First Full Moon

Chapter 9

I hadn't heard from Asher since my birthday and to be honest hadn't really realised, I had been so wrapped up in my Seb bubble that I hadn't noticed. All the drama's from before my party seemed so long ago.

"Any of you guys heard from Asher recently?" Henry asked us while we sat down under the tree for lunch.

Ellie and Sarah all looked around as if not even realising he wasn't there.

"Oh! Actually, now you mention it he has been M.I.A for a while now. He messaged me the other day asking for our P.E homework but that's it." Ellie said, you could see her trying to figure out when she last saw Asher in person. A feeling of guilt settled in my stomach. I know it's not my fault he wasn't my mate but I still felt a bit bad.

"Last time I saw him was at Alice's birthday. Did you see him Alice? You guys talk a lot don't you?" Henry looked at me expectantly. I didn't want to lie to my friends but I didn't want to tell them about what really went on. What if Asher is embarrassed and that's why he hasn't been at school?

"Ah na I haven't spoken to him since. Is he sick or something?" I answered truthfully because I really didn't know where he was.

"Well I think I'm going to go around to his house tonight to check on him. It's weird... I haven't spoken to him in days!" Henry said. You could see the worry on his face. 

"I'll come with you Henry" Sarah added, "I'm not doing anything tonight and I'm a bit worried about him."

We were walking back to the school building after lunch when Hayley and her friends bumped into us.

"Rude!" Hayley spat at us eyeing me up and down like she was sizing an opponent.

"Oh sorry! I didn't see you." I replied to her trying to diffuse the tension.

"Just like Seb didn't see you until you turned 18 and now suddenly you're the only girl he sees?" Hayley said directly to me. The jealousy and anger coming off of her in waves. Her friends behind her all laughed and nodded like she only spoke the truth. This was obviously what she wanted - an opportunity to speak her mind to me.

"What did you just say to her?!" Ellie interrupted. I could see her hands shaking - she was trying to control her wolf. 

"You heard me! Alice thinks now she's Seb's mate she owns the place. Well I've got news for you - I've been around way longer than you Alice. Soon Seb will get bored of you and come running back." Hayley looks back at her friends for reassurance and back up. They willingly oblige.

I didn't know what to say - confutation wasn't high up there on my list of favourite things. I felt like a deer in headlights. Then this power came over me out of no where. I felt my wolfs presence align with my own. "Well you are welcome to wait Hayley. I hope you've got a lot of spare time on your hands. Now get out of my way." Hayley's head dropped and she obeyed without a word. All of her friends looked shocked and slightly awed.

"What was that?" I asked Sarah and Ellie when we were far enough away that Hayley couldn't hear us.

"I think you used your Luna power!" Sarah answered. "It really was quite a sight to see. You suddenly stood up straighter, gave direct eye contact and let her have it. Everyone around could feel this aura around you." she recollected.

"It was freaking amazing! You boss b***h you!" Ellie exclaimed excitedly making all three of us laugh. 

"But seriously, does she think she can out-do the mate bond? She's lost it!" Sarah added shaking her head. Always the mate-bond advocate. 

I knew I shouldn't doubt Seb's feelings for me after all the effort he has put in but there is always a seed of doubt sitting there - what if he only thinks he has feelings for me because of the bond? Would he even look twice if the bond wasn't there?

After school Henry and Sarah dropped round to Asher's house to find he wasn't home. Sarah sent out a group text message:

SARAH: Just stopped in at Asher's. He's not home but his Dad said he'll be at school tomorrow. He has been doing some school from home. Didn't say why though.

ELLIE: Well that sort of answers that he's ok?

HENRY: Hopefully we can find out more tomorrow. Must have been pretty serious to miss so much school.

SARAH: But he's pretty smart - I'm sure he didn't miss out on much. And Ellie said he was asking for homework.

ALICE: At least we know he is ok! See everyone tomorrow!

ELLIE: Love you all! xxx

At least I knew he'd be at school tomorrow. Hopefully he has put the whole 'destined mate' thing behind him and we can just go back to being friends. 

