“Hey Alexia, is there any chance we could start again?” Well I was not expecting him to say that. Before I could say anything, he carries on.
“I think I misunderstood something, and I let it get to me.” He gives me a small smile.
“What did you misunderstand?” I ask, finally able to breathe now that he has taken his hand off my arm.
“I thought somebody had taken something that belonged to me. I’m very... possessive, over what’s mine. I can’t help it. It’s just the way I am.” It’s an explanation I suppose although what it has to do with me I don’t know.
Only one way to find out.
“What does that have to do with me. Unless you think I stole something from you?” I ask with a small smile on my lips. I like talking to him. He puts his hand back by my arm and moves his fingers so just the tips of them are slowly rubbing back and forth over my skin.
“No, you didn’t take anything, don’t worry about it. So what are your plans for later. I hear there’s a party, are you going?” I get the feeling he already knows that I’m not, but asked anyway. I move my arm away from him and he gives me a confused look, not knowing why I moved. Truth was, I couldn’t actually concentrate on putting a sentence together with him touching me like that.
“No, I’m not going. I’m just gonna go home and unpack the rest of my room. Gotta do it at some point. I figure I’ve been here long enough now.” I sound really lame. His smile gets bigger.
“So you’re not doing anything with your aunt then?”
“No, she’s going back to the studio after we’ve finished up here. Which is soon hopefully. I can’t take much more shopping.”
“Great, so you’re free to do something with me then? I’ll come pick you up at six.” He gets up and starts to move away. I finally realise what’s just happened.
“Wait, what? I’m not free, I’m busy. I have plans. And, and ... and you don’t even know where I live.” Why am I not really fighting this that much?
“I’ll see you at six. Wear the pink hoodie. It’s cute.” He says with a smile and a wink then turns around and carries on walking. I’m just stood there speechless wondering what just happened. Was that really Logan? He was like a completely different person.
Did I just agree to go on a date with him?
No, I didn’t, did I?
Oh my god, I did.
What should I wear. Wait, did he say pink hoodie? What pink hoodie? The only one I have is my new one but he wouldn’t know about that?
How does he know where I live? Oh man, I’m going out with a crazy guy tonight......
A really hot crazy guy though.
◆◆◆
Logan's POV
Saturday mornings always start early for me. I have to go run patrol around the borders to check they are still secure. This morning is even earlier than usual. My dad woke me up with news that a woman had been attacked and killed, so there was most likely a rogue in the area. We have pack members out hunting it before it kills anyone else.
And if anyone mentions it, ‘say it was a bear ’ are my fathers instructions. Straight away my mind wanders to Alexia. What she’s doing, if she’s safe. I’m itching to get to her to make sure she’s ok. The mate bond has been getting stronger over the past few weeks and I’m finding it harder to stay away from her. I heard her say she was going out shopping with her aunt today. I can use that to my advantage.
I get my patrol done in the quickest time I’ve ever done it and my dad’s proud of me because he thinks I’m stepping up and taking more responsibility. To make sure the pack is kept safe from rogues. Don’t get me wrong, I do want them to be safe. But right now the only thing I can think about is getting to Alexia to make certain she’s safe.
Rogue’s are the most despicable wolves. They treat she wolves like trash, and human women even worse. I don’t like the thought of one being in the same area as my mate. An unmated rogue is always drawn to unmated she wolves, sometimes even the mated ones. The women in our pack will be in danger until the rogue is found.
I head over to the mall, there’s really only one to go to, unless they wanted to drive for over an hour, so it wasn’t hard to know where she would be. After walking around for a while I caught her smell. I had it memorized now. Without so many other humans around I could have found her quicker. I finally spot her, looking in the window of a clothing store. She’s just talking about basic stuff with her aunt, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so relaxed. She is completely oblivious to the many guys that walk past and check her out. Does she not realise how beautiful she is? She starts to looks around as if sensing I’m watching her so I quickly move out of her sight. I like that she notices when I’m watching but not when other guys do, I do feel a little like a stalker though.
She goes into the store and I move to get a closer look. I find her fascinating. Even when she is doing something as simple as picking out clothes. They’re discussing hoodies. Good, she needs her own warmer clothes, I don’t want any more of Chris’s clothes on her body. I'll buy her a hundred coats and hoodies just so she never wears another guys clothes ever again. Her aunt tells her to get the pink one because it’s cute. But let’s be honest here. Alexia could wear anything and still look breathtaking.
I know she’s starting to feel the effect of the mate bond. She keeps looking around her. She feels the tingles in her body; she’s got too. I know because I feel them too. Only because of my alpha blood I get them about ten times as strong.
