He sighed and looked at me. With a sheepish look he said, “She’s right, you should know how to defend yourself especially since you still have several months until you turn eighteen.”
I gulped.
“It’ll be fine,” he said.
“Do you really think I’m in danger?” I asked.
“No,” he scoffed. “It’s just best to be prepared for any situation. Don’t worry we’ll go easy on you.”
“Sure, we will,” taunted Bryce.
“It was fun chatting with you guys but we’ve got to go,” said Caeden taking my hand and towing me from the kitchen.
“It was nice meeting you,” I said to Amy.
She pulled me into another hug but Caeden kept a hold on my hand. She patted my cheek and then turned to Caeden, “Now be careful with her.”
“Mom,” he groaned.
“Caeden,” she said sternly.
“We’ll be fine,” he said and pulled me to the front door.
From the kitchen his mom said, “No funny business like last night, Caeden, do you understand me?”
“Yes, ma’am,” He conceded and then we were out the door.
I started towards my car but Caeden gently pulled me towards the back of the house and to the garage. He punched in a code and the door rose. Inside was a mocha colored, Cadillac SRX, Caeden’s motorcycle, Bryce’s green 1999 Jeep, and then at the far end a new dark red Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Caeden looked longingly at his Honda motorcycle and said, “There’s no chance of me getting you on this is there?”
“Not yet,” I said with a smile.
“Not yet,” he repeated, “I can live with that.” He towed me to the end of the garage and opened the passenger door of the red Jeep Grand Cherokee. “I guess we’ll take this then.”
I shook my head, “A motorcycle and a brand new Jeep.” I clucked my tongue, “And you wanted to talk about my car.”
He ducked his head, “The Jeep like the motorcycle was my dad’s. I’d trade the cars to have him back any day.”
I closed my eyes, “I’m so sorry Caeden. That was so insensitive of me. Please, forgive me.”
He gave me a small smile. “There’s nothing to forgive.” He pecked me on the cheek and then closed the car door. The car still had the ‘new’ smell to it. Caeden opened the door and climbed in. “Actually,” he said. “Before my dad died that was mine,” and pointed to Bryce’s Jeep, “and if I was lucky he’d occasionally let me borrow the bike.”
“So Stella was yours?”
“Hey,” he said in defense, “I didn’t name the car Bryce did, so go poke fun at him.”
He started the car and I sank back into the plush beige leather. “So, where are we going?” I asked.
He smiled, “Georgetown.” He started driving down the narrow gravel road.
“That sounds good to me,” I smiled. “I just want to get away from here.” I chuckled, “Pretend I’m normal.”
His hand rubbed my arm soothingly before his fingers tangled in mine. “I know this has been tough on you. I can’t imagine if I had grown up not knowing what I was.”
“It’s a lot to take in. A lot,” I said.
He stopped the car when we came to the gate and had to put some kind of code in so we could get out.
He looked at me sadly, “And then there’s us.”
“Yes, there’s that too.”
He pulled out onto the road and said regretfully, “It pains me that all of this has been sprung on you.” He glanced over at me, “We’ll take things slow.”
I smiled and blushed. “I want to be with you,” I said and looked out the window. Boldly, I said, “There’s no one else for me. I know that. I can feel it.”
His eyes were hopeful as he said, “I want you more than anything. Being away from you is hard. I wanted so badly to tell you about all this when I first saw you but I couldn’t. Then when I told Lucinda that we were mates she said that she thought it would be better if she told you, rather than me telling you. But…” He blushed and studied the road for a moment before continuing. “I feel like… there’s some kind of physical…binding… I have to you. It’s like there’s a rope connecting us. Do you… Do you feel it too? Or am I just crazy?”
I was quiet and let his words sink in. What he was saying made sense. The pull I felt to be with him was like a rubber band. It stretched around us and when we were separated it pulled back but it created a pressure to be with him, like it wanted to snap back into place, and that place was his arms.
“I feel it too,” I whispered. “It’s like if I’m not with you there’s this pressure pulling me back to you.”
