To Tame her Heart

Preparing for options

My second date with Drake went awesome. We went to a paintball course. Drake knew I was a sucker for a challenge. We both got our guns, I was red and he was blue. We set out in opposite directions on the course. I hid behind a stack of hay bales slowly inching out to see him. I had him in my sights and fired three rapid fire shots. I got him on two outta three of the shots. We kept hitting each other with balls until I heard him yell " I'm out of balls, I give you win." We both had a good laugh. We turned in our equipment and cleaned up. Then we headed to the local diner for dinner.  We talked and ate. It was actually nice. It really didn't feel that much different than normal.  Was it supposed to, I wondered. Drake took me home and I started to pack for the weekend . I had arranged for a pickup from a staff member from the ranch.  I avoided telling my friends about my weekend plans. There really wasn't anything to say yet. I was still figuring out my options and I had no idea what I wanted yet. All I knew was I wanted to give both Drake and Xander a chance. Afterall,  a girl had a right to options. I finished packing and went to bed. Two more days of school and I needed to prepare for this weekend. I didn't know what types of things I was going to talk to Xander about. But I was actually excited, so i guess that's a good thing. Finally I fell asleep.

Xander pov

Jake and I were having breakfast when Nicole got a call. She answered the phone and I could hear some of the conversation. The whole time she was eying me teasingly. " Guess who just took your bait and booked for this weekend?" Said Nicole.  I tried not to show how excited I was when I replied. " I don't know what you're talking about."  I said with a smile. 

" Oh really?! That's interesting because she used your employee discount to book it." Said Nicole trying not to laugh at me. 

Jake and I excused ourselves and headed to the barn. We each started working our way outward to tend to the animals. When we were in talking distance Jake decided to ask what was in his mind. " Hey man ,  I am surprised you invited her back. I' m the only person I've seen you take a shine to in a long time. Is there something you wanna tell me ?" 

" I don't know that there's much to tell man. I just fell drawn to her. I invited her back to the ranch to see what happens." I told him, being mostly honest. We worked in relative silence the rest  of the morning. I kept thinking about how excited I was for this weekend. I was sure she was my mate. but I had to confirm it and see if there was a connection there before anything else happened. The rest of the day passed and my mind really wouldn't get off her. I went to check on Midnight Star. He had grown so much in the couple weeks since he had been born. I smiled thinking about Zoe helping with his birth. 

I went home to my cabin at the end of the day and made myself dinner. I was trying to go over my plans for the weekend. After all, it was like three long dates in one. I had a lot of time to mess up or make an impression. Either way I just wanted to be ready. I took a ahower and finally started to relax. I day dreamed while I was getting dressed. Mostly flashbacks. 

10 years ago. 

I had just woken up for school. 9 year old me loved to go to school almost as much as I loved ro go to work with my dad. I loved the ranch with Jake and his family. It had always felt like home. I kept telling my dad I wanted to live on a ranch one day. I came from a family that was from a pack of werewolves. We had long ago separated from The pack and lived a simple life. Dad and mom both worked on the ranch with Jake's parents. It was just us and my grandma. I loved my little family. I hadn't had my first shift yet as we usually did not shift until we were 18. Mom told me that our family was one of the rare ones that would shift early. So there were several talks with me about what it would feel like, things that would change, and who it was ok to trust. Jake didn't know yet. Dad said it was left for me to decide if Jake should know. Jake had been my best friend for as long as i could remember and both his parents knew. 

The day of my first shift started out normal. I got up and didn't want to go to school. Mom said I wasn't running hot . Which is surprisingly normal for werewolves to do. She was going to make me go to school, but I really didn't want to go. I stood in our kitchen and I felt myself getting really angry. I wanted to stay home. I wanted to go with my parents to the ranch. I felt something strange rise up in me. Like an energy force I couldn't quite describe. And then it happened. I felt all the bones in one shift and I felt claws sprout of my hand. Oh my god . it was a paw. I had shifted for the first time. I was solid black with green eyes. 

My mom began to cry and called for my dad. My dad and grandma came running into the kitchen and grandma said to my mom. " I told you he would shift early. Just like his dad!" She came over and hugged my fur. Dad was beaming with pride and told me that eventually I could shift at will. But for now he would talk me through shifting back. Everyone was super proud. I even got to stay home. Dad called out of work and took me running. We had a great time. That was such a long time ago. 

Flash back to now

I wish they were here with me now. I Needed them . They had explained mates to me and I knew the basics. I needed them to tell me I was right or wrong. I finished getting ready and climbed into bed. I couldn't wait for this weekend to come and the prospects it could bring me.

Third person pov

The  week continued and Zoe and Xander both prepared in their own way. Finally friday arrived. Zoe finished school and raced home to await her ride from the ranch. At about 4 pm there was a knock at the door and Zoe was surprised to see that her ride was Nicole herself. Nicole didn't really give Zoe a chance to say anything and pulled her into a hug. Zoe placed her things in the trunk of Nicole's car and they were on their way. The ladies had some light conversation about the weather and things that had gone on at the ranch. It was nice. They arrived at the ranch and Zoe stepped out of the car, her heart pounding. Then she saw him, Xander was faced away from her with his shirt off. Damn did he look good. Nicole gently pushed Zoe towards him, indicating her approval. Zoe tried not to move. She popped the trunk to get her things and that's when he spun around. The sun was reflecting off the beads of sweat on his well toned body. Zoe felt herself blush. Xander walked over to them, his long strides quickly covering the distance between them.  " Let me get that for you." He said to Zoe and grabbed her bag. Xander placed her bag on the back of one of the golf carts ." Your cabin for the weekend is right next to mine. I was going to run you to your cabin and head for a shower." Xander informed Zoe. Without being noticed Jake and Nicole took off , leaving them alone. Zoe wondered to herself about the sparks she felt coming off of Xander, maybe this was how her people found their other half. She had never felt those sparks before so how did she know. Zoe reminded herself that she wasn't going to let her guard down. This trip was just a way to test her options. But damn did she have some fine options. Zoe couldn't help but be curious about this weekend. She knew she had taken on a lot as this was like three dates rolled into one. But she also knew that sometimes you have to take risks to find what you want. Would she find it here with Xander? She was about to find out….L