"Ready, C?"
"Sure thing, Brady," I grinned at him in the dark before we both went behind our own trees, respectively, to phase.
A week had gone by since my first phasing experience, and Brady and I were heading out for my first patrol. It was dusk- my least favorite time of day- and very cold. I was incredibly thankful for my internal werewolf heater and my new night vision, that's for sure.
Brady, now in wolf-form, howled, my signal to hurry up. Sigh… Brady… Ever since my birthday, I'd kind of been avoiding him. At first, I was scared that I'd imprinted on him, because of how quickly and strongly my feelings for him had come on. But I'd quickly realized that wasn't it. It just had to be a crush. A very powerful, envy-inducing big crush, sure, but just a crush all the same. God knows, my hormones were all out of whack right then anyways; my sudden liking of Brady was probably just a side-effect of that.
In order to hide my thoughts and feeling from the pack (mostly from Brady, though) when in wolf-form, I'd started to think in French. I'd always been gifted with learning different languages, but I especially excelled in le francais. I was even vice-president of the La Push High French club, a serious accomplishment as I was only a sophomore. Therefore, all my thoughts were in French, so that the boys couldn't figure out what I was thinking about and so they wouldn't know all my secrets. I knew it frustrated them, but they understood. It was hard to have people poking around in your head all the time.
I quickly stripped down and phased. Phasing had gotten easier for me, and I had better control of myself, but I still didn't like it. All I'd ever wanted was to be normal, but the whole wolf-thing had royally screwed that up for me. Oh well. It wasn't like I could change back to how I was before.
What took you so long? Brady asked impatiently as I stepped out from behind my tree.
I'm not as used to this as you are, remember? I rolled my eyes at him, and he laughed.
I'm just teasing you, Little Sister.
Yeah, sure. I retorted. What are we supposed to be doing tonight anyways?
Nothing really, he said, his giant dark-grey wolf form laying down in a bed of leaves. We can just sit here and wait until we sense something "questionable," which we won't. Nothing exciting ever happens on patrol.
That's it? I asked, hoping for something a bit more exciting, and he nodded grimly. I guess now I know why you guys all think it's the "bane of your existence."
Brady bark-laughed, Yeah, it's incredibly boring. Especially when you're out here by yourself. Somehow, most of the others ended up with partners for patrol, but I'm all by myself. Well, he smiled, I was all by myself, but now I've got you.
I grinned back (smiling in wolf-form was weird- it was just like you were snarling, but you had to make your eyes soft and not malicious. I always felt awkward when doing it- wolves just shouldn't grin- but Brady somehow made it look cute and effortless). I'm glad I ended up with you. You're fun to be around. I think it'd be dreadful to end up with Collin or Paul… or Sam…
Collin wouldn't be too bad, for me anyways. But I can imagine, for you, being stuck with your brother for that long wouldn't be all that great. Paul is far too belligerent for me. He doesn't know how to have fun without being annoying or biting someone's head off. And Sam… well, Sam's the alpha, and an awfully serious one at that.
Yeah, exactly. I suppose Jared wouldn't be too bad. But he's a lot older than me, and I don't really know him all that well. I sighed contentedly. Brady really was a good partner to be stuck with for patrols.
So how's being a wolf going for you? It was hard for me for awhile, but I had Collin to help me get through it. You're sorta alone in this.
It hasn't really been bad. I mean, yes, the initial shock of it was awful and I still don't like phasing, but I'm getting used to it. And I'm not really alone. I mean, I have you and Collin, you know? But I do wish I could tell Summer and Maryse. I hate keeping stuff from them, especially stuff as big as you know, being a werewolf.
I guess you could tell them, Brady suggested thoughtfully. But not yet. You should probably be more in check with your anger before you do.
I am in check with my anger! I shouted at him and smacked his side with my tail, which only made him laugh.
Yes, you are so very in check with your rage, I can most definitely tell, he grinned and rolled his big black eyes.
Oh, just shut up… I groaned which made him laugh harder.
Really, though, Cay, don't tell them until you're completely under control and really ready. Or it may end badly.
How could end badly? They're my best friends, I'm sure they'll understand… or at least, I'm sure they'll be accepting of my… new condition.
You know how Sam's wife Emily has those terrible scars?
Yeah, everyone knows about that. She got attacked by a bear.
Brady exhaled slowly. No, she didn't get attacked by a bear. That's just what they told everyone. After Sam imprinted on Emily and they became a couple, Sam told Emily about what he was. She thought he was just kidding and got impatient with him, and Sam took it the wrong way and angrily phased, and in all of his rage, accidently mauled her face.
I stared at Brady incredulously. I couldn't imagine our clear-headed and stolid alpha ever doing something like that, and to Emily too, who he loved so much! Oh my God, Brady, that's awful.
He nodded seriously. Sam lives with that guilt every day. Emily still loves him and has long forgiven him for it, but Sam won't ever forgive himself. None of us would want you to accidently hurt Summer or Maryse like that. And we both know that Summer never takes anything seriously, so it wouldn't be hard for you get enraged like that, Brady added, making the conversation a bit lighter.
Ha, yeah, I guess you're right. I'd never be able to live with myself if I hurt Summer or Maryse, I said in agreement. Even though God knows Summer would make me make up for my hurting her with some cruel and unusual punishment that would make me wish I'd mauled her more… I mumbled.
Brady roared at this and I joined in with his laughter, because we both knew how demanding and difficult our best friend Summer could be. My first patrol went smoothly after that, Brady and I bark-laughing so hard about everything that I swear we probably woke half the reservation with our silly teasing and wolfish snickers.
A/N: So, honestly, I'm not sure what I think of this chapter. If you have any suggestions on how I could better it, let me know :) The next two chapters will be fun to write and fun to read ( or so I hope, ha) because there'll be a real introduction to Summer and Maryse, Catie's best friends. They're really fun characters, so I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do. Review (pretty please with a cherry on top)?