Turning the lights off in my art studio, I stepped out onto Main Street and locked it up. A breeze kicked up and I lifted my nose to the air and inhaled deeply. It was the typical smells of a small town in rural Virginia. The Shenandoah Valley forest in the Fall was the predominant scent. Followed by what you'd expect in a small town; fuel and oil from the auto shop, grilled and fried food from our one diner, late blooming flowers, and wood and sawdust. I sighed and looked up at the sky. The sun was making it's lazy way over the Blue Ridge Mountains and our little part of the world would soon fall into dusk and night. I thought to myself that it would be a beautiful night to take a run through the forest. I just hoped that I'd get the chance to do so tonight.

I growled slightly and headed to the auto shop. The bay to the garage was open and I could hear the whir of a power tool and the hiss of an air compressor. There was a radio playing nearby and it sounded like a country rock song. I glanced around the garage and felt myself deflate when I saw my truck was still up on the lift. There were a pair of legs sticking out from it and I approached them.

"Rae," I called out loudly. "Rae, tell me that I'll get her back soon?"

Hands gripped the outer edge of the truck and the body of my best friend, Raven Reyes, slowly came into view. I felt a slight blush creep up my neck as I admired her body. There was a cough and I looked up at her face and saw that she had a smirk on it. She knew exactly what I had been thinking.

I shook my head and smiled, "Rae, you gotta stop teasing me like that."

"Like what," she said with a laugh, "This is how I usually roll out from underneath a car. I can't help it that you're mind fantasizes about me."

I glared at her as she continued to laugh and wiped her hands on a rag that had probably been white this morning. When she stood up, she leaned against my truck and looked at me expectantly.

I sighed and asked, "How much longer, Rae? I need to get my work down to Richmond in a few days."

"It'll be ready by then, Clarke," she replied. "She's an old lady and her lady bits are fragile. I have to be gentle with her. Plus, she needs a new air operated locker. I should get that tomorrow."

"So the new suspension has already been installed," I asked. "And the new fuel tank?"

"Yes," she replied. "I was just finishing up the tank when you came in."

"Is everything else running perfectly," I asked worriedly.

"Clarke, yes, everything's running smooth as silk," she said, her brow creasing in worry. "Why this sudden need to make sure everything's good on Blue Momma here?"

I let out a frustrated sigh and ran my hand through my hair and replied, "Rae, it's our four year anniversary tonight. I'm pretty sure that tonight's the night."

She stood up straight and her eyebrows nearly reached her hairline, "Seriously?! How can you be so sure?"

"Wells has been hinting at it all week. Last week, he trapped Mom at the clinic for a few hours. He's gonna ask."

"Are you going to accept if he does?"

"I don't know," I said as I growled in frustration. "Raven, I don't love him. I only agreed to date him so that I could stay in town after we graduated. So that I could stay with Mom."

"Damn. A rock and a hard place situation," she said shaking her head forlornly. "Look, Clarke, you do what you have to do. I think it's a mistake to subject yourself to a lifetime of misery if you accept. You know your mom would understand if you left."

"That's the thing," I said, angrily. "I shouldn't have to leave. Just because of our stupid bylaws am I even in this damn mess."

"I know, honey," she said as she wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "It's so archaic. I mean, seriously, why can't we have a female Alpha? I've heard that there are packs out there with a female Alpha, so why can't we?"

"You know as well as I do," I said, sighing, "nothing's going to change. Nothing ever does. Dad was the only one who was willing to stand up to Jaha about changing the laws. After he died, no one has argued against Jaha again. And Wells is just like his father. When he's pack Alpha, it'll stay status quo."

She gave me a squeeze and said gently, "I'm sorry, Clarke. I really am, but I'm serious, don't settle for misery. Leave and take your mom with you."

"Mom's not going to want to leave, Rae. That clinic means the world to her. She's not going to want to give that up."

Raven let out a huge sigh and looked over at my truck and said, "I'll get it up and running as quickly as I can, Clarke. What time's your date with Wells?"

I looked down at my watch and grimaced, "In about two hours. I guess I should head home and start getting ready."

"Want me to give you a lift?"

I shook my head, "No, that's okay. Maybe the walk will help clear my mind."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Thanks anyway."

"Alright," she said and gave me a quick hug. "Call me when it's all over."

"I will," I replied and gave her a tight squeeze.

I straightened my shoulders and headed home. It took me about ten minutes to trek across town and head to the outskirts where our cabin was. When I neared, I slowed down and took a moment to look at the only placed I'd ever called home. It was a log cabin with rough hewn logs and mortar. A wrap around porch with a stone chimney that smoke was slowly billowing out of. It was two stories. The downstairs was the living room, dining room, kitchen, washroom, and dad's old office. Upstairs there were four bedrooms. The master, and three smaller bedrooms plus a bathroom. Mom had allowed me to convert one of the bedrooms into a small art studio. The other spare room was a guest room and done up in an Americana style.

The porch light was on and I could see that the downstairs lights were blazing, except from the windows of my dad's office. Neither one of us had gone into it after he died. We just couldn't face the memories; his ghost. I climbed the three steps with feet that felt like lead and walked in. I was immediately wrapped up in warmth and took a moment to let it settle around me before I headed to the kitchen.

"Mom," I yelled out. "I'm home."

"I'll be down in a minute," she called from upstairs.

I opened the fridge and pulled out a jug of tea out. Pouring myself a glass, I leaned against the kitchen island and stared gloomily at the wall opposite of me. It was filled with my childish drawings and ancient report cards. I smiled slightly at the memories of how proud they had both been when I'd presented them with a new drawing or a certificate of something or another. There were also 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons in the various art competitions I'd entered and placed.

I heard Mom come down the stairs and I pulled myself out of the past and back into the present. When she came into the kitchen, she wrapped me into a warm embrace that I greedily gave back.

"So," she said as she stepped away and pulled a glass out of the cabinet. "Tonight's your four year anniversary. Are you excited?"

"I guess," I said, shrugging. "He hasn't said where he's taking me, but I can pretty much guess that he's taking me to the same place he has for every anniversary. The mill pond. He thinks it's romantic to visit the place we had our first date every year."

"That is romantic, Clarke," she replied and sipped from her glass. "I think it's just wonderful that he does that."

"Mom," I said, rolling my eyes, "it would be wonderful and romantic if we didn't go there once a week. We go to the same places every week. Wells has no imagination when it comes to romance. It's annoying and irritating. And God forbid if I ever suggest to go someplace different. That's a two hour argument right there."

"Clarke, be reasonable," she said, looking at me sternly.

"I am being reasonable, Mom," I said. "I'm trying really hard to be okay with this. It's hard to submit and let him make all the decisions, especially when they are the wrong ones."

"Clarke," she said, nearly slamming the glass on the counter. "If you want to stay here, you've got to learn to submit."

"Mom, that's like telling me that I can't be who I am. That I can't be an artist or I can't make my own money."

She grabbed my hands and said fervently, "Clarke, I don't want to lose you, too."

"Mom, I know that. Trust me. I do, but I'm not sure I can keep this up. It's killing me," I said, tears in my eyes. "Being with Wells is killing me."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," she said, her own tears falling. "I really am."

"I know," I whispered. "I'm trying."

She shook her head to get control of her emotions and said, "I guess you should probably get ready, huh?"

I sighed and hung my head and mumbled, "I probably should. Don't wait up, huh?"

"Alright, baby," she said and pulled me into a tight hug. "I love you."

"I love you, too," I replied and went upstairs.