Spellbound Mate

As I turned off the interstate, I woke my aunt. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and said Oh! I’m getting excited! I haven’t been back here since I was a teenager! I just smiled at her. As she directed where to go, she said stop at that WalMart and let’s grab some things. We each grabbed a cart and she just started throwing things in.. bedding, linens, toiletries….she grabbed me some shorts and tops and some sleep sets. She got herself a few dresses and a pair of “OMG..these sandals are so cute” sandals.. then, we headed to get some food and drinks. Although, I am not sure why we needed eight bottles of wine at once.

. We pulled up and stopped in front of an adorable two story house that looked straight out of an enchanted forest. Vining honeysuckle covered the white picket fence and flower beds surrounded the five trees in the front yard. The huge front porch had a swinging egg chair in the corner by a huge window and opposite that was a two seater glider..the front door was painted a navy blue with white trim..while the entire house was painted a robin’s egg blue with white shutters. I fell in love with it immediately! I asked Aunt Dee if she grew up here..because I had suddenly been hit with envy. I would have loved living my life in this little town. She simply nodded. We unloaded the car and Aunt Dee turned on some music.. she walked out of the kitchen with a bottle of wine and two glasses. She said we have to dust everything and prepare our rooms, so we might as well enjoy it.

She danced around cleaning and airing out the bedrooms. Bruno Mars ‘Just the Way You Are’ came on the radio and she ran over to me grabbing my hands and singing at the top of her lungs while she spun me in a makeshift dance that had me laughing. These past four years, we have gotten so close. She’s more like an older sister than my aunt and she is my best friend. I thank Goddess every day for blessing me with her. She turned back to the kitchen when the song ended and I said “Aunt Dee? I love you. Thank you for always rescuing me” She reached out and hugged me and said my sweet baby girl..we rescued each other and we will keep doing it..every day! See why I love this woman?

I was upstairs in my room..unpacking everything and making my bed with the new sheets and comforter we bought. I laid all my art supplies out on a table that was set directly under a dormer window that would let in perfect light for painting. As I finished setting my easel in the corner I saw Aunt Dee out of the side of my eye leaning against the door frame. In a quiet voice, she said this was your mom’s room. She would sit for hours at that table and draw. She drew the most beautiful things you can imagine. I love that you have taken that after her. Well that…and that hair! She spun out the door laughing and shouted pizza rolls for dinner! Let’s eat!!

So, I followed her into the kitchen, not bothering to tell her pizza rolls are nothing more than a snack. I usually do the cooking because, let’s face it, she’s a disaster in the kitchen. And my mom and I took culinary classes as a mommy and me adventure. I learned more than my mom…but at least she stopped burning water.

We were eating and laughing when we heard a thump at the front of the house. I jumped up and jerked the door open and saw three teenage boys on the sidewalk. The tallest of the three said moving in? I said “yeah..did you throw something at the house?” He said Tommy did. This house was owned by a witch! And it’s haunted! I laughed and said “good to know. I’ll keep an eye out” and shut the door. I walked back in the kitchen still laughing and Aunt Dee asked what happened. So I told her about the boys and she rolled her eyes.

She said some prejudices will always exist..it’s how we handle it that matters. I told her not to worry..she and my mom taught me to be thick skinned. I cannot and will not tolerate a bully. I really am thick skinned enough to take most any insult. I am secure in my own skin and find it quite funny when “mean girls “ try to best me. I actually thrive on the confrontation. We sat in the living room just talking. I asked her about maybe getting my hair done tomorrow. And she said if there’s time. We have to be at the packhouse by 9.. then she wants to get me registered to start school Monday.

We have to go by the shoppe to see about getting it ready to reopen..and she wants to go by the DMV for new drivers licenses. I still think we can get my hair done.. I want it to be nice for school. But I guess we have the weekend..sooo it’s all good. I was getting tired and it was nearing midnight so I headed up to bed. I went to the bathroom and brushed my teeth and changed onto a silk cami and sleep shorts. As I reached up to close my window I heard a long, sad howl and for some reason, my heart pulled me to the sound. I thought that was such a broken sound..almost the cry of a wolf mourning its’ mate.

I climbed under the covers and was asleep in seconds. I opened my eyes to the morning sun streaming a beam across my floor. There’s always something so special about each new day. I hopped out of bed and straight to a warm shower. I got out and toweled off. I slipped on a pair of light blue brushed denim jeans and a bright green cami. Slipping on my boots and grabbing my camo jacket, I bounced downstairs and got coffee started, while I pulled out breakfast fixings. I was dancing around to Taylor Swift with my headphones in and Aunt Dee pinched my ass!

I jumped three feet and squealed, while she fell over laughing. There are some things I don’t handle well.. being snuck up on is one of them.. pinching my ass, is another. But, I said “food’s ready and we better get a move on! It’s already 8. Do you know where the packhouse is?” She said nope..but she has GPS and an address! We made it to the packhouse in fairly good time and still had 20 minutes before our appointment. A really cute guy about my age led us to a bench seat outside double doors..the door on the left had a bronze plaque that read “Alpha Roman Barronne”..we sat down to wait. And waited..and waited.. and finally 45 minutes later, the door opened and a tall guy..well over 6 feet with brown eyes and hair, said Ms. Gold? I said yes and he said Alpha will see you now. And I’m thinking he should take a course in time management but let’s just get this over with.

I stepped through the double doors and smelled the most delicious scent of petrichor and winter pine, my knees went weak! I looked up into silver eyes set in a beautiful face seemingly carved in stone. His hair was pulled into a sexy as hell topknot and he had to be at least 6’5. Magnificent male! And he is…. My mate! I uttered “Fuck my life” under my breath and Aunt Dee pinched my ass and I jumped and squealed! I said “will you stop that!!?” And she just shrugged and gave me a cheeky grin. The Alpha cleared his throat and said “well then, let’s get started… tell me why you have sought asylum” and Aunt Dee started to tell him..he barked “Not You! Her!” I sat up and narrowed my eyes at him. And, I said..with all due respect, Alpha…I am underage and Diedre is my legal guardian. The request for asylum was at her behest and is her story to tell” I was fuming! He sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers. He just glared at me for several moments..then said “Very well..you may begin” looking at my aunt