by Lecia Bester
“I asked...what you are doing sitting in my seat?” Fuck, there are assigned seats?
“I didn’t know seats were assigned....” It came out as a squeak, and I clear my throat, trying to wake up my voice.
“They aren’t, but I always sit in this seat. My name is Connor, by the way. If you look hard enough, it might even be written underneath your seat.” He folded his arms across his broad, well-defined, and muscular chest. I need to stop ogling him. The corner of his mouth lifts into a smirk. He probably noticed my lingering stare at the ripple of the muscles in his arms… There you go again, Emily. After scolding myself back to reality, I fathom a reply.
“Since this seat wasn’t allocated to you specifically, Connor, I’m not moving.” I sit back and make myself comfortable, placing my elbow on the table. I see frustration register on his face. Good, now sit in a different seat like a good boy. I give him my best innocent smile.
Without another word, he takes two steps to the left and loudly puts himself down on the chair next to me, keeping his eyes on my face for the rest of the class. When the bell rings, I jump up and make a b-line for the door. I hear Jess call me as I flee the school ground, but I’m already halfway down the road.
Chapter 4 - Burning
EMILY
I basically sprinted all the way home. That boy/man, definitely not a boy, gets under my skin, and I have no idea why. My whole body reacts when I think of him. I also have no idea where I got the energy to run all the way home. It’s at least 4 miles. Walking into the kitchen, I find my aunt there, as usual. She’s baking something that smells a lot like chocolate chip cookies with a hint of hazelnut. Yummy. The smell invades my senses, and it’s like I’m holding a cookie right under my nose.
“Those smell delicious.” She turns around gives me a proud smile.
“I put them in a few minutes ago. They should be ready soon, honey. My mother always told me that baking biscuits give a house a homey feel. “
“All this fresh air unclogged my senses or something because I could smell those before I walked into the house.” Honestly, I have no idea why I can smell everything so well these days. If I concentrate, I can even imagine smelling the lilies in the garden outside. We sit and banter in the kitchen for a little about school and how my first day went. I didn’t tell her about the boy, but I did tell her about Jess, and I saw her face light up slightly. She’s probably just happy I made a friend and didn’t sit and sulk in a corner somewhere.
“Afternoon, ladies.” My uncle walks through the front door and places his briefcase on the kitchen table. He makes his way over and gives my aunt a very passionate kiss. I almost feel uncomfortable. They have been married for 24 years and still seem as in love as two teenagers.
“Hi honey, how was the first day of school?” He kisses my forehead like I’m a little girl. It’s nice and reminds me that I still have family who loves me.
“It went well. I made a friend Jess. She showed me around the school, which helped a lot.”
“That’s great, honey. I know it’s a big change from a Boston Public, but it’s an excellent school.” The alarm pings, which means the cookies are ready. My uncle jumps up and grabs the oven mitts from my aunt.
“Let me get that for you, darling.” He turns, taking out the tray, but his elbow collides with the refrigerator door that my aunt opened to get the ice cream. The next thing I see is a blazing hot cookie tray coming my way. Without thinking, I grab it just before the cookies hit the floor and place the tray on the kitchen table. Both of them rush towards me with concerned expressions.
“Lily! I’m so sorry, let me have a look at your hands. I hope you don’t blister.” He pulls me towards the sink.
“Let’s put them under cold water. It will help with the burn.” The burn?
My uncle was staring at my hands under the running water, turning them one at a time to examine the damage. There wasn’t any. I didn’t feel any pain or burning sensation. Neither my palms nor my fingers were red. How is that even possible? I see my uncle briefly glance at my aunt, and for a second, I see the shock on her face, but it disappears. A look of relief quickly replaces it.
“Oh, thank goodness. You put it down so fast, and it probably didn’t get a chance even to warm your hands.” She walks over to me and starts drying my hands off with a kitchen towel.
