"Crunch" went the twigs underneath my feet as we walked through the mossy field.
I looked to Nikki. "Where are we going again?" I asked, exhausted at our day's journey.
We had walked from Seattle to a reservation now. Aiden had decided that he wouldn't travel with the pack he found on their travels back to California. Nikki's purple eyes glowed in the light radiated from the moon. "Like Aiden said, we're going to see this pack that the wolf's in Cali recommended. Said that he would fit in more with these guys if he wouldn't go with them" She explained. I looked to Aiden who was in front of us, his pace picking up quicker with anticipation. I examined him. Our Middle Eastern tanned skin had not only had us mistaken for natives but it had also pursued actions of anger at the constant answers that came with. "Well this is a reservation. We probably would fit in" I thought. But I looked to Nikki. Her skin pale as the moon from the lack of sunlight she had been exposed to. Or at least that's what we told people when they asked. We never said why she was dangerously pale or the fact that she had dim purple eyes was because she was a dark witch.
As we walked farther we could see a fire flaming and we could hear voices. People laughing and joking around. I didn't have to pay attention to the way Aiden's head picked up with hope to know he was overjoyed. Or notice the fact that he tensed a little in his shoulders to know he was anxious. Nikki smirked. "Wow who woulda thunk the big bad wolf was scared of….*Gasp* social interaction!" She teased. Aiden looked back to her. His eyes yellowing as a sign of a warning. Her chuckle dulled. I rolled my eyes and stepped forward only to trip over a rock. Just as I fell I stopped inches before hitting the ground. I could feel Nikki's levitation spell working on me to bring me up straight.
"Watch it twinkle toes. Don't look too excited, we'll only be here for a short time" she remarked, meaning of the way we always traveled around, never staying in one place.
I stood on my own now, dusting off anything that had brushed against me as we walked farther. We were only maybe twenty feet away when I felt it. My eyes were changing colors. I looked to Nikki and felt panic wash over me. Had I become dark? No I got to choose that myself. So then what the hell was happening? Her eyes reflected mine but that wasn't what I was paying attention to. In her dim purple eyes that glowed when she used her powers, was a mirror to see my now an electric cyan blue eyes that stood out. Aiden stopped walking and turned around towards me. He grabbed my wrist as he got closer and looked at my eyes. I heard about when a witch's eyes turn blue. It meant the path they were taking was leading to their soul mate.
Our eyes also turned red once our soul mate had left. I only saw it happen once though.
It was like as quick as Nikki found her soul mate was as quick as him to go. Her eyes burned red, vibrantly and violently and even though she doesn't say it, you could tell a part of her was truly missing.
"Well this just got interesting" Nikki said with a bit of excitement. Her black hair blowed past her as the wind became harsher. "We'll deal with this later. Let's just hurry up and let them know we're here" Aiden said and began pacing again.
Once we were visible to the pack, everyone stopped to look at us. I stood behind Aiden and Nikki was beside me. I held my stance strong like Nikki's but soft and friendly like Aiden. I looked over at the wolf's who sat around the campfire as Aiden explained us. "Gregg sent us. He said you were the pack to go to" Aiden said to the older man. He had long fine raven hair and a strong facial expression. Aiden shifted nervously. I put my hand on his shoulder for comfort. My brother had done so much for us. He even shifted pack from pack. He could've just stayed out the way but he came along anyway, endangering his life as well.
He turned his head to look at me and offered a small smile before we heard a purposely made cough. It was made out of discomfort. The kind I would make when my brother used to bring home his girlfriend and they would be all cutesy and giggly. I turned my head quickly to look at the culprit.
If you felt this feeling you would explain how perplexing it could make you. Confusing but easy to understand. Worrying but not enough to show a care. When I first discovered my powers I had to deal with the first weak burnings. Once you become a witch you feel this burn that covers each and every part of your skin, like a tingling sensation only this was a nightmare. A living hell that you had to control and fight it off. Now it was calm but it was still there I just learned to deal with it. As I looked at the boy I felt it resurface multiplying the pain. I felt like gripping onto my brother's arm that I now held and clenching my teeth but as quick as the pain came it was gone. And I don't mean I calmed it down I mean it was gone. There was no more pain, no more hiding or pushing down or avoiding. It was gone. I felt like smiling and jumping up and down like a prisoner who was sent for life being released but what kept me from moving was the same person. He looked like the youngest out his pack which fit .Russet skin only a few shades lighter and cooler than mine, eyes almost as dark as his pupils. His hair never passing his eyebrows and definitely not shaggy but not prestigious looking. He wasn't exactly smiling but he wasn't frowning as we made eye contact. "My own little reliever" I thought.
