You know that feeling you get when you know someone is looking at you? The hair on the back of your neck might stand up if it's bad, or it echoes like someone calling your name in the back of your head if it's good. I've experienced both. Oddly enough, both feelings were with the same person. I always find both feelings to be exciting. Maybe that's me being too optimistic, but whether the feeling is good or bad, I always want to turn and meet whoever or whatever is looking at me. So I can face them without surprise and have a fighting chance.
Maya and Paul walked hand in hand through the clearing in front of Emily and Paul's house. Maya could already hear the raucous laughter and talking within that filled her with excitement. Almost as much as Paul's house, she felt immediately at home here. When she pulled open the screen door, Paul's hand on her lower back, she was greeted with a chorus of hoots and hellos.
"Finally! God can we eat now that the drama queens are here?!" Brady Fuller bemoaned.
"Drama queens?!" Maya said aghast.
"Yeah, you! Will they? Won't they? Oh no! He's a wolf! Wait, nevermind, it's fine!" Brady mocked in an exaggerated voice that made Maya laugh. "I'm kidddddding," he followed up pulling Maya into a hug that she returned with a warm smile.
Paul let Maya pull out of his grasp as she bounded over to Keye and Becks who were helping Collin, Jared, and Emily gather things in the kitchen to take out to the backyard that was surrounded by dripping green foliage. Paul had already been pulled into conversation with Sam, his eyes darting to Maya every once and awhile as if she was going to disappear or something.
"Thank god you're here, these hot-bodied buttheads won't shut up about food," Keye said, grabbing and balancing three plates of food.
"Sorry, sorry. Woke up late." Maya said, giving Emily a gentle smile.
After they had successfully laid out the spread on the long wooden patio table that seemed too grand for a bungalow down by the beach, they all tucked in around it.
"Where's the new girl?" Becks whispered as she slid in next to Jeremy who was already playing a hand-slapping game with Embry Call. Maya glanced around and couldn't find Seth. She looked across the table at Keye who shrugged.
"I don't think she's here yet. Seth isn't here either," Maya noticed. Paul sank down next to Maya and kissed her cheek absently. "Where's the new imprint?" she asked him quietly. He did the same thing Maya did and looked around then replied.
"Not sure. Seth said he'd be here." He took a sip from his water glass and then leaned into Maya, his lips close to her ear as he said, "You look very nice by the way." He gave her a wolfish grin and she pulled back and gave him a laugh. She wasn't exactly dressed up, but this was Paul after all. Maya had put on whatever she had left over at Paul's accidentally which consisted of her light jean shorts that she rolled up a little and a grey heather racerback halter that was cropped at her midriff. She snagged one of Paul's blue and white long-sleeved button up plaid shirts and wrapped it around her waist in case the weather changed. Her long silk black hair was down her back in messy waves. She placed a hand on his cheek and leaned in to gently kiss him which he returned happily.
"Blegh, imprints," Embry said from a few seats down.
"Speaking of," Quil replied. Maya and Paul pulled apart and looked over their shoulders at the couple entering the backyard. A chorus of hi's and hello's rang out from the group and Seth, beaming, was holding the hand of a bright eyed blonde who looked who smiled at everyone, her eyes filled with nervous energy.
"She's…" Becks started confused.
"White," Keye finished. Maya spun around and looked at Keye with wide eyes.
"Jesus, Keye, chill," she said as Paul laughed.
"Sorry!" Keye said, "I just thought imprinting was like a….tribe-only thing." She had a point.
Seth brought the woman over to the table and they sat down toward the front of the table. Maya peered around Paul to get a better look at her. She was beautiful—with long blonde hair, pouty pink lips that stretched over a bright white smile. Her face was dotted delicately with peachy freckles and she filled out her sundress white and blue sundress with an hourglass figure. Maya found herself weirdly fascinated with the new imprint, mostly because Maya was the first new imprint in years according to Emily. And now, there were two new imprints months apart.
Sam cleared his throat at the head of the table and everyone quieted down to look toward him. He stood up, true patriarch of his wild wolf family, and raised his glass.
