Notice Me

by Lili Lam

A rumbling growl was heard from behind us as I was suddenly tore away from Marco's death grip on me. Before I knew what was occurring I was pushed protectively behind Tristan.

  "She's NOT Mia." Tristan's chest heaved up and down in fury. His stance was one of pure anger and defense as he confronted Marco.

  Marco let out a snarl of his own, his body trembling. It’s a true sign that his wolf is just about ready to lose control and surface. Deciding to speak up and try to diffuse the situation I took a slight step sideways and held my hands out in front of me to show I didn't want any problems. "I'm so sorry for your loss Marco."

  Tristan allowed a quick glance over his shoulder at me as if to say 'what the hell are you doing?' I just gave him a small smile and a nod telling him it's ok. Marco's breathing seemed to have calmed down a bit as he got a better look at me, realizing that I wasn't Mia. The expression on his face was heart wrenching. His face contorted with pain as he gave me a nod of acknowledgement and turned around on his heels, running full speed ahead into the woods. Unsure of whether someone should go after him, I took a step forward only to have my arm grabbed by Tristan.

  "Let him go, baby. He needs to be alone and run it off." Tristan's deep voice informed me. I could feel his body pressed up against my back causing me to lean into him for support. Just the fact that his mere touch could comfort my wild emotions and fast paced heartbeat was simply amazing to me.

  Rico came out onto the porch and announced that it was time for lunch. He led us into the kitchen where he introduced us to a beautiful woman. "I'd like you all to meet Maria, she's my father's wife."

  Wife, wouldn't that mean she's also his mother and Luna of the pack? Judging by the tone of voice Rico used when saying her name, I kind of got the feeling he respected the woman, but wasn't too fond of her. Being the curious cat that I am, I took the opportunity to go stand next to Rico while Tristan and Luke went to get Anya and I some food.

  He looked over at me and offered a friendly nod. "Sorry to hear about your accident." He said crossing his arms over his chest as he watched everyone moving about in the kitchen area.

  "Thanks." I murmured not sure how to ask my questions without sounding rude about any of it. "Can I ask you a couple things?"

  Rico's eyebrows raised up and he shook his head yes. "Sure, if I have the answer I'll be more than glad to give it to you." He seemed surprised that I wanted to willingly speak to him, but he shrugged it off and was kind enough to humor me. I stared down at the floor and pulled my mouth up sideways as I chewed on my bottom lip. Gosh, I hope he doesn't flip out and tell me to mind my damn business.

  "How old was Mia?" I asked shooting out the simplest of my inquiries to start off with. I decided to approach Rico, one because he's future Alpha and two because he seemed the friendliest.

  "Mia’s, Mia was eighteen." Rico said swallowing visibly and pausing slightly when he got to the word was. It's obvious this is difficult for him to discuss.

  "Would it be overstepping the boundaries if I asked you who Nina and Analia were?" I questioned in a small voice as I allowed myself to look at him in sadness.

  At the young age of twenty-two, Rico's eyes seemed to be filled entirely with grief. Almost like they've seen and suffered through so much loss. Not at all...let's go somewhere more private to talk." Rico suggested tilting his head towards the back door.

  Tristan with his wolf ears immediately looked over at me from the table where he was scooping food onto the plate and nodded. Rico led me out to the back deck where patio tables were set up, pulling out a chair, offering for me to sit down. "Thanks."

  "You're welcome." He answered taking a seat next to me. Rico stared out into the vast trees that lined the area beyond the deck. It looked like he was recalling a time in his life when things were so much better and simpler. "Nina was my mother, Luna of the pack." So that explains why he addressed Maria that way. She wasn't his mother nor was she the Luna of the pack. Just someone his father remarried, probably to ease the feeling of loneliness.

  "You see, sixteen years ago our country was not the peaceful lands you witness before you. There was war amongst packs, wolves against fellow wolves. My father was away on business trying to negotiate peace among the packs." Rico continued, this time he gazed up towards the sky taking a deep breath. "He left his Beta in charge of the pack. At the time who knew his Beta was corrupt, greed filled his heart with the sole purpose of taking over our pack by killing off my family." Rico sighed running his fingers through his hair. I listened intently as Rico told me the story not wanting to divert my attention away from things. Tristan came out and took a seat next to me placing a plate in front of me.

  "That night will haunt me for as long as I live." Rico said his eyes were glossy in a trance like state. "I was only six when the Beta came over very late one night with his followers. Knocking relentlessly on our door." Rico hissed with disgust filling his tone. "I think my mother had a perfectly good idea what they were up to. She hid us in my father's study inside a hollowed out cabinet of his desk and told me that it was my duty to keep Alonso who was four at the time and Mia who was only two, quiet. Kissing each of us on the head, she said 'I love you’ before going to answer the door."

  Goosebumps prickled at my skin as an uncomfortable feeling took over my body. I didn't want to imagine what happened next. It was evident by the headstone outside in the yard. "The coward came over with the intent of killing us all, I heard him shouting at my mother saying he would wait until my father returned home for him to meet the same fate. My mother was pregnant with my baby sister Analia, she did everything in her power to fight them off." He said shaking his head with disbelief that a fellow wolf...their own Beta nonetheless...would do something so revolting.

