by K R Hall
“Just look at them! They’re dancing so close together you can’t even see any light between them,” Nathaniel complained.
“Any idea how we’re going to sabotage this evening?” Spencer asked.
“No clue. How about any of you guys?” Nathaniel inquired.
Spencer, Gabe, and Tanner all shook their heads no.
The boys tried to continue their conversation but couldn’t hear each other over the loud music. Reluctantly, they sat back with a glass of punch in their hands and watched the rest of their classmates dancing across the floor.
The music settled toward a more relaxing pace, and the overhead lights dimmed. The floor was immediately filled with couples engaged in a slow dance. The music spun around them, lifting them away. Tracie couldn’t count how many times she had squished Maximus’ foot under her own. Still, he smiled brightly as their heels clicked over the ballroom floor. The slow music twirled like thread around them. She rested her head on his chest, letting him sway them around the dance floor.
Nathaniel thought Tracie looked like a princess in her prom gown. The pink and blue dress snuggled her petite frame perfectly as it cascaded to the floor in waves. Spaghetti straps loosely clutched the edges of her slender shoulders while her hair was fixed, and an elegant bun with pearl hairpins positioned throughout to hold each strand of hair in place. Nathaniel thought she looked stunning.
Unfortunately for Nathaniel, Maximus was standing next to Tracie. He was arguably the best-dressed guy there in his tuxedo. Their fingers were interlocked as they made their way to the refreshment table. One of the employees poured them each a glass of punch. Nathaniel watched them as they walked to a table. They sat close together, chatting. Nathaniel was jealous when he saw Maximus loosely wrapped his arm around Tracie’s shoulders then leaned in for a kiss.
“We need to figure out how to sabotage this evening and fast!” Nathaniel said.
Nathaniel couldn’t think anymore; he’s so consumed with jealousy. He couldn’t risk getting caught committing a malicious deed. There were too many innocent bystanders. This sabotage would need a delicate approach. Or maybe a more direct approach would be better.
Before Nathaniel could change his mind, he gets up from the table and walks over to Maximus and Tracie.
“Hi, Maximus. Tracie, wow! You look so beautiful,” Nathaniel said. “You look good too, Maximus. Your suit complements Tracie’s dress well.”
“Yeah. I couldn’t deny how well we looked together when we stood in front of the mirror outside the fitting room at Macy’s,” Maximus replied.
The DJ plays another slow song.
“Oh! I love the song,” Nathaniel says. “Tracie, will you do me the honor of dancing with me?”
He extended his elbow towards Tracie, hoping she would loop her arm through his. He was counting on Maximus being a gentleman. Tracie looked at Maximus as if to silently ask for his approval.
“Don’t let me stop you,” Maximus says with a hand gesture towards the dance floor.
Nathaniel’s heartbeat quickened as Tracie looped her arm through his. He studied her for any sign of regret for accepting this dance but didn’t notice anything. Tracie wrapped both of her arms around Nathaniel’s neck, and he placed a hand on each side of her waist. He couldn’t believe it; this was actually happening. He was dancing with Tracie! It felt like he’d been waiting forever for this moment.
“Hard to believe we will be seniors next year? It seems like yesterday were starting high school,” Nathaniel said, trying to keep Tracie’s interest.
A small smile formed on Tracie’s lips.
“It seems like a long time ago. To be honest, I don’t remember much about that year.”
Nathaniel remembered it well. He remembered every second since the day she walked into the foster home with Shannon. He’d replayed that first day over and over his in his mind. That first moment when his wolf said that she was his mate. He remembered how frightened and tired Tracie looked.
“We seem to have drifted apart. Where did it all go wrong?”
“What are you talking about?” Tracie looked at him curiously. “We still live in the same foster home together. We see each other every day. We didn’t drift apart. We simply grew up.”
