by K. R. Grace
“Let’s return these death traps and get some hot chocolate.” I offered.
Before I could really fathom what he was doing, he dropped down onto his knees and unlaced my boots. I felt like Cinderella, only instead of the prince putting my shoe on, he was taking it off. He carried both sets of boots in one hand while keeping my fingers locked in his other as he toted us over to the skate return. I slid my numb feet into my combat boots and began to shiver uncontrollably. He didn’t seem fazed by the sub-zeroish temperature of the rink.
On our way over to the concessions stand, Drake stopped by a booth and bought a pair of emerald green gloves with a matching toboggan.
“Put these on,” he said as he tore the plastic away and turned to face me.
“Green?” I eyed the gloves.
“It reminded me of grass, like your eyes.” he answered as he shoved the gloves over my hands and plopped the toboggan on my head.
“Thank you?” I tilted my head to the side. No one had ever likened my eyes to grass before. I was jointly flattered and offended.
He took my hand into his, and we continued on our quest for hot chocolate. Well, at least I was in search of hot chocolate. We finally found the booth, and he bought me my scalding, chocolatey goodness but only ordered ice water for himself. We sat down at a round table beside the rink and watched Onyx, Giles, Wayley, and Chris twirl and tumble around the rink.
“I think those gloves would look good with your natural hair color.” Drake surprised me by saying.
“How do you know I’m not originally this dark?”
“Wayley was thinking it today. She said she thought you were pretty and it was a shame you hid red hair under such drabby black.” His voice went falsetto as he did a poor impersonation of Wayley. I couldn’t help but giggle. “I’m quoting her on that, by the way.”
“Well, I’m not sure if I’m ready to part with my black hair. It’s kind of grown on me.” I shrugged.
“I personally don’t care what color your hair is. Just making an observation.”
“Can I ask you something?” I turned to look at him. His thick hair was pulled back into a short ponytail nub, but one chunk had fallen free that he’d tucked behind his ear.
He nodded.
“Why don’t you wear your hair super long? Doesn’t that mean you are in mourning or believe you lost your soul? Something like that?”
He nodded again. “Something like that.”
Please, you know about Clint.
He sighed. “Well, before Helena, my hair was really long. Made transformations much more painful. When she died, I decided I wanted to separate myself from my heritage. I cut my hair and left the tribal life for good. Unfortunately, I’m stuck with these eyes.”
I straightened in my chair. “I like your eyes! What’s wrong with them?”
Drake sighed as he raked his fingers through his hair, pulling the ponytail out in the process. The black, silky mass fell around his face, making him look disheveled…and mouthwatering.
“Wolves identify rank by the color of each other’s eyes. Silver signifies the Supreme Alpha. Gold represents a general pack Alpha. And so on. I can hide the tat but the eyes don’t lie.”
“Why would you want to hide them?”
Because seriously, if you knew what those eyes did to me…
Drake smirked, reminding me I no longer had any secrets. Dang it!
“I just don’t like how my eyes make other shifters treat me differently.”
“So, what makes a Supreme Alpha different from a general pack Alpha?” I don’t know why I hadn’t asked before now. Every time he brought it up, somehow my mind went to something else.
“This really isn’t the place for that discussion.” Drake glanced around at the people walking by us.
“Couldn’t you be cryptic?”
“Not without confusing the hell out of you.”
I stared out at the ice, biting my lip as I tried to mentally go over what I’d read about the shifters in my book. Maybe the answer was hidden somewhere in all that material.
“You’re not going to rest until I give you something, are you?” Drake sighed.
“Nope.” I smiled proudly.
“Fine, you have your General of the Army. Top dog. Five star. That’s the Creator,” Drake raised his hand up above his head. “Then you have the Generals. Four Star badasses. Those are the archangels.” He dropped his hand to about ear level. “The Lieutenant Generals. Three Stars. That’s reserved for Destiny.” He dropped his hand to chin level. “Major General is next. Two Stars. That’s the Supremes.” He lowered his hand to chest level. “Alphas are like Brigadier Generals. One Stars. Deserve recognition and respect, but unlike the in military, in my world, they can’t talk to anyone higher than me while I can go all the way to the Five-Star Man himself if I needed.”
