Ascension: Book 2 of the Summer Omega Series

by JK Cooper

  She was relieved to see only light coloration in her skin when she shifted back. She slipped her dress back on, admiring the simple cut and deep color that made her eyes almost glow without her going wolf.

  “That should heal by the time we get to the dance after dinner and take pictures.” She slipped into her new purple heels. She’d been excited to buy them at first, but now they made her feel unnaturally tall and not nearly as grounded as she liked. A week of beating good stance into me day after day makes it a hard habit to break.

  Shelby leaned toward the mirror and pulled the lipstick Sadie had given her out of a drawer. It was a rich plum color that felt way too dark when Shelby had tested it out, but it matched the dress perfectly and completed her look.

  Sadie was right again. The ice in her heart crept deeper. Shelby couldn’t imagine the pack without her friend in it. Elias has to get this right. She sent out another wave of patience and forgiveness as a soft knock came at the door.

  “Shel? He’s here.” Grant then grunted. “Makes tuxes look like they were made only for him.”

  “Don’t be jealous, Dad. Sadie almost rented one for you too.”

  The silence from the other side of the door was golden. Shelby giggled.

  “Oh, good. You’re joking.”

  “So am not. I had to pull the credit card out of her hands.”

  The sigh Grant let out made her giggle harder.

  Kale’s face as she stepped down the stairs made Shelby glow. What she got through the bond almost made her trip down the stairs and definitely sent goosebumps spiraling up and down her arms and legs. Stop that. My dad’s right there. You’re gonna make me blush.

  Don’t care. But he glanced at Grant and calmed down some. “Wow.”

  Grant nodded at his side. “That’s the right word.” Shelby’s rock of a father sniffed and rubbed at an eye.

  She paused on the second to last stair. “Are you crying?”

  He sniffed again and cleared his throat gruffly. “No.” He looked up, his eyes moist and bright. “You look very much like her.”

  Shelby almost asked who, but Eira sent her a flash of memories of her mother. She had been so strong and fierce. “Mom.” I don’t know if Grant has ever complimented me more.

  Kale took her hand, mumbled something about corsages, and slipped a beautiful purple-tinted orchid onto her wrist. She smiled down at it and then at Kale, who looked more dashing than she’d thought possible. Talk about breaking past a plateau. Hot! Where was Daniel Craig to take notes for the next James Bond movie?

  His tux was perfectly tailored, just tight enough to hint at the muscles underneath. His bow tie was the exact same deep purple of her dress, and his vest showed several shades of purple mingled with silver in a repeated geometric design that wasn’t too busy.

  Someone has taste.

  He grinned. I borrowed my dad’s tailor.

  Of course you did.

  “Are you two bond talking, or just grinning at each other like typical teens? It’s hard to tell.” Grant gave her a knowing smile and rolled his eyes.

  Shelby managed a blush, which she knew was all the confirmation Grant needed. “Sorry, goodnight Dad.”

  “Whoa whoa whoa. I haven’t even done the threaten-your-boyfriend thing. Aren’t dads supposed to in this situation?”

  Kale laughed. “Didn’t you get enough of that in last night?”

  Grant rubbed his face, callused hands making a pleasant scraping sound as they slid over stubble. “Could always manage more.”

  Shelby jumped the last two steps and hugged her dad hard, his eyes going wide. She still wasn’t entirely ready to forgive all, but it felt like the right thing to do in the moment. “Don’t worry, Dad. Kale will be the perfect gentleman, and he’ll have me back by eleven thirty.”

  “I will?” Kale asked, mouth falling open.

  Shelby rolled her eyes. “Smooth. I was going to offer an early time and then push it, knowing Grant wouldn’t be too upset by an hour or so of extended time, as long as I texted, but you just ruined that.”

  Grant slapped a hard hand on Kale’s shoulder. “Yeah he did. Make it ten thirty.”

  Kale blanched. “But we won’t even get to the dance from dinner until about nine. That’s not enough time at all.”

  “Make it nine thirty then. That gives you plenty of time for a few dances.”

  Kale went even whiter.

  Shelby started laughing. Grant joined in.

