Here you go guys, sorry about the wait. Thank you so much for your reviews though, keep them coming! xx
Chapter 11
Allira's P.O.V
My eyes fluttered open and at first were blinded by the brilliant light that illuminated the room. It was like the whole room was washed in a heavenly white glow. As I squinted and blinked dark shapes began to melt from the brightness, at first blurry but then clear as they came closer. As my eyes finally focused, all breathe escaped me.
There, appearing from the light like that of a god or angel, was Seth.
He smiled down at me with a crooked smile, his eyes shining with amusement and something else I couldn't quite put my finger on. He sat on the edge of my bed leaning over me and I watch completely stunned as his hand reached for my face. I tensed as his warm fingertips brushed across my forehead before trailing into my fanned out hair, the whole time his face moving closer. As he played with the ends of my hair I felt my heart rate skyrocket and my blood boil, making my whole body flush with a charge of heat and energy. He continued to move closer but I couldn't help but think it wasn't fast enough as my fingers itched to just grab his face and pull it to mine. I bite my lip and clenched my fists when finally he reached that one centimetre gap, he pauses much to my annoyance, his eyes glancing at my lips before refocusing on my eyes.
It's in that moment I am truly frozen, his eyes saying more to me than any words could. It's like nothing I've ever felt... ever seen. It was something so intense I didn't know what it was, id never felt or seen anything like this. I stared harder and harder searching for a meaning, but he breaks the connection with a blink. Looking back at my lips, his other hand moves to stroke delicately up my neck, my eyes fluttering shut at the feeling of his touch, I sigh. His hand then moves up to cup my face and his thumb strokes my cheek gently making me shiver. With my eyes still closed I feel his warm breath tickle across my lips, I gasp quietly, holding my breath at his sudden closeness. He's so close now I can just imagine the warm, soft fullness of his lips on mine. I tilt my head upwards impatiently trying to close that last infuriating space between us...
My eyes fly open at the sound of a wolf howling and I feel my pupils dilate at the sudden darkness around me.
Sitting up slowly on my elbows, whilst being mindful of my tender wounds I stared at the empty dark room around me. It hadn't changed, I was still here, where ever here was.
Huh, just a dream I realise slightly disappointed. My heart beat was still drumming in my ears and my skin felt hot and prickly.
What an odd dream, I think as I rub my eyes. I mean I wonder what brought that on. I barely know the guy. Yeah he's easy on the eyes but, I don't ... it wouldn't...just one of those silly dreams I guess, just because he saved me, I convince myself shaking my head remembering what Anne had told me before.
Earlier today or yesterday after Seth had left, Anne had explained to me what had happened. Turns out it was a case of mistaken identity. The pack had thought the person injured was one of them, Seth's older sister to be exact, so they had gone searching but found me instead, well Seth had. I vaguely remembered bits from there, well until I passed out.
She went onto say that when I passed out, he made sure I had gotten here as quickly as possible and wouldn't rest until he knew I was okay. I'm not sure how true that is but it explains where I got the dream from.
My gut gurgled loudly and I felt the start of hunger pains burn in my belly. It seemed my stomach had finally woken up as well, not satisfied from the dinner I had before. I lie back down and try to forget about it by closing my eyes, but yet again it growls in almost a protesting way. I huff loudly easing myself into a sitting position again. There was no way I was going back to sleep like this.
I look around the room thinking, my eyes stopping on the door. Straining my ears I listen out for the occupants of the house. I hear one set of snoring but no one moving around... hhhmm I wonder?
My stomach rumbles again, this time slightly vibrating my stomach.
"Fine." I hiss to myself, kicking back the bed sheets slowly and easing my legs over the side.
My gut better not be making a habit of getting me in trouble, it almost got me killed last time.
I take a deep breath before pushing myself up into a stand, the whole time hoping it won't fail like my last attempt. Luckily my legs keep strong and after the initial head spins stop I feel fine. Pushing my luck I take the chance to stretch my limbs and crack my joints. It felt good after so long of no activity, it seemed I had gone from one extreme to the other. I twinged occasionally when I hit a sore spot but I noticed the pain was lesser then it was the day before.
I finally creep towards the door stiffly, trying to be light on the creaky floorboards. The door squeaks as I open it and I freeze before peering out tentatively. Just like my room it was dark out, the only things making a noise was the low humming of a refrigerator somewhere in a kitchen and of course the loud snoring.
