His eyes scanned the shelves in front of him. Everything else was finished and packed away neatly in the back of his car. This was the only thing left, and it was the one that he was least looking forward to.

This was foreign territory for him; gift shopping.

But he wasn't attending his God son's second birthday party so the least he could do was buy the pup a gift. He had tried to pick something out earlier that week after his shift at the car mechanic's down the street, but he had walked away nearly as quick as he had walked in.

There was colour everywhere. Everywhere.

There was no system, no rules. Things were in various shapes and sizes, and not to mention the bizarre faces that seemed to be painted on every surface possible. He had no idea why children enjoyed playing with these peculiar contraptions, or even why their parents bought them for their offspring, but what he did know was what he couldn't let his God son -Gideon- down.

He visibly recoiled at the sight of a little boy hugging a familiar red toy car, giggling before running past him and to his mother, practically begging her to get it for him. Why would the kid even want that thing? Its eyes were huge for one, and not to mention the cheap plastic wheels on it.

It wouldn't last a morning out in the playground.

He shuddered and turned away. It was disgusting.

All he needed was to pick a toy, and then he would be able to leave. It sounded much simpler than it was.

After some careful deliberation and watching what the other kids got, he managed to pick something. Grabbing his card and receipt, he ignored the cashier who wished him a good evening before he began to carry the box out to the car. It was pretty big, so he would have to shift some stuff around in the back, but he didn't mind.

Gideon was going to love it.

His faithful shiny black Chevy Colorado 2015 waited patiently for him in the parking lot. It didn't take long for him to pack the box in, but before he could get into his car and drive home, his phone rang.

He didn't need to check the caller ID to know who it was.

"Solomon," the voice greeted him. "I'm so disappointed in you." Dramatic as usual.

Sol sighed and brushed his dark, raven hair out of his face. He then got into the car and leaned his head back on the head rest knowing that this would be a long conversation. "What have I done now?" He asked, feigning innocence.

He could almost see his best friend frowning on the other end of the call, pausing for effect. "Diana told me that you won't be coming over tomorrow." He paused again. Thankfully, this one not as long as the previous "Tell me this isn't true."

He rubbed a hand over his face. "I don't want to lie to you, Clark."

"Sol, you have to come over tomorrow."

Sol ran a hand down his face. "And why do I have to?"

"It's Gid's 2nd birthday." Clark stated as if that was answer enough. And it should have been, but it just wasn't enough.

"He won't even notice I'm there." Sol pointed out, hoping that his best friend would agree and just drop the subject.

Clark didn't say anything. Technically, Sol was right. His son seemed to lose all interest in the world when he was greeted with cake and good food, and the birthday gifts would be the icing on the cake. He took right after his father.

Clark released a frustrated groan. "It won't be the same without you, man!"

Sol merely grunted and grabbed his keys from his back pocket, awkwardly pushing his hips off of his seat so he could reach them. This was something that he needed two hands for but alas, it didn't seem like Clark was going to hang up the call any time soon.

"I have things to do tomorrow." Sol lied through his teeth hoping that his friend would just let it go, but he should have known better.

"Oh, yeah? What kind of things?" Clark asked, prompting Sol with a 'hmm', indicating for him to continue, knowing fully well that Sol wouldn't have an answer to give.

He inserted the keys into the ignition and smiled a small smile when the engine promptly purred to life. He was fond of his truck and he wasn't ashamed to admit it.

Placing the phone on loud speaker, Sol placed it down on the seat next to him and began to drive. If not, then he would be stuck in this parking lot for another good hour talking to his life-long friend.

"You're not texting and driving, are you?" Clark asked, obviously having forgotten that Sol had not answered his previous question.

"No, I'm talking." Sol smirked half-heartedly at his own smart-ass answer.

"Still." Clark insisted.

He rolled his eyes, not that his friend would be able to see. "Don't worry, I've got you on loud speaker."

Sol and Clark spoke on the phone for the half hour that it took for Sol to drive back to his lone cabin in the woods. By this time of night, it got pretty dark but Sol knew his way round the woods like the back of his hand. And the fact that there was a road that passed right by his cabin really helped, not that anyone but him and the very few visitors that he had ever used.

Once he had parked his truck in front of the cabin and managed to get off the phone with Clark who was still hoping that his best friend would magically just turn up tomorrow, Sol got out of the truck and proceeded to get everything into the house.

It didn't take long, but it took longer than it would have liked.

The last three days he had, had to work at the car mechanics even though he was only supposed to be working part time on the weekends. But one of the other guys who work there had called in sick and Sol volunteered to fill in for him.

Three days ago, he had thought that it was the nice thing to do but now, he couldn't have been more wrong. The more time that he spent with those humans, the more his wolf hated it. Not that Sol cared, but when his actions got impulsive and he would growl and lose his anger over the smallest of things, naturally, it attracted attention. Attention that Sol didn't need especially since he was sort of the mystery guy who worked the weekends, collected his bi-weekly pay check and ignored everybody that tried to talk to him.

It wasn't like he needed the money since he had invested quite a bit of money in the right stocks over the years and they had paid off. There was also the fact that his father had left him his small hotel business which consisted of two hotels in the city and one in a town farther off. Sol didn't need the money, but he enjoyed working on cars.

It was as simple as that.

His wolf had been supressed for far too long as he had been coming home too tired for a run these past couple of days. But thank God, he wouldn't have to go back into work until the weekend after next.

Sol didn't even wait to pack his groceries away before he stripped down to his birthday suit and ran off to the woods. He jumped over a fallen leg with two legs but landed on the ground with four.

Raising his snout to the air, he howled and rose onto his two hind legs. The birds, asleep in the trees surrounded, awoke and flew away in all directions, screeching as they flew for their lives.

He growled and smiled a wolfish smirk.

He wouldn't be back until morning.

-

Layla Knight

23.09.17