by Lecia Bester
“So my parents aren’t here. They have a meeting at the Pack Hou... I mean at the office, so we get to have the whole place to ourselves.” She leads me up a grand staircase and into her room. I do a double-take.
“So welcome to my room. The shower is through there and get your butt in it. Use the shampoo and conditioner because we are taming that mess on your head tonight.” I laugh at her and walk over a beige carpet past a massive bed with white bedding and into a glorious bathroom. Gold finishes and white towels line the walls with a walk-in shower and a bath that has jets on all sides.
For a moment, I stare, but eventually, I get into the shower. Using the shampoo, as Jess said, citrus scents invade my nostrils. I’m going to smell like a botanical garden tonight. I step out of the shower tightening one of the fluffy white towels around my head and body. I find Jess already dressed in a short dark green dress with long sleeves. It hugs her body like a glove, waiting for me like a lioness waits for its prey. Black stockings and knee-high black boots complete her outfit choice. Her blond hair pulled into a high ponytail, and an oversized black wool scarf wrapped around her neck. She looks like she just stepped out of a fashion magazine with perfect makeup. I’m starting to regret letting her dress me.
“Jess, you look stunning.” Starting to feel a little nervous about what she has planned for me.
“Oh, I know but thank you anyway. Now it’s your turn.” Jess claps her hands together with a massive grin on her face. Oh no...
Chapter 8 - Bonfire
CONNOR
“Dude, tonight soo many hot chicks are going to be there. I think Jess might actually give me a shot again if I don’t screw it up like last time.” I’m driving us to the bonfire in my black Jeep, and all I can think about is whether or not Emily will be there. Luke blabbering on about Jess is like white noise. I’d asked my father about her. He was very tight-lipped, giving me vague answers. What happened to me stepping into my alpha role?
“Yeah, man, you know I’m not about hot chicks anymore. I’m serious; I met my destined mate.” Luke isn’t 18 yet, so his wolf is still dormant. I’m sure when he meets his destined mate, he’ll calm down. Or not, the man looks like a lifelike Ken doll. He could be the next Hugh Hefner if he wanted to be.
“Jess won’t even give you half a shot, bro. She may be a petite blond, but that she-wolf is too feisty for even you.” I give a little chuckle. Jess is part of my pack, and her mom and dad are on the council. Just my luck that she chooses to befriend Emily. Any wolf that joins our pack meets the alpha and puts down an oath to be loyal to the new pack, but Emily hasn’t been called to do so. I’d definitely know if she puts a foot in the packhouse. When I asked my father, he just said it’s unique circumstances. I’d hope when I told him I think she’s my destined mate, he’d give me some information, but it didn’t work.
“She’s given me a shot before bro. “He grins a lob-sided grin. Idiot.
We pull into the open field and it’s already packed with people. You can spot the wolves that are from my pack. They have less clothing on, while the humans are all dressed in multiple layers to shield them from the cold. A massive fire is in the middle, with tables and benches placed around it. About three tables with drinks and beer kegs are near the back tree line, and lanterns provide more light. Music is playing from the back of a car.
Some of our friends from school greet us, placing cups of beer in our hands. Luke and I stand to the side, watching everyone get progressively drunk. A few couples sneak off to the woods, and the sun starts filtering out through the trees. She’s not coming. Luke punches me on the shoulder, enough to just throw me off balance and snap me out of the disappointment I was drowning in a few seconds ago.
“The fuck, dude, I almost spilled my beer.” I glare at him.
“Jess just pulled in; maybe Emily’s with her.” He’s wiggling his eyebrows at me. I smell her before I see her. The lavender is mixed with fresh citrus-like she just washed her hair or something. I just give Luke the eyeball, sending him a silent signal that he needs to tone down his voice. He immediately clamps his mouth shut.
I’m staring across the field at the green Jeep, tension building inside me and my wolf starts getting restless again. I see her rich brown curls first as she walks around the car. My breath hitching in my throat, she turns around and smiles at Jess. I swear my heart rate kicked up a notch. Luke probably noticed and snorted next to me. I will beat him with a stick. Her smile seems a little forced and doesn’t quite reach its full potential.
