173Authors Note: Ok... just so everyone doesn't get confused, for personal reasons I changed Jose's name to Matt.
Chapter Thirteen
I slowly padded up the stairs, my head swirling with questions. There was only one person that could ease my thoughts. Quickly and quietly, I slipped out the back door. The grass was long, cushioning my bare feet as I crossed the back yard to the shed. There I found my father putting gas in the lawn-mower. As I neared him, he looked up with a questioning look. No one normally bothered him when he was in the process of mowing the lawn, so he could tell it was fairly urgent matter. As he studied me his questioning look faded quickly into pure amusement.
"There is only one thing that can make a man's face look like it's going to melt into a puddle from all of the emotions coursing through it. Women problems?"
I grimaced.
"Is it really so obvious?"
"I'm getting up there in years and I know you better than anyone else. What do you think?"
"Point taken. I just need to vent to someone who can sympathize. One question, though... did Madre have you in a position where you were on a leash and didn't even realize it?"
Padre froze for a moment before roaring with a very rare laugh.
"Not many males would admit that willingly, but I've been mated to her long enough to accept it. Let me give you a little advice, Aubrey: don't take your role as dominant too seriously. Often times, women will submit until it doesn't suit them. They then demonstrate a different kind of dominancy. They use their natural womanly powers to manipulate their men and get what they want. What is so interesting about this situation is, sometimes the females don't even realize they are doing it; let alone the males. However, you may want to be careful of any female that knows she has this power. How do you think some females become alphas of their own pack?"
I almost shuddered; my disturbed look only increasing my father's amusement.
"Your woman knows about this, doesn't she?"
"She's not even part of a pack and she knows how to manipulate the situation."
"Well, you're a good match for her then."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't name a single male that would have realized what you just did, this early in the relationship. You two are strong in your separate genders. It is obvious that you were made for each other."
I let a small smile touch my lips.
"I know."
"Do you feel better now?" Padre had returned to his serious nature.
"I'm not sure, but I'll leave you to your chore. Thanks for the advice."
I left him as he chuckled to himself. Following my nose, I entered the living room silently, a small smile touching my lips as I did so. Raven lay there across the couch, sleeping softly, her cell phone resting on her chest. I stood there for a few moments, just watching her breathe softly; my own personal Sleeping Beauty. Quietly, I crossed the room to where she lay, my smile widening as creases formed between her brows, giving her a troubled look. As silent as I had been, she somehow sensed my approach and something told me that if it hadn't been me at her side, she would have shot awake.
A soft sigh escaped her lips as her eyelids fluttered, her breathing indicating that she was halfway between sleep and consciousness. Gently, I slid my hand behind her head and lifted her so that I could slip between her and the couch. She looked at me through sleepy, half closed eyes as I set her head back down on my lap.
"G'mornin'... again." She mumbled as she rubbed her eyes.
"Who were you talking to?" I inquired, nodding towards the phone.
"Hmm? Oh, that. Zoë called. She and Jamie are out early to bring me my schoolwork. Apparently Carmen was absent from school again today, which is a good sign. Her parents would never have let her stay home if they were angry with her. The twins have decided that they're going to pick her and Aki up before they come here. Zoë said something about going to meet 'The Boys'. Does that mean anything to you?"
I scowled, nearly growling at Zoë's stupidity.
"Yes. They're the 'eye-candy' Zoë mentioned last night that I warned against. All but one of them are complete play-boys. I seriously don't approve of taking Carmen into that environment after a break up. Someone's bound to get hurt, and I doubt it'll be one of that crew."
"You seem very adamant about this. How do you know they're that bad?"
"Because they're my best friends." I stated solemnly.
There was a pause of silence. Slowly, as this sank in, one eyebrow rose.
"Is that so?" She inquired coldly.
"Now don't look at me like that. I'm no playboy, but my youth isn't exactly innocent. Men don't usually stop being friends over the way they handle their women. Unless abuse is concerned."
She gave me a harsh look, then rolled her eyes.
"So... I suppose I can ask them a great deal about you, and they'll dig up a mound of dirt and share it with me?"