I felt a jab at my rib and looked to Nikki. Had I been staring the whole time? Oh well. I gave her a joking sad look to play it off but stopped once I heard snickering against the group. Aiden tensed up and I placed my hand back on his shoulder. "Temper wolf man, temper" Nikki whispered. The elder looked at the exchange between the boys and then I felt eyes on me. My eyes had certainly stopped glowing since before we got here so what was wrong? He didn't exactly seem like the welcoming type but his stare was enough to tell me that this was not his welcoming version. His gaze lifted from mine to Nikki and I felt panic stir in me. His eyes widened a bit. I stood in front of her, very much to her surprise and Aiden followed suit.
"If it is too much to ask then we are sure we can find another pack" Aiden added. "If it's too much trouble" I added, motioning to Nikki. She placed a hand on her hip. She was about to say something and knowing her and her foul mouth I sent her a glare. The elder shook his head.
"You may join for as long as need be. Omega's are not safe on their own" He started. "Even if he has his own protection" He continued, no doubt he meant us. "But if there be any harm" He mentioned, his voice booming. "There won't be" I said sternly. His eyes went once again from my brothers back to me. "We've had a perfect streak for two years. We plan to keep it for many more to come" I explained. "You can start with helping the patrols" One of their members spoke out, changing the subject. Aiden nodded.
I looked to Nikki. She was staring at the elder though. I whispered her name, barely moving my lips and she turned her head sharply to face me, trying to recover fast as if she hadn't been staring. Aiden had already joined in on their little camp fest. I looked towards him and saw him smiling with all the others. It was enough of a sight to make me drop everything just to keep him like that. My brother was my only family apart from Nikki that weren't at risk, with them being able to hold up their own. I turned my heel to leave when I noticed that my little reliever was nowhere to be seen.
I walked out to a parking lot with Nikki following suit. We left Aiden because we had modern day communication to contact him when need be. Besides, we had to make our house now. I smiled at the thought of making my room different from as we had before on our last little trips. Nikki had always created a house out of her visioning powers and I decorated the house however I wanted. This was the fun part of new trips. It was when I bumped into a stone like figure that I noticed I was caught up in my own thoughts. Only the body was as hot as an overheated light bulb. "Excuse me" I said before looking up.
The same dark eyes had met my own light brown. Only this time there was a huge grin on his face. It almost made me want to smile. "Hey, I'm Seth" He said brightly. Nikki's elbow brushed passed me as she walked on further but it wasn't a hard shove. More of an, I'm still here but I'm not waiting for you. I watched her walk further until I noticed the hand put out in front of me. I looked down at the gesture. "Braelei" I said taking it. The contact sent sizzles. At first I jerked my hand back in fear of the pain but I was only left with a warmth crave for it again. His eyes widened as a sign of confusion. "Sorry I'm still not used to the whole "Hot as hell touch" I lied. He laughed. "Yeah that can be….complicating sometimes" He explained. I smiled a little. "Anyway umm I was wondering….If you needed anyone to show you around" He offered. "Sure" I answered before he could finish. His smile grew brighter as if possible. "Great!" He exclaimed. "Yeah just come over with my brother" I explained. He nodded.
I looked past him once more. Nikki had already gone further enough. She probably was going to have us living right outside the reservation just to keep a safe distance. "Need a ride home?" Seth asked. I smiled politely knowing that I should try not to come off as a spaced out person. I seemed to be doing that a lot. "Yeah that'd be great" I replied. He walked to a ford F150 with a glossy maroon tinted color. I mentally laughed because the car would've been exactly what I would've guessed for him. As I walked towards the passenger seat I took out my phone in hopes Nikki had texted me. My screen glowed bright in the dark night, alerting me of a new message
Nikkiluvsu: Okay the house is ready and I expect you'll get a ride from one of the guys so I'm getting groceries and picking up a car. You're telling me all about the whole staring situation when I get home!
I smirked. So I really was staring.
"Where to?" Seth asked.
I told him the address and he seemed to know the street but not the house.
"Are you sure that's the right house address?" He asked.
I nodded.
"Alright." He agreed.
He started up the car and reversed out of the parking spot headed to what I guessed was the right address.
