Nadia’s Journey A Hybrid’s Awakening

Chapter 9

I tossed and turned all night, thinking of Noah's hug and kiss on the cheek. My dreams ran wild, and I woke in such a sweat. What is the boy doing to me? I shower and get ready for school. My parents are in the kitchen getting ready for the day when I come in to get breakfast.

"Hey, Dad, I need you to show me how to control my vamp speed and strength, so I don't get noticed at school during gym class."

"Sure, Pumpkin, I can help you with that. You have a little time before you need to leave for school. Meet me in the backyard." My Father walks out of the kitchen to the backyard, and I follow shortly after shoveling a pop tart into my mouth.

"Alright, Nadia, I want you to run to that tree and back," my Father instructs. I ran as fast as I could, and it didn't take any time for me to reach the tree.

"I can see why you want my help, Nadia. I think you run faster than me, Pumpkin."

"Really, Dad? Well, how do I slow down so I appear normal?"

"Before you take off, you must think slow thoughts, imagine yourself running at a normal speed, feel what that feels like. Now come, try it again, but slower."

"OK, Dad, I will try." I stood there next to my Father and thought slow thoughts. I imagine myself running next to Charlotte at a normal speed, keeping up with her. I take a second to feel what running at a normal speed feels like. Then I heard my Father yell GO! I take off, trying to stay in the feeling and keep in my mind what a normal running speed looks like. When I got to the tree, I yelled to my Father, "How was that?"

"Much better, Nadia, let's try it one more time. This time, you run from the tree to me. Ready, Set, GO!"

I took off from the tree towards my Father, trying to keep the same feeling and awareness in my head. This takes a lot of concentration. I reached my Father and asked how I did.

"Perfect, Nadia, you did great. Now, just remember to do these things before any exercise, and you should be fine."

"Wow, that took a lot of concentration though. Will it get any easier as time goes on?"

"Yes, it does take a lot of concentration at first, but it will ease some the more you do it. The more you learn of your power and strength and practice, things get better."

"Thanks, Dad, I have one more question. Will my powers affect my driving when I get my license?"

"No, aside from giving you a faster reaction time than humans. Meaning you will be able to react faster in the case of an accident or potential accident."

"OK well, that is helpful then, I guess. I can't wait to get my license." The doorbell sounds, and as my Mother opens it, his scent hits my nose, Noah. What is he doing here?

"Nadia, it's for you!" My Mother yells.

"Noah, what are you doing here this early?"

"I was wondering if I could take you to school this morning?"

"Sure just let me grab my bag." I grab my things and we head to school.

He escorted me to his truck, a gallant gesture as he opened the passenger door. I settled inside, enveloped by his intoxicating aroma, a heady fragrance that overwhelmed my senses and ignited a potent wave of desire. As we ride to school, I can't help but replay last night in my head. Suddenly Noah breaks the silence, "Nadia, are you ok?"

"Yeah, I am fine, why do you ask?" I try to play cool.

"Because you've been very quiet since we left your house."

'Should I tell him how I am feeling? Should I tell him about my dreams?' My mind is racing. As we pulled into the school parking lot, my heart began to race. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. "Nadia, are you sure you're alright? You seem a bit nervous," Noah asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

"I'm fine, just a bit tired from a restless night," I lied, not wanting to reveal the true cause of my anxiety. Last night's dreams had left me feeling exposed and vulnerable, and I wasn't ready to share those feelings with Noah, not yet anyway. We got out of the truck and walked towards the school entrance, our footsteps echoing on the concrete. I stole a glance at Noah, his strong profile and intense gaze sending a shiver down my spine. Was it possible for him to sense the effect he had on me? As we entered the bustling hallways, the noise and activity around us seemed to fade into the background, my entire world narrowing to just the two of us.

"Are we studying again this evening, Nadia?" Noah asks.

"Yeah, I have to get my grade up and pass the midterm," I say as the bell rings to get to class.

"Ok, I will take you home from school, meet me in the parking lot after school." We walk to our first class as something occurs to me. "Noah, why are you in my science class if you are also taking AP Chemistry? Doesn't your AP Chemistry count as your science class for the year?"

"It does, but the school is letting me take the regular science class as well, because I love science."