It was my turn to give her a look.
"Don't get any ideas."
"Oh! So that would be a yes!"
"There is nothing that they will share with you that you don't already know."
She pouted then, looking sulky.
"What? You wanted to hear bad things about me?"
"No. I just would like to get a better look into that past that you're not sharing."
I kissed her then. I had nothing more that I could do.
"I am not like them, love. I value a relationship, even when I have no intent to marry the woman." I whispered softly as I pulled back.
"Don't date if you can't mate." She said softly, as though reciting something she'd heard a million times. She didn't even seem to realize she'd said it until she noticed my wolfish grin. Blinking rapidly, a surprised look came to her face.
"What was that I just heard? Does that mean you're considering doing the same with me?" I asked huskily.
A heated blush spread across her cheeks.
"I said that out loud?"
I nodded, a predator's look gleaming in my eyes. Her blush darkened.
"W-well... sh-shadup." She said embarrassedly, hiding her face behind her hands.
"Oh, no you don't. I would like an answer, please." I stated as I pried her hands away.
She grinned nervously, looking up at me.
"Well, if you must know... I grew up hearing that and took it to heart. I wouldn't be going out with you if I couldn't consider you." She said huffily.
I beamed, something with me soaring. It was a foot in the door.
"Oh, don't go looking all pleased with yourself. Remember that it's only been a few days. A lot can happen between now and whenever."
"Well, stamp on my foot, why don't you?"
She giggled, then reached up to burry her hand in my hair at the nape of my neck. Without warning, she pulled me down to meet her lips, still giggling slightly.
"I'm pessimistic. You haven't learned this yet?" She chuckled.
"Well, we're just going to have to fix that, now aren't we?"
She grinned up at me.
"As much fun as that sounds, it's going to have to wait. I have to make sure Zoë at least warned Carmen that she was coming over."
With a sigh, she flipped open her phone and hit a speed-dial number. Two rings and the familiar voice of Carmen sounded over the other line.
"Yo."
"I was calling to make sure Zoë got a hold of you."
"Yeah, Crazy Lady got a hold of me. So... what do you know about these 'Boys' we're going to go hang out with?"
"Only what Aubrey's told me... and it's not great."
"How so?"
"Ah, just that they're typical men, so keep your tail firmly between your legs."
"If only I had a tail."
"Yeah, that would be convenient, wouldn't it?"
I began to chuckle at their conversation, drawing a heated glance from Raven.
"Are you eavesdropping?" She growled at me.
"Yes." I returned with a shrug. No point in denying it.
She rolled her eyes drastically and returned to her conversation.
"I take it your boy-toy is listening?" I heard Carmen say.
"Boy-toy?" I objected, drawing a laugh from both females.
"Does that answer your question?" Raven inquired.
"Sure does. Hello, Aubrey, how's my best friend's man this afternoon?"
"I'd be better if you convinced Zoë not to take you to see the Boys." I returned grouchily.
"Did you hear him?" Raven asked.
"Yeah, I heard him. How sweet... he's not even mine and his getting all protective."
Raven raised an eyebrow.
"I have half a mind to be jealous." Raven stated haughtily.
"Don't be." I murmured into her ear, nuzzling her cheek slightly.
The shudder that coursed through her body brought a smile to my lips.
"Oh! Zoë's here, hun. Gotta go. You two behave yourselves for the ten minutes it takes to get there. I don't want to walk in on anything gross." Carmen teased over the line.
"Carmen!" Raven gasped.
"Bye!"
The line went dead. With a good-hearted snarl, she snapped the phone closed.
"We should start something just to spite her." I commented with a laugh.
"In the middle of your parent's living-room? Really... I think not." She smiled softly.
"Good point. Maybe we should move you to my apartment."
She stiffened slightly, drawing a frown to my face. Though I hadn't been completely serious, it was almost a blow to think that she didn't like the idea.
"What?" I inquired.
"Nothing."
Gently, I forced her to sit up and look at me.
"I was only kidding, but... what's so wrong with the idea?"
"I think we've been moving really fast, that's what's wrong."
