She Wolf

7.

“We are picking up your friends, right?” Marcus asks.

“Yeah, just Cara and Andrew. They are at her house. It’s close to the school”

“Just take a right here.” I gesture with my hand. “And right again there. It’s number 11.”

We pull into her driveway. Our timing is perfect, stopping just as they step out on the porch. Marcus walks around and opens the door for me. He gently takes my hand to help me out. Cara lets out her usual high pitched scream when she sees us walking up to them.

“You look gorgeous babe!” she pulls me into a hug. Her smile is so infectious, even Marcus cannot help the broad smile forming on his face.

I lock my arm into Marcus’s side, pulling him a little closer to me. “Cara, Andrew, you remember Marcus.”

“Hi man,” he says, shaking Andrew’s hand. "Nice to see you again Cara, you look beautiful. You guys ready to go?”

“Yes!” Cara says excited when she sees his car, practically pulling Andrew down the driveway towards it. “Nice ride.” Andrew compliments Marcus. He responds with a polite smile, opening the door for me, then for Cara. “He is such a gentleman Jo. Aren’t you happy you listened to us?” she says with a squeak before he climbs into the driver’s seat. I just nod in agreement.

I stole quick glances at him every now and then during our drive to school. With one hand on the steering wheel, his elbow gently resting against the car door, he looks straight ahead at the road. I can't help but wonder what he is thinking. He seems so serious.

Cars are lined up outside the school. I feel a little out of sorts standing in front of the tall building. I do not like these types of events, maybe it’s the fuss of it all. Marcus notices the uncomfortable shift in my body.

“Hey,” he says, taking my hand into his. “You’re okay,” flashing a smile. “Let’s go.”

As we walk up to the stairs leading to the hall, I hear the music and excited chatting coming from inside. Marcus places his hand on my back, gently nudging my reluctant body forward. A little lower this time. I smile at the thought, wondering where his hand will be placed at the end of the evening.

We enter the hall and the tension in my body seems to lift. It all looks amazing. The hall is beautifully decorated into a winter wonderland. The soft blue and white tones over the raw wood tables remind me of the forest surrounding our pack territory after snow. Clean and fresh, yet welcoming. I sigh at the thought that I would rather be in the woods right now. I have to stop. This is going to be a fun night, I keep saying to myself as we walk further inside.

I hear Marie and Jess shouting over the noise, waving us to our table. I introduce Marcus to my friends. The girls are practically drooling at the sight of the delicious man next to me. Noticing the expression on my face, both of them giggle softly. I subtly remind them that they in fact do have dates, standing right next to them.

Marcus does not seem to take much notice of the intense looks and flirty smiles he is getting from some of the other girls in my class. He chats to the people sitting at our table ever so comfortably. Entertaining the guys with his knowledge of cars and motorcycles, all while keeping an eye on me while I dance with my friends.

I get lost in the music. Embracing the freedom that comes with letting your body move to the beat. I relax and I feel a carefree expression forming on my face. Pure bliss.

When the music suddenly slows, I open my eyes to see the girls moving away from me to dance with their dates. Looking around to see if I can spot Marcus, I feel a tap on my shoulder.

“You should not be standing alone on a dance floor.” I do not recognize this voice. I turn to see a boy holding out his hand for a dance.

“Hi.” I say as he pulls me in with a turn. Gently swaying me from side to side. I feel his hand moving lower over my back and my body stiffens from his touch.

“Where is your date?” he asks a little too close to my ear.

“He is getting the drink I asked for.” I say, pretending to know. I nervously look over his shoulder, searching for Marcus in the crowd. Dammit, where is he?

“I’ll take it from here.” I hear Marcus’ voice behind me, deep and authoritative. Just at the right moment, I think. And like a good little wolf, the human unknowingly obeys Marcus’ order.

He pulls me into him and my body relaxes immediately.

“Where were you?” I ask, sounding a little annoyed by his absence.

“I was requesting this song. ” he says, pulling me even closer.

“This song?” I ask curiously.

“Yeah. It reminds me of you. ” he says with that same leg-weakening smile plastered across his face. He swings me around and across the dance floor, moving effortlessly with me in his arms. I get so lost in his movements that I forget to move my own feet. Probably realizing this, he picks me up, lifting my feet slightly from the floor, holding me tightly with both arms around my waist. He buries his face in my neck. “You are so beautiful,” he whispers, “The most beautiful creature I have ever seen.” He pulls his head back and we continue dancing while staring into each others eyes.

