The boys went at it and the room filled with the sounds of punches, grunts, and kicks.
“Let’s do this,” Chris said, straightening her tank top strap.
“Better call 911,” I said, “because when I’m done with you, you’ll definitely need an ambulance.”
“Hardy-har-har-har,” she rolled her eyes. “All talk and no action.”
Lightning fast I struck out and she fell down to her back and the air whooshed out of her lungs. “Freakin’ ninja,” she muttered under her breath as she slowly began to stand. She rubbed her backside. I smiled in satisfaction.
With my new and improved shifter abilities I was able to slow down every movement she went to make. She’d draw her arm back in a punch and I would see it in slow motion so I could either duck or grab her arm. “Incredible,” I murmured under my breath. I had never wanted this kind of strength, power, I had been fine being perfectly normal, but there was a sense of satisfaction in my abilities. I knew that if I went up against a seasoned shifter I’d probably fail but someone like Travis? Yeah, I was pretty sure I could do some serious damage to his pretty face.
After hitting the floor for the fiftieth time Chris held a hand out and said, “Done, I’m done.” She was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling rapidly, and I wasn’t even winded. “You’re a natural Sophie. I don’t know what’s happened to you. That one day you fought like a human and now you fight like a super wolf.”
“My she-wolf,” Caeden came up to me and kissed my cheek.
“Didn’t I tell you never to call me that?” I smiled.
“I seem to remember that conversation but I chose not to listen to you.”
“Ah, of course,” I laughed. “Is this what I have to look forward to for the rest of my life? You not listening to me?”
“Yeah, pretty much,” Caeden nodded. “I’m going to shower,” he kissed me.
I looked down at Chris and held out a hand to help her up. She took it and I easily hauled her up. “Need some ice?”
“Yes, please,” she limped over to the couch.
I went to the kitchen and brought a couple of ice packs down for Chris. She gladly took them and sighed in relief when it hit her skin. I sat down beside her and saw Bentley and Bryce in the corner. Bryce held a towel to his bloody nose and Bentley was snapping a bone in his arm into place so it would heal correctly. The sound was sickening and I made a face of disgust.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” I said to Chris, wiping my hands on my purple workout pants just to have something to do.
She waved her hand. “It’s okay. I know you didn’t do it on purpose and I didn’t tell you to stop.”
After a few moments I asked her, “Where’s Logan?”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know. He disappeared from school yesterday after I talked to him and he didn’t come home last night. I’m really worried about him.”
My heart filled with leaden dread. What if Travis had gotten him? Instead of voicing my concerns to Chris I patted her hand and said, “I’m sure he’s fine. So he knows that we know?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she leaned her head back. “I hoped he’d deny it but he didn’t.” Turning her head towards me she whispered, “I don’t want to lose my brother.”
I swallowed. “Caeden and I won’t let anything happen to him. This is the twenty-first century, I think it’s time for some new rules.”
She smiled. “That makes me feel better.”
“I mean it,” I said fiercely. “I won’t let anyone hurt him.”
“Thank you,” she wiped away a tear.
“Christian?” Bentley said from across the room, sensing her upset. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said. “Everything’s alright.”
His dark brows knitted together and his golden brown eyes seemed unconvinced. “You sure?”
“Yep,” she smiled for good measure.
Bentley went back to tending his arm.
“Do you want us to go out and look for him?” I asked.
“Not yet,” she said. “I think he just needs time to… process.”
“Just let me know,” I said, “I’ll be the first one out there.”
“You’re so nice, Sophie,” she said. “There aren’t many people willing to help at their own expense.”
“You guys are my friends, my pack, I’d do anything for you and I’m not saying that as your Alpha.”
She smiled. “I know.”
* * *
Caeden and I decided to spend the night at his house. I tied my wet hair into a knot on my head and padded into his bedroom. Archie and Murphy, who had shown up all on their own, were plopped on an oversized doggie cushion. Archie all but disappeared into the massiveness that was Murphy.
I hopped onto the bed, bouncing it, and Caeden wrapped me into his arms. He pulled the blankets over us even though his body heat was more than enough to keep us warm.
He was so quiet and his breath so even that I was sure he must have gone to sleep but then he spoke. “You amaze me more and more everyday. Sometimes I don’t think I deserve someone like you.”
I laughed. “Are you kidding me? I don’t deserve you. You’re perfect. You’re kind, smart, funny- should I go on?” I turned my head and smiled at him.
Even in the darkness his blue eyes were bright. With his index finger he began to trace my features. “I think we were chosen for a reason Sophie. We compliment each other in every way.”
“Isn’t that the point of mates?” I asked. “To compliment each other?”
“Yeah,” he breathed. “But I think maybe we’re meant to do something important. Something big.”
