Instant Enemies

by Emily Zimmerman

  I snorted a laugh. No, if we had been that…primitive, my brother would have killed me. Damian pressed a warm kiss to my temple and I looked at him when he pulled back. “What was that for?” I asked softly.

  “I think you’re cute when you laugh.” He said.

  I started to realize how close we were, and how warm he felt with his arm around me. I averted my eyes and shifted uncomfortably. Damian sighed in understanding and dropped his arm. “I’m sorry Cat. I wish there were some way to make you see that I could make you so happy…” his eyes bored into mine, turning determined. “I will. I’ll make you see, some way or another.” He promised.

  I couldn't answer, the way his eyes could stare right into my soul was incapacitating. Luckily, I didn't have to, Melody had regained control of her body. She turned to us, hand held tightly in Trevor’s. “Can we go home now?”

  I looked at Damian and burst out laughing. “Let’s take ‘em home. We can take my car.” I said.

  Damian got up and I held up my hands, acting as if I was too helpless to get up on my own. Damian smiled slightly and leaned down, scooping me up in his arms. I yelped and glared at him. “Put me down!”

  “I don’t think I should. If you needed help getting up, you’re obviously too weak to walk to the car.” He said.

  I glared at him. “And you will be too weak to get out of bed when I get done with you if you don’t put. Me. Down!” I said.

  His eyes darkened and he leaned down, his lips at my ear. “Is that a promise?”

  I blushed deep red. “You know what I mean!”

  He sighed and set me down. I glared at him and stalked down the hall, grabbing Trevor by the arm and dragging both Melody and him with me. “Cat, he was just playing with you, his wolf can be a bit too playful sometimes.” Melody tried to convince me.

  “Wolf?” Trevor asked.

  “You’ll find out later.” Melody said.

  I growled low in my chest. “I’m not speaking to him or his wolf again. He’s a jerk.” I said harshly.

  Melody sighed. “He just doesn’t know how to deal with a mate. He’s been waiting a hundred years to meet you. He almost lost hope. He’s very confused as to why you won’t accept him.”

  “Mate? A hundred years?” Trevor asked again, his voice coloring with disbelief.

  Melody giggled and kissed Trevor’s cheek. “You’ll find out later.” She repeated.

  Trevor wasn’t bad looking, in fact, he was kind of handsome. He had sandy blonde hair, toned arms, though not as toned as Damian’s or Riley’s, and he had dark brown eyes.

  I glanced back and realized that Damian was following from afar. I sighed and stopped. “You guys go on ahead, meet me by the car. I’ll catch up.” I said.

  They nodded without a word and walked ahead. I walked back over to Damian and he raised an eyebrow at me. Without a word, I wrapped my arms around his torso and hugged him, laying my head on his chest and listening to his heartbeat.

  “I’m sorry. I lose my temper sometimes.” I whispered.

  He hesitantly wrapped his arms around me. “I know. I’m not angry at you.” He said.

  I nodded. “I know, but it was a stupid thing to lose my temper about, and I promise I won’t do it again.” I said.

  “Why the sudden change in heart?” he asked me softly.

  I shrugged. “Melody told me that you’d almost lost hope in ever finding a mate, and that you were confused as to why I didn’t accept you.” I murmured.

  “Why won’t you accept me? Is it something I did?” he asked me.

  I sighed and looked up at him, shaking my head. The bell rang and I let go of Damian, taking his hand. “Let’s go before the principal finds out we’re ditching.” I whispered.

  He nodded and walked along side me out the school doors. Kids who sat outside stared at us, but we ignored them. “Be honest, is it something I did, to make you not want to be with me, I mean?” he asked.

  I shook my head quickly, stopping him at the parking lot. “Of course not…but it’s too complicated to explain here. Let’s get to the pack house and I’ll explain there, alright?” I said, looking at Damian with pleading eyes.

  I didn’t want to explain this, to bring back the painful memories of so many betrayals. Damian nodded in understanding and we walked the distance to the car. Trevor and Melody were in a kissing war again. “Guys! Come on you need to breathe sometime!” I rolled my eyes.

