in the direction of the motion, she saw nothing, nor did she hear anything. So she continued on her way toward home. Had she turned around, she might have seen keen eyes watching from within the woods.
The next day was Saturday, so Emily didn’t have school. With her parents gone, she had the entire house to herself. Rather than sleep in like most teenagers, Emily set her alarm to run before dawn when the weather was considerably cooler.
Something pulled her back to the forest she’d cut through the day before. A calmness fell over her as she made her run through the woods. Then Emily got the feeling she was being followed or watched. She wasn’t sure what it was, but someone or something was definitely in the forest with her.
Emily turned off her music to have a stronger awareness of her surroundings. Her ears picked up the sounds of another runner coming up behind her. From her cross-country race experience, she easily judged that this runner was moving much more quickly than she. Emily moved over to the right of the path to allow the faster runner to pass her.
Without warning, a large animal loped up beside Emily. A dog? No, shit. It was a wolf. A reddish-brown wolf. Emily tried to keep her calm and keep her steady pace, hoping the wolf would continue on its way past her. When it didn’t, Emily decided perhaps she should turn around and return home. The wolf ran along beside her, tongue lolling out the side of its mouth until she exited the woods. Then the animal simply disappeared back into the foliage.
Emily completed her cool-down and ended up back at her house with her adrenaline still pumping. She’d never seen such a large animal in the woods by their house before. Emily thought it was strange that the animal seemed content to run along beside her like they were regular running buddies. She knew she couldn’t tell her parents, or she’d never be allowed to run in that area again. Or worse, they’d would call animal control who would capture the poor animal.
After a long shower to wash away all the sweat and grime from her run, Emily pulled on a faded cross-country t-shirt and jeans. She pulled her long black hair into a ponytail and headed to the local café for breakfast. The temperature was still cool, so she decided to walk since her favorite spot was only about fifteen minutes away.
The bell above the door rang as she walked in, and Emily waved at her favorite waitress. “Is the patio open?” Emily motioned to the back of the café. The server said it was, so Emily helped herself to a glass of ice water and found a seat under an umbrella outside.
Emily took her time eating while she scrolled through her phone – checking her e-mail, watching Tik Tok, and reading Tumblr. When a shadow fell over her phone, she looked up and saw a girl, well, a young woman, standing blocking the sun. Emily shaded her eyes and looked up.
“I’m sorry to bother you,” she said. Her voice was sweet, melodic even. “I really wanted to sit outside this morning, but all the tables seem occupied. I was hoping you wouldn’t mind if I sat with you?”
Emily motioned to the other three chairs at her table. “Go right ahead. I’m Emily.” She stretched her hand over the table.
“Chloe,” the young woman said as she shook Emily’s hand. “I really appreciate it. Being inside on a morning like this would be a crime.”
Emily chuckled and went back to her breakfast as Chloe perused the menu. By the time Chloe placed her order, Emily was done eating. She sat back in her chair and said, “So, Chloe. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here before. Are you new to Columbus?” The high school senior was intrigued by the bold woman who had sat down at her table.
“No,” replied Chloe, flashing a huge smile. “Right now, I’m at Barden trying to graduate. My parents tease me that I’m on the ten-year plan. One class keeps kicking my butt. But I’m here through next weekend on Spring Break.”
“Barden? That’s where my mom went,” Emily said.
The two fell into easy conversation. Emily told her about her plans to qualify for the Boston Marathon when she turned eighteen. Chloe quickly schooled the shocked look off her face. “Well, you certainly don’t look seventeen. You know,” she looked around, “lots of interesting things happen when you turn eighteen.”
Emily thought that comment was weird but didn’t ask Chloe what she meant. When the woman’s food came, Emily took the time to study Chloe a little more closely. She was actually pretty cute, for being twenty-five and all.
Surprisingly, Emily found herself quite attracted to Chloe. The woman’s red hair caught the sun’s rays just right and fell in perfect waves down her back. And she had these most beautiful piercing blue eyes. Emily couldn’t recall being pulled toward another girl before, but the idea didn’t bother her.
