Greg rolled his eyes, "I don't feel like it." Then his eyes flicked over to his dad's. "What do you say? Help me sing Elaine to sleep?"
I was still confused, but I didn't say anything. It wasn't like Greg to refuse to sing. He loved being in the spotlight.
Then, the gentle strumming of the guitar greeted me. The tune was soft and soothing, and very familiar. The sides of my mouth twitched in a delighted grin, and I pulled my covers tighter around myself to bring more warmth.
Michael didn't like to sing often. He normally just had Greg do all the show work. I guessed it made him seem soft, and not… beta. But, I had heard him sing a few times. It wasn't something anyone could forget easily. Just like everything else about him, it flowed.
"Would you dance, if I asked you to dance?"
CL
I woke up surrounded by darkness. For a few seconds, all I could do was stare up at the ceiling. Then, as I continued to blink away my sleep, I could make out shapes from the light coming through the curtains.
Not even the guitar was there to keep my company. I sighed, and pushed myself up until I was sitting.
Then I heard paws padding on wood.
I tensed as I listened, as if that would allow me to hear even better.
Surprisingly, the door was open, and the owner of the paws just pushed it open with his muzzle. My head felt the opposite of how it had been earlier. It was light. I felt like I had lost blood or something. I was still kind of dizzy.
"Josh?" I called to the dark wolf.
His ears perked forward, as if he was a Husky instead of a Werewolf, and he took a few steps inside. Instead of padding along the wood, he tapped.
"You need your nails filed." I joked as I laid back in bed. A second later Josh leapt up onto my bed. He came up to my waist and curled into a ball. I fisted my hand around his fur, and took comfort in the silkiness. "You know, you need to work on your anger management skills. You seem to be freaking out a lot lately."
I heard him let out a sigh, that sounded more like a whine, just before I fell back to sleep.
CL
Pavel was at the kitchen table when I made it downstairs, "How are you feeling?"
I shrugged away his question, "Do you know if there is anymore pancake batter? I'm starving and I don't really want to have popcorn for breakfast." I glanced pointedly at the seven movie butter popcorn boxes in the cupboard I was looking into.
"I don't think so." Michael entered the conversation. I glanced over my shoulder, to where he stood in the archway, and frowned. I hadn't even known he was here.
"I could have sworn I heard you leave this morning." I thought aloud.
Michael shook his head as he came further into the room, "Nathan went on a run." I couldn't help but glance at Pavel as the words left Michael's mouth. "He's having a bad day."
"When isn't he?" I joked lightly, and turned back to my previous task. "Why don't we have anything to eat?"
"Because Odolf and Martin became werewolves, and suddenly have bottomless pits for stomachs." Michael suggested dryly.
I busted out laughing, "You know, I'd expect that from Pavel, but you're normally not that funny." I sucked in my laughter when Michael's eyes narrowed against mine. However, I couldn't hold it in for too long. A second later I was clutching my sides, with tears in my eyes, as I howled with laughter.
Pavel was laughing just as hard as I was.
By the time I was done, I thought I caught Michael rolling his eyes. "I'll take you to breakfast, if you promise not to compare me to anymore of my relatives." Michael stuffed his right hand into his jeans pocket and pulled out a set of keys, which made me wonder whether he'd been planning on heading out before he'd heard my stomach growl.
"Pavel?" Michael prompted.
He shook his head, "I'm good." There was something off about his smile. And the look in his eyes definitely wasn't a good sign.
"What are you up to?" I folded my arms over my chest in a 'tell me now' kind of way.
"Hey, I'm not the troublemaker around here, pup." Pavel winked at me and my mouth actually sprang open in shock.
Then, I huffed and walked with Michael out to the jeep. "So where are we going?"
"You wanted pancakes, right?"
I nodded. Michael walked ahead of me, which wasn't hard considering the difference between our leg lengths, and opened the passenger door for me. "Thanks." Michael simply nodded in response, and then shut the door after me.
We drove in silence. I tapped my thumbs anxiously on my thighs. "I'm hungry." I stated.