  They broke apart, both smiling goofily. They were unashamed at being caught. I jumped into the driver’s seat of my car and the others jumped in. I backed out of the lot, only to have my GPS start ringing. I pressed the call button on the touch screen, even though I didn’t know the number. “You guys going home?” Lily’s voice asked on the other line.

  “Yeah, I’m taking these two penguins home. Damian’s with me.” I said.

  “So I saw, I didn’t see Melody or Trevor with you though.” She said.

  “Yeah, they were already at the car, making out like two sex crazed Looney’s.” I said.

  “I see.” she said on a laugh. “Well we were just making sure. We’ll see you later, bye.” And she hung up.

  I got onto the freeway and sped up, weaving around people. “Good Goddess, slow down!” Melody said behind me.

  I smiled. “Don’t worry, Cat does this every day.” Trevor said, completely relaxed in the backseat.

  I reached the pack house in less than an hour, thanks to my reckless driving. I jumped out of the car and walked lazily over to the house, watching as Trevor and Melody disappeared into it. “Ugh, I can’t believe I have to share their thoughts. Being an Alpha sucks sometimes.” Damian muttered beside me.

  I looked at him. “Can you read my thoughts?” I asked curiously.

  “Only if you want me to. I can tune out the packs thoughts pretty well, but with a mate it’s different, if your mate is unwilling to share her thoughts, then it can’t happen.” He said.

  4: Forgiving you can't be that hard...can it?

  We walked behind the house, strolling through the woods as I worked up the courage to tell Damian why I couldn’t accept him yet. “Please tell me, I won’t be angry.” He pleaded again for the fifth time.

  I sighed. “I know, it’s just hard to talk about.” I took a deep breath and let it out, noting how shaky it was. “When I was fifteen, I got into my first real relationship. His name was Laurence, and I thought he was sweet. Turns out he was a violent drunk, just like his father. He came to my house late one night when my brother was out at the beach camping with some friends, and my parents were out of state on business.” I stared out at the forest, my breath shallow and my voice thick. “H-he asked me to go with him to a party, and when I said I couldn’t…he slapped me. I knew he was drunk, I could smell it. I didn’t expect him to be abusive, though. He told me that I was going to go to the party with him, and I wasn’t going to object. I slammed the door in his face and called my brother.” I whispered.

  Damian was silent, staring out at the forest for a full minute before looking at me. “He hurt you?” he asked, as if he couldn’t comprehend the subject.

  I nodded, quickly wiping away tears that fell down my cheek. “But he’s not the only one. My second relationship was last year, around Christmas. I’d finally started to trust relationships again. His name was Carter, and he charmed his way into my life. He turned out to have anger problems. I was telling him that Trevor and I had made plans to go to the movies, and that I couldn’t go on a date with him, and he got angry, telling me that Trevor was too involved with me, and that he thought that I was cheating on him. When I tried to deny it, he slapped me. Over and over. It was Christmas Eve, and I came home with two big bruises on each cheek.” I looked away, ashamed. “I felt like I was being punished for something, like it was the Wolven Goddess punishing me for being foolish.” I whispered.

  He was silent, but I could feel his anger. He suddenly let go of my hand, turned, and strode back toward the house. “Damian?” I asked, confus
ion and hurt coloring my tone.

  He didn’t answer. “Wait…Damian!” I called, chasing after him.

  He didn’t listen to me, nor did he pause. He opened the back door to the garage and walked in. “Damian, please don’t leave!” I begged.

  He didn’t seem to even hear me; he jumped on his bike, started it, and sped out of the garage. I ran to my car and jumped in, starting it and speeding off in the direction of my house. I sniffed repeatedly and wiped tears from my eyes.

  When I got home, I sat in my car for over an hour, with my head in my hands, crying. A knock on my window made me jump. I looked up to find Riley; I sighed and unlocked the doors. He walked around to the passenger side and opened the door. He sat, silently waiting for me to speak. “He hates me.” I whispered.

  Riley took my hand and enveloped it in his, rubbing it so it warmed up. “Who hates you, Cat?”

  “Damian. I told him about…Christmas Eve. He didn’t even look at me, he just walked away.” I said, tears running down my cheeks.

  Riley stiffened and growled low in his chest. “Damn bastard. Can’t even support his own mate.” He muttered.