"We're here to welcome a new member to our family today—Sadie Corbella. Welcome Sadie!" He raised his glass and everyone said the name 'Sadie' in joyful unison. She blushed and leaned into Seth a little who was grinning from ear to ear. "And, we're here to celebrate Jeremy, Maya, Becks, and Keye graduating from the tribal school tomorrow. Congratulations and we're all here for you in whatever you do next!"
Some pounded on the table as a form of applause while others hooted and whistled in celebration. Paul leaned in and kissed Maya's cheek. She glowed in the warm May sun and felt at home here.
"Dig in!" Emily shouted and suddenly there was a mad scramble for the piles of food on the table.
"This is like the wildest live action game of Hungry Hungry Hippos I've ever seen," Keye said, trying to snag a hot dog from a plate. Maya laughed and scooped some potato salad for herself as Paul dropped a hamburger on her plate.
"Work with a buddy to get your share of the food," Becks said from across the table. Jeremy and Becks were mirroring Paul and Maya's efforts to fill each other's plates.
"Maya, have you decided where you're officially going this fall?" Kim asked from across the table amongst the other conversations happening around her. Maya automatically looked at Paul but he seemed at ease.
"Uhh, not yet. My pros and cons lists are getting a little too long for my liking at this point. But, yeah I need to decide that soon," Maya responded.
"It's probably going to be Columbia though right?" Becks said.
"Why do you say that?" Jared asked, interested now.
"Because of the great science program," Becks replied.
"Oh! What are you planning to study?" Kim leaned it now. Maya smiled, happy to be questioned about something she was so excited about.
"Well, I was on the fence, but I really think I'm leaning either into the Engineering program or the Biological Sciences Program."
"Wow!" Kim breathed, "What are you hoping to do in the future? Sorry, I know that's a huge question."
"That's kind of up in the air too. Engineering opens up a lot of possibilities, but there's some great jobs I could do with a biology focus. There's some really cool environmental engineering happening around the world right now, so maybe that?" Kim nodded and Maya felt Paul's hand on her thigh now. She looked over at him and he gave her a reassuring smile.
After lunch, Maya beelined it with Keye and Becks in tow to meet Sadie officially. She had already been bombarded by one side of the table and now it was their turn. Maya was mostly curious about how it happened and how they seemingly fell into step so quickly with one another. Seth had excused himself to talk to Quil and Embry and Maya walked up to Sadie with a great big smile.
"Hey! I'm Maya," she held out her hand and Sadie took it happily. "This is Becks and Keye." They also smiled and waved.
"Oh, you guys are graduating! Congrats!" she said. Maya nodded. "So are all of you...imprints too?" she said the word uncertain, still trying to get the hang of this new life that had probably just been thrust upon her.
"Ah, no, just me." Maya said. "Paul Lahote imprinted on me back in January." She pointed Paul out to her who was standing and talking seriously with Sam and Jared about something. He glanced at her and waved to the group of women. "And Becks is dating Jeremy. And Keye is hooking up with Collin."
"Off and on," Keye dismissed. Sadie laughed and nodded. "So how did you and Seth meet?" Keye interjected.
"Oh, umm, we both go to the community college about an hour outside of the reservation. We met on campus randomly and...I guess the rest just kind of decided itself," she breathed, clearly happy and at ease with the turn of events. Maya was not confused per se, but she was a little curious. That's it? Whoosh and it was all rainbows? Maybe she and Paul had been fighting the imprint. Maya could feel herself prickling with what she thought might be jealousy at the thought of Sadie and Seth so easily falling into step.
The four women made their way to some adirondack chairs that circled around an unlit fire pit. They had been handed drinks after they sat down by Brady who was making the rounds and offering way too many winks. Despite the pang of jealousy that Maya felt at Sadie's lack of hesitance easing into the imprint, she was really starting to like her. When Seth finally descended to take her back, she and Maya exchanged numbers.
Maya spotted Kim just inside the house in the kitchen and she made her way to her. She was cleaning up some dishes and Maya squeezed in to help.
"Hey! I needed to ask you something," Maya said in a quiet voice. Kim looked at her sideways and gave her a wary smile.
"Okay, shoot."
"Um, I was wondering if I could make an appointment with you at the hospital?" Maya said slowly looking around in hopes that they wouldn't be overheard. Kim's eyes went wide suddenly.
