2
1895 Words
Greysen and I walked down the hall with everyone else, but were soon approached by the werebears. Instinctively, I stood in front of Greysen, though he tried to do the same with me.
“Whoa, there, Tiger. Please keep the teeth and claws inside. We’re here to talk,” the tall one stated, but I didn’t let my guard down.
“How are you guys not affected by my spell? You shouldn’t have remembered me. I specifically cast it so only the one meant to be around me wouldn’t be affected, meaning Greysen.”
“That’s a great question that we don’t have the answer to. My name is Alexei. That’s Josh, Sean, Erik, and Mason. We wanted to let you know that you have our allegiance, we swear it on our oaths.”
Relaxing my body, I replied, “I’m Selene. Why would you guys do that? Take the fall for that.”
Alexei chuckled. “It’s not uncommon for us to roughhouse. We’d also rather be allies than enemies.” Alexei turned to walk away along with the others.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he paused and turned his head towards me. “Plus, we all agree you’re gorgeous. See ya around, Tiger.”
I stood there, lost for words. Greysen gently squeezed my hand, snapping me out of whatever the hell was running through my head.
“Uhhmm, Selene, you good? Let’s go grab some snacks and drinks from the kitchen and head back to my room.”
“Your…room?” I asked as my eyelids fluttered.
Realizing how he sounded, he shook his head and arms. “No, no. That’s not how it’s meant to sound. I just figured we could start the research. I have a ton of different books in my room.”
Smiling, I put my hand on his arm.
Oh, my, my my. He’s not even flexing, and I can feel his strong muscles.
I felt my body heating up. Snap out of it, Selene!
“I think that was enough excitement for today. We should let things die down a little. Besides, Everspring break starts in a few days, so that gives us two weeks to hang out and do research.”
“You’re right, let’s try to stay under the radar.”
We nodded in agreement, and I gave him another hug. This time, I lingered. It felt so warm, peaceful, and I felt that flame-like sensation again. I forced myself to let go, and we walked our separate ways.
“Wait! How am I supposed to find you?”
I turned to face him, smiling. I tapped my nose while inhaling, then exhaling, and continued on my way.
Four Days Later - Everspring Break Starts
Greysen
“Alright, now it’s my turn to find you.”
I closed my eyes and began to sniff. But the only scents were those I was already familiar with.
“C’mon, think. She said that we smelled similar, that’s worth a shot.”
I smelled my shirt and tried again. Closing my eyes, sniffing, and trying to focus. But my brain trailed off to when Selene hugged me.
It felt warm and amazing.
There was this delicious smell when she was around. Then there was that weird, intense fire feeling that coursed through my body, but I didn’t mind it.
I tried to refocus.
“Is this it? Is this her?!” I followed the scent, which led me back to my bedroom door.
“She’s already here?” I shakily opened my door and found no one.
“i***t, you followed your scent,” I scolded myself, hitting my forehead. Lying on my bed, defeated.
“How the hell am I supposed to help Selene figure out what she is if I can’t even track her down?!”
My mind went back to thinking about when she hugged me. Both times were unexpected but perfect. But Selene’s smile. That smile is to die for. It’s strange, I have barely known her for a day, and I’m completely infatuated with her. I’ve never felt this before. What was this pull? She seemed so short compared to me, maybe 5’7”, but it was great.
Then it hit me—my eyes widened as I jolted up from my bed.
“That’s the delicious smell, it was Selene!”
I closed my eyes again and inhaled. I saw everyone’s scent trail, including hers.
Found you.
Selene’s scent led to one of the school’s gazebos, near the edge of the courtyard. I was frozen; I had to take this moment to admire her. Her fair skin glistened as the sun shone down, and the wind blew just enough to make her long curly golden brown hair dance.
Her scent wrapped around me—heavy, rich, and mouthwateringly sweet. It hit the back of my throat, and I couldn’t help but gulp.
Warm amber and wild peaches, sun-ripened and dripping with nectar, mixed with the soft spice of cardamom and toasted sugar. It was like biting into something forbidden—golden, spiced, and sinful—the kind of scent that made my teeth ache and an unknown feeling almost overwhelming me.
But there was more beneath it. A shadowed sweetness, like black vanilla and smoky myrrh, whispering of something older, deeper—power hidden beneath pleasure. The scent shifted when she moved; it danced in the air like it knew what it was doing to me.
She smells like everything I never knew I needed.
Selene turned slightly towards me.
