Wolf's Essence Chapter 5 - Theo

(Thank you all for your patience with the missed chapter. I have finally managed to catch up on the chapter postings. I hope you are all enjoying my story so far. I'd love to hear your thoughts or what you like about it in the comments. Anyway, hope you enjoy the new chapter.)

Chapter 5- Theo

I couldn't get him out of my mind. I had been home for over an hour, and the only thing I could think of was Luke. About how his gorgeous white smile had shown through his thick beard. The way his beautiful, almost inhuman, golden amber eyes watched me as we spoke. The way his warm gentle touch seemed to fill me with a wonderful exhilarating energy and warmth. Something as simple as feeling his hand in mine, even on my arm, left me feeling renewed and wanting to just melt into him. Not to mention the way we had been so close to me earlier. I wanted to kiss him so badly, we had been inches apart before the stupid sprinklers had to go and interrupt us. I saw it in his eyes, he had wanted my lips on his just as badly.

I had been relaxing on my bed, just imagining what it would be like if he had been next to me, holding me tight in his strong arms. At some point I had stood and made my way to the window, I peered across the lake at his house, only to see it empty and dark in its shadowed clearing. The nearly full moon had risen at this point and I enjoyed its reflection on the lake surface, and the way the light almost seemed to outline Luke's house. I knew he wasn't home, not because the lights weren't on, but because I now knew that he was the source of the tugging in my chest and it was directing me into town. Probably to the bar where he was most likely enjoying that beer and wings with his friend.

It wasn't long before the smell of mom's cooking pulled me from my obsession and downstairs to the kitchen. She had made spaghetti, and seeing that she had gone through all the trouble, I decided to set the table with the plates and silverware my parents had purchased during their shopping spree earlier. Soon enough we were all seated and digging in. Dad told me that he had managed to get his hands on some fishing equipment and wanted to take the old rowboat out with me sometime, possibly even tomorrow. I agreed that it could be fun, and decided that now was probably a good time to tell them about my dinner plans tomorrow evening.

“So, I met someone in town today,” I started. “Well, a couple someones. A nice gentleman and a weird old lady.”

This caught their attention, but mom spoke first. “Oh really? Who were they?”

“Well, the old lady owns a shop in town. That ‘Potions & Lotions' place, with the black pots bubbling in the windows. She said her name was Nana Uni, I believe. She was sweet, but bit off her rocker. For instance, she told me that I should get home before it started raining, and when I was on the steps of the porch I got sprayed by the sprinklers. It wasn't really raining, but it was close. Either way, we got soaked.”

“Who's “we”?” Dad chimed in before putting a fork full of pasta into his mouth.

“Um, well, that's the other thing.” I took a deep breath before continuing. “The old woman said I was going to meet someone at the bar she sent me to, and if he asked to offer me a ride home, to take it. Well, while I was at the bar I met the sweetest, most handsome gentleman. Believe me when I tell you that he had the most beautiful amber eyes I've ever seen in my life. Oh, and I know it's weird to say, but when I shook his hand I felt so full of energy, almost like adrenaline was pulsing through me. Even just being in his presence made me feel so uplifted and excited.”

“Uh oh, sounds like our son has another crush.” Dad said with a raised brow to mom.

She gave his arm a gentle push, “hush, let him tell us. Go on, sweetie.”

I continued with her encouragement. “Anyway, while we were talking there was this asshole who pushed his way between us and tried to buy me a drink. I told him off and took Mr. Handsome outside. We talked a bit before I started walking home. But he came zooming up in his truck. He got out and opened the passenger door and offered me a ride home. We were both on the front steps when we got sprayed by the sprinklers. But, only after he asked me out to dinner, tomorrow night.”

“Awe, you see, Harold? I told you coming here was a good idea.” Mom smiled at her own achievement before dad shot it down.

“No, you didn't. You told both our son and I that it was too dangerous to come here and that it was a bad idea.” Dad didn't look away from his plate and continued eating, almost as if he could sense my mom glaring daggers at him.

She crossed her arms. “Okay, but I'm glad I was wrong.”

“Still early,” Dad mumbled with his mouth full of noodles.

Mom turned back to me. “Whatever. Anyway, sweetie, I'm happy you already have a dinner date for tomorrow. Now, tell us, what's his name?”

I smiled before pulling my gaze away from my plate. “Luke Mitchell, and believe it not, he lives in the house directly across the lake.”

“Luke Mitchell?

Mom’s gleeful expression faded instantly the moment she heard his name on my lips, dad dropped his fork and began having a coughing fit. It took him several moments, and mom patting him on the back, before his coughs subsided. They both shared a worried look. Then mom shook her head at me. “Sweetie, I don't want you talking with that man.”

“What, why?” My excitement faded and rapidly began to change to frustration. I was twenty-seven, I was a grown man, I could make decisions for myself. Why did she suddenly not want me talking with him after only hearing his name? “He’s a sweet guy, mom.”

“He may be sweet, but his family is trouble.” She stated, crossing her arms.

