My Hidden Wolf

Chapter Thirteen

        Thursday came and went. My Biology exam went well I think, I won't know for certain until I get my results in August. 

        Friday wasn't too bad either. I met up with William outside the exam hall before the Maths exam. He was really nervous.

        "Breathe William, you'll do great." I reassured him as we went into the hall.

        "After the exam he was a lot calmer. We chatted for a bit before he accompanied me up to the Art classroom. When we got there he pulled out his P.E theory revision notes and sat down while I carried on with my Art course work and preparing for my two day long exam.

        At the end of the day we walked down the stairs and out of the building into the car park together. When we got to the care park we both spotted Kyle leaning against the side of his car. We walked over to him.

        "Hi Em, thought we would go to the supermarket to get what we need for lunch tomorrow. This must be William." He offered his hand to shake and William accepted. "Nice to meet you, I'm Kyle."

        "Nice to meet you too Kyle."

        "I am glad to see Emily has made a friend."

        "What's happening tomorrow?" William asked.

        "Sam's parents are coming to lunch and we have decided to tell them about us." I said fiddling with my hands nervously.

        "Good luck, I'm sure that they'll love you. See you Monday?"

        "Thanks William. Yeah, I'll see you on Monday after my exam. Have a good weekend, bye." William walked off through the school gates to head home.

        "He seems nice." Kyle said, standing next to me.

        "He is. It's nice to have someone objective to talk to, not that I've told him everything about my wolf having only just appeared. He also said he would talk to his mate, Cara, about us meeting. It'll be nice to have a female wolf my own age to talk to."

        ""Makes sense. Come on, we had better get going before Same comes hunting for you and punishes me."

        We got into the car, Kyle behind the steering wheel and me in the front passenger seat.

        "How did your Maths exam go?" Kyle broke the silence.

        "It went okay, I think. Did you write a list of everything we need for tomorrow?"

        "Yeah, it's in the glove box."

        I opened the glove box and froze at what I saw. There wasn't just a shopping list in there. What had made me freeze was the hand gun in it's holster just casually sitting in the glove box.

        "Kyle?" I asked quietly.

        "Yeah, what's up?"

        "Why do you have a hand gun in your glove box?"

        "It's nothing to worry about. Same has one in his glove box as well. Everyone in the pack who has a car has one in their glove boxes too. It's standard practice. Just a precaution.

        "That doesn't reassure me or answer my question. Just a precaution for what?" I was growling now.

        "Sam told me not to tell you. He doesn't want to worry or frighten you." He took a deep breath.

        "Sam told you not to tell me what?"

        "There have been reports of one of the Northern packs causing problems. An old Alpha called Charles Jefferson appears to be hunting something or someone."

        "How old is he?"

        "Sixty nine if what little information we have on him is correct. He's been the Alpha of his pack since our grand parents generation."

        "Don't most Alphas retire in their forties?"

        "Yeah, they do. You're learning quickly."

        "Why didn't he retire then?"

        "He doesn't have any children, not legitimate ones anyway. He did have a legitimate daughter but she disappeared from record when she was sixteen."

        "Poor man, I can't imagine losing a child like that. Not know if they're dead or alive."

        "Don't feel sorry for him Emily. Many of the packs in the country think he was somehow responsible for her vanishing. It's well known that he treated her mother, his wife and Luna as nothing but a slave. He's a really nasty piece of work."

        I kept quiet for the rest of the journey, mulling over what Kyle had told me.

        We arrived at the supermarket and quickly got what we needed; a large joint of beef, vegetables, potatoes and some profiteroles for desert.

        "Thank you for telling me Kyle. It explains why Sam has been a bit more stresses than usual the last day or so." I said once we were back in the car.

        "I'll always tell you the truth Em, you're pretty much my little sister."

        I smiled at him. He made a great big brother. We spent the rest of the ride home in a comfortable silence. I was feeling really rather anxious about meeting Sam's parents. I hope they like me.

        Once we were home, we put away the groceries and then I went up to my room to have a quick shower. We had a quiet evening in front of the television in the living room. Sam had made some sandwiches for us and we had a sort of indoor picnic. Kyle then made some popcorn before we settled in to watch a movie. They let me choose the film which they then instantly regretted when I chose Cinderella. The live action remake, not the original animation. 

        Sam held me close throughout the film which meant I could hear him trying to hide his sniffling during the sad parts. Kyle was just openly crying. I couldn't help but smile to myself. These two tough and powerful men were actually just big old softies. When the movie finished, Kyle blew his nose before speaking.

