My Apocalypse Mate

6- VANILLA (Lucas)

            One by one, the pack members jump in the water and swim to the island. As a good Alpha, I’m the last one to abandon the ship. Thomas, Jack and I grab the lifeboat cables and drag it with us, since the people inside are too weak to paddle.

            In forty minutes, everyone is safe on the beach, and its already dark. I put my waterproof bag on the sand with a thud and stretch my back, relieved. Suddenly, I realize that everyone is gathered around me, waiting for instructions… and, probably, an explanation. A she-wolf I know very well approaches me:

            “And now what, Lucas? You dragged us for a continent by boat and gave us a nice salt-water bath. I think we deserve to know what has gotten you in such a good and adventurous mood.” – Bethany, the she-wolf says. Usually, I would be mad with anyone who forgets the ‘Alpha’ in their sentence, but she is one of my best friends, almost a sister to me. Also, she said that with a light and playful tone, not a demanding one. So, I steady myself and address the pack:

            “I can sense you are all dying to know what made me bring you here today, and also Bethany kindly reminded me that even blind trust has its limits.” I start and everyone laughs “I’m now soothing your curiosity: The Moon Goddess has told me herself that my mate and your future Luna is here, in this island” loud gasps fill the night, and happy chattering follows. However, I notice that Bethany looks taken aback by the news. I make a mental note to ask her later. “I want you to go further inside the island, in the small forest, and set up camp. Make a fire, dry yourselves and make some food. I’ll leave my parents in charge of it. But I will go find my mate” with that, everyone cheers and pick the bags once again, leaving the beach. I motion to Jack, Thomas and Bethany to get closer. “Guys, I need your support. I don’t know the state she will be in. Please follow me.” They nod and we head for the lighthouse. Finally, I will get to see it up close.

            In twenty minutes, we are climbing the last set of stairs before arriving at the construction. It’s located on the top of a cliff, and I can see every side of the island from here. I smile thinking about how my mate had a beautiful view all this time, and how we could share it together from now on. Atlas laughs at me, but I know he would enjoy it as well.

            I open the door of the lighthouse, but before I can step in, I am hit with the sweetest smell of the world. It smells like vanilla, but much better. I realize I started drooling, and quickly pull myself together. I climb up the stairs of the lighthouse and freeze. In the upper floor, there are several blankets and pillows laying, and I smell something else, something amazing: my mate’s pleasure juices. My wolf becomes crazy in my head, begging me to go find her, and to kill anyone who dared to touch what’s ours. I try to sooth him: ‘Atlas, there isn’t any men’s smell in here, only hers. She must have done this alone. I want to find her as much as you do, but we can’t lose ourselves as we don’t know anything about her.’ The thought of her touching herself is almost more than I can handle, but I get every gram of self-control that I still have and go back outside, with my wolf controlled.

            “Alpha, did you find her?” Jack asks.

            “She’s not here, but her smell is everywhere. She must be close” I answer and, in that moment, I notice something in the sand down the cliff: there are huge marks, as if someone dragged something big all the way through the beach. I was so focused in the lighthouse I didn’t even see it when we arrived. “I may have a lead, follow me” and with that, I jump down and land on four paws. In my place stands a huge silver and dangerous wolf, howling to the moon. My fur isn’t always silver, just at night. By day, it becomes pitch black. It’s a characteristic of the Alphas in my family. I see my squad already shifted and by my side. I start running to the other side of the beach, with the others following close behind me.

            We arrive at something that looks like a fort, which makes sense from what Adrian told us at the boat. I perceive that the construction has been modified, and the walls are way higher, but I can’t see much more from here. The vanilla scent fills my nose once again, and it feels more alive: my mate is in that fort, for sure. “She is here, remain still” I tell the others once we shift back to human. Slowly, I approach the walls, looking for a way in. In that exact moment, an arrow hits the sand, right beside me, missing me for inches. I freeze, and the most melodious voice I ever heard says:

            “Mais um passo e a próxima flecha vai entre os seus olhos”. I become really confused for a moment, because I didn’t understand anything. But then realization dawns upon me, she must be speaking Portuguese. Now, I am really concerned that communication might be an issue between us. I can’t see her yet, she must have a hole in the wall for shooting those arrows. I clear my throat and try to speak as clearly as possible:

            “Hi, do you speak English? We are Americans”. I wait for an answer and, right before I start losing hope, it comes, and it makes me both relieved and scared at the same time:

            “What I meant was: One more step and the next arrow goes between your eyes”.