One of us
1179 Words
At 5:30 Rowan came out on stage with the pack elders, Ashlyn hadn’t bothered to remember their names, they all looked the same and answered to sir, so that worked. Micah knew their names and that was enough. The crowd slowly became quiet, turning their attention forward. Micah held Ash to his side as Rowan gave his speech about the importance of the pack bond and sticking together. How pack members are like family to each other and will stick together against all odds. He speaks about how all pack members will be important, will be looked after and protected against anything that they might need. “Today is a very special day, a day on which we welcome a new member to our pack. A remarkable young lady who has survived against the odds to be here with us. A young lady who we all hope will be very happy here with us and who will be an asset to the pack. Ashlyn, please join me up here” Rowan finished. Ash was a ball of nerves as she made her way onto the stage on shaking legs. She was sure her face was grey, and suddenly Ash was glad that Micah had scared Loki away from giving her any alcohol, she was sure if she had had a drink, she would be throwing it up by now. Her hands clenched in front of her tightly, she made her way determinedly to Rowan in the middle of the stage who gave her a reassuring smile. Micah had followed her up and took his spot by the elder who was leading the ceremony. Ashlyn couldn't tell you what she had just agreed to or what Micah and Rowan had just promised her when the ceremony was over. All of it was washed away when the pack mind link was forged in her head. Micah had already shown her how to block people out in preparation, she took delight in practicing on him, it meant that he couldn't ask her directly where she was and had to phone or text her or contact someone she was supposed to be around. The pack mind link however was something else, at first it was this exhilarating feeling of being connected to so many people in such an unbreakable way. But pretty quickly she started to get a headache. It seemed like she could have the whole of the pack in her head at once like Micah, they weren’t talking to her, just being there, it was a lot to get used to and she had to shut out most of the link, leaving the door open just enough for individual people to talk to her. For some reason the blocking worked better for Ash when she pictured it as movement through a door, and the block as slamming the door in someone’s face.
After the ceremony, Ash felt like she could relax again, she ate with her friends, sitting on the grass, laughing and joking. Lynne introduced her to some of the other teenagers around her age. Even though Ash could feel Micahs gaze on her back, he let her go meet them. They helped her to download snapchat on her phone, adding themselves so that they could all talk. They even added Ash to their group chat when she explained that Rowan was trying to get her either into school or have her school work sent over for her to do here, they all said they discuss their homework in their group chat so she could ask them for help too if she needed it. As they all got more comfortable with Ash they began to ask her about her powers and living with humans and finally about Micah and what the mate bond felt like for her. “It’s hard to explain, I kinda felt drawn to him from the first time I saw him, even though he was his wolf then. His scent has always smelt amazing to me, but I didn't know it was him at first. Even after that first meeting, it was like 2 minutes long at most, my brain seemed to think Micah, well Zander I guess, was mine, even though I thought he was a wild animal at that point. And somehow I just kinda know where he is and sometimes I can tell what he’s feeling or thinking. I just know what he wants. When he touches me, its not like I can see his memories and feel the things that he felt. There’s nothing like that, thats what I’d get with you guys, it might be your mum hugging you or the dog bites from when you were 3 though, and it can vary every time i touch you, with Micah theres nothing of his, just this warm, tingly, fuzzy sensation. He feels kinda furry, but not to my hands, its weird, its like some sixth sense” they were all amazed. They invited her to join them in the park tomorrow, Ash said she’d try but Micah might follow her or have her followed, so they might be best coming here. They agreed to message about it later and make a plan. It was getting cold by this point, Ash looked back over at Micah, who had somehow managed to move his group closer and closer to her without any of the teenagers noticing. He ran over and wrapped her in his jacket, kissing her forehead lightly before stalking back to his own group.
While she had been talking a lot of wolves had come over and nudged her, introducing themselves mentally, Ash found that she could touch the wolf without getting the human memories, she would see flashes of hunting and running through the woods, feel the wind in her fur, which was a weird sensation, as she didn't have fur. A few didn't want her touch, which she was fine with her, she could respect that and gave them a wave and a smile, allowing them to touch her hand with their nose before going on their way. About 30 minutes after Micah had given Ash his jacket, a grey wolf on the larger side, with green eyes padded over. He sat himself down by Ash, his nose in her hair. Only one person would be brazen enough to settle himself this close to her and snuffle about in her hair. “Loki!” She giggled softly. “He’s going to kill you” she warned, the group of teenagers looked horrified, Ash leant into Loki’s side, she know that Micah wouldn't seriously hurt him so this was safe. And it was much warmer.
All in all the party was fun, Ash made friends, Micah was slowly learning that he cant dictate everything Ash does and everyone she sees. But they both had a good night. Micah had carried a nearly asleep Ash up to their rooms, setting her on her bed. She banished him to his own room while she changed, braided her hair and washed her face.
- Writer