“Cool. So, have you ever talked to the Creator?” I wasn’t sure if I really wanted the answer.
“Only in my prayers like everyone else. I’ve never communicated with anyone with a higher status than Destiny. I haven’t been the most willing Supreme in history.”
“You’ve gotta admit, all this is pretty great.”
Drake grinned. I couldn’t contain my fascination. It was like reading a book and then suddenly meeting the main character in real life.
“Ready to get something to eat?” Onyx asked. I hadn’t noticed they’d left the rink. I hoped she hadn’t heard anything unusual.
“Um, sure,” I nodded even though I wasn’t hungry.
Drake stood and helped me onto my feet. My calves screamed in protest, reminding me I needed to start working out again.
We filed out of the skating rink and into our respective vehicles. Drake reached over and tugged off my glove before holding onto my hand. We rode in silence as soft music played in the background. Even though I knew my body was going to be yelling at me for days from all the falls I took, I’d had fun with him.
We stopped at a burger joint, and Drake and I both ordered salads. I was afraid of what bringing chicken or a hamburger into his car would do. I was adjusting to the idea of Drake being a Wolf shifter, but I wasn’t ready to see Drake turn into a Wolf. And if cooked meat made him sick, I couldn’t help but wonder if sickness was different for shifters than it was for humans. Like, were they stuck in one form or another until the illness was gone, or did they barf like the rest of us?
Onyx dropped the boys off at the school because Chris had some sort of athletic practice. I felt slightly guilty that I never paid much attention to him. I may not be interested in him, but he was a friend, and friends kept tabs on each other. We followed Onyx into my neighborhood, but instead of turning into my driveway, Drake went in the direction of the woods.
“Where are we going?”
Once we were hidden behind the tree line, he threw the Jeep in park and turned to smile at me.
“I’m not ready to take you home just yet.”
“What did you have in mind?” I asked as I stared blankly into the woods.
Sitting in the woods like this, experiencing the nerves fighting in my stomach…it reminded me too much of Clint. My chest constricted as reality finally sank in.
Clint and I would never do this again, because he was gone.
Someone was wheezing, but I couldn’t break away from my grief to see who it was. Something warm and comforting massaged my shoulders, slowly bringing me back to enough reality to make me realize someone was talking.
“Cry. Get mad at him. It’s not okay, but it will be.”
Strange words.
A few seconds later, it dawned on me that the wheezing was actually high-pitched sobs coming from me, and I’d lost my ability to breathe.
It wasn’t fair! Clint died before we could resolve our issues! We never got to make up or break up. He just died! Coward! I hated him. I hated what he put me through. I hated that because of him, I was now broken beyond repair.
At some point, Drake pulled me into his lap and rocked m
e as I pounded my tiny fists into his solid chest. He took each blow without protest, not once getting mad at me for crying over another guy, a guy who once owned my heart.
Once the tears subsided, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I knew I wasn’t in the clear. It was going to take more than a few dates with a guy I was seriously starting to fall in like with to let go of Clint, but I was ready to try.
“Sorry,” I sniffed and wiped my nose with the sleeve of my jacket.
“Nothing to be sorry about.”
His chin rested on my head as I buried my face in his neck. Peace fused into my bones. I prayed I never had to leave his comforting arms. Pulling back slightly, I looked up into his warm silver eyes.
“Kiss me, please,” I whispered. I needed him to anchor me back to earth. I needed to feel something other than the numbness that was threatening to settle inside me again.
