by Simone Elise
Did I?
***
“THEY HAVE IT!” I screamed while bouncing on my knees, watching the football fly through the goalposts. “SCORE!”
Chad and I did a quick high five, getting right into the game.
“I told you he had it.” Chad said, sitting up in the bed. “He never misses.”
“Please, he always does.” I sat on my heels, smiling at my brother as he shook his head at me. “It’s only halftime though. A lot more to go.”
We both glanced at the door as a fist tapped on the outside of it before it flung open.
Dad.
“Hey, DAD!” I smiled at him. He looked deep in thought as his head snapped up and his eyes met mine. To say he didn’t look pleased to see me was an understatement.
“Why are you in here?” he asked, while glancing between Chad and me. “Chad, I need to speak to you.”
“Nice. Hi to you too, Dad.” I rolled my eyes. “Do I have to leave?”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Chad and Dad answered at the same time. I raised an eyebrow at Dad. Why did I have to leave?
“Dad, come on, Chloe knows everything.” Chad sighed. “Come on, spit it out.”
“Yeah, spit it out.” I said, with a sly smile. Chad whacked the back of my head slightly and shot me a look that said “keep quiet.”
“There has been a change.” Dad shifted uncomfortably.
I clapped my hands together. “I love cubs! Who is it?”
Cubs were adorable when they first changed. It usually happened between the ages of five to seven. It really depends on the child. The first time is always scary, for the parents and the child. Which is why Dad is usually called to come and talk everyone through it.
“Um, actually two children changed.” Dad had his eyes locked with Chad’s now. “Half human boys.”
“Half human. Well, that is rare.” I frowned. “The parents will be a wreck.”
Half human cubs are always a bit harder to deal with. Their human side is weak. So often the wolf takes over and they end up staying cubs because they can’t change back. They lose their human side to the dominance of the wolf.
“They are.”
I glanced between Dad and Chad. Why was Chad’s face white with worry, and why was Dad’s furious?
“Am I missing something?” I asked openly. Dad looked at me, exhaling slowly and keeping his eyes leveled with mine.
“They are Xavier’s children.”
Oh, well that changed everything, for me
Xavier
Sitting in my chair in the empty classroom, I rubbed each of my temples. She was back. Closing my eyes tightly, how the hell was I going to keep myself from killing that little boy for touching my mate?
Groaning, I opened my eyes and pushed myself up from my seat. I had to keep my cool. I walked to the classroom window and looked across the deserted schoolyard. I had to keep myself together. I couldn’t explode in the classroom and kill her ‘friend.’
After class I would speak to her. But in the meantime I just had to keep myself calm. I would make her listen to my reasons for denying her. I didn’t care if she didn’t want to hear them. I needed to tell her and this time her brother wouldn’t be around to stop me.
The last few weeks had been...painful? That word didn’t describe the hurt I had felt being away from her. Nor did it cover the pain I felt when our connection weakened for just a moment.
My hands curled into tight fists as I remembered that night. I would never let that happen again. I was getting her back, whether she came screaming or not. I would face my past so I could live my future with her.
“Xavier?”
Mr. Woods, Owen, walked in with his easygoing look. I swear that man didn’t know the meaning of stress.
“Owen, what’s up?” I unclenched my fists and moved in the direction of my desk.
“Just came to let you know the details about the camp, and to give you the permission slips.” Owen waved a stack of papers in his hand before placing them on my desk.
Right, the camp. Sighing, I leaned against the edge of my desk and entered a semi-friendly conversation with Owen. The best part about talking with Owen was you only needed to nod your head here and there and smile.
My mouth moved, giving the appropriate responses to his words, while my mind ran over the idea of the camp.
A full week with Chloe, and another twenty-plus students, but she would be there. I groaned as I heard the first bell signaling the beginning of the school day. Any minute Chloe would come.
I crossed my arms and put on a calm face as I spoke with Owen. I could feel her approaching. That relieved me, because if I could pick up on her, that meant not too much damage or separation had taken place.
I still had time to fix it.
“Chloe, Daniel. Nice to see you both.”
I shot her a smile before snapping my eyes back to Owen. That was calm. It sounded neutral. It didn’t sound like I had barely survived her being away. My and Owen’s conversation continued to flow, but my every sense was focused on Chloe as she took a seat.
Why was he holding her hand? Were they together now?
Don’t think it. Don’t think it. Don’t think it. I continued to chant this to myself. It stopped me from flinging that boy across the room, through the window, possibly breaking his neck in the process.
Did he not have his own mate to stalk?
The next bell echoed through the room. Well, it was showtime now. I nodded my head at Owen as he prepared to leave.
It was showtime. I just had to stay neutral. Just for now. But I knew one thing, as I avoided her eyes once more, and looked at the smiling students in front of me.
I wasn’t letting her leave again. Not without me anyway.
***
“Xavier, do you know how big this school is?”
My eyes widened as I watched Emily walk through my classroom door. What the hell was she doing here? Had Chloe seen her? Who the hell let her in anyway?
“What are you doing here?”
“Well, don’t hide your happiness to see me.” She crossed her arms and shook her head. “I thought you were out of your snappy mood.”
