KEILAH
My heart pounded hard in my chest as Ralph dragged me away. I glanced back at Damien, who stood there watching us, his expression unreadable.
When we were far enough from Damien’s eyes, Ralph paused and turned to face me. I flinched back, expecting a slap or worse from him, but he just took a few steps back and shifted into his huge sleek black wolf form. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of his wolf. So magnificent, big, and so close to me.
Hop on, his voice slipped into my head, his voice calm yet insistent.
I hesitated for a moment but then took a tentative step forward.
“You’re beautiful,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. I instinctively reached out my hand, my fingers trembling slightly.
His wolf was breathtaking, his fur a sleek, inky black. Its eyes, a striking shade of amber, watched me intently, filled with a mix of urgency and reassurance. I took another slow step, my heart racing with a blend of fear and admiration.
With deliberate gentleness, I placed my hand on its fur, feeling the warmth and strength beneath my fingers. I brushed my hand softly along its side, marvelling at the silky texture.
“You’re incredible,” I murmured, my voice filled with genuine wonder as I continued to move my hand slowly, tracing the lines of its powerful muscles until I reached its face. My fingers brushed its snout, my touch delicate and reverent. Its eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of softness in their depths.
C’mon mate, I gotta get you out of here. Ralph’s voice slipped into my head again, snapping my attention back. His wolf crouched down, urging me to climb up. Taking a deep breath, I climbed onto its broad back, my fingers gripping its thick fur tightly.
Hold on tightly and bend a little bit; you’re not on a horse, Ralph said, and I did as instructed. With that, he took off with a powerful leap. The sudden rush of speed stole my breath away, and I clung to its fur, my heart racing with exhilaration and fear. Wind rushed past my face, whipping my hair back as the forest blurred around me. Trees blurred into streaks of green, and the ground seemed to vanish beneath us. I felt the rhythmic power of its muscles beneath me, each stride fluid and strong. Despite the initial shock, a sense of awe washed over me. Riding on Ralph’s wolf form was unlike anything I had ever imagined-wild, freeing, and wondrous.
I lost track of time, lost in the sensation of speed and the rhythmic power of Ralph’s wolf beneath me. Suddenly, I felt Ralph’s wolf begin to slow, and then it came to a halt. Ralph’s voice slipped into my mind again. Get down.
I slid off its back, my legs trembling slightly as they touched the ground. As soon as I was steady, Ralph shifted back to his human form. I instinctively looked away, my cheeks burning as I realized he was now naked.
Then I noticed where we were-right in front of the pack house. I could feel eyes on us from the windows and other corners around. With a gasp, I leapt in front of him, spreading my arms wide.
“Ralph, why did you shift here?” I hissed, my voice low and frantic, trying to shield him with my body. “Everyone is watching you!”
Ralph chuckled softly, seemingly unfazed. “It’s alright,” he said, his voice calm.
I kept my eyes averted, my face burning with embarrassment. “Still, a little warning would have been nice,” I muttered, trying to maintain some semblance of composure.
One of the pack members rushed out of the house.
“Alpha, you’re needed on a call by the council,” he said urgently.
Ralph nodded in acknowledgement, then turned to me, his expression serious. “Let’s talk later,” he said, his voice gentle but firm. Without waiting for my response, he strode past me and into the house.
Taking a deep breath, I looked around and noticed the curious stares from the pack members. Feeling the heat rise in my cheeks again, I quickly followed Ralph inside, hoping to blend into the background and avoid any more unwanted attention.
Once inside, I started looking for Dahlia. I needed specifications about the dream I had told her about. It looked like she knew something about it, and now that I am back, I needed to know.
I moved quickly through the house, checking room after room. The kitchen, the common area, even the library-all empty of the familiar face I sought. My footsteps echoed in the hallways, the sense of urgency growing with each passing moment. Where could she be?
As I walked back and forth along the hallway, calling her name, a sudden wave of dizziness hit me. The edges of my vision blurred, and I staggered, reaching out to steady myself against the wall.
My breath came in shallow gasps as I tried to regain my balance. Leaning heavily against the wall, I closed my eyes for a moment, willing the dizziness to pass. “Come on, Keilah, hold it together,” I muttered to myself, squeezing my eyes shut for a moment.
