Mystery's Alpha

Midnight Encounter

Mystery snuggled up in her van, under her favourite quilt. Her mind was very noisy and she felt a strange need for comfort from another human being. If she was honest with herself, she wanted comfort from Drew. A plethora of emotions swirled her thoughts around, increasing their volume until she couldn't work through any thoughts at all.

She needed quiet to make sense of the past two days. She'd arrived here the first night and awoken to a scene of beauty. That same day she found herself meeting a family that she felt a bond with and a man who she reacted towards her in ways that she never experienced. She'd never even been on a date before. What was going on with her? Her crazy head wasn't being soothed by anything, even the internet or sewing. Grrr. She had to do something.

The sounds outside were loud to her ears. She let herself reach out to what was alive outside. It sounded peaceful yet alive convincing her that a walk was definitely worth a try. The moon was becoming full. It would only be a week or so before it was fully round, shining its power in its fullest. She soaked in the intensity of the light offered by the lunar light. It seemed especially bright tonight as she looked over the water and found that she could see the water clearly. There was a sparkle in the water below her, which drew her in. As she moved towards it, to inspect the shimmer, Mystery suddenly had an urge to swim in the water. It would be cold, but it would shut down the noise in her head. The invigoration would be wonderful.

Mystery stripped off her shorts and shirt. These were her sleep clothes so she had no underwear beneath. Without any hesitation, she walked purposefully into the water. The shock of the cold was welcome and as the breath was sucked from her lungs, she dove into the lake, fully submerging herself. Instantly her head quieted. She felt alive, powerful, clean, majestic.

Mystery's outline was reflected by the moon around her body. It produced a halo of a glow that penetrated to the bottom of the lake. She gasped at the blaze that the reflection created; it seemed to burn around her. The water became as warm as a bath, easing her aching head and shoulders from the tension of her mind's muddle. Whilst she knew that plunging her body into cold water would result in her feeling warmer once the shock subsided, she was taken aback at this level of heat.

Floating on her back, she gazed up to the moon. She called to it in her mind, in her heart. It reached into her soul, offering protection. She giggled at the thoughts occurring in her head now. This was magical and a moment's fantasy. She knew this but ,she'd close her eyes and sink into its protective bubble.

Soon, Mystery drifted into a doze. She was weightless in the water and drifted gently towards the shore, but was shocked back into wakefulness to hear a howl. Her fight or flight instincts kick-started momentarily, until she realised that this animal's call to the moon would be miles away. However, a growl sounded from the shoreline. She had floated close, which meant that this new threat was real. She was vulnerable, naked, with nowhere to run.

As her eyes adjusted from her sleep, her sight sharpened to see that the noise had come from a man, who was standing next to her van. His posture was aggressive. He was demanding that she came out of the water. Feeling a moment's modesty she covered her breasts and her intimate parts.

Shock and the feeling of vulnerability was rapidly chased away by the sudden anger that pulsed through her. For a second, the man's posture changed to a more watchful posture. He made no other sound, beyond the imagined growl that her mind tricked her into panicking about.

The anger pushed her recklessly out of the water. She had never been shy about her body before. She didn't see the point in modesty, so was comfortable in her naked body. She had reached the man and was standing close to him, leaning up to his face, glaring at him fiercely. She hadn't imagined the man's reaction before. His face flickered in surprise. Mystery assumed that this was in reaction to her sudden aggression.

"You should be worried. What the hell are you doing here? Standing next to my van, watching me swimming naked. It's pretty creepy and inappropriate. Explain yourself!"

He chuckled briefly, amused by this young woman's arrogant, dominant behaviour. It seemed that she was a fighter and anyone was fair game. He grimaced at the thought of her insinuation that he was a peeping Tom, a p*****t.

"The question is, what are you doing here? This is private property, not a camp site for rude little girls." He spoke with a natural authority and seemed to be nothing other than amused at her threatening him. At her hesitation and clearly offended expression, he spoke again. "Well? Can you speak? Why are you on the Retreat's property? Explain yourself before I call the police." He threatened in a quiet voice.

Mystery did not mistake his quietness for any form of friendliness. Her response, however was as thoughtless and reckless as it would normally have been, when challenged by authority. Being threatened with the police didn't scare her at all.

"I am here because I followed a track to this beautiful spot," she indicated widely the whole of the lake and sky, stopping at the moon before turning to the man again. "and nowhere on my journey through the woods did I see a sign that told me this was private property. If you don't want people on your land, then I suggest you make your feelings clear. I have done nothing wrong, and," she stretched her arm out out to point at him, "if you think I am leaving this spot then you can think again! Get the police. Let yourself look like an i***t. I am not a 'little girl' and I know my rights in this situation."

As she aggressively made her point to the man in front of her, she had moved forwards into his space again. One hand was on her hip, the other was still out, pointing firmly at him as it chastised him. On her final comment, she jabbed his chest. "It's you that is the ignorant one here. I suggest you leave. Now." Her hand moved from his chest to point in the opposite direction of her van. As she did so, she dropped her hand.

"Oh," she said blankly. The heat within her had faded at the sight of the cafe owner. "What are you doing here Mrs B? It's a bit late and a bit dangerous out here at this time of night." She pointed to the man in front of her who had made no move at all. "This weirdo was just about to leave. You can stay with me until then." She offered the older woman, who simply remained standing in the same spot, only now she had her arms folded beneath her ample breasts and looked very cross.

