The Lost Wolf

CHAPTER SEVEN.

    Tyler spotted me first and sprinted over. Pulling me into his arms and kissing me on the lips. I tried to pull away but the kiss deepened and he begged for access to my mouth with his tongue, which I hastily denied.

     “*Ahem*”, we pulled apart and saw that it was Carter pretending to clear his throat. A blush crept up my neck and I avoided his eyes but noted that his hands were clenched into tight fists at his sides. 

     “Don’t mind these two,” Taylor said, pointing at Tyler and I, “Tyler treats her like she’s some sort of trophy or prize to show off.”

     “Well, look at her! ‘Eh Carter? If you had something this beautiful wouldn’t YOU want to show her off?” Tyler smiled and took my hand. I stole a look at Carter and while he kept his face calm, I could tell that he knew Tyler was trying to start a pissing match and I was the bait.

     “What are you doing here?” I asked Carter before he could reply and cause another scene by throwing Tyler up against a random car.

     “I made the football team,” he shrugged, “ and Tyler asked if I’d like to hang out. Get to know everyone better.” Oh. Of course he did. I internally rolled my eyes but outwardly put on a welcoming smile. 

     “Just remember that this one is off limits.” Tyler stated, continuing the match and pulling me closer to his body. “I’d say you could have that one, but she plays on the same team as us.” I smacked Tyler’s chest. I couldn’t believe that he outed Taylor. Only he and I knew that Taylor preferred women, she hadn’t told ANYONE else. We lived in a very conservative town and she didn’t want people treating her differently. I was honestly shocked that Taylor got caught in the crossfire of this stupid testosterone battle. 

     “Tyler!” I shouted at him, “that was not okay.” I looped my hand around Taylor’s small waist and guided her to my car. “YOU can ride with me.” She shot me a grateful smile as she climbed in the passenger seat and stuck her tongue out at her brother.

     “Hey,” Tyler caught my arm as I got in the drivers seat, “I’m sorry. You’re right. That wasn’t cool.”

     “No. It wasn’t. We will meet you there.” I yanked my arm away and started my car. Putting it into reverse and backing out before he could stop me. 

     On the way to the theater Taylor kept telling me how he had been a huge jerk to her all day. Which is so unlike him. She told me that she was afraid he would tell their parents but I assured her that he wouldn’t do that and if he did, my door was always open. My parents were barely home anyway and they weren’t homophobic. We parked at the theater and stood outside the building looking at the posters deciding what to watch. By the time the boys finally arrived, we had chosen Cruella.

     I was pleasantly surprised that Tyler only whined a little bit at our movie choice. He loathes “girly” movies. I think he agreed mostly because he was trying to show Carter that he made me happy. The pissing match continues. Tyler and Taylor loaded up snacks and then we headed into the theater and took our seats seconds before the beginning credits. It turns out that Tyler really got into it. Taylor sat on Tyler’s other side and I assume they made up by the fact that they were sharing skittles and laughing at the same parts. On my other side, sat Carter. His arm was on the arm rest between us and I could barely breathe at the close proximity much less pay attention to the movie but the twins didn’t notice.

     I stood up about halfway through to use the restroom and dropped my phone in the floor. Carter picked it up for me and when he handed it back his hand brushed against mine. Electricity shot up my arm and through my body and I was so stunned I gasped. I didn’t move until someone behind me yelled and I sat back down. Forgetting about my quest to use the restroom. Carter leaned over to me, so close that his lips were almost at my neck. 

     “I can feel it, too” he whispered. His breath left chill bumps on my skin and at the thought of his warm mouth on my neck, my collar bone… my n*****s hardened. Stop. Your boyfriend is RIGHT there. I shoved the dirty thoughts down and forced myself to at least look at the screen in front of me. Before I knew it, it was over and the lights were coming on.

     “That wasn’t so bad, babe.” Tyler told me as he led me out of the theater.

     We were walking to the car when my stomach growled and I remembered that I hadn’t eaten that day. I had skipped lunch to study for my chem test. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who heard it.

     “Are you hungry? There’s a great diner a few miles from here.” Carter told the group. Well, I think he was talking to all of us, his eyes were only on me. 

     “Yes!” Groaned Taylor, “fricken starving. Let’s go!” 

     We got to the diner, which was more like 20 miles away, and sat down. Tyler sat by the wall, his arm around my shoulders talking to Taylor and Carter about football. Taylor in front of him and Carter in front of me. I got up to use the restroom and left them to their chatter. Tyler barely even looked up. I finished in the restroom and washed my hands. I opened the door and was so lost in my own thoughts that I, once again, ran into that broad, hard, chest. Carter wrapped his arm around my waist and chuckled.

