SWNOVELS Chapter 13. Townhouse
“What is this shit?”
"Classical rock,” Emrys and I both spoke at the same time before we both laughed, Ostana looked between us oddly, but shrugged her shoulders and leaned back in the black leather seats. Ostana wore pink sunglasses to shade the bright glare from the sun that reflected off of the snow and ice vs Emrys and I's black ray bans; Emrys brought my pair for me on my fifteenth birthday as a gift and they were they best at avoiding sun so he decided to get his own pair.
“Can we change it to something different? Something not so... Old?" As we exited our town in my mates mustang, I couldn't help but feel a tad nervous; Star City is where the King and Queen live, lycan celebrities and models, everyone had a dream there - it just mattered if you made it or not. Only going there once as a child, my father deemed it too dangerous to return even though nothing happened - except when I almost choked on a dino shaped chicken nugget... Not my best moment.
"Old?" Emrys questioned. “I hope you know, your mate listens to classical rock,”
“Not when I'm around.”
Star City was mesmerizing at night; the sun was still setting earlier and earlier, dark blues and grays painted the sky and since it was near six, I couldn't wait for dinner. Snow must've missed the city as not one speck of white laid upon the concrete jungle. Buildings that seemed to kiss the sky overlooked the congested traffic of below, most cars around us were taxis and Ostana couldn't help but squeal as she peered into the city outside her window; Emrys turned the radio down, his hand gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles grew white, and I wanted ever so desperately to reach over and calm whatever bothered him.
Laker's townhouse was made up of white stone and had only two parking spaces in front of his house, one already occupied by Lakers cherry red 1970 Chevy Chevelle which left one spot left for Emrys’ black Mustang; we hardly turned the engine off when Ostana jumped out and leapt to Lakers front door that was lit by a wall lantern like light. I laughed at her enthusiasm as I too exited the car, once it was fully parked, and was about to grab my small, lilac luggage when Emrys grabbed it for me.
“Thanks,” I smiled, goosebumps from the wind that was colder here in the city; noises of distance chatter, laughter, and a few sirens went in and out of my ears as I turned to look at the townhouse. It had to be at least four stories high, the bottom two windows lit up while the rest of the house was dark, but still welcoming.
“Welcome to Star City,” Laker practically yelled with a bright smile as he embraced Ostana with a kiss before his eyes landed on Emrys and I with a grin - he seemed to know... “Ah, my bestest friend and his-"
“Laker,” Emrys' voice was stern as he held his bag in one hand and mine in the other, I followed my mate as he walked up Laker's townhouse stairs and I couldn't help but notice the smirk Laker flashed towards me - he had to know.
I could already tell that Emrys was uneasy that there was another was another male around, relaxing only when I discreetly reminded him that Laker was both his friend and a mated male; werewolves were already possessive, but when it came to their partners and themselves, the possessiveness to mark and claim their mate as their own skyrocketed.
Entering the house, I was surprised at Laker's how clean it was and the subtle emerald green and gold, matched with pale browns; it looked quite nice. Laker and Ostana stepped outside to grab her bag and since Emrys had been here countless times before, he led me up the first flight of stairs and into a small bedroom; its decor made up of navy blue and white with a few small bursts of orange. “Trust me when I say you'll be glad to be on the second floor,” Emrys spoke as he lifted my bag onto the bed.
"Why?" I chuckled, walking over to the two closed casement windows. Across the way was a park, streetlamps glowed, and even though it was practically pitch black, the city was lit up and alive. *Emrys’ POV*
How do I describe someone who is angelic?
I watched Celeste take in the city as she looked out her bedroom window, those steel blue eyes of hers widening at every new sight, and her smile of pure wonder growing; she seemed to glow. “Because I bet Laker and Ostana will be pretty busy tonight,” I laughed and walked up behind my mate, her cheeks turning into a ruby blush. Celeste bit her lip as she turned to face me, her hands almost reaching out to touch mine but when she heard the door downstairs open and shut, she dropped her hand. I hated how she thought we had to be secret; hopefully that all changes this weekend.
"Hey!" Lakers voice called out. “Dinner’s here,” Odd enough he didn’t want to drag us out somewhere like usual, he was always such a social butterfly.
Dinner was Chinese take-out and Netflix, not that I have any room to complain since Celeste took it upon herself to not only wear my hoodie but also to lay her legs over mine as some horror flick played; Celeste distracted me so much, I didn’t even know the plot and we were already an hour in. She hated horror movies, always had, and when Ostana mentioned this one we were all surprised to hear my mate say yes.
Celeste should never be frightened though, I would always protect her from anything - even some prophecy that parents foretold about my mate; none of those things would come to haunt her. As long as I was alive, so is she.