Emerald

Emerald (6 years later)

I step off the plane and suck in a breath.  A smile spreads across my face.  I am coming back here after two months of being over in Europe.  I had been backpacking across the country and mostly ended up staying in the Mediterranean area.  It is so beautiful there.  I had debated on just staying there, but something about this town in Southern California keeps drawing me back.  I remember the first time I came here.

__FLASHBACK__

I had just turned 13 two weeks earlier.  I was with mom and dad, and we were driving to visit a friend of theirs.  He is the alpha of one of the largest packs in the state.  I think I had met him before, but I was really little, like 3 or 4 years old at the time.  I remember a nice man and woman.

“How much longer?”  I ask.

“About ten more minutes.  We should be pulling up to the house any minute.”  Dad answers.

I look out the window as a huge house comes into view.  There are so many people walking around.  I see a wolf run by, and I smile.  I think they are so cute in their wolf forms.  They look like big puppy dogs.  Dad parks the car, and a very tall man walks up to us as we get out. 

“Welcome back.  It is good to see you again Cyreena and Tyrone.”  The man says.

He looks down at me.  I am partially hidden behind dad.  The guy is huge and is probably at least a foot and a half taller than my 5’4” height.  Mom and dad are pretty sure I am done growing, much to my displeasure.  

“Is this little Emerald?  I can’t believe how much you have grown.  The last time I saw you, you were barely up to my knee.”  The man says, smiling.

We follow him into the house and up the stairs to a large room.  There are several other people already there.  I recognize two of them.  This must be the alpha and luna.  There is lots of hugging happening, and I feel a little weird.  I feel someone touch my shoulder, and I spin around quickly.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.  I thought you might want to come outside with me and my friends and leave the adults to talk about whatever they want to talk about.”  She says.

“I would like that.  My name is Emerald.”  I tell her.

“My name is Leena.”  She says with a smile.

“Oh good, I am glad to see that you made a friend with my daughter.  Leena, please take Emerald outside.  I am sure the others would like to meet her.”  Alpha Jason says.

Mom and dad tell me to behave and not wander off.  I roll my eyes at them and tell them, ok.  The two of us walk outside, talking.  I think she was here last time as well.  Leena is so pretty with her long honey blonde hair and her golden-green eyes.  She tells me that she is 15 and takes me to a spot where three other girls and two boys are.  She introduces the boys to me.  The boy with hair the colour of sand and eyes that are the prettiest silver colour, his name is Tyler, and the boy with hair the colour of ink and hazel eyes, his name is Draven.  Lyra is Draven’s twin, and they have the same eye colour, but Lyra has beautiful long curly fire red hair.  They are the children of the gamma.  Tyler is the beta’s son.  One of the other girls is Payton, the head warrior's daughter.  She has chestnut brown hair that reaches her mid-back and pretty turquoise-coloured eyes.  Esme is the other girl, and she is Tyler’s cousin.  She has straight shoulder-length black hair and dark blue hazel-coloured eyes.  

“Hi, my name is Emerald,”  I tell them.

“That is the coolest name.  Is it because of your eyes?”  Draven asks.

“Yeah, mom and dad tell me that they are the color of emeralds,”  I say.

“Here comes trouble.”  Lyra snorts.

I turn around to see two of the cutest boys I have ever seen walking toward us.  They are obviously twins.  They both have the same wavy blonde hair that is a few shades lighter than Leena’s and the brightest and palest sapphire blue eyes I have ever seen.  I can’t help but stare at them. I see one of them smirk, and I can feel my cheeks heating up.  I look away quickly.

“Who is your friend sis?”  One of the boys asks.

“This is Emerald.  She is Cyreena and Tyrone,’s, daughter.”  Leena tells them.

“Emerald these are my twin brothers Devon and Nate.  They are the same age as you.”  She explains.

“Nice to meet you,”  I tell them.

They each take a hand and kiss the back of it, making me blush.  What the hell is going on?

__FLASHBACK END__

I sigh as I remember that moment.  I wonder how everyone is doing. I actually still talk to the girls.  I ran into Leena back when I was 16 and passed through town.  We exchanged numbers then, and since we have all kept in touch.  She has kept me updated on how the pack and everyone are doing.  I have to keep myself from asking how the twins are doing.  Leena sends me pictures all the time.  Damn, all the boys have definitely grown up.  I forget how much they change when they get their wolves when they turn 18.

“If only the twins could be my mates.”  I sigh.

I know that’ll never happen.  I know for a fact I have no mate or whatever each supernatural species calls their other half.  I am a hybrid, and a very rare one at that.  My mother was the daughter of the fae king, and their line was a pureblood line.  They are descendants of the goddess that created the fae.  My father was half warlock and half werecat.  Again his werecat and warlock lines were of pure blood as well.  His werecat line was also a direct descendant of the goddess that created them.  How do I know I don’t have a mate or whatever you ask?  A fae knows the other half of their soul when they touch them, regardless of age.  Werecats have mates like the werewolves.  They can begin to find their mates as young as 14.  Warlocks and witches are more like humans, but they do feel a pull toward someone.  With them, age also doesn’t matter.  I have felt nothing towards anyone.  While it sucks, I guess it is what is best.  I am of so many pure lines straight from the goddesses that made me immortal.  I have decided that I would rather be alone than finding that one and watch them grow old and die, only to be alone again.  It is best this way.  This is why I don’t understand what keeps drawing me back to this town. 

“Emerald.”  I hear someone yell.

I turn around, and there is Lyra and Esme.  I smile and walk over to them.  I had just walked into a cafe.  I needed some coffee.  We gave each other a hug.  I really do miss these girls.  They are really my only friends. 

“You’re back in town?”  She asks.

“Yeah, I am meeting both my grandfathers and my cousins Rich and Helm.  We are meeting one of their alpha friends to discuss something that apparently has to do with me and my late parents.”  I tell her.

“Which alpha?”  She asks.

“Not sure.  Rich and Helm are picking me up tomorrow and we are driving out there.”  I explain.

We sit there and talk for a while longer.  She asked where I was staying, and I told her that I had already booked a hotel, which was a lie.  I never stay in a hotel.  I prefer to camp in the forest.  It is where I feel the safest.  I can’t explain why.  I told her that I would call her tomorrow so all of us could meet up and have a girl day.  We walk out of the cafe into the warm sunshine and hug.  We head off in different directions.  I am just getting to the forest when the most amazing scent drifts to me.  It is the smell of eucalyptus and the ocean.  I look around and see no one.  I shake my head and make my way to the waterfall.  There is a cave hidden behind it and I have placed a spell on it.  I am the only one that knows it exists.  It is my sanctuary.  I have always felt connected to water and it makes me feel calm.