Strawberry-scented
1793 Words
Kimberly POV
I was engrossed with what the twin had been telling me that I did not realize I had been lying down on my side on River’s bed.
There was one more thing that got me excited. The mind-link. Werewolves use the mind-link to talk to each other telepathically. They can talk to an individual or to groups of other werewolves who are members of the pack.
“That is awesome! There’s no need for mobile phones!”
“But we do have mobile phones, princess.” River said as he stood up from his chair to sit against the headboard behind me. Ryder was already lying down on his back. I moved a little to the middle so I could give some more space to River. That movement made me go closer to Ryder.
“Mind-link only works at short distances,” Ryder added.
They told me more about their pack. They told me they physically train every morning and afternoon. As the future kings, they also take special training from their pack’s Beta.
The night went on with River and Ryder alternately telling me more about werewolves. And like at the end of each lesson, they had quizzed me about it.
Moon goddess as the creator of werewolves and other were-shapeshifters. She is also called the Luna.
The hierarchy – Alpha as the first in command, Beta as the second, Gamma as the third.
Werewolves shift for the first time when they reach eighteen and at that time, they could already meet their fated mate. A fated mate is a person gifted to each werewolf by Moon goddess to be with for the rest of their lives.
Mind-link is how the werewolves talk to each other telepathically.
Rogues are werewolves who do not belong to any pack. They can be vicious and harmful.
“Great! Now you know a lot about us. We only have to know about you.” River chuckled.
“Hey, you told me mostly about werewolves, not about yourselves. And there’s nothing much to talk about me.”
“Ah, yes, we have told you more about werewolves. But we have the rest of the year to get to know each other more.” River shifted to lie down sideways facing me. “How old are you?”
“I’m fifteen,” I replied honestly. What was there to hide anyway.
“Fifteen? Holyf—” Ryder sat up in shock.
“Ryder! Language!” River cut in.
“Is there a problem with my age? I will be sixteen in December.” I looked at both of their faces. Ryder was still in shock. I saw the worry on River’s face but eased when I said I will be sixteen soon.
“Why are you in senior high school then?” Ryder gave me a scrutinizing look. “Were you also accelerated like us?”
“Maybe.” Yes, I was accelerated but at the moment I didn’t want to dig up the past. The reason was I was getting sleepy. I covered my mouth as I yawned. “Probably, yes. And I should probably go because I’m getting sleepy.”
“Uh, I don’t think you should go out, Kimmie.” I looked at River with a confused look. “It’s already way past curfew.”
“Oh. What time is it anyway?”
“Eleven?” River replied sheepishly.
“Eleven? That is late. Why can’t I go to my room?”
“A report will be generated and it goes straight to Ms. Blair,” Ryder answered quietly. “A punishment will be given to the person who goes against the academy’s rules.”
“Why Ms. Blair? She’s the registrar. Shouldn’t the report go to the principal?”
“What made you say that Ms. Blair is the registrar? Ms. Blair is THE principal, Kimmie.”
“What? But she was the one who we met earlier today at the registrar’s office!” And I mumbled about not looking at the school’s manual and researching more about it.
“The registrar must be on break.” River shrugged his shoulders.
“What should I do now?” As if I have other choices.
“Then we all sleep here. River and I do this all the time. Sleepover.” Ryder stood up and was to take off his shirt when River stopped him.
“Woah. Cool down. Kimmie’s here.”
“What? You want me to go to sleep wearing jeans?” Ryder pointed to his pants.
“You could just get a pair of my pajamas, Ryder. Go and change.” He then turned to me. “How about you, princess. Would you like to borrow some clothes? Or are you comfortable with what you are wearing?” I was wearing a medium-sized shirt and a pair of leggings.
“I’m good with my clothes. Thank you.” It was then I realized that I was really going to sleep with these two.
Oh, moon goddess, help me.
I was pleasantly surprised with my thought. Come to think of it, the werewolves were rubbing their beliefs in me.
