Ash

After telling Cas what the werewolves called me, he looked upset and...defeated? Is he looking for the saviour too? Is that the reason why he talked to me? Did he flirt with me just so I would be on his side if I was the so called saviour? Asshole. Why does everyone insist on me being this, this hero?

"Damn it, we have to keep looking. James, go find Alpha Siron to tell him we were wrong."

James nods sharply before running off into the woods. Cas begins to follow him, completely ignoring me now. So much for 'wanting to keep me safe'. I roll my eyes and turn around to walk off in a different direction than the two monsters. I really hope that I am wrong and I don't turn into one of them.

***

It has been a week of walking and sleeping wherever I can find shelter. I am so glad that one of my foster homes was into hunting and I learned how to hunt and cook in the wilderness. I don't mind this whole nomad thing but I am in desperate need of a proper shower. I have just been washing off in lakes, but that won't do much longer. I decide that it is time to find a town and hope nothing goes wrong.

I emerge through the trees to a quaint town. I smile at the cozy feeling and walk down the Main Street. I get some glances in my direction but for the most part, everyone keeps the themselves.

I walk up to a small diner and take a seat in a booth by myself. A young waitress walks up to me and smiles.

"What can I get for you today?"

"I will have an iced tea and a burger with fries," I grin.

"That will be right up," she then walks back to the counter.

I pick up my phone from my back and turn it on. I have had it off since I left because I wouldn't have any service. I look at my GPS and see that I am in a town called Haplen. Huh, never heard of it. The waitress comes back with my iced tea and tells me that my food will be out in a bit.

I debate calling John for a few minutes before deciding that I should at least tell him that I am alive. I pick up my phone and dial his number.

"Ash? How are you? Are you okay?"

"Hey John, I'm okay. I just wanted to call and tell you that since I have service for now."

"Okay, thank you for calling. I have been worried..." John trails off.

"I'm sorry that I had to leave, but this is something I need to do. I will be back one day," I promise.

"Okay, be safe. I love you," John says.

"I love you too," I smile and hang up the phone.

I take a sip from my iced tea and grin at the sweet taste. I can't remember the last time I had one of these. The ding of the diner's door grabs my attention and I turn to see who it is. I notice everyone in the diner now their head to this guys who walks in. I look at the guy who has tousled black hair and green eyes that could hold the entire forest in them. I turn in my seat before we meet gazes to avoid embarrassment. He was hot, but why was everyone bowing their heads?

"Hello sir, what can I get for you?" The lady at the counter asks the man. Sir? He is my age by the looks of it, why call him Sir?

"Black coffee," he deep voice orders. What am I thinking. Stop eavesdropping Ash.

"Just like your mother," the lady comments and the man chuckles.

"Yes, just like her."

I am snapped out of listening to their conversation when the waitress comes back over to me with my food.

"Thank you," I smile at her and she nods before leaving.

I pick up my burger and take a bite. Oh my god, this is amazing! This is probably the best burger I have ever had, sorry John. Before I take my second bite, I am stopped part way by the sight of someone sitting across from me. I look up to see the guy. What is he doing here?

"Can I help you?" I question.

"I have never seen you here, you new?"

"Just passing through," I reply.

He just nods and looks down at the table. "They have good burgers here, eh?"

"You can say that again," I smile and take another bite.

The guys reaches over and takes one of my fries. I slap his hand away from my food which makes him look at me with shock.

"That's my food, man," I tell him.

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry," he laughs and you can hear a few gasps from around the room. The man rolls his eyes at that. What's going on? Something is happening that I am completely and utterly left out of.

"I should get going," I slowly say, standing from my seat. I dig through my bag and pull out my wallet where I count the bills to twenty dollars and leave it on the table.

"Wait! Where are you going?" The man's asks.

"I told you that I am only passing through and now I am moving on."

"I never got your name," he states.

"Harley," I give him my fake name.

"I'm Braden. Why don't you stay in town for a while. I can show you around," Braden suggests.

"No, I really shou..." he cuts me off before I can finish.

"How about just staying for a few more hours. Who knows, maybe you will like it here and decide to stay."

"I..." he cuts me off yet again when I was about to decline.

"I'm not taking no for an answer, come on sweetheart," he takes hold of my hand an drags me out before I register what's happening.