“Yea, probably.” For the rest of dinner, I find myself rubbing my palms, trying to see or feel any evidence of a burn. Nothing. I excuse myself and decide to have a shower. Suddenly exhaustion creeps up on me, probably from the run home. Standing under the shower, I turn the tap all the way too hot. Curiosity, I guess. I feel the water becoming warmer, but it doesn’t burn my skin. It feels soothing, relaxing the tight muscles in my shoulders. The whole bathroom starts to steam up, and I close my eyes, enjoying the feeling of water running down my back.
My mind wonders to Connor. His strong jaw and broad shoulders. What is going on with me? Ten minutes ago, I was ready to pass out and sleep for a decade, and now my body is so awake, I feel like I could run through the forest. After my shower, I attempt some homework but keep picturing Conner. I need to purge him from my thoughts. It’s distracting. The next few days, I do my best to avoid the attractive boy who haunts my dreams, hiding behind classroom doors or ducking into the bathroom. It’s like I have this sixth sense that he’s going to round a corner or exit a classroom.
Beep Beep
It’s a message from Jess.
Hi girl. Just checking in. Also, a reminder that the bonfire is this weekend!
Hi Jess. I was just trying to do some homework but not really winning. I’m not sure I’m going to go. It’s the first week of school, and I have a lot of work to catch up on.
You don’t have a choice, honey. I wasn’t asking. I was telling you :)
I’ll think about it, I promise. :)
Jess wasn’t the sort of person to take no for an answer, but social events weren’t something I wanted to do just yet. Sure, the first week of school isn’t going badly. Jess introduced me to a few people, so I don’t feel like a complete outsider. She’s really been amazing, and I wish I could have her confidence, but I’m just not there yet. I hear Aunt Rose knock on my door.
“Can I come in?”
“Yes, of course.” She stops in the doorway with an uncertain look on her face.
“How are you? You seemed distracted at dinner?” She’s sitting on the corner of my bed. My aunt and uncle really have been the best. I’ve only visited them twice before the accident, and even back then, I remember them being so caring towards me.
“I’m okay. Just getting used to everything you know.” I’m faking the smile on my face, but she doesn’t seem to notice.
“I imagine it’s been a lot. There’s something your uncle and I want to talk to you about this weekend. Maybe Saturday I can make us a nice dinner, and we talk about it? It is your birthday on Sunday, and I recall you saying you’d like to spend it at home? Maybe we watch a movie Saturday and have a birthday cake at midnight?”
“That sounds lovely, aunt Rose but I might join Jess for the bonfire on Saturday if I’m allowed?”
“Oh, no honey, we can speak with you after the bonfire and still have a slice of birthday cake when you get back. Just remember to be home by eleven.” She gets up and smiles at me. It’s a sad smile. I’ve been getting so many of those since the accident, and I barely recognize a normal one.
“Night night.”
Chapter 5 - Lavender and Honey
CONNOR
On the first day of school, I decided to be early enough to avoid Mandy. I need to break things off, but she’s so dramatic, and I don’t feel like that amount of drama on the first day. In my first class, I send Luke a quick text saying that we need to speak before lunch. I have to tell him that I found my mate. My parents have too much going on with the Royals and the initiation ball in a few weeks. My wolf starts becoming restless, and then it hits me like a brick wall. Lavender and honey fill my
senses.
I look at the door waiting for her to appear. I hear Jess’s voice, and then the most beautiful face I’ve ever seen fills the doorway. Dark brown hair falling in messy waves over her shoulders, crystal blue eyes and freckles dusted over a small nose. She’s looking at me, and some part of me wishes she’d realize we are destined for each other at that moment, but she breaks the connection and walks away. My wolf is protesting, urging me to go after her. Settle down. We have time.
The rest of the day goes by very painstakingly slow. After lunch, I cornered Jess to get her name; she gave me a knowing smile before she mumbled Emily. I repeat the word in my head a few times, connecting it to my surname like a little middle school kid. AP English is my last subject, and as I approach the class, I slow down because I know for a fact she’s inside.
How the fuck am I suppose to be in the same class as her and control myself? Walking in, I see her sitting in the back, digging through her bag. Before I know what’s happening, I’m standing in front of her desk. I mumble something about it being my seat. The internal battle I’m fighting with my wolf has my words coming out a little more hostile than I would’ve liked. I am mesmerized by full pink lips, the most elegant jawline, and a curtain of brown curls lining her perfect face. I speak to her, but I don’t really focus on what’s she’s saying because I need to leash the animal in my head.
