“What are you doing? Turn the car around now. We are going to the airport.” I was getting ready to bring the car to rest forcefully. Lisa had passed out and was in the backseat now. Had Marc joined Tobias? I didn’t want to fight him but it didn’t look like I had much choice, as he continued to drive into the city instead of the airport. “Veronica. I told you, The Five are on their way to the airport.”“What makes you think I am scared of them?” I was beginning to get restless now. “Remember who are you speaking with.” I didn’t care if The Five or Fifty showed up. I had to get my baby out of here. I clenched my palm into a fist and threw a punch at Marc. His head hit the driver’s seat window and he pressed on the brakes. He turned to face me immediately. “Veronica.” I quickly got out of the car and opened the door to get Lisa. “Listen,” he tried to speak, still recovering from my blow to him a few seconds ago. “Think for a second. Do you want her at the airport? Have you not realise
When I woke up, I was covered in sheets in a comfortable bed. The room was dark. Moonlight seeped in through the windows, downwards...Was I in a basement? The place was dusty. From the smell, I could tell that it hadn't been used for a while. After turning around, I saw a girl sitting awkwardly next to the bed on a chair. “I am glad you woke up. How are you feeling now?” she inquired. I looked around. Marc and Mom were nowhere in sight. I didn’t recognize the girl or the place. “I am better now. Where am I?” I offered. Her eyes beamed with happiness. “Oh brilliant. I have panic attacks too, you know? Sometimes I can’t breathe. Sometimes I have trouble standing. If it happens again, exhale with force, slowly. I can teach you a few tricks to control them better. Are you hungry? There’s no food here. But it’ll be here soon. Can I get you some water? Oh, wait. There’s no water here, it’s..”“On its way here?” I finished her sentence as she found her breath and calmed down. “HA. Yes.
“Sweetie, look. "The thing is," Veronica began to say, but knew Lisa wouldn't believe her no matter how she framed her sentences. Who’d believe any of what she was about to say?“Tia, would you like to come with me? In the meantime, maybe we can get some of your things. We need to be leaving soon.” Veronica said.Tia wasn’t allowed to go anywhere alone or with strangers. In fact, she wasn’t allowed to go anywhere if Marc wasn’t with her. She looked at Marc for permission who instantly nodded. A surprised Tia got up from her seat and followed Veronica who was almost out of the door.“Lisa. Are you okay?” Marc turned towards Lisa.She sat in silence for a moment before finally finding it in herself to speak up.“What’s going on, Marc? Is anyone going to fill me in?”“Your mom and I spoke while you were resting. We decided I should be the one to tell you. But before we begin, are you okay?”“I am fine." She replied, realising that her question wasn’t going to be answered just yet.“ I am
Lisa stepped back and the word seemed to echo within her. Ware-wolf? Really? He had the audacity to be sarcastic in such a moment. Did he think it was funny? My mom is clearly unhappy with Tobias. Marc is upset with Tobias. Marc and Mom are acquaintances. Marc has a little sister that didn’t come to the wedding. And now I am in some basement. As an explanation for all this, he threw a ridiculous word at me. I had had enough.“Get out of my way, Marc. I am not in a mood to joke. I’ve got to find Mom.”“Lisa.” That time his voice wasn’t how it always sounded. It was dense. He looked at me and I noticed the colour of his eyes change to crimson. I stood there without moving. For a second I was even terrified of breathing.It couldn’t be true. Shapeshifters are myths. No way Marc was one.“…”I opened my mouth but no words came out. In the moment, I lost my voice and, if I were to believe the evidence, then I lost my sanity as well.“Sit down.” His voice was extremely demanding and dominati
“I know it’s a lot to take in. Your dad wanted to keep this a secret for your protection. But hiding things is no longer an option."Lisa looked at me for answers. There is no mother who wants to see her children hurt. But the only way to protect Lisa was to tell her the truth. I knew someday she’d find out, I justwished, it was under different circumstances.“Mom, isn't that true?”I knew she believed me. She needed my validation because I wouldn’t lie to her.“Yes, sweetie. He, Tia, and even me.”I had never seen her so small. She seemed to have shrunk in bed as if her world had collapsing around her. I wished nothing more at this moment than to protect my baby girl. But there is no fooling Tobias. If he had already met her, he knew who she was. The sooner we told her, the better.“My father was the leader of our pack. So were both of Marc’s grandfathers. His parents married when they were young, and their packs had joined arms. I grew up with his parents. My father and his parents
“Wait! How did Tobias find out that I had arrived in town?" Veronica asked me startled. She wasn’t telling Lisa more for now but contemplating how Tobias could know so soon that she was here.In an instant, the answer became apparent to both of us.“He knows.” We said in unison.“There was no other explanation. He had to know that Lisa was Veronica’s daughter and probably had someone follow her everymove.” I offered.“So that means he…” Lisa spoke embarassingly looking around the room, “knows about us too?” She managed to say looking at me. Colours drained from her face. It meant Erica knew as well.“But if he already knew about us why would he not yell at you?" She wondered, "Or has Erica confronted you?".“Because he knew I’d lead him straight to you. Shit. We have to get out now.”Just then The Five stormed the basement. Our speculations were right. Tobias had known all along. And that’s why he set me off. I walked straight into the trap he set for me.Veronica didn’t waste a minut
