“Josh, stop thinking that I’m upset or trying to find ways to punish you.” He lightly punched Josh in the arm. “It hurt when you left but I get it and I don’t blame you. But you have to understand that now it’s my turn to go and do a little self-discovery without you. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
After a few moments of silence Josh nodded his head and wiped at his cheeks. “I do.”
“Great!” Jake pulled his brother in for a hug then started for the stairs. “I need to go pack and get ready for tomorrow. I’ll call you when I get back.”
“Jake,” Josh called out. He turned around and raised an eyebrow. “I’m here if you need anything, just call me, okay.”
Jake nodded his head and smiled down at his brother then headed for his room. He started pulling out clothes and laying them out on his bed. Seth hadn’t said how long they’d be gone so he thought it best to only pack a few days’ worth. He’d probably be in his wolf form a good chunk of the time and he didn’t really want to have to lug around a ton of crap he might not need.
Once he finished packing he took a quick shower then climbed into bed. He tossed and turned but couldn’t get comfortable. Excitement like he never felt before kept him awake. He couldn’t wait to leave in the morning. Something about this trip had his body surging with energy.
* * * *
Beep, beep, beep.
Jake rolled to the side and slammed his hand down on his alarm clock. The sound was like nails on a chalkboard screeching in his ears. He climbed out of bed and went to go to the bathroom. He washed his face and brushed his teeth then got dressed.
The house was quiet as he left his room. The sun had yet to rise so he hadn’t expected to see anyone as he left the house. Jake walked out the front door and took a deep breath of the chilly morning air. The sun was just coming up over the trees and lighting the front yard. Frost glistened on the blades of grass that had started to turn yellow with the changing of the seasons.
Jake stood on the front porch with his backpack over his shoulders and his hands jammed into his pockets waiting for Holden and Seth. They had planned to leave at seven that morning and it was a few minutes before that. But Jake was eager to leave and didn’t mind braving the cold morning as he waited.
A large black Jeep came up the long driveway and Jake took the steps down to the sidewalk. When the Jeep stopped moving the passenger window came down.
“You ready?” Holden asked.
“As I’ll ever be.” He pulled open the door handle and hopped into the back seat. “Seth.” He nodded a hello to the man.
“Jake,” Seth said in not too friendly of a tone.
“So.” Holden pulled Jake’s attention from Seth back to him. “What did your brothers say? Did they freak out on you?”
Seth turned around in the drive then headed down the road toward the interstate. Every once in a while he’d catch Seth staring at him in the rearview mirror.
“Nah, not really. Even though I told them it wasn’t a romantic getaway with you, I think Cole’s still hoping.”
“Him and Skyler both.” Holden chuckled. “But seriously are they okay with you leaving?” Jake could hear the concern in his friend’s voice.
He shrugged. “I guess so. I think even if I was going away for a romantic weekend with you they’d still be worried about me. I’m starting to think they think I can’t function on my own or some shit.”
“Maybe they just worry because they’re your family and that’s what family does,” Seth said in a soft voice, never taking his eyes from the road.
“Maybe.” Jake turned and focused his attention out the side window. What Seth said was true and Jake was fortunate to have a family that cared about him, but sometimes it could be too much. In Jake’s opinion his brothers went overboard with the worrying.
The drive carried on in silence for about an hour until Holden got restless and turned on the radio. Jake took off his jacket and propped it against the window to rest his head on. It seemed like the perfect time to catch a few extra winks.
A little over five hours later they came to the Clawson city limits and Seth drove through the small town until nothing but trees surrounded them. After a little more driving Seth hit his blinker and turned down a dirt-beaten path. The foliage had turned from vibrant greens to rust-colored oranges and brown. As the Jeep drove past leaves blew into the air, scattering in all different directions.
The road was so bumpy that Jake had to keep grabbing the side handle to keep from falling over. Finally Seth turned down a narrow road and Jake could see a log cabin in the distance. It reminded him of the cabin his father, he, and his brothers would stay at when they’d go hunting while in human form. His father believed every man needed to know how to handle a rifle.
“Home sweet home,” Seth said as he pulled the Jeep up to the side of the house. He turned off the engine and climbed out and Jake and Holden followed suit.
“It’s nice, Seth,” Holden complimented. “Has a rustic welcoming appeal to it. All I need is a beer and lip full of chewing tobacco and I’d be right
