Chapter 2 • Daydreams and Visions

Chapter 2

Daydreams and Visions

 Carlin

The day had begun before I left my bed, a saucy occurrence of nature. There was so much on my mind that I had laid upon my bed, not sleeping at all but without waiting for it, another day was here. Soon, our guests would be arriving and it was expected of me as the Alpha’s son to assist my father in welcoming our guests. However, inwardly and honestly, I was weary of a burden I had been carrying for about two years.

Luckily for me, the perpetrator of my burden did not come at night, giving me a bit of respite. However, immediately my eyes were open, I would hear her voice, sometimes a laugh or she would be replying to a conversation I did not start. Her voice would be bubbling with energy or low with mischief and I would see snatches of visions of her. I did not know her but she knew me and called me by a strange name that wasn’t mine. 

 I stood before my mirror, cracked in half yet still viable, and washed my face with the water in a bowl. Sweeping my wet mane behind me, I peeped at my reflection and there she was, lying on my bed, stretched in a sexy length that could drive any healthy man insane. Her long dark hair spilled onto her breasts as she supported her head on our hand

 “Leaving so soon, Lance? Stay a little longer. No one would know and I have sent my maid on a long errand, something to keep her busy for some time.” She grinned mischievously, light glittering in her eyes. I stood transfixed by her elegance, a majestic air swimming around her. I saw a version of me walk backward toward her although my feet were still planted on the floor. He looked exactly like me, with some distinct variance. He dressed differently too in a mere loincloth made of wolf hide. 

 “We might be caught soon if we don’t stop this, my lady. Your mate will not be pleased to discover that you are having an affair.” His back was to me in the mirror but I could hear the despair in his gruff voice and see the tension in his shoulders. In response, she clucked her tongue and sat up on the bed that was no longer mine.

 “That is why we are being careful and stop calling me ‘my lady.’ You know my name so you might as well use it. Say my name, Lance.” I or rather he went up the bed to meet her halfway, pushing her hair away from her face. He cupped her chin like she was the most delicate thing in the world and pressed a kiss onto her lips.

 “Amaya,” he whispered sensually, his lips against hers. “My sweet Amaya, all mine. . .”

 “Carlin!” a harsh voice yelled my name from the doorway of my room. I cursed silently at Greg, my Delta but looking back at the mirror, they were gone, scurried away in my mind to torment me. 

 “What is it, Greg? A door is meant for knocking, isn’t it?”

 He folded his arms across his chest and aimed a narrow gaze at me. “I knocked severally but you did not respond. Is something wrong? You were staring at your mirror like you were in a trance or something.”

Or something, I repeated to myself, aware of how aroused I was by the scene in the mirror. If Greg hadn’t interrupted me, perhaps I would have found some way to relieve myself, with my hand most likely.

 “I’m fine,” I snapped at him, turning from him to cross time the other side of my room. “Can you wait outside while I get dressed?”

 His narrow look still in place, he nodded once and went out the way he came. What a way to start a day; sexual frustration without relief. 

••

 “Did you ask Delilah to the Bonfire?” 

 Greg stopped in his tracks, thinking of his answer. When I thought he would not respond, he shrugged carefreely. “She will come whether I ask her or not.” 

 Delilah was our childhood friend and from the farthest, I could remember, Greg had been mooning over her, too shy to speak up. He was usually confident but where Delilah was concerned, he was as meek as a cat without claws. Anyone could see that he was in love with her, anyone but Delilah. 

 “You know, you can just tell her. You might be surprised.”

 He snorted noisily and kicked a forlorn piece of rock. “I don’t want to get my hopes up and have them crashing at my feet. I’m content with loving her from a distance.”

 I let him be though I did not agree with him. He was not content, merely afraid of rejection. We were headed nowhere, in particular, just taking a stroll to start the day. The weather was hot and I was contemplating heading toward the spring to cool off a bit. Greg thought out loud beside me, worrying about his lower lip, a habit since our pup days.

“Delilah wants to be Luna, not a Beta’s mate,” he suddenly blurted, unable to ruminate anymore. I glanced sideways at him, suffocating a sad sigh. 

 “I thought as much. I have always known Delilah to be a beautiful but ambitious she-wolf. However, I don't want her, honestly. She would be perfect for you but she is not my type.”

 “Whoever is your type?” he teased, finally getting some of his confidence back. “Goddess knows every she-wolf wants you yet you pick through them like a cold turkey dinner. Just pick one already and spare them the anticipation.” In a smaller voice, he asked for my honest opinion. “So, you really don’t want Delilah, right? You are not just saying this to make me feel better?”

 “I would never say anything to make you feel better, you ass,” I teased back, prodding him in the ribs. “You are my best friend, my Delta and I would never hide anything from you.”

 Immediately those words left my mouth, my heart was struck by a bolt of guilt. Greg was unaware of my daydreams and I was still not ready to tell him or anyone for that matter. I was afraid of what their reaction would be and as future Alpha, unusual speculations would arise concerning my capabilities. I would be in a council meeting and I would fall into a daydream. How disastrous that would be: my father would roll over in the Otherworld and I would not hear the end of it.

 “Your Highness!” a voice yelled my name, running towards me. I and Greg turned around to see a guard hastening up to catch up with us. We halted to give him time and he went down on one knee to pass his message.

 “Your Highness,” he repeated, huffing and puffing. “The Alpha asked me to fetch you at once. The guests have arrived.”