My stomach growls again, piercing the silence. It's so loud I'm actually surprised when it doesn't wake Billy. Wanting to be quick about it I quickly creep towards the hum of the refrigerator as I didn't actually know where the kitchen was, I had only seen the hall and bathroom on my few adventures out of my room.
As I creep through the corridor I pass a fist size hole in the wall. So I'm not the only one, I think as it reminds me of home. I swallow hard as my heart sinks, a definite sign a werewolf has been or lives here anyway. I joke sickly, pushing the thoughts of my house and... family to the back of my mind.
Continuing on the balls of my feet I finally come across the Kitchen. It's quite small, its cabinets and walls the same creamy yellow colour as that of the other rooms I'd been in. My eyes finally lock onto what I'd been looking for, the refrigerator. With my hand on its door I pause briefly before opening it, its light blinds me for a second and washes the kitchen in a white glow. Straight away I notice a large tray of what looked like lasagne sitting on the top shelf amongst several condiments.
That'll do.
Not wanting to wake up Billy by using the microwave I settle for eating it cold, hell this was fine dining compared to what I was eating in the forest a week ago. After finding a knife I cut a slab and eat it much like a sandwich whilst leaning against the counter. As I eat I look around the kitchen, it was quite small and plain really like any kitchen was, the only personal touches were two photos stuck on the fridge. I moved closer for a better inspection.
A much younger Billy who wasn't wheelchair bound stood next to a very beautiful women who looked of similar age. In front of them stood twin girls about fifteen years of age and a much younger little boy who looked around eight. They were all smiling wildly. The other photograph looked from more recent times. Billy looking much like he did now was sat in his wheelchair, a handsome young man crouched by him with his arm slung loosely around Billy, both with big grins on their faces. As I looked between the photos I was almost certain that the little boy and handsome man were the same person. They all must be Billy's family but where were they?
As I finished my lasagne square I went back for seconds, then thirds, but then as I went to go for a fourth I realised I had eaten about eighty percent of the lasagne. Eep. I didn't know who this lasagne was intended for, maybe it was Billy's. I instantly felt guilty. From the little conversation I had, had with Billy I had come to find him a very kind hearted and pleasant man. I owed him so much for taking me into his home and taking care of me. I made a mental note to cook him as many meals as he wanted from this point on as I placed what was left of the lasagne back into the fridge.
With my stomach feeling content I tiptoed back to my room. As I once again eased myself into bed it took me about a minute to confirm that there was no way I would be going back to sleep. I was wide awake and seemingly full of energy. I huffed loudly before sitting up on my elbows and looking out the window next to my bed. All I could see was a big yard of open space before a dense wall of what I now knew to be La Push forest.
hmm… I thought to myself, maybe I just needed some fresh night air to clear my head and calm my nerves.
So as quietly as I could I opened the window. Straight away I felt the cold air creep into my room like a fine mist, I shivered in delight. Resting my arms on the window sill I looked out around the yard and forest, I was yet to actually leave the house and set foot on the property. The thought suddenly made my body itch for some activity, to stretch my muscles and feel the grass under my feet.
I bit my lip as I mulled it over in my head for a few seconds before manoeuvring into a comfortable position in which to get out the window. I slowly eased my body through the window frame as silently as I could, being cautious of my twinging wounds. As I finally sat on the window sill I looked down at the slight drop to the ground. This might hurt a little, I thought looking at the height, so clutching my side with one arm I slide myself off the window sill and dropped to the ground. I landed on my two feet easily enough but my legs still weren't one hundred percent so gave out, I buckled to the ground with a thud landing on my outstretched hands. I gasped as the awkward landing sent sparks of pain throughout my body, my wounds throbbing dully. It only seemed to last for a second or two so I recovered quickly, it was nice to feel the damp earth once again.
Brushing myself off I got up and looked around, the yard looked much larger from out here, the house a whole lot smaller. I started to walk around its perimeter, it seemed to be mostly open land with the odd lone tree dotted around. As I came to the opposite side of the house I noticed what looked like a shed or garage, I approached it curiously but found it to be all locked up. How boring.
I had now come full circle around the house, I glanced back at the window of my room unenthusiastically. I still felt completely restless, if anything the night air had invigorated my body rather then calmed it. I was contemplating wether to go back inside or do another loop of the property when I heard the faint sound of a trickling creek somewhere in the forest. I loved creeks and rivers, especially at night in the glow of the moon, I always found there sounds and smells so calming.
