by K R Hall
Tracie was having the time of her life. The bike accident was the freakiest damn thing. One moment they were careering down the street, and the next, there’s a sudden screeching of tires, a massive smash of metal on metal. Tracie turned her head and saw the impact.
A truck ran the red light. When the rear wheel connected with the truck, Tanner was flung forward into the street. There was nothing they could have done. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time. The cars were braking, their tires screeching in long black lines on the summer tarmac. The bike became tangled under the truck’s wheels, and then the second car rear-ended the one in front to send them all another ten feet down the street. Then all was still.
Tanner felt his arm snap before he hit the forest floor. Glancing down, he saw the shiny white of his humerus poking out below his shirt, and he almost blacked out. The pain was crippling his mind; Tanner saw what’s left of the bike. The metal was mangled, and a handlebar snapped clean off. He could hear people around him, screaming and shouting before he lost consciousness.
Tracie could only make out the ambulance’s blurred shape through her red, puffy, crying eyes. She stared as she watched Tanner go pale and limp. A pair of strong hands pulled Tracie back out of the way. She glanced behind her and recognized Nate.
They stared, unable to move, as blood gushed from Tanner’s wounds as the paramedics worked. Tanner’s body was channeled onto a stretcher and into the ambulance.
“They will take him to the shifter hospital in Fallbrook. They will help Tanner heal faster,” Nathanial explained.
After they finished talking to the police officers, they hopped on their bikes and headed back to the foster home to let Shannon know what happened. Before she knew it, they were on their way to the shifter hospital.
“Go sit in the waiting room while I talk to the receptionist,” Shannon said.
They sat watching Shannon talking to the receptionist. Within a few minutes, Shannon walked to the waiting room and sat down among the children.
“The healers have stopped Tanner’s bleeding. His broken leg is being worked on now. They think that he will be healed enough in thirty minutes to be able to shift into his bear and finish healing,” Shannon explained.
“Can we wait here for him?” Spencer asked.
“Of course. Are you hungry or thirsty?”
“No,” echoed through the room.
A police officer entered the hospital and headed to the receptionist. As they talked, he looked toward where they sat. After a moment, he walked over to them.
“I’m officer Derek Jorgenson. I need to ask you a few questions about the accident. Which of you guys witnessed the accident?” Derek said.
“Nate, Tanner, Spencer, and Tracie,” replied Rosalie.
“I know you talked to police officers at the scene, but you may have remembered something more now that the shock has worn off. Can one of you tell me what happened?” Officer Derek asked.
They all looked to Nathaniel and nodded, indicating that he should be their spokesperson.
“We were riding along Ammunition Road heading to Camp Pendleton. We were stopped at the red light. When it turned green on our end, we looked before continuing. We had just started into the intersection when we heard screeching tires and the sound of metal on metal. Tanner didn’t even holler out. Rosalie called 911 while the rest of us tried to help,” Nathanial said.
“Did you get a good look at the driver?”
“I was in the lead and didn’t. Did any of you?” Nathaniel asked.
“I did. I will never forget,” Tracie said.
“I was in the rear; I saw the red truck, but not the driver,” Spencer replied.
“I didn’t see,” Rosalie answered.
“Tracie, will you describe the driver?”
“He was a white man with blond hair and a mustache. When he crossed in front of us, I saw his arm hanging in the window, and he had a tattoo, but I couldn’t tell what it was,” Tracie explained.
“The truck is registered to a soldier at Camp Pendleton. He reported it stolen. Does this look like the driver?” Officer Derek asked, showing Tracie a photo of a man on his cell phone.
“Ummm, no, I don’t think so,” Tracie replied after looking at the photo for a moment.
“Jorgenson, this is base; come in,” a voice said through the mike on his shoulder.
“This is Derek.”
“We’ve found the red truck in Rainbow.”
“On my way. Thanks for the help, kids. I hope your friend will be okay. If you can think of anything else, please call me on this number,” Officer Derek said as he handed Shannon his business card before dashing out.
“I hope they catch him,” Tracie said.