“Like what?” I laughed.
“I don’t know,” he shrugged and got quiet once more. Thinking I had fallen asleep, he said, “Soph?”
“I’m awake,” I scooted closer to his body, resting my head in the crook of his arm.
“Do you…” He paused. “Do you ever think about what may have happened if we’d never met each other?”
“No,” I said, “you do?”
“Yeah, and it scares the crap out of me to think of a life without you. You’re my light. You brought me out of the darkness.”
“What do you mean?” I asked and pressed a kiss to his naked chest.
“After my dad died I wasn’t myself. I didn’t really live. I was a sucky Alpha, a sucky son, and a sucky brother. I knew I was hurting my mom but I just couldn’t seem to snap out of it until you. You walked into the shop and suddenly I just knew that everything was going to be okay. You’re my shooting star.”
“Wow, I- I didn’t know,” I breathed, my breath tickling his light dusting of chest hair.
“Now you do,” he said.
I fell asleep to thoughts of wolves, mates, and light. A very bright light.
* * *
“Wake up, Sophie,” Caeden said against my ear.
“Go away,” I mumbled.
“Rise and shine,” he said and shook me slightly.
“I’m going to stab you in the eye,” I mumbled into the pillow.
“Ah, you wouldn’t do that, you like my pretty blue eyes too much.”
Sitting up I snapped, “What is so important that you have to wake me up at-” I glanced at the clock, “-seven o’ clock on a Sunday?”
“Soccer,” he grinned and tossed a ball at my face. I deftly caught it.
“Soccer? Caeden, I told you I don’t want to try out for the team.”
“You don’t have to try out for the team. I just want to see you play. Think you can beat me?”
“I know I can,” I tossed the ball at his chest as hard as I could.
He grunted form the force but didn’t drop it. Still, I smiled in satisfaction. Caeden tossed the ball from one hand to the other. “I’m not leaving until you get out of this bed,” he grinned.
“Fine,” I threw the covers off. “Now, shoo,” I motioned him out the door. “I have to get dressed.”
“Scor
e one for Caeden,” he grinned. I shook my head and closed the door behind him.
I dug through my designated drawer and found a loose pair of shorts and a tank top. I changed clothes quickly, tossing my Jammie Jams into the hamper, and scurrying into Caeden’s bathroom. I could hear Bryce’s snore through the wall. At least someone was getting to sleep in. I brushed my teeth and hair before pulling it back into a high ponytail.
I found Caeden downstairs in the kitchen. “Here,” he tossed me a breakfast bar. “Eat this now and I thought later we could have a picnic.” He pointed to an actual picnic basket. I thought those things only existed in movies.
“Wow,” I said, “you might just win boyfriend of the year award.” He grinned but I held up a finger. “Unless you wake me up at the crack of dawn again.”
“You’re cranky,” he grinned.
“You bet I am,” I smiled, rubbing sleep from my eyes. “But it’s impossible to stay cranky for long when you’re around a bright ray of sunshine like you.”
“Aww,” he put a hand to his heart, “I’m touched.”
“Are you done?” I motioned to the basket as I unwrapped my breakfast bar. It was drizzled in caramel and actually didn’t taste that bad. All the other ones I’d eaten had always tasted like cardboard.
“Yep,” he said and closed the top. “We are good to go.”
I picked up the soccer ball and held it in the crook of my arm. “I hope you’re ready to get owned by a girl,” I said to his back.
“Baby, you can own me anytime.”
I blushed at his words and decided to keep my mouth shut. He loaded the picnic basket in the trunk of his Jeep and Murphy was already in his cage. I looked around and said, “Where’s Archie?”
About that time my cute little black and white dog came scurrying into the garage. I picked him up in my arms and showered him with kisses. “You’re so cute,” I cooed. “The cutest dog in the world.”
“Sophie, we’ve got to go,” Caeden said.
“Oh, right,” I opened the car door. I put the window down and let Archie stick his head out. Murphy whined from the back, wishing for freedom.
The early morning air was cool so I had to eventually tug Archie back inside and put the window up. He looked up at me with round, sad, brown eyes. “Sorry bud,” I said, “mommy’s cold.”
Caeden snorted.
“What?” I asked.
“Did you just call yourself ‘mommy’ to the dog?”
“Yes, doesn’t everyone do that?”
“I don’t call myself daddy to Murphy,” he grinned.
“Well I don’t care, if I want to call myself mommy to my dog I will,” I petted Archie’s soft fur.
Caeden just chuckled.
I didn’t know where we were going so I closed my eyes and leaned my seat back to take a nap. In no time Caeden was telling me to open my eyes and that we were here.
Here, turned out to be the park connected to the school. The sun had fully risen and some cars were already in the parking lot. Probably people out for a morning jog on the trails.
