Chapter 45

The snow danced around us as we walked hand in hand back to my truck. The snow clung damply to our clothes and hair but we didn't seem to notice. A nuclear bomb could have gone off and it wouldn't have fazed us.

"So," Kaase spoke once we reached my truck, breaking the silence. "Where do you live?"

"I live in the apartments on Halleck Street." I replied, "Do you want me to drive you home first?"

He laughed. "Sure, but we're heading for the same place."

I felt my jaw drop. But then I remembered that magnetic pull I had my first day here. It was unexplainable then but completely understandable now.

"I'm guessing one of those big Indians that were brining in boxes was Jacob?" He wondered.

I was suddenly extremely glad they had been on their best behavior that night. "Yeah, the other was my brother, Seth."

"And by his size I'm guessing he's a werewolf also?" He guessed, amused.

"Bingo." I chuckled. "But there's something else I have to tell you. You can't tell anyone about me or any of the pack or even about the vampires. No one is allowed to know our secret."

Kaase nodded. "Of course, that's perfectly fine." He reached up and brushed the dusting of snow off my hair. "Now I know that you don't feel cold but it really is freezing out here."

"Oh, Sorry!" I apologized quickly and unlocked the doors. He slid in, knocking the snow of his running shoes before closing the door. I started the truck and headed towards the apartments.

"Tell me about your family." I asked curious.

He laughed. "Well, there's so much to tell, we'd be here all night. Like you already know, I was named after my father. He owns the saw mill me and my brothers and some of my cousins work at. And my mom, Anna, is a 4th grade teacher at Port Angeles elementary."

"How many siblings do you have?" I wondered aloud.

"I have two brothers and two sisters ranging in ages. The youngest in our family is Eric who's a freshman in high school. I'm the oldest brother, but my two sisters are older than me and both married with children. Their names are Sarah and Deborah, my other brother is named Bill."

He laughed then and I realized I had a shocked expression. "You have a big family." I replied in awe. "I can barely handle one brother."

He chuckled. "That's not even including my extended family. It's not so bad having a big family, there's always someone there for you."

"How many children do your sisters have?" I gulped, wondering if big families were another expectant of him. Until I changed I wouldn't be able to give him any children, and I have no idea how long that would take.

"Sarah has three kids, two boys and a girl, and Deborah just had her first child last year, a little boy named Isaac." He smiled at this thought and I swallowed hard.

I parked in the lot and asked, "So is that your truck over there?" I nodded towards the shiny blue monster that Jake and Seth had deemed the "White Trash Truck."

"Yeah." He replied as we got out of the car. "You wouldn't believe how banged up that baby was when I first bought her."

The walk upstairs seemed too fast, I didn't want to leave him even if it was only for a night. We paused outside my door, "I'll see you same time same place tomorrow?" He asked with a little sourness. My expression must have been the same because he then said, "I know it seems like forever, but I work all day."

"I have classes and work all day also." I agreed unwillingly. "I'm sorry you missed out on your run today."

'It was worth it," he smiled, setting his hand on my neck and rubbing his thumb against my cheek. "Maybe tomorrow you could run with me, that is if you wanted to."

"I'd love to!" I said excitedly, I haven't been able to stretch my legs since the almost battle. "I promise to ease up on you." I giggled.

He laughed. "Thanks." He bent down and kissed me lightly on the forehead. "Good night." He whispered into my hair, then pulled away, blue eyes dancing.

"Night." I whispered back. He turned slowly, yet too fast, and walked back towards his room. I took one last glance at him before going through my door.

Once inside my excitement almost made me vomit. I'd been hoping to keep this from Seth a little longer but I couldn't wait any more. I rushed to the phone and dialed home, hoping that he wasn't staying out late with the pack that night. As the phone rang I slumped back on my outdated couch and sighed. My life had gone from hell to heaven in what, 24 hours? How was that even possible? In my world, reality was a demon that sought to take everyone you loved and smash them and your dreams, but it seemed some kind of angel had taken over my life and put an end to my misery. I smiled, knowing with all my heart that the angel was named Kaase.