“I’m sure they will. Officer Derek is a shifter. He will be able to scent the driver and know for sure if the man who owns it was really the driver,” Shannon replied.
They sat silently waiting for a few minutes when one of the healers came out a set of double doors and headed to them.
“Hi, I’m doctor Margo Hathaway. Tanner will be fine. He shifted into his bear form a moment ago, which sped up his healing. You can take him back home tomorrow. We want to keep him overnight for observation,” doctor Hathaway said.
“Can we see him?” Shannon asked.
“I’m afraid not. His bear is a bit agitated, so we’ve sedated him.”
“What time should we be here in the morning?”
“I will be here at eight, but you should come around nine.”
“Thank you, doctor Hathaway. We’ll see you tomorrow,” Shannon said, shaking doctor Hathaway’s hand.
Doctor Hathaway went back through the double doors while Shannon and the children headed back home.
The next afternoon Shannon received a phone call from the police about the accident.
“The truck that hit Tanner was stolen. That’s most likely why the driver ran the red light and hit Tanner. How is he doing?” the officer inquired.
“Tanner’s shift healed him completely. That’s one of the great things about being a shifter; you bounce back from serious injuries quickly. Have you arrested the driver?”
“Great! Yes, we’ve got him in custody. He will spend quite a lot of time in prison,” the officer assured Shannon.
“That’s comforting.”
Chapter 2
Four years later.
Nathanial was going crazy. He knew that Tracie was his true mate, but he didn’t tell her because he wanted her to choose him for himself, not some mating bond. Because of that decision, Nate had to watch Tracie go out on dates. Nate had explained the mating issue to his friends, Spencer, Tanner, and Gabe. They had helped him sabotage her dates.
Tracie was just sixteen, but by the time she’d applied her make-up, she could pass for someone eighteen. She would first apply some foundation to give herself a more even look; it helped hide the pimples. She then would apply eye shadow and black eyeliner. After that, she would layer on some mascara and finish with lipstick the color of wine. She’d started learning from YouTube lessons when she had turned fourteen, and now she was quite an expert.
Tonight was Tracie’s sixteenth birthday party. The music was so loud that it made Nate’s skin tingle. The bass thumped in time with his heartbeat as though they were one, filling him from head to toe with music. He liked this song. Over the roar of music, a distant, hazy chatter could be heard. Nate couldn’t make out any words, but laughter rang in his ears and wouldn’t seem to stop. She was sitting between two good looking boys. The taller of the two guys was laid back, scanning the room while the more muscular one was whispering in Tracie’s ear, causing her to laugh. The muscular one told the tall one what Nathanial could assume was a joke; he laughed too. The evening stretched ahead.
A plan was hatching, a beautiful plan. The urge to do it overrode his nagging doubt so fast Nathaniel never really noticed it. A slow grin spread over his face; it was time to find his friends and put the plan into action.
&nb
sp; “I’ve got the best plan to get rid of those guys!” Nate said excitedly as he approached his friends.
“Well, spill it, Nate. Don’t keep us in suspense,” Gave said.
“They’ve been eating the chocolate-dipped cookies. We just need to melt some ex-lax and dip a few cookies in it. Then put them in the freezer for a few seconds to harden it,” Nate explained.
“How can we make sure they are the only ones to eat the cookies?” Tanner asked.
“How can we make sure there will be enough to make them crap their pants?” Spencer asked.
“Umm, okay. I didn’t think this through enough. I need to get Tracie away from those dudes,” Nate relented.
“It’s the beginning of a good plan, though, Nate,” Tanner said.
All of a sudden, the music stops, and the lights turn up.
“It’s ten; the party is over,” Shannon said.
“But we were having so much fun,” one of the girls complained.
“You kids are fifteen and sixteen. I promised your parents that the party would be over by ten. I’ve seen several cars outside waiting,” Shannon explained.
After a few more rumbles and complaints, several kids left the room and headed out the front door to their waiting parents. Nathaniel was giddy with relief to watch the two goons leave.
“You got lucky, man,” Gabe said.
“Yeah, I did.”