"Oh my god are you pregnant?!" she said a little too loud. Maya put her finger to her lips and frantically shushed her. Outside there was a chorus of laughter and Maya groaned.
"No!" she returned, full volume now. They were probably going to hear her anyway. She spoke at normal volume now, "I was going to see you about getting on birth control."
"Oh! Yeah of course! When do you want to come in." Kim giggled a little.
"Uhhh, the day after tomorrow?" Maya said hopeful. Kim nodded.
"I'll text you what time to come in." Maya breathed a sigh of relief and as they finished the dishes, the sounds of goading grew louder outside. "They really shouldn't tease Paul like that." As they walked toward the doorway, the sounds of laughter boomed across the backyard. Maya was already pink in the face when she descended the back porch steps, her eyes connecting with Paul's as he gave her a reassuring look. And then..
"Oooooooh," a taunting sound came from Embry, Quil, and Jared. The kind you hear coming from a little kid when another kid is in trouble with a teacher. Paul's eyes shot to them quickly, his face stone, a calm facade with a storm brewing underneath. Maya hesitated.
"Someone call the police, we got an old creep staring at high school girls," Quil teased.
"I bet he's into weird bondage too," Jared said and laughed. Maya went bright red now. She knew they were teasing him but this was next level.
"Guys, stop. He's clearly got some sort of reverse Oedipal complex," Embry said. Paul was nearly foaming at the mouth.
"I said knock it off." He said through gritted teeth.
"Oooooh," the three replied. Sam stood off to the side, his arms crossed, seemingly unphased, his eyes watching the situation. Seth looked over curiously from across the lawn, Sadie on his arm. Jeremy and Becks had their eyes glued to the situation, enthralled. And Keye and Collin were...missing. Hmm.
"I've still got my basketball uniform from high school. If I put that on, do I need to be worried about you giving me the business?" Quil taunted.
"Is the joke that he's some sort of creep for imprinting on Maya because she's in high school?" Becks asked Jeremy. He shook his head.
"It's all they've got," he dismissed, slightly amused. "They're just trying to get a rise out of him."
Paul was pushing on Quil's chest now. Maya was startled just by their immense bodies connecting so roughly. Kim had pulled Jared off to the side and was shaking her head at him, annoyed.
"How many feet away from a high school do you have to be before you get a stiffy?" Quil jibbed. Paul lunged and both Quil and Embry took off running toward the woods, laughing. Paul followed, clearly angry and shaking visibly as Maya stood with her mouth open.
"What the fuck," she breathed.
"Don't mind them, they just like to poke fun at each other over imprints. Plus, Paul's been a little too calm and collected lately on rounds so they were probably just trying to pick a fight with him." Emily said, suddenly next to her with a hand on her arm. Maya looked at her, still in mild shock as the sound of snaps and snarls could be heard off in the forest.
The men eventually returned a half an hour later, without shirts and looking a little scuffed up. They were all smiles now, panting and pushing each other playfully coupled in light laughter. Maya was confused—ten minutes ago Paul looked like he was about to kill them and now, he was grabbing Embry around the neck with his arm to pull him into a headlock and give him a noogie.
Paul broke away from them and came over to Maya who was sipping iced tea and leaning against a post on the porch. He jogged up to her and immediately circled her waist in his arms. Before she had a second to respond, his lips were on hers. He tasted like the forest and Maya, wrapped one around his neck, pushing her lips back onto his before pulling away and saying.
"What the hell was that?"
Paul smirked and tilted his head to the side nodding toward the pack, "They're just wannabe bullies."
"Who make fun of you for dating me?" She said, still confused but leaning into the joke.
"No, who make fun of me for being in love with you," he said, his voice an added heat to the summer sun. He leaned down to kiss her lips softly again and then said, "Come on." He steered her into the house now, his hands guiding her by her hips.
"Where are we going?" she laughed, setting her iced tea down on the table. Maya was starting to feel that feverish need pulse from him, the one that always needed to claim her. He didn't respond, but gently pushed her along down the hallway and when they came to the end of the hallway, Paul reached out to open the closed door. He shuffled her inside and closed the door behind them.
