Emerald Kisses

Chapter 2

The morning came, and the light was shining through Yasmine’s blinds, harshly glaring through the slit in the blinds and onto her face. She stirred, scratching her nose where the light shone through, and slowly opened her eyes. A small groan escaped her lips, and she got up out of bed. She went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and shower, then quickly rummaged through her closet to find something to wear. A summer dress would do as it was easy to put on and it was hot outside. She lotioned her body and put on her perfumes, a morning ritual she did every day. She promised herself she wouldn’t give on herself completely. If her hair wasn’t done, at least she smelled good and looked decent.

She slipped on some sandals and walked down the stairs. She noticed the couch was empty and she couldn’t hear anyone moving around. Jason was gone already. Unless it was for work, she didn’t understand where he could have gone so early in the morning, but she wouldn’t dwell on it too long. She went to the kitchen for something to eat and noticed a flyer on the counter. An informational meeting at the packhouse was optional, so no urgency was needed with a mind link. Yasmine looked over the flyer, mulling it over as she reached for a bagel to eat and some cream cheese from the fridge.

She knew that their alpha was going to be stepping down from his position. He was a humble man, and he wasn’t as strong as he used to be. It was dangerous for a leader to have those traits. As much as they loved him, they needed a new leader that could protect their ranks. He was a rogue that had established a pack of lost and forgotten. Most people here had tragic backstories of loved ones killed and whole families lost. The flyer seemed to be something about their Alpha. Yasmine finished spreading the cream cheese on her bagel and then took a bite.

“Come join us, as we announce new plans for the role of Alpha, and the joining of two packs,” Yasmine almost choked on her bagel, she furrowed her eyebrows. She that a simple flyer with such an announcement wasn’t enough. Her alpha was too kind, she would have made this mandatory. They lived in a large, gated community, there was even a small elementary school in the grounds. Older students had to go to school outside of the gates and intermingle with the general population. While they went to school on the grounds they were taught as much as they could to prepare for them for the outside world. Their community was small even though they did have room for many more, so Yasmine didn’t think it was necessarily wrong to converge their pack, they needed the people. It was the lackadaisical flyer that surprised her.

Yasmine quickly finished her bagel, it was 9:30 and the meeting started at 10:00, she didn’t want to miss it. Their Alpha was getting older, he was 86 years old with no children of his own. He and his wife were not able to conceive and took no children. They had built their house on this land sixty-six years ago, their Alpha and his Luna; his wife. He said they had done it together by hand, and over the years they took in stray wolves that had lost their homes into the house they built. As the years grew on, they were able to create a community that Yasmine found herself a part of. She walked through the neighborhood; she would get to the packhouse before 10:00 without rushing as it was only a ten-minute walk.

She entered the front entrance of the packhouse. It was quaint but large and was used to host grand parties. There were only a few people standing about, she had arrived fifteen minutes early. Yasmine looked around, she wasn’t familiar with too many people and didn’t want to stand out. She took to a small bench the was situated by the door, there were chairs in the middle of the hall, but she was more comfortable in the corner. She had been used to hiding when Jason was especially awful, now it had become a habit.

“Yasmine!” a cheerful voice came from around the corner, a tall and slender woman with long dark hair approached her. She had a soft smile on her face while waving to Yasmine.

“Emma,” Yasmine looked up quietly to see someone she hadn’t spoken to for a long time now.

“You look gorgeous lady, I haven’t seen much of you since you married Jason,” her kind smile was still on her face, but it barely reached her eyes.

“I’m just obsessed with home life,” Yasmine didn’t try to reach Emma’s eyes with her own, she knew she could see right through her. They were beginning to become great friends, four years before she married Jason. She knew better than to think Emma wasn’t suspicious of her life.

“Do you mind if I sit?” Emma asked, gesturing to the space beside Yasmine.

