Witchery

Chapter 17

I am still upset with Adriel when he leaves early next morning, even though he apologized and admitted that it was wrong for him to stalk me like that. He agreed that he would figure out a solution for me, so I can be social without having him trailing behind me like some bodyguard. I try my best to let all my negative emotions go, focusing on the day ahead. I am definitely looking forward to going shopping with Sera, and I know she is excited too. 

“I think it has been years since I last went shopping.” She admits when we get into her car. The ride goes smoothly this time compared to when she took me to the hospital last week. Her senses are already sharpened like that, another great werewolf trait. 

“I guess it has been years for me, too.” I say, while putting on my seatbelt. 

Sera takes us to another part of the town, close to the central train station. Here, tall buildings are rising, everything in a new, modern shape. 

We park underneath the mall, which is huge. We both feel a bit lost when we make it up from the parking lot, but we hurriedly find an interactive board, showing us where we are and how to get to the different stores. 

Firstly, we head to a normal drugstore, where I get some more make-up and products for my skin. Sera gets help finding the perfect products for her face. 

“I want to start shining again.” She tells me with a laugh. 

We have a great morning, although we both feel very overwhelmed with all the stores. The mall has several floors, and an enormous fountain with palms growing on the side in the middle of the center of the building. I finally get to try on a lot of different sizes and shapes and colours, and the salespeople in the stores are always very nice and helpful. I end up with several bags full of both basic jeans, jackets, tees and shoes, however I also get some more interesting pieces, like a long, red afternoon dress, and some dresses for going to the club. I also find both ballet clothes and dancing clothes. 

Around noon we head to the top of the mall where all the restaurants are located. Here we order club sandwiches and mango juice to go with it. 

“I am sorry that Adriel treats you like a child.” Sera says all of a sudden. 

“But I really want you to be patient with him, he only wants to make sure you are safe, and there is a real threat out there.” 

“I know, I just wished he would make me a part of the discussion. It wouldn’t feel as bad if I knew of the process and what is going to happen.” 

“Yes, I have told him multiple times, but he just thinks that it would feel more natural to you if you don’t know anything. And that it would scare you less.” 

“It would, for sure, scare me less, but the rest is bullshit. This is just ruining our relationship. Gosh I feel so angry with him all the time.” 

“You didn’t mate yet, did you?” She asks me directly.

I blush. It is pretty awkward to talk about s*x with the guy’s mother. But I guess I don’t have my own mother to talk with on these matters. 

“No.” I admit.

“You know some of the frustration might come from that. You aren’t close to your wolf yet but wolfs tend to be very sexually driven when they meet their mates. It’s our animal instincts taking over. So not having mated with you mate will definitely make you sexually frustrated, too. You just don’t feel it like that since you aren’t as attached to your wolf.”  

I frown. I hadn’t thought about it like that. Maybe Sera has a point. I try to feel my wolf within me as Lena has suggested I work on; however, she is still pretty faint. 

Maybe mating would help? I can’t help but blushing again, sitting in the middle of the busy mall, thinking about s*x. But more and more often I start imagining how it would feel to have s*x with Adriel. 

Would I enjoy it? I don’t even know if I have had it before. 

“How about you and Adriel’s father? Did you mate immediately?” I am very aware of the awkward question, but Sera opened the discussion and I feel like I need to get more information on everything before jumping to conclusions. 

“No, we did not. We were afraid of what our packs would think. We were both very formal about it. When we realized we were each other’s mates, we decided to go to our packs at once and have the discussion before even touching each other.” 

 “But what if your packs wouldn’t have accepted the mating bond?” 

“Haha, oh we would probably have run away for some time. I know we sound like the perfect kids, but we wouldn’t be able to hold back from each other. Luckily, our packs decided that it wasn’t worth the beef, so they let us have each other.” She smiles, lost in her memories for some time. I leave her sitting, checking my phone. Adriel has texted me, asking how my day is, almost an hour ago, but I have diligently not answered him yet. I decide that I have put him on ice for long enough and open up the text, telling him everything is fine, then asking how he is. 

He answers me almost immediately, telling me he is happy I am having a good time, and that work is super boring, he would actually rather be shopping right now. I can’t help myself but smiling a bit for myself. I mean, he is a bit cute after all. 

Sera pulls me out of my texting by saying, all of a sudden, that maybe it is time for her to sell her house. 

I look up, surprised.

“You want to move? Why now?” 

“Yes, when you move in with Adriel. It is way too big for me anyways. And I never really realized how it keeps constantly reminding me of Simon. You have helped me see some things, Esme. I am really happy you are my son’s mate, you will help him see things too, no doubt.” 

I almost get tears in my eyes when I hear her saying this. 

“Thank you.” I whisper to her and she returns my smile. 

 After paying for the food, we go for another few shops. Sera buys a few, green summer dresses and I get a nice pair of biker boots, matching Adriel pretty well. I also got tight leather pants and some cool band tees. I also get some jewelry to match my outfits. 

We then head to the hair dresser, finally getting my splitter ends cut. My hair now reaches the middle of my back instead of almost reaching my butt. 

Sera drives me to Ariana’s place and walks me to her front door. 