        "What happens during movie night stays in movie night." His eyes were red and puffy.

        "Agreed, we have to maintain our reputations as tough and strong pack leaders." Sam agreed readily.

        "Fine, I agree. I suppose I do rather like being the only one to know that you two are just giant softies." I was grinning from ear to ear at them.

        Sam grabbed me around my waist and put me over his shoulder making me squeal and Kyle laugh. My attempt to escape were futile.

        "Come on, it's late, time for bed I think." Sam spoke while ignoring my wriggling.

        "I can walk you know!"

        "This is more fun though. See you in the morning Kyle."

        "Night Sam, night Em." He snickered. I glowered at him and gave him the finger as Sam carried me out of the room.

        Sam carried me up the stairs and into my room, finally dropping me on the bed. He stripped down to his boxers and got under the covers, pulling me with him.

        I was startled awake by a woman's voice growing louder as she got closer, she was talking with a man.

        "He should be up by now Steven, it's ten o'clock already."

        "Stacey, sweetheart, let him sleep. He's had a long week."

        I sat up right, waking Sam who was still asleep with his arm around me.

        "What's wrong Princess?" He whispered groggily.

        "Your parents are here already."

        Footsteps passed my door going to Sam's. We heard it open.

        "Where is he? He's not even slept in his bed. Kyle!" The woman, Stacey, shouted Kyle's name.

        "He's probably out for a run darling." Said the man, Steven. I recognised his voice.

        "Y... yes, h... he went for a run." Kyle stammered, standing in front of my door.

        "Who's room is that? Stacey asked sharply.

        "Um..." Kyle seemed to have frozen.

        "I told you about Emily, sweetheart, Emily Pearson. Take a breath and calm down."

        "Move Kyle."

        "She's still sleeping. She was revising late last night for her exam on Monday." Kyle tried to give us time, to stop Stacey but it was of no use. I heard him being moved aside. The door opened.

        "Stacey..." Steven sounded exasperated.

        My eyes widened. Sam took a deep breath.

        "You must be Emily." Stacey said. She had the same eyes as Sam. I simply nodded, clutching the duvet tightly. My knuckles went white.

        "Mum!" Sam sounded annoyed. Stacey's attention went to him.

        "Why am I not surprised to find you in her bed?" She took a breath. "He didn't force you to do anything dear, did he?" her attention returned to me, her face full of concern. I just shook my head. Looking over her shoulder I saw Steven looking tired and Kyle looking apologetic, standing in the open doorway.

        "She's my mate mum!" Sam almost shouted and he looked very annoyed.

        "Really?" Stacey looked between us, slightly stunned.

        "We were going to tell you over lunch." Sam let out a deep sigh.

        "Oh."

        "Come on Stacey. Let them get dressed." Steven stepped into the room and took her hand, giving me a gentle smile he mouthed 'sorry'.

        Kyle closed the door behind them, leaving Sam and I alone again.

        "Sorry Princess, mum can be very full on."

        "It's fine Sam, she clearly loves you very much." I got out of bed and went into the bathroom.

        When I came out Sam was sat on the edge of the bed.

        "Come here." He stretched out his hand, taking mine and pulling me towards him. "Hey, they'll love you. You're amazing and I l..." He stopped suddenly. Was he about to say that he loves me? I shook my head.

        "Thanks Sam. We had better get dressed and go down. Kyle looked terrified of your mother." I pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt while Sam went to his room to get some clean clothes. I waited for him outside of my room, not wanting to face his parents without him. He came back wearing some dark blue jeans and a plain white t-shirt.

        "Are you ready for this Princess?" He took my hand.

        "As ready as I'll ever be." I squeezed his hand, he squeezed back and smiled down at me.

        As we made our way down the stairs we could hear Stacey interrogating Kyle about us and Steven trying to stop her.

        "When did they find out?"

        Kyle stayed Silent.

        "Can you not wait to ask them Stacey?" Steven said.

        "Have they completed the bond? Whats her wolf like? Is she strong?"

        "Darling stop." Steven said sternly.

        We walked into the kitchen without them noticing.

        "We found out at the ceremony. No, we haven't completed the bond, Emily wants to finish her exams first. Her wolf has only just started speaking to her and I would say that she's the strongest person I know. Any other questions Mother?" Sam answered all of the questions, making the three of them jump. Stacey had the decency to look sheepish and apologetic. Kyle looked relived at no longer being alone with them and Steven smiled at us.

        "Well," Steven broke the slightly awkward silence that had fallen. "Congratulations you two." He clapped Sam on the back and kissed my cheek.