A week was up and nothing had changed.
Albert came back for me exactly a week from when I talked to him last. He told Scarlett to drive me back as soon as I got out of school.
I told Keith and he promised he would call when he had time. He was too human and innocent to be caught up in my mess.
I didn’t tell Brandon. For so many reasons but the main one, because he wouldn’t let me go. We made a deal that I’d be breaking and I’d bet my life he’d do something stupid to make me stay.
I arrived at the castle at exactly five o’clock. Harper greeted me first and I engulfed her into a hug. She was the only one I wanted to see right now. Leslie and Julia were by her side, looking content.
I was sent right to my room, like a child. But after a few minutes there, I escaped from my room, sick of staring at the four walls.
I found my zen in the woods.
My feet took me all over the woods as I tried several times to contact my wolf, but no luck. Maybe she really was gone.
Please respond. I’m sorry about rejecting him, he can be a jerk sometimes, but you can’t hold that against me!
No response.
Branches snapped to my left and I whipped my head around.
In an insanely fast blur, a slim figure twisted around and chucked a knife in my direction. I let out a small shriek and ducked. The knife landed in a tree behind me, an inch above my head.
I sighed in relief, grateful for my werewolf reflexes.
I turned back to the knife-thrower and held up my hands in surrender when I saw a woman aiming at my head again. She had the glint of murder in her blue eyes.
“Don’t!” I exclaimed, my voice cracking. She didn’t let go of the knife.
“Who are you?” She demanded.
“Who are you?” She didn’t reply and I wondered if I could trust her. She wasn’t a wolf from my pack or a wolf from any pack. I could tell she was human.
The woman was young and old at the same time. She had a serious, mature face but she was also youthful. Someone who’s seen the world of all of its evils. A hunter.
“My name’s Amy. I’m Albert’ sister.” I introduced calmly.
The woman lowered her knife. My name meant something to her.
“I thought you were an intruder. There have been many werewolves lurking in these woods.” She cleared her throat. “I’m Bella.”
“What is a hunter doing on our territory?” I asked, channeling my inner werewolf. I was the Alpha’s sister for God’s sake!
“Your Luna asked for me,” She said simply, “She wanted me for extra protection in case Brandon’s pack tried something.”
“Harper?”
“She’s also my friend, so of course I agreed to come. She wanted me to watch you.” Bella put her knife back in her sheath.
It’s like people just loved to hire others to watch me.
“Thanks but I don’t need-”
“She thought you might say that.” She walked over behind me and pulled her knife right out of the tree. “So she told me to just talk to you.”
“Talk?”
“Yeah, you know, to keep you out of trouble.” I laughed. I don’t get into trouble a lot. Well. . .
“Okay, okay, what should we talk about since I need to be watched?”
“Anything.”
Bella and I talked for hours. Surprisingly, she was good company. She listened and that’s all I could ever ask for. Albert was always busy and while Keith was a good listener, he didn’t understand me.
“How long have you been a hunter?” I asked, in the middle of stacking all of my stuffed animals into a huge pile on my bed. Bella sat on the edge of my bed, looking comfortable.
“My whole life.”
“You must be good, you almost chopped my head off. Who mentored you? Your parents?” I smiled. Bella looked away, looking suddenly sober.
“My parents don’t know.”
“Don’t know you’re here?”
“No, my parents don’t know I’m a hunter. I told them I was away on a college visit.” Bella explained quickly and I widened my eyes.
“How could they not know? I mean, they live with you and stuff.” I rambled and she shrugged.
“They don’t suspect anything, really,” She said and I whistled, impressed. I was a terrible liar so my parents would see right through me easily.
“By the way, where are your parents? Albert never talks about them.” Bella cocked her head and a lump caught in my throat.
I swallowed, “My parents are dead.”
“I’m sorry,” I nodded but avoided her sad gaze. I know some people try to be nice and apologize but it isn’t their fault. I hate when people pity me.
“It was a long time ago. Besides, my brother had it worse than I did.” He had to take over the pack at a relatively young age. “Excuse me,”
I dropped the stuffed bunny I was holding and made my way to the door. Bella narrowed her eyes at me, deeply confused.
“Amy?”
“I’ll be back soon. I just have to do something.”
*****
I sat down, staring at the only thing that kept me here.
Here lies beloved parents Marvin Pureblood and Avery Pureblood.
The grass was fading from lush green to a muted yellow. Thick dark emerald vines climbed up the stone and disappeared as it reached the top. The gravestone listed their birth dates, death dates and a crescent moon in the center above their names. I reached out and ran my fingers over the smooth surface of the words, like I was still connected to them somehow.
“Deal’s off.”
I froze, and my hand dropped back to my side. It was undoubtedly Alpha Brandon who spoke but I wasn’t ready to face him yet. I could tell from the mate bond that he was angry, even though our bond was so weak.
“Why?”
“I told you. I don’t plan to join you.”
“You’re saying the same old things.”
“You, too. Give it up already. Nobody wants you. Go back, then I can go off on my own again.” Brandon told me and I finally stood and met his eyes. He looked at me like I was an unwanted stranger. He was the most bipolar person I’d ever met. One minute, he wants me for his wolf but the next, he tells me to go.
I then realized my true feelings. I would always come back to him.
“Do you. . . really not want me here?” My voice was competing with the wind. It danced through the trees and made the leaves fall around us.
“Is there another reason you’re here?” He just stared at me, with his mouth in a straight line.
“I. . .” I only wanted to stay with you.
“Anyway-”
“It doesn’t matter what I say. You’ll only-” Leave me and never accept that we were soulmates from the start. He never fought for me. I felt tears prick my eyes and I blinked them away before he could see.
“Do what you want! I don’t care anymore!” I shouted and shoved passed him.
No matter where I went, I was always sent away.
Brandon didn’t let up as he caught my wrist and tried to hold me still.
“Let go!” I commanded. He only gripped my wrist tighter and I tried to land a blow on his pretty face.
“I hate you, I hate you, I hate-”
My eyes widened to their full extent as Brandon pressed his lips to mine. My mouth parted in pure shock as Brandon deepened the kiss, hugging me closer to him.
I didn’t even register what was happening until four seconds had already gone by.
I’ve kissed many boys before. Henry, in fifth grade behind the swings during recess. Owen, in the woods near the waterfall of eighth grade. Philip, the summer of ninth grade behind the gym bleachers.
But this kiss, this one, made me forget all the others. It was like this one was my first.
I closed my eyes quickly, trying to savor the taste of his lips on mine.
Brandon was undeniably sweet, his lips tasted like warm cinnamon and was gentle and soft, so unlike him.
He was a scorching inferno inside my mouth and I moaned in pleasure. He snaked one of his arms around my waist and the other cupping my face, trying to bring me even closer.
Never let me go.