Arise

Val had made sure to send a car to my house. Their personal driver had taken me from my home to their pack. The drive was much shorter than I remember; then again, I did get into a major accident on the way. I had slept most of the way but did learn a lot about the driver. Her name was Lila. Lila was happily married to her mate of fifteen years and had three beautiful sons. She pulled out the photos in her glove compartment to show me and they were quite adorable. She had been assigned to drive Caleb around when she was twenty. Not only was she his driver, but also part of his security detail. I believed it when she said she kicked ass.

Within a few short hours, I was dropped off in front of what I remembered to be Logan’s home.

My new home.

I bid Lila goodbye and rolled the suitcases to the front door. The rest of my things would be arriving tomorrow. I figured that whether I wanted to get the job based solely on my skills was not up to me. It seemed obvious that one way or another I would be moving here permanently. No matter, the interview would go perfectly.

Before I could even ring the doorbell, the door opened, and I was enveloped into warm strong arms. I cut my gasp short and wound my arms tightly around his torso, slipping my arms underneath his jacket. I inhaled deeply, happily devouring his warmth. I sighed in relief, the smell of winter and mint between us. This was my new home. Him.

We pulled back and looked at each other for what seemed like forever.

His eyes would always be mesmerizing to me. Swirls of gray captured me, kept me within his hold. Gold burned brighter. They held mirth and sadness. I frowned but he closed his eyes and shook his head, and I understood. We had been jumping back and forth, but finally we were together. I smiled and leaned into him, hugging him tighter. My ear resting just over the feel of his steady heart. He kissed my hair. Home.

“Hi.” My voice was muffled within his embrace.

His whole body shook as he laughed. Carefree and content. “I missed you too, Doll.”

Pleasantries aside, we walked into his house. He didn’t complain when he carried both my suitcases with ease. As he set them down near the staircase, I scanned the inside. I had been here briefly but never really paid attention to it.

The kitchen was to the left and a rather large living room was to the right. I walked to the living room first. The living room had a large black set of leather couches in the center, recliner chair on one end and a chaise was on the other. A small coffee table separated the couches from the tv. There was a fireplace and above it was a shelf of photos.

Curious, I walked towards the shelf. There were a ton of small and large frames. They were all photos of him with Caleb and Val and other people I had yet to meet. My eyes flitted to the frame in the middle. It was a picture of me and him. I smiled. It was the one I took on his phone when I gave him my number. My lips parted when my eyes settled on the photo next to that one. My eyes scattered across the shelf to see if there were more, but there were none else. He only had one small picture of him and his parents. I was about to reach for it when I felt a presence behind me.

Logan rested his hands on my hips and pulled me back into him. “Are you hungry? I bought take-out.” The feel of his lips brushing against my ear made my toes curl, but his voice was clipped.

I ignored his attempt to pull me away, but I leaned into him and remained fixated on the photo. He pecked the back of my ear, lips then descending my neck. My eyes rolled back as my eyelids fluttered shut. He was distracting me. And he was really good at it.

I hissed when his lips met the spot between my neck and shoulder. My senses returned. I opened my eyes and looked at him. He smirked at me. Though I thoroughly enjoyed where it was going, it was a distraction. I had a feeling he would dread any moment of the mention of his parents. But I had to know. I wasn’t one to wait for an answer. I pretty much knew close to zero about Logan, especially his parents.

I whispered, “they’re beautiful.”

“They were.” His voice was thick and layered. My heart cracked.

“You look just like your dad but with your mom’s dimple.”

He looked down. “I have her eyes too.”

“Do you have more?”

He nodded, unable to find the words.

I inclined my head, trying to find his eyes again. “Will you show them to me?”

Lost in thought, he frowned. Logan let me go and walked into the kitchen. “Let me get you some food.”

“Okay.” I bit my lip nervously.

With one last look at the photo, I followed him. The kitchen wasn’t separated by a wall but rather a long dark granite table with ebony cabinets and drawers. Along the wall of the kitchen, the table extended and with cabinets on top as well. There was a sink and in front of it was a window that looked over the front porch. In the middle of the kitchen there was a matching granite island with four wooden stools. The kitchen was illuminated by a small chandelier.

I took a seat in the stool as Logan grabbed two plates and glasses and set them in front of me.

He held out a pair of chopsticks to me, but I shook my head and asked for a fork.

He opened a drawer in the island and handed me a fork. “You don’t know how to use chopsticks?”