After Chloe had finished, she insisted on picking up the check. “I did invade your table after all.”
“I enjoyed meeting you, Chloe. Maybe I’ll see you around.”
On Sunday, Emily again got up early to run in the woods. This time, she was not as shocked when the reddish-brown wolf came loping up beside her. She wasn’t scared for some reason when she probably should be terrified. Emily had made up her mind that running with a wolf was normal and didn’t bother cutting her run short this time as she enjoyed the wolf’s company.
Strangely enough, when she got to the café for breakfast, Chloe was already at an outside table drinking a cup of coffee. She waved at Emily when she came outside and motioned her over. “I grabbed our table in hopes you’d come for breakfast again.”
“Oookay.” Emily was trying to not be creeped out by this older woman. Maybe she was just lonely. Then again, she did seem normal enough.
Each day that week, the pattern continued. Emily would have her morning run in the woods accompanied by the large wolf and then finish her morning by having breakfast with Chloe. On Wednesday, Emily invited Chloe over to watch a movie. They ordered pizza and popped popcorn. Chloe sat on the floor, her back against the couch. And Emily ended up lying with her head in Chloe’s lap, oddly comfortable for someone she’d just met a few days ago.
By the end of the week, she was starting to enjoy Chloe’s company more than she wanted to admit and wasn’t looking forward to Chloe’s return to college. Friday afternoon, Chloe was over at Emily’s again. Emily was curled up on the couch next to Chloe. “My parents are coming home tomorrow,” Emily said.
“I suppose they wouldn’t approve of me asking you out, would they?” Emily quickly sat up and looked at Chloe. “Not that I would or anything,” Chloe teased.
Emily narrowed her eyes and started to tickle Chloe. “That was mean.” They both laughed. “But seriously, do you… like me like that?”
Chloe reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind Emily’s ear. “Maybe in a different time, yes.”
Emily slowly leaned over to Chloe, eyes dropping to her lips. She slowly closed her eyes and closed the gap to kiss Chloe. The redhead uncomfortably leaned back. “Hey, Ems. We can’t. I can’t. You’re not even eighteen yet.” Emily’s heart sank. She and Chloe had spent so much time together this week, and Emily really wanted to kiss her.
“Hey, I have an idea,” Chloe said. “How about we pretend that didn’t just happen, and you let me take you out? Nothing fancy, I mean. I know a great hipster Indian place over in Gresham. I go back to Barden on Sunday, and you start school again on Monday. This would be a great close to our week together.”
“And then you’ll consider the kiss?”
Chloe laughed. “You’re still only seventeen.”
Emily threw her head back, laughing as they walked back to the car. “Can you believe they had chicken curry nachos? I mean, how hipster is that?”
“But they sure were good, weren’t they?” Chloe slipped her hand into Emily’s, sending a shiver up Emily’s spine.
“Yeah.”
The two chattered non-stop back to Emily’s with promises to stay in touch. “Especially after you graduate and hit the big one eight this summer,” Chloe teased. “Hey, you should go to Barden next year. I probably won’t ever graduate!”
When Chloe pulled up to Emily’s house, she walked the girl to the door. Emily grasped Chloe’s hands, intertwining their fingers. “Why don’t you come in?” She wasn’t ready for the older woman to go. She wouldn’t see Chloe for a long time, and she might not ever get a chance to spend time like this with the older woman again.
Chloe reluctantly agreed and came inside. Emily dished up some ice cream for dessert, and they laughed and giggled into the night.
“Ems, we’re home.” Emily’s father’s voice rang throughout the house. “Honey, whose car is parked outside?”
Chloe woke with a start and tried to shake Emily awake. They were in the den, but that was only a few steps away from the living room. “Emily,” she whispered. “Ems, wake up. We fell asleep. Shit, shit, shit. I shouldn’t be here.” Emily just mumbled in her sleep.
“Emily?” Her father took a deep whiff, eyes narrowing in concentration. He blocked the door with his arm, preventing his wife from coming in.
“Charles, what is it?” Emily’s mother asked. She tried to push past him. “I’m perfectly capable of handling myself.”
