6. Breaking the Ice

Rei’s eyes flew open, instantly aware that Kitsune, Briar’s hidden wolf had pushed back to let him know she was almost ready to emerge. He had roughly a month to prepare for it. This morning’s coffee date was the first step in many baby steps to ensure Briar was strong enough to handle the emergence of Kitsune and to understand what was happening to her.

Among the wolves, Kitsune was the oldest, most powerful wolf in existence and had to realign herself with her newest human vessel, Briar. That’s why Rei had taken to her so quickly. Briar and Kitsune were his future. A future that was meant for his older brother, by 4 minutes. As the Blood Heir, Atremis was expected to lead as Alpha, train Briar to be strong enough to live through Kitsune’s rebirth, therefore, his mate. Now that she had taken to Rei, the only way to sway her back to Artemis, would have to be on the traumatic side to shake loose her feelings for Rei. Not an easy feat, but it was possible.

Arriving at the Coffee Shake 20 minutes early, he’d ordered himself a large black coffee and sat at a table over looking the parking lot, not sure Briar had seen his note or not.

Briar wasn’t certain she was going to meet Rei, until she was driving to meet him. Given what happened last night, Bri was dragging, she hadn’t eaten anything that morning due to her nerves. None of the guys at her pervious schools had shown any interest in her, she moved too often to start something she wouldn’t be allowed to finish, so she never bothered getting close.

She chickened out at least 3 times before finally pulling into the Coffee Shack’s parking lot, wondering which car belonged to Rei. There was a classic Mustang, a truck that had tires way too big to possibly be functional, two sedans, and a Jeep. Briar’s money was on the Jeep. Smiling, she parked next to it, taking a deep breath, looking in her rear view mirror.

“Don’t be a coward. He asked you to come.” She said out loud. As soon as the coffee and bakery smell hit her nostrils, she realized how hungry she really was. Giving Rei a wave, she walked up to the counter, placed her order, and went to Rei’s table. Wondering if she should tell Rei about what she saw, or thought she saw last night.

“Good morning. I’m glad you came.” He smiled and motioned for her to sit.

Briar removed her coat, hanging it on the back of her chair, deciding to keep her hallucination to herself.

“Aren’t you going to pull my chair out for me?”

“Do you want me to?” He smiled.

“No, I was just testing you.” Bri giggled. Making herself comfortable, a waitress brought her order over with the check under the plate that her double chocolate, brownie and double shot espresso. Rei grabbed the check seeing Bri reaching for her wallet.

“My treat, remember?” He reminded her.

“Go ahead, I won’t say no.” She laughed at his expression.

“How are you feeling today? You looked exhausted when you left campus yesterday.” Rei asked.

“Yesterday was one for the books for sure. Everything that could go wrong, did. I pictured things going much differently.” She said, sipping her espresso.

“I think Artemis is sweet on you. He doesn’t normally act like that.” Rei explained.

“Awwwe, you’re jealous. Don’t be. My parents reassured me that this will be our last move until I graduate, so you’re stuck with me for a year and a half.” She laughed.

“I’m OK with that, it’s Alyssa with the problem. She has no one to blame for this but herself. She’ll figure it out in time.” Rei joked.

“She is a different beast, isn’t she? She doesn’t like that I’m not intimidated by her.” Bri said.

“You hit the nail on the head there. It takes most newbies much longer to get used to her abrasive personality. She has never been this bad. Maybe she is sweet on you?” Rei laughed at her puzzled expression.

“I don’t swing that way. Besides, even if I did, Alyssa wouldn’t be my type.” Briar laughed.

“She’s not mine, either. Mine and Alyssa’s fathers set us up shortly after she moved back here.” Rei rubbed his temples.

“Arranged marriages are still a thing? I really have been living under a rock. How is that going for you two?” She asked, stifling a smile.

“She loves it. Me, I’m more of a free spirit, pick my own path kinda guy. I want to choose who I’m with, not my parents.” He blushed.

“My parents keep telling me to save dating for after my career. I have never been in one place long enough to start seeing someone. I didn’t want to be the one getting hurt, or causing the hurt.” She said.

“Good thing I’m not looking to date then, huh?” Rei laughed. “Relax, Bri. I need a friend, not a lover.”

“I never said,” she shook her head, “anything about that.” She blushed and checked the time on her phone.

6:53 am.

"We should get going, I don’t feel like parking in the nosebleeds again.” She said.

“I’ll pay our tab. If you want to go out to your truck to wait, I’ll meet you out there.” Rei smiled.

With her truck being so new, she didn’t need to let it warm up for very long, so she was warm in no time.

Rei knocked on her window and motioned for her to roll her window down. “Thank you for meeting me. See you at the campus, drive safe.” Getting into the Jeep next time her, she smiled at being right.

_--_--_

When Briar pulled into the campus parking lot, there were plenty of spots closer to the building. She chose to park between a smaller version of her truck, and Rei had parked in the spot right next to her.

“Do you realize how bad of a driver you are?” Bri laughed.

“I can’t believe they gave you your license.”

“I’m a careful driver. I didn’t get my license from the first Cracker Jack box, I’ll have you know.” Rei said., pouting.

“My apologies!” Bri laughed. “It was the second box.” Briar had tears in her eyes from laughing so hard.

“Thank you…that’s better.” Rei shoulder checked her. “I’ll see you in math, I have to hit my locker quick.” He waved.

Briar rounded the corner of the hall that led to her locker. There were a couple balloons and a card taped to her locker. Rolling her eyes sighing, Bri took the card off the door, opened her locker, and set her stuff inside. Not looking forward to opening the card, not knowing which of her “stalkers” this could be from.

It was a guy’s handwriting, so that crossed Alyssa off the list of suspects. She pulled the note out of the envelope.

Her heart skipped a beat.

_--_--_