  I sniffed and wiped my eyes. “Can you just…go back into the house? I’m going to drive around for a while.” I said softly.

  Riley nodded, pat my hand, and got out of the car. I put the car in drive and backed out of the driveway, headed toward the only place I could think of that I could be alone at this time of day, the beach. I sighed softly as I parked; the beach was always so peaceful. I always had an extra bathing suit in the car because I never knew when the impulse to hit the beach would hit.

  I grabbed my extra towel, not needing the sunscreen because the sun was setting over the horizon. I walked into the public changing area and quickly changed into my bathing suit.

  After changing, I walked along the shore, staring out at the sunset. I laid out my towel and sat just out of reach of the tide, listening to the waves breaking upon the sand. Despite my wolf and I’s peaceful feelings, our minds would stray back to Damian. We both were trying very hard to forget today’s events, but it wasn’t working.

  My phone rang out from my beach bag and I dug through it, finding it at the bottom. I looked at the number and sighed. I pressed the call button, staring at my hands as I pressed the phone to my ear. “Yeah.”

  “Where are you?” Riley asked in a strangely suspicious tone.

  I sighed again. “I’d like to just be alone for a while, alright?”

  “Where are you?” he asked again.

  “Where do you think I am? I’m at the only place I ever go!” I said.

  “I see. Well I’ll tell him that.” Riley said.

  “Wait, tell who what?” but he’d already disconnected.

  I had a feeling I knew exactly who he was talking about. I cursed under my breath and threw my phone back in my bag. I crossed my arms and glared out at the ocean, I did not want to see him right now. I got up and decided to walk down the beach, leaving my phone in my bag, and my bag by my towel. I tromped down the beach, and willed myself to calm down.

  After walking off all of my anger, I found myself at Lorry and I’s favorite place, the tide pool. I sat on the edge of a rock and watched in amazement as all the little creatures had gathered, there were starfish, and coral, and other creatures that I couldn’t identify. This was Lorry and I’s favorite place ever since we discovered it six years ago.

  The wind blew from my left, and I caught the faint scent of cologne mixed with the musty smell of forest. I looked over and saw Damian watching me from about twenty feet away. I sighed, there goes my peaceful feeling.

  “What do you want, Damian?” I asked, my voice inflectionless.

  He was silent on the sand, but I could feel him getting nearer. “I assume you’re angry at me.” He murmured.

  “You assumed right.” I said, crossing my arms in a defensive pose.

  Damian knew this was no ordinary defensive pose for a wolf, if I had been in my wolf form right now, I’d have hackles raised, and teeth bared. He paused a few feet from me and cautioned me with his eyes. “Now Cat, let me explain.” He said in a cautious voice.

  I jumped up and threw up my arms. “There is no need to explain! I can take a hint, Damian. You think I’m weak, and stupid.” I said, and walked passed him.

  He grabbed my arm in a tight grip and whirled me around, staring at me with incredulous eyes. “You think I hate you?” he asked.

  I shrugged. “Why else would you just walk away from me?”

  “I walked away from you because I didn’t want you to see that…side of me! I was angry-“

  “Yeah, at me, I know!” I snapped, ripping my arm from his grasp and stomping off.

  I heard his growl and he was suddenly in front of me. I grabbed me in his arms, pulled me up to his chest, and kissed me. This was not his regular, soft or teasing kiss. This was a fierce, hot, shut-up-and-listen kiss.

  He pulled back and stared deeply into my eyes, keeping his grip on me. “I was angry at the men that hurt you. I contemplated ripping their hearts from their chests, but I knew you’d be angry at me if I hurt them. I’m so sorry I gave you that impression, I never meant to hurt you.” He said, his voice velvet soft.

  I was a few inches off the ground, and he held me up effortlessly. I don’t even think he realized he still held me up. “Ah, Damian?” I asked.

  “Hmm?” he asked, as if I pulled him from an ocean of thoughts in his head.

  “Could you put me down?” I asked.

  He grinned and shook his head. Leaning down, he pressed his lips to my ear. “I’ve got you right where I want you.” He whispered, making a shiver roll down my spine.

  5: He did it again.

