As we get closer to the bottom stairs I hear people talking and it makes me really anxious, Alex obviously senses it and puts her arm around my shoulder pulling me closer into her side. Its protective and she has a motherly touch, a touch that I miss all too much.
As we walk into the kitchen there’s a couple of people standing around talking, they all stop and look at me under Alex’s arm. I move closer to her, I look at the people in the room and some are smiling at me and looking between the two of us obviously seeing the similarities between us. The guys in the room all seem to be bare chested or wearing vests, looking me up and down with lust in their eyes making me feel insecure in my denim shorts and tight t-shirt that clearly shows cleavage.
“Boys stop drooling, close those damn mouths!” A deep voice radiating authority booms through the door that leads out the kitchen. A huge dark haired man walks in, I thought the twins were big but this man is colossal, muscles bulking out of his tight black shirt. That voice that shows authority makes me take a step back out of fear.
The man walks towards me and bends so he is looking me in the eyes. His eyes are familiar; I see them every time I look in the mirror. Strange.
“I’m going to give you a hug now, please don’t hurt me.” he smiles as he says this in a softer tone and before I can reply he too grabs me in a big bear hug that lifts me off the ground. I feel him squeeze me gently as if he doesn’t want to let me go, this man could easily break me if he wanted to. I feel safe with him and I don’t know why, I start to laugh as everyone cheers in the room. He puts me down reluctantly.
“I’m Johnny, your um….uncle.” he says with a big smile but falter when he mentions the uncle part.
“We are so happy to have you with us here Angel, I can’t believe how much you look like Alex except you’re a whole lot smaller.” he looks at me in awe.
“…and a whole lot paler.” I blurt out without thinking and everyone starts laughing at my comment. I can’t believe how gentle he was with me when a few minutes ago he was about to rip those guys heads off.
He looks at my aunt then at me as if in amazement. “She is absolutely perfect Alex. Perfect.” He gives Alex an affectionate hug and kiss, I turn my attention to everyone as different people start introducing themselves to me also calling me Angel. I’m not sure why everyone is so fascinated by me. Maybe because I’m the only human here.
Johnny comes up and pulls me away from Talon and Tyler whom were teasing me about passing out.
He hands me a plastic cup with juice. “Come Angel, we’re going to go make a bonfire outside and you can meet some of the other members of the pack.” He pulls me with him and introduces me to the other members. I love this atmosphere, its one big family and I feel so wanted. Smiling to myself I think about how crazy this is.
“What are you smiling about?” Tyler says as he sits next to me and Talon sits on my other side.
“Are you two joined at the hip?” I ask them sarcastically raising my eyebrow.
They laugh, “You’re not only gorgeous, your also funny AND can kick ass!” Tyler says as he fist pumps his brother’s hand in front of me.
“Baby where Tyler goes - I go and we share everything!” he says as he winks at me and looks my body over just oozing sex appeal. I feel my cheeks redden and take another sip of my cold soda.
Trying to change the subject and answer some of the questions twirling in my head I blurt, “So how old are you guys? Are you related to my aunt or her husband? Do you know how long they have been married? They are so cute together, it’s as if they’re still teenagers in love…” I ramble on dreamily happy at seeing my aunt and uncle so happy together reminding me of how my parents used to be.
“We’re twenty two and nah we’re not related but no one cares about all that. We are one pack, one family. Alpha Jon and Luna Alex have been together for a long time. Alex was lucky to find her mate in Alpha when she was fifteen, that’s what our mom told us, and they have been together ever since. That’s what having a mate is all about ...when you find your soul mate, the person becomes another part of you. Every time you see them it will be like the first time you saw them and your feelings for them will be so strong nothing can tear you apart.” Talon says looking intently into my eyes.
“Wow, that’s amazing… so a mate is your soul mate? The person made just for you? Your other half?” I say softly, almost whisper thinking to myself the stories my mother used to tell me when I was small.
“Yeah it’s pretty amazing…” Tyler says as he looks into the fire clearly talking about his mate. He seems saddened as he talks from experience I quickly ask them if they have a mate and they both are quick to deny it so I change the subject.
“Sorry for earlier.” I say to them. They look at me confused, “You know …for kneeing you in the…” I say and they immediately understand.
“Don’t apologize to them Lexi, if I was there when they man-handled you I would of probably done worse.” Johnny says as Alex sits across from me on his lap.
“I just can’t believe someone as small as you put those two mutts, which are are double the size of you by the way, so easily on the ground in pain…it was amazing!” Johnny says in a pleased tone. There’s something about him that makes me easily drawn to him in a fatherly sense… maybe he just reminds me so much of dad.
I laugh at their comments. “Well my dad taught me how to stand up for myself.” I see Johnny wince when I say “my dad” but it was so small that I almost missed it, I watch as Alex rubs his neck as if trying to reassure him.
“When I was younger, I was the shortest in my age group but I was also the chubbiest, so the boys and girls used to pick on me. One day I came home with bruises and dad started teaching me self-defense and other types of martial arts at the gym he owned. He said that even though I was small I should be able to defend myself so I’ve been training since I was about seven.” I smile at the memory of my dad teaching me.
