Chapter 4

Sophie P.O.V

It was only a day before my 18^th birthday and Gary had not heard back from his old friend. I didn’t really believe that he would, but it had given me a little bit of hope. I hadn’t slept well, with my mind constantly thinking about the last couple of days. Adopted, Werewolf, Mystery.

I paced nervously up and down my room. I felt like a caged lion. I looked out my window and saw several kids from my school walking to nearby Riverswood High. I was meant to be getting ready to go to school. Not that I ever wanted to go. But I was relieved when Mary and Gary suggested I stay home at least until I’d completed my coming-of-age. Fed up with the waiting around I decided to go and get some breakfast.

As anticipated, Mary and Gary were already eating breakfast at the kitchen island bench. Gary was munching into his cereal while reading the paper and Mary was taking small bites from a slice of toast with jam while looking over a quilting magazine.

“Moring Poppit.” Gary called over the paper without taking her eyes off it as I popped two pieces of bread in the toaster.

“Morning.” I mumbled.

“Oh dear.” Mary closed her magazine and gave me that ‘I’m concerned about you’ look. “What’s wrong angel.”

I let out a sigh. “I feel frustrated. I want to get out of the house and go to a national park or somewhere where there’s woods and run…”

I wanted to tear off my clothes. I felt hot and restricted in my own body. I yearned to feel the warm sun on my face, the cool breeze blow through my hair and the damp earth beneath my feet. I started pacing again waiting for me toast to pop.

Mary nudged Gary before giving him a ‘tsk’ gesturing towards me with her head. She wasn’t very subtle. Gary looked up from his paper surprised at the elbow he received at his ribs.

“Oh.” He said clearing his throat and folding away his newspaper. “This is totally normal Sophie. You just need to relax.”

“I can’t relax!” I growled. “I’ve got all this energy and I feel like I’m going to explode.” I pace some more trying to collect my thoughts. I can see out of the corner of my eye Gary and Mary having a silent argument. “What would other wolves do during their coming of age?” I sigh trying my hardest to stay calm.

They both turn and look at me. Gary’s eyebrows arched. “That’s actually a good question.” He comments. “Each experience is different. Some like to be close to home and with family. Some make it into an event, throw a party and the whole family phases with them. Others like to do it solo whereby they take themselves off and go camping getting in touch with their animal instincts.”

“Camping!” I squealed stopping my pacing. “Yes, that’s exactly what I need.”

I grab my toast which had popped up some time while I was pacing. I slapped on a smothering of butter and took a big bite. I had a stupid grin plastered on my face and I could see Gary trying to suppress a laugh.

“No.” Mary shook her head. “Out of the question. You are NOT going camping by yourself.” I could see the anger in her eyes.

I took a smaller bite of toast this time and looked at her with puppy dog eyes. “Come on mum.” I beg.

“Has any of the information we told you over the last couple of days sunk in yet?” For a moment I didn’t know what she was talking about. “The fact that we swore to your dying Mother that we would protect you! Remember?” she cried.

“Oh” was all I could say. I needed Gary’s help, but he had flipped his newspaper over and was absorbed in a sports article. “Mum. Listen to me. I have to get out of here. It’s driving me crazy.” The heat began rising in me again and I wanted to pull my hair out.

“She’s right love.” Gary interjected. “Her first phasing might be too much for us to handle. We’re not wolves and I have seen first time phasers lash out before.” He shrugged his shoulders and returned to reading his paper.

Thanks Gary, a little more support might be nice. I thought. I could see a flicker of questioning in Mary’s eyes. Maybe he had helped.

“Please mum. I won’t go out of mobile range. I’ll take pepper spray, a trudgen, a taser, anything!”  

Mary was not happy, but I could tell we were wearing her down.

“If I agree to this…” she started, boss-lady hands on hips, “You have to call in one at night and again in the morning. You will take sensible food and wear sensible clothing. If I knew where to get all those other things you said you’d be taking them to.”

We all burst out laughing and I threw my arms around her neck.

“I promise to call as soon as I find a camp spot, before I have dinner and when I wake in the morning.” I grinned. She nestled her head on my chest and I could feel her melt into me.

“Go on then.” She said patting my back. “You and your Dad get the tent stuff sorted. I’ll organise your food. At least then I’ll know you won’t starve to death.” She let go of me and set to work grabbing bread and crackers.

Gary and I went outside to the garage where we stored all our camping gear. We had been camping a few times. Gary and I really enjoyed it, but Mary was never keen. Our last camping trip had been a Daddy Daughter camp out about three years ago.

“I’m sorry my friend didn’t get back to us.” Gary said as he pulled down a couple of sleeping bags from one of the shelves. He turned them over inspecting them. “I guess he no longer uses that email address.” He looked disappointed.

“It’s ok Dad,” I replied while brushing the dust off a tent bag. “I’m not as scared anymore, I’m actually excited. I’ve got this.” I smiled at him as he took the tent bag from my hand.

“I know Poppit,” He said returning my smile.

“Will you drive me to the state park Dad?” I asked.

“Thought you’d never ask.” He patted my shoulder before we picked up the bags and returned inside.

ERIC P.O.V

“Your Mum thinks we should do baby shower. What do you think?”

Tatiana’s voice was sickly sweet, her perfume even more so. In fact, everything about her was just too much. Today she wore a dress that was way too short and heels that looked like she was walking on stilts. Her hips swayed as she came to sit next me to on my leather couch. Until we slept together, I never really had much time for her. She was hot as fuck, there was no denying it, but it was just sex as it had been with all the other women I’d slept with. I guess we were just – unlucky.

“Eric!” she yelled. Damn it. She caught me not listening again.