Chloe looked around the room for another way to escape, but her search was fruitless. Besides, if Chloe’s father had already gotten her scent, he would find her anyway. Fuck.
“Emily Marie Junk,” her father bellowed as he stood at the opening to the den. “What is the meaning of this?”
At the sound of her father’s wrath, Emily shot up, wide awake, reaching for Chloe, who had moved well out of the range of Emily’s groping hands. “Dad, wait, I can explain.”
“You,” he roared as he pointed to Chloe. “Who are you?”
“I- I- I’m Chloe, sir.” She dropped her head, not looking him in the eye.
Emily’s mother walked up beside her husband. “You’re a Beale, right?” Her voice was strong but not as forceful as her husband’s.
Chloe furiously nodded her head, not looking up.
“You are of age.” Emily’s father made a statement rather than a question. Chloe nodded. “Then why are you with my daughter.”
Emily was watching this exchanged confused. “We didn’t do anything, Dad. Chloe and I just went out to eat. Last night we were watching movies when we fell asleep. That’s all we did was sleep. I swear.”
“You aren’t supposed to be here, Chloe. You know that.” Emily’s mom was much calmer.
“Yes ma’am, I know.” Chloe’s voice was meek and timid.
“Then get out,” roared Emily’s father. “Get out and leave my daughter alone. She’s only seventeen.” Chloe took off running, pushing past Emily’s parents out to her car. “I’ll be calling your pack,” he called out after her.
“Pack? Dad? What the …”
“Parents, Ems. I’ll be calling her parents. I know the Beales. Their youngest is in college, which is way too old for you.”
“I’m seventeen, Dad.”
Emily’s mother stepped between the two. “Emily, why don’t you go up to your room and let me speak with your father?”
“I’m not a baby,” Emily retorted. “I’ll be eighteen this summer.”
“I know, honey. I know,” her mom said as the girl stomped upstairs.
“It’s the only thing we can do, darling.” Emily’s father was stern. “Apparently, Samuel Beale is their pack leader. He’s not likely to punish his own daughter for breaking the age rule.”
“I believe Emily when she tells us they didn’t do anything, Charles. She said she tried to kiss Chloe and Chloe refused because Emily was too young. I doubt Emily would make that up.”
“Still, it’s prudent we express to our daughter to obey us. It will become even more important when she turns eighteen and learns of her culture.” Charles sighed deeply. “I’ll talk to her.”
Emily’s father went up and knocked on his daughter’s door. “Go away,” Emily said.
“No matter how old you are, I’ll always be your father, Ems. I’m coming in.”
Charles sat calmly and listened as Emily repeated what she told her mother. How she and Chloe spent time together all week, but nothing had happened between her and Chloe. “But you wanted it to,” he said.
“Daaad!” Emily was mortified. She usually only talked to her mother about these types of things.
Charles gave a deep chuckle. “It’s your nature, Ems. I know you are attracted to her. However, that doesn’t change that you are seventeen, and she’s twenty-five.”
“So, we’ll just be friends then.” Emily thought that that was a reasonable compromise since Chloe was away at school anyway. “Phone calls, text messages. Then when I turn eighteen, I’ll be old enough to make my own decisions.”
“No, Emily.” Charles sighed. “I’m afraid your mother and I must forbid all contact between you and Chloe.”
“WHAT?” Emily was shocked. Her dad had never restricted who she spoke to before. “You can’t do that, Dad.”
“I can do that, and I will. I’ve already talked to Chloe’s father, and he’s in agreement.”
“Chloe’s twenty-five years old, Dad. Her father can’t control who she talks to.”
Charles sighed. “Yes, he can, Emily. It’s complicated.”
“Whatever.”
Emily hadn’t realized just how attached she’d become to Chloe over that one week. Her parents forbidding contact was a struggle. Emily tried calling Chloe, and the calls would go straight to voice mail. Text messages were left unread. This led to the sneaking suspicion that Chloe had blocked her number. And Chloe had blocked her on all forms of social media. Emily had even tried writing Chloe a letter that came back marked Return to Sender.