Maybe that would help, I thought looking into the direction of the creek, I glanced back at my open bedroom window feeling slightly guilty. I wasn't going to be that long, I shrugged off, I'll definitely be back before anyone notices. So without another thought I took off in the direction of the forest, following the sound of trickling water.
I power walked for a bit testing and stretching out my muscles, excitement and energy pumping through my veins. It felt so good that it didn't take long for that walk to turn into a jog as I hit the forest, the surroundings of the forest intoxicating.
From my time spent travelling through wilderness like this I felt right at home here, after all there were few things scarier then what I could become. I thought about phasing into my wolf form but then thought better of it, I didn't want further injure my wounds by transforming so I stayed how I was.
With my amazing night vision it wasn't hard for me at all to manoeuvre my way through the trees and shrubs, my pace as well it seemed had brought me quicker to the creek then anticipated for all of a sudden open space hit me and I stopped immediately looking around. Sure enough in front of me was a sizeable creek flowing steadily up stream, opening up the forest canopy to the sky above. It was beautiful here.
Since the moon and stars were so bright I explored around the creek bed, dipping my hands in the icy water and inspecting pebbles before skipping them across the water. I was about to throw my fifth pebble when a faint breeze wafted a familiar homely smell under my nose that I found irresistible. I turned my head subconsciously following it to get a better smell, my nose honing in on it.
It wasn't like the smell of food or perfume but of a memory or a feeling, like a smell that reminded you of a time in your childhood or a person from your past. I couldn't put my finger on what it smelt of exactly but it soothed me and excited me at the same time. All I knew is that I needed to follow it and find whatever it was, so dropping the pebble I took off following my nose without a second thought.
I'm not sure how long I jogged for, all I knew was the scent was getting stronger and thats all that I wanted as I weaved through the forest. Soon however the scent was all around me and as I looked up ahead I noticed the darkness of the forest lightening up. I hurried forward eagerly and soon approached a clearing, as I peeked out at the clearing from behind a tree I realised it was in fact the backyard of a house. The double story house was small and blue with white fittings, very sweet and homely looking if you asked me.
I frowned in confusion. How could this house be responsible for this amazing smell? I had never been here or seen it before?
As if hearing my thoughts a light suddenly flickered on in a room in the upstairs of the house. I stuck closer to the tree still watching intently. A figure rose from what I assumed was a bed, they rubbed their face and hair roughly before yawning tiredly. As they took steps to look out the window I suddenly realised exactly who it was.
Seth.
Without even thinking I rushed forward excitedly into the yard looking up at Seth, I stopped about half way and gave a small wave. Of course he had noticed me as soon as I had emerged from the forest, a look of shock on his face, like he wasn't believing what he was seeing and why wouldn't he this was only the most stalkerish creepy thing to be doing oh my god Allira what were you thinking!?
Realisation finally dawned on me and my face dropped in horror.
It was going to look like I had run away to find Seth, in the middle of the night, after meeting him once. I mentally face palmed myself over and over in my head. What is wrong with me?!
The sound of a back door unlocking and sliding open brought me out of my mortified thoughts as I looked up to see the once again topless Seth jogging over to me. My god he was beautiful I thought as he stopped in front of me, a wall of that irresistible smell hitting and stunning me at full force. So it was Seth's smell, oh and look at his shorts, they're low riding, showing off that perfect V….
"Allira? what are you doing here? is everything okay? are you okay? should you be out and moving around?" Seth blurted out in concern bringing me back to reality. His eyes darted all over me looking for something wrong, and when he didn't find it he started looking around, like there was some sort of danger.
"ahh…" I mumbled, not remembering all the questions or where even my brain was.
My reply made Seth focus back on my face, serious at first but then he smiled crookedly. "Sorry, I didn't really give you a chance to answer all those did I? lets try again, okay, so, what are you doing here?" he asked curiously.
That was a good question, what was I doing here? 'Oh hey seth, yeah I couldn't sleep so I just went to check out a creek in the middle of the night and then smelt this really great smell so I followed it and yeah it turned out to be you.' I'm sure that would go down a treat, but how else was I suppose to explain myself being here?
"umm… well…" I muttered looking around. "I couldn't sleep so I decided to go for a walk and I guess I turned out to be in your neighbourhood so I thought I'd say hi, since you're awake." I finished awkwardly, realising that this excuse was not much better.
"Oh," Seth replied slightly surprised "right."
Oh my god this was so embarrassing, he thinks i'm such a weirdo. Bail, bail, BAIL!