Closing my eyes, I suppressed my anger. It was true I had been, well, Emily called it snappy, since Chloe left. But she was back now. Though I still felt like I was on withdrawal from her.
“Sorry.” I pushed myself up from my seat. “What’s wrong? Why are you here?” My voice was soft and she seemed pleased by the sudden change.
“It’s Nathan and Charlie. They both are sick. Well, not sick, but I don’t know.”
“What do you mean?” I frowned while watching her face twist with concern for our children.
“They both have fevers, but don’t have a cold. It’s like they have a really bad headache or something. Anyway I got them an appointment at the doctor, but you have the health insurance card.”
Fever. They both had a fever. They couldn’t be…damn.
“Xavier, can I have it? They are in the car and the appointment is in ten minutes.” Emily put her hand out.
“I’ll come.”
“Don’t you have class?” She raised an eyebrow. “It’s only a fever.”
“Our kids are more important.” I peeled my jacket from my chair and ignored her confused expression. “Come on.”
I had to see the kids for myself, see if they were the symptoms of what I thought they were. They didn’t need a doctor. They needed me and I needed serious help.
Closing the classroom door and locking it, I suddenly began to feel the dread. I had hoped this day wouldn’t come. But now all my nightmares were coming true. Emily was about to find out I was a monster, that her sons were monsters.
Clenching my fists, I hoped it was a normal fever. Oh please god, don’t let it be the beginning of a change. I didn’t want my sons to have this future. I had given them the worst gift possible, an
d that gift wasn’t just becoming a werewolf.
Chapter 15
“Chloe, you should stay in the car.” Chad frowned as I slammed the car door and shook my head.
“Not a chance, Chad. I already told both you and Dad.” I walked up the garden path behind them. The tension in the air was thick and we weren’t even in the house yet. Coming to a stop at the front door, Dad turned around to face me.
“If I tell you to leave, Chloe, you leave.” His face was serious. “Understand?”
I nodded my head and crossed my arms at the same time. “I know.”
He nodded his head once and then opened their front door, without knocking. I arched an eyebrow at his boldness, but didn’t dwell on it as the door swung open. The house was in silence and darkness.
The smell of fresh salty tears met my nose. Someone was crying. But the more dominant smell in the air was the two new scents. Cubs.
“Xavier?” My dad called out. The sniffling and whimpering caught my attention and I walked in the direction of the living room, leaving them in the foyer.
“Hello?”
My eyes adjusted to the dark room and I spotted Emily sitting in an armchair, crying. Walking through the room, I sat across from her. I saw her human eyes studying mine for a few moments.
“What are you doing here?” Her voice was low and dry. She had been crying for a while.
“I came to help.” I inhaled slowly and reached out and placed a hand on her knee. She didn’t flinch away from it.
“You’re one too?” She sniffed and pulled herself up in the chair. “A monster?”
Offended was what I felt when she said that word. A monster was something I was not, something none of us were.
“No, I’m not a monster.” I shifted to the edge of the seat. “You know that.”
“It was horrible.” Her eyes showed sheer horror. “The cracking of their bones, the fur and then the screams.”
“It isn’t pleasant, the first change. Where are they?”
“Hidden in their bedroom. Xavier can’t get in.” Emily tucked her feet under her. “Xavier won’t let me go near them.”
“That’s for the best.” I muttered and got up from my seat. “Just try, Emily, to not bite his head off. Give him time to explain, ok?”
“Where are you going?” She looked uneasy as I got up to walk away.
“To see your boys.” I shot her a smile. “Just stay here, ok?”
She nodded her head and I walked away. I should get an award for being that nice. I sighed softly as I walked through their house. It was scary for her.
“Why can’t we get in?” Chad’s voice was low as he spoke.
I rounded the corner. Chad and Dad were standing. Xavier was sitting on the ground with his knees up, glaring across the hall.
“Because every time I open the door, they attack.” Xavier muttered. “I don’t want to hurt them.”
“Is it a full change?” Dad asked Xavier, and Xavier nodded his head.
“From the flashes of fur, I would say yes. But I can’t be sure.” Xavier ran a hand through his hair. “That’s why I called. I can’t get near them to talk to them, to explain what they have to do.”
“Maybe I should try?”
All eyes snapped to me and Xavier’s mouth dropped slightly open. Had he not smelt me here?
“The boys know me. They don’t know either of you two and Xavier has already failed.” I tied my hair up, so the boys would be able to see my face clearly.
“You haven’t talked through a change before.” Chad frowned, not liking the idea.
“Last time I checked, you guys will be on the other side of the door.” I arched an eyebrow. “I’m sure I will be fine.”
Dad nodded his head. “Alright, Chloe. Remember, go slow.”
I nodded my head and wrapped a hand around the doorknob. My hand was instantly covered by a larger one.
“Thank you.” Xavier’s eyes were soft and he was standing dangerously close to me.
“I haven’t done anything yet.” I pointed out and steadied my breathing.
“You’re here.”
I nodded my head and he removed his hand. I understood what he meant. I had come. I had cared enough to come.
