40. Pack

The last time I'd been to a party, I'd gone with a knife in my boot. This time I didn't go with a knife and I didn't wear any boots.
May and I had gone shopping the previous day at Macy's, she wasn't going to attend the party but she was more than delighted when I called(tentatively) and asked if she wanted to hit the stores. It wasn't as awful as I'd anticipated, we got the perfect dress in a short length of time and- more importantly- with minimal damage done to my feet.
The dress' material was a smooth silk gray at the top, the bottom drifting around me like glittering transparent faerie wings. It stopped mid-thigh, both innocent and tempting at the same time. I chose a pair of transparent high heels to go with it and May pulled my hair up into an elegant high pony tail. The makeup was minimal, a dash of pink eye shadow with the same color for my lips. May took only about a hundred selfies for Instagram, leaving my apartment as giddy as a child.
Overall, she seemed unaware of the fact that her son had proposed to me last night. Which didn't surprise me one bit considering his track record of sharing information.
I guess his extra tolerant behavior last night made sense now- it would be hard for me to do anything without him if we were living under the same roof, wouldn't it? Yet what he was suggesting was a giant leap I wasn't ready for, I was still in the middle of trying to work out if there even was an 'us' to salvage. Not to mention how we were always fighting. Get married?
We'd probably tear each other's eyes out before day two, I laughed to myself, smoothing down my pony tail.
It wouldn't work.
***
Jett took me over to the Wilder's place around six that evening. The rerun of the party had been postponed due to funeral arrangements for the werewolves killed during Alpha's attack, but it was apparent how determined the pack was to still enjoy themselves despite their grief.
The party was in full swing when we got there, the house impressively impeccable after all the damage it sustained. Alpha and Kane's fight had resulted in five collapsed walls, a few flattened cars in the parking lot that had been unfortunate to find themselves in the path of the two crazy werewolves, and a completely trashed kitchen.
Yet there was no trace of that carnage now, the decorations were classy and the music upbeat. Bluebell- the doctor who'd treated me after the run-in with the troll- dragged me off to the dance floor as soon as I walked in. I observed the moon eyes she cast in Jett's direction with surprised amusement but didn't get the chance to question her about it. I was swept from one partner to the next, barely getting a minute to catch my breath when someone was asking for a dance. I would've refused, but they were all pleasant and friendly, striking up interesting conversation that I actually enjoyed. I learned new things about people I'd known for years but never really attempted to get to know until now. And it was fun.
After the initial discomfort, I relaxed and was enjoying myself. That's when I noticed the mischievous glances my partners would share before handing me off to another person.
"They're teasing Kane, not letting him dance with you," Darius explained when I ended up with him.
I couldn't help it, I laughed. "They're teasing him?"
Darius grinned. "Yep. He was quite moody looking the last time I saw him."
I searched the crowd for his face. "Keep us away from him."
"Too late, there he is."
I looked where he gestured towards with his chin. Kane certainly did look moody, and bored in the face of a dazzling Caitlyn, who was all but basking in the glory of dancing in his arms.
I scowled.
Darius rolled his eyes, but wisely- for once- steered us away from them. Maybe he was remembering that punch. "Trying to get your attention. Jealousy 101."
I shrugged, but couldn't wipe the frown from my lips.
"The alpha isn't allowed to touch anyone but you?" Darius smirked.
"How's it going with Helen?" I asked, smirking as well.
"You're heartless."
"Touché."
He sighed, twirling me around and bringing me back to him. "She's not going to fall in love with me- I know, it's a tragedy to not love one as handsome as I."
"I'd say I'm sorry but I hate you."
"How you wound my heart when all it craves is yours!"
"Let me go now, before I barf."
"Until we meet again, my love," he exclaimed dramatically, letting me go.
I watched him move on with mixed annoyance and humor, only then remembering that I forgot to ask if he was the one who'd sold me out. Oh well, there was always time for an inquisition later. I walked off to get food before someone else could ask for another dance.
***
"What are you doing?"
"Covering you," came the gruff reply.
It was past ten and there were plenty of shadows in the backyard, plus I'd chosen to undress behind a tree.
"The only potential onlooker here is you," I pointed out.
He turned so his back was to me. "I was serious last night, in case you were wondering."
"So was I."
"Changed your mind?"
I glanced at him quickly to make sure he hadn't turned. "Nope."
I kicked off my heels, pulled the dress off in one swift tug along with my undergarments. I set them down at the base of the tree and crouched, trying to ignore everything around me, especially Kane. The pain made that easy. When I was done fifteen minutes later he was waiting for me a few feet away, already shifted. His wolf nuzzled my neck once, then set off towards the woods, a steady group of wolves emerging from the shadows in the backyard to follow their new alpha.
The run was beginning.
I couldn't repress the excited yip that bubbled out of my throat, nor the pulse of energy that rushed through my muscles and had me dashing off with the rest of my fellow pack members. The night air was clean and sharp, carrying the smell of nature; grass, mud, animal droppings, running water. The sky was a river of stars, their vast infinity seeming to egg me on, urging me to run faster, to be as free as I wanted.
