I frowned at my traitorous best friend. She was sitting across the dinner table from me; a smug smile was on her face partnered with a wink. I frowned at her, secretly thinking about all the different ways I could shove my fork up her nostrils. She raised her eyebrows back at me, as if she knew what I was thinking. I groaned.
Evil, that’s exactly what she was made of.
“Hey, leave her alone, you two. If Emmy doesn’t want to eat, then she shouldn’t have to eat.” Mr. Orson, the whitest Asian man I had ever known, smiled back at me. I grinned, relaxing for the first time in seventy-two hours.
My thoughts drifted away from their conversation and I slouched low in my seat. I became mesmerized with the flickering candlelight that danced in circles above the wick. And then I shivered, damn light, it reminded me of the glow in Zachary’s eyes only three nights ago, as he faced me in his full on, wolf form.
After walking away from the Martin house that night, I’d been a downright, messed up, little chickadee. I could no longer sleep. Eating was a chore. I barely managed to function with my day-to-day routines. Because everything I did, everything I saw, every vision, every site, seemed to remind me of wolf Zachary.
Mrs. Martin had been the one to wake me after I passed out. It wasn’t pleasant getting water splashed on your already damp, sweaty body. When I finally came to, I kind of went into freak-out mode. Yes, I sort of swung at her, and whoever else came near me. And yeah, okay, so maybe I overreacted a bit. What exactly was I supposed to do when faced with the impossible? I mean her son, the boy I’d been madly in love with for two years, turned into a full-fledged, wild animal right there before me.
I do believe some screaming was acceptable.
Mr. Martin had come back in the room a little while after my initial melt down ended, with a very pale looking Jack in toe. Zachary though, was nowhere in sight. Thank God for that one. Apparently, his quick choice of exit had been through the window because glass was scattered everywhere, and the window itself had a massive, dog sized hole in it.
When I managed to finally speak, even though I had still felt mildly crazed after what I’d seen, I got braver. I asked questions. I actually learned a lot about the impossible. And although I was technically still struggling with the concept as a whole, I began to sort of accept it, to a degree.
Everyone was tense, Jack included as he stood off to the side, his eyes were narrowed and angry, but he kept them diverted from me. Mrs. Martin had gone on to explain that Zachary didn’t actually get sent away to a private school in Chicago after all. In fact, all those months we’d been apart? The guy had been living only an hour and half hour away from Louisa, at a school for newly turned wolves like himself. Liars. They were all liars. I wasn’t about to cross any of them though, especially after I found out about their little secret. I had no idea what they were capable of.
And then the discussion turned serious, more intense, and even more confusing as Mr. Martin explained to me how the change from human to full on wolf-shifter didn’t usually happen during the teenage years. Apparently it was an adult only thing, something that usually only took place during what they called their mating age. I scoffed at that whole idea.
Hell, a mating age? Seriously? It was unreal, and I truly felt as though I was living out one of the scenes in one of my paperback novels. To hear that there was an actual mating age was enough to make me want to freak out again. Luckily though, I held my shit together and put on my supernatural ready panties, willing and perfectly capable to hear the secrets they’d been keeping from me for over two years.
Mrs. Martin took the reins at first, but it was all over my head, the whole mating thing that is. I’d never wrap my head around it all, but I did get the basics straight at least. The basics on what being a wolf entailed that is. I discovered that the normal age for the first shift was around twenty-five. I learned that wolves could shift at will, only having to absolutely complete the change during a full moon. I learned that wolf shifters were practically unknown to the human world. Very few knew about them, except for the ones that were mates, or worked under them.
I also discovered that shifters didn’t necessarily hate other shifters, but they didn’t exactly get along with them either, unless of course they were family, or close to a family member even.
I listened and nodded my head in all the right spots as they told me about their family, their wolf family, Jack included in all that stuff too. I wondered if that was what caused all his moodiness, then I wondered why he hadn’t shifted that night too. Then I remembered that young wolves were rare, so Jack must not have had it in him yet to shift.