  “I’m being hazed, aren’t I?” Kale asked. “My girlfriend and her dad ganging up on me?” He glared at Shelby. “Aren’t you supposed to be on my side?”

  Shelby took his hand. “Yeah, we already agreed on midnight.”

  “That’s a hard deadline though. No texting me you’ll be late.” Grant squeezed Kale’s shoulder hard enough for it to hurt. “I break out the silver at twelve o one.”

  Kale gulped. “Yes, sir.” He let Shelby tug him out the door as Grant waved.

  “Have fun.” His tone implied not too much fun.

  Kale opened the passenger door for Shelby. “Your dad scares me.”

  “See, this is why I like you.” She let him help her up into the massive truck. “You’re smart.”

  The scents of male adrenaline, fried chicken, and too much perfume alerted Shelby she was not alone as she slid onto the seat. She smiled. “Hiya, Bubba.” She turned to look back at Kale’s best friend, who was sitting next to one of the whorey trinity. “ . . . and Trish.”

  It was weird seeing the girl without the other two, and even weirder to see her leaning into Bubba with one hand on his knee.

  “Hey there, sweet gorgeousness,” Bubba said. “Kale got himself the second prettiest girl in town.” Bubba held up one hand like he was going to whisper and slyly pointed past it to Trish. “Talkin’ bout this sexy thang, right here.”

  Bubba must have used the Copeland’s tailor. He looked amazing in a tux that gleamed under the cabin light. Trish slapped a well-dressed thigh with a soft smack. “You are too sweet on me, DeShawn. Everyone knows Shelby’s prettier.”

  Shelby’s mouth fell open as Kale slid into his own seat. Trish had sounded sincere, felt sincere. What is happening? Is she a nice person away from Chelsea?

  “Ain’t true, honey. You are so prettier, no offence, Shel.”

  Shelby managed to contain her surprise. “None taken. I’d say Trish is in the top five. I’m probably number eight or so.”

  “Really? You offending my girlfriend already, Bubba?” Kale said.

  “Nah, no playing. Just making sure mah girl knows how I feel, yo. You get it.”

  Kale put a hand on Shelby’s knee and squeezed. “I do.”

  How is that still the most electric thing possible? Shelby felt her face grow warm as tingles flowed through her. She then blinked as Trish gave Bubba another peck on his cheek. So weird.

  “I know this is a special night and all,” Shelby said, “but the cheesy-factor is getting a little high.”

  “Right. Shall we?” Kale asked.

  The other three nodded as he put the Raptor into gear and revved away from Shelby’s home. Trish clapped her hands with what felt again to be genuine excitement. “Y’all are gonna love what my parents have planned for dinner.”

  Shelby looked over her shoulder. “What? I thought we were going to Café Olé?” It was one of only five restaurants in Lansborough, and the most expensive.

  Bubba gave her a quizzical expression. “You jokin’, right?”

  Kale laughed next to her.

  “Um, am I missing something?”

  Trish sighed. “It’s my fault. I guess we don’t really know much about one another. My parents own Café Olé. They made something special just for us.”

  Bubba grinned, flashing perfect teeth, as his stomach growled. “I can’t wait.”

  Trish giggled and slapped his thigh again. “No one appreciates good food like you. Oh, I can’t keep it a secret any longer. We’re doing a tasting of Europe. Ten small dishes
from multiple regions.”

  The grin fell away from Bubba but returned when Trish leaned into him again knowingly. “Don’t worry, not too small, and four desserts.”

  “Yo, check it. My lady knows me.”

  Shelby blinked at Trish. Yeah she does. It felt like a trick to Shelby’s head, but her Omega abilities still only found genuine interest in DeShawn. Do I know anyone anymore? Kale squeezed her knee again. Shelby looked at him, admiring how a perfect body looked poured into a well-made tux once more. I do know one.

  Sean and Sadie were waiting for them at the restaurant. Shelby hugged her friend, admired the streaks of blue and black in her hair, most likely a bit of venatrix magic, and gave Sean an awkward handshake. There was still a note of melancholy and worry in Sadie that Shelby could feel pulsing out of the pack link into her. She did her best to ease that concern.