Nathaniel was stunned, speechless. That was what she thought? She grew apart from him. Maybe he should have told her that they were mates that very first day. Then she wouldn’t be here with Maximus. She would be here with him. Nathaniel wasn’t sure what else to say, so he remained silent for the rest of the dance. After the song ended, they parted from each other as Maximus moved over to them.
“That looks like some conversation you were having during the dance. Am I sensing a bit of history between the two of you?” Maximus asked.
“Maybe. A long time ago,” Tracie said.
“Yeah, maybe,” Nathaniel said as he walked back to the table with his friends.
Breaking up Tracie and Maximus was going to be a lot harder than Nathaniel had anticipated. As he settled into his seat, there was a tapping on the microphone. All eyes turned to the podium where the student body president, Rosalie, was standing.
“May I have your attention, please?” Rosalie’s cheerful voice filled the room, and all students ceased from dancing to face the front of the ballroom where the DJ was playing. “Thank you. It was a close race for the crown, but to name stood out among all the others. It is my pleasure to present to you your prom king and queen: Maximus Trujillo and Tracie Lowe!”
The ballroom explodes with cheers and hoots. Maximus and Tracie walked over to where Rosalie was standing. Rosalee lays a plastic crown upon each of their heads.
Maximus takes Tracie by the hand and leads her to the dance floor center, where they dance to a slow song. Tracie lays her head against Maximus’ chest as he draws her in closer to him. Nathaniel’s hands ball into a fist, and his neck twitches with jealousy. It doesn’t look like his sabotage plans are going to work this time. He’s lost her again.
Nathaniel couldn’t stand seeing the two of them together. It’s time he left.
“I’m out of here, guys. I’ll see you later,” Nathaniel said before turning to leave.
***
Over the next few weeks, they had final exams and then senior graduation. Nathaniel couldn’t wait until next year when he graduated. The foster kids attended the graduation ceremony, watching their friends graduate.
After graduation, Maximus went to college in another state. Before leaving, he broke up with Tracie.
“You’re dumping me?” Tracie cried.
“It’s for the best, Tracie. Long-distance relationships are hard to keep. Besides, Vermont is on the other side of America. I’m sure to find someone new. Everyone knows college is the time to sow your wild oats,” Maximus tried to reason.
“No. You just want to make excuses. You don’t want to feel guilty for cheating on me,” Tracie argued. “This is dumb. I thought you were different. My virginity was just a game to you. Now that I’ve had sex with you, you’re bored with me.”
“Now, Trace”
“Don’t ‘now Tracie’ me! Go off to Vermont. Sow your wild oats. I don’t care,” Tracie said before slamming the door in Maximus’ face.
Tracie was depressed for about a month. Nathaniel was upset the longer Tracie remained depressed. He finally got up the nerve to ask her out again. Maybe it would help cheer her up and get over Maximus.
Nathaniel found Tracie sitting on one of the rockers on the front porch.
“Do you want to go out?”
Tracie looked like she would say no.
“To get something to eat, I mean. Not a date.”
“Sure!” Tracie said without hesitation.
Her tone was almost cheery. Nathaniel thought he would have to coax her into going out with him.
“I thought we could head to Carl’s Jr. and grab a couple of burgers.”
“Sounds great! Let me grab my purse and cell phone.”
They got on the bi
kes and rode through town to Carl’s Jr.
“This was such a great idea,” Tracie said as they walked inside.
The place was a little run down. The air smelled of stale cooking grease, and the air conditioning seemed to be struggling to keep the inside cooled. The shabby appearance didn’t bother them. They made their way to the counter to place their order. They grabbed their orders and made their way to a booth to eat.
Nathaniel decided that he would explain mates to Tracie and tell her that they were mates. When should he tell her? Not now, maybe after they ate. He was nervous. Maybe this wasn’t the right place to tell her. Someplace romantic? What if she didn’t believe him? He knew that if a mate rejected the mating bond, it would hurt. They hadn’t bonded, so he didn’t worry about her being hurt. He couldn’t bear it if anything happened to Tracie.
