our Son

2

The brother in-question had wanted to spend my 18th with me yesterday. "Look, I know we've had a rocky relationship since I've gotten back," Clive had started off in a soft voice.He had stopped me on the way out of the dining hall after dinner. It was an abnoramlly warm evening, and I was whistling when Clive blocked my way, stepping out of the shadows. "But I'd really like to be there with you when you shift."

For some reason, his offer passed me off more than if had never asked. I didn't want to spend it with anyone, especially not that traitor-loving brother of mine.

Scoffing, I rejected his offer. "No thanks. I'm good on my own."

Gina wasn't so easy to peel off me. She visited me last night with snacks and insisted on being with me, even though she annoyed me at first. I didn't want her to see me in such a vulnerable state, but she did, and she even stayed when with my wolf, a deep bubbling anger erupted into an uncontrollable temper tantrum. It was like my wolf opened the floodgates on all my repressed feelings.

Scanning Gina's body in her little shorts and top, she looked fine, breathing lightly in her sleep.

Waking up from the night before didn't dispel any of my rage, in fact, it hid in every corner of my veins, waiting for the the spark that would set off the bomb. This time, I was conscious to it, and felt every thought in my mind loaded with darkness and rage in its essence. With the newfound strength and sinewy muscle that came with the shift, and my limbs quivered with the need to tear something limb from limb.

Beside me, Gina shifted. Her beautifully curvy body stretched, head still in the crook of my arm. Awake, she turned to face me, large eyes with yesterday's mascara blinking up at me. A seductive smile spread across her glossy lips. Even with day-old makeup that she slept with, she still looked gorgeous.

Stroking a hand down my chest, she whispered, "Good morning, you handsome hunk. So how do you feel on your first day with your wolf?" She fluttered her lashes at me, and I knew exactly what she was asking.

The reason why Gina wanted to be with me during my shift was to be the first to find out if she was my mate. I hated to break it to her, but I didn't feel anything different towards her than usual. Most wolves spoke of the process of finding your mate as a magical thing. While wolves didn't necessarily need to find their fated counterpart to mate with someone by choice, it was the ideal. It led to stronger feelings and a powerful devotion that overcame everything else. I still liked her just as well, but the only thing pressing my mind was anger. I smirked at her anyways. "Better than ever."

"I would hope so since you have a hot girl in your bed." She pressed her face closer, planting a slow, sweet kiss on the corner of my lips. Then, another one on my jaw. Her long leg hooked over mine as she turned over for better access. "Well, do you feel any different?" she whispered in a sultry tone.

I gripped her waist, sliding my hand under her shirt and up her side. "What do you mean?"

"When I do this?" She nuzzled her nose into my neck, sprinkling kisses down to my collarbone. "Isn't it more electrifying?"

"Uh, you've always been electrifying." I tried to distract her by pulling her up into a kiss, nibbling at her full bottom lip.

Getting sucked into the moment, Gina climbed over me, feeling down my chest.

It was nice and all, and I could feel my blood speeding at the contact, but my mind was miles away. I couldn't stop thinking about Vera. And not in that way. Filling my mind were images of her surrounded by her little friends, the pipsqueak blonde and that rogue guy... and most of all Clive. It pissed me off that she had her little protectors following her around everywhere. I couldn't even get glee from her being alone and shunned by the pack.

"Gina, wait," I interrupted, holding her hands from her ministrations. "You're irresistible, but let's go have breakfast first. I could eat a damn horse."

Thrown off by my abrupt ceasing of her coming on me, she paused uncertainly. She didn't look pleased at all, but a few seconds later, she smiled. "Okay, let's go, Rei."

At the dining hall, we stopped by our usual table, Gina swinging our arms back and forth. Our group was all there; Darren, his buzzcut growing out a little, Kory with her long platinum blonde braid, and Zion, with his slick black hair in a high bun above his shaved undercut, all sat on one side. Martin with his signature red beanie and Trevor with his messy blonde hair sat on the opposite side, goofing around as usual. I leaned back on one leg, placing my hand on a hip, a victorious smirk on my face. Shaking my long locks around my face, I gloated, "S'up guys?"

Darren whistled. "Hey, birthday boy. Look at you, the confidence of your already overflowing with that wolf?"

"Looking more wild than usual, Reily, Kory said in her deadpan voice,piercings glinting.

"Still sucks we couldn't party all night and go crazy with you in wolf form," Zion grumbled.

"Well, I knew it would get out of hand. Didn't feel like cleaning a trashed house today."

I jumped into a seat, feeling my hunger reaching a peak. Gina placed my plate in front of me, preferring to eat a granola bar while scrolling through her phone. I dug into the pile of sausage, scrambled eggs, hotcakes swimming in syrup, and hashbrowns. As I tore into the sausage, my eyes scanned the crowded hall, falling on a group that stood out. Pitch black hair that was looking glossier than usual swished as Vera looked back and forth between her friends. She was laughing, Archer and Clive as well, so something Blondie was saying. She looked so happy compared to a month ago, so healthy and thriving. I couldn't stand it. Did she forget what she did? How dare she think she deserved happiness? A fire raced inside of me. No, I couldn't stand this anymore. If I didn't do something fast, I would end up breaking this table in two....or worse.

Shoveling the rest of the food down my throat, I slammed my hands on the long table. Gina jumped. "I gotta go let out some steam," I growled, getting up to leave. Barely hearing Gina's "Wait!" behind me, I stomped out of the building to the sunny day that awaited me. Pace quickening increasingly, I hurried to the woods, cursing the sight of Vera, that b***h who seemed to suddenly have everything going for her. Why was she so confident and careless all of a sudden? What happened to huddling in corners and avoiding crowds in fear?