  "Refusing to tell them where she hid us..." Rico's voice trailed off. "The bastards dragged her away...the last thing I heard were my mother's screams. We stayed hidden until I heard my father calling out for us the next day. My father lost every ounce of sanity before he and his loyal pack members hunted each one of the traitors down and killed them." I placed my hand over the top of Rico's hand that was trembling as he gripped onto the arm of the chair. His eyes met mine and the tears were there, but he refused to allow them to come out.

  "They recovered my mother's body in the river, ravaged by those beasts. Analia was gone, we could only assume she washed away in the current." Rico breathed closing his eyes trying to fight back his emotions. My chest felt heavy and the air was suddenly so much thicker as it became hard for me to digest the events that led to Nina and Analia's death and now they had to suffer losing Mia too.

  "Thank you for sharing that with me." I murmured leaning over to give him a one-arm hug. It was the only source of comfort I could possibly offer him.

  "No, thank you for listening." Rico confided, "I haven't told anyone that story since I had to relay it to my father the day he returned." It was as though a huge weight had been lifted off his chest. I can't imagine being six years old and having to witness any of that. Alpha Perez came out notifying everyone to gather around for the memorial up front.

  As we stood there and listened to Alpha Perez speak, my mind began drifting off. What if Analia wasn't washed away in the current? What if she wasn't killed at all? Something kept poking at the back of my head as the tiny voice kept saying to me...don't you think it's a coincidence that you looked exactly like Mia? I could see where Mia got her looks from, her black hair and green eyes resembled Alpha Perez, Rico, and Alonso to a tee.

  The three were lined up standing next to the graves, while Maria and Marco stood off to the side of them. Pushing the strange thoughts away, I tried to focus on listening. I really needed to stop thinking about that crazy rubbish. Back in Port Clyde, Maine were two loving people who worked hard all their lives to raise me…my mother and my father. Though, it always seemed to baffle me why I don't look anything like either of the two. Maybe I should take a chance and ask my mom if I'm adopted?

  Two strong arms wrapped around my w
aist as Tristan pulled me back into his chest. He leaned down and rested his chin on top of my shoulder. I could feel his warm breath trickling down as he allowed his lips to brush against my neck. He was unconsciously rubbing the tip of his nose along my skin, almost like he was inhaling my scent? What he didn't realize was that this simple act was causing me to lose control of my hormones. Every little caress and touch was sending my entire body into a euphoric state.

  My knees were turning to jelly and I was trying the hardest I could to bite back the moan trying to escape my lips! Does this boy not know what he's doing to me? The sound of everyone clapping their hands caused me to realize that the memorial was over. Mr. and Mrs. Evans approached Alpha Perez and Maria to speak to them. While a lot of the guys decided to shift and go for a run probably to try and ease some of their tension.

  What the hell, I'm such a rotten person. I completely missed the entire speech all because Tristan wanted to sniff me. Anya gave me a knowing grin as Luke led her away, they were going with a few of the pack members down to the lake. Anya and Luke wasted no time in mating one another when he returned from the mission. Her reasoning to me was that life is short and you need to live it with no regrets.

  Turning around in his arms to give him the death glare, I was met with smoldering silver lust filled eyes. Oh, looks as though he knew exactly what he was doing to me. Tristan closed the distance I created between us by stepping dangerously close to me. We were flushed against one another staring into each other's eyes. His lips crashed into mine as he dominated the kiss. It was needy and urgent, unlike some of the other kisses I've experienced with him.

  This time around it was like he was savoring every Moment of it as his teeth bit down and tugged on my bottom lip playfully. His tongue tickled every one of my senses sending shocks all the way down to my toes as he deepened the kiss. Not wanting to seem disrespectful to anyone with our make out session, I suggested we take our little show out of the public eye. I mumbled against Tristan lips. "Let's go inside." I'm pretty sure no one would mind as the memorial was now over and everyone was off doing their own thing.

  Pecking me lightly, Tristan agreed by taking my hand and pulling me towards the house. Guess we were going up to either one of our rooms. Alone-time with just Tristan and I was something I can honestly say I looked forward to, those muscles are to die for. As we walked through the house and up the steps trying to get up to our room, we ended up passing by an open door. A door that wasn't opened earlier, one that wasn't included in part of the tour Rico gave us.

  A photograph above a fire place caught my eye causing me to stop abruptly. Which in return caused Tristan to fall back a few steps since he was holding onto my hand rushing to get to our room. It was as if my entire body was drawn to the photograph. Like it was calling out for me to come in and take a closer look. Letting go of Tristan's hand, my feet had a mind of their own as they took step by step in front of each other until coming to a stop at the fireplace. I could faintly hear Tristan's voice in the background, but it was like I was far away in another place. "Lise, what's wrong baby?"

  This is Alpha Perez's study I thought to myself as I recognized the desk Rico told us about earlier. My mouth hung wide open as I stared at the woman in the photograph. Staring back at me from the picture above the fireplace was a stunningly beautiful woman with brown hair and hazel eyes. The little voice in my head kept nagging me, 'That's what you'll look like twenty years from now.' It pestered.

  Something deep down inside the pits of my belly made me believe my conscious was telling me the god honest truth. My eyes widened as I heard a gasp escape from Tristan's lips as he walked in to stand beside me. Most likely to find out what caught my attention. It's like all time stopped as our heads turned slowly to face one another. I managed to mumble in a small voice, "I think it's time I called my parents for the truth." I need to ask them if I'm adopted