I Want Her

My eyes widened, and I felt the surge of familiar heat to my legs and cheeks. It weakened my knees, and I held my breath as he stepped forward to me, his hand touching my shoulder, and he moved behind me.

 

There was a mirror on the right, and he moved me slowly to it, leaning his face so it was right beside mine. He made sure his skin teased mine, and I closed my eyes a little, my lips parting.

 

"Imagine it," he said, bringing up the dress to my body, then holding down the waist, his thumb lightly grazing my waist.

 

I swallowed. "I really can't..."

 

"Add this to my bill," he said. He wasn't talking to me anymore, but to the attendant who nodded immediately.

 

He moved his face into my neck, so when he spoke, the movement of his lips teased my neck. I swallowed, feeling my chest heaving, and I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.

 

His scent filled me as I hoped mine did him, and I made a mental note to find out if scent was a huge part of wolf attraction. I couldn't even remember the scent of any man.

 

"I didn't get your name yesterday," he said, moving.

 

I swallowed, then turned to meet his eyes. They were heavily laden with intensity, and I unconsciously held on to his hand so I wouldn't fall from the fluidness of my feet.

 

"My name..."

 

"Mhm," he murmured, then moved closer to my earlobe, his lips teasing the sensitive skin there. "What am I supposed to moan when you make me feel this way?"

 

It gladdened me to know that I hadn't been the only one to feel it. The magnetic attraction that drew me to him, that it wasn't one sided.

 

"C...Cora."

 

He smiled against my face. "Cora. Intoxicating."

 

I swallowed, then suddenly realized where we were, with the other girls looking at us, murmuring amongst themselves. I immediately pulled away, fighting the feeling of emptiness I felt.

 

"This is..."

 

He smiled wider. "Fancy seeing you here again. Before you returned the jacket."

 

I swallowed. "I was going to. I just...found out I knew only your name. I wasn't sure how to contact you."

 

He nodded, taking a step towards me. "You are wearing that dress to the coming of age tomorrow, am I right?"

 

I swallowed. "You bought it..."

 

"Then come to me in it." He wrapped his hand around my waist and brought me to him, his hands teasing my face as my body met his. "Right after the ceremony, I will wait for you at the garden."

 

I swallowed. Hell, there was nowhere else I would rather be. "The garden?"

 

"Where we met. Poetic, don't you think?"

 

I nodded as he slowly released me, his eyes holding mine in an entrapping gaze. "Come to me. I will skip the after party for you."

 

Against myself, I broke into a smile, then nodded, my heart thumping, my hair bouncing as I did. Without warning, he leaned forward and placed a small peck on the top of my neck, sending sinful reverberations down to my feet and without another word, walked away, the attendant quickly following.

 

The attendant came back with the dress and handed it to me in a large bag. There were a pair of shoes inside, and a small card.

 

"Love, Keanne."

 

I smiled again, feeling the butterflies bubble up in my stomach.

 

"So she is now chasing after men because she knows her mate will not accept her?"

 

I turned to the girl. She was on the other side of the aisle with another girl, and she was looking straight at me, her eyes thin with judgement.

 

"Did you see them? They are not even mates and...disgusting."

 

I swallowed and lowered my head, feeling the butterflies gradually die down.

 

"I know she is desperate. An omega like her is mostly always mateless or...rejected. Now she is looking for rich guys to run after."

 

"Shut up, will you?"

 

I turned and Ava was standing there, hands on her waist, her bobbed hair pulled back. The girls scoffed at her and turned away, without saying another word. But I knew they were right. Omegas that descended from a long line of omegas were generally hated, and even if they were lucky enough to have mates, they always ended up rejected.

 

Without a word, we left the mall. I caught a glimpse of Keanne as he stood by the door of his car, talking to someone on the phone. He was smiling, his smile as breathtaking as ever, and he turned suddenly, meeting my eyes.

 

He smiled even wider, then gave me a wink, before entering the car.

 

"That's what they mean," I murmured to myself, noticing just how flashy his car was. On the plate number was his name, and I swallowed.

 

The rest of the day passed almost in a blur, the dress still in the box. I couldn't bring myself to open it, wondering if I even deserved to. The coming of age was an introduction to society, but what if that society hated me?

 

KEANNE

 

Morning came, and the entire pack was busy with setting up the ceremony. It was held by full moon in the large pack square. All sorts of food, drink and entertainment was in place by the time the full moon came out, and the new wolves got ready to be introduced.

 

I adjusted the shirt I had settled on. It was a slightly loose turtle neck shirt with long sleeves. It was black and had heavy gold buttons to the side. I wore an equally dark trouser, knowing just how good the colour looked against my skin.

 

My hair fell in the brushed and laid back style, and I had grown it out longer.

 

"Ready?" Father asked as I emerged, his hands in his pockets. I only gave a slow nod, then quickly took a sip of wine from my father's glass. I knew it irritated him, but I probably enjoyed his irritated face.

 

The ceremony was elegant, and I sat back, my face set in a neutral frown, in my hand a glass. Father sat beside me, and the gamma on the far end. The other dignitaries of the pack filled the place, and the ceremony started.

 

The priestess lined up to anoint them as they introduced themselves, before the customary dance. I watched, my eyes almost sleepy. What I was looking forward to was what would come after, not now. I had seen her, ethereal in that red, and I prayed I was the only one who noticed just how much she stood out.

 

I could see how she would look in my bed, her skin tinted and flushed, her lips half parted, gasping my name. I couldn't wait for the ceremony.

 

I met her eyes as she danced and a small smile played on her lips. The rhythm was slow, and they took turns, matching with different males as they danced in succession.

 

Suddenly Father stood up, and the music started to die down. He gestured for it to continue, and I noticed he left his walking stick behind. Without a word, he took Cora's hand as she twirled right into him, then gave her a warm smile.

 

Her eyes widened on realizing who he was, but he only laughed, bringing one hand to her waist.

 

"Can I have this dance?" Father asked her, then without waiting for an answer, he started to move with her. Everyone left the dance floor as they occupied it.

 

"What is your name?" He asked as he gently pushed her again, then let her twirl back to him.

 

"Cora Crawford," she replied, her hand coming to his shoulder.

 

He smiled again as he took a step closer to her. The dance soon finished, and he brought her hand to his lips and left a small peck on it.

 

My glass shattered in my hand from the force I had been exerting on it, and my lips parted as the glass cut into my hand. I watched with burning rage as my father smiled at her again, then walked back to occupy the seat next to me.

 

Cora turned to me, her eyes wide with realization. The son of the man who had just kissed her hand. The man who she was supposed to meet later. My eyes fixed on hers, and in them were a different kind of intensity.

 

I blinked, pushing my hand away so the blood dripped on the floor. She saw it, and I had fully intended for her to.

 

"Why did you do that?" I asked, turning to father, who still had a satisfied smile on his face. My voice was steely, and the pain from my hand cut through my entire arm.

 

Father smiled, then pointed at her, and a possessiveness laced his tone unlike any I had heard ever in his voice.

 

"I want her."