Usually, she has her hair in a messy bun-thing on top of her head. Tonight it’s tamed and hanging down to her waist. A waist that’s exposed, not entirely, just a tiny bit of skin showing, more than enough to make me want to wrap her in a carpet so that nobody else can look at her. She’s wearing a black long-sleeve polo-neck and the rest of her fitted in a skin-tight black denim with black boots. The pants could’ve been painted on her body, they were that tight. While taking her in, the other part of my brain wants to sprint across the field and cover her up before other guys start to see her.
Digging my heels into the ground as a means of stopping myself from going protective stalker on her, I settle for folding my arms and watching her from a distance. I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t appreciate being covered and hauled away. The sun was setting, and the light warmed her face, giving it a dreamlike glow. A breeze came through the field, blowing her hair across her face. She laughed at something Jess said while flicking a stray hair away. I’m not the only one staring and Luke senses the sudden change in my mood. Clenching my fists, a low growl escaped me. I’m ready to walk up to the first guy staring at her and remove his eyeballs from their sockets. Luke stops me by putting a hand on my shoulder.
“Connor now is not the place. Take a deep breath and try to calm down.” Luke was right. Making a scene will not go down well with my father.
My future Beta is trying to do his job and keep me calm. I’m still ready to punch a wall, but I have control of it now. Looking back and see her scan the field, her eyes briefly meet mine and for a moment, I thought I saw the realization that we are destined mates dawn on her. She quickly looks away, blushing. Guess not. A few hours later and ten beers in, I’m relaxed. I handle my liquor a lot better than a human, so I’m nowhere near drunk but I am a little warmed up.
Watching Emily and Jess do the rounds became my activity of choice, right after filling and emptying the cup in my hand. Luke, who usually has a bunch of girls surrounding him, is at my side trying to make sure I don’t do anything reckless. So far, so good. I take a sip of beer, emptying my cup again. I signal by lifting my cup and tipping it over at Luke that I’m getting another.
“Even me. Mines has been empty for like 10 minutes.” He walks over to the table with me and starts filling our cups from the keg standing next to it. Someone’s arm snakes around my torso, and I feel lips pressed to my neck. It’s not Emily, that’s for sure. Mandy whispers into my ear.
“Hey, handsome. You miss me yet?” I remove her arm from my body a bit more forcefully than I should’ve bit the feeling of her on me is nauseating. She loses her balance a little. The girl is drunk, clearly. She’s swaying from side to side and the uneven ground of the field is not helping. I’m looking at her, like really looking, trying to find what was so attractive about her. Blond hair that’s straightened to the point it hangs like rods, too much makeup, and her clothing leaves nothing to the imagination. She’s still pretty but trying too hard.
“Mandy, we aren’t doing this anymore.” I keep her hands from reaching back to me. She’s not having it and somehow passes my defenses, planting her mouth on me. I taste vodka and cigarettes. I use to tolerate it, but right now, I just want her off me. I don’t want to be an asshole, but I push her away as gently as possible. Looking past her face, I see Jess and Emily standing on the other side of the table filling their cups, looking straight at us. Shit.
Chapter 9 - Awakening
EMILY
I’m
watching Mandy attach herself to Conner, and out of nowhere, I have the urge to pull her off him. Where did that come from? I clear my throat more audibly than I intended and turn my attention back to Jess. Focus on Jess.
“I told you Mandy was all over that boy. Not that he seems into her anymore. I heard he broke it off but apparently not...” Jess has been by my side this whole night, introducing me to people. Re-introducing me to some of them because they couldn’t believe it’s me. Some boys wanted to speak to her privately, but she just waved them off, saying, “she’s with her girl tonight.” I appreciated it, to be honest. I would’ve been sitting in the corner or walking alone in the woods if it wasn’t for her. She lightly touches my elbow and whispers something to me. I need to move away from the situation before I do something idiotic.
“Let's go and give them space." We are about to turn, but Conner's friend stops us. Luke, I think, is his name. The man is attractive. It doesn't hold a candle next to Connor, but his blond hair and dimples definitely don't hurt.