“Incredible,” we said in unison.
“I wish we could talk to your parents. Maybe since they’re mates too they could shed some light on the situation.”
“Maybe,” I murmured still rubbing my chest where Caeden’s heart had been beating next to mine only a moment ago.
Caeden sighed and said, “I can see this is upsetting you. I want us to have fun today. So, from this moment on let’s just be Caeden and Sophie, no shifter talk.”
“Sounds good to me,” I said.
He smiled and we began to talk about normal, mundane, things to pass the time.
* * *
When we finally made it to Georgetown it was early afternoon. The orange and red leaves created a false sunset. Despite it being the end of October it was fairly warm. A slight breeze had my hair dancing around my shoulders.
We managed to find a parking spot along busy Main Street. Caeden got out and put some money in the parking meter and took my hand. I looked at our intertwined hands and blushed. I looked up and met Caeden’s eyes. He was grinning and the one dimple in his cheek showed prominently.
“Is this okay?” he asked with a glance at our hands.
“Mhmm,” I said as my cheeks flamed redder. I wished I could blame my cheeks on the cold but it felt more like spring outside so I knew I would only make myself look sillier.
“Come on,” he said pulling me down the street. It was crowded but not overly busy like I had originally thought. The buildings were all older, and I quickly realized they were old row homes, but they all contained high-end shops. I saw stores like, American Apparel, BCBG, Coach, Kate Spade, and many others. Caeden pulled me in and out of different stores. He bought himself couple of shirts and some new pairs of jeans.
“When you’re a shifter you go through a lot of clothes,” he shrugged handing the sales girl his credit card. Her eyes roamed over him and I instantly bristled.
As the sun started to go down Caeden’s stomach gave a loud growl and mine followed suit. I giggled, “I guess we’re both hungry,” I said.
Caeden rubbed his stomach and said, “I’m starving. I think this may be the longest I’ve ever gone without eating.”
I laughed, “That must be quite a feat.”
“You have no idea,” he replied towing me towards a fancy French restaurant.
“Oh, no, no, no,” I said putting on the brakes. “That’s too expensive.”
He smiled goofily and said, “Anything for my lovely mate,” and boldly kissed my cheek.
“Really,” I said, “I’m not a fancy kind of girl.” I pointed to the Five Guys down the road. “I’m more of a burgers and fries kind of girl.”
Caeden grinned. “I’m falling for you more and more. Could you be more perfect?”
I blushed and ducked my head so he wouldn’t see. I clutched his hand tighter and towed him down the street to the red and white burger goodness.
I ordered a little cheeseburger, fries, and a drink. Much to Caeden’s chagrin I paid for my own meal. As I was getting my drink I heard Caeden order four of their biggest burgers with just about everything on them and two large fries.
I snickered when the girl at the register, who had been checking out Caeden despite the fact that we were obviously together, asked, “Is this to go?”
“No,” said Caeden and pointed to me, “I’m on a d
ate.” He grinned at me and I blushed down to my neck.
The girl looked peeved but then brightened. “Are others joining you? They must with all that you ordered.”
“Nope,” said Caeden with a smirk. He rubbed his flat stomach and said, “It’s all for me and I’ll eat every last bite.”
“Oh,” she said looking slightly disgusted as she handed him back his change. I rolled my eyes and sat down at an empty table that was slightly out of the way. Caeden got his drink, swigged it down quickly, refilled it, and then grabbed a container of malt vinegar before sitting down across from me.
“That girl was so into you before she found out you were going to eat all of that,” I remarked.
“Really?” asked Caeden looking up through his dark hair with those impossibly blue eyes. “Jealous?” he asked waggling his eye brows.
“No!” I scoffed as my cheeks flamed red. I was caught.
He grinned and his dimple stood out. He pointed a finger at me. “You so are,” he scolded. He sat back and folded his arms across his chest. “I kind of like you jealous.” He appraised me, “It’s hot.”