Michael chuckled, but didn't say anything.
A few minutes later we were parking along one of the back streets of town. "Best pancakes in town." Michael and I said in unison. Shocked, I glanced over at my beta, but he wasn't looking at me. He was already opening the glass door; making the bell ring.
I muttered a thank you as I passed him, and slid into a booth. The place wasn't exactly classy, but it was a crap shack either. The booths were made of red leather, and they were pretty much the only things in the place that matched. The tables that were randomly scattered around the tiled floor were mismatched, and I didn't think there were two chairs in the whole diner that were the same.
"What are you going to get?" I asked. I didn't bother to get a menu, since I knew I was going to get the chocolate chip pancakes with a glass of milk.
Michael shifted in his seat and pulled something out of his jacket pocket. I subconsciously recoiled at the sight of the black velvet box. He glanced up at me, and grinned, probably at my expression, "It's not a weapon." Then he slid it onto the table, so it was beside my hands.
I slowly grasped it, and snuck a glance at Michael, before pulling the lid open.
For two seconds, all I could do was stare.
"Wow," I gasped in awe as I pulled out the medallion. The chain was gold and thin, and the pendant had a bronze wolf eyes etched into the medal. "It's…"
Michael grinned lightly as he opened his menu, "Hopefully it will give you better luck, and keep you out of trouble."
I chose to ignore that last part of the sentence, "Gorgeous." I finished; my eyes were still locked on the necklace.
"It had been my mother's." Michael added as a soft after note.
My eyes snapped to his. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. For once I had nothing to say.
"I'll have the French toast." Michael's change of subject startled me, but I realized that he was placing his order when I noticed a scrawny looking boy standing beside our table.
"Chocolate chip pancakes, please." I said when the kid stopped scribbling in his notepad.
After that we didn't talk much. Michael seemed distracted, and I often saw him clenching his fists. But, seeing as I he was paying for my meal, I didn't mention it. I simply ate and stared out the window.
We got home around noon. Michael kept our speed slow as he pulled into the pack house driveway. I saw his eyes darting around the lawn, and I questioned him on it.
"Where's Nathan?" Michael asked, not to me, as he got out of the Jeep. I frowned. I hated being ignored. So, I followed his example and walked around the jeep until I was standing beside my beta.
"He's over at Josh's!" Greg called over. He was coming out of the trees, so I assumed he had either been training or running.
"Why? Is something wrong?" I scanned the lawns, but saw absolutely nothing different. Nothing had changed since this morning.
When he and Greg continued to talk, about nothing that would answer any of my questions, I decided to leave. I jogged up to the pack house.
"Hey, can you go up to your room for a second?" Pavel suggested just seconds after I got through the door. I paused in my step and gave him a strange look. Michael came in behind me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him scanning the room; as if looking for someone.
That was getting annoying, so I turned back to Pavel, "Why?"
"Why not?" Pavel shrugged.
"What did you do now?" My shoulders sagged as I
scoffed.
Pavel rolled his eyes, "Why do you think I've done something?"
"I'm getting tired of hearing that." I muttered.
"You say it all the time." Michael commented. He moved around me and continued to search the pack house as he walked. I shot him a look, but he didn't notice because his back was to me.
"Fine, but if I get a pie shoved in my face, or have water fall on my head, I'll be coming after you with vengeance." I wagged my finger in Pavel's face jokingly, and then took off up the stairs. I stopped in the hallway when I noticed my door was open.
Then I saw a backpack sitting beside the doorframe.
"Oh my god." I shoved open the door and screamed in delight when I saw Sebastian leaning against the dresser. He broke out into a grin and had his arms around me in an instant.
I held him tight, and didn't release my hold around his shoulders until I felt a hard gaze in the back of my head. Very slowly, Seb dropped me back down until my feet found the floor. I turned and saw the two eldest Durand brothers standing in the doorway.
"Why didn't you tell me it was Seb?" I smacked Michael's shoulder teasingly.
