My Wolf and me

by Adams, India R

  I laughed, throwing my arms around Trevor’s waist. Then I looked up at him. “Thank you. Thank you for everything. I can’t explain how much easier this is knowing I have you two on my side.”

  As I went to hug Jimmy, he raised his arms in the air, trying not to touch me. I squeezed his waist as he told Sebastian, “Look, hands free. Not touching her.”

  Sebastian laughed and shook both their hands, and then Sebastian and I were alone.

  With me clearly being exhausted from a long, scary night and an interesting morning, Sebastian put us in bed, insisting I needed a nap. He crawled in behind me. “We have plenty of time to put the lessons to the test. Get some rest, my Marley.”

  I wanted to argue that we were indeed wasting time but fell asleep before I could get a word out. Weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and my body rejoiced and rested.

  When I woke, I rolled over to face Sebastian. He was awake, waiting for me. A quiet moment passed as I thought about my parents coming home in two days and times like this being rare. An ache took root in places that desired to be touched and demanded that I seize this moment. “Until my parents come home, I-I don’t want to be away from your side. I need you, Sebastian.”

  Sebastian’s eyes searched my face. No words were used because we both knew enough conversation had taken place. My breath raced as I decided what I wanted. “I need magic.”

  Sebastian’s eyes studied me further, and his lips dipped down to caress mine. An understanding of what we had to sacrifice for his safety echoed through every gentle kiss, through every gentle touch. Everything we did next was gentle, almost as if saying goodbye, even though we would not part.

  Loving Sebastian came at a high price on my heart, but I was going to take advantage of every moment that day offered. Things that I had never done before and might not get to do again took place on the bed that had carried me through many dreams and nightmares. Once again, it would support me and carry me as I lived out another dream—before facing another nightmare.

  Having endless trust in Sebastian was what allowed me to share tender moments with him, learning our bodies naturally. We effortlessly communicated as our bodies joined, becoming one. That day taught me to share private moments only with my best friend, someone who loved me unconditionally, someone who did and would give everything for me as I was giving it all to him. This is something I hope every girl or woman experiences at such a timeless event in her life.

  Chapter Thirteen:

  Stolen Moments

  My parents were shocked and saddened that Sebastian and I had decided to end things, both truly disappointed. But when I explained he was moving again, they understood a long-distance relationship was not going to work at our age.

  My mom held me. “I saw how you looked at him, and I saw how he looked at you. You both made a very mature decision, but I understand and sympathize with how hard it was for you guys.”

  I clung to her, even though Sebastian was standing with us in the form of Romy. But her sympathy was somehow so needed. Even though there was so much I wanted to tell her but felt I couldn’t, I would always cherish that tender moment.

  Trevor and Jimmy did a fantastic job, having my recent break-up practically old news by the time spring break was over. The first day back to school, I saw Trevor waiting at my locker. I was humbled with how emotional I became, but seeing him was the chance to tell someone about my beautiful experience with Sebastian. I wanted to tell my closest girlfriend, one I didn’t have, and not being able to confide in my mom humorously left me with T.

  Trevor saw my tears as I walked to him and opened his arms. I took the offered embrace with no hesitation. He whispered to the top of my head, “You okay?”

  “The best days of my life.”

  After those words were set free, I realized that was all I desperately wanted to say out loud. His arms tightened as he rocked me. “I’m so happy for you, girl.”

  “She okay?” Jimmy approached behind me.

  “Very.” Trevor kept rocking me.

  Jimmy’s hand touched my back. “Oh, thank God. I thought we might’ve made a huge mistake.” He leaned forward. “Who knows what kinky things wolves are into.”

  Trevor and I laughed, holding each other. Jimmy explained to nosey passersby. “See? The break-up. She’s crying because of the break-up we told you about. Drama, whaddaya gonna do? All’s well. Move along…”

  Trevor whispered into my hair, “Jimmy sucks at lying.”

  “One of his best qualities,” I answered, refusing to let him go.

  During the day, I kept thinking of Sebastian and how unfair it was of me to ask him to hide again. Most girls would and should be thinking about college and what they aspired to be in life. My life was shamelessly and hopelessly wrapped around the being that I would never be able to disentangle from—never would I want to.

  That night, I shared my thoughts.

  Sebastian said, “Marley, if you wish for me to stop breathing, then ask me to go and live my life searching for other wolves. But if you wish for me to be happy, unbelievably content, then ask me to stay and live my life with you.”

  There was nothing else to say. Those words solidified that Sebastian and I truly were together for life because I felt the exact same way. Without Sebastian, I would cease to breathe.

  So with stolen moments and whispers in the night, Sebastian and I made it to my senior year. The hallways were extremely lonely without T and Hound causing havoc and heartaches, but I was happy for them to have graduated. Instead of going to college, they got jobs. They said college wasn’t for them.

  Sebastian said they couldn’t leave me behind until I could move on. “It’s a pack thing.” I hoped that wasn’t true because I didn’t want to be to blame for them falling behind in life.