“You were bullied as a kid? How long did it last? Did James sort them out?” he rambles on and I see him sit up straight and his jaw tense. Why would he be angry? It was a long time ago…
“Yeah he went and spoke to their parents and they never bullied me again, but then after he died and things changed, the bullies came back and I just got to the point where I didn’t care what they did to me. I stopped going to lessons because the gym reminded me of him and I just couldn’t take it. I miss the training though…” I say as I look in the blazing fire and grimace at the memory of how I was bullied by those who used to be my best friends.
“Johnny could train you if you like … I mean if you wanted to carry on training?" Alex says as she looks down at Johnny underneath her. He looks at her and gives her a smile then looks at me with hope in his eyes.
“Really?” I say as I look at Johnny and his smile gets even wider.
“Of course! I would love that and then at least you have a reason to come back.”
“I’ll visit as often as I can…. that’s if you guys want me around, I don’t want to intrude or anything?” I say shyly.
“Honey we want you around as much as possible, now that we found you, you aren’t going to be able to get rid of us that easily.” Johnny chuckles,
“We would prefer if you lived with us permanently but I know you have other commitments and we don’t want to scare you away especially with this whole werewolf thing that’s new to you. Our home is always open to you when you want to come here. You’re part of our family and this is your home.” He gives me an encouraging smile.
"Thank you so much for everything, I would have loved to live here with you guys…it’s weird because I haven’t felt “at home” for so long and as soon as I came here and met all of you I felt like It was home. I didn’t really have a big family when I was growing up, it was just mom, dad and I. So spending time with all of you feels great.” I notice every single time I mention my dad Johnny grimaces. I need to get to the bottom of that. I see sadness in both Alex and Johnny’s eyes a
s I tell them this.
“So Johnny will you really train me?” I ask him smiling.
“Sure hun if you want me to.”
“Yes please, I’ll make sure I come visit you guys at least once a week, hopefully more if I can get moms car.” I smile at them excitedly.
“Then you can stay over whenever you come, we will even get you your own bedroom ready, I don’t want you driving all the way back there in the dark, do you think Georgina will mind?” Alex declares, I don’t argue with her since I really don’t mind spending more time with these people.
“Oh don’t worry about Georgina, she probably won’t even realize I’m gone, she never does….she’s too worried about her boyfriend and going out with her friends.” I mumble off not realizing how annoyed I sound at speaking of Georgina, I look at Johnny and Alex and both of their faces are scrunched up, I watch as their eyes darken with anger and Johnny’s fist is clenched showing white knuckles.
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean for it to come out so harsh, it’s just that…. I get so upset at her sometimes. I’m sorry …. She’s not that bad I swear ….she’s getting better. I just miss who she used to be and it feel like I don’t know who this person is that took my mom’s place.” I stutter and look at my feet not wanting to look at their angry faces any longer.
Alex rushes to my side and pulls me into another crushing hug; I look over her shoulder and see Johnny pacing back and forth beside me.
“How long has this been going on Angel?” Johnny stops and asks me with the anger still lingering in his eyes.
“From the day dad died, so about over two years… I swear Johnny it’s okay.” I say as I take his hand.
“At first it hurt that she didn’t want me around but I’m okay now, I just stick to myself… it gets lonely and tiresome worrying about her but I can handle it, it’s getting better I promise!” I plead with him trying to lighten his mood.
He pulls me in for a hug, “This is not how it was supposed to be, you’re supposed to be safe, they was supposed to look after you not the other way around!”
“Lexi are you sure you don’t want to come stay with us, we will give you everything you need and we can look after you.” Alex pleads.
“Thank you guys I…I don’t know but I’ll think about it... I’m not sure I can leave her alone, especially not now.” I say to them.
“Can you guys tell me something though?” I ask both Alex and Johnny. “Sure.” They both reply.
“You two are both werewolves obviously? So was my dad one? And what about my mother? How come I’m not? And why did you leave, Alex? Wait…I’m not a werewolf right?” I rattle on trying to get everything out.
“No Angel not that we know of no, there is a lot that happened that I can’t tell you right now but let me try explain what I can. You are not ready to hear all of it just yet, you wouldn’t understand why we did what we did. Okay…” she take a deep breath then starts.