I almost groaned, but managed to keep myself under control. The truth was... she was right. By human standards anyway.
"We haven't done anything."
"Oh. Yeah. Right. The only thing we haven't done is... well... you know. We've pretty much done everything in between. I know you know how far we almost went last night. I'm not that type of girl, and I don't want you to think that I am."
I cupped her face in my hands.
"I will never ask for any more than you are willing to give me. I promise you that. If I literally have to bathe myself in ice, I will to make you comfortable."
"That's just it. It's not comfortable. Saying no to you is like saying no to oxygen. And don't let that feed your ego. This doesn't make sense."
"I swear that is your favorite phrase. This is not going to make sense, love. No matter how hard you try to make it. I don't know how I'm going to get that through to you. I just promise... eventually... I will be able to explain things."
"You're saying that this makes sense to you?"
I paused, gauging my response.
"More so than it does to you, but I don't think as much into it as you do."
"Typical male." She commented with a smirk.
"What?"
She only shook her head and didn't answer. Judging by the smirk on her face, I didn't want to push the subject anyway.
True to Carmen's word it took ten minutes if not less for Zoë to get across town to my parent's house. The doorbell signaling their arrival sounded through the structure. Raven stood with a fluid grace, drawing my attention to her beautiful curves. With a wicked grin, I gripped her hips firmly and pulled her onto my lap.
"What are you doing?" She laughed.
"Let's have them let themselves in." I said with a suggestive tone.
"You're bad." She mused, grinning.
"You have no idea." I growled wolfishly.
The doorbell rang once again, followed a harsh rapping.
"Ah, that'll be Aki." Raven giggled, "I'd know that oh-so-patient knock anywhere."
She made a move to get up again, but I held her fast.
"Where do you think you're going?" I whispered throatily in her ear.
She smirked, her eyes darkening as she looked over her shoulder at me. I held her gaze as I dipped my lips to her shoulder, nudging at the thin strap of cloth with my jaw.
"Aubrey. If you think you're going to get away with this you've got another thing..."
But I didn't get what I was getting. On an impulse, I bit down firmly on her shoulder. She gasped harshly, her nails digging into my leg, before she made a low sound in her throat.
"You're kinky." I stated softly against her skin.
"Me?! You're the one who bit me."
"You're the one who liked it."
"You two are gross." Snapped Zoë from the doorway.
"What did I tell you guys? PG! Please!" Carmen piped up as she slipped past Zoë.
"Sorry! He started it! Animal magnetism and all that jazz." Raven joked.
"Uh-huh..." Zoë said with a pointed look towards me.
I could only smirk in response. Raven had no idea.
After helping Raven to stand, I approached Zoë with deadly grace. I used my opposing presence and height to my advantage as I crossed my arms and stared down at her.
"I thought I told you it was a bad idea to introduce them to the Boys." I stated calmly.
Had it been anyone else under my stare, they would have shrunk away. However, Zoë only looked slightly ruffled.
"Back off, Aubrey. You're not alpha yet." She snarled at me.
Raven's hand on my arm caught my attention. She had placed it as Zoë had made her comment in an effort to calm me... and had more than likely intended to tell me not to worry about it, but Zoë's words had made her pause.
"What?" Raven inquired.
"Inside joke." I replied smoothly with a look of warning that only Zoë would catch.
"Yeah... one of the disadvantages of meeting him so long after we have." Jamie agreed with a chuckle.
Raven, always the one to know when she's being lied to, did not look convinced but did not press the issue.
"Okay... Aubrey and I can take our own vehicle, since squishing into Zoë's car doesn't sound entirely fun."
"It could be..." I commented grinning suggestively.
A playful smack on my chest was her reply. With fast reflexes I grabbed her wrist as it retreated and brought her knuckles to my lips.
"You're not very nice." I purred.
"Never claimed to be." She returned with an endearing smile.
"Do you have a pair of boots to wear instead of sandals?"
"Number one, that was random... and number two, did you not see the outfit I wore last night?"
I grinned.
"Ok, then put some on real quick."
"Ooookay, love-birds, we're leaving. We'll meet you there." Said Zoë as Jamie set a pile of papers down on the coffee table.
