Adria
A gush of warm air sweep across on my face, causing me to wake up. I shiver, goosebumps rushed throughout my body when I realized I had fallen asleep without a sweater, and the bus had been set to an unbelievably cold temperature.
A strong cologne suffocated my nose. I was laying on something hard, when I breathe I felt confined. My head throbs against the hard surface I was laying on.
Slowly, I look up and see Nathan peacefully sleeping. A little drool was sliding down one corner of his mouth.
My eyes widened
How did I get here?
I tried to wiggle out of his grasp, but he had a tight hold on me. I didn't want to wake him up because I know how awkward it would be.
Well awkward for me anyway.
I continued to wiggle, but his hands wouldn't budge.
"This is too painful to watch" a husky voice said behind me.
I suddenly felt Nathans grip loosen around me followed by his hands falling to his side.
I pushed myself up off his chest, as the person behind me brought both hands to my hips, guiding me up, slightly picking me up in the process.
I tilt my head up and see James, his eyes already looking down at me.
"Um, thank you" I say as my feet come in contact with the floor. I give Nathan a quick once over just to make sure he was still asleep, then I looked back at James "H- how did I end up like that?"
James cleared his throat and looked away "Nathan thought that you looked uncomfortable, so he picked you up and began to cradle you." He lifted his hand and scratched the back of his head "It was a little too much if you ask me."
"Yes it was" I mumbled.
I began to look around the bus. Even though it was already dark, people might have seen Nathan's display of affection. They might even come up with their own conclusions to what actually happen.
"Did anybody see?" I asked quietly. Not really knowing why I was embarrassed, Nathan use to always hold me like that. Nathan's way to show affection is through physical touch, so I thought nothing of it...But now it just feels, weird, uncomfortable even. We've grown out of our adolescence phase, now people might see that and think we are involved.
"No" James finally answered, "I made sure that they stayed in their seats."
I gave him a small smile and looked away.
"Yet again, I did fall asleep for most of the ride. Someone could have slipped by."
I began to panic, mentally praying that the annoying girl from earlier didn't happen to walk by, or I would get an ear-full tomorrow.
"I'm kidding Adria" James said, while he placed a few strands of hair behind my ear. "Its dark, so even if they did happen to walk by, they couldn't have seen anything." I think he noticed the panic and embarrassment that my face displayed.
"Jezz you scared me" I said, placing my hand over my heart. It was beating so fast I felt it hammer against my hand. "I was literally so close to getting a heart attack" I playfully punch his arm.
I turn to look around the bus for an open seat, since the one I had was now being used by a huge, slobbery Nathen. His legs hung out the chair, and laid along the aisle of the buss. His arms dangled over one edge of the seat as his head was bent to the side. How he was fast asleep, was beyond me.
To my luck, all the seats are taken.
I sighed knowing full well I had to sit next to Nathan for the next few hours. I began to move towards him, but was held back by James's hand clutching my wrist.
"Your not really thinking about sitting back down with him right?" James asked while lifting an eyebrow.
I looked up at him with the same expression he was using "um, yes. Besides there is no other open set."
He looks around, then back at me "have you asked or even thought about asking anyone to sit with them?"
Oh, well that's not a bad idea.
"No" I paused "but I don't think anyone here is in the mood to share there space with me" I can hear people snoring loudly. Their snores almost synchronizing, meaning almost all of them had to be asleep. "Alpha is asleep," I pointed out "lily is laying across her chair, and the chair where Nathan was is now piled with duffle bags and suitcases."
He nodded "yes I can see that, but..."
"But?" I repeated.
"I'm awake, have enough space on my chair and willing to share. But, you haven't asked me" He leaned in, closing the little gap we had between us. "Do you by any chance not like me Ms. Dovling?"
My brain went completely blank
Wait what?
"Uh, no thats not it at all. I didn't think you were the sharing type" I say honestly.
"I'm not" he eyed me from head to toe, giving me muddled thoughts. "But seeing how there is no where for you to go, I don't mind."
He moved to the side allowing me to sit down first close to the window, taking his seat swiftly after me.
I looked out the window at the beautiful outline of the mountains and pine trees as we drove by them. I closed my eyes, taking in a puff of fresh air. Inhaling the sharp limonene, sweet, and refreshing smell of the trees.
"Where are we going" I ask James, still with my eyes closed.
"It's a small city in Arizona, named Sedona. I should have told you sooner, I keep forgetting this is your first time" his voice sounding apologetic. "I think you will like it."