“James and Johnny used to be best friends and he used to stay here with us, with our pack but he had to move to an area that was a neutral zone with no packs around, due to certain circumstances. When he moved he met Georgina and she was his mate. Your mother is human and your father is full blooded werewolf. You see… sometimes werewolves find their mates in humans. When you were born it meant you were half human and half wolf. It was the first time that a werewolf had mated a human and was successfully able to reproduce. There are few humans that have mated werewolves that have survived the mating process but there’s only a few. The human body is very weak and once the human has been mated to a wolf they most likely won’t survive the changing process, that's the process where the human will turn for the first time into a wolf. Humans that have been changed by their mate may fall pregnant but the baby rarely survives a full term or the mother dies killing the baby as well. When they male is human and the female is werewolf, the mate isn’t strong enough to impregnate the female so reproducing is out of the question totally in that case. The fact that a human female has turned doesn’t change the fact that she was born human and their body is still not strong enough to carry a wolf baby. Yes I know, fate has a crazy way of finding our mates but everything happens for a reason and that’s why wolves are especially scared when they find their mate to be a human. They know they wouldn’t be able to reproduce and they also have to risk the chance of losing their human mate during the mating process or changing process, therefore wolves usually reject their human mates when they find them to avoid going through all that heartache and suffering. The human feels a strong connection to their mate but not as strong as it would be if they were wolf however as soon as the mating process starts or when the human is of age only then will the human feel all the emotions a wolf would get when they meet their mate for the first time, it’s very complex honey. When you were born we were all scared what would happen to you and if other packs would want to take you away from us since you were the first to successfully be born from a changed mother. When James died, I lost contact with Georgina and we tried to get in contact with her and look for you but we couldn’t find her or you until today when I saw you at the supermarket, I knew who you were. Alexia you are the first of your kind, we don’t know when and if you will turn, you have the scent of a human but we have been researching since you were born and the elders say that we will only be able to find out if you are one of us when you turn eighteen, that’s the end of this year. The elders also say that because you are half human you may not have a mate, but I guess we will only be able to tell once we find out if you turn or not…” Alex says trying to explain but this just leaves me jumbled.
“Alex how come you couldn’t visit me if I was in a neutral area? And how come you were in the supermarket… is that part of your territory? Also how come Georgina never told me about any of this?” I ask Alex.
Johnny interrupts though, “I think she presumed you would be human as well so she probably didn’t think it was necessary to tell you or put you in danger. I suppose that’s why she’s been keeping this secret from you. You see Angel, it’s very dangerous to go through the other packs territories to reach the neutral zone and the others might think you’re a rogue and could kill you, that’s why I wouldn’t allow Alex to cross other packs land, it just wasn’t safe. That supermarket is on the boarder of our land so it is officially part of our territory.” I nod in understanding and let out a yawn.
“You will stay with Tyler and Talon until we get you your own room sorted, I’ve appointed them your protectors when you are on our land so they won’t leave your side and I will speak to the Alpha in Point Bright to make sure you have protection there as well.” Johnny says.
“Please don’t! It’s not that I’m ashamed of all of this but …it’s just that… I’d prefer if no one knows that I know, I’m not going to tell Georgina either. I don’t want things to change and I’m just getting used to the way things have changed with Georgina. I need to deal with all of this in my own time so I’d prefer if we kept the fact that I’m a part of this now to just us? Is that okay? You said I could be in danger and other packs could take me, so wouldn’t it be safer if no one else knew about me being half human half wolf?” I beg Johnny.
“That’s… actually a good idea sweetie, we just need to keep an eye on you in case someone does figure it out, but if we keep it within the pack – no one else should find out about it.” Alex states.
“I’ll talk to the pack and explain to them that this is to be kept secret, you boys take her to bed, she looks exhausted.” says Johnny as he hugs me goodnight.
“Goodnight Alex,” I say and give her a hug, “Goodnight hun.” She kisses my cheek.
Talon picks me up again and throws me over his broad shoulder. “Really Talon? Really? I can walk you know!” I hear Johnny and Alex laughing behind me.
“We know that, but this is way more fun!” Tyler says and smacks my ass. Arg!
Talon throws me on his giant bed and Tyler throws me a shirt and a pair of boxers. “Get dre
ssed we’ll be back in a few minutes, make it quick!” Tyler says as they leave the room. I get dressed and climb on the bed, getting under the covers, damn I’m so tired!
The door opens and the boys come in, Talon climbs in bed next to me under the covers. “Whose Jax and Ronny? And Drake?” He growls in my ear, I turn to look at him seeing my phone in his hand.
“Oh shit! Did you read all the messages?” I snatch my phone away from him. “Jax and Ronny are my best friends and Drake’s my boyfriend.” Talon growls under his breath at the mention of a boyfriend.
“We noticed all the missed calls and messages but we didn’t read them.” Tyler replies for Talon as he climbs on the other side of me and pushes me to the middle of the bed.
“You serious with this Blake guy?” Talon presumptuously says knowingly saying Drakes name incorrectly. I just roll my eyes changing the subject.
“What are you guys doing?” I ask them looking from where they’re sleeping to where I'm lying between their big bodies.
“We are sleeping next to you so no monsters can steal you away at night, you never know what’s lurking in these woods at night.” Talon says in a creepy voice near my ear then leans his head on his hands behind his head lying on his back then winks at me.
Oh god if werewolves are real, what else is out there…? This scares me so I get comfortable under the blanket and enjoy the warmth coming from their bodies. I take a look at my phone that is still on silent. 72 Missed calls and my mailbox is full with 27 new messages.
I read the latest message:
DRAKE at 11:40pm: Lexi! Answer your fucking phone! I'm so angry right now!!!
That is probably the side of Drake Ronny was talking about but I just ignore the message and look at the next.
Alexia Eden Page 9