“Stop it!” I said as my face became even redder.
He grinned. “I don’t think so. I like this.”
I threw my hands in the air. “So, I have feelings for you. You already knew that. Isn’t it logical that I would be jealous of another girl checking you out. Wouldn’t you be mad if a guy was checking me out?”
“Ah,” he sighed. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to you acknowledging your feelings for me it’s like music to my ears. As to another guy, if he dares take one look at you, I’ll rip his throat out.”
I shook my head at his words but it was the first sentence that struck me. Looking into his eyes I knew that Caeden was already in love with me and I knew that I felt the same. But I wasn’t ready to admit it. We had been friends since I moved here but I knew that to say, “I love you”, would mean another step in our relationship and I wasn’t sure if I was ready. I was just getting used to idea of us being mates, being boyfriend and girlfriend; I wasn’t ready to give him that piece of my heart yet. Once I said it there would be no taking it back and I wanted it to be special to the both of us. I wanted it to be because I had truly fallen in love with him and not because my body was telling me that I loved him.
They called my order number and a moment later they called Caeden’s. He stood. “I’ll get yours,” he said with a wave of his hand to get me to sit back down.
He came back with our food and before I had taken one bite of my cheeseburger he was already on the last bite of his first.
He swallowed, took a sip of his drink, and grinned. “Sorry, normally I’m more mannerly but I was starving.”
“You should have said something,” I scolded. “I’m not used to all this shifter stuff,” I whispered.
He stuffed some fries in his mouth while he unwrapped his second burger. “Don’t worry, I’ll remember, because if it’s left up to you, you’ll starve me to death.”
I tossed a fry at him which he deftly caught in his mouth. He smirked and I rolled my eyes.
“You’re impossible,” I muttered.
“That’s what my mother says,” he grinned.
“Oh,” I said, “so, you’re calling me your mother now?”
“No,” he said quickly. “But that is what she tells me.”
“Probably because it’s true,” I laughed.
He smirked. “How else do you think I managed to get Murphy? Do you think my mom would willingly let a seven-foot dog in her house?”
“Murphy’s big but he’s not seven-foot,” I said sarcastically.
“Wanna bet?” said Caeden.
I shook my head. “Boys,” I muttered.
“Seriously,” he said. “If I put Murphy’s paws up on my shoulders he’s over seven-foot.”
“I believe you,” I muttered, “The dog’s the size of a horse or maybe a small house.”
“Don’t diss the dog,” he said around a bite of burger. “He’s my familiar.”
“Your familiar?” I asked.
“Yeah, you know, my familiar,” he said with a flourish of his hand as he finished his large fry and started in on his third burger. He said familiar like I should know what it meant.
“No, I don’t know. That’s why I asked, Einstein,” I said rolling my eyes.
“Well,” he said and swallowed. “Every shifter has a familiar. It’s an animal that you just kind of, connect, with. They know you. Supposedly they can find you anywhere. They’re your animal counterpart.”
“Do I have one?” I asked.
“Of course,” he replied. “We just have to find it. Or maybe it’ll find you.”
“Didn’t your dad have a familiar and your mom? I didn’t see any other dogs there.”
He chewed quietly and said, “My dad’s familiar was a Siberian Husky named Marlo but he died when my dad died. And my mom’s familiar is a Siberian Husky too, her name is Mattie.”
I gulped. “Does that mean my familiar will be an Irish Wolfhound?”
He laughed, “I doubt it.”
“Phew,” I said and let out a breath. “I’m not sure one would fit through Gram’s front door.”
“It would be a tight squeeze,” he conceded.
I finished my food while Caeden polished off his last burger and ate the last of his vinegar drenched fries. He finished and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his stomach. “That was good,” he said.
“Full?” I asked, quirking an eyebrow. I certainly hoped so. I had just watched him single-handily devour four massive burgers, two large fries, and two large drinks, in just a matter of minutes.
“Mhmm,” he said thoughtfully, “I think I saved room for dessert.”
