Looking for Wildflowers

Chapter 16

"As your Luna?!" Taylor was somehow more afraid now than she was before.

"Of course. You are mine, after all." Riley explained as they headed inside.

"But Riley," Taylor pulled him by the arm so she could whisper in his ear. "I'm not a werewolf." Riley just laughed.

"I know, wildflower, but when we officially mate, you will be. Also, I'm in charge and can mate anyone I want."

"When we... What do you mean officially mate?" Taylor asked, concerned as they went through the simple wooden double-doors. "Haven't we already technically mated?"

"Yes, but I haven't marked you yet."

"Marked me?"

"Yeah. When two werewolves officially mate, they mark each other. Usually, the marks go together, like a moon and stars or a sun and clouds. It's just like a little tattoo that you get."

"How do you mark someone?"

"By biting them. That's why I said you will be a werewolf, so there's no need to be worried."

"By biting them?! Isn't that painful?" Taylor didn't like the sound of this.

"Yeah, but it heals quickly."

"But you said I could be a dark fairy. What if I am and you bite me?"

"Honestly, I don't know. I doubt you'll die. You'll probably be a half-werewolf, half-dark fairy. In that case, using your dark powers for good will be much easier."

"Dark powers?"

"Taylor, I'll explain everything you want to know after this meeting, okay?" Slowly, people started entering and taking their seats. "Once you're announced as my Luna, we'll go to my home and I'll explain everything over some wine, okay?"

"Alright. What do I need to do?"

"Nothing. Just stand right there, behind me. Try not to look terrified." Riley joked, but Taylor knew he meant it. With a deep breath, she took a step back and stood right behind Riley, her hands folded in front of her.

"Good afternoon, everyone. It's good to be back." Riley seemed much happier now that he had returned to his own group. "I gathered you all here today because I have a very important announcement." Everyone stayed silent as they waited.

"This is Taylor. She will be my Luna. From this point forward, you will treat her with the same amount of respect that you treat me. Anyone who does otherwise will be dealt with accordingly. Clear?" Despite what he was indicating, he had a smile on his face and everyone was clapping and seemed excited. "I know this meeting is short, but I'm sure you guys understand. I want to go home and rest and of course show Taylor around. So, this meeting is now over." Taylor was shocked at how everyone reacted and how short the meeting was.

"Is that it?" Taylor whispered to Riley as people started leaving.

"Yep. Let's go home." He grabbed her hand and led her through the group of people and they headed down a long row of houses. They stopped in front of the biggest house in the row, and Riley led them inside.

"This is where you'll be staying. You obviously have free range of the place, and the entirety of the grounds, but this will be the new place you call home."

It was a nice, two-story home. On the first floor was a large living room and kitchen, with a bigger-than-average dining area. There were some beautiful wooden stairs that led to a hallway upstairs, clearly where the bedrooms and bathroom were.

"Go sit down, I'll get us some wine and we can relax."

"Riley,"

"Are you hungry? I can make us some food."

"Riley."

"Anything you want, you can have."

"Riley!"

"What?" He closed the fridge and turned to her, noticing that she was picking at her nail beds and shaking ever so slightly.

"I don't know about this. I mean, I don't really belong here. Maybe I should just go back to my place and we can visit each other?"

"Nonsense, you belong here just like everyone else."

"No, I don't. They're all werewolves. I'm not. In fact, there's a chance I'm their enemy!"

"You are no one's enemy, at least not yet. Now just calm down, everything's going to be okay. Once I mark you, you'll feel a lot better about the whole thing." He took ahold of her shoulder and made sure to maintain eye contact. "I don't want you going anywhere, Taylor."

"I don't know, Riley... This all just seems... Too much for me."

"I know it's overwhelming." Riley gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "But it's going to be okay. I'm going to take care of you, I promise."

"The

KO's whole becoming a werewolf thing just seems too much. I don't think I can do it." Taylor was panicking inside but trying to keep herself calm.

"Of course you can. The first change is rough, I'll admit. But the more you do it, the better it feels. Just trust me, okay?"

"Okay." Taylor finally gave in. She had to admit, turning into a werewolf sounded pretty cool, but it also terrified her.

"I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to do. So I'm not going to mark you until you're sure that's what you want."

"I want to be with you.”

“Well, I have to stay here with my pack. But I'd absolutely love for you to stay with me; I want to be with you too."

"When can you mark me?" Taylor whispered, avoiding eye contact.

"Whenever you want me to." Riley said simply as he started putting together a nice meal for them and poured them both a glass of wine. He was drinking red while Taylor was drinking a pink moscato.

They sat and talked over the meal, Taylor eventually finishing off the bottle of wine and laying down on the couch.

"So, what do you want to do?" Riley asked as he sat on the other end of the couch.

"I don't know." Taylor slurred as she grabbed another bottle Riley had brought her and not bothering to use a glass. "Actually, I think I do have an idea." She slowly began smiling.

"Oh yeah?" Riley laughed. "And what would that be?" He leaned forward, propping up on his knees and looking over at her as she sat up.

"Yeah." She looked straight at him as she took off the casual, white dress she was wearing and sat it on the couch. Taylor began walking over to Riley wearing nothing more than a bra and underwear. Riley looked up at her with a smirk as she sat down as close as she could to him.

Never breaking eye contact, she brought a hand up and brought his face to hers, their lips colliding.