They head out to the food court, and I decide that I really should stop following her now. If she doesn’t notice, someone else might. After awhile though I start to get a sense of her feelings and I can tell she’s starting to panic. I rush as quick as I can to get to her but when I enter the food court I can see that she’s just sat at a table. All fine. I take a look around and I’m not sure why she was feeling like that so I decide to just stand and watch for a while to make sure she stays ok. Something definitely spooked her.
She starts looking around again, but this time I don’t move. I want her to see me. I need to see her face, touch her, be near her. I need the contact I’ve been craving all day following her around. I can hear what they are saying.
“Someone you know from school? He looks nice.” Her aunt says.
“He is from school, but he’s not nice. He’s a jerk.”
A jerk? Not nice? That’s what she thinks of me? I have to walk away. I don’t want to hear any more of what she thinks until I can change her mind.
I need to fix this. I can’t do another week at school like the past one. She needs to know. But what do I say. Hey, I’m the big bad wolf and guess what... you’re my mate. You’re going to spend the rest of your life with me. She’s going to think I’m a psycho.
Time to man up Logan.
I walk back into the food court. She’s still sat at the same table bending down messing with her bag. I walk over and put my hand on her arm. She looks up and I’m swimming in her eyes. I feel less agitated already just by this tiny touch.
I’m gonna make this work.
I have to.
Chapter Six
Honesty
Ok....I have about ten minutes before he should be here. I can’t stop thinking about how he makes me feel. I’m sort of excited to go out but then I feel guilty. I shouldn’t be excited this soon after my parents death should I?
That’s not normal is it?
Maybe I should just tell him I’m ill and that I can’t go. But I can’t bring myself to do it. It’s like my body is desperate to get near him. I don’t want this though. I don’t want a relationship. That’s what I keep telling myself and everyone else about Chris anyway. I grab my new pink hoodie, I’ll have to ask him how he knew about it, and carry it down stairs with me. I won’t need it on just yet. I have a long sleeve fitted top on with a looser fitting tee over the top. Layers is the way to keep warm I’ve found out. I have on my dark blue skinny jeans and a new pair of brown leather calf boots. I hope they’
re comfy.
My phone goes off, looking at the screen I can see it’s a text from Amber asking about the party. I quickly type a reply saying I can’t make it, but I don’t give her the real reason. I don’t want to tell her who I’m meeting with. Not that there’s anything important to tell anyway.
Right on time I hear the doorbell buzzing and I quickly make my way to answer it.
“How do you know where I live?” The words pop out of my mouth before I even think I’m going to say them. Then I’m just staring at him standing there smirking at me. Why is he so hot. It really shouldn’t be allowed. I don’t think straight around him.
“Well, hello to you too, Alexia.” He says in his low sexy voice. It would be perfect for singing rock songs, to me...... Ok stop dreaming, he just spoke to you.
“Uh, hello, you could just call me Alex you know, everyone else does.”
“Well, Alexia, I’m not everyone else. You ready to go?” I do like the way he says my name.
“Yeah I’m all good. Where are we going exactly? And just so you know I don’t usually just get in a strangers car.” He looks a little confused and hurt by what I say.
“We’re not strangers Alexia, we just don’t know each other as much as we should. Yet. And I’m going to take you to a special place of mine.” He opens up his car door for me and gives me a hand up into his truck. As we touch I feel the familiar jolt, I wonder if he feels it too. If he does he doesn’t let it show. He closes my door and gets in the other side.
“So this special place of yours, is that what you tell all the other girls you take there?” I’m asking honestly, I really do want to know but I secretly hope it is a special place to him. Not just somewhere to hook up with Tara. He turns to me and looks me in the eye.
“I actually have never taken anybody there. I just wanted to show you. I thought you would like it. I like to go there to think. And just be on my own. I thought you may need someplace like that yourself. You know, just to think things through.” He faces forward, starts the engine and starts driving.
“Oh and what sort of things do I need to think through exactly?” I look out the window, watching the woods go past.
“Um, reasons of why you moved here maybe?” I turn to face him and raise my eyebrows to ask what he means. I know what he means, but no one at school has mentioned that they know about my parents and I haven’t either, it’s easier that way.
He carries on.
“My mum gets on quite well with Sara. She’s bought a few of her art pieces actually, and they go for coffee sometimes. So Sara mentioned her niece was coming to live with her and the reasons why. I actually get on with my mum, so she just said that we would have a new girl at school. And well, you’re the only new girl so....”
I nod my head, not really knowing what to say. So I don’t say anything and just go back to looking out the window. Logan turns on some music, but turns it down after ten minutes when neither of us has said anything.
“Alexia?” He asks gently.
“Yes?” I reply without looking at him.
