Struggle for Love

Chapter 7 Welcone Home

"Wow, you look amazing!" Zachariah breathed out. I sniffed the air. Peppery pine. I sniffed again. The smell was intoxicating. I shook my head and growled once more.

"Get out!" I boomed. I took a step in front of Momma Beth. "Now!" Zachariah stared at me, completely unfazed.

"Strawberries... chocolate... honey... mmmm... chocolate..." Zachariah stood. I felt the hair on the back of my neck begin to stand up. I felt my teeth elongate and I growled menacingly. Suddenly I felt something smack me on the top of the head. I whipped around to see Momma Beth holding a newspaper, with her hands on her hips.

"Don't you growl in my house Wolfie girl. You know I hate that shit." She swatted me on the head again before walking around me to the kitchen table. She then smacked Zachariah on the head with the newspaper causing him to growl at her which made her smack him again. "Boy, didn't I say no growling?" She said sternly. I stared dumbfounded at the scene before me.

"I'm sorry Momma Beth." He said quietly.

"That's right. You should be. Now come on now. I made pie!" I dropped my suit case and walked mechanically over to the table. The closer I got to Zachariah the stronger his scent became. His scent was invading every fiber of my being. He kept sniffing the air with a love-drunk look plastered on his face.

"You know why he's looking at us like that?" I ask Blue. "Yep!" She saids popping the "p". "Well?" I probe. "You really are dumb aren't you?" I growl at her and receive a swift smack on the head by Momma Beth.

"No growling! Now, you want ice cream with your pie, Wolfie girl?" She smiles down at me. I grin at her and nod. She smiles and walks away. I return my gaze to Zachariah who hasn't taken his eyes off of me.

"Stop looking at me." I glare at him.

"Sorry. You're just so gorgeous." He replies dreamily. I huff at him and look away. Sadie just sits watching us. Giggling.

"Momma, what is going on? Why is he here? And why are you giggling?" I demand.

"Nothing, River. He's just here is all. How are you feeling? Do you feel anything?" Sadie asked excitedly. The situation feels awkward and I just want to run away to either my room or just out the door.

"I feel uncomfortable... thats what I feel. Uncomfortable." I say blandly. Sadie looks crestfallen.

"God dammit Sadie! Stop messing with her. Wolfie girl, that boy is your mate. Do you feel drawn to him?" Momma Beth asks.

I feel like someone poured a bucket of icewater on my head. I look at Zachariah but he seems somewhere else as he gazes at me. I stand up.

"Momma Beth, I'm tired. I think I'm going to go to bed."

"Oh, I'll come with you." Zachariah saids as he stands to follow me.

"No. You won't. Good night Momma Beth." I lean over and kiss her on the cheek as I trudge up the stairs with Max at my feet. I close the door and lay on my bed. Listening to the conversation down stairs.

"Zachariah you blasted fool! You creeped her out! Hell you creeped me out!" Momma Beth whisper yelled.

"I didn't do anything. I just looked at her." He sounded hurt and deflated.

"You gawked at her like she was a steak is what you did! Scared the poor child half to death. I told you two idiots not to have him here on her first night home but nooooo... no body listens to crazy old Granny." Momma Beth fumed.

"I just wanted to be near her. I didn't want to scare her." Zachariah murmured. For some reason the hurt in his voice made my chest heavy with sadness.

"Granny, you know how wolves are with their mates! I thought she would be happy!" Sadie chimed in.

"Well she damn well wasn't. Now, she's not eating the pie I baked for her. It's her favorite. Damn fools." I could hear her footsteps recede to her room as the door slammed.

I woke to birds chirping and sun shining brightly through my window. I look at the clock and it read 9:00am. I slept later than intended. I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and comb my hair. I looked into the mirror and found my mother staring back at me but like always, my father's eyes shown brightly. I took a deep breath. Maybe I should go for a run and hit the gym. Over the last eight years strength training has been my favorite pass time. I've taken both kick boxing and mixed martial arts. I didn't feel like I'd ever need them but I enjoyed the work out. I threw on some black yoga pants, peach tank top, and my trainers. I quietly went down stairs and out the door. I took off down the driveway and began my run through town.

Everything was quiet and peaceful. I could hear the birds chirping as everything began to wake up to start the day. I could feel my thighs beginning to burn as I headed back towards home. Stores were starting to open and people began filling the streets. I got alot of stares from the locals. I assumed it was because they didn't recognize me.

When I was half way home a low growl stopped me in my tracks. I turned around to see where the sound was coming from but there was nothing there. I lifted my nose into the air and sniffed: pack wolf. I scanned the tree line and found a pair of green eyes staring back at me.

"What do you want?" I said quietly. I knew he could hear me. I hear soft snapping and then a tall mountain of a man came wondering out of the trees in nothing but a pair of shorts. His muscles shining in the sun. He was familiar. His beard was peppered with white and his face was rugged and worn. As he walked up to me I could feel the powerful aura surrounding him.

"What are you doing here rogue?" He growled.

"This is human land. I can be here if I want." I said firmly. A cold smile crept onto his face.

"Not anymore. This is my land and you're trespassing." He continued walking toward me. I stood my ground.

"Like hell it is. I'm doing nothing wrong. So f**k off, will ya. I'm trying to run." I stared the man down. He stopped for a second, shocked someone would dare speak to him in such a way.

"You've got a dirty mouth for such a pretty thing." He said as he continued walking toward me. My heart quickened in my chest.

"River... this man is dangerous. Run!" Blue warned. When in danger I always run but I'm tired of running. I stared daggers at the man.

"Listen, dickhead, don't even think about it. I'm doing nothing wrong. Now, leave me alone." I warned. The man laughed a cold and heartless laugh.

"Naw, I don't think I will." And with that he dove towards me. Out of instinct I dodged him causing him to hit the pavement head on. When he turned towards me again he had blood trickling down his forehead.

"That's ok darlin. I like it when they put up a fight." My stomach dropped.

"Dammit River! I said to run!" I turned on my heals and darted in the direction of home.