They all pitched in and helped Shannon clean up after the remainder of the party guests left. Nathaniel was asleep shortly after his head hit his pillow. It had been an exhausting evening. He resolved that in the morning, he would ask Tracie on a date.
***
When Nathaniel woke the following morning, his stomach was in knots. He quickly dressed and headed downstairs for breakfast. This was it. Today he would ask Tracie to go on a date with him. Nathaniel walked into the kitchen with all the courage he could muster and sat down beside Tracie.
Tracie squirms uneasily in her seat, eyes glued to her half-eaten breakfast. Nathaniel wondered if she was uncomfortable because he sat down next to her instead of across from her.
“Um, I – uh, well. Tracie, would you go out with me Saturday?” Nathaniel stammered.
“Oh, I um, I have plans on Saturday,” Tracie replied.
“Oh. Okay. Sure. I understand. Maybe we could go another day. I could call you and set something up,” Nathaniel faltered, unsure what exactly to say next.
“Nate, I don’t think that such a good idea.”
“What? W-why not? I mean, we’ve known each other for four years,” Nathaniel replied desperately.
“I’m seeing someone,” Tracie confessed before getting up and cleaning her spot.
After Tracie put her dishes in the sink, she dashed for her room to pick up her schoolbooks. She met Rosalie, Lacey, and Dixie by the door, and they walked to school together.
Nathaniel quickly finished his breakfast and left for school with the boys.
Throughout the entire duration of school, Nathaniel’s mind is elsewhere. He couldn’t focus. He often had to ask the teachers to repeat what they said. His mind was focused on Tracie’s rejection. He was relieved that he had no classes with Tracie.
During lunch, Nathaniel, Spencer, Gabe, and Tanner sat at their usual table, which happens to be closest to the main entrance. Nathaniel’s not in the mood to eat. All he wanted to do was crawl in his bed and die. He knows he should eat something so he wouldn’t get sick. He grabbed a tuna fish sandwich and an apple from the buffet.
“Are you still upset from Tracie’s rejection?” Tanner inquired.
“Yes, I’m stupid. Now she probably won’t talk to me.”
“Well, that explains why you look a little green,” Spencer remarked.
“Thanks.”
Nathaniel spotted Tracie sitting at a table along with a dozen other students. Jealousy shot through Nathaniel when he spotted her holding hands with another boy. He lost his appetite and couldn’t finish his lunch. His heart felt like a thousand knives were stabbing it. The boy directed a smile at Tracie, which caused a smile to bloom across her face.
“Who’s the guy holding hands with Tracie?” Nathaniel questioned.
“Oh him? That’s Maximus; he’s a senior. He was one of the guys with Tracie at her birthday party,” Gabe answered after looking over at the other table.
“Man, all he has to do is look at her, and she smiles at him. What magical spell does he have on her?” Nathaniel complained.
“He’s taking her to the prom,” Tanner said.
“What? Oh my God, just kill me now,” Nathaniel cried.
“Sorry, dude, but I thought you should know,” Tanner replied.
The rest of the school day went by in a blur. When the school day ended, Nathaniel met his friends at their lockers, which were all near each other. The boys walked home together in silence. Each lost in their own thoughts as the school year neared the end.
“As I was leaving school today, I overheard the girls talking about going to the mall in search of a perfect prom dress for Tracie,” Spencer divulged when they were a block away from the foster home.
“Can this day get any worse?” Nathaniel complained.
“You spoke too soon,” Gabe taunted.
On the front lawn, Tracie stood with Maximus’ arms wrapped around her. Nathaniel groaned when Maximus leaned in and kissed Tracie. They make a cute couple, but Tracie was Nathaniel’s mate.
“Well, if it is into the future prom Queen and King,” Nathaniel said as he plastered on a big fake smile.
“Nate, um -hi,” Tracie said as she jumped out of Maximus’ embrace. “I doubt we will be prom Queen and King.”
“Oh, sweetie, you’re too modest,” Maximus says, entwining his fingers with hers. “You’re the prettiest girl in the school.”
