Serena laid her head on the plush leather couch in the living room. It was late in the evening, and most everyone who lounged around during the day had already left for their own houses or their rounds. The smell of cedar and dinner lingered in the air. Serena sighed and relaxed further into the cushions, soaking in the chance to sit down and not being beaten onto the ground.
"Want a drink?" Venus held out a glass bottle, shaking it gently, toward Serena.
Serena straightened from her place on the couch.
"Sure." She accepted the bottle and took a long swing. "That was horrible." She coughed and looked at the bottle, her brows furrowed and lips tight. It was bitter alcohol that most everyone in the pack turned their nose up to.
Venus let out a loud laugh and fell on the couch beside her.
"You got that right. It's awful."
"Why are we drinking?" Serena shifted further from her friend.
"Do we need a reason to drink?" Venus looked up at Serena with wild eyes. She laughed again and cleared her throat. "No, Venus. We don't. That's what you're supposed to say."
"Oh. No, we don't need a reason to drink." Serena gave a tight smile and another quick swig. She stuck her tongue out in disgust.
"You came into our lives a month ago or so, and since then, you have grown so much." Venus wiped away a fake tear and sniffed before continuing. "And tomorrow, you will fight a werewolf in their wolf form, so I want to celebrate!"
"What?" Serena jumped from her seat, the contents of the bottle sloshed around, and some stray droplets landed on Venus' face.
"Watch it..." She glared, wiping her face with her arm.
"Oh. Sorry." Serena wiped her friend's face with a sleeve and continued, "You said I wasn't going to fight against any wolf forms until a few weeks from now! I thought you said I wasn't ready!"
"Well... About that..." Venus took a long drink, and Serena waited eagerly for her response. "Atlas thought you would be fine as long as you trained against him to start with."
Serena let out a heavy sigh and fell into the soft cushions, her arms crossed.
"This isn't one of your games again, is it?" Serena glared at Venus. "I already told you that even if that moon goddess of yours wants us to be together, I don't."
"Come on..." Venus whined. "I'm not that petty. Give me some credit."
"Petty?" Serena cocked her head and stared wide-eyed. "You have tried so many different things to get us alone together. For example, you told me the shower was free, but he was in there. Clearly, it was not free. You locked us in his office for a full night, and you even set up this really great picnic for us to get rained on. It ruined the fantastic food!"
"It was good food, wasn't it..." Venus shook her head and grabbed Serena's face, pulling it close. "This time, it's not one of my games. Atlas gave Eli and me orders this morning. You are to meet him outside to train tomorrow afternoon. Just don't be startled when you see the wolf form."
"Why would I be scared?" Serena swirled her bottle.
"Well... To put it nicely, his wolf puts all ours to shame. He's Alpha for a reason. And you haven't exactly been allowed outside during the full moon when we all go into a sort of half-frenzy. So it might be hard for you considering..." Venus drank again and remained silent.
"Yeah... It has been a while since I've seen a wolf up close. But I'll be fine." Serena set her empty bottle on the coffee table and rose to her feet, dusting her pants off. "I'm going to go to bed. Atlas isn't there this time, is he?"
Venus chuckled.
"No, he isn't. You have the guest room beside his, don't forget that." She winked at Serena and gave her a teasing grin.
"Yeah, yeah." Serena waved her hand and yawned. "Don't stay up too late. Regus might want to see his mom."
"Oh, right! I need to say goodnight!" Venus jumped to her feet and ran out the door, bottle in hand.
Serena slowly climbed the stairs and entered the long, dark hallway toward her room. The light from Atlas' room illuminated a sliver of the wall, guiding Serena to the room. Voices came from the bedroom as she grew closer.
"Tomorrow will be the day. I need to tell her then." Atlas' gruff voice sounded irritated.
Footsteps paced back and forth in the room. Serena leaned against the wall next to the door and held her breath. The voices were loud.
"Are you sure?"
Eli.
"Yes. She needs to know why she's here."
"If you say so..." Eli muttered, exiting the doorway and making his way down the hall. Serena slid along the wall, opened her door, and slipped through without a sound. She flopped on the bed and lay there, staring up at the ceiling for what seemed like hours. Thoughts swirled. Thoughts of Eli and Atlas. Thoughts of what could be if she gave in to Venus' wishes. Thoughts of what Atlas needed to say that was so important. Soon, those thoughts swirled together to form a dark puddle. One that Serena slipped into easily.
"Serena! Serena!" Someone was yelling her name. "Serena!"
Serena groaned and rolled over, covering herself more with the blankets and furs. But those were soon ripped off, and Serena shivered. She was exposed to the cool morning air from the window.