“Your disgusting,” I said with a laugh.
His dimple appeared. “I can’t help it. I’m part wolf. I have four stomachs.”
“That’s cows, you idiot,” I said with a laugh.
He grinned, “Moo.”
“Let’s go find you some dessert,” I said getting up and throwing away my trash. Caeden quickly followed suit and held the door open for me.
He took my hand and led me down the street towards a tiny ice cream parlor. He ordered a large root beer float and got me a scoop of banana ice cream even though I insisted I didn’t want anything.
We sat down at a table by the window. Caeden slurped his float while I stirred my ice cream.
Taking a bite I said, “How did you know banana ice cream is my favorite?”
“I, uh, I don’t know. I guess it’s a mate thing,” he said shrugging his wide shoulders.
“Really?” I asked. “Hmm,” I said thoughtfully. “Ask me what your favorite candy is?”
“What’s my favorite candy?” he asked me.
I thought for a moment and replied, “M&M’s?” I asked questioningly.
He grinned. “That’s right. Let me guess yours.” He thought for a moment and said, “Reese’s cups?”
I laughed. “You’re right! This is so cool!”
We finished our ice cream with a smile. He held my hand on the way back to the car. “I had fun,” I said.
“Best day of my life,” he said, “because I got to spend it with you.”
I shook my head and smiled at him, “Suck up.”
He feigned indignation, “Sophie, are you accusing me of lying?”
“Never,” I said and we laughed all the way to the car. He held the car door open for me like a gentleman and then we started the long drive back home.
He held my hand as he drove. I had noticed all day that his hand always remained toasty warm.
“Why is your hand so warm?” I asked.
He gave my hand a light squeeze and said, “Well, shifters are always slightly warmer than the normal human. Once you shift the first time you get even warmer. But we’re not that much above the average temperature for a human so it’s nothing to worry about. It just always feels like we have a slight fever.”
>
“But why?” I asked. “What’s the purpose?”
He shrugged his shoulders and kept his eyes on the road. “The common theory is that it’s because we’re outside so much. It would suck in the winter if we had a normal temperature, since we’re always running around doing our watches, we would get sick. So, I guess we’re warmer so that we don’t end up sick all the time. Because… uh… when we shift… our clothes don’t shift with us…”
“So, you’re saying when you go all wolf you lose your clothes, so you’re like naked?” I gulped. I don’t know why I had even bothered to ask. I already knew the answer from when Caeden showed up at my house last night.
He glanced over at me and winked. “You get used to the human anatomy real fast when you’re a shifter.”
I blushed an unhealthy shade of crimson. Oh dear, what would I do?
“Don’t worry about it, yet,” he said, “there’s still time until you turn and I’ll be there to help you.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I said.
He laughed, “Don’t worry, I won’t look.” He glanced at me and wiggled his eyebrows, “That is unless you want me to.”
“Stop it, please stop it,” I said trying to hide my flaming cheeks. We didn’t need any heat in the car, my cheeks provided plenty.
He laughed and squeezed my hand, “Really, I don’t want you to worry about it. If it makes you feel better talk to Chris and Charlotte. They won’t turn until after you but they’ve always known about the whole no clothes thing so maybe they can help you cope. They don’t seem uncomfortable with the situation. But what do I know,” he said shrugging his shoulders. He laughed and added, “I guess we all did run around naked with each other when we were little. So, you are kind of out of the loop.”
“And you’re not helping,” I muttered.
“I’ll be quiet,” he said. But then a moment later he said, “Hey, why don’t you come over to my house tomorrow. Sunday is our workout day although we work out pretty much every day this is the one time we’re all together. The whole basement of my house is a gym and the whole pack comes over and we lift weights and do some martial arts.”
I groaned. Exercise was not number one on my to-do list. I wasn’t fat but I wasn’t small either. I liked my size. I thought I looked healthy. But I guessed if I was a shifter then I better bulk up like Amy said. “Sure, why not,” I muttered.
Outsider (Outsider Series) Page 8
