Raven's Rose

me. I was in awe as the introductions were made. I’m sure I stumbled over my words as I greeted them. My fantasies about them were true. They were an amazing couple. Anyone could see that. And Levi couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She had recently had triplets and she was as beautiful as I had imagined she could be. She sat down beside me, pulling two other women down with her. They were introduced to me as Ashley, Josh’s wife and Destiny, Eli’s new bride.

The four of us sat together eating our ice cream cones while the guys sat in the booth behind us. It was amazing to me how friendly they were to me. It was as if I had been a friend for a very long time. I felt an instant bond with all the girls and we laughed as we licked. They told me that a couple would soon be joining us that weren’t pack and didn’t know about us. That was my cue to keep all things werewolf a secret. A few minutes later, another adorable couple entered and the girl bounced over to join us. Her name was Kitty and her guy’s name was Reed.

I really liked my new friends, especially Charity and Ashley. They made me feel so welcomed. Occasionally, I found myself peering over at Wesley. He was doing the same. This did not go unnoticed by Charity. She gave me an all-knowing smile. She seemed to be suddenly very happy about something. What was I missing here, I wondered? Something told me I wouldn’t find out so soon. But that was okay. This night was too wonderful to ruin, or so I thought.

I squeezed out of our booth and made my way out the door and to the back of the parking lot to the car to retrieve my pocket book. I needed it so I could write down all the numbers of my new friends. Knowing I wouldn’t need it, I had left it in the car when we arrived. This really bugged me because had my controlling father not taken my phone from me I would’ve already had the numbers programmed by now.

I was shutting the door when someone whistled. I spun to see three guys approaching. They looked pretty rough and I instantly felt unease. “Well, hello there, cutie. Lookin’ for some company?” The one that spoke had slicked back hair and a very big mouth. I could sense he was looking for trouble. Too bad that was my nickname of late. He glanced around to make sure I was alone.

I was shaking. I knew this wasn’t good. “Um, I’m here with someone,” I threatened, taking a step back. I was not prepared for this.

“Well, I don’t see him.” He grabbed me around the waist then and pulled me against him. The others gathered around us. His hands roamed my body, landing on my butt as he kissed my neck and ear. “Let’s have some fun, red.”

“Let me go!” I yelled, trying to push him off me.

“Get your hands off of my girl.” I heard a controlled voice say. I knew that voice anywhere. Normally I was the one he had to control his anger against.

“Oh yeah?” the one holding me said, slinging me into the arms of his friend. “Hold her for me, Dave, while I take care of this guy.”

Wesley’s eyes did a quick rake over my body to make sure I wasn’t hurt. Then he stretched to his full height, his eyes shifting yellow and a snarl dripped from his lips. He was pissed. His hands clenched into tight fists. The other pack guys poured out of the ice cream parlor to investigate, but they weren’t needed. In less than five seconds all three of the guys threatening me were curled up in the gravel groaning in pain. And I never saw Wesley move, but then I was in his arms and he was pressing my face against his chest protectively.

“Tell me he didn’t hurt you, Hope,” he said, pulling away just enough to see my face. His eyes were full of concern as they took another rake over my body, searching for injuries.

“I’m fine, Wesley. I promise. They didn’t hurt me. They just scared me, that’s all. But thank you for saving me.” And then I remembered his words, ‘Take your hands off of my girl’. Was I his girl? I smiled up at him and there was tenderness in his eyes. I had never seen it nor imagined it coming from him, but there it was. We stayed like that for a moment longer, our eyes locked together as if in a trance. What was happening to me? Gone was the overbearing jerk who, like my father, tried to control and manipulate me; replaced with a gentle, protective man giving me a small glimpse of his vulnerability. Oh boy.

Charity started clapping and both of us straightened, jerking apart and glancing at her. She was watching us with great joy. What was that girl thinking anyway?

Chapter Ten

                                          Wesley

We said our goodbyes to the others and headed back to the Windsor House. The car ride home was a quiet one. I wanted to speak to Hope about what happened, but I wasn’t sure about it myself. One minute I had been inside Happy’s talking to the guys and then I had looked over to where Hope was sitting and noticed her missing. I had asked Charity where she had gone and she told me Hope went to get her purse from the car. I zoned my hearing toward the parking lot and that’s when I heard the danger she was in. I can’t even explain the emotion I was feeling when I saw that guy’s hands all over Hope. I wanted to kill him so badly I could taste his blood in my mouth. The feelings I had when I thought she was in danger confused me; the tingling I felt through my body when she was pressed against me, how my heart pounded when she stared into my eyes. What could it all possibly mean? Had this girl somehow gotten under my skin? Ah man!

              I walked her to her room in silence. I wondered what she was thinking but was too chicken to ask.

She stopped in front of her door and turned to face me but never looked up, instead fidgeted with her hands. Then she spoke. “You know, Wesley, for years I’ve rebelled against my father’s controlling and dominating nature. Don’t get me wrong, I love him very much, but he was never there for me, and when he was he was trying to control and manipulate me into conforming to his will. I swore to myself I would never be with anyone like that—ever. From the very first moment I met you, I thought you were just like him.” She gazed up into my eyes for a brief moment. “After tonight, I think I was wrong. I just wanted you to know that.”

Before I could respond, she turned and opened the door, stepped inside, and shut the door behind her. I walked all the way back to the Alpha Wing in a daze.

It was three days before I saw her again. She had been avoiding me, that much was clear. I had seen Nana a few times and had asked about her. She had said that Hope was beginning to enjoy working with her in Petals and was consuming herself with the work. Nana explained how she had given Hope an assignment to save a dying plant and she had taken the assignment very seriously. In truth, she was using this as an excuse to avoid seeing me. This kind of hurt, but what did I expect? I had been unreasonable with her; treating her rudely and worse. Classic Wesley.

              On the third day, I made a visit to Petals to confront this thing, whatever it was. I stepped up to her door, taking a nervous breath, and knocked. I was suddenly so nervous my upper lip began to moisten and my hands became clammy. What in the world was going on here? She opened the door and my jaw dropped. She was covered in dirt, dusted lightly from her nose to her toes, but she was breathtaking.

              She smiled slightly but then frowned. “Wesley, what are you doing here?”

              I shrugged and stepped inside despite not being invited. “Well, I figured if I was ever gonna see you again it was up to me.”

              She left the door open and turned to face me, stepping back slightly at the close proximity. “And why do you care if you ever see me again? I thought the only way you liked me was out of your way.”

              I laughed under my breath. “Yeah, I thought so too,” I murmured.

              “What?” she asked, stepping closer.

              “Oh, well, I just thought that we might clear up some things.” Why was I so nervous? My hands were shaking, and she didn’t seem to be affected by my presence at all.

              She shook her head. “You must mean about our embrace the other night at Happy’s. Don’t worry about that. I know that werewolves are protective of their families and that you were just acting as your nature predicted. It’s okay.”

              I shook my head. What was she saying? “Wait. What do you mean? You think I didn’t feel anything?” Okay, I knew I should probably shut my mouth but the words seemed to do their own