My Werewolf Mate is a Nerd

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Today was Joey’s 18th birthday.  I had been counting down this day for weeks.  Aidan had finally given in and gave me Joey’s number as long as I promised not to send him “Cringy, emotional, sappy girl texts” as he put it.  I swore to Adian I wouldn’t, but it was hard. There were plenty of night that I had thought about sending him stuff.  But I didn’t.  look everything in me not to do it.  Even when Scarlett had though it was a good idea, I had stayed strong. 

I typed out a message. 

-- Joey, I hope that this day is amazing for you.  That you find your wolf and grow to love me so our wolves can be together.  Happy birthday, Love Laney.

My finger hovered over send.

 “Nope, don’t do it!” Aidan was standing in the bedroom doorway.  I had been trying to decide what to do and never heard him approach.  “If it takes you that long to decide, then it’s a bad idea.” 

I sighed.  I knew he was right.  Too much.  A little too desperate and heavy.  I deleted it all.  I settled on ‘Happy Birthday    - Laney’.  I hit send then threw my phone across my bed.   I flung myself backwards, turning towards Aidan.  “Thanks” is all I said.

“Hey, don’t be weird.  Things will be ok.” He said.

“But how do you know that?”  I wasn’t sure that I believed him.  I wanted to but couldn’t.

“Cause I’m the Alpha.”  He folded his arms and gave me a classic Aidan smirk.  “Anyway, I’m actually heading out to meet with young Joseph right now.  I’m going to help him shift.  Make sure he doesn’t do something stupid like someone else I know.” 

I reached over, grabbed a pillow, and threw it at him.  He dodged it then it went sailing into the hall.

“See that?  Reflexes like a puma!”  He said. “But I’m just being honest.  Don’t want him running around the pack naked.  It’s getting too cold for that.”

“I know, I know…can I come?  Please, Aidan?” I begged.

He looked at me for a minute.  “No, probably not a good idea…at least not this time.  I don’t want him to lose focus.”

I understood.  I was glad my brother was helping him.  As much as I wanted to be there.  I knew it wasn’t a good idea.  But I didn’t want to give Aidan that satisfaction.  “Whatever.”  I muttered, turning away from him. 

“I’ll let you know how it goes.”  He said walking away.

My phone buzzed. I dove to grab it off the end of my bed and read the text Joey had sent back. 

-Thanks.  Was all it said. 

I was frustrated and mad.  I shut my phone off, laid back, tears stinging my eyes.   Thanks?  That’s it??  Ugh.  This guy was driving me crazy.  Maybe I should just give up.  I could reject Joey.  Move on.  Maybe be with Trent.  We wouldn’t be true mates, but at least he’d like to be around me.  Why had I been so stupid when I was younger.  This was all my fault.  I wanted to kick my own butt, then maybe Joey’s.  I didn’t know what I wanted.  Before I found him, I was a confident young woman, but now I was just a questioning, nervous girl, who couldn’t tell up from down.  I felt like a mess.

I hated all of this.  I wanted it to be simple, like it was for Jamie and Aidan.  Instead, I got this disaster.   I laid there thinking.  My eyes felt heavy. I took a nap. 

I was in a field.  In front of me was a Brown wolf with blue eyes that seemed to pierce through to my soul.  I felt like I knew this wolf.  It was Joey.  He beckoned for me to follow him.  I shifted.  Our two wolves were together.  There was a peace that finally fell over me. 

  We ran through the woods chasing each other.  Joey was nipping at my heels, playfully urging me on.  We ran for what seemed like forever until there was a clearing by a stream.  The grass was green, lust and there was a cabin nearby.  The water from the stream rippled and bubbled around a curve.  The forest around the stream was filled with flowers, trilliums, columbine, bleeding hearts, and ferns.  A sweet scent filled my nose, the grass was so soft. I laid by the stream.  Joey lapped up water then came and curled himself up next to me, nuzzling my paw.  I turned towards him and stared into his eyes again.  I was with my mate.  I was happy.

Then I woke up. 

It had felt so real, I was sad that I found myself in my bed.  I swear I could feel the wind in my hair and all the smells around us.  The dream was so vivid.  I had to pinch myself to see if I was awake.  Ouch!  Yep, I had just been a dream.  Damn it. 

I turned my phone back on.  It buzzed again.  Another message from Joey. 

- Do you think you can give me more time to figure things out? I understand if you can’t.

Could I give him more time? If it meant that I was what he would eventually choose me, then yes.  I could wait forever if I had to. Would he be playing with me just to let me down?  I wished Aidan had been more forthcoming with his conversation instead of trying to be Mr. “I have a bro-code” guy. 

I responded.

- Yes.  I can be patient. 

I hit send. 

- Thank you.

Well, Joey was a man of few words, it would seem.  But I wouldn’t push.  This was a start.  He wasn’t ignoring me.  Maybe soon, our wolves would meet and not just in a dream.