"Paul, what—?" Maya said. They were in the spare bathroom she realized and in one movement, Paul had lifted her up onto the counter and brought his lips needy to hers, his hands cupping her face. His mouth was hot, wanting, crushing. Maya rested her hands gently on the sides of his abdomen. His hands drifted down to her hips now, his fingers making quick work of the button on her shorts. "Paul, what are you doing?" Maya said between heated breaths, surprise coloring her voice.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" He slid her shorts and underwear down and pushed her legs open, his fingers pulling at her needy and quick. This wasn't like their most recent times in his bedroom, this was fevered, rushed, needed, demanded. Maya closed her eyes at his touch, her mouth falling open in a soft moan. His other hand unfastened his jeans and he pulled himself out, lowering his mouth to her neck now.
"Do you have a condom?" she breathed as he pulled his hand away and started rubbing against her with his tip.
"I'll pull out," he said low, biting into her shoulder and causing her to cry out at the shot of excitement that rippled through her.
"That sounds like a really bad idea," she said softly, he pulled his face up to hers and as he pushed his way into her anyway he said,
"Trust me." Maya held onto his shoulders as she felt her entire body awash with warmth.
This was definitely not like the other times. Paul's eyes were fiercely playful. As he pumped into her at a rough pace, she kept her eyes on his, desperate for that look that claimed her. His wide hands gripped her hips possessively, pushing and pulling her to him. When she let out a whimper of pleasure, a low growl sounded in his throat and he lowered his head to kiss her lips—Maya relished in the forest that bloomed in her mouth. She started to chant his name as she approached her release. Her hand gripped the back of his neck tightly and he moaned low into her ear. Maya could feel him getting close and as she reached her eye, releasing in a shudder, she whispered frantically, "Pull out, pull out!"
"Not yet," he said through gritted teeth as he increased his speed and Maya couldn't help but let out loud moans. "Fuck!" he said suddenly and then Maya felt him pull out quickly as he came across her thigh on her hip. He let out a sigh of release before pressing his lips to hers. Her hands were tangled in his hair and when she pulled back between panting breaths she said,
"What was that?" Paul gave her a grin that pulled at her heart as leaned over to get some toilet paper to clean her off.
"Ah, just needed you I guess," he said nonchalantly and Maya felt winded by his honesty. As they both got dressed, there was a knock on the door that made Maya's eyes go wide.
"Can you guys hurry up? There are people who actually need to use the bathroom, you know?" It was Brady and Maya clamped a hand over her mouth so as not to laugh. Paul didn't seem bothered. Once she had her shorts up and fastened, Paul opened the door and with a playful smile, he said "Sorry."
He grabbed Maya's hand and pulled her behind him and back down the hallway as she giggled, not even embarrassed as Paul looked back at her with a smile so big she thought she'd faint from happiness.
"Maya! Let's go!" her mom called from downstairs.
"Mom! Graduation doesn't start for another hour. We're fine!" Maya yelled back.
"I have to be there early, My!" The frustration was building in her voice. Maya could just picture her mom at the bottom of the stairs, her dad standing next to her with his hands in his pockets.
"Then go! I'll have Paul pick me up," Maya already had her phone out and had been texting him throughout the morning, her heart fluttering every time a new message from him popped up.
"Maya, no! Come on!" Her mother said firmly. Maya groaned and finished her final girl, brushing her long black hair out as it fanned around her face in gorgeous loose curls. She darted around her room, gathering some things to throw in her small black purse. She slipped on her black red bottom shoes she bought in Santa Monica and threw on the gold bangle bracelets Jeremy gave her on the opposite wrist that Paul's beaded bracelet rested on. She gave herself one last look in the mirror, gathered her cap and gown and hurried down the stairs to her mother's chiding.
Maya's graduation was held in the wide gymnasium of her high school. When she arrived, there were a few people there since it was so early. Maya disappeared into the locker rooms to wait for her friends to arrive.
When Becks and Keye showed up, they squealed in excitement. This was it. Keye dug through Maya's purse for lip gloss and the girls took turns preening the other so that their caps hung perfectly on their carefully done hair.