Around us the soft pattering of rain started, getting heavier and faster by the second. I took this as my opportunity.
"Yeah, so, hi and I'm gona go now coz…" I went to turn and walk away but Seth gently grabbed my wrist.
"Don't go." He rushed before noticing he had grabbed my arm and immediately let go looking awkward. "It's about to pour with rain," he said with a knowing look. "So, you should just stay here."
The heat from his hand still remained on my wrist, sending tingles all up and down my arm as we stood in the rain.
"Okay." I breathed, intoxicated by his everything.
My reply instantly put a crooked smile on his face, it made me smile back.
"Lets get out of this rain." He said and then motioned for me to follow him to the the house.
As we crossed the threshold I slowed looking around the room. "I'll just get us some towels to dry off. Make yourself at home." he whispered walking off into another room.
I nodded and began to explore the room which turned out to be the kitchen/ dining / living room all leading into each other. Just as I had expected the house was just as homely inside as it was outside, with cushions, flowers and knickknacks everywhere. It was clear this house had a women's touch, something that was definitely absent in Billy's house.
"Here you go." Seth said as he reentered the room, closing the door behind him. He handed me a towel which I took gratefully and dried myself, I realised then I was still in the borrowed oversized boxers and tshirt. Awesome, I must look like the weirdest girl ever.
"You know you shouldn't have gone off by yourself in the forest." Seth reprimanded, interrupting my thoughts.
I looked up at him guiltily, I hadn't even thought of it like that. "Yeah, I didn't mean to go so far, really, I just got a little carried away without realising I guess." I finished whilst fiddling with a patchwork quilt that was thrown over the couch.
"Should you even be up and walking around?" He questioned concerned, folding his arms.
I shrugged with a small cheeky smile. "They didn't say I couldn't…"
Seth frowned disapproving.
"Look, I'm fine, really." I urged moving my arms and turning on the spot, like that some how proved it.
He still looked unsure.
"and from what I heard today, I have you to thank for that." I continued sincerely, remembering what Anne had told me early. Seth's face and arms immediately dropped as I slowly walked up to him. "Anne told me everything that happened," I stopped in font of him and he was watching me intently. "Thank you, for saving me. Who knows what would have happened if you hadn't found me." There was a brief pause where we just looked at each other, before I leaned forward and hesitantly kissed his cheek, my heart fluttering wildly in my chest.
All of a sudden it was like everything slowed down and there were burning embers between my lips and his cheek, smouldering then shooting off sparks all over my body like fireworks. His beautiful scent was also swallowing me up, making me so weak at the knees I wanted to wrap my arms around him for support or was it to pull him even closer…
I suddenly realised I didn't know how long we had been standing like that for and immediately pulled away embarrassed, looking at the floor.
What was that?
I heard Seth clear his throat, "You're-you're welcome." he mumbled slightly dazed. I looked up to see him staring blankly behind me. "It was, ah, nothing, really." he finished, his eyes returning to mine with a very familiar unreadable expression.
My dream.
Seriously what he hell is going on here?
"um, do you want anything to eat or drink?" he suddenly said shaking his head slightly and backing away into the kitchen. "What am I saying, we're always hungry." he forcefully joked answering himself, as he opened and looked in the cupboard.
I frowned as I watched the back of him, trying to come to grips with what had just happened, with what I had just felt. Never had a boy had such an effect on me before, never, and I barely knew the kid. Sure, I'd had crushes before but this was a whole other level. Was this a werewolf thing? Would I feel this with other werewolf members? Was Seth special? Did he feel it too?
While I stood deep in thought, I saw from the corner of my eye Seth turn back from the cupboard with two bags of chips. At the sight of my troubled expression his face fell a little and he looked down, almost guiltily. As I turned my full attention to him however, his whole face perked up as if nothing had concerned him. "So how about chips and weird late night tv?" He asked with a smile, holding up a bag of Doritos and Twisties. I shrugged and nodded not knowing what else to do and followed Seth to the tv, my mind still reeling from, everything.
We sat on the floor in front of the tv so we could both stretch out comfortably, what with being so tall and all and barely knowing each other the couch was too small for us. Seth had turned the tv on but not bothered to surf the channels I noticed, not that there was going to be anything good on at this hour anyway. As I fiddled with a pillow against my back, trying to get it comfortable I felt Seth's eyes on me, I stopped what I was doing and turned to meet them. He was lying on his side, still shirtless, his head propped up on his arm waiting for me to get settled. I swooned again mentally before mentally slapping myself.
