"Leave me alone," Sol groaned into the phone, rubbing the sleep from his eyes with one hand. He groaned again. "Why are you calling me this early?"

"Sorry," Clark apologised even though they both knew that he didn't mean it. "I wanted to catch you before you started your day."

Sol groaned again and rolled over onto his stomach, burying his face into the pillow, "you could have called me later."

Raising his head and craning his neck to get a good look at the alarm clock on his bed side table, Sol groaned at the red numbers that flashed.

7:53

"You wouldn't have picked up," his best friend persisted.

"How do you know that?" He pursed his lips, his voice muffled by being smothered by the pillow, but they were both werewolves so Clark heard.

"Because you always have your phone on silent whenever you're around humans." Clark stated almost as if it was a fact.

Sol paused, pushing his head back against the pillow hoping that it would just swallow his head whole. Clark wasn't wrong, and he hated to admit it. Even if all he ever wanted was to be normal and live a human life, he couldn't deny that his wolf was a significant part of him, and as much as he could try to deny it, he would always be a wolf.

He knew this better than anyone else for he had spent the latter part of his childhood – before it was snatched away from him – wanting to be as normal and humane as possible. Now, that wasn't an easy task, especially for a future Alpha.

At first, when Sol had decided that he would get his life back on track, he had decided that he would try to blend in with the humans. He had initially thought that it would be easy especially since it was what he wanted for as long as he could remember. He had believed that he would be able to meet and form a close group of people that he could call his friends but what he didn't realise, was that he stood out more. It was easier being the Alpha's son in his own pack than being a wolf in a human town.

And even if he wanted, he wouldn't be able to leave Clark behind. One, because he was his best friend and two, Clark had been there for him from the very beginning. They had gone through their diaper days together. Even after the attack on his pack, Clark had stuck around and helped him when he couldn't even help himself. Clark was his brother, and no matter what happened, he would never leave him behind.

Sol chuckled, sitting up so that he was now leaning against the headboard. "I'm not going into town today."

Clark hummed, but he didn't say anything further about the previous topic, probably wondering where Clark was going with this. "I got your gift for Gideon."

"Did he like it?" Sol asked eagerly, but not wanting to sound too eager. It would be a dead giveaway that he had, in fact, wanted to go over and celebrate his God son's first birthday with them all but once again, he held himself back.

He didn't deserve to be happy.

"He loves it."

Sol smiled. Even if he hadn't seen his Godson for nearly half a year now, it warmed his heart to know that he had enjoyed the gift he had sent. He wasn't sure if black was the right colour for a young child, but it seemed that the child in question had no objections regarding it.

Clark carried on speaking. "He loves it so much that when we unwrapped it, he instantly wanted to get in it. And that was where he spent the rest of the day. He even fell asleep in it." By the end of the sentence, Clark was laughing, shaking his head at the antics that his little son very often pulled.

Sol threw his head back and laughed. "Did I do good?"

Clark chuckled too. "You did great," he affirmed. "But I'm not sure if Diana likes the gift. Gideon keeps on running over her feet with it."

"I didn't plan on that," Sol chuckled, his attempt at defending himself weak.

Clark chuckled on the other end of the line. "I bet you didn't, but she curses you every time he does it."

It felt good to let loose and just enjoy having a conversation with Clark.

God knows he missed him.

When their laughter had died down and they had both caught their breath, Clark cleared his throat. "What's new in your life?" He asked even though he already knew what the answer was. Typically, Sol would reply with nothing, sometimes telling him about some of the stupid stuff the other humans working at the mechanics did, but that was usually it.

Sol was usually a closed book; but not today.

It seemed that today, his best friend had a lot to say, and Clark was right there to lend an ear.

"I found a wolf in the woods." Sol blurted out, not really thinking about the wording of what he was saying.

Clark choked audibly.

Sol couldn't help but smile at the thought of his friend taking a sip of his coffee while he had just heard what he said. "A rogue?" Clark questioned after his coughing had subsided.

"I guess." He shrugged.

"Did you kill it?"

Sol shrugged, not that his friend would be able to see it. "No, she's harmless."

"A female rogue?" Clark questioned again, almost sounding as if he was in awe. Sol didn't blame him though. Rogues were rare; female rogues even more so. Sol too, had initially been very surprised to find the wolf in the woods, and then even more when she turned out to be a she and not a he.

"Yes." He confirmed.

"Where is she?"

"She's downstairs right now."

A pregnant pause passed between them. "She's living with you?" Clark's voice rose a few octaves in sound, clearly surprised at what Sol was telling him. This was not like Sol at all. "Was she dying or something that you let her into your house?"

