ATTRACTION
2053 Words
AMARA'S POV
The damn alarm went off at five a.m. I jumped out of bed, and ran straight to the bathroom. I stared at the mirror. “It's today!” I screamed. “I'm going to finally meet my wolf today!”
I took a quick shower and headed straight to the living room. My parents were all smiles as they spread their arms and pulled me into a hug. “Mom, Dad—”
Dad's hearty laughter bellowed in the atmosphere. “The day you finally shift into your wolf's form,”
I nodded. “I can't wait to meet her, Dad. It's a dream come true for me.”
“For us too honey. You know how important shifting into your wolf means to the Blue diamond pack, means to the Alpha family.”
I nodded again. “Yes, I know,” I took a deep breath.
Father squeezed my shoulders warmly, “Your mother and friends are waiting in the training grounds honey,” he paused. His forehead lined with concern. “We're rooting for you.”
My lips pursed. I swallowed back the words that rested at the tip of my tongue, and crashed into him in a warm hug.
Mom caressed my hair, “I'm sure you'll do just fine my darling. Are you ready?”
I pulled away from the hug. “I've never been so ready,” I said. Mother grabbed my hands, and started leading me out.
“Amy!” Dad cried.
I turned to face him. The worry on his face deepened. “Always remember Mom and Dad loves you so much,”
My eyes turned bleary with tears. I tried to fight them back. Heck! A lousy tear leaked out of the corner of my eyes. He'd been mad at me, but that didn't stop him from caring for me.
“Let's get out of here. We have to get you settled before the birthday dinner,” She pushed the door, and it answered with a creak. Mom peeked her head outside, “I hope the snow doesn't get worse than this. I don't want it ruining the event for us.”
Dad chuckled again. “Sweetheart, it's almost Christmas.”
Excitement settled in my bones. Christmas, my best time of the year. Mom groaned, “Who needs Christmas, when a curse lurks in the air.”
Curse?
“What curse?”
Mom's face crumpled, like she shouldn't have said what she'd just said. “It's– it's nothing you should worry about, child.” Her voice lacked the usual confidence it was used to. “You better hurry, we don't want to leave your friends out in the cold.” The excitement in her voice was ripped.
My mom and I headed out. We'd barely reached the training ground when I felt a tingling feeling course through my core.
I let out a loud groan. Then cracking sounds filled my ears. My blood roared in anticipation of what was to happen. I bit down on my lower lips to push back the pains. Suddenly, my bones gave way to fur and I was in my wolf form.
I twirled around excitedly. ‘I'm
Odessa. Your wolf.’ she purred inside of me. I raced into the training ground, where some other wolves were waiting for my arrival.
Then slowly I shifted back to my human form, groaning in every step. Cheers filled the air. Louisa was the first to run to me, “I'm super proud of you girl!” She pulled me into a hug.
Tears glistened my eyes, as I tried to contain the emotions welling in my chest. “Thank you,” My voice was a whisper.
“How does it feel to have a wolf?” She insisted.
I inhaled, then let it out in a long ragged breath. “The feeling is…is, heavenly.”
Mom cleared her throat. “Sorry to disrupt your chit-chat. But it's time to rest,” She said. Mom pulled out a new set of clothes and handed it over to me. I hugged Louisa and left for the waiting car.
When I got to the house, Dad was already in the office. “Go on honey. I'll bring breakfast myself.”
“Mom, what's the curse you spoke of?”
Her face fell. Then, she quickly straightened it like it was nothing. “It's some nonsense make believe. Nothing you should worry about,” She paused. And added almost immediately when my lips fell apart. “Go and rest Honey. You need to get in touch with your wolf.”
My heart raced with various thoughts. But I knew better than trying to get words out of Mom's mouth. I went to my room, laid on my bed till I drifted off to sleep.
***
Louisa let out a loud scream. I swear I heard a crack on the wall. “I knew it. I knew it,” She let out a relieved sigh. “I knew this dress would fit you perfectly,” Louisa chuckled.
“Yeah…it's-it’s beautiful.” I spun around in front of the full length mirror. Equal parts excited, and nervous. I didn't know what to expect today.
Between dealing with the excitement of settling into having my wolf. And my encounter with Rylan Walton. I was a total wreck.
Time and time again, I'd tried to make Kyle open up to me. But he was still reeling from my misconduct in Dad's office to bother with the explanations.
Why was the next Alpha of Oakville pack in his office?
Louisa squeezed my hands, “Amy, you've totally got this. Trust me. I'm sure one of those guys would be your mate.” I knew she was referring to Luke.
I perked my head sideways, “I-I-I…” the door pushed open, and Mom walked in.
Her eyes gleamed with a mixture of sheer happiness, and concern. “Amy, my love…” she pulled me into a hug. Then, she tipped her head, acknowledging Louisa. “Loui. I must say, I'm impressed with this,” she gestured to my royal blue gown that hugged my curves, complimenting my olive skin.