By the end of the conversation, my brain had become so fried from the night’s events that I didn’t fight the ideas that they were spitting at me. Still, the abnormal, caveman mating thing they had going on would never be okay with me.
Then they began discussing possibilities to me as to why Zachary might have shifted so early. And that was a wake-up call in itself. A number one reason: me. Yup, apparently super strong emotions could trigger the change early, and everyone knew that the super strong feelings that Zachary had felt was love, or something close to it, for me.
Talk about putting some pressure on a girl…
I was flustered. I was confused. And yes, I was beyond shocked as I took in all of their words. I finally got the courage to face Jack head on, and was weirdly disturbed that he had at some point in time, left the room. Then I started freaking out even more when I started to remember the words he’d spoken to Zachary before they went all out World War Three on each other.
You can’t have her anymore, Zachary. You’re too late.
It was cryptic crap like that, that I was growing tired of, and I needed answers, badly. So I decided to mention the simple words that Jack had spoken aloud, to both of the Martin parents, and Mrs. Martin got all choked up, slapping a dramatic hand over her mouth as she weepily mumbled something to Mr. Martin under her breath that resembled an oh shit.
Let’s just say that was only the second time in my knowing the woman that I had heard a cuss word leave her mouth. I never asked about it again after that, but I didn’t get over my curiosity either. I’d get the answers I needed…eventually.
Finally, Jack had come back into the room, his sexy as sin frame was pressed up against the doorjamb. He was looking more knight-ish than ever. With his black leather coat tucked under his arm, and that hideous, red motorcycle helmet strategically placed at his feet. He appeared downright dangerous. And I couldn’t deny the fact that he had saved my ass from Zachary.
He wound up being my driver that morning, the one to take me to Kelsey’s house that is. I didn’t want him to, but he didn’t give me a chance to tell him no either. Jack was in control, and I hated every, last minute of it.
Then, as he buckled that red helmet strap under my chin, I realized all my good intentions to stay away from him were impossible. Damn impossible. He had this hold over me, this terrifying, but equally as exciting powerful hold over my soul. A desire, a flame–he was burning me with both, and I wanted it all.
Riding on Jack’s Harley was an experience in itself. I was terrified at first. I hated fast stuff, especially motorcycles. But then he’d dropped his hands onto mine, and pulled them tight around his hard stomach. And with that one move, I was immediately put at ease. Hell, I was calmer than I’d felt in a long time. It was like he’d lifted an unknown weight off my shoulders the moment he sped away from the curb.
It was once again weirdly…magical.
Jack even seemed to relax a little more too, especially when we pulled into Kelsey’s driveway. Maybe it was because I was leaving his house or maybe–God forbid–he actually enjoyed snuggling up to me as much as I did him. He even chuckled slightly, as I sighed in contentment against his back.
I know, I know, I totally should have been freaking out at that point instead of swooning like an idiot, but I went with it, needing a sense of normalcy in my life again. Although normal wasn�
�t normal when you knew people who shifted into animals.
I blinked, the now and then took over as Kelsey’s voice pulled me from my memories. “I’m going to take Emmy for ice cream after dinner, and then we’re going to swing by the store too. I need some stuff for a project at school tomorrow.”
I squinted up at her from under my lashes, watching as my best friend tilted her head to the side. She studied my face; I was an open book I’m sure. She had to have known something was wrong, but I wasn’t about to tell her.
I nodded, and stared back down at my plate.
“Good, good. Emmy needs to get out more. She’s becoming quite the hermit lately.” Mr. Orson chuckled.
I crossed my ankles to keep from kicking the Kelsey’s mom. Hell, if any of these people had been through half the shit I had over the past week, then they’d most likely be in a mental institution by now.
“Um, by the way Emmy,” Mrs. Orson paused. The tone of her voice was unsure and I lifted my gaze to stare back at her. God…what was wrong now? “Your mom called today,” she cleared her throat. I leaned forward in my chair. Come on lady, spit it out…
“What did she say?” Distrust settled in chest. My hands balled into two fists on my lap. I really thought that my mom made herself clear at the hospital when she left me there; selfishly claiming that she didn’t want anything to do with me anymore.
