--Chapter Three--
Sophia let out a small inarticulate cry before dropping to her knees beside him, her gaze troubled. He had thin lines of red across his left cheek, and his bottom lip was split. Her hands shook as she realized she was responsible for the wounds. Reaching out, she grasped his chin and turned his head so she could examine his injury. "They're not too deep. Luke, I swear, I'm really sorry. If I'd known it was you...I didn't mean to hurt you."
She would have continued, her voice breaking, but Luke reached up and pulled her hand away from his face, choosing instead to intertwine their fingers. His grey blue eyes darkened, as he said softly, "It's okay. I don't mind that you marked me."
Something about the way he said it, some inflection in his voice, caused a fierce glee to rise up in Sophia. Yes, yes, she had marked him, marked him as hers for all to see. Soon she would make him hers completely and that bitch Presley would have to submit. This was her male, her mate, and woe to any who tried to come between them. She'd rip their throat out and leave the carcass for the scavengers.
Luke watched the emotions dance across Sophia's face, watched the tinge of amber grow clearer in her eyes. Daringly, he pressed a kiss against the back of her hand, tasting, just a little, the flavor of her skin. Her skin was so very hot as her hormones battled her inhibitions for control. Her scent wrapped around him and he felt like he was drowning in her. Luke flashed to the last time they were in the clearing together, the feel of her skin, the taste of her lips. He shifted, just a little, leaning closer, but he was disappointed when she pulled her hand away and rose to her feet.
Turning back to the desk, Sophia began straightening up her books and papers. As he watched her fidget, Luke wiped his cheek with the back of his hand and then brought it to his mouth, absently licking the wet crimson blood. With the rapid healing of the Skinwalkers, the marks should fade to nearly nothing by school tomorrow. The pain in his lip was already easing. When Sophia turned slightly, he wiped his hand on his shirt. Even though she was close to a complete Change, Luke didn't think she was ready to see him with blood on his tongue.
She didn't know what was happening. She was supposed to be past this, she was supposed to be free. She was human! Yet, yet, how could she ignore the evidence she'd seen with her own eyes? Those marks on his cheeks didn't come from her human fingernails. She'd had a…well, she wasn't sure what it was. Something that was a cross between a paw and a hand. She'd never known a Skinwalker could be capable of a partial shift like that. Sophia's mind was whirling. Too much had happened.
Sophia found that she couldn't look at him completely and glanced at him sideways, as he remained in a crouch on her floor. He looked oddly out of place, surrounded as he was by pale pink plush carpeting. His eyes were fixed on her, with the unblinking stare of a hunter. The soft glow of the lamp made his hair seem even more golden. She sighed as she crammed her homework into her backpack and then asked, "Luke, what are you doing here?"
He rose to his feet slowly, carefully, as if he was afraid any more sudden movements would send her running. She was so close… His eyes never wavered from her as he said, "You didn't come. I waited, but you didn't come to me. I wanted to know what kept you."
Definitely too much. He'd come looking for her? How was she supposed to react to that? She let her bag fall onto her bed and shifted so that she was fully facing Luke. Tilting her chin up, she replied, "I had homework. A lot of it. So did you for that matter."
Luke sneered, his lip curling up and somehow, combined with the slashes on his cheek, it only made him seem more masculine. His voice was filled with disdain as he said, "Homework? Why should we worry about that? We're Pack. We'll always belong here."
Taking one step forward, her eyes flashing with irritation and a hint of fear, she planted a hand on her hip and shot back, "I'm human. Human! I haven't Changed. And maybe I won't ever Change. Just because these things are happening, just because…it doesn't mean…I'm human!"
Sophia's tone had started out defiant, but it began to waver. She was too smart to lie to herself. He took a step towards her, and she backed away, folding her arms against her chest, closing him out. Luke knew she was scared, knew she was desperate for a way out. He had only the truth to give her. "Sophia. You're not human. You're a Skinwalker. And you're really close."
She closed her eyes as if she could block out the words. Tears stung her eyes as she felt something within her give way. He was right. Hadn't she felt the Wolf more strongly than ever lately? Opening her eyes again, she whispered, "But I'm so old. You've already been a Skinwalker for five years. What if…what if I can't…?"
Her voice trailed off as Luke convulsively closed the distance between them, anxiously reaching for her. Sophia unfolded her arms as he approached, and when he stopped moving, he was less than an inch away. She could feel his breath on her cheek. He stared down at her and part of her mind wondered when he had gotten so tall. She had to lean back a little to meet his eyes. Sophia felt her mouth go dry at what she saw there. Luke had gone very still and swallowed once, twice. "You will make it. You have to."
Needing tactile contact with her, he reached for her hand and she didn't pull away, instead folding her fingers over his palm. Later, it might embarrass him, but for now, he didn't notice that his voice shook slightly. "Your father was strong. Everybody said he could have been the Alpha. You're strong too. You look so small, but there's such steel in you. You'll be fine. You have to be."
Oddly enough, being confronted with Luke's fear helped settle her own. He was afraid for her, and yet he believed, had to believe, she would make it through. Besides, there was no way to stop the Change once it'd begun. Sophia could only deal with what lay before her. She wasn't sure she was anywhere close to accepting her fate, but she felt the need to reassure Luke. Sophia struggled to find the right words, but, in the end, simply said, "I believe you. I'll be fine."
The tension inside of Luke eased slightly as he let out a deep breath. The two teens stared at each other for long, silent moments, the passion between them beginning to flare to life. There was a flash of gold in Luke's eyes as he suddenly began to lean down, his face moving towards Sophia. Their lips were scant inches apart when, through the open window, they heard a car door slam. Luke pulled back quickly, searching Sophia's eyes and seeing the panic in them. He brushed his fingertips down her cheek and promised, "Tomorrow." They moved in unison, Luke slipping out the window and Sophia dousing the lamp, before climbing into bed.
Sheriff Donner opened the door a crack and a beam of light fell on the peaceful, serene face of his sleeping daughter. Reassured that his daughter was safe for another night, he closed the door again and went back to bed, unaware that Sophia would be up for the rest of the night thinking about Luke and kisses…and tomorrow.
