"You said you were going to plan something small," she says.
I hide a wide, guilty smile from her as we make our way back to my place. "I said I would plan something for your birthday,"
I correct her. I mentioned nothing about how big or small the event would be."
I don't have to look at her to know she's rolling her eyes or making a face at me. I can feel it. "You always go overboard for me," she pouts, and she wraps her arms around me, bringing us both to a stop. I am really not all that special, you know." "Gisele," I say, her name coated with reverence. "You are everything to me. This is a monumental day for you and I want you to celebrate it the way you deserve.
And I will always find a reason you should be celebrated."
She giggles softly and drops a kiss on my shoulder.
Our clothes are a little rumpled, but in a pack of wolves, it won't really be noticeable. I decide to lead us back to the main house the long way around. I selfishly want just a few extra minutes alone with her before we'd be swarmed with well-wishers.
I knew while planning her birthday party that I would have to sacrifice precious moments with her once, and that I could not keep her to myself. But I know how much she enjoyed being around the other wolves. She is one probably one of the most social wolves I have ever met.
I was happy to make the sacrifice if it meant she'd be happy, too. "You really invited the entire pack into your house all at once?" she questions.
Admittedly, now it doesn't seem like my best idea. There were enough of us that even as humans, we'd be a sizable crowd. Add wolves into the mix, and I was sure that something expensive would irreparably be damaged before the night was over. "Would you believe I'm actually more worried about the food in my refrigerator than anything else?" I say with a smirk on my face, trying to plan cool.
She threw her head back in a hearty laugh.
The light from the moon makes her skin glow.
She looks almost ethereal. There's a soft radiance about her, making her appear otherworldly even in her old sweatpants.
I think that might actually be the first sensible thing you've said all night," she laughs, hiding her grin behind her hand.
It doesn't do much to smother her giggles; it's more of a habit than a gesture of functionality, but it's endearing.
Tcan't believe you have only realized now the level of the danger you've put every edible item you own in. Food would have been at the top of my priority list," she says, laughing at me.
I guess that's the difference between you and me," I joke. "You love food and I love you,"
She freezes, her sudden movement jolting me back. "What's Wrong-?"
She's looking at me with wide, shining eyes. The moon reflection in them as clear as day. Her lips part, but whatever she wants to say remains on her tongue.
I knew, though. She didn't have to say it.
We've been together since we were twelve, but neither of us had ever said we loved the other. There wasn't any real reason apart from the agreement we came to when we were fourteen; that we wouldn't force or rush anything. Whatever happened would have to happen naturally.
And it did.
IrealizedI was in love with Gisele ages ago, and it was something I kept to myself. Not because I was afraid. She didn't feel the same way, but because it was something that didn't really seem like a secret to me.
My love for Gisele was like common knowledge to me: facts like the sky is blue, the sun rises every morning and sets every evening; the grass is green, and so on.
Is that true?" she whispers, so quietly, like she's worried she'l scare me off. It makes me laugh.
It isn't how I wanted to tell you," I admit, pulling her into the circle of my arms and pressing my lips to her forehead. I wanted to plan something more romantic." "Romantic?" she echoes. "Like what?"
I take in a deep breath and hum on the exhale. Well, first I'd bring you to my place and maybe cook you your favorite dish for dinner. We could sit on the couch and just talk for a while, you know, the way we always do. When hours and hours pass and we don't even notice?"
"Those are my favorite nights," she mumbles into my neck. I smile and continue. "We would go for a walk together, to the ravine we usually visit on the full moon,"
I explain, envisioning the night the way
I had wanted it to unfold. "And then Id make a huge, grand gesture, confessing my love and laying myself upon the altar of your acceptance- ow, hey!"
She pulled her hand back like she might swat me, but I squirmed out of her hold and ducked the next strike.
I am trying to be romantic. Why are you abusing me?" I ask, trying to be serious. "You are full of it," she laughs, eyes sparkling with mirth. "You can never be serious. How am I supposed to know if you really love me when you constantly make jokes?"
With all the gentleness I can muster, I wrap my fingers around her wrist and bring her hand to my lips, all traces of amusement gone.
Ilove you, Gisele," I say to her, the smile that spreads across her lips more beautiful than any human art I've ever laid eyes on.
She really is the most gorgeous creature alive. I think I've been in love with you since I met you, but I'm sure of it now."