  Sebastian became an expert at transforming between Sebastian and Romy and had matured into a man over the past year. It was like an unseen force was growing inside him and developing him into the most responsible being on earth. His tendencies to watch over the house and those he considered his family were impressive. He began to stay awake and guard my parents and me at night instead of lying in bed with me. I asked if something was wrong, but he said no—he just felt taking care of us was what he was supposed to be doing.

  One night, I woke to an empty bed again and quietly headed downstairs. I stopped when I saw that my mom had fallen asleep on the couch watching TV. Romy was pulling a blanket over her with his teeth.

  We had tracks all over the yard where Romy would drag home big game. My dad would carve up a deer to store in our deep freezer, asking me, “Why didn’t we think of this before? Saving lots of money—and your mom makes the best deer chili in the world.”

  Romy would sit proudly, watching us enjoy his job well done.

  Another change took place in Sebastian: his need for reproduction. Not sex—he knew the difference now—but reproduction. Being eighteen and still in high school, I didn’t think it was good timing at all. So, one late afternoon, when we were having one of our rare encounters in the woods, I pulled out a condom. Sebastian’s eyes glassed over, and he growled at me while viewing the product that was denying his seed.

  “Sebastian, you are testing me with your new behavior.”

  He lay next to me. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  Having put lots of thoughts into this new behavior of his, I told him, “I think this is a Romy thing, not a Sebastian thing. You don’t act as young and free anymore. You seem… adultish.”

  Sebastian smirked. “Adultish?”

  “Yes, unbelievably responsible. Making sure I’m rested and fed properly. You’re practically tutoring me through the twelfth grade, and now sex has more of a purpose to you than it being an exciting activity.”

  “Am I not fun anymore?” He sounded disappointed in himself.<
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  I pulled on my jeans and sat up. “I didn’t say that. What I’m trying to explain is… you became a young man at eleven. And now you’re maturing at that same fast rate. Your rate is much faster than mine. You seem ready for things I can only imagine having in the future. It’s okay, Sebastian. I want to reproduce with you, but not for some years. Do you mind being patient and letting me catch up? Wait for me?”

  “I think you’re right. My urge for more versions of me around, as odd as that sounds, feels deeply embedded somewhere inside me.”

  “Of course. Reproduction is part of survival of the wild.”

  Sebastian thought for a moment then kissed me. “Of course I can wait. Forever, Marley.”

  I was done with talking mature talk and wanted playtime. “Good. Now can we have some fun?”

  Wanting to please me, he said, “Yes. What would you like to do?”

  I crushed my lips to his to show him what I wanted. His moan was his reply, and it gave me that shiver I loved. Sebastian must have sensed it because his kiss became primal.

  Feeling awfully flirtatious, I pushed Sebastian away and jumped to my feet. With a devilish smile, I said, “If you can catch me, I promise it will be worth your while.”

  I ran.

  My happiness was complete as I traveled deep into the woods with a wolf nipping at my heel and cool, fresh air blowing across my face. The sun was setting, and the growing darkness was exciting, heightening the freedom we were experiencing because I knew there was not an animal that could harm me with Romy by my side.

  The problem was, animals weren’t the only ones roaming the woods.

  I laughed and screamed as Romy nipped me just right, making me tumble to the ground. My wolf became a man, kissed me in mid-roll, and by the time I stopped, he was standing as Romy again, looking mischievous and ready for more chase. I squealed and rushed to my feet, never wanting this game to end.

  Romy had almost tripped me again when the bullet rang through the air.

  A force catapulted my wolf into me, and we crashed to the ground. My mind never had a chance to comprehend what had happened, and I never even got to get off my back before Sebastian was dragging me into the bushes. His hands sifted through the leaves to cover the trail our bodies left behind us.

  Sebastian rushed back to shield my body protectively with his, his dirty hand roughly over my mouth. I lay still, staring up at him in shock, my nose breathing heavily across the top of his hand. I couldn’t help thinking of Trevor saying, “…he should not show his human form outside this house.” I wanted to punch myself for not following his excellent advice.

  My spine pressed into the leaves under me. I felt warm liquid begin to seep down, soaking my side. I slowly reached to touch it. When I pulled my fingers back into view, I saw blood. It wasn’t mine. My wolf had been shot.

  He mouthed, “Not a word”. I nodded but wanted him in a hospital in the next two seconds. I stopped breathing completely when I heard cautious footsteps in the leaves.

  A man’s voice whispered with agitation, “He was here!”

  Two men were hunched over, sneaking past us with big guns in their hands, ready to fire. These were no local hunters. They looked uniformed, almost military-like, dressed in black, long-sleeved shirts, black cargo pants, and black vests with many pockets. Belts with gun holsters attached a lot of ammunition to their bodies.

  My body was trying to shake in fear, but Sebastian on top of me held me still.

  “I bet he rolled down that bank with the girl,” the other man replied, also whispering.

  More leaves crunched as the men made their way down the deep embankment, away from us.

  Sebastian whispered, “They smelled of other wolves. I was not their first.”