“So,” Nathaniel began. “Um. Do you know about shifter mates? I mean what they mean to each other?”
“Not really. Mates are like married couples, right?”
“That’s the basics, but they’re more than that. A shifter’s mate is the other half of his soul,” Nathaniel clarified.
“Oh, so like soulmates?”
“In simple terms, yes. Once a shifter finds his mate, he never wants another woman. They never cheat, and they don’t lie to each other. It’s impossible,” Nathaniel explained.
“That’s pretty cool. How do shifters know when they find their mate?”
“A shifter’s inner animal can sense their mate. The human side can tell their mate by smell. They will be undeniably drawn to the other person.”
“Will shifters only marry their mates?” Tracie asked.
“Yes. Although some never find their mate. We grow at a regular human rate until we reach thirty. Then we stopped aging until the shifter finds his mate and the mating bond is completed. Then the couple will grow together at a slower rate. Shifters can live to be about two thousand years old.”
“That’s incredible. I had no idea. Are shifter mates always another shifter?”
“Not necessarily. A shifter’s mate could be a different shifter species or even a human,” Nathaniel explained.
“That’s amazing,” Tracie replied.
“Yes, it is,” Nathaniel said hopefully.
“Do you want the rest of my fries? I’m just so full I couldn’t eat another bite,” Tracie asked.
“Sure,” Nathan said as she handed him her fries. “You know me; I’ll eat anything.”
“So true,’ Tracie laughed.
“Are you over Maximus breaking up with you?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know,” Tracie started. “Nate, what’s wrong with me? Why do guys keep leaving me?”
“I don’t know, Tracie.”
“Most of the guys don’t ask me out after the first date. I thought Maximus was different. We went out for over a month. But he still left me. Why, Nate?”
“I wish I knew Tracie,” Nathaniel started. “Hey, I have an idea. How about we make a pact?”
“What do you mean a pact?” Tracie eyed him suspiciously.
“We’re almost eighteen. Let’s say, umm, if we’re both still single at hmm, say twenty-eight, we get married to each other.”
“Wait… what?”
“It’s simple, Tracie. I really like you. I think we could have something great. So why not get married to each other if neither of us is married by twenty-eight?”
“What about your mate? You said all shifters long for their mates?”
“That’s true. Many shifters never find their mates.”
“Okay, so say we get married and then you find your mate? What happens to me? If you stay with me, what happens to your mate?”
“We could play the what-if game forever.”
“Wait. Am I your mate, Nate?”
Now was his chance. He could confess everything to her. Sure, she would most likely be mad at him for sabotaging her dates. But when they completed the mating bond, everything would be forgiven.
“Who me? No, I’m sorry we’re not mates,” Nathaniel lied.
“Oh,” Tracie said, disappointed.
“So how about it? If we’re both still single at twenty-eight, we get married.”
“Deal,” Tracie held out her hand to shake on the deal.
One year later.
Nathanial’s graduation day had arrived. Senior year in high school was full of activities; Senior Ditch Day, Spirit Week, picture day, Homecoming, and finally, prom. Nathaniel hoped to participate in these activities with Tracie, but she never went out with him since that date. He didn’t tell her they were mates. Nathaniel still wanted Tracie to love him for himself, not because they were mates.
“Can you believe it, man? We’re finally graduating!” exclaimed Spencer.
“I’m surprised you graduated,” Tanner joked.
“Hey, having Rosalie tutor me with geometry helped,” Spencer replied.
“The important thing is, we all graduate today,” Nathaniel said.
“You and Tracie are both headed to UCLA. When do you leave?” Gabe asked.
“We’ve registered for summer classes, so we leave tomorrow.”
“Are you going to tell her you’re mates?” Tanner asked.
“I want her to love me for me, not the mating bond.”
“Dude, you’ve been saying that since we were twelve. You’ve had us help you sabotage her dates. We won’t be there to help you anymore,” Gabe said.
“My wolf isn’t happy that I haven’t told her. Maybe being in college and away from reminders of her past will help,” Nathaniel said.
