The Pack

Chapter 4

The word came out before she could stop it and everyone around her gasped. There is no way that just happened. Did he really just choose her? She was frozen in place. She looked around at all the looks of bewilderment and some aggravation. Clearly she wasn’t the only one who was shocked by this? Seeing as how she still had yet to move, Chief Ahote stepped forward.

“Anika Locklear, please come forward.”

She looked around searching for her parents or for Atepa, but she didn't see any of them. She stood and walked towards Chief Ahote and Kono. She was looking down as she neared them. She felt as if she were on fire. There were so many thoughts running through her head but she couldn’t manage to grab onto just one. She decided to look up, and once again, she was staring into the deepest, darkest brown eyes she had ever seen. Eyes that were all too easy to get lost in. She kept eye contact with his almost expressionless face and came to stand right in front of him. Chief Ahote grabbed one of each of their hands and puts them together, “My children, Kono Black and Anika Locklear, have been joined.”

Their people began to yell and clap in approval, all except for few of the girls who had wanted Kono to choose them. Dyani still had a look of bewilderment and anger on her face. She stood, turned, and walked out of sight. Her eyes finally found Atepa, standing next to Howi, clapping enthusiastically, with a smile from ear to ear. She found her parents as well. Her mother had tears in her eyes, but both her and her father shared looks of happiness and pride. She seen so many smiling faces which brought comfort to her heart. She could feel the warmth coming from Konos hand in her own and she looked over. He was staring at her, again, with what seems to be a faint smile? Why does he show such little emotion?

They turned away from the crowd of people and headed into what will now be their home. She would no longer be living with her parents and sister. She would be living with Kono. 

Kono. 

The soon to be Chief of their people. The tall, strong, handsome man who had just chosen her, of all people, to become his. As soon as they were inside and it was just the two of them, she only had one thought cross her mind and manage to escape her lips.

“Why?”

“Why?” He looked confused. Could he seriously not understand what she was asking him?

“Why did you choose me?"

“It’s a long story, if you must know.”

“I'm sure I have the time.”

“I hear you have visions, right?”

“Sometimes. Is that why you chose me?”

“No, of course not. I chose you because I had a vision while I was gone; and unlike you, I was not blessed with such a gift. However, for a short time, I was given a vision...of you.”

“Of me? Doing what?”

“Helping me. You will complete me and be my equal. You are who I need by my side to fulfill my duties as Chief of our people.”

“Really? But, we don't really even know each other"

"Yes, I know that." He let out a low laugh before continuing, "but the way I see it, we have plenty of time to get to know more about each other now."

"Well...yea, I guess your right. So, now what?” 

He looked at her, looked over at the bed behind her, and then lifted an arm up behind his head and rubbed his neck, with a nervous look on his face. 

"Woah, woah, woah. I'm sorry but I really don't think I can-"

"What? No, calm down. Although it is usually what happens when two people are joined, I understand how awkward this can be. so we can wait."

How could she forget? As soon as a couple are joined together, they usually become one in every way possible. She could feel her palms start to sweat and her cheeks get hot. She looked back over at Kono. His eyes looked almost black as he looked at her.

Was he serious? What was wrong with her? She was terrified of this man for no reason, it seemed.

It was getting late and since nothing else was going to be happening that night she decided it was time to try and get some sleep.

"Um I'm a little tired. I think I'll lay down and try and get some sleep if you don't mind."

"Why would I mind? You're right. I'll lay down with you."

She stared at him wide-eyed, not sure how she really felt about that.

"What? Oh come on. I won't do anything, I promise. We have to get used to it sooner or later. To be honest, I'd rather it be sooner than later. Sooner the better right?" She nodded as he winked at her.

They laid down with their backs to each other. She could not fall asleep. All she could think about was that she was about to be a leader to her people. Then something else came to her mind, a vision she had a few days earlier. Her thoughts that something good was coming to her. Was this it? Was Kono the good thing coming, or was it something else still to come? She wasn’t sure but she could no longer think. Her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep.

She woke up before sunrise. Kono was still asleep, but he was no longer with his back to her. She was now in his arms up against his warm body. It was strange, but she liked it. She liked how perfectly she fit against his body. She liked how safe being next to him made her feel. Maybe this wouldn’t be as hard as she thought. Wait, what?! What was she thinking? She knew nothing about him. Why was she so comfortable in his arms? Even though her mind was telling her to move out of his reach, her body denied her that right. She stayed right where she was and fell back asleep.