Chapter 6

An electric wave of excitement pulsed through her, finally getting to experience a moment she had always hoped for, ever since she realised her feelings for him whilst they grew up together.

Gently, he brushed his lips against hers.

Together, they both softly moaned in harmony as their lips met, and suddenly it felt like all the walls Suki was building to hide her bond were trembling, begging to fall and allow her true feelings to be set free.

She wanted him. She wanted him more than air, more than life itself, more than anything. She knew she wanted him, but that tug of another calling to her attacks her mind, making her walls lock back into place.

“I swear to the Moon Goddess, how do you werewolves have enhanced hearing yet still not hear when I’m calling?” Erin yelled, her voice less muffled as she got closer to Suki’s bedroom. She grabbed the handle of Suki’s bedroom door and swung it open.

In the split second it took her to open the door, and before Suki and Rey could intensify their kiss as they desperately craved, Rey used his wolf speed to launch himself back, away from Suki, before bolting into the bathroom.

Suki centred herself, resting her hand on her chest as she tried to gather her breath before facing her friend, “Erin, hey.”

“Hey,” she exclaimed, running into her arms and hugging her. “So how come you didn’t hear me screaming for you?”

“Oh, um,” her cheeks burned, “I was listening to music.”

Furrowing her brows, Erin questioned, “I didn’t hear any music.”

The heat in her cheeks grew tenfold. “Headphones,” she replied speedily.

Tilting her head, Erin became more perplexed, “You’re not wearing headphones.” She looked at Suki’s ears.

“I took them out. What are you doing here anyway?” she asked, desperate to change the topic.

Erin smiled, “I heard you were coming back today, and I wanted you to have a friendly face to return to– oh…” she groaned in disappointment as Rey walked out of the bathroom. He was looking a lot calmer and more presentable than Suki was feeling. “I thought I could smell a sweaty wolf.”

Rey scoffed, “And I definitely heard a whiny witch.”

“Careful, or I’ll test the new hex I’ve been working on on you,” she smirked.

“Go ahead.”

She stilled, not expecting him to challenge her, “Uh, it’s frowned upon for a witch in training to use her magic on werewolves, especially the witches in training to protect her werewolf friends.”

“Nice resighting from your notes there,” he snorted.

Suki laughed and rolled her eyes, “Enough, you two, play nice.” She sat on her bed. “Do you both want to watch a movie or something? I could order us some food.”

Rey stretched and sighed, “I should get going, need to freshen up before the summer festival tonight.”

“That’s today?” She gasped, then groaned, “That’s why my father wanted us back. I suppose since I didn’t end up bonding with–” she cleared her throat as she noticed the discomfort on Rey’s face. “I guess he’ll want me to volunteer to help out in a few of the stalls.”

Erin grinned, “You have got to see the maze the witches have been working on! We sped up the growth of the bushes to create it; it’s a masterpiece. Everyone is going to struggle to find their way out,” she prickled the tips of her fingers together, behaving mockingly evil.

“We?” Rey questioned, “So you were involved and nothing set on fire?”

“That was one time,” she whined.

“You almost burned Suki’s arm entirely!”

“Almost,” Suki squeaked quietly, not wanting to fire either of them up.

His brows furrowed, “You’re lucky she had her ability to heal at that point.”

Coming to her feet, she stood in front of him and placed a hand on his chest, “Relax, you’re getting worked up about it,” she smiled. “That was years ago, and Erin is getting much better at controlling her power, aren’t you?”

They both looked at her as she nodded proudly.

Rey sighed, “Sorry, I know I get a little–”

“Crazy?” Erin suggested.

“Protective,” he snarled.

Suki tugged on his top, pulling his attention back to her. He mirrored the soft smile she gave him, knowing that was all she had to do to calm him. “I’ll see you tonight?”

He nodded, moving a stray hair out of her face, “Meet at our usual spot after we’ve done all our duties?”

“Absolutely, it’s our tradition after all,” she tittered.