After some time, we were all under the blanket. I was in the middle and could only be grateful that River has a king-sized bed. All rooms must have king-sized beds.
“Good night, Kimmie.” River whispered after he had turned off the lamp at the bedside table.
“Good night, River.” I was waiting for Ryder to say something but he didn’t. I then made the initiative. “Good night, Ryder.” I turned around to face him. I did not realize that he was already sleeping. He had his eyes closed and his breathing was even.
I had lied down on my back and had my eyes closed when I heard him whisper.
“Good night, princess.”
I was in the woods wearing an all-white dress; running and laughing. I was like having the time of my life. Two silver wolves were running after me. But, of course, they were able to catch up on me. They began to shift to humans. And before I could see their faces, I heard someone calling my name.
“Kimmie.” It sounded like a whisper.
“Kimberly.” It was a voice of a firmer tone. I was then brought out of my dream. And I should have not opened my eyes right away. “Good morning. Are you having a good dream?” Ryder asked with a smirk.
Assessing the situation I was in, I was sandwiched between the twins. My arm was curled around Ryder’s back, with his arm also around my waist. River looked like he was still sleeping close behind me with his hand over my tummy and his face at the back of my head.
I could not reply to Ryder as his face was a few inches from mine.
I could not believe I am facing the twins with morning breath and I-woke-up-like-this face.
My wavy hair must be in its wild state right now. What should I do?
“Ryder. Quit joking around. Don’t tease poor Kimmie.” I heard River’s husky voice as he mumbled at my back. He then released me from his hold, stood up, and went to the bathroom. Ryder then also stood up, stretched, and then disappeared on the floor. What was he up to?
I sat up and saw Ryder doing some push-ups. I did a little stretching myself. I stretched out my limbs and then stepped out of the bed. I fixed my hair a little and ran my hand across my face to check if I have dried up drool or anything. After a while, I made River’s bed.
“Oh, thanks. But you didn’t have to do that.” River had just stepped out of the bathroom.
I blushed when I saw him.
“It’s nothing. Thank you for letting me stay the night.”
“No prob. Anytime. It’s time for breakfast. Would you like to change first before going? We’d pick you up in ten minutes.” He smiled so sweetly at me before turning to call his brother. “Ryder, time for breakfast.”
Ryder grunted in reply.
“Okay. See you in ten minutes.”
I wore my shoes and then went out of River’s room. I quickly went inside my room straight to my bathroom. I did my morning routine. I washed my face and brushed my teeth. I changed my clothes to a nice yellow summer floral dress as I thought it would be a little warm outside. I didn’t have time to tame my hair, so I put it up on a messy bun.
And just right on time, I heard a knock on my door.
“I’m right there!”
I wore simple nude flats and went to open the door. The twins were both wearing white shirts with different designs and khaki shorts. We started to go down towards the dining hall.
“Are you trying to confuse people?” Without looking at their eyes, one would never know who is who.
“It was an accident. I didn’t know he was going to wear those and I didn’t want to go back to change.”
Ryder, I know now, being the stubborn twin, would also not want to change.
“Well, just don’t wear sunglasses so people would know who you are.”
“They would know us by our smell.” River explained. So, it was back to me and River talking. Ryder was silent again.
“Oh yeah. You weres have a specific smell.”
“You have your smell too.”
“Really? What do I smell?” I was worried that I would smell bad. I haven’t taken a shower this morning but I did take one last night before dinner.
“You smell of strawberries.” Well, it was odd because I do not use strawberry-scented products. My shampoo was floral-scented, while my shower gel was mint.
“That’s cool, I think.”
“But now you smell of River and Ryder.” Drake and Clayton appeared from the side. I didn’t know who said that but both of them were smirking at the twins. It meant that there must be something weird going on.
“What does that mean?” I asked River.
“You got our smell because you spent the night with me and Ryder.” River said as he scratched the back of his head.
“Oh, brother.” I immediately know what people would think. That we did the deed. And most of the students here at the academy are weres.
Oh damn!
- Writer