"So…" He said with a small smile.
"So…" I replied back shyly.
He chuckled. "Okay so, this is stupid, we barely know each other and I feel like we should, so how bout we play twenty one questions?" he suggested. "We'll take it in turns and both answer the question, fair?"
"um, yeah, okay." I laughed nervously. I wanted to know as much as I could about this mysteriously alluring guy, but what kind of questions was he going to ask me?
"Okay cool, I'll start. Umm…" he thought for a moment. "What's your full name?"
I relaxed a little. "Allira Corralez. You?"
"Seth Clearwater."
"That's pretty." I commented.
"Your'e pretty." he whipped back without missing a beat. I scoffed and went red slightly embarrassed and shocked at his forwardness. "Sorry that just came out. Urgh so cheesy." he apologised also slightly embarrassed.
"Moving on anyway," I laughed off trying to lose the awkwardness. "How old are you?"
"Just turned sixteen a few weeks back." Seth answered.
I raised my eyebrows surprised, he looked more around eighteen. "I'm fifteen. Sixteen this year though."
Seth also seemed surprised before smiling. "Yeah, neither of us look our age."
I nodded in agreement.
"Where you from?" He questioned, back in the game. I paused.
"San Francisco." finally answering looking down. Home.
There was another pause which made me look back up at Seth. My answer had obviously intrigued him but he knew it wasn't his turn to ask.
"I'm born and bred here in La Push." he finally said, answering his own question. "Your turn."
"Um…" I pulled my mind away from sad thoughts and continued. "When did you become a werewolf?"
Seth grew somber, "I was fifteen."
"Yeah same." I also answered dully.
"Did you travel here by foot all the way from San Francisco?" Seth asked, still curious from his previous question.
"Yes, but I don't see how this question applies to you-" I tried to finish but Seth cut in again with another question.
"Why? are you running away from some-?" This time I was the one to cut in.
"It's not your turn," I stated firmly, "but if you must know, one day I just became a werewolf out of nowhere with no prior knowledge of them even existing. What would you have done?" I finished sarcastically and somewhat harshly. "Now can we please go back to questions we both can answer."
Seth remained silent, watching me warily which made me feel a little bad.
I was beginning to think this game was a bad idea. It was taking me to places I didn't want to think about let alone talk about.
"Do you have family?" Seth continued innocently after a moment.
And there it was.
"Pass." I stated plainly staring at the ground.
"Wha-?" Seth started confused.
"I don't care. Pass." I stated again firmly.
"Okay, okay you don't have to answer." He rushed looking concern. "um, did you still want me to answer?"
I looked up interested, so he continued.
"I live here with my Mum and older sister, Leah, who's also in the pack."he paused taking a breath. "My Dad passed away last year from a heart attack. It was kind of what made me first phase into a werewolf." he finished now the one looking at the ground.
My heart broke.
"I'm so sorry." I said sincerely, touching his hand. I knew too well what it felt like to lose family.
He looked up at my touch. "It's okay." he said with an understanding smile.
Guilt bloomed in my gut. Here was the guy who had basically saved my life opening up to me, trying to get to know me and all I could do was be a bitch and shut him out. I'm actually the worst.
"Let's change the mood though hey? Upbeat question go." He then added with a smile, pulling his hand away from my forgotten touch.
We continued on with the game after that making sure to steer clear of any potential sensitive areas, instead opting more for stupid trivial questions like favourite colour or food. It actually went on way past the 21 questions and into the wee hours of the morning, the questions getting more and more delirious and stupid as we did. Over the course of the night our positions had also slowly moved to lying on the floor with our heads resting on a pillow.
Although we were clearly both about to fall asleep with our eyes barely open and increasing pauses between our questions, Seth piped up again.
"Who, is your favourite werewolf?" Seth mumbled as he lay on his side facing me but with eyes closed.
"Ha ha, I only know one." I laughed before yawning.
"Answer the question!" he demanded sleepily, pointing at me blindly.
"Seth is my favourite werewolf." I replied to which I peeked at him grinning widely. "Now you answer."
There was a long pause where I was certain he had finally fallen asleep, I was about to almost certainly fall asleep as well as my eyes finally closed.
"Allira… Allira Corralez… My imprint." he finally mumbled and was out cold.
I frowned not understanding the last part of what he said but it was too late, I couldn't fight it anymore. Sleep claimed me.