Raven glanced disdainfully at her schoolwork before disappearing downstairs. I watched Zoë and the others pile back into her car as I waited for Raven to reappear. It didn't take long, which drew questioning look from me.
"What? I used to live in boots. As it is, I do ride a Harley. Such practice makes for less time lacing them up." She stated as she pulled her generous amount of hair back into a half-hearted bun.
I grinned at her.
"Let's get going then."
I took her hand in mine and took her into the garage. With dramatics fit for the stage, I uncovered my own Harley. It had been sitting in my parent's garage since I moved out. The apartment building I lived in didn't have covered parking, and I cared too much for my bike to leave it out on the street.
Her sharp intake of breath made me smile as she inspected our ride. Lithe fingers brushed across the handlebars like an artist stroking her sculpture.
"Nice." She commented, "Not mine, but nice."
"Well, thank you."
She paused for a moment, looking from the passenger seat to me and back again.
"I suppose you want me to play passenger?" She inquired, a subtle growl to her voice.
"Well, seeing as I had to do the same when you gave me a ride, I would think that appropriate, yes." I smirked.
She shot a harsh look my way, then grinned.
"Fine, but only because you were such a good sport when I have you a lift."
I offered no reply as I mounted the motorcycle. With poised grace, Raven slid on behind me and let her body form to mine, cradling me in its warmth. I had to smile as her arms wrapped underneath mine and her fingers gripped at my shoulders as she rested against my back. Her body seemed to meld to me until we had become one entity. As I left the driveway, I couldn't help but notice that only her extra warmth gave me notice that she was there. Had I not known any better I would have thought she'd fallen off. I'd never ridden so smoothly with a passenger. What was more, we couldn't ride that smoothly if she didn't trust me completely. My pride swelled within me at this revelation. Her trust was a precious treasure.
We pulled up outside of "The Cave" as we'd come to call Raoul and Dante's place. The rest of the crew had their own apartments, but none so elaborate as The Cave. It was basically a crash pad for the rest of us when we had need. What kept it interesting was, Raoul and Dante were polar opposites in every way and they both shared the moderate house.
A wolf whistle greeted us as Raven dismounted first, letting her hair down from its confines. I saw fire in her eyes as she glanced in the direction of the sound. I couldn't help but laugh softly as I followed her. Zoë's voice floated back to us,
"And that would be Raven. Keep your eyes, hands, and comments to yourselves, boys. Aubrey's not the only one protective of her."
"Yeah, to hell with body guards, I've got a friggen army." Raven stated with a roll of her eyes as she reached the porch.
"This, this is Raven?!" Adrido exclaimed, "You've got to be kidding me. Aubrey, man... do you have her drugged or something? What's this dish doing with a dog like you?!"
A harsh laugh escaped my lips as I clapped him on the shoulder, tightening my grip to a breaking point. He winced as he met my gaze.
"Green is not a good color for you, Adrido. Your brown eyes suited you better." I stated, releasing him.
He chuckled nervously, chancing a glance at Raven.
"Why is it that the only attractive women you guys bring around here are classified hazardous material? I mean, Zoë here is supposedly taken and would eat our souls if we made a pass at her. She wouldn't even take the time to eat our souls if we made a pass at Jamie. She'd just rip them out and leave us to wander the earth for the rest of eternity. Raven belongs to you, and I get the feeling we'd get attacked by the entire crew that just showed up if we so much as look at her wrong. Aki... it was Aki, wasn't it... gives off this 'Look at me and I'll rip you a new one' aura. And Carmen... well..." Adrido paused in his rant, looking her up and down. "Heeellooo, Carmen." He purred as he got a bit closer, suddenly realizing that no one had put her up as off limits.
With a soft laugh, she put a hand on his chest to ward him off.
"I see what you meant, Aubrey. Shameless as all hell." Carmen stated, backing up slightly.