I narrowed my eyes before stabbing a piece of kung pao chicken and eating it. “Not all of us are as cultured as you are, Logan.”

He grinned, and we continued eating in silence before he spoke. “There is a ceremony.” He sipped some water before saying, “It’s a big deal when mates find each other. When it’s a high-ranking wolf, there calls for a celebration. I’ll formally introduce you to the pack on the next full moon.”

Swishing the fork around rice, I nervously gulped. “Do they know about us?”

“They know what you mean to me.”

I hopped off the stool and grabbed our plates. I walked over to the sink and turned the faucet on. I shut my eyes before taking a mental pause and soaped up a sponge and scrubbed the plates. “What do I mean to you?”

At first, there wasn’t a response, but then I felt him behind me. I continued to wash the dishes, but in my peripheral vision I saw his hands rest on either side of me, surrounding me. His breath hot against my ear. “Everything.”

I stilled.

I almost dropped the plates when he slipped his fingers under my shirt. I turned the faucet off and dried my hands on the towel before turning to face him. It was hot. Really hot.

I changed the topic with no subtly at all. “I feel tired,” I stuttered. I blinked slowly and yawned for effect.

He smirked and reached to hold my hand, leading me upstairs. We went down a long hallway until we reach the third to last room. He opened the door and I walked in. Even with the lights on, the room appeared dark. I bit my lip. It was neat to say the least. Clothes strewn on the floor and an unmade bed. A desk with a load of paperwork spread out. The bathroom was next to the bed and the closet was across it. I crossed my arms over my chest and held in my laugh. “This is your room?”

He scratched his neck and chuckled. “I figured I should show you the real me. You know what they say: ‘If you can’t accept me at my worst then you don’t deserve me at my best.’”

I smirked. “Or you’re just lazy.”

“I got here ten minutes before you did. I was checking the border when Luna called.” He grabbed the clothes from the floor. “It’s usually not this messy, I promise.” He rose up and walked into the closet while saying, “I slept through my alarm, so I had to rush and then figured I would get to the border faster if I just shifted.”

He walked out of the closet and quietly said, “It’s yours too, unless you don’t want to then there’s a room across the hall.” He nearly mumbled the last part, heat creeping up his neck. A blush forming on my own cheeks.

I shook my head. “No, it’s okay. Thank you.”

“The entire house is yours. Browse anywhere, but not the room next to the living room. That’s my office.” He smiled before leaving, perhaps to get my suitcases.

I sat on the mattress and ran my hands across it. Blue satin sheets and a black comforter. I dropped my body on the bed and closed my eyes with a sigh. I didn’t really know what to expect seeing his room. Not a single poster on the wall but there was a huge tv mounted on the wall directly across the bed. The room was smaller than I imagined it would be but not necessarily tiny. It was the same size as my own room. I shook my head and cleared my thoughts. I shouldn’t be expecting things like that of him. Of anyone really.

With a huff, I rolled over to the side and tilted my head forward to get a better look when I saw something. Beside his bed, was a nightstand and on it, was a family photo. I sat up and crossed my legs as I reached for it. I gripped the frame and ran my thumb across the image. Unlike the one from downstairs, this one looked recent. Probably within in the last few years.

When I heard him come in I said, “you do have your mother’s eyes.”

He didn’t say anything as he came to stand in front of me. He pried the photo from my hands and placed it facedown back on the nightstand. I lifted my head up until I could see his eyes. His eyes were staring intently on my lips. I was biting my bottom lip nervously. He brought his hand to my cheek and pressed a kiss to my lips. How could someone be smooth and rough all at once.

We pulled apart. “You have to tell me what I’m supposed to do. I don’t know how any of this works.”

He reached down and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. He lowered himself until he was at my level and smiled softly. Gray eyes shining. “We’ll take it day by day. It’ll be like any other normal relationship, except instead of dating a human, you’re dating a werewolf.” His words brought a bubble of laughter out of me.

I rose up from the mattress and walked over to my suitcase. Unzipping it, I pulled out some clothes and a towel. I had been cramped in a car all morning, and it hit me that I needed to take a bath. With his sharp senses, I probably smelled awful.

He realized what I was planning on doing and turned on the light in the bathroom. I walked over to him and stopped abruptly before turning to him. “I want you to tell me.” I hoped he knew what I was referring to. “You don’t have to tell me now, but when you’re ready, tell me,” I gestured to the bathroom. “Even if I’m in the shower.”