  The shadow of night had set a romantic mood for our run, but now it smothered me, and I had never wanted to see the sun so dearly. I wanted the brightness to scare away the darkness that announced a horrifying scene to come.

  When Sebastian felt it was time to try, we quietly crawled—well, I was practically dragged by a once again authoritarian Sebastian—out of the bushes. When we stood, I nervously began searching his body in the darkening forest, but it quickly seemed my nerves were nothing compared to his.

  Sebastian strongly grabbed my hand and whispered with urgency, “No time for me. They saw you. We need to get you home. Then I’ll find out what’s going on.”

  He was the one shot, but he worried about my safety. Mature Sebastian had returned, and it was time to obey. His domineering energy insisted on it. So I skittishly nodded, just wanting him home so he’d let me inspect his wound. I would inform him then that he was not hunting the hunters then hope that the hunters stayed away.

  Sebastian hobbled a foot ahead of me for what felt like a quarter of a mile while I did what he’d told me to do. I picked up leaves and walked backward, covering our trail and his blood in case the two men turned back, retracing their steps.

  When my butt ran into Sebastian, I turned but could barely see him because it was almost pitch black. Grinding his teeth as if in pain, he struggled to put on one of the pairs of pants he kept hidden on the trails. I helped him with the button, whispering, “Are you okay?”

  His eyes were glazing over. “Yes, just feel like having you closer.” He put his arm around my shoulders. This was out of character for the Sebastian I had been living with for the past year. My eyes begged him for the truth as I put my arm around his waist. He smiled. “I’m fine.” But he leaned on me for support. That was when I knew his injury was more than a flesh wound.

  “Can’t you heal yourself again?”

  “Not without slipping out of consciousness, and I’m taking us the long way home in case they follow. I’m aching to get you out of harm’s way. Don’t worry; the bullet only grazed me.”

  Arguing was just going to take time we didn’t have. I knew I wouldn’t win with this alpha. There was no way in hell he would allow himself a nap while I forged the dark woods, with possible shooters on my trail. So I begged myself not to panic and to focus on what Sebastian wanted—home. “Okay, Sebastian.”

  The closer we got to home, the weaker he became. He was slowing down. The faint moonlight glistened off his bare chest wet with sweat. Blood, both dried and new, covered my hands. There was no more trying to fool me. “Oh, Sebastian, you’re so pale.” I looked down. His stomach and jeans were soaked with blood. Tears began to rim my eyes as he became heavier and heavier. He sounded so tired. “I’m sorry… I promised to never lie… to you.”

  Sebastian knew he could no longer hide the severity of his wound. I panted as I struggled with bearing his weight. “Lying with good intent is just another thing to love about you.”

  He tried to smile again but barely could while he quietly baited me. “Are you only saying this because I’m bleeding everywhere?”

  I kept pulling him along as he struggled to keep his eyes open. Needing to hear his voice, I kept up the conversation. “See? You’re still trying to keep me from being scared. Makes you the best, Sebastian.”

  His head rolled to my shoulder.

  The conversation was over.

  I became desperate. “Please, let’s hide in a bush or something while you heal. I’ll stay with you.”

  Sebastian slurred through his words. “Can’t. They could find another… my trails… find your… parents… with no… protection.”

  “You have got to be the best being on this earth. Hold on. I’m getting you home, Sebastian. Please hold on.”

  Love, simply put, is powerful.

  My love for him gave me the strength to carry most of his weight.

  His love for me gave him the strength to hold on.

  By the time we reached our back yard, I was practically dragging my best friend, screaming in hysterics, “Dad! Help me!
Mom! Please!”

  Sebastian feebly attempted to quiet my panic. “Shh… must… silent.”

  Our back door swung open.

  “Jesus! Marlena! What happened?” Dad yelled as he ran down the steps, crossing the yard in an incredible rush to help his daughter, just like I knew he would.

  My wonderful mother was in tow. “Why are you with Sebastian?”

  I screamed. “He’s been shot! Help me!”

  “Shh…” Sebastian whispered, reaching out to my father as his body began to go limp completely. My father, the man I idolized, without knowing it, caught the love of my life in his arms. Sebastian, on the verge of unconsciousness, faintly spoke words that brought terror to me. “Everett. Danger. They’re coming.” Then his eyes closed.

  Sebastian’s phenomenal hearing must’ve heard the shooters approaching.

  My dad looked at the young man in his arms and quietly but nervously, asked, “Who’s coming?”

  I rushed slightly audible words. “We may be in trouble.”

  “Why?” Dad asked, adrenaline almost visibly rushing through his veins, giving him strength to carry heavy Sebastian.

  At that moment, when my two worlds were once again crashing together, a twig cracked in the distance. My mother’s and father’s bodies immediately followed the sound, as did mine. My mother and I were glued to my father’s sides. With the three of us shoulder to shoulder, we began to take slow and cautious backward steps, across my yard, toward the back porch. With a bleeding man in my father’s arms and having lived in the mountains all their lives, my parents instinctively knew this could be more than an accidental shooting.

  Without looking at me, my father whispered, “Where’s Romy?”