Twisting the doorknob and slipping through a small crack, I closed the door quickly behind me, and found myself in the darkness of the room.
“Charlie? Nathan?”
My eyes adjusted to the lack of light. The room was a mess. Furniture hurled on its side, fabric torn in pieces everywhere. Taking in the amount of ruined toys, I would say it was one of their rooms.
“Boys?”
Well, this was something. They weren’t charging at me like they had Xavier. I bit my lower lip. This had to be a good sign.
My eyes drifted over the ruined room and then locked onto a pair of yellow little ones, looking at me from under the bed.
Lowering myself to my knees, I locked eyes with the yellow ones.
“Charlie? Or is it you, Nathan?”
The little eyes gave no sign of an answer. But a second pair then opened beside them. Both boys accounted for.
“Do you guys want to come out?”
They didn’t move. Ok, Chloe. I thought back to my first change. It was awful. But at least I expected mine. They hadn’t expected theirs.
“Do you guys want to know something cool?”
No reaction.
“I’m a wolf too.”
Both eyes widened slightly. Good sign. Their wolf didn’t have complete control.
“Would you like me to show you?”
No reaction.
Sighing, I got to my feet and moved slightly out of their view. Not taking my clothes off, they ripped and fell to pieces as I changed. Arching my back, I walked around to see the pairs of eyes again.
This time, both pairs were alive with wonder and relief. Now they knew they weren’t the only ones. I shook my small wolf head and smiled a wolf grin at them. I wasn’t sure what it looked like, but I hoped it was reassuring.
Parading to the side and scooping up a bed sheet in my mouth, I changed back, wrapping the sheet around me and tugging the side in under my armpit.
The boys didn’t need to see me naked.
Walking back and lowering myself near the bed, I said, “Please come out?” I looked into each pair of eyes for a moment before walking a few paces from the bed and lowering myself to my knees.
Just keep calm, Chloe. If you are calm they will feel it. I reached out both hands in their direction. “Come on, guys.”
Slowly one pair of eyes came closer. I noticed the little paws come out from under the bed. He slowly dragged his body across the ground, until he was free and stood up on his little legs.
Cubs are adorable. I smiled gently at the little black wolf and gestured with both hands for him to come closer. I was relieved when he did.
I ran a hand across the top of his head and then I was on my back as he tackled me as if he were giving me a hug. I laughed as his little tongue ran along the side of my face.
Pushing his head away, I pulled myself up and crossed my legs. His little head fell on my lap and I ran a hand through his fur. I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. The other little cub was now slowly sliding across the ground in my direction. His fur was of a lighter black, with brown parts mixed in.
Gee, cubs are adorable, I gestured to him and he quickly made his way to me. He dropped his body next to mine and placed his head on my lap next to his brother’s, well more on it.
I ran my fingers through their fur and stayed relaxed.
“So you guys have had a busy day.” My fingers ran down their backs, getting lost in their fur. “I know this is scary.”
I stopped for a moment. I had to consider my words carefully.
“But you aren’t alone and it is really important you guys listen to me now.”
Sighing, I stopped touching both of them. Their litt
le heads snapped up and their eyes homed in on my face.
“I need you guys to focus on a happy memory.” I repeated the words that my father said to me all those years ago. “And then I need you to close your eyes.”
“And I will close mine too. So that way you boys have your privacy.” I shut my eyes tightly. Please let them listen to me.
Nerves ripped through my blood. This was the most nerve-wracking thing I had ever done. I inhaled a deep intake of their scents. Something was mixed in their scent. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something else lingered with their scent. Something that shouldn’t be there. I couldn’t pin point what it was.
“Happy memory, guys. Just focus on it. Just think about how it made you feel.”
My eyes were closed and I placed my hands behind me, not touching them. I didn’t want to put them off.
Minutes passed. When I felt the fur lift from my lap, I smiled. They had listened. The cracking of bones, the disappearance of panting, I was so proud of them.
“YOU’RE NAKED!”
I smiled hearing Charlie’s voice, and the horror in it.
“SO ARE YOU!” Nathan shouted back. Then I heard them both running off in different directions. I couldn’t hide my smile, but kept my eyes closed. I heard them changing and their little feet stamping along the wooden floor as they did.
“Choc, are we freaks now?”
Opening my eyes, I saw Charlie and Nathan both standing in front of me, dressed and with sad expressions on their faces. The fear in their eyes sent shivers of protection through my blood. I didn’t want them to feel sad, unhappy or scared.
“No.” I engulfed both of them in a tight hug. “No, not at all.”
“Mom screamed at us.” Nathan whispered into my shoulder and I felt Charlie nod his head against my other shoulder.
“That’s only because she was scared. She isn’t like us.”
“She isn’t a freak.” Charlie’s voice was muffled as he spoke into my shoulder. My grip around them tightened.
“She is human. We’re not. But we aren’t freaks. Stop using that word.”
“Is Dad like us?” Charlie shifted his little hand and wrapped it around my back as he spoke.
“Xavier!” I called out, not loudly because I knew he would be listening. He needed to take control now. He needed to explain this to his children.