“Listen to your mother, son.” Dad said as he pushed his plate away.

“Are you serious?” I glared at them both. “It’s obvious that you know him. But you haven't been back here in twenty-one years, how could you be so bothered by someone you haven't seen in so long? Also, I'm twenty-seven, I think I'm old enough to make my own decision on this.”

“Sweetie, please, it's not what you think.” Mom reached for my hand, but I pulled away. “Please trust us on this. His family can't be trusted.”

“Oh, come on. We're here for the summer. What's the worst that could happen; I find out that he's a decent guy and end up leaving back to Maine, never to see him again? Come on, it's one dinner. Just let me have that.”

I could tell mom wanted to continue, but dad let out a sigh and put a hand on hers. “Lidia, he's made his decision, and he’s right, he's twenty-seven. He's old enough to make his own decisions. Let's let it go, for now.”

Mom shook her head. “I most certainly will not let this go. I do not want you talking to this man, and that's final.”

I growled and pushed away from the table and stormed my way up the stairs. “This is exactly why I moved out! You're so overprotective! I'm a grown ass man!” Once I reached my room I closed the door a bit harder than I expected to, practically slamming it. I threw myself onto my bed and stared up at the ceiling, heaving with anger.

I was a 27 year old man, how could my mother think she could still control me? I was old enough to make my own decisions, to make my own plans, to go on a date with whomever I wanted. I couldn't believe she still thought that she had a say in the matter. What could Luke and his family have done that was so terrible that my parents despised his family so much for so long? It had been 21 years since they had been back here. Surely whatever Luke, or his family, had done couldn't have been that bad.

I don't know how long I had laid there staring at the ceiling before I sat up, the tug in my chest directing me toward the window. I stood peering through the clear glass, across the pitch black waters of the lake, to the house on the opposite side staring back at me. I noticed the light on in the lower room and I couldn't help but smile, just thinking that the wonderful, sweet, handsome man I had met lived little over half a mile away.

I watched as I saw a shadow dance inside, moving left then right, then left again. I grew curious as to what he might have been doing. My excitement died as the light was switched off, only to be renewed when the upstairs light switched on. I watched his shadow continue to dance for several more minutes before it paused and began to shrink. I saw the balcony door open, though it was difficult to see from this distance. I could hear my heart as it thumped heavily. I was barely able to make out his figure as he stood there and watched the lake, or was he watching me? Could he even see me from that far and in this darkness? Sure, the moon was out and bright at this point, but it wasn't spilling into my room due to the roof that hung over my balcony.

I watched as he leaned against his railing, and I couldn't help but long for his arms around me, to hold me tight in his warm embrace, an embrace that would comfort me, that would calm my frustration. Is it weird to want someone so badly, even though you had just met and didn't even know much about them? Even though your parents told you to stay away from them for unexplained reasons?

After a minute or two he slowly stood. I know I was being a total creep, but I didn't want him to go, I wanted to keep watching him. Desperate to let him know I was here, I raced to my night stand and flicked on the light and looked back out the window. It had worked, he had stopped walking away and had turned back in my direction. I stepped back up to the window slowly, and got as close to the glass as I could without my face pressing against it. I felt so awkward just standing there so stiff, like a total creeper. So I decided to give a wave and hoped desperately he could see it.

He must have because he waved back, and my heart soared. I was so thrilled that he had seen me. But then, of course he saw me, after all I was able to see him too. Barely, but still. I desperately wanted to call out to him, to talk to him. But I knew my parents wouldn't have been happy to hear me shouting at night, especially not across the lake to the man that my mother so badly wanted me to stay away from. I couldn't help but feel like the biggest idiot.

“God, why didn't I get his number?” I grumbled to myself as I folded my arms.

I lost track of how long we had just stood there watching each other like total creeps. But eventually he gave the Y armed stretch before he gave me another wave. I knew what he was implying and I gave a nod. I instantly gave myself a mental kick as I remembered he couldn't see my nod from so far away. I gave him a slow wave back, telling him that I understood and was saying goodnight. I watched as he turned and went back inside and switched off his light before I went over and switched off my own.

My anger had completely melted away. Just seeing him, even from so far away, had changed my mood completely. I felt totally relaxed as I crawled into bed. But that quickly faded as a question had come to my mind. What was I going to tell him tomorrow when he came to pick me up for dinner?

The next morning I was preparing the boat with dad. We had pulled it out of the storage shed that was tucked on the far side of the house. I hadn't actually gone over to that side yet to explore, so I wasn't surprised that I hadn't seen it. The boat itself was metal, and heavy even for the two of us to carry. We had barely managed to carry it the 100 feet to the water. The moment we had set it down we collapsed on the damp ground, panting heavily.

