It shall pass...

Teague POV

“Teague!” I heard Niall literally growling at me from above all the noises going around. “What’s got into you, brother? Vicky is worried sick!” I’ve been in a 24h bar, in the opposite side of town, getting myself drunk. I tried my best to mask my feelings from Victoria, treating the event as something we knew it could happen, and it was ok. But in truth, it wasn’t. It was killing me slowly inside. My human part loved that puppy too much and my wolf was also happy with her. Since I left the house, he had been quiet, curled up inside me in a corner, mourning our loss. 

“Sorry bro…” I slagged, not even looking up at him. I wasn’t up to have my ass scowled by my little brother. He sat in silence at the small table I’ve been feeling sorry for myself for the last two days, waiting for me to say something, but I wasn’t in a mood for chit-chat, much less pep talks.

“Brother, you’ve disappeared the whole weekend, you closed off your link, didn’t get calls. Vicky called me when you didn’t go back home, and talked to Nena, now I have both at my throat and you know Nena cares for you like a brother, right?” Niall was pissed under that calm semblance, I’m sure the girls were giving him a hard time. We were much alike, in and out, our eyes were the only difference, where mine was gray, his was violet, I was the shy guy, he was the cheerful one, and of course, five years of age gap.

“How did you know I was here?” 

“Because the owner called the district, telling me the chief was getting himself wasted, and what should she do about it. Man, what happened? I’ve never seen you this bad in my life.” 

“That’s the shit of living in a small town, everybody knows each other, BUNCH OF BLABBERMOUTHS,” I screamed looking around, and giving a big gulp at the bottle of whiskey, draining a good amount, almost finishing it.

“Come, Teague. Let’s go home, now I understand why the lady called. You smell like horse sweat, man.” he made a disgusted face and signaled to me to stand up.

“Thanks for pointing that out, little brother.” I was so far gone, I couldn’t care less. I just wanted to be alone, drawn in my pain without anybody pitying on me. Was that too much to ask? 

“Come Teague,” I didn’t move, I just looked at him, my eyes watered, and I knew it was the booze talking.

“Her mate showed up, Niall,” and I finished up the whiskey in one go, smashing the bottle on the table. He sank back at the chair and got silent, maybe thinking what to say next. “It’s that punk, Duncan! Do you remember him?” contempt dripped from my lips. 

“I’m sorry, brother. Yes, I remember him. He used to spend his vacations here, always wearing some attitude and getting himself in trouble, ending up in the district. I lost count how many times you booked him.” 

“Exactly, how is that possible? Why didn't fate work in our favor?” closing my eyes, I threw my head back. He didn't need to see the tears threatening to fall. I wanted to crawl in a hole and vanish. 

“Look, brother, I’m really sorry, but you guys knew the risks when you got involved,” I could see the pity in Niall’s eyes, and I hated it.

“Wipe this pitiful look off your face, you don’t need to feel sorry for me,” I barked at him.

“So, shape up, man. Get over yourself. If it helps to calm your heart, he's already grown out of it, and became a nice guy, the only problem, he's married, and I don’t know how she’s gonna handle it,” I stared at him suspiciously.

“And how does my beloved brother know all of that?” I couldn’t help growling at him. Was he at the guy’s side?

“Teague, Duncan has a carpentry, you need to see how beautiful are his custom-made pieces, Nena and I went there to order a crib from him. He remembered me, and we talked. Turns out, his nephew got himself in trouble in London, so they decided to move away.”

“It seems he takes after his uncle, huh.”

“Come on, Tea. That’s the jealousy talking, you’re better than that. Give the guy a chance.” Now I was being chastised?

“I don’t wanna be better than that. I’m tired of being the good guy!” I glared at him as I spoke. “I’m out of here.” standing up, I pushed the chair back loudly, and staggered, the floor danced under my feet, and the whole place spun like a ballerina on crack. I was about to fall, when my brother circled my waist steadying me up and dragging my sorry drunk ass out of there. 

“You’re going home, Tea. Vicky told me to take you to her once I found you.”

“I’m not going back there!” I slurred. “I can’t face her now, please,” I whispered to him, leaning towards the car.

“Where do you want to go, then?”

“About a month ago, I bought this little cottage outside town. Take me there, please.” I slumped inside the car, not caring for the awkward position I landed in the back seat. “Please brother, take care of things in the district for a day or two, until I get all these out of my system, will ya?” And I fell asleep.

It was funny how things work. I had bought this place so Vicky and I could be alone, just us, away from everyone once in a while, living on top of the pub was tiring sometimes, but what did you know, right? Now it was my permanent home. It needed a little work, but it was a gorgeous little house, just enough for a couple; there was a good amount of land, a small orchard and a pond. Well, since there would be some renovations to do it, maybe I could contract the new carpenter in town to do it, and keep an eye on the punk, get to know the nice guy he became, according to my brother. I know, but it was beyond myself not to be sarcastic at the moment. 

I was outside inspecting the house, and making notes of all the work that had to be done, and my mind wandered back to my puppy. We should be doing this together, I hoped to surprise her with all these, but life wasn’t fair sometimes. Yes I was aware that one day this would have happened, but I wasn’t prepared to let go, as I thought I’d be. It was still raw inside, and I imagined how she was doing. I told her to give me five days to leave our home, but I didn’t have in me to handle it, so I just left without looking back, and I was sure I hurt her deeply, but I’m only human, or wolf, and I needed this time to lick my wounds.

 Walking towards the orchard, a honeysuckle perfume hit me like a punch. My wolf woke up from his slumber, raising his head on alert. “What is it boy?” I asked, looking for the tree, it must have a honeysuckle tree here somewhere in this orchard, the smell was too strong, my wolf paced and howled inside me, restless. He wanted out, and I was having a hard time getting him under control, as I was losing my battle with him, when another scent like wet land after the rain mixed with the sweet flowery one, my wolf just lost it, sniffing in the air and howling he got the best of me. When I noticed I was already on my fours, howling and sprinting into the woods, toward such an alluring scent.