It's Dark Within

The Calm Before The Storm

            Inside was beautifully decorated in white and black, this year’s theme seemed to be snow as flakes dangled from the ceiling and fake snow covered the ground. I looked around at everything, feeling a strange pit begin to swell in my stomach. I didn’t like the feeling, but there was nothing I could do about it. Jack lead me behind the others, and seemed to sense my discomfort.

                “What is it, rain?” He asked, with his arm around my waist.

                I shook my head. “I’m not sure. Just something seems off. I want to go home already.”

                He smiled at me, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “Everything will be okay. Do you want a drink?”

                “Yes, I want several.” I said glancing around the room at everyone.

                Jack let me go to move to the drink table, and my eyes instantly landed on Fredina. I figured she was going to be bothering Lexana and Troy, but no. She was heading straight for me.

                f**k me. I didn’t feel like dealing with her right now, but it was too late. I noticed then it wasn’t just Fredina, there was a man walking with her. A beautiful man with deep brown hair, a subtle beard growing, and dark almost black eyes. This was going to be bad, I thought right before Fredina stopped in front of me.

                “Good evening, Fredina. To what do I owe the pleasure to this time?” I asked, feeling the man that was with her look me over.

                He went around Fredina to grasp my hand in his. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

                With his touch, I could feel he was an Alpha like Callum and Jack, but there was something about this guy that wasn’t sitting right. And it wasn’t just his British accent. “Um, it’s nice to meet you too.”

                He smiled big as he took in my scent. “Do you know who I am?”

                “No, I don’t.” I said slightly confused. What did he want me to say?

                The man smiled at me, pulling me closer to him. “I’m going to be your mate, Christelle.”

                “What?”

                As I stared at the man in front of me confused, I was hoping Jack was coming soon. “Fredina, how much did you pay this guy to bother me?”

                She             smirked over at me. “Not a damn thing. He is who he says he is. Alpha Isaac Logan, he just arrived a few hours ago to find his mate. An Oracle said she was going to be here with a young male wolf, and she smells of rain. Sound familiar?”

                My whole face dropped. Those damn Oracle’s. So cryptic and yet, accurate to a T. “I don’t believe you. This all things you could have told him. I won’t believe anything you say, Fredina. You’re a liar and kind of a freak.”

                “What about believing me then?” Isaac asked, pulling me a little away of Fredina since he still had my hand.

                My eyes narrowed. “I don’t know you.”

                “Then get to know me.” He said quickly.

                “Rain? Is there something the matter here?”

                I felt at ease as soon as I heard his voice. Glancing around Isaac, I could see Jack with a confused and irritated look on his face.

                Isaac turned to see Jack standing there and raised an eyebrow. “You must be the wolf that think my mate is his.”

                “Oh god, I’m going to die from embarrassment.” I said as everyone in the banquet hall began to stare.

                Jack looked down to see Isaac still had my hand. “I must have heard you wrong.”

                “Nope, you heard me right. I came all the way from London to bring Christelle back with me. She’s to be my mate.” Isaac said with an Alpha confirmation in his voice that made me still.

                “I’m not going anywhere.” I whispered. It was hard for me to speak back against this Alpha. He must be a lot stronger than I thought.

                Jack seemed to sense my distress. “Ell doesn’t want to go anywhere with you, brit boy. Let her go, and we can all get back to enjoying tonight.”

                “I’ll let her go, for now, but don’t touch her in any intimate way. She doesn’t belong to you.” Isaac said, leaning down and kissing the back of my hand before letting me go. Each word dripped with Alpha authority.

                I rolled my eyes. “I’m right here you know.”

                Jack clicked his tongue in agitation. “Don’t use your Alpha voice with me. It doesn’t work.”

                Isaac smirked, clearly amused. “You’re an Alpha too? Figures Christelle would have two Alpha’s wanting to mate her.”

                My face was three shades of red. Everyone in the room could hear them, and I was about to melt to the floor and die. “Why is this my life?”

                “Come on, rain. Let’s go find Callum.” Jack said, pulling me gently away from Isaac.

                “Save some time for me later, Christelle. I want the opportunity to prove to you that you’re my mate, and not his.” Isaac called out with a smirk on his face.

                When we were far enough away, Jack looked over at me and frowned. “Do you think…?”

                “Oh, no Jack. This is a big misunderstanding.” I said as I planted a kiss to his cheek.

                He raised an eyebrow at me. “Why do you say that?”

                “Because. I’m not the only one who smells like rain.”

