Nora Connolly

Five

Nora Connolly

            “Are you seriously scared?” Winter asked.

            Nora looked up at the massive sky-scraper apprehensively. The Stellarum was one of the oldest buildings in New York, and almost as tall as The Empire State Building. The windows were made of gold, and when the sunlight hit it just right, it shone brightly. You could see it from practically any point in the city “Terrified,” Nora answered.

            The golden tattoo with Roman’s name inked on her skin had yet to leave. From everything Nora knew about mate marks, which was what the tattoo was called, they never did. Roman would have one of his own, too, so she supposed that was something of a comfort. She hadn’t known what to expect by going to see him. So, all she’d brought with her was her purse.

            Robin reached out and squeezed her hand. “You’ll be fine.”

            “Right.” Nora peered up at the building again. “What do I do?”

            “Ring the bell?” Robin suggested.

            Nora bit her lip, and stared at the building as if it were a formidable foe. Finally, she made her way over to the intercom. There were several names on there besides Eliot. But the Eliot one was the only one in gold, naturally, and she pressed the button.

It made a crackling sound and she heard a voice ask, “Whose there?”

It didn’t sound like Roman, but then she had only spoken to him once and very briefly. “I’m Nora Connolly. I…I was summoned here, by Roman Eliot.”

She could hear whoever answered breathing hard on the other end. “Who’s your friend?” the voice asked.

She flinched. They could see them. Nora wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She glanced over at Winter, who stepped forward to speak into the intercom. “I’m Winter Jefferies!” she said. “I’m Nora’s best friend and her back up. So, you better let both of us in because she’s not coming in if I can’t.”

The speaker on the other end muttered something that sounded like “nuisance” and then the door to the building swung open. Winter glanced at her and gave a little, excited jump that made Nora smile. At least one of them was happy about it. Nora’s stomach hadn’t stopped feeling like she had giant moths fluttering around it anxiously from the moment they’d decided to go.

The minute she stepped inside that building, Nora’s whole life was going to change. The freedom she’d had was going to be gone. Even though her parents had died, Nora had made a fairly, nice life for herself. She had her photography and she had traveled some. It wasn’t a big life, but it was hers.

Werewolves were all about order and tradition. It was how they kept their power.  Nora didn’t know what her life would be when she became the mate of Roman Eliot. Everyone would know who she was and Nora had never been someone that looked for attention.

The door to The Stellarum swung open.

“Come on,” Winter said, giving her a nudge, “this is exciting. You’re going to meet your one, true love.”

Or my one, true nightmare, Nora couldn’t help but think.

With a sigh, she went inside, and Winter followed. She thought that perhaps Roman would be there to greet her. Instead, there was a tall, blond man standing there with his arms folded across his chest.

“Aion!” Winter blurted out.

The stranger looked sharply at her, and raised an eyebrow. “Do I know you?”

“Sorry,” she blushed fiercely, “just uh---know you. From the internet. Big fan.”

He eyed her up and down, and chuckled dryly. “It’s always a pleasure to meet ones fans.”  He grinned at her. “You must be Winter Jefferies.”

Winter blinked, shocked. “You know who I am?”

Aion nodded. “You’re the best friend of my future Luna. Of course, I know who you are. Roman has kept tabs on everyone in Nora’s life.”

Nora frowned. “He just met me yesterday.”

He laughed. “There’s a lot you don’t know, Nora Connolly. But don’t worry. You’ll find out everything soon enough.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Aion only grinned. “Just follow me.”

He walked over to a nearby elevator, pressed a button that went to the top floor, and they stood in silence the whole way up. Winter kept on eyeing him to the point that it made Nora want to disappear. She knew Winter was something of a Powerist fangirl, but she never imagined she would be this bad or embarrassing.

“Sorry, what’s your name again?” Nora asked him, trying to make conversation.

“Aion, of Pack Eliot.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Of pack Eliot? What does that mean?”

“Alphas are the only ones that have last names. The rest of us use of Pack Eliot.”

“What do you put on your drivers license?” she asked.

“Eliot,” he supplied, “it makes things simpler.”

She made a face. “But you’re not related to Roman?”

Aion shook his head. “No.”

“Then, how are you part of the pack?”

“It’s a bond.”

“Like the mating bond?” Nora asked.

“It’s similar in nature. But there’s more freedom with the mating bond than there is with the pack bond. With the pack bond, it’s harder to defy your Alpha.”

“So I can defy---” she started to say, but Aion promptly glared at her.

“I wouldn’t push your luck,” he said. The elevator doors swung open then. “Come on. He doesn’t like waiting. And you’ve already kept him waiting long enough, Miss Connolly.”

Nora glared. “It’s just Nora.”

He said nothing, only gestured for her to follow. She glanced at Winter, who was still looking around with excitement. Nora had no idea if anyone could out run a werewolf. But she didn’t like the odds. So, she followed. Even though she didn’t really want to.