Hearing Xander say those words to me felt like winning the prize I hardly competed for, I felt real lucky. I had other questions I wanted to ask him but that one had just popped into my mind at the last minute and I had impulsively asked.
I wasn't sure what he would say because Aunt Maia said my body wouldn't finish its complete transition until 48 hours had passed. So he might not have been sure about me, but the fact that he admitted that elated me and I knew it was going to be okay. This whole change, this new life, everything was going to be okay. He didn't deny me.
"My turn", he stated gently. I nodded my head waiting for the bomb he'll throw next. "I want complete answers this time, Asha". I couldn't help myself, I smiled again. "I want you to answer my initial question", he implored. The smile that overtook my face was huge.
"The 'what' uh", I said with a raise of my brow. He smiled and gave me a nod. "I was a human but over this weekend, I've gone through a series of changes I'm not sure is complete yet." I thought about ending it there but then decided to just go for it. "So right now I guess I'm what some would call a werewolf or a lycan, I'm not sure which it is."
"You could be both", he said with a shrug. I laughed at that, "Yeah I could be both", I agreed. "Nothing stranger right?" "Definitely nothing stranger", he replied. "Your turn Asha" We were finally making progress.
"I don't want to continue this our back and forth", I started gently. "But I do want to know more about you". He moved closer and held my hand in his, rubbing his thumb on the back of my hand comfortingly.
"Though you didn't ask a question, I will answer as well as I can", he replied. "I am just like you, only a lot stronger and certainly more exposed to the supernatural than you are. I know this can be a lot to take in, and I also know what you're going through could not have been caused naturally, someone must have interfered with the natural order of things."
I couldn't tell him just how close to the truth he was without having to talk about the terrible experience I went through when I was younger. I never spoke to anyone about it, they all just formed their own narrative with the things the cops told and showed them.
"How about you come home with me and I can introduce you to the way things work", he suggested. "It might be easier than trying to explain it to you when you can just see for yourself and read through our history books." I contemplated what he said and it seemed very viable, only problem was the blazing sign I carried on my back.
Sensing my hesitation he spoke gently, "If you're not ready I will understand. There is no rush to do anything". "I am ready", I assured him. "There's just one little problem". I'm surprised he hasn't figured it out yet. I thought Aunt Maia said the seal was recognizable by everyone of his kind.
"What problem?" He asked bewilderingly. I thought about telling him and then decided to just show him. Removing my hand from his, I stood up gently and lifted my black hoodie off, leaving me in my black sports bra and blue denim shorts.
"What are you do…?" He asked quickly before inhaling a quick breath audibly. He was shocked, I know, I was too. He didn't say a word for the next fifteen seconds and I was starting to get worried that maybe he didn't know what the seal was, or the seal was no longer on my back or any other scenario.
I turned to see what made him so silent, when I felt his hand on my back and then it was my turn to inhale quickly. His hand was warm as he traced my back, leaving tingles and electricity in its wake. Never having experienced anything as intimate as this, goose bumps lined my body from the back of my neck to my toes, I felt every touch and he still hadn't said a word.
I was almost shivering when he finally spoke with a low voice, "The seal of the goddess. You are the Niveum lupa", he whispered disbelievingly. With a steady grip, he held onto my shoulders and turned me to face him fully. The awe in those eyes I saw was blinding. It was like he was seeing me in a whole new light.
"You are the niveum lupa", he whispered again. "I don't know what that means", I admitted. "I can see why you wouldn't know that", he answered. "But why is it a problem", he inquired. Oh well he definitely didn't know as much as Aunt Maia, if he's still asking me that.
"Aunt Maia told me that when my shift was complete and the wolf's eyes open in the seal, the seal will start glowing and will react like a signal to other werewolves", I explained, deliberately leaving the solution to said problem, out. "That's true, but the wolf is still asleep", he stated matter-of-factly.
"I didn't know that", I replied feeling stupid. "I can see why", he answered. "You gotta stop doing that", I told him grinning. "Only when you do", he finished with a smile of his own. "But we do need to calculate how long before the wolf awakens", he said seriously. "Hmm, hmm, we do."
"When did you ha…", he started to ask only to stop as if he thought better of it. "That would have to be Friday, the day of the full moon right?" He asked instead. "Yeah it was Friday", I replied in shock. "How did you know that?" "A first shift can only occur under the light of a full moon", he replied simply.
"I guess I do have a lot to learn", I thought aloud. "Yeah you do", he agreed. "If it was Friday, then you have less than eight hours give or take before your shift is complete." That's a lot of time, I assured myself.