  Trish turned out to be true to her word. Dinner was amazing, despite the uncomfortable looks between Bubba and Sadie. Trish and Sean handled it better than Shelby would have imagined, cracking jokes and deflating tension like pros. Either one could make a good Omega, if they were Lycan.

  “I don’t know if I can dance,” Shelby moaned as she stepped up into the Raptor after saying momentary goodbyes to Sean and Sadie.

  “Why’s that?” Trish asked from the backseat.

  “Too full. It’s all your fault.” But Shelby grinned at the girl.

  “I’m not the one who insisted on trying all four desserts.” Trish winked at her. “You coulda stopped at three.”

  “And miss out on the crème brulee? Never!”

  I really do like her better away from Chelsea. It will be weird going back to warring next week.

  “I ate five of them.” Bubba rubbed his stomach happily.

  “We know. You counted them down for us.” Kale glanced at Shelby with a wink of his own as he put the truck into drive. “You’ll be fine by the time we get to the dance with that wolfish metabolism.”

  Shelby gasped, but then realized he hadn’t said anything that might tip Trish off. “Wolfish? Are you calling me hairy?”

  “Never.”

  Bubba laughed in the backseat but said nothing about hairy nakedness this time. Instead he began scratching Trish’s back.

  Shelby swallowed a pang of anger for Sadie. She pushed him away. And Trish isn’t the monster we thought. At least today.

  Kale was right. Shelby felt fine by the dance. Healing rapidly meant a mean metabolism. Nothing like what DeShawn could do when he got going, but Shelby probably never had to worry about her weight. She’d never seen an overweight Lycan now that she thought about it.

  They took group photos at the entrance and then couple photos. Shelby snuggled into Kale as he wrapped strong arms around her. I could stay here forever.

  The photographer would get annoyed, Kale answered through the bond.

  You know what I mean.

  He chuckled. Yes, yes I do.

  They let the next couple take their place and they followed the twinkling lights, balloons, and streamers into the gymnasium. Someone had done a pretty good job of transforming the space into something more romantic. Shelby could still smell the body odor, old rubber, and apprehension sweat beneath it, but at least it looked nice.

  Kale spun her out onto the dance floor as they entered, not waiting. Shelby laughed at his impulsiveness and clumsy attempts to make swing dancing work with a hip hop song that was blasting way too loud to hold a conversation. Good thing we don’t have to speak. You’re a dork.

  You know you like it.

  Shelby smiled shyly. Yes, yes I do.

  An occasional balloon would float through the air and bump into them. It happened way too many times to be a coincidence. A streamer broke free from the ceiling and landed on their shoulders. Shelby picked it off and let it drop to the ground. It wrapped around their legs and broke into pieces as Kale spun Shelby away.

  “Bubba.” Kale said. “I’ll kill him. Playa Killering it up at a dance? He’s going to get caught for sure.”

  Shelby laughed. “For this? No way. Let him play.”

  It turned into a game of tag, them dancing away from the falling balloons and Bubba trying to catch them with party decorations using his PKness.

  Some poor girl from the party planning committee was running around snatching up the fallen décor and cursing the expensive tape.

  A few songs later they met the others on the bleachers pulled out on one side of the gym, laughing and catching their breath. Their friends had chosen a spot as far away from the speakers as possible. Smart. The DJ had no idea what volume control was, each song alternating between too loud and soft enough to be barely perceptible to human ears.

  “Hey,” Kale said, touching Shelby’s arm. “You wanna get out of here for a minute?”

  She eyed him playfully with feigned suspicion. “Why? And where?”

  “Easy, Brooks. Just outside. I think my ears are going to start bleeding.”

  “Sure you’re not just trying to shift me out of this dress?” Shelby teased.

  Kale raised an eyebrow.

  “No,” Shelby said, shaking her head.

  Kale faked exasperation. “Can’t a guy just surprise his girl every once in a while?”

  “Sorry, I don’t do surprises.”

  “Right.” Kale pulled out his iPhone with a white cord wrapped around it. Shelby squinted in confusion, then saw the earbuds at the end of the coiled line.