I don’t even know what I’d do if she got up from her seat to move. I’d feel like a complete jackass. So instead, I clench my jaw before I say something stupid and drag my body to the desk next to her, plopping down loudly. I should sit in the other fucking corner, but I can’t make myself move further away. I hear absolutely nothing the teacher says during the rest of class. Emily is too distracting, maybe because she’s perfect in every way, even the way she chews her fucking pen. I’d volunteer to be that pen. After an excruciating forty minutes, the bell rings, and before I get a chance to attempt a conversation again, she’s up and sprinting out of the class.
Avoiding my parents for the rest of the evening was only doable if I stay in my room, so I make a quick escape up the stairs of the packhouse. Falling backward onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling, I see her face. I try closing my eyes, but the face of my destined mate still fills my mind. After about ten minutes, I feel a little bit more relaxed and drag myself into my shower. There’s a massive mirror lining the entire back wall giving it a large open feel and reflects the dark green tiles and brass finishes with a tiled bench to the side. It definitely came in handy when Mandy used to swing by, but now all I want to see in this mirror is my destined mate - possibly moaning my name in pure bliss. Standing under the hot water, I try and rain in my animalistic side. How long until her birthday? Until she realizes who I am to her? I’m not sure I’d be able to keep myself away from her for too long. I need to stop thinking about her now because my body responds immediately. Finishing the shower with cold water, I walk across my bedroom, enjoying the feel of the soft rug underneath my feet. Putting on a pair of boxer briefs, I get into bed and hope for at least a few hours of sleep tonight, knowing full well that won’t happen until I release some of the pent-up energy.
-
The week passes painfully slow, and I have trouble focusing in all my classes. The next full moon is less than two weeks from now, and until I shift, my wolf is challenging to control. The awakening is only half of the transformation. When I change from human to wolf form, which is the worst part, the transformation will be complete. Your bones break and change for the first time is not my idea of fun. But after the first shift, it usually goes quicker and becomes less painful every time. We also don’t need the full moon to change, only the initial shift. Changing whenever I need to will come in handy, especially in a fight.
Our wolf form is much stronger than our human form. Every time I catch Emily’s scent, he becomes restless, so I try to avoid her, but in AP English, that’s impossible. She found another place to sit the next day, and I wonder why. Not that I’m complaining. Hopefully, I’m less distracted now. Her new seat is in the front of the class, six rows away from me. Now I get to look at her from behind, chewing her pen or reaching down for something in her bag, hoping she’ll look back at me. Friday comes like a breath of fresh air. I’ve tried to speak to her at least four times, but she somehow evades me. For an Alpha wolf, I’m not doing very well. I’m supposed to lead a pack, but I can’t even speak to my destined mate. Hell, I can’t even get her to stay in the same classroom with me.
Luke has been giving me shit about it. He’s pushing my buttons because he knows I’m barely keeping my self-control intact. Asshole. Football practice presents the perfect opportunity to get rid of my frustrations. I can’t give it my all because I’ll break him. His wolf hasn’t awakened, so he isn’t at full strength yet, but he takes a tackle better than the other boys on the team. Every time he brings up Emily, I start talking about Jess. I happen to know he has a soft spot for her, even though his macho bravado refuses to acknowledge it. I see him sneakily stare at her at school.
For every mention of Emily’s name, I bring up Luke getting back to the packhouse in nothing but boxer briefs after leaving Jess’s house and then watching his cheeks flush pink. It serves him right for giving me grief. Two can play the game. She’s the only wolf I’ve seen put him in his place. He needs someone strong and confident because right now, he’s, for lack of a better word, a man-whore. I’m not a saint, but I’ve changed my ways. Granted, it changed recently but still changed. Mandy still comes up to me at school and flirts, but I don’t find her remotely as attractive as I did last week. Tomorrow is the bonfire, and I have this strange feeling that something is going to happen.
