by L. C. Davis
“If there's a problem, I can take him somewhere far away,” he said cryptically. After what felt like an intentional pause he added, “Sir.”
“No,” said Ulric. He waved dismissively. “Nothing like that. The boy has requested an audience with me. Let him stay.”
He turned his attention on me fully. “What can I do for you, my boy?”
For once, I wished they would go back to talking about me like I wasn't there.
I tried to answer him but my voice was hoarse. On the second try, I managed to croak out, “I have to decline the contest title, Sir.”
“Contest?” He frowned before recognition flashed across his features. He rubbed his eyes, a habit that would explain why he had lines around his eyes and nowhere else. “Ah. Yes. That garish tradition. You won, did you? I'm not surprised. My boys have always had a type,” he said, looking pointedly at Sebastian.
From anyone else, it would have been a lecherous comment. His almost saddened tone suggested otherwise.
“Why can't you accept?”
I glanced at Sebastian. “I didn't even want to enter. Someone else entered me, so I shouldn't even have been in the running.”
He leaned forward and frowned. “Who did that?” he asked with surprising interest.
“I-I'm not sure,” I stammered. “At first I thought it was my friend, or maybe Sebastian. I'm still not sure about Arthur.”
Ulric snorted. “I can tell you it certainly wasn't Sebastian. In fact, I would venture to say that he would want you paraded on a stage with a bunch of frothing animals even less than I do.”
I looked at Sebastian again in hopes of deciphering the strange comment, but he looked equally perplexed.
“Well, the damage is done and it seems you won fair and square. There's no reason for you not to keep the prize money.”
“Th-that's just it, Sir, I don't believe I won fairly. There was another contestant, Maverick, and he would be much more suited for the title and the uhm, other prizes.”
“Other prizes?” He frowned. “You mean the membership?”
“Uh.” Sebastian cleared his throat. “The guys voted and decided to put the winner on the cover of that magazine Brendan runs and uh, give them a session with you.”
“Did they now?” His eyes narrowed dangerously. “That brilliant idea was Brendan's brainchild, no doubt. I'll have a talk with him later.” He sighed. “I'm an old man and I have no time for that sort of thing anymore. Remus, keep the money and I'll look into making arrangements for the runner up to have the title and photoshoot if that's what you want.”
“Yes. Please.”
I breathed a sigh of relief that he was equally unenthused by the idea of a session, whatever that entailed.
He leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers. “I can't leave for a week without chaos erupting. “Didn't I put you in charge while I was gone?”
“No, you put Victor in charge.”
“Ah. Usually works out well.”
“Because I usually cover for him.”
Ulric's gaze flickered between us. “Well, you've certainly had your distractions, hm? Tell me, Remus, what do you think of the Lodge?”
My throat closed up again. “It's nice. Very-” I glanced around the massive study. “Woodsy.”
He laughed. “That it is. How much has Sebastian told you, Remus?”
“A-about, Sir?”
“About the mark, for one.”
“The mark?”
“Nothing, then. I see.”
“I haven't marked him yet,” said Sebastian.
I was lost again.
“Sure you have. It's on his palm, plain as day. That doesn't happen by accident.”
Sebastian was beside me again, and he grabbed my hand. I was getting alarmed by how often that kept happening, but he was examining my palm so intently I let him be.
“Look harder,” said Ulric. “Squint if you have to. Lose focus for a moment and you'll see it then, too. The longer you look, the more obvious it gets.”
I followed his instructions and saw nothing. Sebastian on the other hand seemed to be having a different experience.
“Oh, shit.”
“Indeed.” Ulric laced his fingers and watched us. “Mind enlightening me as to how it happened?”
“I-I don't know,” he stammered. For the first time since I'd known him, Sebastian seemed shaken. At least he was no longer shaking with rage. “That's where I stamped his hand, but I-”
“Stamped?” Ulric frowned. “You use your seal as a stamp?”
“No, I just- Well, yeah, the one time,” he said. “I just wanted to make sure the others left him alone.”
“Well, you did. You made sure everyone will leave him alone, permanently,” said Ulric. “And you've bound him to you without his consent. You know what that means.”
Sebastian gulped. Now I really was scared.
“E-excuse me?” I asked, folding my shaking hands in my lap.
Ulric looked at me benevolently. He nodded for me to go on.
“I don't understand any of this,” I admitted. “I-is something wrong with me?” I looked down at my hand worriedly. It looked perfectly normal, but I remembered the blood etched mark from my dream.
“Nothing related to your health, son,” he said. I breathed a sigh of relief. “Tell me, have you been experiencing any strange phenomena since last Friday?”
I paused to consider his question. “My hand burns sometimes, I guess. And I-” I paused to look at Sebastian. He was still far too shaken to offer any help broaching the subject of the dreams. “He said you might be able to help us understand some strange dreams I've been having.”
“Dreams?” he asked. His concern was far more grave than I would have expected for such a soft topic. “What kind of dreams?”