A little overwhelmed by the moment between us, I awkwardly move my hands down his arms when the song ends, stepping back but stopping so that our hands still touch. I realize that this is a different song than the one we started dancing to.

“I’m starving.” What the f**k? I am starving? Really Jo? Please say something else. Anything else.

“You’re hungry too, right?” Urg, again with food? Oh Mother Earth, please just swallow me whole… right about now would be great! I continue rambling in my head as I purse my lips and turn towards our table.

As I walk, I am pulled back by Marcus gripping my arm.

“Yeah, I can eat something,” he says with a polite smile.

When we get to our table, my friends are already seated. Trying to hide their expressions of disbelief, they look down at their food in unison. I let out a shy giggle. I am getting the idea that they are bursting to ask about what they just saw, on the dance floor between me and Marcus. “I’ll just go wash my hands.” I say loudly on purpose. Code for: follow me to the bathroom if you have questions, but please do not make it awkward. And just as I expected, all three of them stand up immediately at the same time to follow me. Not making it obvious at all.

“What the hell, Jo? You and Marcus?” Jess enters the bathroom shouting so loud it made me jump.

“Can you lower your voice please?” I react with my eyes wide.

“Actually, I was just about to ask you the same thing, just much louder!” Marie joins the shouting match.

“Okay” I say, hands up in defeat. I was expecting this reaction, so I suppose I cannot argue. “Marcus and I are… a little closer than I might have led you to believe.” I say, sounding very regal.

“A little closer?” Jess asks in a condescending tone. “You were practically kissing on the dance floor!”

“We weren’t kissing.” I say, holding up my hand to stop her. “But I am sorry I did not tell you. We are like a… unofficial thing, more than friends or something.” I gesture with my hands the way I always do when I am not sure what else to say. “I don’t really know. The whole thing is a little… complicated.”

“Well, I think we all agree that whatever this is,“ Cara finally says, hushing the other two. “you look good together and we hope that it will work out the way you want it to.” she continues with a smile and in a much softer tone. Her head leaning slightly to the side. Jess and Marie both sigh and move in for a hug. “Thank you.” I mouth to Cara while I am still hugging the other two.

“Okay, let’s go dance! Time’s ticking and I want to get as much dancing out of this night as I can.” Jess shouts out.

“I’ll join you just now!” I shout to them on my way to the table.

“Everything okay?” Marcus asks as I sit down next to him. “Yeah, just some, you know, girl-talk.” I say, smiling before taking a bite of my food.

“It’s almost 11, better have a last dance with your friends before we go.” Marcus says as the song that we are dancing to ends. “Your dad had quite a firm shake earlier.”

“The big, strong Alpha Marcus is scared of a Beta wolf?” I mock him.

“Nooo…” he rolls his eyes at my comment. “But I am a little scared of the father of the girl that I am out with. There is a difference,” he continues.

“Sure.” I mouth at him, nodding my head while I walk over to the girls dancing freely. This was a great idea. I am glad I have such overbearing friends. Though they do not know all of me, I can’t argue that they know the human part of me pretty well, and I love them for it.

Lying in my bed, I look at the stars through the window, thinking back at the night that we had. I had fun. Marcus also had a good time. He was such a gentleman. Different than his usual goofy, sarcastic self.

“Did you enjoy the evening, Miss White?” he asked while we sat in my driveway, still in his car.

“Yes. Thank you. It was… perfect.” I replied with a kind smile. He took my hand up to his mouth, “I did too,” giving me a kiss. Turning his eyes up to meet mine. Lingering.

Again feeling myself getting lost in his gaze, I bit my lip. I pulled my hand away before I could completely melt.

“It’s past 11. I should go inside.” I said, looking at the seductive smile on his face. “Before the father of the girl you’re out with comes out with a gun loaded with silver bullets.” I said with a smirk.

Getting out, I turned and stood looking at him hesitantly. “Good night Marcus.” I said before closing the door of his car.

”Urg, it is already midnight!” I whisper to myself when my eye catches the time on my alarm clock. I have to get some sleep. It’s an early start again tomorrow; no sleeping in when you are part of a wolf pack.