“Well actually,” she cleared her throat again, looking at Mr. Orson and Kelsey before she fixed her eyes back on me. “She wants you to uh, come home hon, and soon. Apparently your stepfather is in jail because he wasn’t watching Jamie one night in the bath and the poor thing wound up falling and breaking his wrist.” I smacked my hand against the table. The saliva in my throat disappeared and the dryness began to choke me.
No. Not Jamie. Anybody but him! Jesus God…I knew I should have gotten him out of there. I was going to kill that rat bastard.
“What the hell?” I barked, definitely not meaning to come across as a bitch, but still, you’d think I would have been told this earlier!
I stood, wiping my mouth with a napkin as I wordlessly walked away from the table towards the front door. I had to get home. I hated myself for not being there for my little brother, even if it wasn’t my fault. “Emmy, wait. I’ll drive you.” Kelsey waltzed up behind me. Worry laced her chocolate, brown eyes. My heart hurt so much at that point. All I wanted to do was get home to my baby brother.
I nodded reluctantly at her, before grabbing my jacket. I slipped it over my shoulders. “Let’s go then.” I frowned. I really didn’t want Kelsey to go, but I knew she’d never let me do this alone.
The ride to my house was quiet. Kelsey, being the chatty queen she usually was, didn’t even say a word. I was a little too busy fighting back tears to talk anyway.
We pulled into the driveway. Kelsey parked and stuck her keys into her pocket. I reached over and grabbed her hand. “Just go, they’re here. I see a light on in Jamie’s room.” I turned, pointing up towards the second floor. As I walked away, I could hear her soft curses behind me. She was obviously scared, hell, so was I! I had to face this on my own. This was my life, my mother, my baby brother. And nobody could deal with this crap-tastic-ness better than I could.
The door creaked slightly as I stepped inside, my breath stalled out in my lungs. It was a habit to stay quiet when coming home, even though I knew the step-douche wasn’t there. But the instinct to act that way wasn’t something that would leave me overnight. I glanced around, noticing right away how tidy everything appeared. I shrugged, I was impressed, intrigued even. My mother never cleaned, nor did she cook either.
“Mom?” I half whispered, half yelled up the stairs. Faintly, I heard a noise that sounded like giggling, but that couldn’t be right. My mom didn’t giggle. “Mom, are you here?” I tried one more time, walking up the steps as my heart pulsated frantically against my chest.
I shuddered, walking past my mom and step-douche’s room first. I tried not to look over at the spot on the wall where I was almost choked to death, but yet, I almost have to. I have to remind myself that, yes indeed, I was alive. I held my hand to my throat, somehow pulling myself away from my memories. I followed the loud, squealing sound I heard coming from Jamie’s room. It wasn’t a scary noise. If anything; it was the sound of happiness, a sound that happened to belong to my brother…and my mom.
“Hey guys, how’s it going?” I whispered softly, leaning against the doorframe of Jamie’s room. The moment he saw me, his eyes brightened and he bounced off the bed with a wail.
“Emmy!” he hollered, throwing his arms around my legs in a heartbreakingly tight way. I crouched down to face him head on, not even bothering to look at my mother’s face as I did.
“Hey, short stuff!” I rubbed my hand over his head, “I heard you got into a super ninja battle with the bathtub?” He pulled back, grinning like a proud little guy as he shoved his red cast up into my face.
“Yeah, isn’t it cool? It’s red like Mario. Mommy said I could pick whatever color I wanted, so I got this!”
“Wow, that’s awesome buddy!”
“Yeah, it doesn’t even hurt anymore, and Mommy said that if I wanted to decorate it with my new Super Mario stickers that Grandma gave me, I could! Do you want to help, Emmy?”
I glanced briefly towards my mother, noticing the sad smile on her face as she looked at her son with nothing but adoration in her eyes. What I really wanted to do is whack the crap out of the woman for letting this happen to him in the first place. For my little brother’s sake, I would forgo that idea, at least for now. All bets were off when he went out of the room.
