River Falls: The Wolves

by Lizzie Wildblood

Proof

  His lips are that close to my ear that they are brushing against it sending those delicious sparks all through my body. However it’s not only the sparks that have me freezing. Its what he said.

  “I like you wearing my clothes, it calms me and my wolf side.”

  wolf side?...

  “It calms your what now?” I ask but he doesn’t answer me just starts to trail kisses down my neck.

  “Logan?” I whisper while also angling my head to give him better access.

  “Hmm” he murmurs in reply without breaking contact with my skin.

  “You said... you said you wanted to talk?”

  “I do,” he says as he turns me gently so my back is now pressed up against the door. He takes my face in both his hands so I have no choice but to look in his eyes. There is no mistaking it now, they are golden. It’s not a trick of the light or distance or my mind imagining things his eyes are like pure gold.

  “You are mine Alexia, and I don’t care who knows it. In fact I want everyone to know it.” There is no hesitation in his voice, he means what he says. I just don’t understand what he is saying.

  “You keep saying that Logan but I don’t know what you mean by it. What do you want from me?” I ask quietly.

  “I don’t want anything from you Alexia. I just want you...I’m not what you think I am Alexia. I’m dangerous and deadly and I’m probably the biggest thing that you should stay away from. But I tried. I really did try to stay away from you. But you... you lure me in. It’s like I’m an addict and you are the drug that I so desperately crave. I have to be near you. To be able to hold you and touch you. Talk to you. I can't stand it when another guy even looks at you.” He hasn’t once taken his golden eyes from me, like they are magnetized together with mine, and just what am I meant to say to him now?

  I can feel my heart beating hard. I’m sure he can feel the vibrations from it. I don’t know what to say. I’m truly speechless.

  “Logan I...why do your eyes? Why...” I start but he silences me by leaning in a little bit closer.

  “Do you really want to know my secrets Alexia?”

  I just nod my head without breaking eye contact, grateful that he has a hold of me, because when he said my name my legs almost gave out on me.

  “I am a werewolf...and you’re my mate. You belong to me and I to you.” He takes a small step forward removing any of the space that was left between us.

  “W-what?” I stutter, he’s crazy. I am in the arms of a very hot but crazy man. But somewhere in the back of my mind there’s a part of me wondering if maybe he isn’t crazy. What if he’s telling the truth?

  “You are mine Alexia,” he says confidently.

  “You’re a what?” I ask him, trying to search his face for the evidence of lies that’s sure to be there. I mean there has to be some. It can’t be true. Werewolves aren’t real; they are just some made up story.

  Aren’t they?

  “I’m a werewolf. I’m the person whom the moon goddess has destined you to be with.” I don’t know what to say. So I don’t say anything. I mean what does a person say when they are told this kind of thing. I can't help but think that Chris was right about Logan. He really is crazy.

  I’m trying to workout a way of getting out of here. I need to leave, like now. But I have no car, and I don’t actually know where I am, apart from in a huge house in the middle of the forest. A forest full of wolves... I also still can’t get my feet to work.

  A few minutes pass with us standing perfectly still neither of us saying anything.

  “Say something...please Alexia you're kind of killing me right now.” He speaks so softly, and unsure, and rests his forehead against mine. I’m not sure who is the crazier one out of us. Him for thinking he is a werewolf or me for even considering that it may be true. A nervous giggle slips out.

  “Prove it” That’s what I need, proof, obviously when he can’t we can put this whole thing behind us. I’ll call my aunt to come pick me up and I’ll stay away from Logan forever. Maybe talk him into getting some therapy.

  A smirk appears on his face, this is all just some big joke to him. I was stupid to even believe a word that came out of his mouth just moments before.

  “Logan, I’m going home. I’m not in the mood for jokes. I’ve just crashed my car. Please just stay away from me.” I shove past him and walk to the other side of the room looking out the window. I can see his reflection in the glass and I can see that he is starting to unbutton his shirt. I quickly turn around to see if I just imagined it. Like I imagined him naked...with the wolves...

  wolves?...

  “Logan, what are you doing?” I ask slowly.

  “I’m proving to you what I am. No need to ruin perfectly good clothes.” He just calmly continues to take off his clothes and I just stand there. Watching. I think I’m in shock, frozen solid to the ground.

  “You ready?” he asks with a grin and a wink as he drops his boxers and stands before me completely naked. I cover my eyes and turn back around. What on earth have I got myself into and how am I going to make it out alive. I need to find a weapon.

  “Logan just put your clothes back on, and I think I will go home actually. I’ll give Amber or Chris a call to...” I bury my head in my hands while I’m talking, I really don’t know how I got into this situation but a growling sound at the mention of Chris, has me looking up to the window to stare a the reflection.

  No...it can’t be... I’m going mad...

  “Just close your eyes Alex, and count to ten, when you open them this will all just be a very odd dream and you’ll be awake.” I mumble to my self as another nervous giggle releases from me. I slowly close my eyes.