“How much longer are you going to keep me waiting?” A playful smile danced on her face.
Smiling back, I hurried over to sit with her.
“Hey Grey, I hope you’re fine with nachos and iced tea. That’s what I grabbed for us,” she hand gestured towards the two.
“Actually, yeah, that’s pretty great. Hey, I have a question.”
“Oh? Sure, go ahead.” Selene replied as she started on the nachos.
“Well, when I tried to follow your scent, I took what you said into consideration, that we smelled similar. So I smelled my shirt and ended up in my bedroom…”
Selene broke out into laughter. “Sorry, sorry, continue.”
Laughing it off, I continued. “But then I remembered what I smelled while I was with you and when you hugged me. That’s what I ended up following to find you. I guess my question is, what did you mean when you said that we smelled similar?”
She took a sip of her drink and straightened up—as she started to twirl a strand of her hair.
“Well, I had to teach myself a lot of things growing up. One of them is scents, and familiarizing them with the creatures I’ve come across. But with us, I’ve never smelled anyone like that, ever. It’s hard to explain. For me, when I smell you, I smell your creature scent, but then there’s another that I couldn’t put my finger on until I found you in the common area.”
Clearing my throat, “I get it, at least I think I do. Every creature has its distinctive scent: werewolves, werebears, vamps, etcetera. And when you get to know them, you recognize their personal smell to tell them apart from the rest. Can I ask what the other smell is that you caught of me?”
“You smell like the woods,” she said, eyes downcast, fingers fidgeting in her lap. “Like pine needles after a storm…and the ash left behind after a fire burns out.”
I froze. Her words weren’t playful or flirty—they were quiet, raw. Something sacred lived in them.
“I grew up in the woods,” she went on, her voice softer now, like she wasn’t sure she should keep talking. “That smell…has always meant safety. Warmth.”
She hesitated, and when the next words came, they punched the air from my lungs.
“You smell like home.”
She turned away, hiding behind her hair, and I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe.
A sensation surged up instantly, circulating through my body, howling with something fierce and protective.
Home.
She didn’t even realize what she’d just given me.
That word…it meant more than she knew.
I wanted to pull her close, bury my face in her neck, and memorize every layer of her scent. But instead, I sat there, heart pounding, staring at the girl who didn’t yet realize she’d just broken me open in the best damn way.
Rubbing the back of my neck, I chuckled.
“Yeah, I get it. Because for me, you smell like warm amber and wild peaches with a hint of black vanilla and smoky myrrh. The only thing I can think of is maybe a mate bond. How old are you?”
“Seventeen.”
“Well, I don’t think it can be a mate thing. We both have what seems to be a mate scent, but yours wouldn’t be awake until eighteen. Hmm…”
What else could it be?
Lost in thought, my gaze drifted and landed on her. All of her.
She caught my stare. I blinked fast, grabbed a handful of nachos, and stuffed them in my mouth.
She giggled.
“So I was thinking about the other day of the fight. You’re pretty badass! You’re fast, seemingly stronger than a werebear, or at least on par with them. Which is insane, by the way. You grew claws, and your canines looked sharper and bigger than mine. You know magic and your eyes!”
Selene’s face dropped at the mention of her eyes, and she started to look away.
“Your eyes are so unique, sea green and one gold, like an amber color. But they changed to bright red and purple. Like, crimson and amethyst, did you know that? They’re hypnotizing in the best way possible.”
She turned back towards me with a small smile. “Yes, I get this weird tickle, tingle feeling when they change colors.”
“You’re incredible, Selene, and I’m happy to help you in any way that I can. To top it off, you’re radiant!”
Shit.
I didn’t mean for that last part to come out—it’s the truth, of course, but I didn’t want to seem like a creep.
Selene’s eyes blinked quickly, twirling a piece of hair, she softly asked, “You think those things?”
“I do.”
“So…what did you say to get Alexei angry?”
I couldn’t help it, I let out a loud laugh. “I told him he sucked at football and should quit.”
Selene put her face in her hands. “Seriously? I went through all of that–”
Her attention was on something else. Her eyes were focused, and her face—emotionless. Like she was on the hunt.
“Uh, Selene, you okay?”
Selene’s ears and nose twitched. She stood to her feet, her eyes locked onto something in the air. I tried to stand and look, but it was too late. She had pushed me to the ground. Her claws came out on her right hand, and I noticed something that I hadn’t before.
Her ears were slightly pointed.
- Writer