Drake slid his fingers through my hair, tugging slightly so that I was forced to tilt my head back. I reached up to cup his cheek, suddenly fascinated at how translucent my skin looked up against his naturally tanned skin. But the time for thinking ended the second he fused our lips together. His tongue plunged into the depths of my mouth, taking me under to a place where all I could do was feel my need and desire for him. My hands moved to clutch onto the front of his shirt as I shifted so that I was straddling him and our chests were meshed together. His large hands clamped onto my hips, pressing me down.
A gasp exploded from my lungs as stars blurred my vision.
“Damn, you taste too good,” he groaned as he trailed kisses along my jaw line and down my throat. Right where my neck met my shoulder, he sucked hard, and I jerked against him.
Before I could tell him I needed more, one of his hands was on the move, stopping on my rib cage just below my bra line.
I whimpered, silently begging him slide on up for a feel. When he made no further moves, I picked his hand up and placed it right where I wanted it, crying out as soon as he made contact.
“God, you’re so responsive,” he growled against my neck before he began to lick behind my ear.
I’m pretty sure I purred as my hands developed a mind of their own, sliding down the front of his shirt to slip under the hem and grope his abs. When my fingers brushed along the waistline of his jeans, he hissed and bucked his hips.
He began to massage the tops of my thighs, inching closer and closer to where I needed him to be. For the first time ever, I regretted wearing jeans. But, there was an advantage to wearing jeans. If you know what I mean
Drake consumed my mouth and for a second I could’ve sworn I could read his mind.
Mine.
The voice was deeper, dominant, and I had the insane urge to bare my neck to him.
His fingers move to the button of my jeans, and my body began to hum. God, I needed this.
Suddenly, while he was in the process of tugging down my zipper, his body arched back and he let out a cry of pain.
“What? What’s wrong?” I immediately snapped out of my lust-induced haze.
He groaned, digging his fingers hard into my thighs.
“Drake! What is it? What’s happening?”
Oh God, what if he was having a seizure? What if he wasn’t healed after all? What if my weight was hurting him?
I lunged over into the passenger seat as my body shook with fear. “Drake. Drake! Please, talk to me.”
“Stay in the car,” he groaned as he clamored for the door handle.
Before I could speak, he tumbled out. Right before my eyes, his entire body blurred as he fell onto all fours. Then, he charged through the trees and out of site. I stared at the pile of shredded clothing, trying to come with the grips the fact that I’d seen him leave the Jeep as a human and run into the woods as a Wolf.
I sat motionless, not completely sure what was going on. When ten minutes went by with no signs of Drake, I pulled out my phone and played Tetris. Thirty minutes later, a loud thud on the side of my door scared the holy crap out of me. I dropped my phone on the floor as I spun my head to see the black Wolf staring at me through the window. His large head tilted toward the back seat.
I couldn’t help but take the opportunity to stare at him. He was beautiful. His glossy black fur gleamed in the sunlight, making me want to bury my face in it. His silver eyes flashed with impatience as I took my fill until finally he swung his head toward the backseat again.
“Huh?” I frowned when he motioned for the third time, his nostrils flaring. I spun around to look behind me, my eyes landing on a large duffle bag.
Oh. Sorry.
I reached back and grabbed onto the bag, tugging it up into my lap. Without hesitating, I opened the door and held it out to him.
“Oh, er, hmm,” I frowned as I belatedly remembered he currently had paws instead of hands. But, he surprised me by carefully clamping the bag’s strap between his sharp teeth and walked behind the Jeep.
I knew if I really wanted to, I could adjust the mirrors just right so I could see a very naked Drake change into his spare clothes. But, something about that made me feel like a creeper, so I resisted temptation.
Okay, so maybe I did get a really, really quick glimpse of his tanned, toned backside. And maybe I happened to notice the bear tattoo on his upper right thigh next to his…ahum…right before it was guarded by black boxer briefs.
Drake swung the backdoor open and tossed his bag in before slamming it shut and opening the front door. Once inside, he hesitated a second, staring out at nothing. Then, with a shake of the head, he turned the key in the ignition, bringing the Jeep to life.
