She Wolf

9.

I wake up with my heart pounding loudly in my chest at the sound of my alarm. My head jerking to meet Jenna's face. She is sitting at the edge of my bed, two cups of coffee in her hands.

"Here." she hands a cup to me.

"I thought you'll need it to get your day started." she continues, lowering her head to take a sip. Her eyes not moving from my face.

"Stop staring at me. What do you want?" I ask with a shy smile. Fully knowing what she wants. Answers.

"No, nothing. I just brought you coffee." she stands up and make her way to my door.

Closing it behind her. But then stopping peeking her head back into my room.

"Oh, Marcus is waiting outside." she closes the door giggling.

“What?”

I jump up. Looking in the mirror, I am annoyed at the image staring back at me. I'm a mess. Drool marks on my cheek. Hair frizzed and tangled.

Trying to fix the mess that I am. I grab my work out clothes that Jen must have left on my dressing table. Thank the gods for a cousin like her. Still combing my hair and running down the stairs. I meet Jen waiting for me by the door.

"One sip please." I take the cup from her hand, taking a big gulp of coffee, almost spitting it out in her face. "f**k! Warning much?" she just shrugs.

"It burns" I moan in a whisper. Exaggerating the 's'.

Just then, I open the door. Once again, finding Marcus on the porch and random images from last night, flashing before my eyes.

Man, how is he looking so fresh? So perfect?

"Hi" I say. Sounding a little too chipper.

Calm down Jo!

I hear Jenna's giggle behind me again.

"Hi" he says in a deep and sexy voice. Looking me over.

His gaze moves to Jenna.

"Morning Jen. You're joining us?"

"You bet lover boy." she says, walking past us and jumping off the porch.

He gives me a distressed and curious look.

"Don’t ask." I say, brushing off her antics.

My heart is pounding all the while we walk to the training center.

"Lover boy" Jenna mouths at me, looking over his shoulder.

I cover my mouth to hide the giggle slipping out.

Marcus and I are quiet, it is only Jenna chatting up a storm about all kinds of random stuff. Every now and again, I nod or comment with a "cool" or "okay", my mind is so focused on Marcus' hand, gently brushing mine as we walk.

If we could let out electricity, tiny spark would escape with every graze.

Finally, he hooks his index finger into mine. And our hands fold into each other's. Gently, and so easy. Not wanting to make Jenna aware, we just keep looking forward.

And then...

Marcus unexpectedly stops walking and our hands let go as I still take a step forward before turning around. His expression stoic and sort of grim looking, like he just got bad news.

"I have to go ahead, I’ll meet you at the center, okay, then we'll talk after, " Marcus says.

"See you later Jen."

"Bye," Jenna simply replies, looking confused.

We both stand in the same place, looking on as he jogs ahead, in shock.

"Wonder what that was about?" Jen says.

"Yeah, things are getting so weird." is all I can muster for now as we continue walking.

The training center's doors are closed, which is also weird as we train every Sunday. I open the glass doors and we are confronted by a security-looking guy I had never seen here before. Surely my dad would have said something about the beefed-up security.

"Sorry ladies, this is a closed training session - senior pack members and warriors only."

"Hi, it's okay, I am supposed to be here, and Jen is my cousin - she's got clearance from Alpha Stone."

" I am sorry ladies, I have got clear instructions and I am not letting through two teenage girls." the guard continues, still not moving from his position.

"I realize you are new here? And I am sorry that 'they' are making life so difficult for you. You clearly do not know who I am. I am J... "

"Is there a problem here Michael?" a tall, muscular guy with a hypnotizing deep voice is saying as he walks towards us.

"Ladies?" he continues," can I help you? "

After a few seconds, I wake up from my trance and I try to put words together in my head so that I don’t sound like a total i***t. His crisp blue eyes catch my attention as I start talking.

"Like I said to uhm, Michael here..." I swallow as I try to get my thoughts in order. "I am here for the training session, I uhm, usually lead the warmup and you are making me late."

"Sessions are for pack leaders, warriors and guards only until further notice. Take up issues with your Alpha little wolf."

"Excuse me?" is all I could get out as I am shocked by this stranger’s manner of speaking to me.

"Sure, you are excused, little wolf." he says so casually.

My eyes go wild with frustration towards this beast of a man. I still don’t know who he is or where he is from or even what he is doing here, but he is going to be sorry.

"I don’t know who you are, but call me 'little wolf' again, I can assure you that you will be sorry." I yell as he turns and start walking away.

"Jo come on," Jenna pulls at my arm " I am sure missing one session won’t hurt, you can clear it up with Alpha Stone later. Let’s just go."

"No!" I exclaim. "Hey you! Don’t walk away from me. I am part of this training team, and you will let me through."

He turns around swiftly and moves to throw a mock punch straight at my face.

I feel so embarrassed that I flinched. This guy is huge compared to my tiny physique. Very intimidating.

He lets out a deep roar of laughter. When he sees my shocked expression, he continues “You can’t even handle that! This has been fun, but I will be late for training. Michael, see little wolf and her friend out please."

And he turns his back to me again.

Fuming on the inside, his mockery triggers anger and I feel that all familiar fire creeping up in my body.

"You want to try that again?" I shout out loudly to make sure I get his attention.

I hear him starting to say something and as he turns back to me, I jump up and strike him hard on his jaw, making him take a step back.

At that moment, silence surrounds us.

"Jo! Stop f*****g around, you are late!" Daniel yells from down the corridor, breaking the tension.

"And, that’s my cue sweetest cousin, I’ll see you after, okay – and behave" Jen mouths the last part as she turns to leave.

I then swiftly walk past i***t Michael and Tall guy, making my way to Daniel.

"See you at training." I say in my calmest voice as I pass him.

"Do you have a death wish; did you really just punch Commander Hunt?" Daniel whispers as I reach him.

"What, Cmdr. who?" I ask, looking back at the mess I realize I might have made.

Tall guy must be from the High council, Marcus told me about.

Daniel pulls at my arm as I stand frozen looking down the passage at the Cmdr. standing firmly, just looking at me.

Shit.