A very tired Ariana opens up the door. She has puffy eyes, and is just wearing big, white sweater and pajamas trousers, like she just got up or never changed from her night outfit.

“Mum, you are here too?” She says, yawning.

“Well yes, I don’t think I have been here since you moved in really. So, I thought it would be nice to step by.” 

“Oh okay, well come on in, but please keep your voices down, Elise is sleeping.” 

“She is sleeping now?” Sera frowns. 

“Yes I… I don’t know what is going on with her.” Ari answers, her voice breaking. 

“Oh baby.” Sera says, taking Ariana into a big hug. 

Sera ends up eating dinner with us, and Ariana explains that Elise came home just a few hours ago, having been out the entire night. She was reeking of alcohol and actually threw up in the toilet, before collapsing on the bed. 

Ariana had been up most of the night worrying about her, and she doesn’t really know what to do about the situation. This time, she actually cries, and both Sera and I do our best to comfort her. 

Ariana then lets us show her all the stuff we bought, and we start having fun with cat walking in front of her, Sera on it as well. Soon, Ariana looks like herself again, and starts getting excited for the ballet class ahead of us. She also comments on my new hair, praising the hairdresser for his work.

Sera leaves after dinner, taking the shopping bags with her, and I get dressed in my new gear. I have bought a blue leotard with a pretty lace back. I have also bought pink tights, knitted shorts and ballet slippers. 

“Damn girl, you really look the part now.” Ariana says, when she sees me in the new clothes. She helps me tie my hair down, and we both pull on some trousers and a jacket, before crossing the street to the dance studio. 

Tinka is inside, waiting for us. She gives us both a hug, but she instantly sees that there is something up with Ariana.

“What’s up girl?” 

“Oh, it is just Elise. She is acting weird these days. She isn’t keeping her job and she came home from the city just a few hours ago, throwing up, before hitting the bed.” 

Ari, once again, suppresses her tears, just as Ballet Master Henderson walks in, having all of us lining up on the barres. 

I enjoy the training, already feeling more at ease with the moves. However, I can tell Ariana isn’t really in it today, she doesn’t say much, and Henderson tells her more than once to focus and concentrate. I feel really sorry for her, and I decide that I have to talk to Elise soon to see if I can find out what is going on. She just isn’t answering my texts, so I have trouble figuring out how to talk to her. Maybe I should try to call her? 

I realise I am caught up in my own thoughts, when ballet master Henderson has to tell me to focus, too. I blush, silently apologizing, and spend the rest of the class, focusing on every word he says, and every move he shows. 

“So girl, how was your shopping?” Tinka asks after class. “I would really have loved to join, you know?” 

“Yes, I know, I would have loved that too.” I answer, looking down in embarrassment. 

“However, Sera and I had some quality time, which was nice.” 

“Yeah she finally realized she has to move out of that old house.” Ariana chimes in. 

“That it great to hear! She should never have stayed in there for such a long time.” Tinka nods. 

We have made it out to the black car, which is parked right in front of the studio as usual. 

“Girl, send me picks of what you got, and see you both Thursday. Also, I hope you and Elise work out things, I dig you.” Tinka says as a goodbye, hugging both of us, waving at Adriel, before leaving down the street. 

“See ya, girl. And don’t worry about me, I am fine.” Ari tells me, before I get to ask. She also waves at her big brother, before walking across the street. I get into the car.

“Hey baby, how was it?” Adriel asks, smiling. 

“It was great. But Ariana and Elise have some trouble.” I tell him what happened today, and he looks almost shocked. 

“She didn’t tell me anything. I guess that is why she has been so unfocused on her pack duties lately.” 

We have made it out of the central part of the city, now moving along the residency areas which leads us to Sera’s house. 

“Oh, and Sera wants to move out.” I tell him. 

“Really? That is amazing news. She should have moved out ages ago.” Echoing Tinka’s words, he takes a turn going up Sera’s street.

“Yes, she told me as soon as I move out, she’ll sell the house, it is way too big for only one person. She even realized that it isn’t healthy for her to walk around in your dad’s memories.” 

Adriel nods, saying he knows just the right place for her to move to, close to her old pack’s territory. 

We arrive, and Adriel parks the car, then takes my hand. 

“Listen baby, I know I haven’t been very good at… well anything concerning you lately. I am still working on something to make your life easier, and I promise I’ll tell you about everything, as soon as I know what to do exactly.  I understand if you are mad at me, but I really hope you can bear with me for just a bit longer.” 

I smile. 

“Thank you for saying this. I know I also get a bit frustrated in general right now. Sera… Sera thinks it may be because we haven’t, well, mated yet.” 

“Well, that isn’t the only reason, you have all the rights in the world to be frustrated right now. I get it. And I am not helping you the way I should. But I just don’t know how to handle a situation like this. You have to understand, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to you.” 

Nodding, I lean into his embrace, kissing him passionately on the mouth. He instantly answers my kiss, grabbing the back of my head to keep me close. 

When we break apart, he says,

“I don’t want to pressure you on the mating matter. You know that. So baby, just take your time.” 

“Thank you.” I say, before getting out of the car, him following suit. 

But I feel the sensation in my lower stomach. The one yearning for him. I lick my lips, my head all of a sudden not being able to think about anything but s*x.