  “One... two... three... four...” I stiffen when I hear a whimpering sound and feel soft, thick fur brush against my bare legs. I turn around with my eyes still closed.

  “Open your eyes Alexia...” At hearing Logan’s voice my eyes shoot open, and land on a huge black wolf sat right in front of me. But this isn’t any wolf...

  This is my wolf.

  “Logan where are you. I know you’re here, I heard you. I don’t like this game Logan, it's not funny and you're scaring me. Tell your dog to back away. The wolf lays down and ever so slowly inches his way closer to me, to which I back up as far as I can.

  “Logan... please?” I whisper

  “I am Logan Alexia, you can hear me in your head. It’s really me baby. I’m sorry you're scared, but you don’t have to be. I would never hurt you. I couldn’t. You wanted proof. This is proof.”

  I realise that I’m hearing his voice in my mind, not with my ears. I start to shake my head.

  “No...that’s not possible...”

  “Keep your eyes open and on me” I hear him instruct. I do as he says. I don’t think I could take my eyes off the wolf anyway. It's odd though, I feel scared, but I’m not scared of the wolf. Like all the times in my yard, I feel safe. I’m so confused.

  I start to hear a cracking of bones and the wolf gets up and starts to blur, in the matter of seconds Logan is stood in front of me, minus any clothes. I can’t help but let my eyes linger on him. From the tops of his broad shoulders, down his chest to his rock solid abs and I manage to stop myself before I get any lower. My eyes focus on a tattoo on his chest, made up of black lines going at different angles, making a symbol like something from Viking times. I take the tiniest of steps toward him and I look at him again from head to toe and back up, I’m sure I’m blushing like mad but to be completely honest I just saw a wolf turn into Logan, so I don’t have time to be embarrassed by his man parts right now. He certainly isn't.

  “Alexia...” he says my name and takes a step towards me. I put my hand up to stop him.

  “Just...get dressed.” I think I need to sit down. He nods his head and gathers his clothes and walks to his bathroom. I walk over to his bed and sit down in the middle of it.

  I’m desperately trying to process what I just saw, what I heard in my head. I cannot make any
sense of it. I hear the bathroom door open and I look up to see him just standing in the doorway watching me.

  “I was worried that you were going to leave,” he says without moving a step closer.

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do. Am I even allowed to leave?” I ask, unsure of what his answer will be. He smiles a little and nods his head.

  “Of course, I’ll take you home right now if you want, although I had hoped you would stay a little. I thought maybe you would want to talk about...things.”

  “Things?... is that what you call what just happened?” he sighs as he runs his hands through his hair, and makes his way over to me on the bed.

  “Alexia...” I interrupt whatever he was going to say.

  “When you say my name... why do I...feel what I feel?” he reaches the bed and sits on the end of it, mirroring my crossed legs.

  “Because of the mate bond. You feel its pull.” I shake my head.

  “I don’t understand that, I don’t know what it is.” I say truthfully to him looking him in the eye.

  “I know, I messed up with you. Would you give me a chance to explain.” He asks uncertainly.

  “If I left without an explanation I don’t trust myself to not check into the mental institute.” I say with a little smile of my own.

  “You’re not crazy Alexia, I can explain everything. What do you want to know?” he asks. My reply is barely audible but I know he hears me.

  “Everything.”

  I’m not sure I actually want to know everything but I need to. Something that I thought was only in storybooks or saw on film is real. Does that mean other things are real too?

  “Okay, well everything is a lot to tell in one night but how about I start with the basics or do you want to ask questions and I’ll answer them as honest as I can.” I nod my head to that and fiddle with the hem of the shirt I’m wearing.

  “Do your parents know that you’re a ... can turn into.. You know what I mean.” A smile crosses his face and he lets out a little chuckle at my inability to say werewolf.

  “Being a werewolf is hereditary, my whole family are werewolves .... why do you look like you’re about to be sick? Are you okay?” He moves closer to me and places his hand on my arm but I flinch away from him, I don’t miss the look of hurt in his eyes.

  “Your... whole family? You mean I’m in a house full of wolves?” I ask slowly, realisation creeping in, if I did want to try and get away suddenly, something tells me I wouldn’t get very far.

  “Well yes, but you’re safe here. You do know that right? We would never hurt you. I could never hurt you. It goes against the very laws of our nature. You are my mate and my family would do anything to protect you because of that.” He sounds so confident and sure of things, the complete opposite to me.

  “What is a mate exactly? Why am I yours?” It’s the question that’s been burning in my mind since he turned into a wolf, my stomach chooses this moment to grumble however and he doesn’t answer me straight away.

  “Are you hungry? You’re hungry, I’ll get you a sandwich” he moves to get up and suddenly the fear of being in a house full of wolves without him being by my side sets in. No matter how much he tells me I’m safe, I don’t want to be on my own here. I quickly reach out and grab his hand before he has the chance to get up.

