Visions of Wolves

See you soon

When we got back to the pack house we sat in his office while he took me through the paperwork. We agreed that I would spend the last week of every month at the pack house and he would visit me from time to time.

We also went through his library and he gave me a collection of books on the history of shifters and their ceremonies.

It was arranged that in the morning Alex would take me back to the hotel so I could say goodbye to Mabel. He wanted to check on her anyway and from there he would take me through to the airport. 

After we spoke about the paperwork I showered and got ready for dinner. I had one cocktail dress that I had brought on this trip but never thought I’d actually get to wear it. It was a shapely plain black dress that fitted me well enough to show off my curves.

After looking at myself in the mirror I got cold feet and threw on a jacket and sneakers to tone it down a little. I wanted to look good for Alex, to show off a little, especially after running into Julz today. “I’m Julz,” I said mockingly in the mirror. Ashamed at my own immaturity.

I was the last to arrive at the balcony where Jay, Adam, Ally and Alex were all already having drinks. As I walked in everyone turned and eyed me up and down. Dam. This dress is too much, even with the jacket.

“You look beautiful,” Alex said walking over to greet me at the door and plant a kiss on my cheek. He did it so casually and so naturally that it felt as though we’d been together forever. No one else even flinched at this action, none of this seemed weird to any of them. He had told them all we were mates earlier in the day but no one could make a big deal about, not yet at least.

The kitchen staff had made a roast and brought it up to us. We sat and ate while everyone spoke about growing up in the village. Jay and Alex had both studied and travelled overseas and spoke a little more about their adventures. I watched as this group of friends shared stories and teased one another. There was so much love between them. I wanted to be a part of this, to feel this love too. As if hearing my thoughts Ally lent over and gave my leg a squeeze. “Let’s do some shots,” she said with a wink.

We headed inside to a small bar in the corner of the room. The room was kitted out for parties. There were couches around a big TV, the balcony had chairs and tables where the guys were seated and in the back corner was a small bar with two bar chairs.

I took my seat at the bar while Ally ducked behind it and pulled out an unmarked bottle with a clear liquid inside, as well as two shot glasses.

“This is made by a local farmer, we help them harvest every year and they very kindly say thanks with this,” she said holding up the bottle before pouring two glasses.

She handed me one, we clinked our glasses and swallowed the clear liquid in one gulp. I felt my whole body heat up from my throat down. It burned but also tasted like strawberries as it hit the back of my throat. I pulled a face at Ally who pulled one back. We both laughed before she went ahead and poured another.

“So, what do I need to know about Julz,” I asked staring at the clear liquid in my shot glass, still bracing myself to drink it.

“Who told you about Julz?” Ally asked, leaning into her crossed arms on the bar.

“We bumped into her on our walk earlier. Her and Alex seemed…close. He said they used to date?” We both looked over at the guys to make sure they were out of earshot.

“They did. Honestly I’m not a fan. She’s full of herself and when they were together she was always all over him. We could never get anything done when she was around.” Ally took her shot and I followed. Our faces scrunched up even more than before. She pulled out the bottle and poured another two.

“So then why’d they break-up?” I pressed on.

“We always thought her and Alex would end up together if neither of them found their real mates. It was convenient I guess. He needed someone who could stand their ground and she liked the status of being with the Alpha. Eventually he realised their connection was shallow and didn’t want to lead her on any more,” she added with a shrug.

“So, I also have another question.” I said before taking the shot and pushing the glass away to signal I’d had enough. Ally simply took her shot too and then refilled them, pushing my glass back my way.

“Yeah?”

“Is marking a real thing? Does he really have to bite me?” I nodded over to Alex to emphasise who the he was.

Ally was mid shot when I asked and almost spat it on me while laughing. She made such a noise Adam poked his head in to ask if everything was alright and we both waved him back.

“Yes, he has to bite you. For us shifters though we get to bit them back. Sorry you miss out on that.” She was still chuckling.

“When you mark your mate it completes the bond. You develop a sort of extra sense around them. You know how they feel, you know where they are, that kind of thing. It’s hard to explain. But honestly, it’s way better than going through heat trust me. Adam wanted to speak to my parents before he marked me but they were away when we realised we were mated. He made me wait through one whole heat cycle, it was torture!”

She laughed at the memory and then took her shot.

“What’s heat? What’s a heat cycle?” I asked, not yet ready to take my next shot.

“Oooh girl, drink up,” Ally said nudging the shot closer to me.

She went on to explain that heat was similar to a typical women’s cycle however during ovulation her body calls to her mate. Once they’ve met, mate’s bodies call to each other until they have been marked and solidify the bond. It’s nature’s way of making sure shifters procreate.

If the call isn’t acted upon, in other words if the mates don’t mark each other, the woman’s body lets off additional pheromones to try provoke the male. But to make those pheromones is a painful process. She goes through extreme pain and he goes into extreme lust. For the most part an ice cold shower can help with the heat, but every cycle gets worse until the marking is complete.

I just stared at Ally. 

“Is this going to happen to me unless I let him mark me?” I asked.