As the dizziness subsided, I took a deep breath and gave up on finding Dahlia for the moment. My body felt heavy and tired, and I needed to rest. Slowly, I made my way to Ralph’s room. The door stood slightly ajar, and with a gentle push, I entered, sinking onto his bed. Closing my eyes, I tried to cool myself down, letting the silence and stillness calm my racing heart. Gradually, the dizziness faded completely, and my mind wandered to Cora. I’m sure she’s waiting for my call.
With a sudden sense of urgency, I reached into my back pocket and pulled out the phone she had given me and dialled my aunt’s number, and pressed the phone on my ear. The phone rang several times before a voice answered. However, it wasn’t my aunt’s; it was Cora’s.
“Hello?”
“Cora, where’s Auntie? Is she all right?” I inquired, sensing Cora’s deliberate silence on the other end of the line. “She’s resting,” Cora responded curtly, the click of a closing door punctuating her words.
“Now, spill it,” she demanded, her tone tinged with urgency. “When were you planning on telling me about your entanglement with vampires? And don’t lie about anything because I saw it all. That enigmatic man at my house… I noticed the shift in his gaze when he caught sight of my blood.”
“I… I was going to tell you, Cora,” I stammered, my voice tinged with guilt. “I just… I wanted to find the right moment. “But everything has been so chaotic lately.”
Cora’s silence conveyed her scepticism, but she allowed me to continue.
“And about the man who brought us to Auntie’s house,” I confessed, hesitating over my words. “He’s… he’s a werewolf, and he’s the one I’m dating. Though dating might not be the right word.”
There was a pause on the line before Cora’s voice sliced through the air with razor-sharp clarity. “What do you mean, ‘seeing might not be the right word’? And what does that mean?”
“He’s… he’s more than just someone I’m dating,” I admitted, feeling the weight of uncertainty settle upon my shoulders.
“And the vampire,”
Cora’s interruption snapped me out of my reverie. ” What is he to you?” she pressed, her voice sharp with curiosity and concern.
I paused, grappling with the complexity of my emotions and the nature of my connection with Damien. “I’m not entirely sure,” I confessed, the uncertainty weighing heavily on my words. “But there’s something between us, something… I myself failed to comprehend.”
Cora’s response was swift and decisive. “Well, whatever it is, just be careful,” she cautioned, her concern palpable even through the phone line. “Vampires and werewolves… It’s like something out of a fantasy novel. Make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.”
With Cora’s words echoing in my mind, I nodded, a silent affirmation of her warning. “I will,” I promised, grateful for her steadfast support.
Before the brief pause settled between us, Cora’s voice broke through again, a hint of concern lacing her words. “Does Auntie know anything about… you know, those two supernatural men?” she inquired, her tone lowering conspiratorially.
“No, she doesn’t. And please don’t say anything to her,” I urged, my voice urgent.
“Of course I won’t. Whatever the case is, I’m just grateful that I’m here and that I can talk to my friend again,” she said, her voice tinged with emotion. Before I could reply, there was a sharp knock on the door, and my heart skipped a beat as Benita poked her head inside. “Can I come in?” she asked.
“Cora, let’s talk later,” I said quickly to my friend before ending the call. Rising to my feet as Benita entered, I couldn’t hide the unfriendly edge in my tone. “What do you want now?” I asked, knowing that our interactions had always been strained and likely always would be.
Expecting the usual brashness from her, I braced myself for her inevitable retort. However, I was taken aback when instead of the expected outburst, she took a hesitant step forward, her expression earnest.
“I… I’m here to apologize,” she began, her voice uncharacteristically soft. “For everything. The way I’ve treated you, the things I’ve said… I know I’ve been out of line.”
I blinked in astonishment, caught off guard by her unexpected admission. “Apologize? What do you mean?” I asked, unable to conceal my disbelief.
She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before continuing. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately, and I realize that I haven’t been fair to you. I’ve let my own insecurities and issues cloud my judgment, and I’ve taken it out on you.”
“I want to make it right.”
“I know it won’t happen overnight, but I’m willing to try. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness.”
I stared at her in total aghast, my mind reeling with disbelief. What was this sudden change of heart? Was this some kind of twisted game or manipulation?