"Get your ass outta bed." Venus cried as she pulled Serena's ankle off the bed. Serena let out a high-pitched cry and fell with a loud thud. Venus fell on top of Serena's legs and smashed her face against the mattress.
The door burst open, and Atlas, towel loosely wrapped around his waist, hair wet, and body glistening, stood there. His hand was on the doorknob, and a shocked look was on his face.
"You okay?" He swallowed hard and adjusted the towel to be a bit tighter around his waist.
"We're fine, dear brother." Venus gave a sly smile from her position on top of Serena. "Go get some clothes on." She gave him a little wave out the door.
Atlas gave one last desperate look at Serena's flushed face before closing the door.
"See you soon!" Venus yelled after her brother as she rose to her feet. She turned to Serena and propped her hands on her hips. "Still think I'm lying?"
"What?" Serena rubbed her face, hoping that the redness would melt away with the friction.
"You know what I'm talking about." Venus pulled Serena to her feet and straightened her pajamas. "It's so obvious to everyone but you. Why would he come running in only a towel for someone who just fell on the floor?"
"There really isn't a reason. Don't read so much into things. Maybe he's just nervous as I'm still new here, I guess. Didn't he run after you when you fell or hurt yourself when you were kids?"
"Absolutely not. My brother didn't care about anyone other than our father. Eli and I were lucky if he wanted to spar with us. Once Father died, things changed." Venus walked over to a dresser and rummaged through the contents. "I mean he actually comforted you when you were an emotional wreck after the brunch. That's never happened. Ever." Venus grabbed some clothes and tossed them behind her.
"Yeah, right." Serena rolled her eyes and grabbed the articles of clothing Venus had tossed on the bed.
"I'm telling you, if you pay attention, you'll notice." Venus waved her hand. "Go get changed and meet Atlas at the training grounds. You two will spend some quality time together today." She winked.
"Oh stop!" Serena tossed a pillow at the open door, but Venus ducked and scampered away. "I don't want this..." She muttered to herself as she looked at the clothes Venus picked out for her. It was something that Serena would not have picked out for herself. Limited in fabric and that fabric was thin at best. "Venus!" Serena yelled at the door. "Get back here!"
When there was no response from the spunky wolf, Serena sighed, clenched her fists in the material, and changed. After changing, she made her way toward the training grounds. At the foot of the stairwell, Atlas and Eli were discussing something in the office doorway. She maneuvered around them and was almost to the door when Eli yelled,
"Serena! Did my wife pick that out for you?" He gestured to her outfit of short shorts and an open-backed, and gaping front, sports bra. Serena instinctively reached for her exposed stomach and swallowed.
"Y-Yes she did..." Serena sighed.
Eli opened his mouth but was interrupted by a gruff morning voice.
"It looks good," Atlas replied and cleared his throat, looking away from Serena who was still hiding her stomach. Eli shot a confused glance at Atlas before turning back to Serena and nodding. Atlas stood, wide-eyed for a brief moment before shaking his head and turning back to Eli.
"Venus is never wrong when it comes to picking out flattering clothes for other people." Eli grasped Atlas' shoulder tightly. "Now, Alpha, you need to go train Serena on how to fight wolves. I'll handle what I can for today. Go." She pushed Atlas toward the door and closed the office door.
The two exited the packhouse and made their way toward the grounds in silence. The morning breeze was cool and soft. Moving the branches and grass ever so slightly. The pack was still mostly asleep, as was the sun. The sun was not quite woken up, but beginning its daily routine. The two walked closely together, Atlas shielding Serena from the cool breeze, and walking slightly behind her. Atlas' hand brushed against Serena's arm gently as they walked. She jerked away out of reflex but relaxed back into her walk.
"Is touching me that revolting?" He muttered into the summer morning breeze. His face was directed forward and never wavered from the path to the training grounds.
"What? No. It's just a reflex. You scared me is all." Serena blurted out in a single breath.
Atlas stopped walking, and Serena stopped a pace away. Their eyes met and held. His red eyes were solemn and steady, while hers shifted about the landscape. Atlas opened his mouth slightly and took a quick breath. He paused, about to say something, but he exhaled and strode toward her. He traced his fingers down her arm and met her hand with his. Gently, he grasped it and pulled it toward him. She took a step forward and looked up at him.
"I-I hope we can change that..." He whispered as he looked deeply into her eyes, refusing to break eye contact with her. After a brief moment, he blinked, released her hand, and continued toward the training grounds. He clenched and unclenched the hand that had touched hers a few times and shook his head.
She stood in the path for a moment, staring blankly at the place that Atlas had just been. Her hand burned and tingled. The remnants of his vanilla and cedar smell swept away with the wind.
"Maybe she was right..." Serena muttered to herself before turning to follow Atlas' massive frame. "