"Yes." He stated matter-of-factly.

Clark sighed. "Okay, that makes more sense now."

"But she's still in wolf form."

Clark paused again. "When did you find her?"

"Two days ago." This was turning into an interrogation now, not that Sol excepted anything less from the Beta of the Lupine Woodland pack.

"And she's still in wolf form?"

Sol nodded. "Yes."

"What's wrong with her?" Clark asked, clearly confused, half expecting that Sol would jump forth with a full explanation at to why the wolf had not yet shifted into her human form.

"I don't know." Sol shook his head, truthfully not knowing the answer to the question. Sighing, the reluctantly pulled the sheets off of him and stood up from the bed, stretching his muscles. "I'm not even sure if she knows how to shift."

"Are you sure she's a werewolf and not just a big dog?"

Sol pursed his lips, his face blank as he walked out of his room and started towards the stairs. Hopefully, he wouldn't wake up to his house wrecked this time. "Of course, she's a werewolf, Clark. What do you take me for?"

Clark paused. It seemed that he had done that a lot in this conversation. "It's just..." he trailed off.

Sol stopped at the top of the stairs, curious as to what his friend had to say. "It's just what?"

Another pregnant pause passed between them as Sol waited patiently for Clark to explain what he meant. "You haven't been around wolves in a while now. Maybe you're just wishing that she was a werewolf. It might be your wolf's way of starting his own pack."

"Clark," Sol began with the intent to stop him before he said anything else, but his voice just trailed off as he came to a loss of words. "She's definitely not a dog." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, frustrated at his own pathetic answer.

"I get it, man. I do, don't worry." Clark reassured his friend, genuinely concerned about him. "You're an Alpha, there's only so long that you'll be fine without a pack to lead or some sort of leadership role."

Sol hated to admit it, but Clark had hit the nail on the head.

Even though he refused to admit it, he missed being around a pack and other werewolves. There was only so much time that a werewolf -and an Alpha at that- could stay away from his pack before going insane. He was surprised that he had managed it so far. But perhaps, this female wolf -she was definitely not a dog, that he was sure of- downstairs was his way of starting his own pack.

The idea scared him and it was definitely a possibility but for now, while she still remained in her wolf form, he would skirt around the notion, not wanting to admit it to himself, let alone to anyone else.

He had spent so long wanting to be normal and live his life like a mundane human, away from the responsibilities and burdens that came with running a pack and after a cruel twist of fate, he was granted his wish. Sol should have been happy, but he was more miserable than anyone could imagine.

Even Clark didn't know the extent of Sol's loneliness.

Walking down the steps, his heart heavy and his mind clouded with multiple thoughts, he was surprised to find the living room empty. It was just as he had left it last night, except the huge werewolf that was sprawled out on the blanket on the floor was gone. His blanket was still there, but the wolf wasn't.

"You haven't come to see us in months now."

Sol didn't say anything so Clark continued talking, completely unaware of what his best friend was currently thinking.

"You didn't even come to Gideon's party." He accused his friend, attempting to laugh it off to lighten the atmosphere, but the underlying accusing tone was clear. He wasn't at all happy with the way that Sol was distancing himself. Apart from his wife and child, Sol was his only family. And if that wasn't reason enough, Sol was the only person that he had from his past, and he was more than determined to keep him in the picture. "You're coming over to dinner tomorrow." Clark's voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Like hell he would just let his best friend pull away.

"Clark, I have to go." Sol told his friend, brushing a hand through his hair. He didn't even bother offering an excuse.

He eyed the front door; it was closed. Though he wouldn't be surprised if the wolf had managed to open and then close the door behind her. She had done it before and this time, there wasn't anyone to stop her.

"Sol!" Clark called his friend, his tone now urgent as he knew that he was about to hang up any minute. "I won't take no for answer."

"Okay, okay." Sol nodded, not that his friend would be able to see the action. "I'll see you tomorrow, bye." And with that, he hung up, not giving Clark the chance to even tell his friend that he would always be there for him.

Though Clark was glad that his friend had finally agreed to come and visit him, though he just hoped that Sol wouldn't back out at the last minute as he had done a countless amount of times over the years.

Sol had other things on mind, not even having time to mentally chastise himself for agreeing to dinner tomorrow at the pack house. He hated having to disappoint his friend every time, but there was nothing else that he could do.

Pushing all thoughts aside, Sol opened the door and ran into the woods, already having shifted into his wolf even before he managed to make it out of his driveway.

He didn't care if Clark was right, he just needed to find that wolf.

-

Layla Knight

08.10.17