Chapter 4
"Twelve's enough, right? I mean, you, me, Seth, Jake, your family… that's… shit. What if she wants to bring someone too?" I was spazzing out.
Ness and I were in my room, her sprawled out on my bed, completely at ease. Me on the other hand, I was pacing all over, my sock clad feet moving from my dresser, to my closet, to my window and back again. I held eight out of twelve tickets that we won, wondering why I got myself in the situation I was in. I felt like steaming shit on a pike, my wolf especially.
"Leah, take deep breaths. It's ok; Aunt Rosalie doesn't like Katy Perry that much and neither do my parents." She propped herself up on her elbows, resting her chin in her hands, an amused grin on her cherubic face.
"So, that means I have… wait, would Alice go? How about Jasper?"
"Uncle Jazz isn't into big crowds, but Aunt Alice loves Katy Perry. I think only she'll go."
I nodded at Ness, letting go of a breath I just realized I was holding. I trusted Jasper… to an extent. He did well around humans, not a single slip up -I'm told- since an event long ago with Bella. Still, I worried, my wolf was wary of the idea of a vampire as intimidating as him to be near my angel.
"Leah," she said, a sudden sharp edge to her voice. I pulled away from my thoughts to focus on her, noticing her narrowed gaze, pursed lips and slightly flared nose. She shifted around, sitting cross legged, with her hands in her lap. Sudden mood swing… maybe her period is close?
"What's up, Ness?" I stopped my pacing, dropping down to sit next to her on my bed, my elbows on my knees.
"I don't get you, Leah. We all know and we can all see past your façade. Stop pretending."
Knitting my brows together, I stared at her, not really comprehending what she was talking about. I opened my mouth, about to tell her just that when she shook her head and glared at me.
"Seriously? I've stayed quiet for these few hours hoping you'd say something about what happened earlier. Or maybe even say something about what's going on now."
"Am I that obvious?" I asked in resignation, finally understanding exactly what she meant. Slumping forward and dropping my face into my hands, I let out a long sigh. I wasn't very good at hiding from the little mutant.
"Not really, but I know you. Plus, my dad is a mind reader, so…" I looked up from my hands and saw her shrug. "Talk to me, please, LeeLa, I'm your best friend."
She reached forward and tentatively placed her fingertips to my cheek, allowing her mind to flow slowly into my own.
"This is what I see," she whispered.
It was a series of images of me; starting from the moment I walked away from Olivia to collect the tickets a little less than ten hours ago. I saw from her perspective the way my eyes grew darker the further I walked away from my imprint, the way my lips began to quiver, the way tension swallowed my features, aging me in a way only pain could. Ness showed me my rigid gait as I walked from her and the guys to head to the woods for a quick run. She showed me the strained smile and hollow laugh I offered up when congratulated on the win. Her touch on my skin began to waver as I heard a soft sniffle. The last image she showed of me was when I came back from my run as a wolf. I gasped. My coat, which was always so lustrous and silky, looked dull and strung out. My bright grey that, at times in the proper moonlight, reflected a silver glow looked matted, making me look like some mangy mutt. I also looked so thin and there was a weird filmy liquid that stuck to the corners of my eyes.
"You can't be serious! I don't look like that," I half shrieked, jumping away from her touch. Her gaze was compassionate and even, not at all jostled by my reaction. In that moment I wanted to tear her to pieces. She had no idea what I was going through, how I was feeling, and that obviously exaggerated image didn't help. Something was wrong with my imprint and there was a distinct feeling of guilt I harboured for a reason. Flaming shit on a pike.
"Jake and I talked about it, we decided it would make sense that your wolf be hit the hardest the quickest," she murmured, cautiously lifting herself from my bed. Red started to cloud my vision.
"You talked about me." My voice was low and gravely, like the growl that was building inside my chest. Familiar warmth piled itself on the base of my spine, adding to the already burning heat that was there the moment I somehow managed to hurt my imprint. "You have absolutely no idea how this is! You're not a wolf! You've never felt this pain, this searing pain!" I roared. My muscles twitched under my skin, acknowledging the possibility of my phase. I quickly made my way to my window, picking up my emergency clothing I always had there, hastily unlocking the latch, opening it then leaping out; I shed my human skin for the more primal one.
