Cullen had just started to get himself settled into New Orleans when a phone call came. It was from a young wolf he had met in his travels named Hunter. Cullen had helped the kid out of a tricky situation, and he found himself in another one. It seems Hunter had fallen into a pack up in Chicago consisting of mostly young wolves like himself. An alpha had rolled into town and decided to take advantage of the weak pack, ruling them as a tyrant. He was beating the males and having his way with any female he felt like. They were all living in fear of this wolf, and Hunter was begging Cullen to come help them.
So he was sitting on his bed in the apartment, considering his options. Hitting the road again so soon didn't really seem to appeal to him. Cullen always felt a bit of wanderlust in his soul, but he was just starting to get settled. On the other hand, there wasn't much need for him here in New Orleans. There were much more impressive and well-known wolves running about. He was unnecessary.
The decision was surprisingly simple when he put it in that context. New Orleans didn't need him. The young wolves of Chicago did. Packing up his duffel bag of his essentials, he quickly scribbled a note for Nate.
"Hey Pervert,
I'm needed elsewhere. A truck will be by in a few days to pick up the rest of my things. Thanks for the good times. See you when I see you.
Cullen"
The note was left on the door to Nate's bedroom before he took out his phone to leave a quick message to Venus to tell her where he was heading. Securing the duffel bag to the sissy bar on his bike, he swings his leg over the machine before taking one last look around. It was a shame really. New Orleans seemed like nice city. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for him.
Nathaniel didn't know how he could have missed the note on his door, it had to be hung there when he was busy tending to Zack, as the illness he was experiencing spread over him like a blanket. As Owen tended to Zack, Nathaniel pulled off the note on his door, and read it. And read it...until his blue-green eyes blinked open and closed, tears falling.
"Noooooooooooooooo! No..no..nooo!" he sobbed, his tears blurring the ink on the paper. It was a note from Cullen. No wonder he hadn't answered his door. Because he was long gone. All Nathaniel had to remember Cullen by was this fucking cryptic note.
"Hey Pervert,
I'm needed elsewhere. A truck will be by in a few days to pick up the rest of my things. Thanks for the good times. See you when I see you.
Cullen"
No he wasn't needed elsewhere. Nathaniel needed the more superior wolf. To help guide him now, and forever. They were close. They had grown up together as part of the London pack, and had always, always beat on each other trying to see who was the more dominant. Egging each other on whenever a challenge came up. Now he was gone. Nathaniel lost it in the hallway between their rooms, crumpling down to his knees, and releasing a soft wail.
There were things that needed to be done, and Cullen was not there. A wolf that would emerge next full moon, that Cullen wouldn't be able to shape and mold. All that was left, was Nate. Crumpling the note in his hands, he got up from the floor and wiped the tears from his eyes. The soldier in him had to be strong. There were people that needed him to be that way now. Zack needed him to be the wolf that he was, even though Nathaniel wasn't high up on the food chain. Nathaniel pulled himself together.
Someone had to show Zack the way. Nathaniel just hoped that he wouldn't fuck it all up, like the others had done when he was growing as a wolf. His sobs subsided, and with a straight face, he entered Zack's room where Owen was keeping an eye on the sick and infected human. As if nothing had happened, he took his place on the side of Zack's bed and placed a refreshed compress on his fevered brow. Hopefully, they had not heard him in the hallway, but his poker face covered up his shock and hurt very well. Very well.