Sweetheart? Who calls people that anymore? It makes him sound like he is from the 1960s. I mean, he could easily pull it off. I chuckle quietly at the thought but then I stop when I think about the possibility. If werewolves are real, what else could be? I shiver slightly at the thought.

"Where are you taking me," I wonder as I think of all the horrible possibilities. If he tries something, it's not like I can really right him off.

"I was thinking the beach," he states.

"The beach?" I ask like he is nuts.

"What's wrong with the beach?" He looks back at me and stops walking, but never lets go of my arm.

I look down at my leggings and baggy sweater, "I'm not exactly dressed for the beach."

He looks me over and then to my bag, "You didn't pack any bathing suits?"

I roll my eyes, "I wasn't exactly planning on going swimming," with anyone else around is what I want to say but I keep it to myself.

"Okay..." he taps his chin as he thinks of something else to do. I can practically see the lightbulb go off in his head, "I got it! Why not take a walk through the woods here, they are beautiful."

That's it. I'm dead. He couldn't have just thought of that out of the blue, he must have wanted to trick me into following him.

"I think I should g..." I huff as he cuts me off again.

"Please Harley," he practically begs.

I look at his hand that is still holding my wrist. I don't want him to get mad and then start beating me like those wolves.

I sigh, "Fine."

He grins like a four year old who just got brought to a candy shop. He drags me in the direction of the trees and we walk down a small path. He lets go of my arm and falls in step with me. I am on high alert once again in the woods. I recognize the way he is going. I just came from over here, it's the path I took to town. At least I kind of know where I am if something happens.

"Isn't it amazing out here?" Braden smiles as he takes in the scenery.

"No arguments there," I answer.

We continue to walk deeper into the woods and further away from familiarity. I am going to be murdered, aren't I? I look over at Braden and expect him to be focused on where we are going but instead I am shocked to see that he is looking at the trees in awe. Maybe I am wrong about him....No! Ash, don't let your guard down for one boy. Mental wall of safety back up.

I look over to see a small clearing in the woods. I start to wander that way and I see a whole bunch of flowers of all different colours there with a small path going through them.

I walk slowly down the path while I admire the colours. A small smile forms on my lips as I bend down to smell a red rose. I turn around to see Braden leaning up against a tree at the edge of the clearing.

"How are there so many flowers in this one spot?" I wonder aloud.

"My mother planted them there as a memorial of sorts for a role model of hers that pasted away," he replies.

"Why so many different flowers though? Aren't they usually the persons favourite flower?"

"It is a uh...symbol of her friend. She talked about a clearing much like this that she visited before she died."

"Oh. It is beautiful," I comment.

"Thank you," a woman's voice pops out if nowhere causing me to jump in surprise.

I turn around and see a beautiful woman standing at the other end of the path. She had raven black hair, piercing green eyes and tanned skin. She looks so much like Braden so this must be his mother. Awkward.

"Hi," I quietly greet.

"Hello, my name is Noctis and I am Braden's mother. Sorry to barge in on your date," she apologizes and I hold in a laugh.

"We aren't on a date ma'am. I just met Braden maybe an hour ago. Sorry, I didn't realize that this was a special clearing. I didn't mean to barge in here."

"Oh it's no problem dear. What's your name?"

"Ash," I blurt out before I remember that I told Braden my name was Harley.

"I thought you said your name was Harley," Braden states.

"Oops?"

"It's nice to meet you Ash and please, call me Noctis. No need for formalities."

I nod and I suddenly feel relieved. Braden wouldn't hurt me with his mother around, right? His mother seems really nice.

"Would you like to join us for dinner Ash?"

"Oh no, I wouldn't want to intr..." I am cut off yet again by Braden causing me to roll my eyes and huff in annoyance.

"You wouldn't be intrudi...." He is cut off my Noctis.

"Braden, stop cutting Ash off and let her finish a sentence for once," Noctis scolds and I smile a thankful smile at her. "Sorry about my son, he forgets his manors sometimes. You definitely wouldn't be intruding dear, we have some friends and family over so we are already making lots of food."

I weight the pros and cons. Pro, I can have a home cooked meal. Con, these guys are strangers. Pro, I get a good home cooked meal. Con, they could be murderers. Pro, a good home cooked meal. Okay, I guess the pros outweigh the cons.