Ilove you, too," she hiccups, tears springing to her eyes. "Oh my gosh, it feels so good to say it out loud. I love you,
Jacob!"
It feels so good to hear her say it, and the rest of the walk back to the house is a blur of hushed giggles and secret kisses.
Like Id predicted, the second we cross the threshold, the crowd in the house erupts into cheers and drunken whoops, all of them rushing forward to hug Gisele.
It isn't something I'm happy about, and my wolf claws at my insides when other males linger around Gisele, but I force the vicious protectiveness down and plaster a smile on my face. It's like an endless line of hello, thanks for coming, enjoy the party' until finally my dad makes his way forward, quickly dispersing the crowd for us. "Thank you," I breathe once most of the wolves have finally left us to rejoin the party.
My dad chuckles and lifts his shoulder in a careless half-shrug, looking down at me with a smirk. "Youll get there one day, kiddo. Just give it time."
My dad is still taller than me, a biological inconvenience, if you ask me. It's only because Im not the Alpha that I haven't reached his height yet. He enjoys it. I can see it on his face, but only because he worries that I'm growing way too fast.
I don't like it when they get so close," I admit under my breath, hoping Gisele won't hear me. It was bad before, but now it feels wTong." "That will happen," he explains, nodding in greeting to a passing wolf. "You might even find that you get even more protective once she's carrying pups." "Which is far, far' from now," I add, just to make sure he doesn't go off on another lecture about lineage and bloodlines. "Sure, sure," he says, as if waving it off. I let it slide, not really looking for an argument at Gisele's eighteenth birthday party. "But just remember that-
Whatever he's about to say is cut off by a loud crash coming from the back of the house, near the buffet tables. Gisele turns to me in a panic but I squeeze her hand.
Tl handle it," I promise, kissing her cheek before moving to the source of the raucous.
The wolves gathered around were all laughing, and it prickled my skin. Instead of helping whoever is in trouble, they are laughing like it's the greatest joke they've ever heard.
Ipush through the last few wolves, blocking my path and- oh. "Ana? Are you okay?"
Ana is slowly pushing herself up off the mess of smashed glass and food, the table buckling under the weight. Her shoulders tense when she hears my voice, and when she looks she can't meet my eyes. "Who the fuck did this?" I snarl, a burning rage taking hold of my chest.
The crowd that gathered to point and laugh at Anastasia falls silent, predictably, and stalk forward to help her up. If you will not make yourself useful, fuck off."
And just like that, they disperse the way the crowd had scattered when my dad appeared.
I don't have time to dwell on it; I can smell
Ana's blood and she looks ready to burst into tears. I need to get her home. "Here," I say quietly, holding out a hand as I kneel in front ofher. Let me get you home."
Her bottom lip wobbles miserably, and I have to physically restrain myself from hugging her. "Come on, Ana," I say a little more urgently "You're bleeding."
With a choked off sob, she places her hand in mine and I slowly help her to her feet. Choosing to take her out through the sliding door rather than parade her in front of the rest of the pack. We walk away from the party. "You're always coming to my rescue," she jokes, except it sounds nothing like a joke and everything like a question to me. "Like a knight in shining armor."
I laugh because I don't really know how else to respond. It's true; when she puts it like that, it seems like I'm constantly rushing in to save her. And I don't really know how to feel about that.
The trip between the pack house and my place isn't too long, but she doesn't say much else on the way there.
When we finally get there, I take her up to her room and set her on the edge of her bed before turning to rummage around for the first aid kit. "You know you don't have to do this," she says quietly. T heal really quickly and they're just a few scratches. Nothing major." "Would you shut up and let me take care of you?" I grunt, battling to get the box open and pulling out supplies. She's still got food all over her, but I want to make sure her wounds are clean and glass-free before she gets in the shower.
She always fights with me when I try to help her. She'd ask why I cared so much and I still don't have an answer. I guess I've always been protective of her. She's like a sister to me. "Tilt your head back and don't fight me this time," I order, feeling a litle pleased with myself when she obeys. I press the alcohol
Swab to the cut on her cheek and she winces. "Sorry."
I blow on the wound gently, and I can feel her eyes lingering on my face.
Somewhere deep inside, a part of me knows there's more to my feelings than just thinking of her as a sister.