A Wolves World

It's Christmas

Brett

I walked her to the shops all while telling her different things about two of the main pack traditions, the pack symbol, and the mate celebration when you find your mate. I hadn’t believed mates were completely real until now, and still don’t fully believe it because what I am feeling can’t be real. It must be some sick joke my dad is playing on me from the afterlife because he probably thinks I killed him as well.

Erica cannot be my mate. It’s impossible. She was human before now and the thing with mates is you always have a wolf mate, you can’t have a human mate, it simply doesn’t happen. As far as I know, it is simply unheard of. But if I hadn't bitten Erica, could that have happened to me? Would I have been the first wolf to have a human as my mate? I need to figure this out sooner rather than later. If these are false emotions, I don't want to do anything to hurt Erica.

Erica

I first went and found presents for my parents and then to the clothing store to get myself some new outfits and, since my fashion choices were, I guess, out of style, I got some much more in style and clothes like what most girls at school seem to wear but still at a decent price and still what felt like me.

Once I got all of that situated, I headed over to an outdoor shop with wildlife decor and hunting clothes and other stuff like that. When I got there, I headed straight for the jewelry section. I browse the many racks of bracelets, rings, watches, earrings, and necklaces for just the right thing until my eye is caught by several matching necklaces that sit on a shelf in those small gift boxes.

“Perfect,” I said as I looked at them. The necklaces were a simple silver chain with a matching silver dog tag like pendant with a bigger wolf paw in the middle surrounded by smaller ones on the outside. I grab 2 of them and head to the cash register to check out before heading home. When I got home, I went straight to my room so my parents wouldn’t see the gifts that I got them. Once the stuff was secure in my closet away from my parent's view, I went and got into a shower. I didn’t really take a shower, but more just let the water fall onto me.

The next few days go by fast. My parents spend a lot of time in the basement clearing out stuff from the business, so I have Brett come over and we hang out mostly in my room so my parents don’t see him quite yet, they can meet him on Christmas morning when he comes over. In no time, it was the night of Christmas eve and Brett had just left after spending the day chilling with me in my room helping wrap my parents' presents.

I took the presents down to the main floor where the Christmas tree stood in the living room. Just as I turn around, I run into my parents carrying several presents.

“That is a lot of presents.”

"Well, when we had been asking you about Brett we got a few ideas of things to get him, so we did.”

“I told you he didn’t want any. Just being here is enough.”

“We know, but it is a tradition in our house that everybody gets at least one present and we are not going to change that because he says he doesn’t want a present.”

“Okay, whatever. I am going to bed because I am extremely tired from the last few days. Goodnight.”

“Wait, what time is Brett coming over in the morning?”

“Sometime around 9, which gives us an hour from when we get up to make some breakfast.”

“Is he fine with cinnamon rolls like we always do?”

“I am sure it will be a change of pace from what he always has.”

“Okay, good we'll see you in the morning then.”

“Night.” I head up to my room and open the window and climb out, as I had forgotten to tell Brett what time to get here tomorrow and I had no way of calling him as he doesn’t have a good working phone. I jump to the ground and take off running in the direction of the den. When I get there, I see Brett leaning up against the wall reading a book.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” he replies not looking up from his book. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at home where I left you earlier?”

“I would but I forgot to tell you what time to be there in the morning.”

“Okay, so what time then?” He says, putting his book down and looking up at me.

“Around nine. Breakfast should be ready by then or shortly after. And I hope you like cinnamon rolls because that is what we are making.”

“Anything is fine really.”

“Okay, I guess that is all I have to say for now, so I will see you tomorrow morning.”

“See you then,” he said, turning back to his book not once looking me in the eyes as he usually did. I ignore it thinking he is probably really into the book he was reading, and turned to head home, climbing back through my window so my parents never knew I had left.

Before going to bed, I take a quick shower because, for some reason, I feel the need to try and be somewhat presentable and look my best in the morning for when Brett comes over. Later, I climb into bed and practically fall asleep the second my head hits the pillow and dream about what could happen tomorrow.

Brett

I was sitting in the den reading one of the pack's old books and looking for answers to my problem when I caught Erica’s scent coming this way. I quickly put the books behind the pillows and grabbed the only non-pack-related book and opened it to a random page and pretended to be reading. When she first got close, I didn’t look at her, not wanting to meet her eyes, but as she continued to talk I looked up at her but avoided contact. When she was far enough away I breathed a sigh of relief and went back to the pack books. Although I wasn’t too happy about keeping this from her, she did have the right to know if we really are mates, but I just want to be sure it is real and not instill in her false feelings and break her heart. After a while of looking through the different books I had managed to take with me and finding absolutely nothing that would help, I decide to call it a night and write a letter to the only ally I have left tomorrow.

Erica

In the morning, I wake up all excited about it being Christmas morning, probably more excited than I ever was as a child. As I happily skip down the stairs, my parents groggily walk out of their room and walk into the kitchen to help me get breakfast ready. After a minute, I let my parents take over and I decorated the house a little bit more and then set out the plates and utensils we would need.

When everything was just about ready, there was a knock on the door so I rushed to go answer it so neither of my parents could embarrass me.

“Hey Brett, come on in,” I said, stepping aside and letting Brett into the house. A minute later, my parents are walking up behind me to meet Brett and welcome him to the house for what they think is the first time.