"I would love to join you for dinner," I state.

"Perfect, follow me. Our house isn't far."

"Isn't it a little early for dinner?" I question.

"Dear, it's 5;30 pm."

Woah, already? I can't believe I have been wandering around with Braden for four hours.

I start to follow her a little deeper into the woods. They live all the way in here? How would they get a vehicle this far into the woods? We come out to a huge clearing and see the back of a big house that kind of looks like a cottage. Well, a cottage with four or five stories. I also notice some other houses in the distance. How big is this family?

We walk around the house to the front where there is a driveway as well as a huge garage. I guess that answers one of my questions. I follow Noctis up the front steps along with Braden and inside the house. To say it is beautiful would be an understatement. The house is magnificent.

I hear the chatter of people coming from the direction we are headed in. As we turn a corner, I see a huge dining room with so many people. How do they have such a big family? I then grow a little sad. Some people have such big families and mine didn't even want me. I shake my head of those thoughts because did I didn't, I would start crying.

I look back at the table and see everyone has grown quiet and they are all staring at me. My breathing quickens a bit as I grow nervous and anxious. Why are they all looking at me?

"Ash?" I hear my name being called and I look to see it's Noctis.

"Yeah? Sorry, I zoned out."

"It's fine. I asked you if you were alright. You look sad," Noctis says.

"I'm okay."

She nods and then turns to her family, "Go back to eating everyone."

Just like that, conversation starts up again and the begin eating. Wow. This lady must be well respected in this house. Noctis takes a seat at the head of the table with a guy beside her and Braden sits on the other side with me next to him.

"Hey, I'm Callum but you can call me Cal," the guy beside Noctis introduces.

"Ash," I shake his hand and give him a small smile.

"I haven't seen you around before, where are you coming from?"

"Oh, I am just passing through," I reply, vaguely.

Cal nods, "Where are you heading to?"

"Uh..." I think of what to say, "I am just going out on my own for now. I wanted to have some time alone from my uh...family, before I go off to college."

"That's pretty cool, some people in this pa...house do that as well," Callum says, stumbling over a word.

I nod suspiciously and take a bite of my pasta. It is pretty good, but not as good as John's cooking. I really miss him and Cress. Maybe I should go back...no! I can't go back and risk hurting them. I may not be this saviour everyone is looking for; however, my eyes did glow while I was in a coma.

After everyone is finished eating, I bring my plate to the kitchen and begin washing everyone's dishes. I see some kids entering the kitchen looking at me confused.

"What?" I ask.

"Why are you doing the dishes? That's our job," one of the teens comments.

"Oh, it's no problem really. I am the one who was invited here so it's the least I can do."

One person stands beside me and grabs the scrubbed plates to rinse them off and then another stands beside them and begins drying. The last person starts to put away the dried dishes. Are teenagers actually doing this? Am I hallucinating? Who raised these people?

The dishes are done in no time and I thank the teens before they all go somewhere else in this huge house. I turn towards the exit that follows into the dining room and I see Noctis standing there.

"Geez, you scared me," I breathe out the breath I was holding with my hand over my heart in surprise.

"Sorry dear, that wasn't my intention. Thank you for helping the kids with the dishes."

"It's no problem at all. I told them I would do it all but they insisted on helping. They are pretty good kids," I smile at her.

She walks towards me, "Do you have someplace to stay Ash?"

"W-what?" I ask, that is not what I was expecting her to say.

"I have been in your situation before. Running, not sure where to go. I want you to know that if you would like, we have an extra room here."

She knows? How could she possibly know? It sounds like a good offer, but then I remember why I am running in the first place. I can't hurt these people. Then again, I haven't had any weird things happen to me lately.

"I don't think it's such a good idea. I think I need to be on my own," I tell her.

She looks at me suspiciously, "You don't have to worry about staying here. Nothing bad will happen to you."

How? What? I don't even know. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to give it a try...at least until I start showing signs of turning into an evil thing.

"Okay, thank you," I quietly reply.

Noctis smiles brightly, "Good to hear. Do you have a car in town that you need to pick up?"

"Uh, no. I have been walking," I admit.

She just nods and walks out of the room.