Chapter 5

Tristan

I was extra picky with my wardrobe tonight and was no running late.  My nerves were all over the place and my wolf was still going crazy.  When Stormie had turned those beautiful eyes on me and asked if I was soft, oh Goddess I was suddenly rock hard.  And I'd almost told her that. She was still a child - not yet 18 - but my wolf wanted to sink his teeth into her.  

I finally made my way into the waiting room right as they announced dinner.  I felt my heart almost stop when my eyes finally landed on Stormie, who was standing with her father talking to my parents.  She looked like the moon and the sky with her beautiful white hair and midnight blue dress.  Her creamy skin was on display and my eyes caressed over her tattoos before smiling when I saw the knives on her wrists.  A beautiful but deadly creature.  I had to remind myself again as I discreetly adjusted myself that she was a friend, the daughter of an alpha and only 17.  I shook my head and pushed my wolf to the back of mind before heading into the dinning hall.  

I had been with plenty of woman before but none who illicited these emotions.  I took a few steadying breaths and sat down.  I listened to the whispers around the table as Stormie and her father took a seat to my right, my parents across from them on the left.  I looked over to my mother who had a suspicious smile on her face and I narrowed my eyes at her, making her smile grow.

I could smell the soft scents that were wholy Stormie - honey suckle and petrichor.  Her leg accidently brushed mine and suddenly my wolf was on edge again, imagining her soft skin.  I was only partially listening to the conversation around me as I tried to steer my mind into any other direction. 

"Your dress is beautiful my dear.  It was the perfect compliement for you," my mother said to Stormie.  I watched her smile slightly as she replied "my mother picked it out."  I was glad to hear her voice again and almost missed my mother asking "Doesn't she just look beautiful Tristan?"  I looked up right into her perfect blue grey eyes and said exactly what I felt "Breathtakingly."  I watched as a blush stole over her cheeks and she dropped her eyes from mine.  I could see the blush spread from her checks down her graceful neck and onto her check and I wondered how much further the blush went. 

My parents continued making small talk and I watched as she began pushing her food around her plate, not really eating much.  I frowned slightly before asking her through the link  'Is the food not to your liking little wolf?' She nodded and replied, glancing up at me, 'It is good. I am just not hungry. Too many people in here.  I am not used to all the stares and whispers.' I nodded in understanding though I was much more accustomed to these things.  I had heard and I'm sure she had as well many whispers about her and why she was sitting next to me. 

After dinner my parents invited everyone to join them for night caps.  I saw Stormie's curious glance at her father and smiled as he leaned in and whispered to her that it meant drinks and gossip.  She raised a brow at him and he laughed stating "Yes men gossip too, my child.  Do you want an escort back to your room?"

She shook her head no and kissed his cheek before heading out the other way.  I smiled and something in me told me she wasn't heading to her room but to the garden where I would find her everynight.  I made excuses to my father who nodded in understanding but linked me privately.  "Your eyes betray you son.  Think before you act and do better at keeping your emotions hidden in public.'  I paused briefly at his words before quickly making my way out to the garden.

Sure enough she was there sitting on the edge of the fountain, her slippers in one hand and the other running through the water.  I stood there a minute just taking in the sight of her, the moon shining down brightly on her, giving her a glow.  She looked like a goddess sitting there and I shoved my hands in my pockets, the temptation to reach out and run my hands over her skin almost too much to bear. 

I broke the silence first, but I knew that she had already sensed me there.  "I still come here when I am trying to escape my kingly duties for a few minutes of peace."

She slowly turned her head to me smiling slightly.  I sat down on the grass where we had sat many years ago and gestured for her to join me.  After a minute she did, sitting close but not touching.  I laid back leaning on my elbows and crossing my ankles and asked her "So how have you been little wolf? Honestly.  I know this recent stuff is a pain, but has the alpha treated you well?  He always spoke fondly of you and I can see the love they have for you."