“Well, I had a nightmare that I was being attacked by wolves the night I stayed here. Then, when I got home, I dreamed about, um, someone chasing me while I was staying in Victor's room. There were wolves again, and I, uh, called for Sebastian's help. He apparently had the same dream and came to find me.”
The entire time I spoke the leader's eyes grew wider with worry. His reaction wasn't calming my nerves the way I had hoped.
After a long moment of silence he unfolded his hands and sighed. “You have to tell him, Sebastian. I couldn't believe that it was happening again after so many years, but destiny is clearly pushing you together. Your blunder with the seal just hastened the process.”
“Process?” I asked. “What process?”
“He can't handle it yet. I'm trying to ease him into the idea.”
They were ignoring me again.
“There's no time. The dreams are an omen and there's much more that needs to be revealed to him before things progress.”
Sebastian looked between us, clearly distressed. “I need more time. Give me a few weeks.”
“You have until the full moon to tell him or I will.”
He turned to me with a warm yet pitying gaze. “Dear child, I am so sorry for what you're about to go through. There is simply too much to explain and not enough time.”
I held him in my sight as Sebastian took my arm and guided me out of the chair. “Come on,” he said gruffly, leading me towards the door.
I looked back at Ulric with deep wariness. “I have more questions,” I said, finally gathering the strength.
He smiled sadly. “I'm afraid from this point on, none of the answers will come the easy way.”
Sebastian pulled me out of the room and the door fell shut, along with any hope I had of a world that made sense.
Burning in my mind, more than the mark or the wolves or Victor's strange obsession, was a strangely benign question.
Why did such a strange man seem so familiar?
12
To my dismay, Sebastian offered to take me home almost as soon as we left the study. I wanted to protest and demand answers, but something about the look in his eyes kept me from it. He all but dragged me to
the parking lot and on the way to the car, we ran into the smaller wolf I remembered from the room.
“Hey guys,” he called pleasantly.
Sebastian stormed past him without a word. I looked back and waved apologetically, wishing I could remember his name.
I was used to Sebastian putting me in his truck, but that time he hastily fastened my seatbelt, too and slammed the door.
The few seconds I was alone in the cab did little to clarify what had just happened. I looked down at my empty palm so intently it began to burn. I told myself it was just a nerve issue and pressed it against the seat.
Sebastian shoved the key into the ignition and turned it so violently the engine wouldn't turn over. It took him three tries before the car he was almost bizarrely affectionate with normally came to life.
The drive was a silent one. Every time I tried to ask him one of the thousands of questions racing through my mind, something pushed me back and told me it wasn't the time.
Although he never directed it at me, it was hard at times to tell whether the darkness I could feel emanating off of him was caused by me or the strange encounter with the Alpha.
One thing was sure. That meeting hadn't gone how Sebastian planned.
We came to a stop at my dorm and sat in silence for a moment after he cut the engine.
I reached hesitantly for my door handle and jolted when he finally broke the silence.
“I need some time to think about what to do.”
“Maybe if you just tell me what-”
“No.”
It was more of a growl than a word.
He exhaled raggedly and his knuckles were sheet white from gripping the steering wheel.
“Okay,” I said warily. “When will you be able to explain, then?”
“I don't know.” His voice was gruff, but he'd relaxed some. He looked over at me with an apologetic, almost sorrowful gaze. “I'll call you.”
He leaped out of the truck without waiting for me to reply and helped me down.
“Almost forgot,” he muttered, going around to the side of his truck. He picked up a shoe box and handed it to me.
I lifted the lid to find Arthur's gear from the contest stowed inside. “Thanks,” I said, closing it.
He nodded absently, already getting back into his truck.
“Sebastian!” I ran over to the window and tapped on the glass. He rolled it down and looked past me.
“Yeah?”
I hesitated. I wasn't even sure what I wanted to say, only that I didn't want him to go. Not like this.
“Be careful.”
He gave a half-hearted nod and rolled the window back up. I stepped up onto the curb and watched him fly out of the parking lot. He turned in the opposite direction of the road that led to the Lodge and disappeared.
I stood there for a while, holding the box of Arthur's things.
Suddenly I wished he had forgotten then so I would have some reason to see him again.
Days ago I hadn't been able to get rid of him. Now I was terrified I had somehow succeeded.
13
“Seriously, he hasn't called in five days?” Arthur sounded incredulous as he reached for the top of his running shoes. We were both on the grassy area of the courtyard trying to stretch out our hamstrings.
“No.” I left out the fact that Sebastian had at least texted me every night since he stole my phone number. He didn't need to know how quickly I had fallen. “But it's not a big deal. We're just friends.”
I had made sure of that.
“You are so not friends. This is friends,” he said, pointing between us. “You can't be friends with someone who looks like that.”
“As gorgeous as he is, I still don't know how I feel.” I sighed, switching sides. “I just wish I knew if he was okay. He won't answer any of my calls.”
He gave me a pointed look. “Right. 'Just friends.' I just don't understand how the guy can go from claiming you're soulmates and practically stalking you to MIA in less than a week.”
I sighed, pressing my upper body down until it was parallel with my leg. The dull burn was a welcome distraction. “Yeah, well, we both know sanity is not something I attract.”