“Do you mind that I know? I just didn’t want to pretend like I didn’t know, when I actually did know. I want us to be honest with each other.”
“Why? We don’t know each other. Most of the time these past few weeks you’ve acted as if you couldn’t stand me.” I watch his hands tighten on the steering wheel.
“It’s not you that I can’t stand. It’s the people around you most the time. Which usually consists of one person. Usually with his arm around you. What’s going on there anyway?” He seems a little annoyed right now and I feel the need to calm him down, but at the same time I’m also a little annoyed myself that he thinks there could be something with me and Chris and still agree to go out with him. Although he didn’t actually give me chance to agree back at the mall.
“Well, obviously nothing is going on with me and Chris. I’ve known him a month and if there was then I wouldn’t be sat here in your car. I’m not that type of girl. I’m nothing like Tara, and if you thought I was then maybe you should just take me back home now.” He smiles at me.
“I’m glad your not like Tara. I don’t want you to be like her. Hey, forget I said anything. We’re almost here now. Bring your hoodie. The temperature will drop soon and we’ll be walking a little way from the car.” He stops the car on the side of the road, gets out and goes to the boot to grab a back pack. I get out and wonder if this was such a good idea. I’m in the middle of no where with a guy I don’t really know. Although I don’t feel scared of him. I sort of feel safe.
“Ready?” He asks looking at me.
“You still want to be here? With me?” He seems like a shy little boy. Unsure. I didn’t think Logan would have this softer side of him. He’s always so confident at school. I look up a him and smile when I realise the answer. A real smile.
“Yeah I want to be here. With you. Let’s go see this place. And do some thinking.” I laugh slightly as I say the last few words. And he seems to settle back into his confidence again.
“Ok then, let’s go.” He grabs my hand and leads the way. We walk like that for about fifteen minutes. Neither of us talking. Just listening to the sound of the woods. I’m just busy looking where I’m going so don’t fall flat on my face and embarrass myself.
After a few more minutes the trees thin out and a large lake comes into view. It makes me speechless. It’s so beautiful here. And quiet. A place where you can truly think.
“Wow, Logan. This place is beautiful. How did you find it? It’s so peaceful here.” I let go of his hand and walk closer to the edge of the water. I wish it were a hot summers day. It would be perfect to swim in.
“I like to go for runs in the forest, I found this place a few years ago. I’ve never seen anyone here but me.” He’s looking out over the water, standing next to me.
“Why did you bring me here?” I ask quietly. More to myself really. But he heard me. He just shrugs his shoulders.
“You reminded me of this place. The first time we met, in the classroom?” He looks at me, questioning me if I remember.
“I remember. So what things do you need to think through?” He takes his back pack off, pulls out a blanket and lays it on the ground. He sits down and pats the ground next to him.
“Sit” I do.
“Well I said I get on with my mum. I do. Really well. But my dad is a whole other issue. He has certain expectations of me. Responsibilities. I’m not sure I want them. It involves someone else and I’m not sure it’s what best for them. I want that person to stay safe. If I do what’s expected I don’t know if I could do that, you know, keep, them safe. They’d always be in danger.” He looks out across the lake. I’m sure he’s deliberately not looking at me.
“But what’s the expectations? What would you have to do?” He sighs and looks at me.
“I would have to take away someone’s free will. And I used to think I could do that. But now that I’ve met them..... I don’t think I could. I think I like them too much to take away their right to choose.”
“Right to choose what?” I ask quietly.
“Who they want to be with for the rest of their lives.” I smile and give a little laugh. I think he must have gotten confused over what his dad wants. He’s still in school, he can’t take away someone choices like that.
“You can’t take that choice away from someone Logan. I mean how would you even do it? It’s not possible. Are you sure that’s what he wants you to do?” he looks sad and nods slowly.
“Yeah, pretty sure. I’ve been told it all my life. My family have traditions. And I suppose you could call them arranged marriages of a sort.” Marriage? And why did the thought of him marrying someone make me ache inside.
“So do you have to choose who gets married, or do you have to get married?” I take a deep breath, not really wanting to know the answer. He’s seventeen. He can’t get married. It’s insane.
“Well it’s not officially marriage, but it’s as good as. And
I have to do it. But I don’t do the choosing. That’s left to a .....higher power. Something like fate. Thing is, I think it would work with me and this other person, but how can I take away her choice like that, and put her in danger.”
He has an arranged marriage planned. His life is already planned out for him. No wonder he’s always angry at school.
I don’t want him to marry someone else.
He gets up and moves towards the water. The warmth I was feeling from his body is gone, and I’m left feeling cold, and put on my hoodie. My head is spinning. I think I’m about to faint. He turns around and looks at me, with a confused look on his face.
River Falls: The Wolves Page 6