                Jack followed behind me as I tried to locate Juniper Thomas. He was confused, and I figured slightly worried too. He was supposed to seek out the girl that smelled like the rain and she was to be his mate, and then to hear I wasn’t the only one who had that scent must be freaking him out.

                “Are you going to tell me what we are doing?” He asked as I walked and tried to sniff her out.

                I smiled back at him. “I’m trying to find Juniper. Oh, are you worried I’m not your mate now, Jack?”

        He shook his head. “Nope, your mine and you know it. I am kind of confused though.”

        “Juniper has a scent similar to mine, but not identical. She smells like rain falling on fresh snow in the winter, while I have more of a forest like scent of rain in the summer. Similar, but different if your used to one scent. You’ve actually been around her several times and never even looked in her direction. Once at the bonfire, then again at breakfast, then we passed her twice in the hallway going to our room.” I said giggling a little.

        Jack frowned again. “Really? How could I have missed it?”

        I gave him a wink over my shoulder. “You weren’t looking for it, since you already found the scent.”           

        “Fair enough.” He said with a shrug.

        I found my target hugged up against the back wall, trying to blend in. Juniper was a very sweet, but quiet. Her shoulder length curly black hair was decorated with a white crystal jeweled headband, her long silk dress covered her chest with a halter style top and had no slits in it up the legs. Juniper was taller for a female, with stunning legs when she actually showed them. Her green eyes were decorated with only a hint of mascara, and as we got closer to her I could scent out the rain that was so similar to mine.

                Juniper looked up to see me and Jack heading right for her. Looking slightly panicked, her eyes darted to the floor. “Hello, Christelle. How are you this evening?”

                “I’m okay, but I have a little bit of an issue I need your help with.” I said as I stopped in front of her.

                Juniper’s eyes moved over Jack for a moment before she realized she was staring at him. “What is the problem?”

                I smiled sweetly, holding out my hand for her to take. “Did you still want to find your mate?”

        “Of course!” Juniper nearly shouted, then embarrassed looked back to the ground. “I mean, yes I do.”

        “You can be excited. Your allowed to be excited, Juniper. Don’t be afraid to show your emotions, now let’s go. I think I found your mate.” I said before she placed her hand in mine.

        “Hey! Alpha Isaac!” I called out, pulling his attention away from the two wolves he was talking too.

        He smiled big when he saw me. “My mate, it’s nice to see you away from that other Alpha, even though you sill smell like him.”

        I matched his smile. “Come with me, Alpha. I have something I want to show you.”

        “I’ll follow you anywhere.”

        I took him outside, turning him to face the forest while I put my plan into place. “I want you to wait here with your eyes closed. When I call for you, I want you to turn around and come find me, but you have to keep your eyes closed.”

        “Seriously, Christelle?” He whined.

        “Please? Just do this for me and I will do anything you want of me.” I said seductively, knowing that made Jack irritated.

        Isaac nodded. “Alright, Christelle. I’ll do this for you, there’s a bunch of things I have in mind.”

        I rolled my eyes, before moving into place. I gestured for Juniper to come stand next to me with about three feet between us. When we were both ready I looked to Isaac’s back.

        “Alpha, come find me.”

        Jack’s skin crawled every time he heard me call Isaac ‘Alpha’. It was usually reserved for a mate to use the term Alpha with no name behind it, and hearing it from my lips was making him agitated.

        All three of us watched as Alpha Isaac got close. I swallowed hard and desperately hoped that this was going to work out in my favor. This had to be the right thing to do. I hoped. Watching with slight fear in my chest as he looked like he was heading right for me, my heart felt like it dropped, then he stopped. Isaac took a moment before continuing again, but we veered off to the right. Directly towards Juniper.

        She held out her hands, touching his chest with love in her eyes. I smiled and took a few steps away, allowing Jack to return to my side. “Open them.”

        Isaac opened his eyes and was shocked. He wasn’t in front of me, but Juniper. “Who are you?”

        Juniper’s cheeks were a lovely shade of red as she looked to the ground again. “I’m you’re mate…”

        “Yes, you are. Your scent is perfect, I could eat you up right here.” Isaac said as his arms wrapped around Juniper’s waist, then as if he remembered he glanced over to me and Jack. “Hey, I’m really sorry about trying to move on your mate, Alpha Jack. I truly thought she belonged to me, but this is the scent I was looking for. Thank you, Christelle.”

        I smiled as I felt Jack lay a soft kiss to my neck. “It’s no problem. Enjoy the rest of your night.”

        “Would you like to go inside and dance with me?” Jack whispered into my ear.

        “I would love too.”