As soon as my paws hit the ground, I tore out of there, my legs pumped by the fuel of self-loathing and confusion. Howl after howl poured from my muzzle, filling the night sky with my music of pain. I didn't stop running, not until my body collapsed and barreled into a tree.
My vision doubled and I had to shake my head many times before anything looked normal.
Fine! Fucking, fine! I admit it, I hurt her somehow and it's killing me so badly inside, I screamed in my mind, a howl echoing my thoughts. What the hell did I do to her? Why am I always a screw up? Why, even after I do something for her I know she'd love, do I end up hurting her? Why'd I imprint on the most amazing woman only to end up being the biggest pain to her? I know I hurt her… I know it was me… I did something and she knows it… she's mad at me because she knows it's me…
I didn't know what my mind was rambling on about honestly, my instincts just took over and my thoughts flowed. I tried to keep up with what my wolf was trying to work out but it was so messed up and all over the place. How was it that the animalistic, primal side of my psyche understood what was going on more than the rational part?
I began to pace in a circle, my hackles up and my lips pulled back in a continuous snarl. I was so consumed in my self-hatred and confusion that I almost didn't hear the sound of approaching footsteps. They were heavy and clumsy, nothing like the swift and precise footfalls of any super powered being I'd become acquainted with or even the knowing gait of woodland creatures. Humans.
I became stone still, my heart rate slowed and I lowered my body to the forest floor. Their heartbeats were fast, thumping violently in their chests; my wolf acknowledged them as easy kill. I could only imagine what could happen if a hungry vampire was in the vicinity.
"Dad… I think we're lost…" a soft voice murmured. My ears pricked up at the sound.
"Nonsense, son, I've been exploring these woods for years. We're not too far from a small river," a gruff voice said in response. I cocked my head to the side, listening for the sound of running water but didn't pick up a thing.
"Dad, seriously, it's… past midnight. I can barely see anything in front of me."
"Son, if your sister could handle this, so can you," was the immediate reply.
"Yeah, well, she's more than a three hour drive from here, old man."
Close, they were getting very close now. I flared my nose, catching their scent with the lingering smell of appealing fear. I bit back the growl building in my chest; they were humans and needed my help. With super speed, I ducked behind a tree and phased back, hurriedly yanking on my clothes. Stupid suffocating sense of duty and responsibility over frail humans.
"Hello?" I called out. "Is anyone there?"
"Dad, I think someone's out here! Hello!" I stifled a laugh. "Where are you? Can you hear me?"
"I can't really see anything," I lied. "Maybe we should handle this like 'Marco Polo', the pool game?"
"Did she seriously just suggest that? Must be some lost teenage girl," the older man huffed softly, but of course, I could hear him.
"Dad, Olive wouldn't do that, stop judging… That's a good idea, Marco!"
"Polo!" I shouted back.
Back and forth we went. I easily made my way towards them, trying my best to make my way noisily like someone normal. Finally, we reached each other and I was pleasantly surprised when I found two adorable guys with hiking gear and flashlights.
"Get lost like we did?" the son asked shyly, reaching forward and offering his hand. I took it and shook it briefly, wanting to avoid prolonged skin contact; that always caused questions.
"Yeah, I lost all of my things and these woods are foreign to me."
"Not wise to be out here this late by yourself, miss. I'm Jonathan Samon and this is my son, Kurt." He turned the flashlight to himself then to his son and the resemblance was striking… and familiar.
"I'm sorry, have we met before?" I asked, silently cursing myself for giving into impulsive curiosity. I swept my gaze over them, taking in the striking green eyes, straight and proud noses, wavy bronze tresses and sharp cheek bones. Wolf night vision was a total bonus when checking people out in the dark.
"I don't think so; my family has lived here for quite a while."