Rey takes a moment to admire Suki’s beauty – her glistening hazel eyes, the soft flush of pink that still lingers on her cheeks, before pausing at her lips, which were still plump from their brief moment of giving in to each other. A hunger for more lingers in his eyes. Suki didn’t have to second-guess it; she was feeling the same after all. Snapping himself back to reality, he cleared his throat, “If you get bored earlier, text me.” A soft, smug smile grew on his face. ‘Or call down the bond.’

‘Stop that.’ She furrowed her brows and giggled. “Of course,” she said aloud. ‘Behave. Don’t make Erin suspicious.’ She tried to fight the smile from growing on her face.

‘You love hearing my voice in your head, but for you, I’ll behave.’ He stepped back from her and smiled at both girls, “I’ll see you both tonight.”

“Bye.”

Erin waited a short while until she knew Reynard was definitely gone before she spoke, “Damn, are you sure you both aren’t mates?”

“What?” Suki could feel the heart floating to her cheeks again. “Why would you ask that?”

“Reynard is head over heels for you, and you are for him, too. Don’t even bother lying. You both may be life-long best friends, but I’ve grown up with you for long enough to know when you’re crushing on someone.”

She swallowed thickly, “W-We’re not mates.” The lie continued to taste bitter in her mouth.

Pulling a wry face, “That sucks to be honest, you should have a word with the Moon Goddess, get a refund for whoever is your mate, because as much as I love winding him up, I have to admit he is perfect for you.”

Suki said nothing. She had no idea what to say.

“Besides,” Erin fluffed a pillow before sitting on the bed and leaning against the cushioned headboard, “that kiss you guys had looked passionate as hell. You could’ve fooled me if you said you were mates.”

Blushing entirely, Suki coughed, “You saw?!”

“No,” she said calmly. “Well, not entirely. I thought I saw it, but I wasn’t a hundred per cent sure, until you confirmed it right now.”

Suki dropped her face into her palm, “Shit.”

“Don’t worry,” Erin chuckled, “your secret is safe with me. You’ve always been Miss Goody-Goody, playing by the rules and doing what your daddy says. I’m kind of proud you’re doing this.”

She raised a brow, “I’m not breaking any rules.”

“Then why hide it?”

“I…” Suki’s face felt like it was on fire. “Look, just please don’t tell anyone.”

Erin frowned. She didn’t fully understand Suki’s behaviour, and in most cases, she would usually pry, but she could tell by the desperation in Suki’s eyes that she shouldn’t ask for any specific details. “I won’t tell a soul, and as I said, I support it. You deserve to have fun fooling around with the sexy star warrior of the pack.”

“Warrior in training,” Suki corrected. She didn’t like the idea of him leaving for battles or getting himself into risky altercations just to protect the pack. The thought of it tied knots of nausea in her stomach.

“Whatever,” she shrugged. “Either way, almost every other female werewolf our age wants him.” She bobs her head, pulling an extra thought from her mind, “Well, him or the Rogue, but everyone’s too scared to admit that since he’s nothing but trouble, right? But he is damn hot for sure, I’ll happily admit to that.”

A lump formed in Suki’s throat. She was terrible at lying, but she felt like that was all she was doing since her birthday. No one could know. No one will know.

“You okay? You’re looking a little flushed.”

She nodded, “Yeah, I just didn’t expect you to catch Rey and me.”

“You guys weren’t subtle about it,” Erin tittered. “If I were a werewolf, I probably wouldn’t smell how hot and heavy you guys were getting it on.”

“ERIN!” Suki grimaced. “It wasn’t like that. We weren’t– We haven’t…” She sighed, “That was the first time we kissed, okay.”

Eyes widening, Erin’s jaw dropped, “What? Oh, wow, and I interrupted it before it got good, or are you skipping out on the other juicy details?”

Rolling her eyes, Suki laughed, “I’m changing the topic. Can we plan what we’re doing for the summer festival tonight?”

“Oh, hell yeah!”