"Don't let them scare you, they don't usually bite." Came the familiar voice of Raoul as he stepped out onto the porch. With effortless grace, he grabbed Adrido by the scruff of his neck and pulled him away from Carmen. "It's males like you that give the rest of us a bad name." He paused to stare down the rest of the boys on the porch, forcing them to make a path for us to pass. "Welcome to The Cave, ladies."
I smiled at the male who had "saved" Carmen, pausing slightly as I met his eyes. They looked very familiar. Stiffening, my memory wandered back to the previous day. What had Zoë called the wolf that had saved me? Lashing out, I grabbed Zoë by the arm and demanded softly in her ear,
"Yesterday, you called that wolf something. What was it?"
I watched her reaction carefully. She tried to hide it, but her gaze darted to Carmen's savior, whom I assumed was Raoul, and back again.
"Ralph. He hangs around the outskirts of town." She said stiffly. She looked almost nervous.
"I see." I returned.
What was everyone protecting? Could it be that... no. No. That was silly. Werewolves didn't exist. It was just my overactive imagination trying to make sense of my ever changing situation.
I followed everyone into "The Cave." There were two guys at the TV, playing some sort of shooter video game. Apparently, one was a sore loser and the other wasn't a gracefully winner.
"Oh, snap! I sniped you again! Com'on, man. Just admit defeat already."
The other's response was less than graceful as he swore up a storm. Aubrey cleared his throat loudly.
"Dante, Lucien, calm yourselves. You have company." Aubrey stated.
Both straightened and turned in unison. Dante whistled at our entrance as he stood. Dripping of theatrics, he whipped his imaginary hat from his head and bowed.
"Excuse us, ladies. Lucien, here, is a sore loser."
Lucien elbowed him in the side.
"Cut it out, drama king."
"You, knave, are merely jealous."
"Oh, don't tell me you're going to whip out your white gloves and challenge him to a duel." Aki commented snidely.
"The thought had come to mind, my lady." He replied, bowing again, "But do not concern yourself. I would never engage in such violence in the presence of a lady."
I grinned as Aki scowled and rolled her eyes, thoroughly unimpressed. My grin widened as I noticed Dante's reaction. Apparently, he wasn't used to such a cold shoulder.
"My advice to you... Dante was it? Avoid Aki. Her bite is exponentially worse than her bark."
"Advice noted." Dante returned, looking ever slightly put out.
Aubrey chuckled at my side.
"You two were definitely raised together." He said softly into my ear, before speaking up to Carmen and Aki, "Well, since no one else has jumped at the opportunity, I'll introduce everyone. As previously stated, that's Dante and Lucien next to the television. The silent, brooding one leaning against the couch is Raoul. Adrido has also been introduced. Now the punks at the pool table are Tarun, Jaegar, Dhiren, and, Vidar... but he prefers to be called V. And if that's barbeque I smell, Nicolao is out back cooking."
"And Aubrey makes ten." I stated looking around the moderately sized home, "So, do you all live here and share rent or something?"
"Actually, this place belonged to my parents before they died. I share utilities with Dante. The rest are squatters." Raoul said in such a dead-pan manner it was hard to tell if he was joking or not.
"We're not squatters." Adrido protested, "We have our own places, you just happen to have a place big enough to fit all of us."
Raoul let a ghost of a smirk touch his lips. That was the only hint that I received to whether he was joking or not.
"So... this is The Cave then?" Aki inquired, catching my eye with a smirk. I caught her hidden meaning and grinned evilly.
"Yup. Home sweet cave." Dante returned with a smile in Aki's direction.
"So... that would make you all..." I paused for effect, "Cavemen, right?"
Aki snickered. It was an ongoing inside joke that men hadn't evolved very far past cavemen. The men looked around at each other, not knowing whether to be offended or not when us women broke into laughter.
"Oh, yes. The He-man-woman-haters club alright." Zoë agreed through a chuckle, "Sounds like them."
"We don't hate women. Quite the contrary, actually." Dante disagreed as he swooped in closer to Aki.
Aki sent him a look that should have turned him to stone and ducked away from him. This made the rest of us giggle harder.
"What'd I tell you, Dante? Be careful of that one. You're lucky you didn't lose anything important." I snickered.