"Hey, girls. Where are you off to so quickly?" The man is tall and well built. That seems to be a thing and he's staring right at Jess. Guessing by girls, he meant Jess. Jess's whole demeanor changes in response. A bitch face dropping over the otherwise warm and friendly face like a curtain.
"Luke, just let us go before I waste this delicious beer on you." Jess tries to sidestep him, but he's too quick. She throws a lighthearted insult towards him. He retaliates with a dimpled smile. They continue like that for about minutes, and I start realizing I'll get whiplash if I continue to try and follow their banter. Unsure of what to do for the first time tonight, I feel a little bit tired and decide it's probably time to go home.
It's been a few hours, and I don't have a watch on me. Reaching for my phone in my back pocket to check the time, I find nothing. I start patting myself down like I'm at a security station in the airport. Don't panic. Nothing. Shit...PANIC. I must've put it in the jacket that I left in the Jeep. Trying to get Jess's attention right now would be futile. She's too engaged with the blond boy in front of her.
"Jess, I'm just gonna head back to the car and look for my phone." She barely acknowledges me but nods. I turn around, looking for the direction of the car. I think I see it, but everyone in this friken place drives a Jeep. I feel the warmth of a body stand behind me. Heat radiating from him and the hair on the back of my neck prickles. I know who it is even before he speaks. Connors's voice vibrates right through me.
"You want me to walk with you to the car?"
I lost my voice. I also lost the ability to string a sentence together apparently. Finally, after what felt like a century, I put one together.
"No, think I got it, but thanks." I should walk away now, but my body refuses to move. Great, I'm a paralyzed idiot with a speech impediment. Connor places his hand on my lower back, his fingers lightly brushing my exposed skin. The tingling sensation erupts all over my body. I suck in a breath from the contact.
"I know where you parked. Let's go." I'm moving forward because he's moving us. I feel the urge to make it clear that I'm not drunk and perfectly capable of finding the car, but nothing comes out. My heart is hammering in my chest and the cold winter weather is starting to feel like the middle of summer in a desert. What is this boy doing to me? Minutes later, I'm in front of Jess's Jeep and see the jacket on the back seat with my phone on top of it. I sigh with relief.
"Thanks for walking me over. I just need to phone my aunt to come to fetch me. It's getting late." Conner is leaning on the side of the car, arms folded over his chest, looking at me. Actually, staring at me with a clenched jaw. Like my presence pains him.
"Why leave now? It's midnight in ten minutes. You'll miss the fireworks."
"Fireworks? Oh wow." Wait, shit... ten minutes to midnight. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Conner realizes that I'm panicking about something. I grabbed my phone and missed calls flash across my screen along with text asking me where I am. I'm so screwed.
"What's wrong?" Connor seems genuinely worried.
"I should've been home at eleven. My aunt and uncle wanted me home by eleven and I just lost track of time. I'll just call them to fetch me. Jess seems a little preoccupied right now." Glancing over his shoulder, we both look at Jess and the blond boy eating each other's faces off.
"If you wait another few minutes, I'll take you home." This boy is so attractive it hurts me to even look at him, and as much as I want to run away from him, I also want to run towards him. I figured few minutes couldn't hurt. I'm already fucked anyway. I might as well see fireworks before I'm grounded for life.
"You sure? Mandy won't mind?" He furrows his brows and looks even more pained.
"She won't mind. If she did, I wouldn't care." Bit cold if you ask me but I’m more than happy with that reply.
"Alright then, I appreciate it." What? Am I actually agreeing to get into his car, have I no sense of self-preservation?
"I'm parked right there. We can sit on the hood of my Jeep, watch the fireworks and leave immediately after." He nods his head towards his car. Does everyone in this town drive a Jeep? I just start walking in that direction rather than tell him it's okay. It's not like the man is chatty anyway. I leave the jacket because it's Jess's and I'm really not cold. Stopping at the hood of his Jeep, I quickly get up and sit on the front bar. He regards me before sitting next to me.
"Why are you blushing?" I immediately turn my face and bring a palm up to my warm cheek.