“Not at all,” truthfully Yasmine wanted to be alone. This was a lot more than she was expecting to get out of this, but of course, more people would show up to this meeting than usual. Yasmine usually went to the meetings as she had nothing else better to do. Usually, they were personable with a few elders, along with Alpha Isaac, and his wife Maria. As she sat there with Emma, more people filed in until all the seats were taken and there were a few standing up in the back. Emma could have gotten a better seat in the front since she only arrived a couple of minutes after Yasmine. She noted, “Interesting events are happening aren’t they?”

“Yes, the alpha is always so casual about these things, but this is an important announcement. Tell me, how have you been Yasmine?”

“Good, and you?”

Emma’s smile wavered only a little, “Life has been good with my husband, James. Do you remember him? We have a son now.”

“That sounds great Emma, I’m happy for you.”

“Before we stopped talking I thought you would be there to see it, my wedding that is, but time gets ahold of us,” Emma knew more was going on. Yasmine was trying her hardest to act like they just simply fell out of contact with her, but they were almost best friends. Emma wanted Yasmine in her wedding like she was in hers. They talked every other day and then suddenly it stopped, just as soon as she married Jason. She didn’t know what happened, but Yasmine’s entire demeanor had changed. She was quiet and she rarely looked up, a trait that Emma hadn’t seen in Yasmine, ever.

Before Yasmine could speak, Alpha Isaac came forward, waving his hands with a smile on his face, “Hello everyone, please this won’t take long. I’m so glad so many of you made it,” he looked around and smiled, “When the meeting is adjourned there is refreshments in the kitchen. Please help yourselves.”

Yasmine giggled, there were always refreshments.

“As you all may know, I am retiring, I am a young 86-year-old man and it’s time,” Isaac did not look 86 at all, he was still tall with bulging muscles. A large man of stature and he had a booming voice. He looked as if he was built out of stone and was just as solid. He had a long salt and pepper beard, a little early as most wolves didn’t start greying for a few more years. He was only a year past his prime, but that meant the clock was ticking. Usually, there is an heir to take his place sooner, but as Isaac had no children with his wife, they stayed in charge for longer, “For a couple of years I have been looking for someone to replace me and take over the pack and I have found someone. We have negotiated and he will be here tomorrow,” the crowd murmured and there were a couple of woos here and there, “I know, last minute, but well, I never said I was very punctual. It will be a coming together of two packs, ours and the pack that will be joining us. We have more than enough room for them, so please welcome them with open arms.”

Emma elbowed Yasmine for her attention, Yasmine jumped clutching her chest. She hadn’t meant to react so much, but she hadn’t felt an elbow to her arm that was so gentle in such a long time, “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to startle you so much,” Emma apologized while smoothing Yasmine’s jacket, “I just wanted to ask if you were coming.”

“I’m not so sure, it’s not really my thing.”

That simple sentence alarmed Emma. Yasmine always loved to party and dress up. She would say, “Anything for an excuse to dress up,” with a perky smile on her face as she dragged Emma to a clothing store, “Oh I wasn’t really expecting an answer like that, but I would like to see you there.”

Yasmine nodded her head and continued to listen to their Alpha, who didn’t give many more details after that. He went on to say that another notice would be on doors this afternoon with an iteration of the time. It would be on a Friday night and the theme was dress to impress. As soon as he was done speaking, Yasmine stood up. She turned to Emma and thanked her for her time and then excused herself. Emma was a sleuth in her own right and the longer she spoke to her the more Emma would press and Yasmine would have to spill the beans about her life to her.

Yasmine just wasn’t ready for that.

She said goodbye to Emma, leaving it in the air if she was going to show up to celebrate with everyone. If alcohol was involved, her husband was sure to go and she hadn’t been to an event with him in the last couple of years. She was rusty in her makeup application. She didn’t need to wear makeup just being in the house. Yasmine walked back to her house while mulling over what she should do. The desire to be seen again bubbled in her chest; to have a meaningful conversation with someone. Jason couldn’t tell her she had to stay home. He hated causing a scene more than anything, so his opinion on the issue didn’t matter. At least that was what Yasmine told herself to gather enough courage to simply decide.