Michael didn't find it amusing though.
I frowned at the look I was getting from Michael and Nathan, and leaned back. Sebastian wrapped his arms around my shoulders from behind. I felt his chin against the top of my head.
"How long are you here for?" I hugged Seb's arm to my chest.
Seb held me tight; using me as a shield against his father, "I'm not sure."
"You're a great birthday present." I grinned, and laughed as Sebastian started to rock us from side to side.
I glanced back at the brothers. I could understand why Nathan was upset. The last time Sebastian was around, things hadn't gone that well. I got injured, Seb could have nearly died, and Nathaniel had pulled the over protective, almost alpha power, bit. However, Michael had nothing against Sebastian. Sure, he probably hadn't been thrilled when Seb and I stirred up trouble in London those months back, but still…
Nathan turned to his brother. He seemed to have noticed the lightness that had taken over Michael's eyes too, because he grabbed his upper arm and led him out into the hall.
"What's going on?" I heard Nathaniel ask.
They were moving farther away and the last thing I heard from them was Michael's reply, "Tell me what you felt when you met Emily."
Sebastian's arms tightened around me once again. He must have heard Michael as well. What shocked me was that he had reacted so strongly. "Who's Emily?" I shifted awkwardly.
"Nathaniel's mate."
"Pavel's mom?" I cringed. Technically, I had never met the woman, but the way Pavel acted whenever the subject of his mom came up, I didn't want to.
Sebastian tensed more, "My mom."
I tensed as well, "Oh." That was all I could say.
CL
I changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top that I wouldn't mind losing. Then, with my hair brushed out past my shoulders, I left the bathroom; my sanctuary.
I hated admitting it, but I was nervous. I was so nervous I hadn't eaten anything all day, and my hands were shaking.
Tonight was the night. It was the full moon.
"Ready sis?" Josh was waiting for me by the back door. He was dressed in equally casual clothes. I gulped, but didn't answer as I passed him.
The day had been long – the longest in history if you wanted my opinion. Pavel, Seb, and I went on a run around five in the morning. Then, Cassie and I took turns ranting down in the anger management room. I swore, I hadn't been truly alone all day. Someone, normally an adult male, was around at all times. It was like they were all waiting for me to pass out or something.
Since, I had passed out a few days before, I guessed I couldn't blame them, but still.
"Knock 'em dead, El!" Cassie called from the living room.
I paused in the doorway, "Thanks, Cassie!" I called back. I was about to continue, but stopped, "Why won't you come?"
"We already discussed this. If I go, you'll be too distracted when you have to leave the first clearing!" Cassie explained for the millionth time.
I felt bad about leaving him, because I remembered feeling so abandoned when the pack left us for the runs. But, I guess I didn't have much of a choice.
"I remember my first run." Josh slung his arm over my shoulders after we were walking across the lawn. I leaned into his embrace and tried to forget all my worries.
I was so scared that something was going to go wrong. I didn't want to be the weird one who couldn't change. I didn't want there to be any errors.
"I couldn't walk. I kept tripping over my legs." He chuckled distantly as he recalled the memory, "And when the howling started, I got so hyper, that I tried to run. And I wound up falling right into a lake."
He succeeded in making me laugh.
"You'll do great." Josh rubbed my arms from behind before pushing me to walk faster. I hadn't noticed before, but I had been walking at a snail speed.
We walked through the woods and finally made it to the clearing. The fire was lit and people were already singing. Josh went to join the Luperco, and I started towards the fire, where Greg was sitting, but stopped suddenly.
A tall shadow was standing near the trees on the opposite side of the field. I squinted my eyes, but I only realized who it was when the fire grew.
"Hey," I burst when the shadow started to move further into the woods. Sebastian stopped in his tracks, and spun around to face me. His lopsided grin was in place. "Wait up!"
I glanced over my shoulder when I got further away from the fire. I found Josh, who was watching me, and he gave me a nod. I nodded back before continuing over to Sebastian. He had discarded his sweatshirt and was now only adorned in a pair of drawstring track pants and sneakers.