His facial features relaxed and he appeared amused. “Is that an invitation?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m serious. Let me be your mate.”

His lips parted as surprise hit him. “That was the first time you said it.”

I shrugged nonchalantly. “It has a nice ring to it.” He laughed but kept his gaze on me. I spoke again. “Day by day, remember?”

He smiled as I repeated his words back to him and bit his lip. “Day by day, Doll.”

~

There were a couple hours left before my interview, and I figured that Logan had a plan set for us, but when I went downstairs he wasn’t there. In fact, he was nowhere to be found. I headed straight for the living room and grabbed the remote before turning the tv on and sitting on the couch. On the coffee table, there was a note.

Beta duties. Someone will take you to the interview and I’ll pick you up. Good luck, Doll.

Shaw had been the one to pick me up and CeCe decided to tag along, claiming that she wanted to see me again, but we all knew the real reason. The ride was short and quiet, but the tension was thick between them. Once we got there, I all but threw myself out of the car and walked up the steps into the building. Whatever was going on between them had either gotten better or worse. Much to my dismay, once I got out the vehicle, the shouting between them started. I shook my head and strode inside.

The interview had thankfully gone well. Though he explained to me that he didn’t hold an official high rank in his pack, Wyatt Johnson exuded authority. He was a man that did not take his job lightly. He even preferred that everyone call him by his last name, which he claimed was much more commanding than his first name. He was scary in the beginning and the interview started out rough. But then, his lovely wife came into the office to drop off his meal. Johnson’s eyes softened and held such genuine love that I knew was only for her to see. He wasn’t so scary anymore and the rest of the interview went very well.

Currently, I was sitting in the car as Logan drove us to the pack house for dinner. From Logan’s house, the mansion was within walking distance, but because we had come from the clerk office, driving would be quicker.

My official introduction would occur next week on the full moon, but today would be an informal dinner. I wrung my hands together and tapped my foot nervously. It wasn’t going to be like the first time I came here. No, the first time I was here, I was a guest in their pack. They all kept to themselves for the most part. The first time I was here, I didn’t know what werewolves were. Then, I found out and everyone stared. Stared and stared and stared. Like I would freak out at any moment and they were ready to brace for impact. This time it would be different, yet the same. I was now living here. I wasn’t a guest. I wasn’t a pack member either. I was the Beta’s mate. The staring would probably continue.

I saw the pack house get bigger as we approached it. My head felt heavy and the nervous tapping quickened. Who was I kidding? I wasn’t ready. I wanted to go back to his house. I shook my head and breathed out, “I’m not ready.”

He pulled into a corner, a couple hundred feet short of the pack house. We would have to walk the rest of the way. He grabbed my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “It won’t be bad. I promise.”

With no room to argue, we walked hand in hand. Before we stepped into the threshold I pulled him back. He looked at me quizzically.

I gulped. “Tell me something. Anything.”

No questioned asked, he nodded and proceeded by confessing, “One time, I was so drunk that I shifted into my wolf form and fell asleep in a cave.”

I couldn’t contain myself as I guffawed, clutching my stomach. When I finally calmed down, I squeezed his hand in thanks and looked forward. I can do this.

The pack house was exactly the way I remember. It was just as chaotic as it was when I first walked in here. I expected everyone to stare and wonder about me, but the minute I entered the house, everything was fine. No one stopped to look at me. Everyone was minding their own business, getting food and settling down.

It was only when Caleb and Valerie walked in, did it get quiet. So quiet, you could hear a pin drop.

Caleb spoke loudly. “Today, we welcome our Beta Female, Rosetta.” He looked over to me just as I felt hundreds of eyes on me. I squeezed Logan’s hand for assurance and he caressed it in response.

Everyone’s gaze returned to Caleb when he spoke again, “You may resume with your activities.” And just like that first time, chaos ensued once more. Val slipped past him, which earned her a growl, but she continued her way to me. We linked elbows and she pulled me away from Logan, who in return gave me an encouraging smile.

“You’re finally here! How was the interview?”

“It was great! He’s so sweet.”

She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Are we talking about the same Johnson?”

“His wife came in halfway.”

She laughed and shook her head. “That explains it now.”

Caleb was already seating at the head of the table and Logan sat to his left. Val took the seat right of Caleb. After realizing the hierarchy of the seating arrangement, I sat next to Logan. He automatically rested his arm on my thigh and I smiled at him.

Logan turned to me and whispered, “see. It’s not too bad.”

I shrugged. “I guess not.”