Nathaniel wanted to gag, but Tracie seemed to eat it up. She stood there with a huge grin on her face.
“Hey, we should all go to the mall together this afternoon to pick out our prom outfits,” Nathaniel suggested.
“I don’t know,” Tracie hesitated.
“Come on, babe, it’ll be fun,” Maximus begged.
“Okay, sure,” Tracie said, giving in after a couple of minutes.
“Great! It’s a date then,” Nathaniel said before hurrying off.
“I need to go home and change. I’ll meet you guys here back in half an hour,” Maximus said as he kissed Tracie.
Tracie watched him drive off before turning to head into the house. She liked Nathaniel, but he had been acting strange lately. She remembered the weird looks he was giving her and Maximus at her birthday party, and now he wants to go prom shopping with them. He must be up to something, she thought to herself. She decided she needed to be on her guard while at the mall.
***
Naturally, the mall was packed. Many other kids from their high school were there, obviously shopping for their prom attire as well. They strolled through Neiman Marcus first, occasionally pulling out one of the dresses. Tracie was feeling anxious; there was no way she could afford these prices. She was glad when Maximus suggested they leave the store. They leisurely strolled through the rest of the mall.
“Let’s go to Macy’s,” Nathaniel suggested.
Tracie was relieved. She could afford Macy’s prices. If she was lucky, maybe she could find something nice on the clearance rack.
Tracie slipped into a glamorous floor-length prom dress made of tulle and chiffon fabric in pink and dark Navy blue. It was a striking gown featuring a draped bodice with shimmering shoulder straps and a glimmering waistband. The outer layer of the skirt would flutter in the breeze, lending a delicate and ethereal beauty. She would pair the dress with a pair of chunky heel pumps with a peep toe and bowknot shoes.
Nathanial’s jaw dropped when he saw Tracie step out of the dressing room. She was beautiful. He quickly snapped his mouth shut and looked around, hoping no one saw his reaction. He couldn’t risk anyone thinking he had a crush on her. If someone
figured out his true feelings, they might figure out that he was the one who was sabotaging her dates. Tracie would hate him for sure.
Maximus comes out of his fitting room after he tried on a blue and white striped suit. Standing next to Tracie, Nathaniel knew they made a good-looking couple. He was doomed.
“How do I look?” Tracie asks shyly.
Incredible. Amazing. Stunning. Magnificent. Nathaniel thought, but he couldn’t say a word. He was tongue-tied.
“Fantastic,” Maximus replied in awe, causing Tracie to blush.
Nathaniel couldn’t take it anymore. He turned and walked away. He was struggling to keep his wolf under control. It wouldn’t do anyone any good if his wolf burst forth inside Macy’s.
“Hey, Nate. Where are you going? I thought you were shopping with us,” Maximus called out.
“Oh, umm. I thought you might be hungry after shopping. I thought I would go grab us a table at the food court,” Nathaniel lied.
“Now that you mention it, I am a bit hungry. Great idea. We’ll meet you there after we pay for our clothes,” Maximus replied.
“Great,” Nathaniel mumbled.
Now he couldn’t just sneak away as he had hoped to. Nathanial had to grab a table at the food court and wait for Tracie and Maximus. At least while they ate, Tracie and Maximus wouldn’t be kissing. Nathaniel had hoped that shopping with them would give him some ideas on how to break them up, but it didn’t look like it would happen.
Why couldn’t Tracie feel the mating bond like he and his wolf did? Maybe he should tell her. Nathaniel wanted Tracie to fall in love with him. He didn’t want her to be with him because they were mates. Even at sixteen, life wasn’t simple.
***
The prom was held in the grand ballroom of the Fallbrook Estate. Typically, the Fallbrook Estate was used for weddings, but each year the senior prom was held there. The grand ballroom had vaulted ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and stylish chandeliers.
Upon entering the ballroom, the regular hum of voices and footsteps greeted Nathaniel and his friends. The swirl of gowns and dancing couples drew his attention. Nathaniel grimaced as he watched Tracie dance with Maximus.
