Samantha.
I doze off, my head slamming on the table when it slips out my hand. I wake back up immediately. The loud thud doesn't even stop the two of them from chattering. It is past three in the morning, and Eli and Kim will not shut the hell up. I am tired and exhausted from work and men, but these two want to have a slumber party. Kim made a pitcher of Jack and coke and threw some burgers on the stove. She also wrote a list of questions to ask Eli about werewolves. He doesn't seem to mind. He probably figures the more he talks the longer he stays. I've tried to kick him out 22 times already.
"Eli, it's very late, aren't you tired?." 23.
"No, my Luna." He smirks. "I will always have the energy to be in your presence." Kim blushes for me as I smack my head back down on the table.
I just really want to sleep!
"So how can I become a werewolf?" Kim asks. "Do I have to submit like an application to you or something?"
"No." He shakes his head with a laugh. "We only change humans who are our mates. It's dangerous, too dangerous to risk doing to random people. Though rogues do attack people and try to turn them to increase their numbers."
"Rogues, the ones who are no longer in a pack, right?" She slurs.
"You're my gold star student." He winks at her, causing her to happily clap to herself.
"So why risk your mates?" I look at him. This is the only question I am interested in asking. Is he thinking about changing me? I don't want that. Especially if it could kill me.
"Our mates are meant for us. We like to think that the Moon Goddess chose them because they are strong enough to survive the change. Why pair us with someone who will not make it?"
"Has it happened?" I asked. "Has a mate died during the transformation?"
His eyes hold mine for a moment.
"Yes."
"Doesn't that totally debunk your theory then?"
"No. The wolf tried to turn his mate because she was sick. She had a terminal illness in which he thought she would heal if she was one of us. He failed to consider her fragile state. She ended up dying during transformation."
"How sad.." Kim mumbled. I can see the tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. Yeah, she's f***ing drunk.
"I mean, it was also something she didn't want. To be turned, I mean."
"Why would someone do that? That's horrible, but I guess to save the one you love. I want a mate! So romantic." Kim's tears start to fall. What a mess she is when she's drunk. She swears she's not a crier but look at her.
"Did you know her?" I ask Eli.
"Yeah." He takes a sip of straight jack. "She was my brother's mate."
"Wow." There is nothing else I could say. I feel bad for even asking.
"Wow, 4am?!" Kim peeks at her phone. Her tears soak up immediately, leaving streaks of mascara down her face.
"Least Alex gets to sleep." I yawn.
"That boy sleeps like a dead person." Kim laughs a little too hard. The drunk bitch.
"He's here?!" Eli shoots up nervously knocking his chair back. It falls over with a large crash.
"Shhh!" I stand up just as fast and look over his shoulder to the other side of my studio. I stare at my bed waiting for Alex's little head to pop up from the sheets, but it doesn't.
"What's the matter with you Wolfy," Kim snickers as she chugs another cup of jack and coke. "Scared of kids?"
"No." He clears his throat. "I just didn't know he was here."
I study him. His posture is different. He is defintely nervous.
"Well it's late I should be getting back to the pack." He rushes passed the table and out the door.
"What the fuck?" Kim takes the words right out my mouth. "He's acting more like a scaredy cat than a wolf!" She snickers to herself. "Ugh, I don't feel good." She gets up and slugs her way to the bathroom.
I run after Eli. He is quick but I am able to catch up to him half way down the block. He is speed walking and I have to full on sprint to reach him.
"What the hell was that?!" I shout.
"What?"
"You know what. Why did you leave like that after realizing Alex is there?"
"Has nothing to do with him."
"We are lying to eachother now?" I cross my arms. When he doesn't reply I huff and turn back to go home. "Screw it."
I can't believe him. After all the promises and talk of marking me he is going to run away at the sight of my son? I am so pissed off I feel the hot tears run down my face.
"Wait!" He shouts and I stop keeping my back to him. "It's true. I'm scared to meet him."
Eli.
As an alpha I was raised to fear nothing but the loss of my pack, my family, and my mate.
I was raised to be tender with my family, honest and empathetic with my pack, and vunerable with my mate. Fear was never to be shown to anyone. Fear, to be honest was something I didn't really know. Until I met Sam. I am scared to lose her. I am scared to lose my pack. I am scared her child, who will hopefully be mines one day, will dislike me.
"I'm scared to meet him." I yell to her.
She gives her back to me. She is hurting and I could feel it. It is strange the connection we hold even with her being human and being unmarked.
"How would you feel if your son didn't like me?"
"Not everyone likes everyone. Everyone's different, sometimes personalities clash. As long as you respect eachother it shouldn't matter if he likes you."
"I don't believe that."
"Alex is special. He's a very gentle caring boy. If he doesn't like you its because you hurt people or you hurt him. Would you hurt him?"
She looks at me for the first time. Her nose is pink and her cheeks are flushed.
"Of course I would never hurt him or any one intentionally for that matter."
She nods. "Then you shouldn't be afraid." she smiled. "I like you. You're already at an advantage." She smiles.
That spreads warmth in me that swallows up the fear. I just don't want to lose her. I want so bad to be a part of her and her family. Alex not liking me will just make it even more difficult and maybe even validate all the odds against us. But, she likes me and she knows he will like me too. So for the moment, I can believe it.
"Can I meet him?" I move quickly towards her until she is in my arms.
"No." She laughs in my chest. "I'm not ready, we aren't ready."
"Ok. When you're ready." I kiss the top of her head. "For now, I'll pick you up early saturday."