“Shh, you’re shouting,” she giggled. “Maybe that’s enough of this,” she said putting the bottle away and coming round to my side of the bar.

“I’m not drunk,” I said, taking my shot and spilling most down my dress. This time we both laughed, maybe I was a little drunk.

“No seriously, is that going to happen to me?” I said jumping down from my bar stool and using Ally’s shoulder to stabilise myself.

“I hiccup, I don’t hiccup know. You’re human,” Ally said putting my arm in hers as if helping me when she was clearly also feeling the effects. “Just let him hiccup, mark you.” She said flippantly.

“I can’t do that!” I shot back.

“Can’t do what?” Jay asked as we came into view of the guys on the balcony. He eyed us out, watching as we both wobbled against each other. “Don’t tell me you got into Jack’s latest batch? You two are lucky to be standing!”

I let go of Ally’s arms and pulled a seat back to sit but missed it completely and landed on my butt.

“I think it’s bed time,” Alex said angrily as he helped me to my feet and then checked to see I wasn’t hurt.

“No, no I’m fine. I want to hangout.” I said grabbing my arm out of his grip and gently going to take my seat.

Without saying a word he effortlessly threw me over his shoulder and stormed out the room. My dress started to ride up my thighs almost exposing me to everyone now laughing at me at the table.

“Put me down! Stop it!” I shouted while trying to hold onto his shoulder, but also yank my dress down.

“Night night,” Jay said sarcastically as Alex stormed out with me on his shoulder.

When we got to his room he thew me down on the bed and stood up staring at me while running his hands through his hair. He seemed annoyed.

“How much did you have?” He asked through gritted teeth.

“Just a couple shots,” I could hear myself slurring my words. The bed was so soft I closed my eyes and waited for the room to stop spinning for a minute.

“You need to be careful, I told you, appearances are important. You need to drink in moderation.” He scolded me while bending down to untie my shoes.

“I had the same as Ally!” I said in weak defence.

“She’s a shifter, she’ll burn it off in two hours tops. You’re the one who is going to be in a car for hours tomorrow.” After my shoes he walked over to his cupboard and came back with some items of clothing. I’d managed to shrug off my jacket and throw it on the floor. Leaving me in my skimpy black dress.

He crawled up the bed until he hovered over me and began pulling down the straps of my dress. I pushed my hair to one side and looked up at him, “mark me, I’m ready,” I giggled.

“You’re drunk.” He shot back.

“I know.” I said mocking his tone.

He pulled off my dress and helped me into one of his shirts before tucking me into bed. I was no help. It was a while before I felt him come to bed too. This was not how I wanted my last night to go - I thought to myself before letting the darkness take me.

The next morning I woke up to an empty bed and a splitting headache. I showered, packed and was on my second cup of coffee when Alex came in.

“How we feeling this morning?” His sarcasm wasn’t lost on me.

“Fine thanks and you?” Even my voice sounded rough.

“Just great thanks. Come say goodbye to everyone before we head out.”

When I walked into the dinning hall Jay and Adam slow clapped and laughed at my dishevelled state. “That’s going to be a fun drive,” Jay joked.

I looked over at Ally who looked back at me sheepishly. “I blame you,” I told her before giving her a big hug. I said goodbye to everyone and headed to the car with Alex.

We didn’t speak much during the drive. I had my head half out the window for most of the ride, enjoying the breeze on my face.

By the time we got to Mabel’s I was feeling much better and her infectious high spirits also helped. We chatted and when Alex headed out to chat to guards who were still there from the attack, she called me into her kitchen.

“How are you, really?” I asked now that we had a minute to ourselves.

“I’m fine, but how are you? This must all be such a shock!”

“It is. I’m so conflicted. I feel so at home here, but this isn’t home. There’s so much I don’t know, and I’m so out of my depth, I’m only human,” I slunk back against the kitchen cupboard.

“You’re stronger than you know,” she responded before handing me a glass jar of tea.

“Here. Ally phoned me earlier, this will help with the heat cycle. It’s not very tasty, but just a spoon of this in hot water when you feel it starting and you should be good to go.”

“Wait, so you know?” I said inspecting the glass jar.

“I have certain skills,” she winked at me. “That and the fact that he can’t take his eyes off of you and you have no mark,” she looked at my neck.

I nervously pulled my hair over to hide my neck.

“Thank you,” was all I could manage before Alex came back and it was time to hit the road again.

This time we spoke the whole way to the airport. He told me more about his childhood and the pranks him and Jay used to pull on others. At the airport he grabbed my bags and walked me to my gate. Every step I took made me feel more and more nauseous. I had butterflies in my stomach, I didn’t want to leave him. At the gate he handed me my bags and we stood in silence.

“Ok well, thank you, for everything. I’ll see you end of month right?” I spoke quickly, worried my voice would give me away. Then I leaned up on my tip toes to give him a quick kiss on the cheek and turned to leave.

He grabbed my arm, spun me round and planted a passionate kiss on my lips. I dropped my bags and grabbed his face. He pulled away, lay his forehead against mine and said, “be safe and behave.”

With that I picked up my bags, gave him a smile and walked through the gates.