Winter Rose

Chapter 5: A Summer of Romance

Em entered my room to wake me in the morning. She had a smile on her face, “You may want to wash your sheets” she said, as she grabbed the can of glade in my bathroom and sprayed my room, “Your room smells like him, and other things.” She said, eyeing me suspiciously. I just stuck my tongue out and snuggled deeper in my covers, “Oh no you don’t. She said removing my covers. It’s eleven a.m. you need to eat and start your training. Mimi made sure to assign waking you up to me so no one else will know exactly what happened in here, but his scent is all over the yard so they know he was here.” 

My face reddened. “Then just leave me to die in shame.” I whispered. 

“Nope. You have to start training if you’re going to beat that b***h to claim your mate.” She said refusing to release my covers. “Really?” She asked, looking at my attire. 

“I was tired so I just stripped down.” I explained. 

“And you didn’t think to put on pants when your loverboy came calling?” She asked. 

“They didn’t seem important at the time.” I muttered as I stumbled into the bathroom to brush my teeth. 

“Well it’s not October yet so I guess we don’t have too much to worry about.” She mused as she made my bed. I glared at her from the bathroom. She just shrugged. Em was the only one in the family who knew for sure I wasn’t still a virgin. So her shrug meant she wasn’t going to judge. 

I spit my toothpaste into the sink, “It didn’t get that far” I grumbled before swishing my mouthwash as I brushed my hair. 

“I wouldn’t judge you even if it did. But it sure smells like it went that far.” 

“He’s saving himself for marriage” I grumbled after I spit and rinsed my mouth. 

“That’s unfortunate for you.” She said, as she sat on my bed, “Does he know you’re not?” 

“Yes it was discussed last night.” I said as I got dressed in my closet. 

“And he took it well?” She asked, clearly shocked.

“For the most part, he got a little jealous, but that’s to be expected.” I said, “Are you ready to go get breakfast?” She nodded and we headed downstairs.

“Alex!” Damien shouted, “Here ya go.” He handed me my mother’s plaque. I sat the plaque down next to my placemat as we all sat for breakfast. Eggs, bacon, toast, and jam with tomatoes on the side as always. 

“Alex, as a courting female, you will be sitting at your mother’s place at the adult table starting tomorrow.” My grandmother said. The pups at the table whined, but stopped after my grandmother gave them a sharp look. 

“Yes, Mimi.” I answered. 

Training against the adults was no joke. The first hour of our training was just shifting back and forth between wolf and human. Then we were paired off for sparing. I started off paired against Crystal who would not stop going for my legs. Her fur was a golden brown like her hair, and her hazel eyes flashed with pride every time she managed to flip me over. I finally was able to get a good enough hold on her scruff to flip her down and pin her. Only to be challenged by Brittany, her fur was dark brown and so were her eyes making it hard to see her emerging from the shadows at first. Brittany did not pull any punches; she went straight for my throat. I rose up on my hind legs batting at her like a bear. It took me twice as long to beat her into submission than it had taken for Crystal. Aunt Lydia came for me next with her teeth clamping down on my tail. I yelped in surprise before I could turn around and nip at her she had swatted me down with her front paws. Her blue eyes locked onto mine as I bit her leg. I had to spit out her light brown fur that stuck to my tongue. From the ground I rolled on my back and used my hind legs to kick her off me. I pounced on her as she tried standing again. I used all my weight to pin her down until she yielded. Diane's dark brown form streaked in silver ran under me and stood knocking me on my back using my own weight. She had watched me with Lydia and avoided my back legs as I scrambled to get a hold of her. I kept wriggling on my back trying to right myself but she kept nipping at me making it near impossible. Finally, I waited for her to go in for a nip and rolled using my front legs to pin her down by the neck. She tried backing out and using her paws to force my legs off her but I held her head trapped between my front legs in a headlock until she patted her paws against the ground in submission her golden brown eyes looking proud even in her defeat. Clara came next her head low as she paced around me. Her yellow fur streaked with gray and white risen at her hackles. Her green eyes never leaving me. We paced in circles each waiting for the opportune moment to strike. I decided to fake her out by pretending to leave my left flank exposed for just a minute too long. She took the bait and I snapped pouncing on her in one fluid motion. She barked in shock, but conceded eagerly as she noticed my grandmother pacing eagerly awaiting her turn. 

It had been years since I had trained with my grandmother. I was just a pup and she went easy on me that time. This time her dark blue eyes watched me hungrily as her wolf wanted to challenge the next alpha. Her wolf was pure white, the only sign of her age. She still stood a few inches taller than me with a lean frame. I stood rigid waiting for her to approach. She ran straight at me and fainted to the left. I fell for it and was sprawled in the grass from the force of her headbutt. She had knocked the wind out of me and I coughed as I stood back up. The look in her eyes was smug as she let out a yip. She pounded her paws on the ground in invitation. Come on pup. Show me what you’re made of She said into my mind. I ran towards her and vaulted over her, spinning quickly and grabbing her hind legs that I pulled out from under her with my jaws. She yelped in surprise as she was braced for a forward attack. She fell to her side but kicked me in the face catching her claw near my eye. I felt the blood as the corner of my eye started to swell. I growled in pain, and her expression softened for a second before she locked her jaws around my throat. I pulled up my right paw and braced all my weight on the back of her neck forcing her to release. We paced around each other and she jumped on my back laying on me pinning me to the forest floor. I struggled using all my weight and strength as I tried throwing her off me but nothing worked. Finally, I patted my paw on the ground in surrender. 

