16. Proposition

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When we got to Randall’s house, people were already there. Cars were parked all over the lawn and I could smell smoke from the grill wafting from the backyard. Hamburgers and hot dogs. Tonight, we would party, feast, do my initiation, and then run under the full moon.

As we walked into the already crowded home, people greeted Randall, and he introduced me to them. He shook no one’s hand, and all of them bowed their heads to him in an odd gesture, as if he were royalty. As they turned to me, many of them looked almost scared. No one would shake my hand; they only bowed before me as they did for Randall.

I looked to Randall as we cleared the crowd. He must have understood my confusion because he said, “We’re Alpha, Selene, and they know that. Word travels fast in a pack. They know what we are capable of, and we are treated with respect and caution.”

Great, I was already a freak among freaks, even before they knew me.

Quinn was outside, chatting with some pack members, as another man was grilling meat for the crowd. When Randall greeted his father, the men bowed to us. They were treating Quinn in the same way the others had treated us inside: wary, slightly scared, but respectful.

Quinn introduced the werewolves to me as his bodyguards and his seconds in command. They were around on especially crowded nights and Pack events to make sure no situations got out of control. One of them even had a visible gun holstered to his side. I wondered if it was loaded with silver bullets.

After paying our respects, Randall and I went for a walk. It was scorching outside, so we didn’t stay out long, but I didn’t want to go back into that crowded home.

“Is it like this every full moon?” I asked as we walked, holding hands in a friendly way. It felt good to hold onto his hand, especially tonight, when the moon would be full and emotions were running high. His touch seemed to awaken the monster inside me, but to also soothe it.

“Yes, and as the pack grows, the more crowded it gets. Soon, we’ll have to expand our house just to accommodate everyone.”

“So those men that your dad was talking to, if they’re your dad’s seconds in command, then what does that make you? Are they Alpha too?”

“I’m the one that inherits the Pack, and only an Alpha can do that. Even though those men have proven themselves worthy, they’re still not Alpha. If something were to happen to my mother and father, as well as me and you, then they would lead the Pack until a suitable Alpha was found to take over.

“Oh, I guess you have a lot of responsibility then.” I was sweating by now, and needed to go in for a drink, but I wasn’t looking forward to the crowd of bowing people and their scared faces.

“I will someday, right now I’m still.” He paused to think, “A prince, I suppose. And that makes you,” He tapped my nose, “My princess.”

He began to walk away, “What’s that supposed to mean?” I called after him. He didn’t turn around. He just kept walking towards the house.

“What does he want from me?” I whispered to myself under my breath.

*****

I met many pack members as the afternoon faded to early evening. After we ate, Randall took me to a large clearing not too far into the woods. The area smelled of wolves, humans, blood, and excitement. This was where everyone would gather shortly to begin the real festivities, but for the time being, we were alone.

“I heard you,” Randall lounged lazily on a pile of large, smooth, and worn-down stones that formed a sort of stage or platform.

“Heard me what?” I asked cautiously.

“You want to know what I want from you, right?” He sat up straight, his legs hanging over the edge, his feet bumping the rocks playfully.

“I suppose it would be nice, yeah.”

“Well we haven’t really known each other very long at all, but I feel like I can trust in you and I can believe in you. I feel like I can be happy with you, and that means a lot to me. I don’t know what side of me, human or animal, that I get these feelings from, but I have them. I don’t normally feel this way towards people, but for some reason, you’re special. You are Alpha, as am I, and we already share that strong connection. That connection is stronger than most people after they’ve known each other for years. I know you can feel it too, it draws us closer. I don’t want you to make any big commitments right now, but I would like it if you would be my girlfriend.”

I knew it was coming. I also knew that he wanted more than just to be my boyfriend and for me to be his girlfriend. “And if I ultimately refuse the ‘big commitment?’”

A pained look crossed his face as he realized I knew what he really wanted. He couldn’t just skirt around the real truth. “A pack cannot have many Alphas. You would ultimately be forced to find a new Alpha male, in a new pack, as I would have to find a new female to take as my wife. Neither would be easy, and you would have to leave the area right after you finished school.”

I nodded in understanding. It was hard enough just finding a pack. “Well, I do want to be your girlfriend, but for now, nothing serious, okay?”

He grinned and jumped down from the rocks. He kissed me once he got to the bottom. “Mom and dad will be so happy!” He said, excitement in his voice.

I wished I could say the same about my parents. What would they say if I told them I was quite possibly the future co-leader of a werewolf pack?

After all this time secretly wishing the werewolf who’d bitten me would just have finished me off, after all of this time feeling guilty for being out where I could be attacked, not being cautious, making my parents suffer, I was finally beginning to feel happy to be alive, happy to be in my position. I would have never met Randall as a mere human, and he definitely wouldn’t have asked me to be his girlfriend. I felt the strong connection he was talking about. My entire being longed for him, I just had to make sure that it was the right choice, and only time would tell.

Next Chapter
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A/N: This was originally two chapters, but I combined them into one. Next Monday's the big day. I will tell you that Monday marks a turning point for the story.

A big turning point.

I'm excited!