“I missed you, sleepyhead.” I teased him –with a voice that couldn’t help but quiver at all of the emotions swirling inside of me.
“Missed you too,” he chuckled.
“You are okay, right? They did you no harm?” He asked me, his voice laced with concern, hours later, just after I fed him – made him eat, would be more like it. He didn’t like the food, not that I could blame him.
I smiled ruefully then croaked my reply, “You arrived just in time.” As usual, I wanted to add. He was always there for me; had always been and hopefully will always be as well.
“Good. Otherwise, I’d have to pay those arrogant werewolves a visit again!” He exclaimed mid-grimly mid-jokingly.
That won’t be necessary.
“You killed most of them; and with an ultimate ounce of power, you made the others impotent –offensively speaking, of course.” I informed him in a surprisingly steady voice.
“Nobody messes with my cousin.” He told me in a lighter tone. And that’s when we smiled at each other, good memories flooding our minds.
Nobody should mess with a powerful witch, I inwardly grinned – and Karl was the most powerful among us, after all, even if he was barely twenty-one.
He had exhausted himself in the fight, so freaking much, he went into coma for nearly a month. His body most definitely needed the rest.
I stayed with him for almost the whole day and didn’t leave until he was about to sleep at around five p.m., but I did promise him I’d come back first thing in the morning.
Chapter 8
The Bombshell
I entered my room with a smile on my face. A smile that soon got wider when I caught sight of my best friend Celia sitting on my queen-sized bed. Her blonde locks bounced in the air as she shot up from her place and came to greet me. Her deep brown eyes were sparkling with happiness and she was grinning like a fool. I couldn’t help but wonder what was up.
We hugged for some time, enjoying each other’s embrace, then parted and sat on the bed.
“I’m so happy Karl woke up.” I heard her say in that melodic voice of hers.
“I know you are,” I replied, smirking, emphasizing the ‘know’ part. She had had a crush on Karl for three years or so.
She smiled then asked about him for several minutes before squealing excitedly all of a sudden, “I almost forgot! Did you know that the alpha-ultra settled down here, in this town?” I nodded, putting a small smile on my face, desperately trying not to grimace.
Celia had always been one to change subjects when you’re least expecting it. Just like that, as if on a whim, she could blurt out something completely irrelevant, something that had nothing to do with the discussion... You just need to keep up, I guess.
Now, was there nothing better to gossip about than my oh-so-lovely mate? Ugh! A mental groan punctuated the thought.
“Of course, you do. He is at your school after all,” she paused before adding excitedly, “and they say he has found his mate — a short-tempered beautiful brunette with light blue eyes.”
I couldn’t help but grit my teeth at that then pinched the bridge of my nose before letting out a sigh of pure frustration. News do travel fast, I thought bitterly.
She looked at me quizzically for a moment before her eyes widened in astonishment. She then all but shrieked, “No!”
I scowled at her then huffed and averted my face.
“You are the one everyone was talking about?” She looked rather amused as she asked that, “You're his mate?”
I was just about to answer her when I heard a deep voice ask in a really firm tone, "YOU are his mate?”
My heart leapt in my chest and my senses went into overdrive. I looked up to find none other than Jeremy leaning against the door frame. His features seemed slightly worried, “Don’t tell me you are!” He exclaimed.
“I won’t then.” I retorted in a low voice.
He swiftly closed his eyes, and then, while keeping them that way, inhaled deeply, “You didn’t reject him, did you?” His voice all but screamed he was afraid to know the answer, “The folks would be furious.” He observed in quite a bleak tone.
“I didn’t. And don’t be a snitch, Jer.” I might have kept my voice calm, even, almost bored but my eyes were glaring at him, openly threatening him.
“I won’t tell... but they’ll have to know sooner or later.” He smiled sheepishly at me while entering my room and closing the door behind him.
“Let’s keep it to later, then.” I muttered, putting emphasis on the later part.
“Oh, come on, Jas. It’s not that bad. He is – according to what they say – like candy for the eye,” Celia chirped encouragingly. I shot her a sideways glare and she instantly clapped her mouth shut; her eyes pretty apologetic though there was a faint trace of amusement in their depths.
There’s nothing funny about it, I wanted to tell her but refrained from doing so, fearing an outburst – of laughter.
“Look, I’m your older brother and I’m worried about you.” Jeremy started in a soft voice, “I know you’ve been through a difficult time this summer, but not all werewolves are the same, you know?” He knew better than to give me a lecture concerning the matter, but he was trying to make me see his point of view, nonetheless.
I shrugged nonchalantly then told them in a firm tone, “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Simultaneously, they sighed in surrender while averting their gazes whereas I kept mine hard, unwavering, looking straight ahead – at the wall.
As my mind started going back down the memory line, I kept inwardly screaming at it, Don’t go there, damn it. Don't go there!
“Jasmine, come downstairs.” I heard my mom yell at me and I could have thanked her for saving me from