  I got out of my car, slamming the door and stomping passed a confused looking Trevor and Melody. Trevor had gone through the ritual, and is now a wolf.

  “Cat, what is going on?” Trevor asked.

  “I’m going to kill him! I’m going to murder that lying son of a bitch!” I yelled.

  I stomped down the halls of the school, looking for Derik. I followed his scent to the cafeteria, slamming the door open. He sat with his friends in the empty cafeteria; he looked up as the door slammed against the wall.

  “Hello, Brother.” I said, smiling sarcastically.

  Derik stood and backed away from me. “I didn’t mean to tell him! It just slipped out!”

  “It just slipped out that I was raped in elementary?” I yelled.

  I heard the whole room gasp but ignored them. “I’m sorry! I-I didn’t know what I was saying!” He said.

  I felt tears brim my eyes. “He won’t even speak to me now! You son of a bitch, he hates me.” I let him go and ran out before the tears could escape. I pushed through people who probably heard me and ran into the bathroom, leaning against the wall and running a hand through my hair.

  Yes, I was raped in elementary school. My teacher, Mr. Garnish, he caught me in a janitors closet after everyone was gone; I was going home from detention. He took advantage of me. Derik caught me limping home, and I made him promise not to tell a soul. Not even Trevor.

  And now everyone knows. Even Damian.

  Derik and Damian had “bumped into each other” at McDonalds. I don’t know how Damian got it out of him, but Derik promised, and he broke his promise. A knock at the bathroom door brought me back to the present. “What?” I called, my voice thick.

  “Cat, sweetheart, can I come in?” It was my mom.

  I groaned inwardly, I’m in big trouble. “Yeah.”

  Mom walked in and sat down beside me, where I’d slid down the wall. “So…the principle called…he said you caused…quite a scene.” She said softly.

  A sob bubbled up to my lips and I broke down. “I was so scared! I-I didn’t want to tell anyone…I didn’t know what to do!” I sobbed.

  Mom wrapped her arms around my shoulders and pulled me into her side. “Sweetheart, no one’s blaming you for anything! That bastard is sick and twisted an
d doesn’t deserve to live!” she growled.

  I laughed wetly. “Mom, you have that murderous look in your eye that you got when Mr. Lanyard accidentally mowed over your lilies.” I said.

  She smiled. “Sorry. I just don’t like it when someone hurts my baby.” She said.

  “Can we just go home? I don’t want to be here when Mrs. Vineyards catches wind of this. She’ll be asking for his address and putting bullets in her Glock.” I said.

  Mrs. Vineyards is my Spanish teacher, she likes me, treats me like family. She carries a Glock in her giant purse and she knows how to use it.

  “Sure, sweetheart, let’s go home.” Mom murmured.

  I wiped my eyes as we stepped out of the bathroom, a crowd of people stood silently, staring at me with sympathy. I looked at Trevor, who stared at me with disbelieving eyes. I knew he felt betrayed, how could I not tell my own best friend? The truth was, I thought he’d be ashamed of me, that he’d walk away from me, calling me weak. Mom kept an arm around me as we walked silently down the halls, it held me together, kept me strong.

  “Do you want to ride with me, or do you want to drive home?” she asked me.

  “I’ll drive. I need to think.” I said.

  With the windows tinted dark, I couldn’t see anything through them as I unlocked the car. I got in and yelped in surprise as I realized Damian sat in the passenger seat. He stared at me, his bright blue eyes dark and dangerous. I sighed. “I take it you saw.”

  “The whole pack saw. Every mind in the pack, except for the elders, was focused on you. And how many times do I have to convince you that I don’t hate you?” He asked in a frustrated tone.

  I put the key in the ignition and started the car. “If you’d stop walking away from me and actually talk to me I might believe you.” I said, backing out of my parking spot.

  Damian sighed. “Why didn’t you tell me, or anyone, for that matter?”

  I slammed on my breaks in frustration and turned to Damian. “I was eleven years old! How the hell was I supposed to know what to do? The only reason Derik knew was because he found me walking home! I was completely alone in this! How the hell was I supposed to tell someone when I didn’t even know what was going on?” I asked him, my voice raising an octave.