Nathaniel hoped it was true. He wasn’t sure how much longer his wolf would let him deny the mating bond. He and Tracie had their suitcases packed. He failed the test for his driver’s license, but Tracie passed hers. She agreed to drive them to UCLA after breakfast.
The local newspaper printed the senior class photos with their names and future dreams. The newspaper also published online. Ace Rollins, head Enforcer for Creed Amadei’s wolf-shifter pack, was a computer whiz. He had an algorithm that he used to constantly search millions of databases worldwide for information on Nathaniel Thibault. The graduation article was a day old, but Ace figured Nathaniel would still be there. Most teens liked to take the summer off between high school graduation and college.
Ace was the wolf shifter who set fire to the Thibault car and watched them burn. It was only when he read a newspaper article about the accident that he realized that Nathaniel hadn’t been in the car. The paper hadn’t said where the boy had gone. Ace had been looking for Nathaniel for almost eight years.
“Creed, I’ve found him.”
“Great. Take Rico and dispose of him.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Ace left to grab Rico and pack a bag. They would take the pack’s jet. No way would Ace ride thirty or so hours in a cramped car. His wolf wouldn’t stand for it. They would fly into the Fallbrook Airpark after a seven-hour flight from New Orleans.
The private jet landed at the airpark around six that evening.
“Take our luggage to the hotel,” Ace said to the pilot as they departed the jet.
Ace and Rico shifted into their wolf forms and made their way to the foster home. They had found everything they wanted to know about the town from the internet as they flew. As a shifter reaches puberty, his or her scent will change. Ace and Rico wouldn’t be able to track Nathaniel as quickly as they hoped. There were more shifters in Fallbrook than they had anticipated.
As the wolf shifters neared the foster home, they slowed their pace and lowered themselves to the ground. It wouldn’t do to be spotted. Sticking to the shadows, Ace and Rico slowly made their way to the back of the foster home. They both had studied the photos of Nathaniel, so they knew what he looked like.
Stealthily they began to approach the house. Their bodies shifted back to human in a dizzying rush; they pressed their backs against the wall nearest the back door. They listened intently. Their enhanced shift
er hearing allowed them to hear that there was no one home.
Ace placed his hand on the doorknob and squeezed it hard enough to break. Rico followed him inside. Their enhanced shifter sight allowed them to see in the dark. They made their way quickly through the main floor to the stairs. Once upstairs, they checked all of the bedrooms. A few of the rooms held masculine clothing, but nothing smelled of shifters.
They must have been too late. Nathaniel must have already left for a trip before college. There hadn’t been anything in the article that mentioned what college the boy would attend. Ace and Rico left as quickly and quietly as they had entered the foster home. They shifted back into their wolf forms and made their way back to the jet.
Neither of them wanted to tell Creed they had lost Nathaniel. They waited eight years for a lead on the boy. Their high rank in the wolf shifter pack ensured that they would not be killed.
Chapter 3
Four years later.
Nathaniel
College had been good. Nathaniel and Tracie had gone on group dates together. They had a few classes together. He still hadn’t told her they were mates. He was still in the friend zone.
The acting bug had bitten Tracie. She thrived in theater classes. Nathaniel was shocked when Tracie said she would stay in Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.
“Tracie, I love you! I have loved you since we first met when we were twelve,” Nathaniel blurted out.
“Wha- Nate, I, you,” Tracie’s words trailed off. “I, I can’t do this. You know I want to be an actress. I have to go.”
“What about our deal? You said if we’re both single by age twenty-eight, you would marry me.”
“We were seventeen. I was depressed. You can’t hold me to something from back then,” Tracie tuned and fled.
“Tracie!”
***
That was the last time Nathaniel had seen her. He moved back to Fallbrook, hoping that Tracie would return there to find him when she decided she needed him.
“Nathaniel, you can’t stay here in Fallbrook,” Shannon said when he turned up on her doorstep.
