My Hidden Wolf

Chapter Twelve

        After showering I put on my pyjamas and headed downstairs to cook dinner for the three of us. Sam and Kyle were chatting in the kitchen.

        "No homework tonight?" Kyle asked.

        "No, just revision for my first exam on Thursday. I still have to go in to school everyday this week though, I've got some art coursework to finish."

        "When are all your exams?"

        "Biology on Thursday afternoon, Maths on Friday morning, Environmental Studies on Monday next week around midday and Art all day on Wednesday and Thursday, then I'm free." I washed my hands at the sink then pulled out of the fridge the ingredients to make chicken stir fry; chicken, sweet peppers, egg noodles, peas and I also grabbed some spices from the cupboard. "If you two are in here you can help."

        "Okay" They said in unison, I smiled.

        "Kyle can slice the chicken into strips and Sam you can slice the sweet peppers, make sure to remove all the seeds." I set them to work with sharp knives and chopping boards. They washed their hands, rolled up their shirt sleeves and got to work while I headed some vegetable oil in a frying pan and put the water for the noodles on to boil.

        Twenty minutes later, Kyle was setting the table in the kitchen and Sam was getting us all glasses of water while I dished up the stir fry into some bowls. We all sat down and tucked in to our supper.

        "Glad to see you managed to get the paint off Princess." Sam smirked at me from across the table.

        "How'd you get paint on you?" Kyle asked.

        "I'd been painting, obviously!"

        "She had it all over her face and in her hair as well." Sam's eyes twinkled at me.

        "I'm going to kill William when I see him tomorrow."

        "Who's William?" Kyle piped up.

        "William Richardson, the Vale pack heir. His father transferred him to Emily's school so his mate wouldn't distract him during the exams." Sam's voice was tense and his eyes dark.

        "He's just a friend, nothing more. It not like I have any others. No one else in the school looks at me let alone talks to me."

        "You have me." Sam growled slightly.

        "You're my mate Sam, it's not the same thing. I have to have people to talk to aside from you. You don't own me and you can't control me!" My wolf was coming forward, trying to take over. I took a deep, calming breath and pushed my wolf back. Sam opened his mouth to say something back but Kyle spoke first.

        "Sam don't. Just eat your stir fry. Emily is right. She isn't something you can own or control. She's her own woman and you have to accept that if you want her."

        I smiled gratefully at Kyle for supporting me. We finished eating in silence then Kyle cleared the dishes and then left us alone in the kitchen.

        "I'm sorry Emily, you're right. I just, I don't know. It's not a good excuse but I want you for myself. He didn't meet my eyes.

        "You're right. It's not a good excuse. If this is going to work, if I'm to be the Luna of this pack, we have be partners, a team, equals. Do you understand?"

        "I understand." He let out a sigh of relief before changing the subject. "I was thinking of inviting my parents to lunch on Saturday. What do you think?"

        "That's fine by me. Will you tell them?"

        "If it's okay with you, I would like to tell them. Mum might tackle you to the ground when you meet though."

        I smiled, it would be nice to have a mother figure in my life.

        "Why don't we tell them together? When they're here?"

        "Okay, we do this your way Princess."

        "Thank you Sam." We sat looking at each other from across the table for awhile.

        "Why don't you go get some revision done then head to be. I'll do the dishes tonight."

        "Okay, thank you." I stood up. When I reached the doorway I turned back. Sam was already starting the washing up. "Will you sleep in my room again tonight?£ I asked quietly.

        "Only if you'd like me to."

        "I would."

        "Okay, I'll be up when I'm done here." He smiled gently, looking relieved.

        I went upstairs to my room and pulled out my biology notes to revise then put on my headphones with some music.

        Half an hour later I felt a presence behind me so turned to see Sam watching me, leaning against the door frame. He smiled as I looked at him. I slid my headphones off, placing them on my desk as he walked across the room towards me.

        "You look tense Princess." He started massaging my shoulders.

        "It's a lot of information to remember for a single exam." I let my head drop forward.

        "Lets get you to bed Princess." He said taking my hand to pull me up.

        We clambered into bed together and cuddled as we drifted to sleep.