I've heard of Sedona. Their burnt orange mountains, random water sights and their vast evergreen vegetation. Maybe the only part of Arizona that's not a complete desert.
"I bet it's beautiful" I say already imagining running in the woods full of pine trees.
"It is, that's why we go back every year. We seem to like the privacy it provides."
We stay quiet for a few minutes, hearing the snores begin to die down. Sitting next to him didn't feel awkward, although we were quiet, it was comforting. His silence gave me ease, as if our silence were the unspoken words between us.
From the corner of my eye I see James rest his head against the chair and crossed his hands in front of his chest, closing his eyes seconds after. Even though he was resting, his body was still tense, so I knew he was only pretending.
"Beta?" I said, almost sounding like a whisper "What do you do for a living?" Even though I had no right to know about his life, I was curious.
"Hmm?" James said still with his eyes closed, sounding a little confused by my question.
"Well, you're a Beta of course. But how about after? When your Beta duties are done, do you have other stuff that keeps you busy?"
He opens his eyes and turns his head to look at me. He stared at me for a few seconds studying my face. Then turned away and laughed.
"Did I say something humorous, Beta James?" I say raising my eyebrows.
"No, no" he continued to laugh "If I answer, what do I get in return? It's only fair that I get something, if I'm answering a private question. "
I thought about it for a minute.
"Private? Other people must know this question" I say a little stunned how even a basic question is opening a door into his life, but he shook his head. I sighed "ok fine, ask me a question in return" I turn my body towards him and smile, waiting patiently for his response.
He looked at me for a while, then turned his body to face me "fine, but for starters call me James."
I nod.
"Now the only people that know this is Adam, and my parents." I nod again not wanting to interrupt him. "I own a few small business in and around summit county. One of them is a family business passed down to me by my father, and the rest well, I opened up on my own." His voice sounding full of pride.
I've got to admit, his life out side of the pack is quite impressive. Not many wolves get the luxury to go to college, but the ones who do, I can say adamantly they don't take it for granted.
I was a little confused as to why something like this should be kept hidden.
"Most of the people in our pack think my parents own it all" he comments reading my confused look. "People didn't take my jump in rank well. They think that my parents money had something to do with getting me here, and if it did, well I didn't know. It's not like I had much of a choice in the matter either." He signed "so now I keep my life private. No one tells me anything because they don't know anything."
I bob my head in agreement "People can be such an ass sometimes."
James laughs "that they can be."
A few minutes had passed and realized he hasn't asked his question. I turned to look at him "so what's your question for me?"
James smiles "We have all day tomorrow Adria, now rest."
***
Some time had past and I knew he was asleep. His lips slightly parted, allowing more heavy breathing to leave his chest.
The bus starts to rock back and forth as we pass over a bumpy road, causing everyone in the bus to rock with it.
Before I know it James starts to slide on the seat, slowly landing on me. His once crossed arms fall apart landing on my thigh as his head lands on my shoulder. I was about to push him off but he began to settle his face into my neck. His warm breath hits the crook of my neck, making the little hairs on my back stand on end and my stomach tighten.
'focus' I told myself. 'Don't let this attractive specimen distraction you.'
I began to push him off and just when I had a good grip on him, James pulls him self closer to me. Resting his head back down on my neck.
"Adria" he mumbles with his eyes still closed.