"Oh I see, you're a science nerd" I joke and we both burst out laughing. As we made our way through the crowded hallways, I felt a sense of comfort in Noah's presence. It was as if we were in our own little bubble, shielded from the chaos around us. I couldn't shake the feeling that he knew the effect he had on me, and the thought both excited and terrified me. During class, I found it hard to concentrate, my mind drifting back to the previous night and the kiss that had left me reeling. I caught myself daydreaming about what it would be like to be with Noah, to feel his arms around me again. But then I remembered the dreams, the intensity of my desires, and I'd feel a flush of embarrassment. Was it possible for him to sense my thoughts, to know the effect he had on my heart?

The bell rings to change classes and I quickly gather my things. The next couple of classes seem to drag on and on, until finally the bell rings for lunch. During lunch, I sat with Charlotte and filled her in on the events of the morning, including my father's training and Noah's unexpected arrival.

"So, what do you think of Noah?" I asked, unable to hide the excitement in my voice.

"He seems to really like you," Charlotte replied with a knowing smile. "I mean, he's definitely into you, Nadia. The way he looks at you is so intense." My heart skipped a beat at her words, and I felt a rush of excitement and nervousness wash over me.

"I know, it's just—I've never felt this way before. It's like he sees right through me," I confessed, my cheeks flushing.

"Well, that's a good thing, right? It means he cares about you and wants to understand you," Charlotte said encouragingly.

"I guess so," I replied, taking a bite of my sandwich, my appetite suddenly returning.

"Just be careful, Nadia. With great power comes great responsibility, remember? We don't know everything about Noah yet," Charlotte added, her voice laced with concern.

"You're right," I nodded, my excitement tempered by a newfound sense of caution. "I won't rush into anything. But I can't deny there's something special between us."

The school day felt like an eternity, each minute ticking by slower than the last. But finally, the bell rang, signaling the end of the day. I gathered my things, my heart fluttering as I prepared to meet Noah in the parking lot. As I walked out of the school building, I spotted him leaning against his truck, a confident smile on his face. My stomach did a flip, and I felt a surge of vamp energy course through me. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, and made my way over to him.

"Ready to go?" he asked, pushing himself off the truck and opening the passenger door for me. I nodded, feeling tongue-tied, and climbed into the vehicle, the scent of him surrounding me once more. As we drove away from the school, I stole glances at Noah, taking in his strong jawline and the way his eyes seemed to sparkle with an inner light. I felt a connection with him that I couldn't quite explain, and I wondered if he felt it too.

"So, how was your day?" Noah asked, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between us.

"It was okay, I guess," I replied, my voice sounding awkward to my own ears. Approaching my home, a wave of anxiety washed over me, leaving me clammy and apprehensive. Entering the study, the impending tutoring session felt secondary to the turbulent storm brewing within. Noah's patient explanations of complex equations were lost in a maelstrom of longing; my thoughts consumed by the irresistible urge to taste his lips. As we tackled the final problem, an accidental brush of our hands sent a jolt of electricity surging through my veins, my pulse pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. A chilling realization then pierced the intoxicating haze: Noah wasn't just a werewolf—he was the alpha's offspring, acutely sensitive to the frantic symphony of my racing heart.

"Nadia, are you ok?" Noah asks with concern.

"No I'm not Noah," I say and then jump from my seat and kiss him. I couldn't handle it anymore, I couldn't take it, I had to act I have been going crazy over these dreams and the feelings I'm feeling inside. Noah's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, he froze, his lips soft and hesitant against mine. Then, with a groan, he pulled me closer, his arms tight around my waist as the kiss deepened. My heart, which had been racing since the moment I saw him, now threatened to pound out of my chest, and I felt a heady mix of desire and fear. Was I moving too fast? But then, Noah angled his head, his kiss becoming more insistent, and all rational thought fled. I pulled back, breathless, my hands resting on his chest. I searched his eyes, half-expecting to see rejection or confusion. Instead, I found desire mirrored in his gaze, and a hint of something more—something that looked suspiciously like love.

"Nadia," he breathed, his voice hoarse, "I've wanted to do that since the moment I met you." My heart swelled at his words, and for a moment, I forgot about the chaos of my dreams and the confusion of my newfound powers. All that mattered was Noah, and the way he made me feel—powerful, desired, and alive.