        The next day, Wednesday, was fairly uneventful. I woke up to find Sam watching me. He went and made me some sandwiches for lunch while I got ready. Once at school I headed straight for the art classroom to finish my painting. I needed to do the final preparations for my art exam next week as well.

        I'd had my lunch under the Silver Birch. William met me there and I had a bit of a go at him about not telling me about the paint on my face yesterday. He held up his hands and apologized, all with that irritating smirk of his plastered across his lips. We sat and chatted while eating. When the bell rang we went our separate ways. I had two hours of structured Biology revision in a stiflingly hot classroom.

        At the end of the day William was waiting for me again.

        "You don't have to wait for me you know." I said, smiling gently at him.

        "I know, but I like to." He said lowering his head. I could just about see the tips of his ears turning pink. We walked out together.

        "You got any exams this week?" I asked curiously.

        "Yeah, got Politics tomorrow morning, Maths on Friday morning; same as you and the my P.E theory on Wednesday afternoon next week. I'll still come in to the library on Monday and Tuesday though. It's easier to revise here than at home. What about you?"

        "Biology tomorrow afternoon, Maths obviously, Environmental Studies on Monday just before lunch and lastly Art on Wednesday and Thursday."

        "You're doing four subjects?!" His eyes had widened.

        "Yeah, I couldn't decide which subject to drop from last year so I didn't drop any of them."

        "That's impressive. No wonder you're always rushing around."

        "I'll be relieved when exams are over though. See you in the Maths exam William, and good luck with your Politics exam tomorrow." We had reached the school gate.

        "Thanks, good luck with your Biology exam."

        We headed off in our different directions. I got home to find Kyle attempting to make mac and cheese. I smiled as I shook my head, at least he had a recipe out to follow. The kitchen was in chaos but it didn't seem as tough he'd burnt anything or hurt himself at all. I didn't dare go and interrupt him and ran straight upstairs to dump my stuff in my room. I did some revision until Sam poked his head into my room.

        "Kyle's attempt at mac and cheese is ready. Lets hope it doesn't give any of us food poisoning." He was grinning cheekily.

        "I'm sure it'll be fine. It smells good, not burnt at least."

        "It seems like your sense of smell has improved, any other changes you've noticed yet?"

        "I suppose it has, I hadn't even noticed. Nothing else yet except my wolf talking and trying to take over at times but I think I've got her under control now."

        "That's good. Give it some time, it's been less than a week, you'll get there."

        We walked into the chaos that was the kitchen. Kyle was an amusing sight, still wearing his dress shirt and suit trousers, sleeves rolled up and a pink frilly apron over the top. He was dishing up the mac and cheese, it looked delicious. Sam and I both struggled to hold back our laughter at the sight. I grabbed the cutlery while Sam busied himself with glasses still trying to stifle our laughter and giggles.

        "Just laugh you two, I don't want you choking on air." Kyle sounded exasperated rather than annoyed.

        "Sorry dud, but this is a priceless sight, I mean really? Mu mum's old pink frilly apron." Sam said grinning.

        "There wasn't another option and I didn't want to get my shirt dirty. I need it for tomorrow as I'm yet to do any laundry this week and besides Emily shouldn't have to cook for us every night."

        "I really don't mind Kyle." I said after composing myself, grateful for his consideration.

        "You have exams to focus on at the moment and you're not going to want me around when you have kids so I need to learn to cook for myself."

        I paled slightly at the thought of having children. I had always wanted them, it was the one thing I was certain of. I wanted children. Just not yet. Sam must have seen my face because he spoke quickly.

        "We're a long way off from having children Kyle. We've not even started the bonding process. We've only known each other for half a week. And don't you dare mention children in front of my parents, especially my mother on Saturday, okay?"

        "Right, of course." Kyle glanced at me. "Sorry Em, I didn't think."

        "It's fine Kyle, it just surprised me is all. Lets eat." I smiled at them both as we sat down and ate. The mac and cheese was delicious, best mac and cheese I had ever had. We chatted about lighter topics and started planing what to cook for Saturday. I was already feeling nervous about meeting Sam's parents, I hope they'll like me.