My grandfather’s laugh boomed across the clearing. “Damn Tabby, you could have gone easy on her.” He had shifted back to his human form and was dressing his wounds. His silver hair was mussed and his ice blue eyes showed nothing but humor. He readjusted his trusty suspenders to more firmly hold his pants over his slight beer belly that matched the ones of his drinking buddies Damien and Brad. 

“What would she learn if I did that?” Mimi said as she shifted back and went to tend to her wounds. Her white hair was just as stunning in her human form. She was shaped with the same curves my mother and I were blessed with, although less toned by her age. 

“Absolutely nothing.” I said following their lead. I rubbed the corner of my eye and pulled back my finger to see the blood, “But did you really have to go for my eye?” I asked her. 

“It was an accident and that I am sorry for.” She said, approaching me with a damp washcloth. She hummed ‘you are my sunshine’ as she cleaned my wounds, “There. All good to go. Off with you now.” She said with a smile and a swat on my behind. 

“Off to where?” I asked incredulously. 

“The next training session is at dusk. Go on and find your boyfriend.” She smiled. I groaned, rolling my eyes. 

“Listen to your grandmother” My grandfather said, “This battle is about more than just physical strength. As much as I hate saying it, with another alpha female in the running you have to win his heart too.” 

“Not you too.” I said looking at him in defeat, “How do you even know he’ll be out in the woods. He could be in town or working.” 

“He’s there.” Brad said. “He was at the Eastern border during this mornings patrol waiting for you.” He laughed running his hands through his brown, wavy, mullet.

“We told him we’d be sending you over about lunch time.” Damien added pulling a comb from his pocket to tend to his salt and pepper hair. 

“Alright. Alright. I’ll go.” I said. 

“You should probably change first.” Lydia offered wrinkling her nose.

“Meh. I’ll take a jump in the lake on my way.” I said taking off at a run as I shifted. 

“That’s your fault you know?” I heard my grandmother growl at my grandfather, “You raised a tomboy.” 

“Hey you’re the one supposed to raise her to be a lady.” My grandfather said in defense. Her response was just a murmur as my wolf ran down the path following Theo’s scent. 

He crashed through the brush tackling me. I snarled, nipping at his throat and kicking my back legs at him. My wolf whined in protest, but I was done being beat up today. Finally, I was able to kick him off and I tackled him back. He growled in protest at being pinned. I nuzzled him and licked his muzzle backing off so he could get back up. 

"Good morning to you too." He said shifting to his human form. 

"Hey you tackled me first." I pointed out as I returned to my human form as well. 

"I can't help that I was excited to see you." He said defensively. I rolled my eyes and he stiffened approaching me. "What happened?" He asked running a finger against the scratch. 

"Oh my grandma got a good blow in sparring today." I laughed. 

"Your grandma did this to you?" He asked incredulously. 

"Are you saying none of these scars came from your family?" I asked, running my fingers along the thin white scars on his forearms. 

"Well they are but, I thought packs normally went easier on their females. At least around here they do." 

I laughed, "Good hopefully the Ebony pack does it that way and it will be an easy win for me." 

"It'd be really easy if you just claimed me already." He growled. 

"What's the fun in that?" I asked, smiling. "So did Jessica get her flowers delivered last night or this morning?" 

He looked at me confused for a minute. "Oh. Nope just you. She got hers last year."

"You've only been courting a year?" I asked.

"Yup. She's two years younger than me, and wasn't allowed to date until she was 14. She just turned 15 two weeks ago. So I guess it's been a year and two weeks." He shrugged. 

"You're still courting her right?" I asked. 

"Why?"

"Because that's only fair." I answered, even though my wolf was growling and pacing inside at the thought and it made me nauseated. 

"But you're my mate?" He answered. 

"Yeah but if she wins you'll still be stuck with her so it's best if you continue the relationship until the competition is completed." 

"Are you trying to inflict maximum pain?" He asked, "Imagine how you would feel dating someone for a year and a half and then they leave you for someone else."

"Been there. Done that. She'll survive. Plus if you focus all your energy on me now it will hurt her more by making her think you don't want her. At least at the end of the competition she doesn't have a choice, and she will know you don't either. It'll be easier in the long run. Trust me."

"He cheated on you?" 

"What?!" 

"The guy you gave your virginity to. He cheated on you?" His voice was tense and I looked up into his eyes. They had gone dark with a barely controlled rage. 

"Yes, but that wasn't supposed to be the only thing you got out of that." I said. "It's better you continue dating her. Plus it's not really cheating since all parties know everyone is involved." He was still grinding his teeth with his fists clenched, "Theo did you hear what I just said?" 