Once we had regained enough of our energy we continued our preparations to float out. Dad got the fishing poles and bait all ready, while I had made us some sandwiches. By the time I made it back out to the dock dad was already in his bright orange life jacket, with his ridiculously large tan fishing hat on his head, complete with several old hooks stuck through it. I thought it silly that he kept the hooks, but I understood why. Each one represented a fishing trip we had taken together and something exciting or memorable had happened. The green one on the right was for the first time I had ever seen a moose when I was 10, it had come so close to us that we could've poked it with our fishing rods. The yellow and black on the top was for the time that I had slipped and the hook caught him right on top of his head. I had spent 30 minutes trying to get it out, but we eventually cut it from the line and went to a nearby medical center for them to “fish" it out. As for the black one on the bill, that was the first time he had taught me to fish. I had cried when I had reeled in my first fish and he said we were going to cook it and eat it. I didn't want to kill the poor thing. What? I was a kid, of course I cried. Seeing my tears, dad instead let me set it free and I cheered as it swam away. Probably to tell its other fish friends that it had met god and was told it wasn't its time, and in turn was sent back to the land of the living, or swimming, or something like that.

Dad gave me a smile as he spoke, “ready son? I don't want to miss the fish.”

“It's ten o'clock, and they're in a lake.” I started as I put the sandwich bags into the boat. “Where do you think they're gonna go? Do the little fish have recess from schooling or something?”

“Okay, crabby.” He snipped. “Let's just get this aluminum can into the water then.” That was when I realized that we never put the boat in the water. We had gotten it close to the shore, but we still needed to push it in. I had thought that carrying it 100 feet was hard. No no, pushing it into the water, with everything in it, was much harder.

Before long we were rowing into the center of the lake, with aching muscles and lungs desperate for air. Once the anchor was out, I didn't waste any time to set my lure and give the line a cast, once the line was out I got comfortable and waited. It was nice to just float there, the only sounds being the roar of the waterfall a little over a football field away, and the birds as they sang their beautiful melodies. It was relaxing. Peaceful. I breathed in deeply, the smell of the surrounding cedar trees and shrubs of lavender filled my nose, before I gave a deep sigh. I lowered myself into the bottom of the boat and laid back against the bow of our mighty ship. I was officially relaxed. At least, I was before dad broke the silence, and the comfort shattered like glass.

“She means well, ya know.”

“You mean mom,” I asked as I sat up, glancing his way before looking out at my lure in the water. “I know she does. I just want her to respect my decisions.”

“I know you do, son.” He reeled in his line and cast it out again. “She just doesn't want you to get hurt. We have a past here, and Luke's father did some things that caused us to lose trust in him and the rest of his family. Some things that we can't easily forget. . or forgive.”

“What happened back then?”

He brushed the question away with a wave of his hand. “That doesn't matter right now. What matters is that I love and support you if you decide to still go to dinner with that man. Your mother will be much harder to convince though.”

I found my eyes wandering toward Luke's house. I could feel that he wasn't home, but I wished he were. I wanted to see him standing on his balcony, wanted to see him smile down at me as we fished. “Thanks dad. I promise I'll be careful. I just wish I could explain how he made me feel last night. It was so different compared to what I thought I had with Jared. It was so exhilarating, so comforting. So. . . Natural.”

Jared, my douchebag of an ex, and I had been together for three years before I broke up with him. I was so in love with him; his sandy blonde hair, his scruffy beard, his everything. At one point I was so convinced I was going to marry him, that I had even started looking at rings to propose. But, it wasn't long after that when he started hitting on other guys at the bars and clubs when we went out with friends. He was always trying to bring a new guy home for us to have a threesome, and I hated it. He didn't even try asking me first. He was also physically built and knew he was sexy and often bragged about it. He had started having an issue with anger about a year into our relationship, but he had only hit me once. Maybe twice. One night, at a bar, I had caught him fucking another guy in the bathroom. He even had the nerve to continue fucking the guy while making eye contact with me. The guy even asked Jared if I was his boyfriend, and Jared replied with a simple dull “yep" and just continued to plow the guy’s ass. That was the last straw. I got a cab home that night, boxed all his shit up, and left it outside my door. He tried to come in, but I had reset the lock with an old key that I knew he didn’t have. I told him to never contact me again after that. Thankfully I had called Cat over, and she had backed me up when Jared attempted to kick in the door.

But Luke, I could already tell that he was different. After Jared I had picked up a sense about guys like him, knowing which ones just wanted an ass for the night, or which guys were abusive. Every guy had subtle tells. The way they clench their jaw, the way they stand, the way they eye you up and down while you talk. The list goes on and on. But Luke, he had none of those. He seemed genuinely interested in what I was saying. Interest in me. Shit, he had given me a ride home and stood in silence with me from across the lake. I had no doubt that he was different. That he was special.

“Yep, sounds like my son has it bad,” my dad said as he cast his line once again. “Hopefully your mother will come around. I don't want you to have no one to talk to around here. I want you to enjoy yourself. Enjoy being yourself.”

“Thanks, dad.” I said as I reeled in my line, and followed suit in casting it out again. “Speaking of mom, she wasn't at breakfast. Where did she go?”