"So Seth how old are you?" I asked, trying to start up a conversation.
"I'm eighteen" He replied. "How old are you?" He questioned back. "Seventeen." I answered.
He nodded. "So when did you turn?" I asked. "I was fourteen when I turned" He replied. "That's cool" I added.
"Yeah! I mean some of the guys think it can be a bother but I kind of embrace being part of the pack. It's like a family" He beamed.
"I know what you mean" I thought but I just smiled as he talked on.
We actually kept a conversation, I mean us being mates obviously had the most to do with it but I could've honestly just talked forever with him. I had a question I just had to ask though.
"I'm sorry but I have to bring this up. What is it like for you to have imprinted?" I asked.
He stared up at me with the widest eyes ever. It was a mixture of confusion and embarrassment. "Well what exactly do you mean?" he asked, now focusing his eyes to the road.
"I mean I here all these stories about how amazing imprinting is and since my brother really never had it happen I'm not sure" I asked. As he registered it through his mind it looked like relief. He did know I was talking about him imprinting on me right? "Well it's kind of like what you'd think your parent's had because they seem so in love, and then when it happens to you it takes you by surprise because it's deeper than that. Way deeper. Like as if a person could be the ground that supports you" He explains.
"Well that was super sappy. But it's nice to know you feel that way about me" I said giggling. "Wait you know?" He asked confused. "Of course I do. I'm no stranger to wolves and I had some hints on my own" I said, tip-toeing around the truth. He was about to say something but now we had pulled up at what I supposed was my house given the digits on the side.
The house was a little too big for my taste. There were two columns on each side on a rectangle post that connected to a thinner rectangle post that made an archway connecting the roof. The back showed that it was very large and the color was like an egg shell white. Seth's eyes widened at the sight.
"Ok I have never seen this house in my life" He admitted. I just shrugged. "So I guess I'll see you later?" He said, his voice showing hope. "I would hope so" I said with enthusiasm. I made a move to open the door but Seth had already gotten out the car and over to my side, opening the door. Since the car was high off the ground with the tires and the truck itself, I held Seth's hand to help myself get down. Again the contact sent tingles but it was warm and welcoming, unlike the painful sizzle I dealt with before I laid eyes on him.
As I put all the pieces together, just looking at Seth seemed like looking at him in a whole new way. Even just his smile sent my heart beating faster. I hadn't realized I had been staring for so long until his voice zoned me out. "Are you ok?" He asked, his smile now turned into a concerned pout. "You're really warm" I said without thinking. I would've widened my eyes at the outburst but I thought it would be better if I acted like it wasn't a big deal. "Is that a good thing?" He asked laughing unsurely. "That's a great thing" I replied. "Then good" He said, his hand still holding mine. "If I had your body temperature" I started saying as we walked to my front door. By now I had slipped my hand from underneath his, missing the warmth. "You're like the perfect blanket" I noted.
"So about the whole imprinting thing" He started but I stopped him. "Look just take me on a date. I don't usually fall into the arms of everyone who ends up being my soul mate" I said with a smile to show him I was joking.
"Ok" He replied smiling back.
I turned and knocked on the door and before Nikki came I gave him a quick peck on his cheek. He flushed with embarrassment and shoved his hands in his pockets as the door opened up. "Welcome home lover one" She said, mocking thing one and thing two from Doctor Seuss's cat in the hat. "Lover two" She said looking over to Seth. He smiled shyly before waving bye to me and walking to his car. As I walked inside and shut the door I could see Nikki peaking at him from the curtains as he left. "Awe did I scare him off" she asked. "No he'll be back" I said walking around the house. At first it had a room to the side that looked to be the dining room that had an archway leading to the kitchen. And as I walked past all the rooms I found myself in awe with a log cabinish feeling home. "Your room is the really modernized one." Nikki said from the living room. "Mmk" I said walking over to her.
"So tell me all about lover boy? Is he sweet? Caring? Rebellious?" She started asking.
"Because have you seen that boy he is smoking but he doesn't look like he has an ounce of bad to him. Which is good because I could never have my baby sister riding off into the sunset on a Harley" She continued.
"Honestly I don't really know" I said slumping down on the couch next to her. "Well you'll just have to find out" she replied smiling. Even though I was happy I still felt an ounce of guilt. Nikki had still lost her soul mate, and there was no one else but your soul mate. I mean basically she was just living to see another day, there was really no future in which she would have that one person who was made for her. But I admired her for keeping sane.