Zay's POV
"I already told you everything that happend. I won't be able to reword it any other way, dad."
I check the time. It's seven in the morning and my father still hasn't stopped bugging me. "What were the other two like? Their body types? Or anything that might help." he asks.
"I do not know. They were both just big and dark haired. One may have been a little slimmer."
He sighs and sits down at the table. He has bags under his eyes, and his demeanor is sluggish. "Do you want some coffee, dad?"
He smiles gratefully at me. "Yes, that would be great."
I go off to make a quick cup of coffee for him, making sure to put creamer in it. When I return, his eyes are slightly drooping. "Dad?"
He pops them back open in a flash. "I'm awake."
"How long have you been awake? Did you sleep at all last night?"
"Yes, yes. I did. For a couple of hours."
I don't believe him. He tends to lie about his well being just so I don't worry about him. "Dad, you need to sleep. It won't do us any good if you fall over from exhaustion."
"I'm fine son, I'm fine." He makes a point if sitting straighter and being more alert. He takes a sip of coffee. "We're going to the campsite today. We need to know what's happening there. Get caught up."
I smile. That means I get to see my friends. The ones that I've known since I was young, not the humans I met the last few months of high school. The ones that share my secret.
"Cool, when are we leaving?"
"As soon as I secure the place and make sure Ryder isn't around to follow us. God knows what would happen then."
A sudden thought hits me. "What about Amber? What if he comes while we're gone?"
He smiles. "I assigned someone to watch over her. He knows how to blend in with the humans."
"He?" I ask distastefully.
"He's an older close friend, he won't try anything. Now get ready to leave."
I'm still not sure if I trust her in the care of someone else, especially a guy. But it'll have to do. I go up to my room and grab my phone, texting Amber that someone will be keeping an eye on her while I'm gone today.
When I'm ready, I mind link with my father.
Is everything fine?
Yes, it's clear. I'm in the car.
I head into the drivers seat and start the ignition. Next, I drive for an hour, and the only thing I listen to is the directions coming from my father.
***
The moment we park near the gate, I smell the rich scent of wolf. The smell is so familiar, but foreign at the same time.
"Why does it take longer to get here every time?" I ask as we enter the camp gates.
"It doesn't, you just don't like driving," my dad says back, just as tired.
"What do you mean? I love driving. But somebody said we couldn't take a short pee break."
"That's a perfect opportunity for Ryder to catch our scent. Neither of us want that. And it made the trip quicker." I pause. He had a valid point.
The hour long ride had stretched into two hours because he told me to take the wrong road. And apparently it was my fault I wasn't paying attention.
We walk to the front building, where everyone checks in. The lady recognizes me before I can pin who she is.
"Ah, Zyler! It's been so long. Do you remember me?" As she speaks I grasp her name.
"Yeah, Melinda right? You worked with my father?"
She nods vigorously. "Yeah. But the shame that it is, they put me behind the desk. Feels like a downgrade."
I see my dad has already checked us both in and is waiting by the door. A give Melinda a nod. She's a chatter, so I make my exit before she can say another word.
"How did you slip by her?" I ask him.
He chuckles. "Don't make eye contact."
I roll my eyes. Easier said then done. "Where are we heading to?"
My dad points to the Head Room. "You're welcome to join for the meeting. Or you can see if you're buddies are training."
Of course, I pick the latter. The Head Room meetings are so complicated. I'm allowed in only because my father is part of the head wolves. But I never understand what they're trying to say, so he explains it to me afterwords.
"I'd rather hear it from you," I say as a response. He smiles and walks in the direction of the Head Room, while I go to the Training Quarters to see some of my friends.