Caeden popped the trunk and let Murphy out. The horse of a dog stretched his long legs. Caeden pulled out a tennis ball and tossed it. Murphy took out after it while Archie yipped.
Murphy came skidding back with the ball in his mouth. The ball looked so small in the large dog’s mouth that I was surprised he didn’t swallow it. He lay down on the ground with the ball and began to chew it.
“We’ll come back and get the basket when we’re ready for lunch,” Caeden said, closing the trunk and locking the car.
Archie walked beside me and I held the soccer ball. “Look Archie,” I said and the little dog looked up at me, “you look like a little animated soccer ball.” The dog snorted and trotted ahead as if I had offended him.
Caeden looked behind us for Murphy. He was still on the ground, chewing his ball. Caeden whistled. “Here, boy, bring the ball to daddy,” he turned to me a winked. I blushed. You’d think after all this time Caeden wouldn’t be able to make me blush but he still could. Murphy held the ball in his mouth and ran towards us. He stopped in front of us and spit out his ball for Caeden to toss. He did and Murphy took off after it. Archie stuck his nose prissily in the air. “Soccer field’s this way,” Caeden guided me to the front right of the park. “Murphy!” he called and the dog came jogging back. Caeden didn’t take the ball this time and Murphy stayed beside us.
We stopped in the middle of the field and I dropped the soccer ball down on the ground. Murphy and Archie sat by the bleachers.
“This is going to be kinda weird, playing against just one person,” I said and tapped the ball with my foot. It moved a few inches.
Caeden laughed. “Stop trying to get out of it, Sophie, we’re playing.”
“Alright,” I said. “I’m ready whenever you are. In fact, I’ll let you have the ball first.”
“Aren’t you sweet,” he said, and kicked the ball before jogging after it.
“Only because you won’t have it for long,” I laughed, jogging after him.
He went to kick it in the goal but I intercepted. I sprinted towards the other goal.
“Hey!” Caeden called behind me. “That wasn’t fair!”
“That’s how you play,” I called back to him, taking aim, I kicked the ball and it soared into the top right corner.
“So not fair,” Caeden said, wrapping his arms around my middle and swinging me around, before dropping me on the ground and going after the ball.
“And that’s cheating mister,” I yelled, already standing up and running after him. I stole the ball from Caeden again and he cursed behind me. My laugh filled the air. I hadn’t been this carefree and just… happy in a long time. The stress of the move, of finding my mate, becoming a shifter, Travis, it just all melted away. For a minute, I could just pretend to be normal. I was just a girl, playing soccer, with her amazingly wonderful boyfriend. I liked that picture. I shot the ball into the net once again. I cheered for myself and said to Caeden, “You’re already losing and we’ve been playing for two minutes.”
“Well, we’re not done yet,” he winked, flashing his dimple.
* * *
By lunchtime we had amassed quite a crowd. Actually, I was the one that the crowd was gathered for.
Six or seven guys sat on the bleachers hooting and hollering. I had gotten used to girls jaws dropping around Caeden but it weird to have the attention turned to me. Weird and a bit unnerving.
“I am going to give each and every one of those guys a piece of my mind,” Caeden huffed under his breath.
“Jealous?” I asked, before flitting away with the ball. We’d been playing for hours and I still wasn’t tired and Caeden still hadn’t scored a single point.
After I scored yet another point I grabbed up the ball and said to Caeden, “How about lunch?”
“Thank you! I’m starving!”
“Sorry, I forgot you have to eat every five minutes,” I joked.
“I’ll be right back,” he said, loud enough for the other guys to hear the warning tone to his voice.
“Hurry,” I said and pecked him on the lips. A little bit of the tension leaked out of his body.
Once Caeden had disappeared the seven guys hopped down from the bleachers, clapping.
“That was fucking incredible,” the guy in the middle said. He had floppy red hair and pale blue eyes.
“I’ve never seen anything like that before,” another guy said, running his hands through spiky blond hair.
“I’m Evan,” said the red head.
“Oh right, we should probably introduce ourselves,” another guy said. He was the tallest of all the guys with sandy hair almost to his shoulders. “The name’s Riley,” he produced his fist and I bumped it with mine.
“This is Tyler,” he pointed to the blond guy and he waved.
“Cam,” a brown hair guy said.
“Brody,” the guy on the end smiled. He had wavy black hair and olive colored skin.
>
“I’m Kyle,” a shorter guy with white-blond hair said, sticking out his hand to shake.
“And I’m Shane,” the most muscular of the guys said. His brown hair skimmed his jaw.
“You whooped that guy’s ass,” Riley said.
“He’s my boyfriend,” I looked over my shoulder for Caeden. “So, he probably just let me win.”
Insider (Outsider Series) Page 14