He drove me to my house in silence and walked me to my door. I mumbled a “thanks” and turned to go inside.
“There are some things you are better off not knowing,” he warned.
“Yeah, too bad I can’t keep anything from you.” I didn’t look at him when I said it. I just walked inside the house, leaving him standing on the porch alone.
This was by far the worst way to end a good date…ever.
Chapter Sixteen
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Drake
I paced in the woods behind Star’s house and let my mind go over the day’s events. Skating went exactly how I knew it would: me spending most of the time on my ass. But it was completely worth it to see the smile on Star’s face and hear her sweet laughter. She had no idea how completely she held my heart in the palm of her small, slender hands.
Our time in the Jeep just before Destiny summonsed me…just thinking about it made me hard and uncomfortable.
However, just thinking about how close I’d come to shifting in the car made my blood chill. The fear in Star’s eyes as I fought hard for control was permanently etched on my brain.
The meeting with the leader of the Guardians hadn’t gone like I’d hoped. Destiny wasn’t known for making threats, but she wasn’t playing when she made it clear I had to obey or suffer the consequences.
I closed my eyes and replayed the conversation for the hundredth time.
Destiny waited for me in a ring of sunlight at the heart of the woods. Her violet eyes studied me before I bowed my head in a sign of respect. She might not be the Creator, but she still held enough power to bring me to my knees if she wanted.
“Thank you for tearing yourself away from Star, Drake.”
I lifted my head to look up at her. The wind picked up, making her long white hair shimmer under the sun’s rays. She shifted and the diamonds on her celestial white dress winked at me. Anyone who was fortunate to see Destiny in person was floored by her otherworldly beauty. Yet, she was completely untouchable. No angel, human, or shifter was allowed to come within ten feet of her without turning into a pile of salt. So, I kept my distance
“I’ve received word that you and Star are getting along very well.”
I nodded, knowing she wasn’t really waiting for a response.
“I’d hoped Fate’s little game with the three of you ended when Helena and Raphael died. It seem
s history is repeating itself again.”
I sat back on my haunches as she looked deep into my eyes. “You love her. I can hear it in your heartbeat. What I have to say is going to be hard to accept.”
My hackles rose, and I struggled to control my need to pace. I silently prayed she didn’t continue. If she didn’t speak, then I wouldn’t be forced to obey.
“It’s very important the legend ends with Star. She must make the right decision or the Guardians will be eliminated. War is brewing in the shifters. Shadowmen is growing at an alarming rate. If Star takes too long, we won’t have anyone left to fight.”
“I know,” I finally spoke. “What do you need me to do?”
“Star can’t pick you, Drake. If she does, there will be war. I’m ordering you to either change her heart about you, or stay away. If you can’t obey, I’ll force you away from her. Are we clear?”
My chest constricted at her words as the command sank into my veins. My heart stopped beating for a second as reality took root. Destiny had spoken. I wasn’t the one.
“I’m giving you three weeks. Make her stop loving you or leave. It’s your choice, but under no circumstances are you allowed to tell her about this meeting.”
The world tilted on its axis, and I whimpered as I struggled not to collapse under the weight placed on my shoulders. I couldn’t lose Star. She was my purpose in this life. I knew the others wouldn’t get the same command. They’d swoop in, romance her off her feet, and she’d forget all about me.
A whine escaped from deep inside me as I lowered my head onto the ground in submission. It didn’t matter what I wanted. The Creator had someone else for Star.
Hot tears slid down my face as I stared up at the moon peaking through the trees. It wasn’t fair, damn it! If she wasn’t the one for me, why did I feel like my soul was being ripped out of my chest?
I’d spent life trying to understand why the Creator kept me alive. Why He wanted me on this screwed up earth. Then Star came into the picture and suddenly everything made sense. I was put on this earth to love her. Everything I did, everything I was, everything I lived for was for her.
