Before I Rise

Em’s POV

I was wrapped in a cocoon of warmth and fluffiness. Light was blinding me announcing that it was morning and I should probably get out of bed. Well, that was so not going to happen. I had absolutely no motivation to leave this comfy bed that I have grown to fall madly in love with in the past two weeks that I’ve been here. Nope, nothing was going to get me out of bed. Not today.

“Hey hoe get up and get dressed! We got shit to do today.” Alicia said as she jumped on my bed.

“No thanks, I’ve decided I am going to stay in bed all day doing absolutely nothing. You can join if you want, but I don’t think I am going to be the best company today.”

“Ugh Em! Seriously? You have literally barely left your room in the past two days, except when Julie and I force you out of bed and drag you around the packland so you can at least get some fresh air.” She was right, but I was definitely not going to let her know that.

I had barely left my room since I got here. Well, since my talk with Marcus actually. After we talked I did leave my room pretty regularly at first. I met some pack members and got a tour of the pack house. They were really all lovely people and the bond between all the pack members was one of a family. But, I started to notice that if I walked into a room that Marcus was in, he would immediately get up and leave. If I entered a hallway that he was walking in, the guy would either turn right back around and head into the opposite direction he just came from, or just enter a room close to him and lock the door. One time I tried to block his exit and start a conversation with him. The dipshit literally wouldn’t even look at me much less acknowledged that I was speaking to him. That encounter was a few days ago and ever since then, I haven’t wanted to leave my room.

I don’t know why it bothered me so much. I had one conversation with the guy. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t forget the feeling I got when he was so close to me. And those sparks. Those goddamn sparks. Shocked the hell out of me at first, but now I want to feel those sparks again and again. The feeling I first had when I saw him, became even stronger after our hands touched. I just wanted to spend as much time as I could with him and touch him. I knew he felt them, which makes me even more mad. How could he just act like it was no big deal?

“Em, are you even listening to anything I am saying?” Alicia asked.

“No. Sorry, I was just thinking.”

“Ok seriously come on. Let’s get up and get dressed.” Alicia jumped off my bed and ran to my closet.

“You know I can dress myself right?” I asked her, as I got out of bed and headed towards my closet.

“Em, you have very questionable taste when it comes to clothes.” I rolled my eyes to what she said.

Alicia and Julie both gave me a pile of clothes back when I first got here. And so far the only things I have consistently worn are tank tops and sweatpants. I can’t help that I prefer comfy attire over cute ones. And in my defense, the only other articles they gave me were skirts and dresses. I have learned I hate wearing both those things. Definitely a more pants kind of girl.

“Not my fault you and Julie didn’t really give me a ton of options to choose from, not that I’m unthankful or anything, I just really prefer any kind of pants.” I said, as I grabbed the one pair of dark grey jeans that I have and a white tank top.

“Which is why I have this little thingy.” I looked at Alicia holding up a black rectangular thing with some writing on it.

“What the hell is that?” I asked her.

“Oh you know, nothing really spectacular, except it is! It’s Marcus’s credit card. I asked him for it, which at first he said no. But, I told him it was for you and he handed it over so fucking fast I was shook. He usually puts up a fight with me everytime I ask for it, even though I’m his favorite and only cousin, and then lectures me about not going over the limit. Which in my defense I’ve only done maybe two other times.”

“Umm… What’s a credit card?” Alicia gasped and looked at me as if I grew a third eye.

“You don’t know what a credit card is?”

“No… maybe that memory disappeared with the rest of them.” I said with a shrug as I walked into my bathroom to put my hair into a messy bun.

“It’s a thing we use to buy things.” She said as she followed me.

“I thought that’s what money was for.” Alicia smacked her forehead.

“Yeah it is money, but like it’s virtual. It’s hooked up to your bank account where your money is. Ugh, the important thing is that we get to go shopping and get to pick out new clothes for you at the mall in the city. Julie is joining us by the way. She’s already down stairs waiting for us.”

“Alicia! Why didn’t you tell me this? She’s been waiting forever. I would have gotten out of bed and dressed faster if I knew that.”I hurriedly ran out of the bathroom and grabbed my white converses.

“Jeez, calm down Em. She just mind-linked me that she was downstairs and ready to go. Also, wear your cardigan cause it’s slightly chilly outside.” She said, as she handed me my grey cardigan.

“Says the one wearing shorts and a T-shirt.”

“Jokes on you hunny, I don’t easily get cold since I am a werewolf.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me out of my room. This was going to be a very long day.