“What Babe?” Scrambling to remember what she had been talking about.

“The Baby Shower?” She looked at me like I was stupid. I hated it. If she wasn’t carrying my child, I would have made her apologise for the way she spoke to me.

“Do what you want babe. You always do anyway. Why not do it this weekend while I’m away. Its not really something I need to be here for.” I moved off the sofa. I needed space between us. She suffocated me.

“I certainly hope when you come back, you’ll be nicer to me.” She pouted. I wanted to throw up but instead I rolled my eyes. Next thing I know she’s hanging off me, hands clamped around my neck.

“Babe…” I tried to say more but she was smothering me in kisses.

“Oh Eric. I want you so bad. I know you think it’s just the hormones, but I need you right now. Take me here on the couch.”

Her hands moved down my chest to my belt and she started trying to unbuckle it while assaulting my mouth with kisses.

“…Ummm…Knock knock.” Beta James called from my doorway. “Sorry to interrupt Alpha but Gavin is here.”

Tatiana huffed at my ear. She was annoyed I decided to take Gavin with me and not her. Not that I think she would truly enjoy roughing it for three days. But it made me laugh thinking about her teetering around a forest in one of her skimpy dresses looking for a bathroom.

I adjusted my belt and gave Tatiana a peck on the cheek.

“Sorry Babe, that’s my ride.” I snickered as I walked to my bed to grab my backpack. I made a b-line for the bedroom door without a backwards glance. I didn’t need to look back to know that Tatiana was pissed at me and staring me down.

I met James in the hall. “Good Luck.” I offered as I gestured back to my room. We began walking towards the stairs.

“I swear man, she nuts! Your way to nice to her. She flirts with every hot-blooded male in the Pack House. It makes me sick.”

It was no secret she was a flirt. Hell, when she flirted, she made you feel like you were the only man for miles, a true temptress.

We’d just passed the staff floor when James grabbed my arm and pulled me aside.

“Listen, I know your going away to sort shit out and you don’t need added stress while you’re gone, but I’m concerned about Luke. Something isn’t right with him.” James looked genuinely concerned.

James and Luke were close friends. James’ mate was in fact Luke’s sister. I understood that James concern was more than just pure friendship, it was family.

“Why do you think that?” I inquired.

I felt guilty. I hadn’t really been paying much attention to my Beta or Gamma lately thanks to the vixen sulking in my bedroom. While I had been reeling from Tatiana’s shock announcement, I had placed a great deal of pressure on James and Luke to pick up after me.

I had to do better.

“Luke’s been distant lately. He barely speaks to me and Gwen tells me he won’t open up like he used to. I think its to do with him finding his mate.”

Luke had mentioned something about finding his mate a few months before I got involved with Tatiana. After that I didn’t hear anything more about it.

“Keep an eye on him. If he’s still withdrawn when I get back, we’ll sit him down with a few beers and find out what’s happened.” I pat James on the shoulder as he nods.

Stepping outside the packhouse a strange sense of freedom came over me. I wasn’t truly free but at least for three days I could wrap my head around everything without coming under scrutiny.

“Hey Bud.” Gavin called out from beside his van. “Ready for some camping fun?”

“You have no idea.” I smiled. I nodded my head at James, and he withdrew back into the packhouse.

Gavin was like a brother to me and my best friend. He was two years younger but more mature. He had found his mate Lisa when he was 19 and she 18. They had settled in town running a successful bakery. I was truly happy for him, but I couldn’t help feeling a little jealous to.

“I thought we’d go to that State Park we used to go to outside the boundary. Fewer wolves the better.” I nodded in agreement.

I sat back as Gavin drove us out of my territory. The outskirts of the territory were in shambles. Fives years since the end of the war and it had not yet recovered. I felt ashamed of my lack of leadership, not only towards my pack but to my late father as well.  

I promised myself that when I returned in a few days I would be the pack leader Blue Moon needed. I had to get over myself and man up. Tatiana was carrying my pup; she would have to become Luna whether I find my mate or not. The right thing to do would be to reject my mate so she could find herself a second chance mate. I couldn’t be selfish towards my mate, wherever she may be.

***

After driving for just over two hours we arrived at the camping ground we used to visit as kids. It hadn’t changed much apart from being nearly deserted. It was the middle of Autumn, so it was to be expected.

I helped Gavin with the camping gear, and we set off to find a good spot. Blaze, my wolf, was itching to go for a run, and I promised him as soon as we were set up, we would go.

“Fancy a run?” Gavin asked after we finished assembling his tent.

“Did you read my wolf’s mind?”

Gavin laughed. “Man, you’re just that predictable. You forget I know you to well.”

I went into my tent and stripped off so that I didn’t destroy my clothes as I phased. Blaze was excited to be free. He pranced around playfully waiting for Gavin’s wolf, Nitro. Even our wolves were best friends.

When Nitro trotted out of the tent, I led the way, and we took off sprinting at top speed. The breeze blew through our fur and the ground felt good beneath our paws, it really had been too long since we had felt like this.

Blaze kept looking over our shoulder to make sure Nitro was keeping up. We found a small stream and stopped for a quick drink. The sun shone on the water making it sparkle as if it were made of jewels. It felt so peaceful here, no other wolves around just me, my best friend, and our wolves.

We trotted up stream a bit before Blaze wanted to hunt. Turning around to ask Gavin if he wanted to, I was surprised to find he had stopped. Before I could ask what was happening through our mind link Nitro scurried off into some bushes. I circled back and followed him.

Creeping up behind him we were met with the most amazing scent that reminded me of toffee apples and strawberries. It was pure and intoxicating. But there was another scent that made Blaze stop dead in his tracks. The sent of arousal.