diana

1

The holidays are always the worst time to travel but a mother demands her child return home for the long winter break. Diana curled further into her window seat trying to be courteous of the young parents and fussy baby beside her. They cast her an apologetic frown as their infant hurled another symphony of wails. Diana only gave them a reassuring smile and she popped her earbuds in and cast her attention out the window. She watched as the ground crew readied the flight for take off. A black SUV with black out windows rolled up. She watched as the ground crew pulled up the stairs to the plane door. She sat up to get a better view. It must be someone famous. But riding a regular commercial plane? 5 men, large men, poured from the vehicle. All dressed in ornate black suits with different metallic intricacies. None of them looked familiar. Her interest was lost as she sat back in her seat in her seat and listened to her rain sounds audio hoping it would lull her to sleep. Moments later she felt the jolt of the plane as it began rolling to the run way to take flight.

The familiar two toned chime alerting passengers they are free to move about the plane awoke Diana from her light sleep. She pulled an ear bud out as she sat up and glanced out her window. She was met with the never ending blue sky and clouds. This was her favorite part of flying. Seeing all the mountainous clouds... not a single one similar to the next. She smiled softly before placing her ear bug back in her ear and relaxing into her seat again.

•

Alden felt his wolf spirit stirring the moment he step foot on the plane. Normally, it would alert him of trouble but this was different. It was excitement. The unusual feeling was easy to ignore. Alden and his pack members found their seats in first class quickly. Mechanical issues with his private jet had caused them to buy out the entire first class of this plane. It wasn't cheap convincing everyone to abandon their seats but that kind of money was only a drop in the hat. Alden plopped down in the large seat with his first Beta, Darrin, taking the seat next to him.
"Do you sense that?" Alden leaned slightly towards Darrin as he spoke. "No, Sir. What is it?" Alden leaned back ignoring his Beta as the plane readied for take off.

Once in the air, Alden unbuckled his seat and stood. He needed to search the plane. See what had his wolf stirring so restlessly. He made his way through business class. Nothing stood out to him. He scanned each and every face in the crowd but nothing spoke to him. He glanced to the sliding door in the back leading to the next section of plane. Something inside him urged him to press on. Once in the back of the plane, he started his search again. Scanning every face for something familiar. Eventually, his eyes fell on a woman curled up in her seat. Most of her features were hidden underneath an oversized college hoodie. But he knew who she was. His soul was yearning towards her. He has known her in every life and now again in this one. Comfort and familiarity washed over him in her presences. His soul now complete.

Alden turn and returned to his seat. He flagged down a flight attendant in the process.

•

"Excuse me, miss." Diana fluttered her eyes open again. She pulled out her ear bud leaning forward to the flight attendant. "Miss, you have been upgraded to first class." Diana laughed slightly and leaned back thinking it was a joke. The flight attendant stood up and reached for the overhead storage pulling out Diana's bag. Diana shook her head, "oh no, thank you. Let- let them go ahead." Diana gestured to the couple beside her. "No ma'am, just you... we only have one seat available." The couple gave Diana a smile, "go ahead honey. We wouldn't mind the extra room." The mom reassured Diana so she stood and shimmied out of her seat. It was odd to be upgraded mid flight but Diana brushed it off as a Christmas present from the universe. She followed the flight attendant to the front of the plane. The first class door slid shut behind her and she was met with the same five men that she watched on the ground. Odd, there were 8 seats. Plenty of seats for that couple. There were two rows with two seats in each. She kept her head down and sat in the only empty row in the front. She heard a man behind her stand. She watched from the corner of her eyes the man walk up to another man in the row across from her. The man sitting immediately stood and switched him seats as if they could read each others mind. She cast a quick glance at the new man sitting beside her. He was starring directly at her. She quickly looked away. Only an isle separating them.

"Are you from Washington?" What? How could he have guessed something like that. No, she wasn't from Washington but she went to school there. "No...?" She said warily.

"I only ask because we are flying out of Washington... and your sweatshirt says Washington state." Internally, Diana was kicking herself. Obviously, he isn't some mind reader. He can just read her sweatshirt. She gave an awkward laugh. "Oh, yeah... no, I just go to school there." Alden have a soft nod as he prepared another question. "Well what brings you to Chicago?"

Diana pulled her earbuds out fully expecting this conversation to last longer than she hoped. "Uh, family. What about you?"

Alden studied her. They way her light blonde hair fell around her face but mostly hiding beneath her hood. Her green eyes darkening and lightening with her annoyance. Internally, he smiled. She must not be one for small talk. Neither was he.

"Work." He said bluntly, not bothering to elaborate. Diana glanced back at him with an up and down look. "What's with all the suits?" Alden smiled outwardly this time. "Work." He said flatly again. Diana tightened her lips. "Well, what kind of work?" Alden answered quickly like it was a loaded answer. "We work for Mr. Black." Diana scrunched her eye brows, "as in Black Airline?" Alden nodded his head, "and all forms of major travel. As well as... finance." Diana gave a stiff laugh, "cryptic. Why are you riding just any old plane then?" "Technical issues with the private jet." "Wow, a private jet. I bet you have swimming pools filled with 100 dollar bills." Alden gage a hearty laugh, "no. Mr. Black does." Diana scoffed, "it's gross for someone to accumulate so much wealth." Alden frowned slightly, "you wouldn't even imagine the good that wealth goes to." Diana scoffed again, "sorry but the news doesn't focus much on the Black's charitable character. It's often over shadowed by his drug abuse and anti feminism rhetoric." Alden laughed with his belly again, "you are knowledge on the wealthy and their habits, hm?" Diana gave a nod, "ethics and finance happen to be my favorite courses."

They spent the next 3 hrs of the flight discussing politics. It was argumentative but a welcome and playful banter.

"I am in Chicago for the next few days." Diana chuckled, "interesting." Alden continued, "what if I saw you again?" Diana smiled sweetly to herself. Strange men in suits didn't exactly scream safety but something inside her beckoned her to say yes. "I'll be pretty busy with family. They don't see me often." Alden reassured her, "I'll be incredibly consumed by work. We will find time." Diana nodded her head. "Do you want my number?" Alden nodded his head and pulled his phone from his pocket. They exchanged numbers and resumed the rest of the flight in small talk.