"Aren't you going to run with us?" I had originally planned on asking if was going to run with me, but changed my mind at the last minute.
Seb nicked my shoulder with his knuckles, "I'll come find you later, how's that?"
I pouted slightly, "But why don't you just run with us?" He drew in a breath to say something, but I wasn't done, "You're hardly ever here. And," I grew stern, "This is my first change. Don't you want to see it?"
For a second Sebastian didn't reply. He studied me with his dark eyes with an unreadable expression over his face. Then, he sighed, "You're making this very hard for me."
"It doesn't have to be hard. Just run with us." I nearly demanded.
Seb laughed gently, but I didn't miss the edge in his tone as he explained, "Elaine, you know I'm rogue. Running with the pack would only make things difficult."
"For who? You, your wolf, or the pack?" I wasn't giving up; I had been looking forward to this night practically my entire life. It wasn't going to be perfect. My parents weren't here, so things were already going downhill. But, Sebastian would make things amazing. He was like that. There was a reason he was one of my favorite people in the world!
He ran his hand through his hair, "Elaine," I waited for him to continue, "El, I'll meet you at the river after the main run." Seb turned into the woods. I sighed heavily, disappointed, and watched as he glanced back at me. "Try not to get lost."
I scoffed playfully, but didn't respond. I sighed heavily and stared down at my hands as I listened to Sebastian's footsteps walk away.
Once he was out of sight I started back to the pack.
Greg smiled brightly at me when I sat down beside him, and motioned for me to join in on vocals.
For a while we stayed within that clearing, and I grew more relaxed. However, when I saw Michael and Alexander group together, my tension returned.
"It's time, baby girl."
I swung around and attempted to grin, "Hey Gabriel. Where have you been lately? You avoiding me?"
I hadn't seen the dark haired Durand for quite a while. It seemed that Gabriel was always training, or out running, or in anger management. The only time he stopped the insanity, he took a few minutes to stu
ff food into his mouth, and then he was gone again.
Gabriel smirked deeply, "You think too highly of yourself, sweetheart. My training had nothing to do with you."
"I was just kidding." I glanced nervously at the alpha and beta of the pack. I stood and crossed my arms as if I were cold.
"You nervous?" Gabriel came up beside me. He was in a black hoodie, and he had his hands stuffed in the pouch. I nudged his shoulder in order to keep my mind off the fact that my stomach was churning.
I nodded, "A little."
Then, Alex made the announcement, and we started heading to the second clearing. While we walked, I kept close to Gabriel. I noticed a lot of the males had started stripping down as they ran. They seemed to be full of energy.
In a way, I was too. Hell, I felt like my insides were vibrating. But, I stayed near the end of the line. Thankfully, Gabriel wasn't a huge joiner, and he stayed with me.
"Alright," Gabriel started once we made it to the second clearing, "Since I have to get naked now, I'm going to leave you." He chuckled darkly and nudged my shoulder with his as he passed me.
I rubbed my arms, suddenly very cold, and nodded, "I'll see you later."
"Normally I'd say something sarcastic," Gabriel stated, his eyes narrowed against mine, "But you seem pretty upset, so I'll say something mean later."
I laughed, and Gabriel surprised me by smiling.
"Later, baby girl." Then, he turned on his heel, and started over to where the Luperco were standing. I waved at my brother, and that's when I noticed that most of the Luperco, which mainly consisted of unmated males by the way, were watching me as well.
I shivered as I took a step into the field. I kept my gaze on everything except the pack. The moon shone silver light onto the clearing. The grass looked gray, while the trees were covered in shadows.
I felt small as I made it to the pack. Most had divided into sub groups and were getting ready for the run. Now, normally, nudity didn't bother me much. I grew up with werewolves. Feeling awkward didn't last long. Of course, I had never been the one without clothes on.
So, as I started to follow everyone else's lead by discarding my clothes, I stated backing up into the shadows.
Howl (Howl Book 1) Page 31