He sent me a withering look that made Aubrey take an aggressive step toward him. Deciding to ignore it, I grabbed Aubrey's hand and lead him to the couch. As I sat down, I tugged him down with me. It was odd, but I felt less awkward with him at my side. Taking my lead, Carmen sat down on the other side of me, next to where Raoul was leaning.
"So I take it you're the voice of reason in the pack?" Carmen inquired of Raoul.
He turned to her, looking fairly surprised.
"Interesting choice of wording... but, yes, I suppose you could say that."
My instincts stirred at this statement. I hadn't thought anything about Carmen using the term "pack". I shifted uncomfortably. Was this the reason for Aubrey's reluctance with me? Was he protecting his best friend's secret? Quickly, I slapped myself mentally. There were no such things as werewolves. That was final... but... it almost made sense.
"A man with reason?" Aki commented harshly as she positioned herself on a beanbag chair, "No such thing."
Carmen giggled.
"In my experience with guys, I'd jump to agree with you." Carmen said.
"You know, a few days ago, I would have been on board as well, but Aubrey's not that bad." I added.
"Psh, you two have been in love for days." Carmen fired back, slugging me with a throw pillow, "I would have said the same about Matt that early in our relationship."
"Hey!" Aubrey protested, "Don't compare me to that sorry excuse for a male."
I looked up at Aubrey and found how completely adorable he was while offended.
"Who's this Matt and what did he do to deserve that title?" Raoul inquired, respectfully curious.
"He's Carmen's ex-boyfriend and he tried to hit her last night. Had Raven not caught his arm, he would have."
Carmen looked at her lap. The room quieted and the tension became almost tangible. The men exchanged dark looks.
"Ok, why do I get the feeling that I should be looking for Matt in the obituary next week?" I commented, looking around.
"Oh, these boys may be players, but they take striking women very seriously." Zoë translated for me.
"As well we should." Raoul growled, "Striking a woman is cowardly beyond compare. Matt has no right to call himself a man; he is lower than dirt."
"He didn't hit me." Carmen protested, looking very nervous.
"He would have if Raven hadn't stopped him. It has the same effect whether or not his hand actually connected." Raoul returned, his intense stare on Carmen. She shifted uncomfortably underneath the weight of it, but held his gaze.
I watched them for a couple moments as they continued to stare into each other's eyes. I watched as the tension slowly eased out of Carmen and practically felt a peace come over her. I hid my grin behind my hand as my gaze darted from one to the other. Nudging Aubrey, I looked up to find that he'd noticed as well. The amusement on his face was evident, but there was a trace of concern. Rolling my eyes, I cleared my throat audibly. Carmen jumped slightly and looked over, a quizzical expression on her face.
"Yeah. I think he has pretty eyes, too, Carmen." I chided with a grin.
She blushed and looked at the ceiling.
"Hey, what's this?" Aubrey inquired, puffing himself up.
I turned to face him, a grin on my face.
"Don't worry. You're eyes are much prettier." I said softly, batting my lashes at him
He didn't know how to take the compliment. Apparently pretty wasn't something that he was certain he appreciated any part of him being called. Especially when the boys started snickering behind their hands. With a glare that would wither any plant, I rounded on them, hand flying to my hip.
"You boys have something to say?" I snarled.
Each of them looked so genuinely surprised; Aubrey got his turn to laugh at them, along with the women in the room.
"Yeah, forgot to warn you about Raven as well. She might seem all mild mannered with Aubrey, but she's one mean bitch." Zoë cackled.
"What do you mean, 'mild mannered with Aubrey'?" I protested, "You make it sound like he tamed me."
An exceptionally evil grin spread across Zoë's face.
"Well... now that you mention it..."
I threw a pillow at Zoë before she could finish. Catching her off guard, it successfully made it past Zoë's defenses, hitting her squarely in the chest. The last of her sentence was overridden with an "Oomph!" Recovering quickly, the pillow went flying back towards me, but, having thrown it in the first place, I was on guard. Glaring, I tucked the pillow behind me as I tried not to smile. We both glowered at each other, both trying not to laugh. The tension in the room increased tenfold, as none of the men seemed to notice that we were playing.