  “Just had a private playlist set up is all,” Kale said.

  “Oh,” Shelby said and bit her bottom lip. “I guess that would have been a nice surprise. Did I ruin it?”

  A balloon bumped into Kale’s head. He rolled his eyes, then held out his hand. His deep hazel eyes twinkled, as if he were drinking the sight of her in. “Coming?”

  She took his warm hand and he smoothly moved it to the crook of his arm as he escorted her out of the dance. Such a gentleman, even if she had ruined his surprise. Bubba started cat calling. The music dropped something like fifty decibels as they exited the gymnasium, and a ringing in Shelby’s ears replaced the booming bass.

  Outside, latecomers walked up the steps as Kale led Shelby down and through the parking lot to the field between the student and teacher parking lots. Come to think of it, this was where she met Sean.

  And where I had first felt you near, she thought, then realized she had let that slip to Kale.

  He smiled. I remember.

  Near the soccer field, a single street light shone a dim cone of amber light. They stopped once in the light and Kale faced her, took her hands palm-to-palm against his and interlocked his fingers with hers. And then he just stared at her. She started to get lost in his eyes, his musky scent. She laid her head against his solid chest, closing her eyes as she let herself become almost hypnotized by the steady rhythm of his heart.

  She felt his face press gently against the top of her head as he inhaled deeply, obviously taking in her scent. Her toes tingled.

  “Things have been a little odd lately,” he whispered.

  “Yeah,” she said, not opening her eyes or lifting her head. “I know.”

  “I . . . think things are happening. Mom and dad are sneaking out at night.”

  “So are we,” she said softly.

  He chuckled once. Such a deep, joyful sound with her ear against him. “I just wanted you to know, I’m still yours. No matter what comes.”

  She inhaled deeply and slowly, so happy here with him like this. In the distance, she still heard the blaring music coming from the gymnasium. That was kind of how some pack members had started feeling lately. She felt them in the distance, felt their feelings becoming aloof. And her bond with Kale . . . well, it had stretched a bit since school started.

  But not now. Now, it thrummed with intensity.

  “I’ve loved you for eternities, haven’t I? she asked, though it sounded more like a statement.

  “It seems that way.”

  “It’s the only thin
g that makes sense. And yet, it doesn’t make any sense.”

  “It doesn’t have to,” he whispered.

  He was right. Why did love and the depth of emotion for someone else that came with it have to make sense? Was it arrogance to even try and make the love she felt do deeply for him fit into some confine of human understanding? Wasn’t their love so much beyond that?

  She sighed against his broad chest, then felt something being pressed gently into her ear. She pulled her head back. Kale had put an earbud in her ear and was fastening the other one in his. He started swiping the screen of his phone.

  “I swear, Kale, if you put on some Kanye West or Jay Z—”

  The slow syncopated rhythm of an acoustic guitar filled her ear. Shelby knew the song, or she thought she did. She smiled wryly.

  “Is this ‘Can I Be Him’?”

  It was. James Arthur’s soulful voice rang out.

  “You walked into the room and now my heart has been stolen.

  You took me back in time to when I was unbroken . . .”

  Shelby’s heart sped. “Kale . . .”

  “Just shut up and dance with me, Thyra.”

  “Ancient names now, Daeglan?”

  He shrugged, slipped his phone in his pocket then moved her right hand to his shoulder, his left to her waist, and swooshed her into motion. Shelby’s breath caught as he whisked her smoothly over the ground in rhythm to the song, making her feel as if she were almost floating.

  “Now you’re all I want, and I knew it from the very first moment . . .

  ’cause a light came on when I heard that song and I want you to sing it again . . .”

  She blinked at the perfect lyrics. “You . . . really put some effort into this.”

  Kale gave a slight shrug, not missing a beat in their dance. “Yeah.”

  She let herself get lost in the movements, the melody, the lyrics, the entire moment. As they danced, the world disappeared beyond the curtain of golden light that encompassed them. Shelby held Kale’s stare, wondering how she had ever lived without him. Though she could obviously remember life without him, the feeling of him not being in her life had all but completely faded from her.