“Sure bud, I’ll help you. Why don’t you run downstairs and grab a marker too. I want to sign that bad boy.” I ran my hand through his long blond curls, admiring the look of happiness in his four-year-old eyes as he nodded. I am more than thankful that the little guy didn’t fully understand everything yet.
With a loud “Ka-Pow!” exiting his mouth, Jamie was out the door, running probably a little faster than a boy with a broken wrist should have been. My mom moved off the bed making her way to stand in front of me. I stiffened, definitely not wanting to appear vulnerable in front of her. She didn’t need to know how much this whole situation killed me.
“Emmy, I know what you’re thinking honey, and let me tell you first how sorry I am…sorry about everything.”
“Yep, whatever, I’ve heard it all before.” I turned away from her, gripping my sweater, as I tried to take in everything around her without actually looking at her.
“Sweetie, I love you, and you know how much I love Jamie too. And I want to start over, the three of us. John’s gone now. He’s in jail this time honey. They got him for child endangerment since he was drunk when Jamie fell out of the tub. He’s going to be in there for a while. And I want this to work! Please, Emmy…” She stepped behind me, and pressed her hand upon my shoulder.
My body tensed at her unexpected gentleness. This wasn’t her; only days before, she had basically disowned me. Now, why, was she begging for us to be one big happy family? Excuse me if I was a little pessimistic about the whole thing. Maybe she was high or something too…that was definitely not out of the question.
“Mom, stop with the lovey-dovey stuff, alright?” I brushed her off, but spun around to look at her, “I’ll come home, but not for you. For Jaime.”
“Oh baby, you won’t regret this, I promise! Things will be different now.”
I’d heard it all before, but like I said I wasn’t moving back for anything other than Jamie.
Speak of the devil. I grinned as Jamie came darting back into the room. His markers were in one hand as he pulled my pant leg towards his little twin bed. I didn’t bother looking at my mother’s face again. I could already hear her quiet sobs as she walked out the door, and that was more than enough for me for one night. The woman was lying, and I knew that the moment her husband was out of jail, things would definitely go back to the way they were before.
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This time though, I was going to be prepared.
Chapter Nine
I felt as if I walked the plank of a pirate ship come Monday morning. Mainly because of who I knew I’d inevitably run into. I hadn’t heard from Jack, or even seen him since last Wednesday when everything went to hell. Nor had I seen either of the Martin parents. I called into work, using the excuse that I needed to spend some time with the family. I needed to avoid them all, that way I could get my head on straight–wrap it around everything that had happened.
I shivered, pulling my turtleneck sweater a little tighter around my neck as I attempted to key in my locker code. I wasn’t cold–not by a long shot–I was just sort of freaking out. Freaking out over the fact that Jack was somewhere close by actually. It was weird, because it was almost as if I could sense his presence now, even when he wasn’t there.
“Hey, there you are! I tried calling your house phone last night, but it said it was disconnected or something.”
I jumped at the sound of Kelsey’s voice. Jesus, talk about being on edge… I shut my locker with a loud sigh, as I turned to face her. Dark circles rimmed the underside of her eyes, and the slight flaw on her normally perfect complexion surprised me. My beautiful best friend looked as though she’d been through as many battles with the nightmares as I had lately.
“Yeah sorry. Mom didn’t pay the cell phone bill again,”
“Again?” Kelsey leaned against the locker nearby, hiding a yawn with the back of her hand. I pulled my book bag up around my shoulders, and nodded back at her, too embarrassed to even make eye contact. “Well, if you need money girl—”
“No! No money, Kelsey. I’m going after school to pay it, so it’s fine.”
She sighed in response. It was more than obvious she had no idea what to say. And I was fine with that. “Alright, but hey, you know all you have to do is ask…”
I shrugged, annoyed that the subject was still going on. The bill was going to get paid. End of subject.
Resisting Fate (Predetermined) Page 9