"We should look for somewhere to rest," Kurt finally piped up. We all nodded in agreement, trekking our way through the trees with my silent suggestions guiding us.
The three of us ended up in a clearing near a stream, possibly the place Jonathan was aiming for earlier. The older man smirked at his son, nudging him roughly in the ribs and ordering him to set up their tent. I stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do since I got them to a relatively safe place with a water source.
"What time is it?" I inquired. Kurt looked up at me from pegging down the stakes before pulling out his phone.
"Around three in the morning," he replied.
Shit, I thought to myself. I had to get back home so I could go to school and find out what was up with Olivia! How long would it take for the two to fall asleep? I pondered.
"Alright, the tents are both set up; let's get some shut eye, shall we? Uh… miss, you get a tent to yourself, Kurt and I will share the other," Jonathan boomed.
I growled internally. These two would need my protection longer if he snored as loud as he spoke.
"See ya in the morning, Mystery," Kurt chuckled before ducking into his tent.
Fucking weird ass humans, shouldn't they be getting that feeling of fear I always cause in them? Muttering to myself, I slipped into the tent I was given and rested on the tarp-covered earth.
"We don't have any more food, we should head back home tomorrow," Kurt whispered to his dad on the other side of camp. My hearing effortlessly picked up their hushed conversation.
"We'll just have to hunt in the morning," came the stern reply.
"An hour of rest, then a quick hunt and then school," I said softly to myself. I set my internal clock then let myself fall into the dark oblivion that was sleep.
...
An hour later, I awoke to the sound of loud snoring and scurrying paws. Chuckling, I stretched my tense muscles, letting out a quiet yawn before jumping to my feet and padding out of the tent. Animals always lost their backbone as soon as I, or any of the other wolves, woke up. Guess they can sense the predators we are. Rolling my shoulders, I listened for my companions' steady heartbeats to confirm their unconsciousness. Sure enough, Jonathan was still snoring and his son slept through that.
"One last favor for these guys, then I'm out of here." I shed my clothing, a small moan escaping my lips from the feel of a cool breeze against my skin. The well-known heat of an upcoming phase rapidly built inside me, collecting under my skin until I exploded into a being of fur and fang. It felt amazing back in my fur, even though the pain of the imprint was worse, the freedom it brought helped.
I adapted instantly to my baser instincts, cocking my head to the side, my ears twitching at each sound the surrounding forest made. Finally, I picked up the quick, agile gait of a rabbit, scampering within a ten foot radius. Easy pickings, was the last rational thought in my mind before I gave way to the hunt.
My lithe body launched in the general direction of the small creature, picking up on the scent without trouble. Not more than a second later did I have the bundle of fur between my teeth, trotting back to the campsite, carrying a feel of accomplishment. As soon as I set paw in the clearing, I dropped the rabbit at the entrance of their tent then marked my scent at a ten foot radius of them. If I couldn't be there to fight off any rabid animals to protect them, at least my piss could fend off any unwanted visitors. Animal instincts were gross but the law of the land held and my wolf knew them pretty damned well.
Part of me did feel a little uneasy though, leaving the rabbit the way I did. The kill was quick and clean but it was obviously done by teeth. How could a person explain that? Oh well, I wouldn't be around for an interrogation, I had more important things to concern myself with.
Sunlight began to stream through the line of trees that surrounded the clearing, spurring me on to start my run back home. I was technically lost, so, to find my way back home, I gave into the pull of the imprint and shot off. My thoughts weren't a jumbled mess anymore, my instincts were in line with my conscious thoughts.
I would fix things; I'd make it all better with my Olivia. If I could save two lives so easily and selflessly, maybe I was good enough, worthy enough, for a woman like her.
Olivia Nyssa Bellamy, be prepared, because here I come.
There was a little bit of revision done to this chapter but not much. I'm going through the story again and trying to fix it a little. Mainly because I am confused with my own ideas since it's been so long and during that time I was probably super sleepy and tipsy. I hope to get back into the swing of things sometime soon and crank out a new chapter. Happy Vday 2016