Voice of Vengeance

Chapter 13

(Juniper’s P.O.V)

Tonight was Owen and Euan’s first shift, and apparently, Euan’s wolf is named Dakota based on what Auntie Morrigan was calling him when he was sniffing me. His breath had danced across my skin since I was wearing a t-shirt and jeans. I went without my hoodie because it was a beautiful evening. Euan grabbed my hand and warmth spread through me.

Huh, that’s weird. That’s never happened before. I think to myself.

It’s probably my imagination, to be honest, I think my crush is becoming more potent now that I’m 16 and I can start dating…if there were any boys that were interested in me. As we all know, there aren’t any that want to date “chimneyfish” me. When Euan shifted in front of me, all I could think about was seeing him naked, a teenage rush of hormones, but I turned my face, so he had privacy. The thing about growing up surrounded by shifters is that you get used to people being nude. Sometimes someone doesn’t replace a pair of shorts or a long shirt in the forest, so warriors and other pack members end up having to either walk naked to their destination or shift back and go to their destination in wolf form.

Euan’s hand in mine was making my hormones go haywire as he led me from the tree to the kitchen to get ice cream. When he walks into the kitchen, bypassing all the sugar and other foods in the dining area, he pulls open the freezer and I see my favorite ice cream sitting front and center: chocolate chip cookie dough. I squeal in excitement as Euan grabs out two tubs of ice cream for us, grabs two spoons from a drawer, and we head back out into the backyard where we settle ourselves back under the tree.

“Okay Junie, I have a question for you. It’s really important, okay?” Euan asks, putting a spoonful of his mint chocolate chip ice cream in his mouth.

I nod my head in agreement, and that’s when I notice he looks extremely nervous, his face is flushed, and his hands are trembling.

“Will you…be my girlfriend?” He whispers.

My eyes widen in surprise and my jaw drops to the floor. Umm, what!? Euan Leonard O’Connor just asked me to be his girlfriend?! Moon Goddess above, what the hell is happening? Euan doesn’t date, he’s not like my brother and Angus who date any willing girl who wanted to warm their beds.

“Junie?” Euan asks.

Oh s**t! I’m taking too long to answer.

“Yes,” I whisper.

Euan’s face splits into a megawatt smile and his eyes sparkle like emeralds in the sunlight. He really does have beautiful eyes.

“Can I kiss you, Junie?”

I nod my head, wanting to feel his lips on mine again. He leans in, presses his lips firmly to mine, and heat spreads through my body. Damn teenage hormones. The kiss ends too quickly for my liking when I hear a growl coming from the packhouse.

“Euan O’Connor! Are you kissing my daughter!?” My dad growls, stomping toward us.

Of course, everyone turns and stares at us because my dad is now causing a scene over a kiss.

“Yes, I did. I’ve asked Juniper to be my girlfriend.” Euan says, standing up straight with his shoulders back and head held high.

He’s proud. He’s proud to be with me. I couldn’t help the tears that prickle at my eyes, knowing that this beautiful soul wants me. That’s when I notice it’s silent, and when I look at my dad, his eyes are glazed over, and I know he’s mind linking someone. When I look at Euan, his eyes are glazed as well, great they're mind linking each other.

“Want to share with the class here?” I say, making them both jump in surprise.

I hear giggles coming from the pups, hearing my voice always makes people laugh…and whisper behind my back. The whispers are carried to me on the breeze, forcing me to hear what they are saying about the scene my dad just caused. Tears spill over, and I run away from the situation. Dad just ruined something beautiful and now my voice, like always, has burned the moment to ash. I just keep running, running from the moment, running from the whispers…just running. I make it home and burst my way into the house, making my way up the stairs and into my room. In a moment of true teenage angst and despair, I hurtle my body onto my bed. Hugging my pillow to my face, I scream and cry into my pillow. Eventually, my sobs subsided, and I’m left hiccupping myself into calmness when I hear my door open. Lifting my face slightly out of the pillow to see who it is, Euan’s scent is the first thing that greets me: leather and cardamom.

“Baby girl. Can you pull that beautiful face out of your pillow and look at me?” He asks.

I do as he asks until I’m sitting up on my bed with my legs crisscrossed and I’m staring at him. He’s beautiful. There’s just no other word to describe his chiseled features, his beautiful emerald green eyes standing out against his dark hair.

“Why did you run away?”

“Because I could hear people laughing and talking about me.” I sign.

“Nuh-uh. You’re going to talk to me, baby girl.”

I whimper, not really wanting to talk considering what just happened.

“I know it’s hard, Junie, but please. For me?”

“I left because people were laughing at me and talking about me. I talked out loud in front of all of those people because you and my dad were mind linking each other.” I whisper.

Euan sighs before saying, “I’m sorry that happened. Your dad is sorry that he ruined the moment…well, he isn’t really sorry for interrupting me kissing his daughter, but he is sorry that he forced you to speak in front of people.”

I nod my head.

“So, do you still want to be my girlfriend?” He asks a shy look crossing his features.

“Yes,” I say.

It was easy to say yes the first time, and it’s even easier to say yes the second time because I know that Euan is worth it. Even if we find out we aren’t mates when I turn 18, it will still be worth having been loved and cared for by him.