"Bitch fight!" Dante commented with his attention rapt with the situation.
"Psh, you guys wish." I returned snuggling back with Aubrey.
Zoë caught my eye and we both started to giggle.
"Have you guys forgotten what teasing is?" Zoë snickered, "Or how to read body language? Neither of us are mad at each other, dummies."
A subtle growl ran though a couple of them at being called dumb, which caught my attention as well. Something that I'd never noticed because, my family in New Mexico growled, but it wasn't quite normal was it? I knew that I could growl, but I never considered myself normal. Looking around at the men of the group, I studied them all silently. Each one of them looked like predators. Sure, humans had their instincts, but I felt like I was in the middle of a wolf pack. Then again, it had been very similar back home, why would I think it wasn't normal? But, there was the little "gift" that Zoë had. Telepathy. That definitely wasn't normal. Not that I didn't have some odd attributes. I always seemed to know when things were wrong, or could sense emotions from people. Heck, I had better eyesight, hearing, and smell than most of the so called normal people did. Not to mention, I knew very well how predatorial my nature was. Even still, some small voice in the back of my mind said there was something wrong. How odd that I felt so much at home at The Cave, yet that voice was ever present. I glanced in the direction of Raoul, and he met my gaze. A small tingle of reorganization irritated the back of my neck. I knew I'd seen those eyes before, and they'd belonged to that wolf. Raising an eyebrow, he broke eye-contact with me, looking past me to Aubrey. Aubrey stiffened slightly beneath me, but nothing was said. I looked towards Zoë, Jamie, and Aki, who all looked slightly concerned at this point. No one else in the room, though, noticed anything.
'No!' My mind objected as I slapped myself mentally, 'I'm just being paranoid.' There was no such thing as werewolves and that was final. If there were, with all the advances in technology and science, wouldn't someone have discovered them by now? I forced it from my mind, refusing to be silly. I had read one too many fantasy books. I was allowing my imagination to run away with itself. Still... how did I recognize Raoul and how could Zoë talk to me with her mind? Why had I never raised a question about it until now?
I made eye-contact with Zoë, confusion drawn across my face. She'd said that it was some genetic screw up. That made sense, with all that unused brain capacity, someone was bound to tap into something. Maybe we all had some sort of genetic alteration and had been drawn together by it. That made sense. It wouldn't explain why I thought Raoul was the wolf that saved me, but genetics was safer than actual supernatural beings. With a mental snort, I wondered if I was just kidding myself. Was I being some blind mortal that refused to see the truth of things, like every human in every story I'd ever read? I almost snorted audibly. Great. Now I was resorting to fictional books as backup. Maybe I'd finally cracked under the stress of the week's events and gone crazy. That was the most rational theory I'd come across so far.
"What's so funny, love? You look like you're trying to keep from laughing." Aubrey inquired as he nuzzled into my hair.
"Oh, nothing really. Just laughing at myself. You ever have those moments when you think you've gone crazy?" I looked up at him with a self-mocking smirk.
"Oh, I could name a couple." He stated softly, a wolfish glint in his eye as he lowered his lips to mine.
"Ahem." Jamie interrupted.
"Yeah get room, you two." Nicolao agreed as entered the scene, wiping his hands on his jeans.
I pulled away sticking my tongue out at the two.
"Hey, why don't you share that?" Aubrey chuckled as he nuzzled underneath my jaw. I sorted lightly in amusement as the room groaned.
"Well, if any of you still have an appetite left, dinner's ready." Nicolao stated with a roll of his eyes.
A few grunts were all he got in reply as the fourteen of us filed past him to the backyard. The midday sun cast a warm glow on the scenery as we gathered around the picnic benches that were set up. The breeze was gentle and the temperature mild. It was one of those perfect days that you couldn't help but look around and smile.
There was more food than I'd ever seen in my life; barbeque chicken, ribs, and steak, plenty of salad sides, and chips. It was like one of those all-American family reunion meals that I'd seen on TV, but had never had. Food, friends, and... I looked up at Aubrey... love. I wanted this day to last forever.