LIKE WALKING IN A DREAM

The next moment, out stepped the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. I couldn't take my eyes off her.

This girl was dressed elegantly, her movements and expression were gentle like the breeze that bobbed the wildflowers. Her dark hair, blue in the sunlight, fell in waves behind her. Her cobalt blue eyes were strikingly beautiful.

By now, I realized who I was looking at. It was a shock.

I don't think I was the only one shocked. My wolves suddenly got quiet, so quiet that I wondered if they had forgotten how to breath.

That's why I said, I wasn't thinking it through. I mean, I knew I was going to meet my future self, but actually seeing me was too much of a shock.

Perhaps it was the shock that affected me, but my first thoughts were: Wow! To think I grew up to become such a beauty! The goddess really answered Mum's prayers for her ugly baby in spades.

Future Me had not taken two steps across the back porch when a dark grey cat stepped out from behind her. It had a very grumpy cat face. Even though Future Ben had said I said this cat reminded me of the firewolf, I couldn't see any resemblance to Wolfgang at all.

{She's coming into the woods and would "disappear".} Future Ben informed us, {This was Sam around 17. I'm sure of it.}

{Are you sure, Beta?} Wolfgang asked.

Yeah, how could Future Ben be so sure?

Didn't he say he hadn't ever seen the apple trees? The pond he knew only had lilies and frogs, a few fish, and served as a holiday home to the family of ducks at the nearby park - and this was in its heyday when Grandma Wanda was alive. By now it was dead.

Everything around it should be dead too.

{See that necklace?} Ben pointed, {Her Luna Bell gifted it to her on her 17th birthday. She wears it everyday.}

I squinted to see what I was wearing around my neck. The gold chain was glittery, but unfortunately, the pendent was obscured from my view.

{So what? It's just a necklace.} I huffed, {Bell buys me lots of jewelry...}

I was also wearing Bell's necklace everyday - the one holding his heart stone - which was something that cannot be bought, or taken, only given.

He bought me stuff on Vday, and there was the engagement gifts, and the new dresses and bling he kept at the Lorents for whenever I needed them there...Wait, why was I trying to count them now? It wasn't like I ever really cared for them... What was this sour feeling? Acid reflux? Omo

{Stop being jelly, Sam.} Ben chuffed, {Cut it out. Your hair's gonna blow our cover.}

According to Future Ben, I would occasionally get jealous about "stupid things."

Which was ridiculous. I'm not the jealous type! Why would I be jealous of a single necklace? Why would I even get jealous of myself?

I decided to tease Ben to get back at him a bit.

{I wasn't jelly. I was just mesmerized by my own beauty. Bet you didn't expect me to grow up to be such a gentle and beautiful lady.} I teased Ben a bit.

{In what way were you ever gentle?} Ben scolded. And then he shrugged, "You didn't change at all."

I knew Future Ben was a quack!

Anyway, Future Me and Parry walked across the backyard of a thousand deaths, but the flowers only bowed at the passing breeze as we walked through.

{A goddess, is a goddess.} Ki beamed, {I have seen a vision.}

{I thought I was dreaming, but now I know I am in heaven.} Fluffy added.

"Alright Parry." Future Me told the cat, "We'll try just one more time."

It was weird hearing myself talk. My voice... did it always sound so feminine?

"Dear Alpha, I fear we are running out of time, even though there are many more things I would have liked to teach you." Parry answered.

Future Me laughed, "How can you of all people ever run out of time?"

Did my laugh sound like that? Or was this my future laugh?

Parry shook its head sadly, "Time and tide, Dear Alpha."

"Are you really leaving?" Future Me asked.

"Once I reunite with Peony." Parry said.

Future Me laughed again, "Wouldn't you miss the food here?"

Parry turned huffy, "Since you miss me so desperately, I will try to make time to visit. Make sure there is Salmon and Tobiko. And plum wine."

Future Me tossed my head back and laughed again, "Sure, sure. I will keep a jar for you, and let it age till you come visit."

Parry's fur raised, "Only one?"

"Did I say one?" Future Me smiled, "I meant one hundred. One hundred jars of wild plum wine waiting with your name on it."

"Hn." Parry continued walking.

And all of a sudden, the space in front of them turned liquid and started swirling.

"F*** it, Sam!" Future Ben jumped out of the bush.

{He really does look like some kind of pervert jumping out of bushes like that.} Jax observed allowed.

I was still kind of shell shocked and only came to my senses too late. Jumping off the tree, I ran towards Future Me, my wolves appeared like magic to give chase with me, "Wait! Don't go!"

Future Me turned her head but disappeared into the liquid space before I could see her face. And then the portal disappeared just as I reached it. I ran straight into the nearest apple tree. Ouch.

"F***!" Ben roughly grabbed my hand to pull me up. He kicked the same tree I ran into, "We're too late!"

He kicked the tree again, "F*** it."

"Stop it Ben." I didn't think Ben was being very fair to the tree.