EpilogueFour Years Later Hope stood on the back deck of their home overlooking the river. She was 6 months away from her degree in Child Psychology. So many wonderful moments were spent in this very spot. She leaned along the railing and thought about the wedding they had right here. It was a year after she graduated high school. Noah had finished building this beautiful home and she had just finished her first year at Harvard. The whole pack had come. Along with Hope's Mom and Dad. It was a beautiful summer day. She had never been happier in her life. She married her Soul Mate. It was beyond her dreams. Another wedding had been performed here a year later. One of the pack who had been searching for his mate for years had finally found her. A human from California. Everyone was thrilled to add one more to their small group. She had accepted their life pretty quickly after learning about their kind. Zander and Zade were still searching. Hope had prayed man
HopeI watched the trees whip by as we drove along the highway toward our new home. I was full of anxious excitement. What would my life be like in this new place, I wondered? Mom and Dad sat in the front discussing everything from decorating the house to their new jobs. Even though I was leaving behind everything I knew, as well as a best friend, I was still optimistic asthat this was a positive step forward. You need change in order to grow. New experiences make a fuller life. I would keep telling myself that.The concern my mind kept wandering back to is school. Will I make any good friends? Will people like me? Will I have the kind of deep and meaningful relationships I left back home? I truly hoped so. Mom said that the world is full of friends that you just haven’t met yet. I believe her who
HopeMonday morning came before I knew it. We spent the last few days unpacking our entire life. There were still a couple boxes here and there. But Mom was highly organized and kept us focused on getting things as normal as possible. I was glad she forced me to hang up all my clothes. I could easily see what I wanted to wear. I nice warm sweater. Perfect for the first week in January. I let my long curly hair hang loose down my back. It was light brown with some natural highlights. Mom says I’m gorgeous. But that’s what Moms are supposed to say. I think I look alright. Guys say they love my hazel eyes. But I assume that is just a pickup line. I’m a little taller than most girls at five foot nine and still growing. Mom says I have model height. I just feel slightly embarrassed that I am taller than some of the guys in my class. And I have a hard time finding dresses that go to my knees and pants that don
HopeZade and his brother are in my next class too. Now that I don’t have a huge masculine distraction, I can pay attention to my surroundings. This teacher also introduces me but does not make me talk about myself. This class is pretty laid back. The teacher says she doesn’t have everything together yet for this semester and that we can use it as a study hall for today. Since we just came from break, everyone decides to just talk. I figure I will use this opportunity to meet Zade’s brother, since I really wasn’t paying attention last period. His name is Zander. The guys are super entertaining. They have me laughing the whole time. Different girls approach them throughout class to ask about their winter break. Or simply flirt shamelessly. They barely give them a moment of their time. Then they are back to asking me questions about my life. They seem gen
HopeI am ready for school before Mom even checks to see if I’m awake. I actually put a little effort into getting ready this morning. A little mascara and lip gloss. I even smoothed out all the curls in my hair, so they were shiny and bouncy. When I appear in the kitchen, Mom eyes me with a big smile on her face. “Are you trying to impress a certain set of twins this morning?” “No Mom, I did this for me. I just wanted to look nice.” I explain. “Okay, sure, you keep telling yourself that sweetie.” Then she gives me a wink and a pat on my cheek. If she only knew this was for my teacher. The twins are standing outside the school when we pull up. “Which is which?” Mom asks. “I honestly don’t know yet. I can tell when they talk to me. Zade is more animated and louder, but Zand
HopeI watch the clock, waiting to go to English. Today continues the same as yesterday. The twins walk me to class. I feel a great sense of relief come over me when I enter the room. His scent is soothing. I take a deep breath and feel refreshed by it. Somehow stronger. His big smile is what I have been waiting to see. I wish I could just sit and talk to him. But I go to my desk and try not to stare. We discuss the first two chapters of the book and receive our homework assignment. Too quickly, my time with him is over. I got no more than a couple of glances from him. It is kind of heartbreaking. When I enter his room again later for Creative Writing, his face lights up with a full-blown smile. Dimples and all. He approaches me and reaches out his hands toward me, as if coming in for a hug. I automatically move toward him as wel
Noah Kingston I know my brothers are bringing her to the house to meet Mom today. I couldn’t wait for this day to be over so I could see her again. The only time I was truly calm and at ease was when she was in my classroom. I wish she could just be in every class I teach. But the poor thing is very distracted by me. That is so cute. She has no idea what is going on. I don’t think she understands what’s happening or who she is. I can’t figure out why though. How does she not know? As soon as she walked into my classroom, I knew exactly who she was. My brothers figured it out pretty quickly after seeing my reaction. They are doing a good job watching over her for me. They understand how important she is. I am trying so hard to not make it obvious in front of the other students. I have to force
Hope As we sit, eating a feast of Italian food, the conversation is flowing freely. The twins are animatedly telling a story about some kids from school. Their Mom, Delilah is thoroughly entertained and intrigued. Mr. Kingston, Noah, is still busy observing me. It should make me uneasy, but it doesn’t. My usual shy nature is minimized in his presence. I couldn’t believe how bold I was to question his feelings for me. He gave me enough of an answer to make me hopeful. Though he didn’t say it outright, I believe he is interested in me for more than just my huge brain. The thought makes me ecstatic. But I need to calm down. I just met him. I only learned his name a couple hours ago. But for some reason, I feel like I have known him forever. After dessert, I tell the boys that I need to head