The dining hall was huge. The rectangle table we were sitting at was at the center and surrounding it were round tables all around. Val had told me that majority of the pack ate in here or in the backyard picnic tables. Pack members usually ate with their families in their own homes. Usually the dining hall was used for those who lived in the main pack house, but today they wanted to see me.

Plates among plates of food came around the table, and I made sure to get one of everything. Halfway through, CeCe took a seat next to me and Shaw took the seat next to Val. CeCe held a smug expression while Shaw looked very much pissed off. She filled up her plate with a lot of food and asked, “Are you all settled in?”

I swallowed. “Yes.”

She picked up her fork and gestured to me. “Good because tomorrow we are going on a tour.”

“Of the pack?”

She smiled wildly. “Of course!” She leaned in real close and said, “the best part of the tour, is watching the fighters train.” She giggled and looked off into the distance before bringing herself back to me. She sighed dreamily. “Rosetta, you would love it. The Alpha has recruited only the finest specimen there is.”

I couldn’t hold in my laugh. “Really?” The hand on my thigh went stiff. I glanced at Logan. His face was expressionless as he chatted lightly with Caleb. I slipped my fingers through his, squeezed it reassuringly, and returned to my conversation with CeCe.

CeCe picked up her half-eaten chicken leg and pointed it at Val. “Ask Luna. She loves watching them train.”

That brought Caleb’s attention to the conversation, but Val must not have noticed because she responded, “Oh, Rosetta, you have to see when they—I’ll tell you later.”

“Tell her what?” Caleb rested his chin on his clasped hands, glaring at CeCe.

CeCe cut in, saving Val from speaking. “Never mind that.” She nodded her head to the side. “Look at the table by the door.”

I turned my head. “The one that’s really loud.” Sure enough, there were a group of large men almost too big for their table eating and laughing boisterously at each other.

“Those are the best ones.” She turned her head to me and cupped her hands over her mouth as she whispered, “when they’re stretching…” she fanned her face, rolling her eyes back.

“Enough, CeCe.” It was Shaw. His jaw was clenched, and he gripped his fork so hard that his knuckles turned white.

“Don’t be so grouchy, Shaw. Anyways, I’ll tell you more about it tomorrow.”

I nervously laughed and continued with my meal. Dinner ran smoothly after that. Valerie introduced me to some of her friends and some of the Elders of the pack. Near the end of dinner, a group of little kids ran up to me. It was the same group of kids that I sang to the last time I was here. Before heading out, I promised to sing to them again one day, and from there, Logan and I were heading back to the house.

~

CeCe picked me up bright and early the next day. I woke up to the sound if her throwing rocks at my window. I rubbed my groggy eyes and looked over to the empty space next to me. Logan must have already left to fulfil his pack duties. At the sound of more rocks hitting the window, I rose up and opened the window and showed her my finger before heading to the bathroom.

I quickly changed into a hoodie and leggings before throwing on my combat boots and heading for the door. Spring had just officially start but it was still cold. The sun was bright, and the sky was clear, but the wind still blew.

“This tour will require us to walk. There is a lot of ground to cover, and a car can’t take us there.” CeCe was wearing a studded, black leather jacket and gray leggings. Her combat boots were almost identical to mine except for the studs on the sides. Today her hair was a darker shade of purple, but with new streaks of dark blue and black.

“Nice hair.” I tied my hair up into a messy bun.

She flipped her hair. “Thanks! The louder the better.”

The walk to the pack house was short. We briskly went inside to grab some essential foods and proceeded to our next stop.

CeCe’s mouth was full of a bagel when she said, “You have already seen the pack house, so I’m just going to show you some major places we usually go to. Since we are of higher rank, there are certain places we tend to go to more often.”

“Are you of higher rank because of Shaw?”

She nodded. “My parents own a market on the outskirts of the territory. They grow fruits and vegetables on their land and then sell it to the pack and the humans that live downtown. They live just about a half hour away.”

I took a swig from my water bottle. “How did you end up here?”

“That would require me to tell you about Shaw.”

“We do have a lot of time today.” I gave her a hopeful look and batted my eyes.

“Fine, but only because you forced it out of me.” She went ahead of me and started walking down a narrow path until we passed a creek. From the creek, there was a small gap between trees that led us out of the forest.

“It was about two years ago. I was helping my parents prepare the produce for this huge market sale. They were planning on going into the main pack house to sell it. People had been looking forward to the annual sale for weeks, so a lot of planning and prepping went into it. About an hour into it, Alpha came in to greet us with his Delta.