James The sun hits my eyes causing me to flinch in my sleep. I push my face up, coming in contact with a smooth fresh texture, while I try to shield my face from the rays of the sun. The sweet smell of a floral perfume hits my nose as something was pulsing against it. Pulsing? I open my eyes and look up, gasping in surprise. My God, I was laying on Adria. To be more persist I was laying on her chest with the point of my nose touching her neck. For a quick moment I was absolutely starstruck. Her hair is laying over her shoulders and down her back. Her eyes are closed, allowing her long eyelashes to lay over a few freckles that passed under her eyes and the bridge of her nose. The way my face was angled I can see a light brown birth mark on her top lip, shaped like a tiny heart or a misshaped circle. It's too small and light to make out the shape. My neck was hurting, due to the very bad position I've been sleeping in, but I don't care. Any small movement can wake her, thats a ri
James After Adria and Daisy had their little 'met and greet'. Nathan agreed to show our new members around. When I said I would come along, Daisy insisted on showing us the camp site herself since in her opinion 'she is the more qualified to do so'. "So to your right you will see the training ground." Daisy pointed to her right "there you will find all the weapons and training equipment you will need throughout the duration of your camp stay." We watched for a few minutes as two teenagers from different packs practiced their fighting techniques against each other. I looked down at Adria to see her eyes darting from one opponent to the other, analyzing their swift movements. Finally looking up I see them swing their fist at each other, both almost landing every punch they threw. Blood trickled down one of the woman's eyebrows as the other wiped the blood off her mouth with her arm. Just when I thought they had given up, they both jump, shifting mid air into their wolf. Before they e
My phone vibrates beside me. Vibrating a couple of times, until it eventually stops.I mentally roll my eyes and turn to my side, getting comfortable again. Minutes had passed and my phone hadn't rung. I sigh constantly knowing I have more time to sleep. Just as I was about to drift off into a deep slumber, for the second time, I heard it again.The vibration of my phone behind me. I reach out my hand to grab it, answering it in the process."What?" I said annoyed. Believe me that was an understatement. Who the hell calls at,7 amMy eyes widen as I look at the clock that sat on my nightstand."What do you mean''What"? Have you seen what time it is? Get your ass down to the pack house NOW." Adam says through the phone. His voice sounding more desperate for help than what I think he intended it to sound. I heard people in the background, kids. I couldn't quite make out what they were saying, there were too many of them to pick up on one specific voice."Get off of her!" Adam yelled. "J
I stare at Abby, waiting for her to start the conversation, but she doesn't.She sits straight with her legs crossed, as she fumbles with her fingers. Quietly staring down at her hands."So, Abby" I start, sensing she might be a little nervous "what can I do for you?"She clears her throat "So you see my daughter, Adria, will be attending camp this year" she says still looking down at her hands. "I guess I'm just a little nervous. She missed it almost every year, you guys don't do anything, extreme right?"She finally looked up at me, her eyes begging for me to say no.I smiled, because I know a lot of parents just like her, worry when we leave with their kids for our annual, "camp.""Rest assure, we only allow them to do what ever is in there limits" I lie. "If I see that Adria can't I will pull her out myself."She smiles back "thank you."I smile in return.It hurts me to lie to her, but if she knew what we did in those camp getaways, she would have a heart attack.Every year we lea
"Can seventeen through nineteen, get in a line behind Alpha Adam and can twenty on get in a line in front of me." I say irritated to be in a room full of sex crazed teens.Even though Adam had threaten them, I caught a few sneaking off to release their 'sexual urges'. I don't think it gets further then a lip lock or an ass grab, but still I want some type of self control and respect."GUYS" I yell, seeing that none of them made any efforts to get in line. "Get in line, NOW." Slowly they began to move, looking down scared to even meet my gaze.Adam just laughed, realizing that I am also reaching the same level of irritation he's on.Once they were done getting in line I noticed that we had a lot of unmated wolves over the age of twenty and about a handful that were still to young to find one. To be more exact there was thirty- eight under nineteen, and only seventeen older then or at the age of twenty. Our Mated couples don't come since in their opinion there is no point anymore."God,
AdriaHis hands were crossed in front of his chest as he stared back at me, but I didn't know why.His stare was intense, making me feel self conscious under his gaze.Maybe I have something on my face?I remember him, we went to the same high school for a year before he graduated. We never talked and I doubt he ever noticed me, but I surly did notice him. Mr big shot, son of the great businessman, who everyone is school wanted, but sadly no one could have.He wore casual clothing; black jeans, white and red stripped shirt, with a pair of white dress sneakers to match. His hair was cut short on the sides, as his soft wavy hair laid on top of his head. He had a well trimmed beard that wrapped around both sides of his face, accentuating his well defined jaw line and narrow nose.James looked confused, like if he also didn't know why he was looking at me. Playing it off as nothing, I continued to talk and joke with Nathan and Lily. The only two friends that actually stood by me when my d
JamesI watched as her breathing deepened and slowed, as a result I knew she was finally asleep. Strands of her brown wavy hair fell across her face, and her pink lips were slightly parted allowing soft snores to escape."She's pretty little thing isn't she?" Adam comments with a smirk. He was laying his head over the set in front of mine looking down at me. How long has he there? I don't know. And why didn't I notice his annoyingly loud breathing. I don't know that either. What I do know is I was caught red handed."Great" I whisper under my breath, mentally smacking myself. I fixed my composure and looked out the window, sitting on the opposite side of Adria.Adam chuckled "there is no point in hiding the fact that you were staring at her like a creep, I caught you already.""I was just making sure she was ok" I said still not turning to look at him.Adam rolled his eyes "I think that's the dumbest excuse I have ever heard, I mean ever, from a guy who was caught checking out a girl"