“It's surprising that Sebastian is being like that. He never struck me as a flake.”
“Sometimes people surprise you.” I sprang to my feet and brushed the grass on my palms off on my sweats. The nerve issues had only progressed since Sebastian had been gone. I flexed my left hand and winced at how stiff it felt. Hopefully a good run would help.
“I can't believe you're making me do this.” Arthur groaned as he followed me to the dirt trail that circled campus, took a scenic route through the woods and back again.
Running had always been the one thing I could count on to feel better, since I had decided that cutting wasn't an option. Getting back on the track, even if I wasn't competing anymore, was my way of getting back to my life. The fact that the path cut through the woods just meant I had the chance to overcome my irrational fear of wolves, real and imaginary.
After all, the biology professor had been adamant that there wasn't a single confirmed wolf pack from here to Seattle. While I was relieved, the knowledge raised other disconcerting questions. Namely about my sanity.
“I didn't make you,” I reminded Arthur, taking off at a steady pace he could follow. “You asked if you could come.”
“When you said you needed to get out of the dorm, I assumed mojitos would be involved,” he said, panting as he struggled to match my speed.
I slowed to a jog and laughed. I didn't care how fast we were going. It just felt good to be outside again, not curled up with a shirt I should really have washed awhile ago, waiting for a guy to call who had completely blown me off. The past five days, my new life in Washington had felt far too much like the one I had left behind in Texas.
“You're doing great,” I assured him. “Remember, keep your foot in line with your knee when you land. It'll help.”
“A rest stop would help.” In spite of his grumbling, he was doing pretty good for a first timer.
“Arthur,” I said, getting an idea.
“Yeah?” He huffed.
“What kinds of things does a dom do in a session?”
So much for taking my mind off the wolves.
He gave me a strange look as we turned the corner. We were more than halfway around campus by then, and the woods was not far up ahead.
“It depends on the – huff – the sub. Could be bondage, sex, roleplay, sadism, all of the above. Why?”
“Just curious.”
I realized my nails were digging into my palms and I unclenched my hands. At least now I had a reason for the pain.
“You're jealous,” he said after a moment of pondering.
I scowled and subconsciously picked up speed. “I am not jealous.”
“Yes you are!” His yell was accusatory. He struggled to catch up with me again. “You were trying to find out what Sebastian's up to.”
I didn't want to lie so I said nothing and kept running.
“Hey,” he panted. “Slow down!”
I did, albeit reluctantly. It wasn't his fault I was terrible at hiding things.
“You know, if you're really curious, there's only one way to find out.”
“You mean you've never had a session with him?” I asked hopefully.
His face screwed up. “God no. Sebastian is not my type – no offense. I have a sub I work with most of the time, and I go to Brendan if I'm in the mood for a dom.”
“Oh.” I couldn't imagine my friend dressed up like he had been that night, barking orders at some masked man. Then again, nothing within the walls of the Lodge was ever what you expected.
“That's cool. Brendan seems... nice.”
Arthur laughed, at least as much as his lungs would allow. “He's a dick but he's crazy good at wax torture.”
I winced. I didn't even know what that would entail, but it sounded painful.
Then again, may
be that was the idea.
“Anyway, Sebastian doesn't seem to take on a lot of subs. I think he's usually more around in a supervisory role. Victor on the other hand...”
“Victor?” I shuddered at the idea of anyone being alone with him, especially under such vulnerable circumstances. “Do me a favor and stay away from him, Arthur.”
He gave me a perplexed look. “Why?”
“Can't put me finger on it,” I lied. “He just seemed weird.”
“Yeah, okay.” I could tell he wasn't convinced, but I decided not to push it. He seemed too preoccupied with Brendan to be in much danger.
The woods was just up ahead. My pace quickened naturally, drawn to it.
I noticed Arthur's footfalls drop off and turned around to find him a decent ways behind me, doubled over with his hands on his knees and panting to catch his breath.
“You okay?” I jogged over to his side. I grabbed the water bottle clipped to his jogging pants and offered it to him. He took a few long gulps and water poured down the sides of his face as he gasped.
“Fine, this is just kicking my ass,” he said. “Is it normal for everything to burn?”
I smiled sympathetically. “Yeah, but you should probably head back. We've already gone a mile and a quarter. That's a lot for your first day.”
His look of relief turned into one of guilt. “You're not coming heading back?”
“No, I want to complete the track,” I said. “But I'll be fine. You have that family thing to get ready for, right?”
His breaths were a bit steadier. “Yeah, but I feel bad.”
“Don't. I'm glad you came, but I could use some time to clear my head anyway,” I admitted.
He nodded in understanding. “Alright. See you tomorrow? I don't think I'll be back until you're asleep.”
“Yeah, we'll grab breakfast if you have time. Have fun with your family!”
“Thanks, enjoy your run,” he called, heading back towards the school.
I turned back towards the forest when he called my name. I spun around to face him. “Yeah?”
“He'll call,” he said without his usual slightly snarky tone. “And if he doesn't, he's an idiot.”