I knew I could handle The Five. Maybe even three times that number. I was raised to be a fighter. But Tobias had a huge army. Though I couldn’t let him sense fear in us, I knew we’d lose because we were outnumbered. Also, if I were to be honest I couldn’t take on Tobias on my own. Dad kept him besides him for a reason. Dad and his two best friends didn't stand a chance against him. I could avoid or delay a fight, but face-to-face with Tobias wasn’t a fight I could win.“Where to?” Marc asked. I looked at Tia and Lisa in the backseat. Lisa fought so well earlier. She remembered what we taught her when she was little. But her strength. Could it be that the gene was kicking in now? Why now of all times?“By now Tobias must have sent an army looking for us. "We can't leave or stay." I looked at Marc, worried. He had already lost his parents, and Tia was all he had left. He and I had our girls to protect and none of us could think of how. “Let’s go to the woods. A friend of mine might know
When we first arrived in the woods, I didn’t see anything but a beaten path. I turned around to do something and stood frozen for a moment when I realized that the car had left no tracks. How was that possible?“We have to walk now," Veronica told us.In spite of the barely visible trail, we all set out to walk. I kept turning to see the same thing. Our footsteps weren’t visible either. I saw Lisa lose control and quickly reached out to her before she fell on the ground. She lost consciousness in my arms and hasn’t woken up since.Almost a week had passed since we got here in the woods. I can't believe how nobody else had noticed the huge mansion even though it's only a few miles out of the city.“V. Oh how the Lord must be happy today. Welcome darling.”"Ash," Veronica said to the voice.Tia and I looked at each other. We saw no one. We sure heard the voice but there was no one in sight.I was carrying Lisa in my arms. She was still not up and I wished for her to be in a bed soon. Ve
“Someone’s on our tail,” Marc whispers to me. We were on our way to the house when Marc noticed a car following us. “Speed up,” I told him calmly, trying not to scare Tia. Before we could react or plan, a car came out from the side of the road and hit ours. Marc lost control and we hit a tree. Damn. We are surrounded. Four men come out of the car that just hit us and four from the one that followed. I know Tobias sent them. The battle rules stop him from attacking Lisa or the house but not us out in public. I’d be kidding if I didn’t see this coming, but we can’t let him think we are weak.“Tia, Marc, are you guys okay?” I ask and see that they are both slightly bruised but alright. We quickly get out of the car and Marc turns instantly. “Take Tia back to the house. Keep her safe.” “But,”“No buts. I got this, she’s too young to fight, you know it. I’ll hold them off.” “No. We are leaving together.” Marc asserted nudging Tia to hide behind him and preparing to fight.“I said, g
I open the door to my apartment in a haste and make my way to my bed, dropping, almost instantly, on the bed. I look at the ceiling and all I see is her face. This isn’t the time for all that. She has a massive battle coming up that could cost her life. She is with Marc, who if I take her word is a werewolf. There is no way I could get into a fight with him and win. I have been around her for years and nothing. He waltz into her life for a few months and now he is in her life, her bedroom and her heart. Maybe I should tell her how I feel about all this? But what happened today could so easily be the construct of my mind, I contemplate loosing her altogether."Behave, or it'll be the end of you."Marc’s word ring in my ears and I find myself both terrified and angry at the same time. Jealousy and frustration of being powerless drive me crazy and strip my clothes and step into the shower for the second time today. I slam my hand hard against the wall again. It feels like I am back to
I can’t believe I let his name slip out like that. I am with Marc. There is no doubt that I have strong feelings for him but this moment right now has taken me on a tempting journey and I feel like I need to finish it. I can’t do that to Marc. I have a lot going on right now, I decide against confusing Chris and complicating things further. Maybe I am mistaken that he wants me. He has never shown any interest in me romantically. I have never given it any thought either. Our friendship was never subjected to any romantic tests, but then why now? I decide to put an end to whatever this is, and get up from the couch.“I am sorry. I, .. I need some water. I’ll be a minute.” I barely get the words out. To my surprise Chris holds my wrist and pulls me to him. I am now on his lap. He brushes my hair with his palm and pulls it at the back of my head, pushing me with his hand towards him. Our faces have never been this close. Has he always been this masculine, I notice the muscles in his arm