I was upstairs doing my homework when I heard Dad call out from the other room, "Alice, We're just going over to Sue and Paul's for dinner. There's lasagne in the fridge for you and we bought you some donuts on the kitchen bench."

"Have fun!" I yelled back wondering exactly how many donuts they bought.

"Night!" Dad called back before I heard the door close and lock behind them.

I already knew Dylan was staying at his latest girlfriends house so I was home alone. The house to myself for the night! I could choose what is on TV and eat dinner on the couch in the lounge room. It's the small things in life. 

I was just heading to bed when I heard a slam. It frightened the life out of me. I knew no one was home so I walked into the kitchen to see if something had fallen. I walked in and the window was closed. Strange - I thought I opened it earlier to air out the lasagne smell. I shrugged it off, must have only thought about doing it.  I made sure I locked the window and headed down the hall to my bedroom. I was brushing my teeth when I heard another bang. I was starting to get a bit freaked out now. I don't really like being home alone at night especially with creepy noises. I'm all good until it hits 10:00pm, then it start to give me the creeps. This is why I don't watch scary movies. I walked out into the hall holding my toothbrush for protection. I turn into the entrance way and see Jammy, our cat, standing in the middle of the room with the vase of flowers scattered on the floor. Damn cat must have knocked them over.

"Jammy! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!" I asked the cat, obviously not expecting a response.

Jammy just rubbed himself on my leg and walked back into the lounge.

I picked up the vase and went back to my room. Lucky it was filled with fake flowers so I didn't have to clean up spilled water. Still a bit creeped out. I had this uneasy feeling and I wasn't sure why. I could feel my wolf was on edge as well making me jumpy. I got back into my room and sat on my bed. Still holding my self defence toothbrush. I looked down and laugh at what a fool I am - what the hell did I plan on doing to an intruder with a toothbrush? Brush them to death? i***t. I laughed at myself some more and put my toothbrush on my bed-side table.

*tap* *tap* *tap* 

The hairs on the back on my neck stand up. 

I can hear what sound like little rocks being thrown into the glass of my window. I am so terrified I can barely move. My hands and knees are beginning to shake as my wolf prepares to defend us. I turn to my window absolutely petrified of what I might see but am surprised when all I find is a letter.

I cautiously walk over and pick up the letter. Sitting on my bed I open it up and start to read:

We will be together,

You know that it's true.

When the new moon rises,

our love will renew.

You say you don't know yet,

but I know that you do.

We belong together,

and it soon will be true.

I sat there in the midst of fear and confusion. The first person I thought of was Asher but this seemed a bit extreme for him. Didn't it? He saw Seb and I find our mate. He can't still be thinking it is supposed to be him. Could he? My wolf was still unsettled. It was making me feel more uneasy than I already was. I knew Mum and Dad would be home soon but I didn't want to scare them by telling them the situation I found myself in. I immediately knew who I wanted to call and found myself on my phone before I could even weigh the pros and cons.

"Hello?" Seb groggily answered the phone. Obviously he was already asleep. I instantly regretted calling him. 

"Hi." I replied awkwardly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

"Oh Alice! It's fine! It's better to talk to the real you than dream of you anyway." Seb replied. Amazing, even half asleep he can pull out the cheesiest lines and make me forget about everything else. "Are you ok?" He asked, concern in his voice. 

I didn't reply. I was ok when I was on the phone to him but I knew as soon as we hung up I wouldn't be.

"Alice?" Seb asked again, I could hear him moving around his room.

"Yea, sort of. I'm home alone and the house has been making some creepy noises. Just scared me that's all." I downplayed it. I didn't want him freaking out like Ialready was. 

"Alright, I'm coming over. I'll be like 2 minutes. I'll knock 3 times so you know its me ok?" I could hear Seb closing his door as he was talking to me. I internally did a little victory dance. Part of me knew this is exactly what I wanted - my big bad Alpha coming to protect me. The other part was scolding me for playing the damsel in distress so well.

"Ok" I replied. "See you soon."