She laid back next to me and put her hands behind her head, staring up at the sky.  I wasn't sure she was going to reply but then she softly began to tell me about meeting her brothers and how Aerick's first shift was able to trigger her to shift back.  How they adopted her and home schooled because she didn't talk and couldn't use the link at the time.  She talked about learning sign and becoming a warrior after fighting her father on it and how hard she trained.  

She told me about the moon goddess visiting her and blessing her with a kiss and how she could speak and use the pack link afterwards. She regalled me with tales of all the trouble she would get into with her brothers both while she was still a little wolf and later.  She told me how the Elite 8 was formed and how it was like having 7 brothers all the time.  I could hear the happiness in her voice and was glad that she had found a family and acceptance in her pack.   Her life had started out rough but she deserved the happiness she had found.  

I was getting ready to broach the subject of a mate or a boyfriend when both of our ears perked up at an unfamiliar sound.  Stormie got up quickly, unshealthing her knives and crouching in front of me like she was trying to protect me.  As the noise got closer she took a deep breath and put her knives away, instead grabbing a shoe and crouching back down pulling her dress up exposing even more of her creamy thighs.  I couldn't tear my eyes away from her legs as I linked her 'You know what it is?'

'It's more of a who.  My brothers, very drunk by the smell of it, looking for me', she replied smiling back at me.  I returned the smile and supressed the urge to laugh. I stood back a little waiting to see what she would do.  As soon as they rounded the corner, she threw her shoe at Aerick's face and grabbed Arkin flipping him over her shoulder, effectively knocking them both down.  I laughed heartily, watching as both men sat up and groaned.  Stormie stood near them her hands on her hips and a pissed off look on her face.  I knew she was a powerful wolf but seeing her move like that and in a dress nonetheless was really impressive.  And very sexy.

"What did you do that for?  Im gonna tell mom you hit me with your shoe,"  Aerick said whining like a kid.  "We just came to check on you.  You weren't in your room and dad said you were probably here.  You didn't have to throw me," Arkin said with a little pout.  I stood there watching and enjoying this little show of family affection.  I was slightly jealous of the bond they shared as I was an only child.  I'd had grown up with Anders and Caleb who were like my brothers, but this this was something even more.

"I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.  Besides any wolf worth their weight could hear and smell you both.  Goddess you stink like booze and cheap girls.  Tomorrow is training with the king's guard or did you forget?" she actually said to them her voice low.  I could see the teasing glint in her eyes that they were probably too drunk to notice.

"You're not even 18 yet Stormie and we're your brothers.  Of course we're gonna keep an eye out on you. And yes we know we have training and so do you so you need to get to bed too,"  Arkin replied finally noticing me standing behind her.  "Sorry King Tristan we didn't realize our sister wasn't alone," he growled out slightly looking between us and I moved closer just to watch his eyes narrow.  She reached her hands out to help her brothers up muttering about stupid over protective wolves and I grinned.  

"No worries we were just enjoying the quiet after a stuffy dinner with all the alphas.  Stormie and I actually met here years ago," I replied glancing over to see her puting her shoes back on.

Her brothers bowed, slightly wobbly and she shook her head before ushering them back inside.  I stood there a minute watching her go.  Suddenly she rushed back and stopped in front of me staring up into my eyes.  I didn't realize how tiny she was until she closed the distance between us and wrapped her arms around me in a hug.  My arms instantly wrapped around her and pulled her close.  She rested her head on my chest and I was sure she could hear my heart beating erratically as my wolf went crazy for her.   

I lowered my head to breath in her scent.  "Goodnight," she whispered to me as she let go and started walking back.  My wolf pushed forward and grabbed her arm pulling her back against us as my lips crashed down on hers.  I pushed my wolf back and released her, watching the play of emotions cross her blushed face.  She turned quickly and ran into the building.  I stared after her for a minute, her sweet innnocence making both my heart and wolf frantic.  It couldn't be ... could it?  I'd never heard of a wolf recognizing his mate BEFORE her 18th birthday.  It was going to be a long night for me as I could still feel the softness of her lips against mine.