“I try my best Luna Stacy.” She clasped her hand. I could literally taste the pride in her voice. Louisa cleared her throat, and added, “Amy, I'll be waiting for you at the banquet hall.”
I nodded, and mouthed ‘Thank you’. The sound of her shoe clicking against the marble tiles filled the room, before they tampered off.
“Amy, Rylan Walton would be here at your dinner,”
“What does he want?” My voice dripped with curiosity.
Mom released my hands, walked over to the door and snapped it shut. Then, she walked up to me, “Oakville pack is the most powerful Lycan pack in our province. And as you know, they pick on other packs…” she was beating about the bush. “Honey, our pack got into a bad deal with other packs. And we ran to Oakville for help.”
I shook my head frantically. “No!”
“We don't even know what they want. They're– they're holding us at a ransom.” She sighed, “Kyle told me what happened the other day at your Dad's office. Honey, you must learn your place.”
My lips pursed. Her words stung like a colony of bees. My throat felt parched, and the snowy evening could as well pass for a furnace. I was heating up!
“I know my place Mom.”
“Amara! Now is not the time to argue with me,” Her voice was hasty. “When you're called out, you have to be on your best behavior. Rylan overlooked your attitude, but that was a one-off.”
“I didn't do anything!”
“Barging into your father's office when he's in a meeting with a Walton is considered felony.”
Wow. “I didn't know that…” I was just curious.
“Be on your best behavior tonight,” she insisted, “Who knows, if the moon goddess mates you to one of the young Alpha blood, we might…nevermind.”
There was so much Mom wasn't letting me in on. I knew it, I couldn't just wrap my head around it.
“Alright. I'll be there shortly.”
Mom pulled me into a hug. “I don't know why I have this weird feeling, but whatever happens tonight, Mom and Dad love you to bits,” she chuckled dryly, “Heck, I'm sure your brother does too.”
“Well, I don't know about Kyle,” He switched after my meeting with Rylan.
Mom gave me another long hug, before she left. I stared at myself through the mirror. “It is time Amara,” I said. Then, the piercing sound of my phone ringing tone cut through my thoughts.
Surprised flickered through my mind when I saw who the caller was. I counted to three then brought the phone to my ears. “Hey Amy,” Luke's smooth voice reached my ears.
My smile deepened. “Luke…”
“Happy birthday Amara…”
“Thank you,” I let the words hang in the air. Luke was handsome and kind, but damn! He was one hell of a shy male. His wolf was strong, but not dominant enough for my brawny wolf, Odessa.
“I-I-I… I'm going to see you at your birthday dinner, yeah?”
I nodded. “Very much so,” The line went silent. For a second, I almost thought he'd dropped the call.
“Amy. I…erm… I–”
A knock sounded distracting me from the call. I whipped my head sideways, to see Louisa standing by the door frame.
‘It is time.’ she mouthed.
“I have to go now, Luke. See ya!” I said and hung up.
Louisa gave me a teasing look, “Luke huh? I bet he wanted to ask you out to be his date. But wasn't bold enough.”
I shrugged my shoulders. Hoping my red cheeks hadn't turned worse through the blush. “Can we skip the talk about Luke and get going already?”
She raised her hands in surrender, “As you wish. Let's get the party started.”
“Happy birthday Miss Amara,” the two bodyguards who manned the huge wooden door bowed the moment their gaze rested on me.
I smiled my thanks, and stepped into the lavishly furnished banquet hall. My jaw dropped at the sight in front of me.
It was like heaven's gate. White flowers adorned the walls, it almost felt like we're in an exquisite garden. Golden candelabra, adorned with scented candles were placed at strategic sides of the hall, adding more allure to the scene in front of me.
When my eyes fell on the sight in front of me, my stomach grumbled. Louisa perked her head, and whispered into my ears. “I know me too.” Variety of meals that would feed one hundred people lined the table that stretched the length of the room.
My eyes searched everywhere and landed on Luke. He looked stylish dressed in a black two piece suit. He waved his free hand at me, while he held a huge bouquet of rose in the other. I waited in anticipation for the mate bond to set in, but I didn't feel anything.
“Come here my princess…” Father beckoned to me. Grinning from ear to ear, I started making my way across the long table when the entrance door barged open.
Everywhere stood still. A delicious masculine scent wafted through my, setting my entire body on fire. My body arched towards the presence in the room. I’d not set eyes on him yet.
Still, I could taste the strong possessive chokehold his wolf had on the room. My body ached with desires. My entire nerves were heated. Fog clouded my entire sense of reasoning.
Odessa purred. ‘Mate! Our mate is here!’
I whipped my head to the side and my heart dipped to the pit of my stomach. Right in front of me was a devastatingly handsome man standing at the entrance of the room.
Rylan Walton.
- Writer