The high school senior didn’t understand how someone she’d only known for a week had become so deeply ingrained in her soul. She didn’t just miss Chloe; she ached. Emily felt so suffocatingly alone. She threw herself into running, pushing herself harder and harder each time she got on the trail. But even on the trail, she felt the absence of the large red wolf that used to run with her through the woods. She was utterly alone.
Emily’s mother noticed her daughter losing weight from her slender frame and became concerned. She approached her husband. “Charles, I’m afraid this situation with Chloe affects our daughter worse than we imagined. She’s running more and eating less. Her clothes are simply hanging off of her. It’s not healthy.”
Soon Emily refused to join her parents for family meals, and they only saw her in passing when she was coming in or leaving the house. “Surely there is something you can do, Charles.” Emily’s mother pleaded with her husband to help their daughter. “She’s in so much pain. Do you think we did the right thing?”
“What do you mean did we do the right thing,” he asked indignantly. “Emily’s seventeen!”
“But what if Chloe is… the one? That would explain the attraction. Charles!” she gasped. Neither parent had considered that possibility until now. “What if they were meant to… That would explain all of this.” She went running upstairs to get her daughter.
A sullen Emily came tromping down the stairs and threw herself into a dining room table chair. “What did I do now,” she grumbled.
Emily’s mother took her hands. “I know we’ve been through this, sweetie. But the week we were gone, the week you met Chloe…”
With the mention of Chloe’s name, Emily rolled her eyes. “Oh, so we can say her name now?” She grumbled and crossed her arms.
“Emily!” Charles said sharply. “Listen to your mother.”
“Did anything else out of the ordinary happen that week, the week you met Chloe?” Emily gave her mother a strange look. “Think, Emily. It’s important.”
Then Emily remembered the red wolf. She was afraid to say anything about it because her parents wouldn’t let her run in those sections of the woods anymore. But if Emily were to be honest with herself, she kept going back in hopes it would return. Yet the longer she thought about it, Emily realized that the wolf showed up when her parents went out of town and disappeared when they returned.
“Ummm yeah, something else did happen. I changed my running pattern – where I run. I started running in the woods. The day after you guys left, the strangest thing happened. A wolf started running with me. I mean, this thing was huge. But it was weird. I didn’t feel afraid. I almost felt like I was… connected to it. Anyway, I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to stop me from running there anymore.” She saw the shocked look on both her parents' faces. "But don't worry. I haven't seen it in a long time. Promise."
Emily’s mother looked at her husband as if to say see, I told you! Charles sighed. He got up, went into another room, and returned with a large box. He put it down on the table in front of Emily. “This is your birthday present.”
“My birthday present?” Emily was confused. “It’s barely May.”
“It’ll make better sense when you open it. There’s a lot of information there, and we have lots of time for questions until you turn eighteen. Why don’t you take it upstairs to open it?” Emily’s mom leaned over and kissed her daughter’s cheek.
Her father got up from the table. “Happy early birthday, darling. I have a phone call to make.”
Still perplexed, Emily took the box to the room and began to go through the contents. With each item she took out, more questions arose. The box contained pictures, newspaper articles, copies of family trees. And a great deal of information about lycanthropes. “What the hell?”
Emily’s train of thought was interrupted by her phone ringing. She picked it up without looking at the Caller ID. “Hello?”
“Emily? It’s Chloe.”
Emily’s eighteenth birthday had arrived. Each member of the Beale and Junk packs gathered in a remote field in Ohio. They formed a circle with Emily and Chloe in the middle. As the most senior member of the two packs, Mr. Beale stepped forward and spoke.
“Emily Marie Junk. You have now come of age. Tonight, you will experience your first of many transformations into the creature that lives within you, the wolf. Since Chloe’s wolf has already claimed you, she will be your guide and help you through this process.”
Emily hugged both her parents before grasping Chloe’s hand and allowing herself to be led into the dense forest. Once the darkness of night had fallen and the full moon was high in the sky, two lone howls were heard in the far distance. The rest of the two packs shifted and began yipping as they raced off to welcome their new pack member to the world of wolves.