My Lycan Boyfriend's Dark Secret

Smells like home

*Oceania Burns*

The hairs on my arms stand erect as the electricity sparks in the room. For some inexplicable reason I feel him here, now... while I am crying into my pillow in my room. It can’t be. I lift my head just as a cool breeze blows over my skin and my eyes catch sight of the thin grey curtain in front of our only window, blowing in the wind. That’s strange, I think to myself as I push myself up and walk over to it. I don’t remember it being open earlier, but I can be wrong. My eyes are swollen and my nose is stuffy from crying, what a sight I must be. I drag my feet as I walk to my cupboard and pull out a pair of comfy shorts and T-shirt and head to the bathroom. The light glares into my already over sensitive eyes and I squint in discomfort. With the shower running I turn to close the door. I know everyone is in class but I can’t shake the feeling that I was not alone. Nope, can’t risk it.

I decide to take my cool shower and get into bed, this day sucks too much to continue, I have to skip to the next one as fast as possible. I have to try and pretend that this day never happened. I have to try. With the covers drawn over my head I close my eyes and allow myself to fall asleep. The most wonderful smell snaps me out of my dreams, my head still covered with the comforter I brought from home. I can tell it’s dark without pulling the covers away, there is no light filtering through the tiny holes in the woven material, not like there had been earlier. I keep it pulled up out of fear that this is all a dream. I smell the cuttings above my bed, rosemary and lavender, but also the scent of freshly cut timer and damp soil... bruised wattle leaves and sunshine. For a moment I feel home, the scent is one that reminds me of home, but I know it is impossible as my jail sentence had only just begun. The same electricity I felt earlier makes my skin tingle and my stomach clench. I can feel my breathing hitch, like there is no more air left to breathe. In a panicked rush I push the covers down, fearing that my dream would end, but it didn’t. A cool breeze blows over me, spreading the same familiar and intoxicating scent through the dark room. The curtains flutter in the breeze brought on by the open window. I get up to close it and see the most beautiful full moon, big and bright above the roof of the opposite building. My hand goes to my chest and my fingers close around the moonstone I carry with me. Mother told me that it would keep me safe, she gave it to me even though it was a family heirloom, and I promised her that I would take good care of it. It dangled from a platinum chain, as luminescent as the item it was tied to. For a moment, just a moment... with my lungs filled with my favorite scent, my eyes fixed on the most beautiful moon and my fingers wrapped around my pendant... I think... Maybe this isn’t as bad as I thought... Maybe.

My head snaps to Marge as she lies snoring on her bed and then to the small digital clock that rests next to it. It is exactly ten minutes past midnight. It is not officially my birthday. Happy birthday me, I snort, what a joke. I am an eighteen year old captive, held here by responsibility and obligation. The scent begins to fade and panic sets in. The scent was what grounded me and kept me calm, it made me feel like I belonged, like I was home... it certainly reminds me of home, the one filled with love and warmth... the one I miss with every fiber of my being. Desperate to hold on to it I search for it’s origin and find it leaving my door. I trace it through the passage, down the stairs and out the front door. I don’t even bother to look over my shoulder to prevent being caught, I am too caught up with my search to pay attention to anything but the trail it is leading me on. I cross the courtyard, wrapping my arms tightly around my body. The sea breeze could cut through you if it wanted to, and tonight I wish to chase me back inside... I won’t let it. My curls blow over my face and my shirt is flattened to my side.

I reach the woods and take another deep breath, searching for my trail between the trees. I follow it in zigzags through the woods until my feet sink into soft and cool sand. The scent is at it’s strongest here, and is blown right into me by the wind coming from the water. My eyes lift from the sand to look ahead and there it is, the source of my comfort... the source of the most wonderful scent... the source of my obsession and also rather recently my pain. There he stands, feet bare and jeans rolled up just enough not to be filled by sand. His white shirt almost glows in the moonlight and his black hair glistens like the stars.

“Oceania,” he says and his voice rolls over and crashes against me like waves to the shore.

“Avery,” I answer breathlessly, “it’s you... you are...”

“Your mate,” he says and his eyes leave mine to look down at the sand below. I can’t shake the feeling that he is disappointed. Disappointed to have me as a mate.

“But... why? Why didn’t you say anything?” I ask, swallowing back tears that threaten to fill my eyes.

“Because it’s better that way.”

“Better what way? Not being together?” My heart starts beating so violently is hurts. Every beat feels like it is accompanied by the stab of a knife.

“Yes.” He says and tears instantly roll down my cheek.