  “No, don’t leave me, I’m fine, honestly.” I plead with him, but my stomach disagrees with me loudly, making him laugh a little.

  “If your sure, and just so you know, I have no intention of leaving you. Ever.” His eyes take on a slight golden hue and he pulls me closer to him.

  “Why do your eyes change colour?” I blurt out, he just smiles at me and moves to the centre of the bed and leans back against the pillows, puling me with him and placing me between his legs, my back resting against his firm chest. I instantly feel calmer sitting like this. My worry starts to fade and security takes its place.

  “Why do you calm me?” he pulls me tighter against him and places a small kiss on my shoulder then rests his head back on the headboard.

  “Well I calm you because I’m your mate and...” I interrupt him

  “But I’m human, how can I have a mate?” I can feel his chest vibrate with the chuckle that leaves his mouth.

  “If you keep asking questions without giving me chance to answer, you aren’t going to learn much.”

  “Oh sorry, go on, I’ll let you talk.” My head feels like its about to explode though and anything he says only gives me ten more questions.

  “Right well, lets start off with the most important question you asked. What is a mate? Well a mate is a werewolf’s soul mate. Literally the other half of their soul. Thousands of years ago werewolves were created by the moon Goddess, they were made to be protectors of the humans against... other things. We’ll get to that later, but the werewolf was given special abilities in order to do the job it was created for and was granted the gift of a mate. A soul mate. Each wolf has one person whom they are destined to be with. Much like real wolves, a mate is for life, forever. One person that can truly make the other happy. One person who completes them.

  We don’t usually meet our mates until after we turn 18, on rare occasions it’s happened earlier, and normally a werewolf’s mate is another werewolf, however again on rare occasions a werewolf’s mate can be human. A very special human.” As he talks he trails his fingers up and down my arm leaving a path of tingles all down my arm.

  “And how do you know that’s what I am to you. What makes you so sure?” I ask quietly.

  “There’s a few indicators that the goddess gave us, so we would know and be sure.

  First there’s your smell, you have a very intoxicating smell that is unlike anything I have ever smelt before and it is utterly captivating and unique. Then there’s the mate bond, it’s like an invisible cord with one end bound to me and the other bound to you and it’s magically pulling us together. We naturally gravitate towards each other. My eyes constantly search for you; I want to always be close to you. To be able to touch you, it’s been like living in my own personal hell these past few months. Also when we touch we can bring each other great pleasure; I know you feel the sparks when I touch you. I know you felt it that first time, I’ll never forget the look on your face. You were so shocked. It took all I had to control myself, I feel them too, only stronger than what you feel because of what I am.”

  “Oh” I’m not sure what else to say and he chuckles a little at me. I knew there was something he was keeping from me, some truth he wasn’t telling me. I don’t think I ever expected it to be this, and unless he had actually shown me, there’s no way I would have believed him. But things now do make more sense, not everything though. Who is the other wolf? Who is sending me the notes? What about the other girl his dad wants him to marry. How does that even work if he is saying he is destined to be with me?

  “What’s wrong?” he shifts behind me so he is looking at me, he looks so concerned. And beautiful. Why is he so perfect? ...concentrate Alex.

  “What’s wrong, well lets see, where do I begin?” I say sarcastically, did he really just ask me what was wrong? Maybe he’s not so perfect after all.

  “No, it’s not just that. I can hear your heart, it changes its speed when you get worried about things and I am starting to pick up on your feelings. I can sometimes tell if your happy or sad, scared or excited.” He’s looking at me waiting for me to answer. Do I just be truthful with him?

  “Well, there’s still lots of things that don’t make any sense to me, like if I’m who you are meant to be with, why does your dad want you to marry that other girl, the one I saw you with at Joe’s?” I whisper the last bit and look down at my hands, I don’t usually feel insecure but it’s the feeling that’s washing over me now.

  Logan places his fingers under my chin and lifts my face so I’m looking him in the eye.

  “Let me be very clear so there is no doubt what so ever in your mind, you Alexia are that girl, not Caitlyn, not Tara, n
ot any other girl anywhere in the world, its just you, only you. For always and forever. It also means that I’m the only guy for you, no one else, not O'connor, not anyone. Just me. Just us, always and forever. Do you think that’s okay with you? Because there’s no going back, once you’ve said yes and I mark you, you’re stuck with me. So you need to be one hundred per cent certain that I am what you want. That’s what I meant that day when I said that it would take away your free will, once I mark you and the bond forms fully, you wont have a choice. You wont ever want anyone else.” The intensity in his eyes as he speaks is full of so much passion and certainty.

  “What exactly do you mean by marking me?” a playful smirk appears on his face and his hand trails from my cheek to my neck and he pushes my hair off my shoulder leaving it exposed. He doesn’t say anything but places a few small kisses there. I really do have a weakness there.