I am a very focused man. I listen carefully, understand what I’ve heard and am always aware of my surroundings. But looking at Lisa sitting next to me, has my senses disoriented. I know she is speaking, but I am barely able to fathom the words. My only desire at this moment is to have my moving lips crash with mine. I have a pressing need to drink the words out of her mouth and stop when I have screaming my name. I have always been careful to not make her uncomfortable. She could never guess my feelings for her because I was always carefully hiding them. I think there comes in point in every person’s life when everything they keep buried in the deepest corner of their heart propels out with maximum force. I am observing her as she bites her lip. Hold on a moment? Did she just bite her lip? I feel a tension growing in my pants. Her eyes are now locked with mine and both a second both of us find ourselves without words. I look at her neck and want to kiss it. To my surprise, she brus
I took my time getting clean as I reflected on the workout. Since we emerged from the woods, I have sensed the wolf being defeated by my inner hunter. Mom assured me that given the large number of werewolves in our area, it is only normal. My innate desire to find safety coincides with an inclination to oppose other animals in conflict. The wolf in me restrains me, or at least makes an effort to. I applied soap to the area of my arm that I had previously bruised when defending myself from Mom. My previous night's restlessness had suddenly returned. After washing my hair, I went to the bathroom mirror. I wonder how Mom felt growing up in such a lovely home.I blew my hair dry and wore a white T-shirt with shorts. I was on my way to the kitchen to get a glass of water when I met Chris. "Hello, you!" I laughed merrily. Although I have a very awkward social life, Chris has always made me feel at ease."Hey, L." "Have you been waiting for a while? If I had known you would arrive at this
Everything Lisa said to me yesterday is still registering in my mind. She isn't really what we'd call a human, but that doesn't concern me in the least. Knowing that she was honest with me and did not withhold any information makes me feel at ease. I'm taking it easy this morning because I don't have to report to work today. I get into the shower after taking off my clothing. Right now, she is the only thought that I can hear around me.I have to control the ache of wanting to be with her as I feel myself getting hard against the water. She is currently with someone else. I repeat it out in an effort to force myself to accept the truth. My cock stiffens as I continue to think about her. I find myself banging my palm on the wall and come out of the bathroom with a rock-solid erection. Despite the fact that I know she doesn't want me, I can't bring myself to feel any relief when I think about her. I owe it to her as a friend to be there for her. My thoughts keep going back to all the ti
I woke up a little earlier than Lisa and observed how peacefully she slept. She’s got a face with a view. It’s lovely to look at. How I wish we had met under different circumstances, in a different world."Morning," she purred, still sleepy."Go back to sleep," I tell her. "It’s still dark "But we have to start training." She said she was trying to find her determination to leave the comfort of the bed.I moved closer to her and kissed her on the forehead. "How are you feeling now?""I am better." She asserted. "I don't know what got to me last evening. But I am fine now.""Alright then, let’s freshen up and get you battle-ready."Veronica was already up and fidgeting with the coffee maker."Mom?" Veronica looked at Lisa and smiled. "I’ve been trying to get this damn machine to work, but it just won’t budge.""Let me take a look at that." I jumped in."Alright. I will leave you to it. Lisa, why don’t you train with me today? I’ll get changed. Meet me in the garden in five minutes."
I spent a very long time staring at my screen before deciding to text her. I was enraged that I couldn't reach her for weeks and then when I did, she was in danger of dying. I could not bear to witness her suffering. I tried to keep her safe for many years. She had gotten herself into a pickle, and I had been ignorant of it, which was aggravating.Marc. My mind was whirling around that name wildly. He had never looked at Lisa in a way I liked. Even during his wedding, the idiot kept staring at her. He came right after us to the dance floor when I ordered her to get up and move. It was clear that he had the wrong intentions for her. They were together at this point. When did Lisa first feel something for him?I stayed away while she finished her PhD thesis since I didn't want to interfere with her research. I thought that I would finally be able to convey to her how I felt for her—how I had felt for her all these years—now that she had her ideal job and we could work together.I roll
Although I am relieved that Marc and I were able to work things out, I find Marc's persistent jealousy to be annoying. He seems to become enraged every time I mention Chris, whether it be at the dance at his wedding, our meeting in his office, or now. It strikes me as juvenile. The warmth of the hand felt amazing against the cold water that was dripping down my skin. I felt a hand glide up on my back. We have already found an agreement to our argument tonight, so I'm not really angry with him, but for some reason I'm restless right now. I need him to continue because I'm feeling hungry inside, but tonight in particular, I'm more tense than ever."Are you okay?" Marc questions me.I lied and said, "Yes," not understanding what had made me get frustrated. I feel as though something or someone is missing. As Marc chews on my mating mark, I experience an intense tug. He gives it a quick kiss before sucking on it and lightly biting the corners. My thigh muscles tense, and I can feel my