"We should be able to go to my place and be back before that happens", he assured. "I guess", I replied under my breath. "But I'll need to ask Aunt Maia if I can do that because she's been very wary about that aspect of my shift". "No problem with that", he replied softly. I need to speak to her about some things, so I��ll go do that now while you dress up and meet us downstairs."
He left my room shortly after, leaving me with tingles dancing on my shoulders where he had held onto me. My body was humming with electricity so badly, I had a feeling I would be able to light a bulb if I attempted to. How the hell am I supposed to discuss the solution to my seal problem when I could barely look him in the eye while talking. This shit is hard.
Five minutes later, I was dressed in my black hoodie, blue jeans and black sneakers. I picked up my phone and a small purse, then made my way slowly down the stairs. I met Xander in the seating room with Aunt Maia nowhere to be found. He was seated on the sofa, phone in hand while running his hand through his hair, nervously if I'm right. What could be making him nervous?
Seeing him like that started a hunger in me that translated into a terrible itch in my hands. An itch to run my hands through his beautiful, silky brown hair that I'm sure would be so soft, it'll feel like it was melting in my hands. 'Control Asha', my mind warned. Yeah, wouldn't want to act like I'm a retard.
The minute I walked in the room, he turned his head to face me as if he could sense me walking in. 'Well Asha, he definitely could', my subconscious mocked. 'He's a freaking lycan, what else did you expect?' 'Okay time out, don't be treating me like an idiot', I reprimanded before I finally realized that I wasn't just talking to the monsters in my head anymore but to a specific monster whose voice I hated.
Don't tell me it's the annoying wolf I saw in my vision the last time that… "Asha! Asha!!" I heard someone shouting. "What?" I shouted right back, annoyed that my thought process was cut short. "Are you okay?" I heard the voice ask again, this time recognizing it as Xander's voice. "Shit, I'm sorry I shouted at you", I apologized profusely finally coming to as I opened my eyes and saw him staring at me worriedly.
"It's okay", he replied. "It's just, I've been calling you for a while and you didn't answer and I got a little worried". "Sorry again, I get carried away in my thoughts very easily and I was too focused to hear anything."
"Don't worry about it", he reassured. "If you're ready, let's go. Maia already gave the go ahead if I promised to be back with you here by six thirty, which I did so you're safe". "Thanks", I whispered softly still feeling a little guilty.
"Come on", he waved and moved for the door with me trailing silently behind him. We walked out of the house in silence till I whispered an awe filled "wow!!!" when I saw his car. A black S-class Mercedes that was mouth wateringly beautiful. Don't blame me I just love, love cars.
We got in the car and drove off but not without me whispering words of love and appreciation to the car while Xander just laughed at me all the way. His place was far and it took us at least forty five minutes to get there. The ride was worth it though.
When we made it to the borders of the land the pack used, he started pointing out some things, like the traps that surrounded the borders with the exception of the road. The cloaked guards that were almost invisible to the human eye unless one knew where to look. The filmy covering that was the effect of a protective spell that surrounded the border.
All in all their security was super tight and the forest that surrounded their housing was beautifully green and vibrant, spring was absolutely here. The drive from the borders unto the mainland took about ten minutes and then civilization as we knew it was restored.
It was like walking into smallville. Different houses surrounded what seemed to be the headquarters of operation or housing, a five story mansion painted white with flowers on all sides, a fountain in the arched driveway and stairs leading up to the black metal doors.
Xander drove up to the mansion and deftly parked the car right by the stairs. We came down simultaneously, him first while I took my time a little anxious about meeting people who were like me in some ways more than human now. I also noticed some people milling about the mansion in uniforms, I'm guessing guards.
As if sensing my unease, Xander walked towards me, held my hand and squeezed gently in a gesture of 'I'm here for you', then pulled me gently towards the door. Before he could make a move to open the door, it was flung open and I had a split second of gratitude that the door opened inwards and not outward, if not I would be telling you what that door tasted like right now.
I was shocked by the door but absolutely not surprised when I saw the person who had opened the door, Justin. He was smiling from ear to ear when he saw me, the next second I was flying through the air. The hug he gave me pulled the air from my lungs and left my feet dangling in the air as he did a few circles with me in his arms.
I was already starting to feel dizzy when Xander rescued me from his hands, a little roughly might I add. "Oh cool yourself man", Justin reprimanded. "I missed her and I think I'm entitled to at least one hug, I mean it's not like she's complaining", he mocked dryly.
"She might not be, but I am", Xander retorted. "Well why are you complaining when she isn't", Justin fired back. "Because she's mine and you better watch the way you act around her from now on". "You said what now?"