"That dress is honestly amazing," Becks said, looking at the tightly fitted green dress that hugged Maya's body. The keyhole under her chest peeked some very delicate under cleavage that you didn't notice unless you were staring. Maya adjusted the thin straps across her shoulders, so delicate they looked like they could be snapped easily. As they donned their gowns, the announcements and procession starting in the gymnasium, they stood in a circle and held hands.
"I love you guys," Maya said in a rush of excitement.
"LINE UP!" the assistant principal yelled through the locker rooms.
"On to the next, right?" Keye said, tears coming to her eyes.
"Ew, are you crying?" Becks joked as she sniffled, her face tinged red. Maya let out a laugh and Keye shook her head.
"This is a big moment! Fuck you! I've known you two my whole life and now it feels like something is ending. I'm emotional," Keye said, tears running down her cheeks.
"But your highlight," Maya said, gently. Keye let out a laugh now and pressed the back of her hand to her cheeks.
"LINE UP. LINE UP. LINE UP. THIS IS IT!"
The girls wiggled into line, Maya in front, reaching behind her to hold Becks' hand and Keye in the back holding Becks' other hand.
When Maya was called to the stage, draped in her honors cords and sash a huge raucous booming of whoops and yells filled the auditorium. She looked out into the crowd and saw her mother waving with her whole body, her father clapping, and Paul, surrounded by the entire pack, making so much noise, she thought everyone around them might clamp their hands over their ears. She beamed, her eyes connecting with Paul's for a moment before she took her diploma, shook the principal's hand and made her way off stage.
Four years of hard work for just a crescendo of applause and a rush of excitement and now, it was over. Now, the real work started.
After the ceremony ended, Maya's family—her whole family—made their way over to her. Her mother crushed her in a hug and her dad kissed her cheek. Maya threw herself into Paul's arms and he planted a kiss on her cheek before pulling back to hand her the biggest bouquet of flowers she'd ever seen in her life.
"Congratulations, My," he said, his arm wrapped around her waist.
"Thank you," she beamed up at him, so filled with warmth and happiness that she thought she might explode. Just as he leaned down to kiss her, she was scooped up into hug after hug from each member of the pack, twirling her around, and hyping her up.
Once everyone had cleared out of the gymnasium, they made their way to the community center down by the beach for the summer revival party. Paul and Maya walked hand in hand and she was somewhat amused to see the surprised faces of her community as they looked at the pair together. She realized now that this was the first time they had seen Paul and her together as a couple out in public. They'd only been around the pack like this. She gripped his hand tighter and he looked down at her with a questioning look. She just smiled and shook her head.
The summer revival party was like a traditional bonfire gathering on steroids. There was food and drinks and lights and music. The arrangements that Keye, Becks, and Maya had created were proudly displayed on the tables. The big wide doors opened up onto a sandy patio that tapered off onto the beach.
Maya quickly got lost in the atmosphere of celebration, letting herself be pulled around the room to dance, talk, and drink to one another. Paul dipped in and out of her presence, letting her enjoy this last hurrah with her classmates on her own. He took her onto the dance floor more than once for an excuse to pull her close and wound his arms around her possessively to put themselves on display for everyone—the council included.
As the night wore on, Maya noticed that the pack members were slowly disappearing in groups. Her eyes careened around the room for Paul and when she saw him conferring with Jeremy, she waved to get his attention and gave him a questioning look. He patted Jeremy on the shoulder and made his way to Maya, eyes down. When he reached her, he nodded to her friends and pulled Maya away from them quickly.
"How much have you had to drink tonight?" the question wasn't accusing, just curious.
"Not much, why? Is everything okay?" she could feel the tension in his body.
"Were you planning on coming home tonight?" It always gave Maya a little thrill when vaguely referred to his home as just 'home', as if to imply that it was also her home.
"I mean, I was going to, but if you don't—" she was interrupted by him saying quickly,
"No, no I want you too, I just want to make sure you have a ride. If I give you the keys to my forerunner, can you drive it back to the house and I'll meet you there a little bit later?" His eyes were looking toward the door every now and again and Maya couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
"Sure, but what—?" Maya started again, but he kissed her forehead and dug in his pocket handing her the keys quickly.
"I'll fill you in when I get home. Not too late, okay? And straight home," he ordered.
"Paul!" Maya called after him as he jogged toward the door to meet Jeremy. What was that?