     “We have to stop meeting like this,” he whispered. “It kills me to see you with him.”

     I looked up, into his eyes, as he said that last part. The golden spheres looked genuine, almost pleading. Surely those words are not the words that he meant to come from his lips. I was confused. He confused me so much. 

     “I barely know you,” I whispered back.

     “But you’re my m-“ he stopped himself and nuzzled his head in the crook of my neck. Inhaling my scent and then he let me go and walked into the bathroom. Did he just smell me? What is going on? If I was confused before, I was even more confused now. I walked back to the booth and slid in. 

     “Hey babe! The waitress came while you were gone. I ordered a salad for you.” Tyler smiled at me. Ugh. A salad. I’m hungry and nothing sounds better than a big, juicy, cheeseburger.

    “Thanks, Ty.” I gave him a kiss on the cheek making a mental note to stop and get fast food on the way home. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings by refusing the salad. 

     Carter didn’t come back until the food was out. He looked at my salad in distaste as he took a huge bite of his burger. The juices dribbling down his chin. Keep your eyes on your food. I wasn’t even going to let myself think those thoughts. I took a few breaths and looked back up and his food was already gone. 

     The waitress came back with the check and her phone number written on the side for Carter. Tyler whooped for him and clapped him on the back but all I wanted to do was find her and rip her hair out. He’s not yours. Stop. I closed my eyes to calm myself but it ended up having the opposite effect. I imagined the waitress making out with Carter. Him looking at her with those swirling black eyes full of lust and I was angry. So angry I wasn’t sure I could control it. I pulled out some bills for my part of the check and walked out without another word to anyone. 

     Tyler, Taylor and Carter followed me and I paced around my car taking deep breaths in and out. Carter took out the piece of paper with the phone number on it and made a show of tearing it to bits. Keeping his eyes on me the entire time. Relief washed over me in waves and it took all my self preservation not to run over and throw my arms around his neck. Tyler, on the other hand, looked shocked.

     “Why’d you do that?” He asked.

     “She wasn’t the one.” Was all the said, keeping his eyes on me. “Kenzie, my car is at the school and if I remember correctly, your house is close by. Would you mind dropping me off?” 

     “Sure.” I swallowed. Trying to wrap my brain around what he just insinuated. Was I the one? No. Don’t be ridiculous, Kenzie. Tyler kissed my cheek goodbye and Carter and I climbed into my car. The ride to the school was silent but not an awkward silence, a welcoming one. I needed to be alone with my thoughts. I needed to process and I think that Carter understood that. Did he know the turmoil my brain was in when he was around? And how much worse it was when he wasn’t? The confusion and the physical pain when he left. It was all too much. And the guilt. The guilt that I am constantly thinking about Carter when I was with Tyler. Tyler didn’t spark that excitement in me anymore. Actually, I wasn’t sure he ever had. Everything we did, I had done because I was told it’s what you’re “supposed” to do. “You’ve been dating your 6 months, you’re supposed to give him your v card.” “That’s what normal is, Kenzie.” 

     I pulled into the parking lot and shut the car off. Carter made no move to get out and I turned to face him. 

     “What were you going to say?” I asked him but he just arched an eyebrow and looked confused. “When I ran into you by the bathrooms. You said I was your- and then you stopped. What were you going to say? I’m your what?” 

     Carter looked down at his hands and twiddled his thumbs. Probably debating on his answer. Or if he even wanted to give me an answer. He chewed on the side of his lip for a moment before lifting his head and meeting my gaze. 

     “Mate. You are my mate.” 

     “Wha- what?” I was SO confused. Humans don’t have mates. Maybe he’s not human. No. Don’t be ridiculous. Aliens do not exist. But still, I couldn’t deny the way he seemed to be so in tune with my body. The way my brain hurt when he wasn’t around. The way he could get in and out of my second story window when there were no trees or vines around. The way he could be gone in a millisecond. What are you? The thought entered and left my mind many times and I couldn’t wrap my brain around it. “Are you- are you human?” 

     “No.” He reached over to touch my face and gage my reaction. His admission did not scare me. I’m unsure why it didn’t phase me but it didn’t. The warmth of his hand made its way through my body and I relished in it. Closing my eyes. He leaned over and placed his lips on my forehead, brushing the lightest kiss on my skin that set me on fire and made moisture pool in my underwear. When he pulled back his eyes were black with lust and he fixed his gaze on my lips. I closed my eyes when I opened them, he was gone. His car already backing out of the parking lot. What is he doing to me? I asked myself for the hundredth time as I drove home.