“Welcome Brett and Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas to you too, Mr. and Mrs. Wagner.” he shakes my mom and dad’s hands before they return to the kitchen to finish getting the cinnamon rolls ready, leaving me and Brett standing awkwardly in the doorway.

“Here breakfast is almost ready, why don’t we go sit down,” I suggest not knowing what else to say. Brett only nods his head as he looks around as if it is his first time here. I lead him into the dining room and motioned to one of the chairs and he takes a seat. I take the one next to him so my parents can have the seats next to each other.

“Alright, breakfast is served.” my dad says as he places the pan on the table before taking a seat next to my mom.

“So Brett, tell us about yourself.” my dad says after taking a bite of his food.

“Uh well, I live in the woods with my mother and distant relatives, but most of the time I am outside taking care of the dog. Some nights I sleep out with it in its kennel.”

“Really, that doesn’t sound pleasant. Why do you do it?”

“Dad,” I exclaimed, as I know Brett probably doesn’t want to talk about it especially with it not being the exact truth.

“It’s okay Erica. My dad died a while back and my family blames me, so I am basically the outcast, they don’t really want me around, so they make me take care of the dog and I have to get my own food and I practically have to sneak into the house to sleep in my bed.” my parents stared at Brett stunned I somewhat look at him as to how he put some of the truth in a web of lies.

“That is terrible,” my mom finally says.

“It is actually not all that bad. The dog treats me better than my family and I may be exaggerating slightly. They just don't really like giving me new things, but I am fed and taken care of. You don't have to worry about that.”

“You poor thing.” We finish breakfast and my parents take care of the dishes and I lead Brett to the living room where we will be for most of the rest of the day. We sit in awkward silence for what feels like forever until my parents come into the room and it is time to open the presents.

“Okay Brett, here you go.” my mom said as she handed Brett his presents to let him go first as he was the guest.

“You didn’t need to get me anything.”

“I know you said we didn't have to. Erica told us you didn't want anything, but it’s a tradition that everybody at our house gets a present on Christmas.” my mom stated. He takes the presents and glances at me but doesn’t quite meet my eyes. He starts slowly opening the present to reveal two books that make up a duology.

“Erica told us that you like to read books. We have heard good things about these books and thought you might like them,” my dad says.

“Thank you.” He goes on to open the next present and when the paper is all pulled away it reveals a box with a new phone. He just stares at it not quite sure what to do.

“It may not be a fancy iPhone, but it is better than the old hardly working flip phone Erica told us about. So we got you one. We can pay for it so your family doesn’t have to.”

“You guys didn’t have to do this for me. I am fine without one.”

“We know we didn’t need to but we wanted to. Not only are you neglected in your house, but you are the first real friend Erica has had in a very long time, and we greatly appreciate that.”

“Thank you.” The rest of us finish opening our presents and then we clean the wrapping paper and bags and pull out the games and movies and decide what to do while dinner cooks.

We get out this random game that we had never played before and probably got at a family Christmas party one year. After a while of playing, my turn rolled around again. The spot I landed on had me draw a card. I picked the designated card out of the pile and flipped it over to read.

With the player to your right, act out a scene from a romantic movie for the others to guess. If the movie is guessed correctly, advance 3 spaces, your partner can advance 2 spaces, and the guesser advances 1 space. If it is not guessed correctly before time runs out, do not advance.

I looked to my right to where Brett was sitting. With him acting weird around me the past day, I wasn’t sure how well this would go over. I read the card aloud and felt Brett slightly tense next to me. We got up and went to another room to plan out what we were going to do.

“Okay, so I am going to guess you haven’t seen many romantic movies.”

“Only a few and that was when some members of the pack would have a movie night, but romance ones were rare.”

“Okay, so have you seen The Notebook?”

“No,” he states, devoid of emotion as he stares at the floor.

“Okay, what about." I pause to think for a second, as I don't know all that many romance movies myself. "The Princess Bride, have you seen that?” I suggest as that was always one of my favorite movies, even if it was probably a long shot.

“Yes, actually it was my parent's favorite movie they would always make me watch it with them. I actually quite like it.”

“Okay, it looks like we have a movie.”

“Now we need a scene that is easy to do.”

“Towards the middle when Buttercup pushes Wesley down the hill and he says as you wish and then she throws herself down after him.”

“And how would we do that we don’t have a hill and can’t speak.”

“I have an idea.” I go on to explain how we would at least somewhat reenact the scene and then we headed over to do it.

As we walked back into the living room, he had hold of my arm and came to a stop, turning to face me. We pretended to exchange some words like in the movie and then I pushed him and he takes a few steps back as he mouths the words 'as you wish' and then he falls onto his back. It was at that time that I gasped and then stepped forward as if I “threw myself down a hill”.

I land pretty much on top of Brett as there wasn’t enough room to do the scene the right way. He looks into my eyes for the first time tonight and we hold eye contact. He lifts his head up a little and I lower mine. We were so close I could feel his breath on my skin and it sent tingles throughout my entire body.

“What movie is that from?!” my dad’s voice breaks the silence that had fallen and me and Brett quickly get up. While my parents guess what movie they think it was from. We take our seats and I am sure my face was as red as a firetruck from that encounter, as I am pretty sure that if my dad hadn’t said anything I would have had my first kiss.