“I recognized him immediately and was so happy. Me, a farmer’s girl, was mated to the Delta. I waited for him to do something, but he just stared at me and left. I didn’t tell anyone, and I went back home. The heartbreak didn’t hit me until I got home. It was like a part of my soul stayed here and I wouldn’t be complete without coming back. So, I waited. I waited until the next market sale and returned with purpose.” She stopped when we arrived at the next site.

It was a small house with a big sign that said Moon Rise Medical Center.

“You came here after the car accident, remember.” I cringed as the memory filled my mind. Hopefully, I would never have to come back here.

She showed me her favorite bakery which was next to Johnson’s office.

Each time we made a stop, she would say bits and pieces of information. “I didn’t think he would show up the next year, but to my surprise he was there. This time around he came with his parents and younger brother. For some time, he pretended I didn’t exist, so I talked to his parents. His younger brother was an aimless flirt and kept coming at me with pickup lines.” She shook her head and laughed before finishing. “He went to touch my hair and Shaw blew up. Screamed ‘mine’ like a maniac, causing a big scene. Everyone, including Alpha heard. The next thing I knew, my things were being packed and I was to live with Shaw. Only I didn’t move in with him. I moved right into the pack house. My parents to this day still do not know.”

I frowned. “Do you know why he doesn’t want to admit you guys are mates?”

She shrugged. “Not a damn clue, but I can keep my wolf in check. All my life, all I had ever known was the farm, and now I’m at the forefront. If I put my focus on this pack, then I can ignore the heartbreak.”

“But it’s been a couple years.”

CeCe’s face dropped its carefree look and her shoulders hunched. She truly was heartbroken, and it was taking a toll. “It gets hard, but I’m here to not just be the Delta’s mate or farmer’s daughter. I have made a name for myself here. If it was up to Shaw, I would be back on that farm, but Alpha and Luna like to keep me around.” She sighed. “It does take a toll on you though. As a human, you feel heartbreak of course, but being a werewolf, everything is intensified by a tenfold. It’s like I’m sinking and he’s the only on that can pull me up, but he hesitates. Every damn time.”

A string of guilt ran threw me. I had done the same thing to Logan when I first met him. I had never realized how much more he had probably felt. But we had worked through it. Had gotten past all of it. CeCe was still stuck and fully intended on living this way.

She was a strong girl. She had lived independently from Shaw before and she was fine with it now. She could handle whatever would come at her. She didn’t need Shaw. And Shaw would see it. Mates can’t live without each other after all and I could attest to that.

After showing me a couple more places, we returned to the pack house and headed for the training area.

CeCe wasn’t kidding when she told me about the members training. Most of them trained shirtless. Training took place in a clearing in the middle of the forest. Some men ran laps, some fought, and some were stretching. We walked down the path, arriving at the clearing when all eyes went to us. Men waved and winked and CeCe basked in it all. I smiled at them, but my eyes were searching for only one person.

I found Logan monitoring a fight in the middle of the clearing. He was on the side, telling one guy what to do, while Caleb was on the other side, telling the other guy what to do. I approached them quickly, before CeCe could pull me back. Logan looked at me briefly and smiled before returning his focus back to the fight. He was working, and I couldn’t distract him.

Soon enough, the fight ended, and another pair arrived at the mat.

“CeCe was right,” I said walking right to Logan. He ever so slightly turned towards me. I continued. “These men really are fine specimen.” I winked.

He scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest. I giggled. He narrowed his eyes at me before looking at the mat and clearing his throat. “Clear the mat boys. It’s time I show you how real wolves fight. Travis, you’re up.”

A big guy with huge muscles approached the mat with a lazy grin. “Looks like Beta Miller wants to show off to his mate.”

Heat rose up my neck and tried to hide my smile. CeCe’s laughter sounded behind me.

“You’re absolutely right, so go easy on me.”

I laughed at Logan’s response. My laugh was cut short though, when Logan took off his shirt, muscles rippling. A faint hairline leading straight down to. . .I gulped. My cheeks reddening. I avoided his pointed gaze. He was teasing me. Unwilling to let him tease me, I watched Travis stretch. Logan cleared his throat causing me to look at him.

He tapped my nose twice. “Your eyes on me only.” My cheeks burned hotter and I nodded nervously. He laughed and stalked towards the mat. Bellows were heard all around as the fight began and Logan struck.