Chapter 6 – Weekend
EMILY
Jess phoned me Friday afternoon asking me about the bonfire on Saturday. For the last week, she’s been like a guardian angel, helping me find my classes, sitting with me at lunch. She even texted me a few times during the week. As for angsty Conner, his posture just goes stiff every time I come within a one-mile radius of him. It’s like my presence physically causes the man pain. I don’t get it, so I decided just to run away when I see him. I had the pleasure of meeting Mandy on Wednesday. She came to speak to Jess about the bonfire on Saturday and just straight-up ignored me. She didn’t even acknowledge my presence, not a nod, nothing.
All she talked about was wearing the shortest skirt that would make Conner regret his decision and take her back. So they broke up? Why I felt a little bit of relief, I have no idea. Sunday is my 18th birthday, so I guess Saturday doesn’t count as birthday celebrations exactly. I even told Jess I don’t want to celebrate it. I’m hoping the entire weekend passes just like any other. Apparently, that’s not how Jess celebrates birthdays and I’m regretting telling her about it. She did, however, seem just as serious as my aunt about getting home at eleven.
“Emily, you have to go. It’s social suicide not to...” I can basically hear her rolling her eyes at me on the other side of the phone.
“Plus, attractive male specimens go to the bonfire! Like, say yes! Pretty pretty, please...” I decide to end her pleading and agree.
“Sure, Jess, I guess I can go for a little bit...” I barely finished my sentence when I heard her squeal.
“Yes! Yes! Yes! I’m picking you up, and we are getting dressed together.” No...” That’s really okay, Jess. I’ll just put on a pair of jeans...”
“Girl, no! You are not putting on a pair of jeans that I bet doesn’t fit you. I have something you can borrow. Show off that body you’ve been hiding. See you tomorrow at five. Nobody gets there on time anyway and I promise I’ll have you home by eleven.” The phone clicks off before I have a chance to protest. I guess I’m having a birthday weekend after all.
Saturday came much quicker than I would’ve liked. I’m in the lounge and sitting with my Aunt and Uncle, waiting for Jess. It’s a very lazy Saturday, and the weather is overcast, so we have a little fire going and all of us are reading somethi
ng. My uncle the newspaper, my aunt a ridiculous gardening magazine and I’m fully absorbed in a romance. My aunts the first to break the silence.
“So honey, are you planning on wearing your sweatpants to a bonfire?” What is it with people and my choice of clothing?
“No, actually Jess offered to dress me, so I’m just heading to her house in these.” She smiles, and I make a mental note to take her up on the shopping for a new wardrobe offer. She’s been begging me to go since last month but public spaces still seemed way too intimidating. But now, seeing as I’m going to school, I can’t use that excuse anymore. My uncle finally pulls up his gaze from the newspaper he’s clutching.
“As long as you are home by eleven tonight., just remind Jess eleven. We still need to have a little chat before you go to bed.” My uncle seems lighthearted, but the way he spoke carried an undertone of seriousness. My aunt starts paging faster through her magazine, seeming a bit nervous. Odd.
“Yes, honey. Eleven on the dot. No later than that.” She’s forcing a smile, but I don’t question her as Jess just arrived and is honking outside.
“I will be back at eleven, promise. I already told Jess.” I get up and sling my bag over my shoulder.
“If she can’t bring you, just let us know, and we’ll come to fetch you.” I get it eleven. Sheesh.
“No, no, I’ll be home. Don’t worry.” I walk out the door towards the olive green Jeep with a blond smiling from the driver’s seat.
“Hey, Jess. Thanx for picking me up.” I jump into the passenger seat and get bombarded with some pop song blaring out the speakers way too loudly.
“Hey, girl. No problem. Let’s go make you all pretty.” She spins away, singing along to the song, and I can’t help but feel a tinge of jealousy. I wish I were that carefree. About 15 minutes later, we are further into the reserve than I’ve ever been, and a big white house appears in front of us. It’s beautiful and has the same design as my uncle’s with big windows, a stunning garden but just a lot more considerable large with expensive cars in the driveway. Why someone would have a sports car in a nature reserve, I have no idea. I’m suddenly very stressed to meet her parents, and my palms start sweating.