"I'm not. I'm just really hot right now." I’m really hot? Are you friggin kidding me?
"It's basically winter, and you aren't wearing your jacket..." Connor says this as a statement, and I'm feeling hotter by the minute. A small bead of sweat runs down my forehead. I try to ignore the discomfort.
"Neither are you, by the way." He just nods and sits next to me on the hood. Too close if you ask me. I'm already hot, and his body heat is starting to make it unbearable. We sit in silence. The longer we sit, the warmer it gets. I roll up my sleeves, but it doesn't work, so I start pulling at the jersey's collar. I feel a dull headache start and press the palm of my hand to my forehead, letting out a small groan. Conner's hand is on my shoulder, and before I realize what I'm doing, I push it off and put my head in my hands. The headache is becoming a sharp pain and the noise of fireworks going off threatens to burst my eardrums.
"Emily, what's wrong? What's Happening. Speak to me." His tone gives away the worry, but then he's silent. I hear him take a slow breath.
"Emily, when is your 18th birthday?"
Chapter 10 - Meeting my wolf
EMILY
Conner crouched next to me on the ground where I was ready to take a fetal position. The headache felt like it was going to split my skull in half. He rested his hand on my back, and I shook it off; I’m hot enough as it is.
"Don't touch me." I have no idea where that aggression came from, but Connor lifts his palms up in defense, slightly moving backward.
"I need to get you out of here, Emily." Getting up from the ground right now seems like an impossible task, and I groan in response. What's happening... I feel myself fading in and out of consciousness. I vaguely realize being picked up from the floor a few moments later and when I open my eyes, I'm in a car looking at trees passing me. Turning to my left, I see Conner with his hand clenched on the steering wheel, then darkness again...
Wake up. Wake up, Emily. Goodness, wake up, woman!
Abruptly I open my eyes, trying to find out who's screaming at me, but I don't see anybody. I don't even recognize the room. I stare up at the white ceiling, the bed lamp next to me casting a shadow. It's still night when I look out the window.
Finally, it took you long enough.
It's a female voice talking to me. I sit up in the bed, looking around, trying to figure out who's speaking. "Hello? Who are you? Where are you?".
I'm Cymera. I'm happy we finally get to meet.
I'm officially losing it. All the events in the last year finally caught up to me, a
nd I had a mental breakdown.
No, you didn't. You are stronger than you think, especially now that I'm here to help you.
Fine, I'll indulge in this temporary insanity and answer the voice in my head.
"Who are you exactly, and what do you mean we?" I'm also probably still asleep or passed out at the bonfire. Maybe the headache was a brain bleed, and I'm now comatose in some hospital.
I'm your wolf, of course, and yes, we are one in the same being. We share this body and this mind. We can communicate with thought. You don't need to talk.
"Wolf? As in canine? I'm so lost. This is the strangest dream I've ever had." I'm so involved with the discussion in my head that I forgot I'm in a stranger's bedroom. It’s a lovely bedroom though, and this bed is big enough for three people. I'm still dressed in Jess's clothing, minus a jacket and boots. That's a relief. The voice in my head answers me.
Yes, your wolf and we are safe. I sense no danger near Emily. I am aware that you haven't been educated in our customs, so I’ll try and help you adjust the best I can.
"Shift? Gift? Whoa. Wait just a little bit." I say this much louder than I intended too and the bedroom door is thrown open. Conner is standing in the doorway, looking at me with a concerned expression. I'm fully dressed, but my first reaction is to pull the covers up. The moment I lock eyes with him, the voice in my head, or Cymera starts speaking again.
Mate! We've found our mate!!
I repeat the word mate out loud. What does that mean? The second I said it, I see Conner nod his head, looking directly at me. The color of his eyes turned hazel for a moment.
"Conner, what is going on? Why is a voice in my head yelling the word mate? Also, where am I?" The questions pour out of me like a volcano that just erupted—spewing questions everywhere. When I finish, I take in a deep breath waiting for Conner to reply. He takes a moment, probably figuring out which of my million questions to answer first. I didn't ask him why I feel the urge to jump his bones right now. I thought it might not be the best time.