Beside me, a small dark wolf playfully pushed against me. Barking in delight, I pushed Bluebell back as well. She jumped over a rock, eyes bright as she nipped at my neck in retaliation, bounding away before I could react, a dark blur amongst others. I saw Brandon chasing after an annoyed Helen, Darius racing from side to side, tripping wolves too slow to evade him.
A large wolf brown was suddenly at his heels, its fur marred with scars. Darius stopped his shenanigans immediately, settling for a speedy escape instead. Wise, a knock from Jett's wolf wouldn't just trip Darius, he might not wake up until tomorrow morning if he took a hit.
To my disappointment, they vanished ahead before I could see how it turned out, but I caught sight of someone familiar- Caitlyn. Tongue hanging from my mouth, I picked up speed, copying the way Darius had quickly swiped a paw at the hind legs. She yelped when my wolf's paw hit her leg, falling into a puddle of mud with an outraged growl.
I tore another page from Darius' book and didn't stick around for her to react.
If I was in human form, I would've been a giggling heap by now. I tilted my neck back and howled, eliciting a chorus of companionable ones around me. Ahead, an especially loud one rose into the sky, powerful and dominating above all the others. A chill ran through me and I felt it, warm tendrils wrapping around my moving body, both wolf and human, tendrils that connected me to the werewolf closest to me, and the one next to that one and the one next to that one as well. A vast web that connected the entire pack. There was a flash as I felt them, felt their emotions as if they were my own, awe, excitement, mischief, love, jealousy, courage, fear, all of it pulsing through my veins. Apart of me.
The howls continued as we pounded through the forest. The night was endless and together like this, connected by the magic of our bonds, we seemed endless too.
***
Unknown number: I'm coming for you.
I frowned at the text message. I didn't know the number but it didn't take much of a genius to know who it was. I turned it off, threw my phone on the couch and locked the front door as well as all the windows.
Let him get that message.
I closed all the lights and crawled into bed, my tired muscles welcoming the softness of the mattress. I checked the clock, eleven-forty. I drifted off.
***
The doorknob began rattling about twenty minutes later. I listened, wide awake, suddenly remembering all those Haunting of Hill House episodes I'd watched the night before. The doorknob stopped moving. I waited a minute. Two. Silence. I closed my eyes again.
The next time I woke up was exactly three minutes later, when the glass of my bedroom window shattered.
I gasped, sitting up with the covers clutched to my chest.
A hand, bloodied in the moonlight, was reaching through the hole in the glass and pulling the window up. I got out of bed- the same moment a shadowy figure jumped into my bedroom. I switched on the light, shaking with anger.
"You're repairing that first thing tomorrow-"
I yelped as Kane pulled me into him, slung me over his shoulder and started walking back to the window. I was shocked frozen, only snapping back to reality when he launched us out the window, the wind sweeping through my braids. We landed on the sidewalk with barely a sound- even though it was three floors up.
He put me down, wiping glass off his bleeding arm.
"You said you wouldn't come in if the door was locked!"
Kane glanced at me. "I lied."
"I'm not marrying you."
"Wasn't planning on making you."
"Then what are you doing here?!"
"Sneaking off into the night with you?"
I stepped away from him, it was hard to resist his suggestions with his voice so close, his tempting mouth a mere few inches away. "I don't want to have anything with you- ever."
The nail in the coffin.
His eyes blazed. "Because you're scared I'll hurt you again?"
I frowned. "Of course not-"
"Of course it is, Emy," he taunted. "I'm right in your head, remember? You're terrified I'll do something worse to you than last time-"
"Stop it-"
"You're terrified you'll look like a wanton, weak female by accepting me. And you're entitled to those feelings, but when I broke my first promise, I made another one. Next time I get her, I'm not letting her go. Not for anyone or anything. Not even you."
"That's selfish," I said quietly.
"You want me too though, no matter what you say out loud. Otherwise I wouldn't be here tonight."
I covered my face with my hands, not caring that I had a tank top on and it was cold outside or that the neighbors might be watching.
I felt him step away from me. "Come here, if you still want me."
How could I not? This annoying, infuriating boy who I should hate for the constant emotional terror he stirs in me, the same boy whose gaze passes through everything but hones in on me like a target, who cracks arrogant jokes at my expense and smiles more with his eyes than his mouth. Hate and love, they say, are two sides of the same coin. But I don't hate Kane, neither do I love him. No, it was a mix of both and a whole lot more, a brush of every color that threatened to consume me in their vivid shades but kept me away all the same. I was scared they'd wash away, turn grey. Then how would that leave me?
He enveloped me in a hug that was warm, gentle. "Don't run."
Slowly, I wrapped my arms around him. "Or you'll chase?"
"Forever, if I have to."
No more running.
I looked up at him with resolve. "Then I won't run anymore."

THE END