"Yes."

"So you're going to continue to date her as well?" I asked. 

"Yes."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm going to kill him."

"Who?"

"Who else? That bastard for hurting you!" 

I facepalmed. "It was over seven months ago. It's fine. He was a shithead anyways." 

"I don't care. What's his name?"

"I am not telling you that. Now my uncle's said something about lunch?" I said trying to change the subject. He didn't budge. "I'm really hungry after getting my ass beat by my grandmother." I said pointedly. My stomach grumbled for emphasis. That finally got his attention.

"Yeah. I packed a picnic." He said more subdued as his shoulders finally relaxed. He began walking back towards where he came from and I followed. Lacing my fingers in his. He squeezed mine tight for a minute before holding them at a normal pressure. "It's my job as your mate to protect you." He finally grumbled. 

"I know." I gave his hand a squeeze in return, "But I meant it. It was a while ago, the relationship was going south anyways, and he's not worth it."

"He still hurt you." 

"I'm over it. I swear." 

"You were with him for a year and a half?" He asked, as we sat down where he had the blanket and basket set up alongside the pond. 

"Yup. He was sweet for the first six months. Then we...you know...and he got jealous, controlling, and possessive. I dealt with it for a year because well...he acted like my mom's husband. I didn't know better. Then I caught him cheating and called him out on it. So he broke up with me. I liked being single better anyways so I just stayed single until mom died and we had to move." 

"How did your mom die?"

"I don't know."

"Your grandpa said it was a car accident." 

"Yeah...about that. Ugh. Here we go." I said rubbing my hands on my face, "not a word of this leaves your mouth you hear me?" He nodded. "I got home from my friend Shelly's house and mom and her husband were arguing in the front room. Like always. Then he hit her. She told me to take Malcolm and run, so I did." 

"So she was alive?" 

"Yup." I said digging in the basket for a sandwich. 

"Then how do you know she's dead?"

"Because she didn't show up at my grandparent's."

"She couldn't have. She gave up her wolf. She wouldn't be welcome back here and she knew it. Are you sure she didn't just stay?"

"If she had just stayed she would have called. Let us know she was alive in any way she could. Carl was pissed I took Malcolm. He would have killed her for that alone." 

He nodded thoughtfully as he took a bite of his sandwich. "I'm sorry for your loss." He finally said. 

"Me too." 

"Are you sure he won't come looking for you?" He asked.

"We faked our deaths when we left. And even if he doesn't believe that he doesn't know where the ranch is. And even if he finds it I will kill him so no one else has to worry about it." 

"You're different from any girl I've met." Was all he said. I raised an eyebrow as I continued eating, "A lot of girls up here are tough. Ya gotta be for country living you know? They handle life and death and getting dirty without much of a fuss. Work hard for what they want. You take all of that to another level. You would relish in the blood and death of that man. You would tear him to shreds if you had that chance. You're more true grit tough." 

"Good movie." I interrupted. 

He snorted, "You would like westerns."

"Have you met my family?" I asked with a laugh, "Westerns and mobster movies are our favorites. Aside from cheesy 80s movies." 

He just stared at me, "Nice use of humor as a deflection method." 

"I don't come with a sugar coating." I shrugged, "Do I want to kill the man who killed my mother? Hard yes. Would it be prolonged, messy, torture? Once again yes. Am I willing to seduce you and fight dirty in the challenge to win the competition? Yes. But what those things have in common is family. Like any good gangster family is what motivates me. I will do anything and everything in my power to protect and avenge them. I'm willing to cross any line. And if you're going to continue down this path with me that's something you need to understand. Once I win you will be part of my family. Until then they come before you. Mate or no." 

"I understand." 

"Good."

"So you're not above seducing me? Wanna repeat a little of last night?" 

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah we should probably slow down a bit and actually get to know each other as people." I said. 

"Oh?" He asked. 

"Yeah, plus it's not fair to Jessica if I sleep with you while you two agreed to wait." 

He groaned, "But I don't want to sleep with Jessica. And as far as you I don't want to wait." 

I quickly moved away from his grabby hands "I know. As natural mates you want to claim me. Trust me I want to claim you just as much. But we have to do this fairly. And I believe we need to wait. Plus it will be so much sweeter when we finally do go all the way if we wait." I said getting up and brushing my sandwich crumbs off my pants. 

"Fine. Then I'm taking you on a real date. Be ready at 7." 

"What does being ready entail?" I asked. 

"Well a shower for starters" he said wrinkling his nose, I shoved him playfully, "hair, make up, casual dress like the sundress you wore yesterday." This time I crinkled my nose in mock disgust, "What? You don't like dresses?" 

"Not particularly." I answered. 

"Too bad. I like them on you. You have a great figure you should show it off." I motioned to my tight jeans and t-shirt. "Show it off with a little more skin." He winked. "See you at seven Lexie." He gave me a quick peck on the lips before walking back towards his house. I shook my head after him before running back home myself.