Somehow, Mystery had managed to make this strange woman angry at her again. Well, this whole situation was weird. "What the hell is going on here? Am I losing the plot and imagining you both? Some bizarre hallucination. Thanks brain." Mystery threw her hands in the air and dropped them by her side with a huff.

Behind her she heard loud laughter. "This is indeed the strangest situation I've experienced in a very long time. I don't know who you are, or how you know Mrs B here, but even I don't mess with her. She'd eat me for breakfast and spit me out for the pups." He laughed loudly again. "Bad move kid. Never annoy Mrs B. Go on then, how do you know her? By the looks of it, you've already put yourself in her bad books. I'll stay, but I can't protect you." He looked serious now. How sweet of him to stay and do nothing, thought Mystery.

"I came back here to stay by the lake again." She told Mrs B without having been asked by the woman to say anything. "It's so beautiful, just like I said you earlier when Drew and I ate your delicious breakfast." Mystery felt compelled to defend herself and desperate to get the woman to not look at her the way she looked right now.

"Drew? She knows Drew? How? Who is she? Has she spoken to anyone else?" He demanded of the old woman.

"Now, there's no need to speak to me like that, Seth. It's just one of those coincidences. Apparently they met in this spot yesterday morning. She's not the most pleasant of young women and I sincerely hope that she gets her claws out of Drew and moves on. Did I not tell you that you shouldn't be here?" She looked fiercely at Mystery again. "I think I made myself clear yesterday morning. You don't belong here. You have no business here and you are bad news for Drew, however, for some reason, he trusts you. If you take advantage of him or the twins, there will be consequences. I will see to it personally." With that she stalked off into the woods.

Mystery's hearing couldn't follow the older woman's footsteps but she dismissed this as she thought about the woman's words. What was her problem? Mystery knew that her social skills were exceptionally lacking but did the older woman really see her as being so awful? She jumped slightly when she heard the older man speak. She had forgotten all about him.

"Well, I've never seen her so judgmental about someone before. You must have really made a bad impression on her yesterday. If you and my nephew know each other, I can only hope that Mrs B is wrong about you. Are you two involved?" He queried, seeming more curious than cautious.

"No, of course not. You heard her. I only met Drew yesterday when he came upon me at the lake - in that phenomenally beautiful car of his." Mystery's eyes took on a dreamy quality which amused Seth and made him feel a sense of fatherly protection towards her. He generally trusted his instincts, but he also trusted Mrs B. The community listened to her for a reason.

Seth shook his head, confused but wondering if he might be right. Had this girl simply offended Mrs B, making a very bad first impression? That woman was so protective of Drew, as if he was her own son. She respected him as the future leader. She held his and Drew's secret closely guarded and would do anything to ensure that no harm came to him or the twins. Whilst Seth knew that Drew would need his fullest strength to succeed the conflict soon to take place, he wondered if this girl was in fact moon-fated. He would not interfere. It was up to Drew to make his choices. He had to trust that he was ready to lead now.

Now the only question was: how could he protect the girl from Mrs B so that Drew was free to make his own choices. After everything that Drew had overcome, every hurdle that was put in his way, he hadn't just survived, he had grown to become a strong, determined young man.

Yes, Seth thought, this girl could be something else that made Drew stronger. After all, she was a fearless young woman and he had quite taken to her.

Meanwhile, Mystery had jumped back into her van - completely forgetting her shorts and shirt laying on the shoreline - to slip into a sleep that was invaded by Supernatural creatures, glowing light coming from her hands and Mrs B right in the middle of her dream, just pointing a finger at her.

As she woke the following morning, however, her first thought was of Drew. The image of his face brought a delicious smile to her lips. There was nothing for it. She'd have to face Mrs B and have breakfast at the cafe. Hopefully, she would meet Drew there again.

There was nothing quite like someone saying no, to spur you on to do it regardless. Thanks to Mrs B, Mystery decided to take a huge leap. She was going to let herself follow wherever this led. If something grew from it, she would let it grow. In fact, she now made the conscious decision to take whatever hurt could come her way in letting herself get close to Drew. After all, it wouldn't kill her.

Hence, Mrs B came from the back of the cafe, just as Drew spotted Mystery. If looks could kill, she would have been ripped into pieces. In contrast, A huge smile lit up Drew's face in response to Mystery's greeting. Behind Drew followed the noisy twins. They were about to throw themselves into Mrs B's arms when they spied Mystery.

"Wow! Awesome!" cheered Tempest as she enveloped Mystery into a tight hug instead. Mystery let herself relax this time and smiled up at the teenager. "You're here. We aren't going to have to hunt you down." Tempest looked up guiltily at Drew. He carried on smiling but there was a tiny shake of his head. "Can you and I have that sleepover tonight?" She asked Mystery instead.

"Of course, "Mystery responded, gently pulling Tempest from her neck. "I'd love that." She smiled fondly back at the girl.

"Umm, going to have to over-rule you here. Mystery is otherwise engaged this evening. With me." Drew pronounced. Mystery just nodded her head stupidly.

"Huh! I guess tomorrow night will have to do." Tempest pouted.

Drew smiled at Mystery. "We'll see Tempe. We'll see."