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After going to a small diner for breakfast, arguing on what playlist to use, and gossiping about pack affairs, we finally arrived at the mall. It was an hour long journey, but it was at least fun since Julie and Alicia were with me. Julie and Alicia quickly became my best friends when I arrived at the pack house. They have been best friends for years, which amazes me since they have such opposite personality types. Alicia has a fiery and sassy personality that matches her red hair. Julie was the more pessimistic and fiercely protective person out of the duo. She was just as beautiful as Alicia, with her stick straight midnight black hair and sun kissed skin. She was also more curvy and happened to be the owner of the bra Alicia gave me when the first one didn’t fit. Julie immediately welcomed me with open arms when we first crossed paths.

“Are you bitches ready to go and spend some money?” Alicia asked us.

“We’ve been ready, you’re the one that’s been sitting here for the last ten minutes starring at your reflection in the rearview mirror.” Julie said annoyed.

“Yeah I have to make sure I look smashingly gorgeous incase I meet my mate here.” Alicia still hasn’t found her mate yet. She acts like it’s not a big deal, but I could tell that it deeply affected her. Especially, since everyone around her has found their mates.

All of us stepped out of the car and into the gloomy outside. Alicia stepped in between Julie and I, and linked her arms with ours.

“I am so excited for this! We are going to have a blast girls! After shopping we are going straight home and will finish the day with junk food and movies! Maybe we can even paint our nails.” Julie looked over to me and mouthed Help me, in response to what Alicia said. I laughed at her, already feeling ten times better than I did when I first woke up this morning.

We entered the mall and my mouth dropped wide open. This place was huge and it even had stairs that moved! Why couldn’t the packhouse have that? It would make life so much easier if I didn’t have to climb those long ass stairs everyday.

“Guys are we still on packland?” I asked them, unsure if the “city” was part of the packland or not.

“No we’re not. Hence why we had to drive a full hour to get here. We are in a city called Spokane in a state called Washington. We only come to the city when we need things or just feel like getting out for a bit.” Julie explained to me.

“Guys, let’s stop in here and look around.” Alicia pulled Julie and I into a store called Torrid. I instantly cringed when I noticed what kind of store it was.

“Why in here?” I asked her.

“Because we need to get you some bras and lingerie if you have any chances of seducing the Alpha and this store makes those things for curvier women.” She said with a wink.

My cheeks immediately flared up, this can not be happening! She could not be serious! “And when did I agree to that plan?” I asked her.

“Listen sister, there are two ways into a man’s heart. Food and sex. So here’s what we are going to do. First, we are going to make Marcus’s favorite dish which is fresh blueberry pancakes and bacon. Then, we are going to get you dressed up in something sexy and very revealing. And in that outfit, we are going to send you up into Marcus’s office with the plate of food. My poor poor cousin won’t stand a chance.” Alicia let out a dark and twisted laugh.

“Alicia you can not be serious right now.” Julie said, with her mouth wide open.

“As serious as a fucking heart attack. He just needs a push, so we are pushing. And if that fails, then we go with plan B.” Alicia crossed her arms in complete satisfaction over the plan she concocted.

“Um, do I get a say in this or…?” This was just crazy. I don’t know the first thing about seducing an Alpha, especially one that has been openly avoiding me.

“Listen Em,” Alicia put her hands on my shoulders and looked directly in my eyes, making sure I was paying attention to her next words. “There’s nothing he can do when it comes to the mate bond. We just need to make the first move since he isn’t. Just trust Julie and I, and everything will be ok!”

“Yeah, except you’re forgetting Marcus could always reject her.” Julie said. I paled when hearing that. This was the first time I have heard of the possibility that there was a way to make the mate bond go away.

“Julie! Don’t say that!” Alicia glared at Julie.

"Shit sorry Em. It probably won’t happen any way. If he was going to do that, he would’ve already done it. There’s nothing to worry about.” Julie sent me a small smile to reassure me, but it did the complete opposite.

“Ok let’s just drop this and get to shopping. You’re killing the mood Jules. I mean honestly.” Alicia rolled her eyes and turned around to start looking through the racks of clothes. Julie walked up to me and patted my shoulder before heading to the other end of the store.

“Come on Em, you have nothing to worry about. Let’s start grabbing things for you to try on. Actually we need to find a worker so we can get an accurate size of your rack before we start trying bras on.” Alicia turned around and started walking away looking for someone that worked there.

I followed closely behind her, trying to convince myself I had nothing to worry about. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that I, in fact did have a reason to worry. For one, I still didn’t have a clear understanding of this whole mate bond thing. And that needed to change as soon as possible.