“California’s got you.” Alex muffles under his breath. “Would you want to visit there?”
I nod my head to disagree with him. He smiles and rubs my cheek. Then, he leads me to a car.
“Oh!” I exclaim. “You have a car?”
“Yes. I didn’t, though.” He tells me and guides me inside. It looks very comfy and soothing. I feel warm as I sit.
He gets into the driver’s seat and turns on the gear.
“Do not ever let anyone know that we are wolves.” He instructs with a low voice.
“Yes boss.” I say, with a quiet, low, voice.
Then he drives the car towards a certain journey. First time I’ll embark on a journey in the city. All my life, I’ve lived in the forest and will bushes as a wolf.
“Do you have a palace too, or maybe a kingdom?” I ask.
“Do not question me while I drive.” He says with a gruff voice. I roll my eyes at him and he winks.
Low music plays.
As we get nearer to his mansion as I suppose, I start to feel eerie. I can’t explain better than that neither can I ask him why I feel that way.
“If you feel any way, let me know.” He suddenly says as I feel the urge to reveal my feel to him.
“Are we going to a grave or something?” I ask.
Silence.
He scoffs.
I chuckle nervously.
“Huh?” I question after not being able to endure the suspicious silence.
“When we get there, you’ll discover.” He tells me frankly. And after a few minutes, he drives into a park and shifts the gear. He turns off the keys and the car’s engine stops.
“Are we there?” I question, feeling amused because there’s no grave here. Just some folks walking along with their so-called babes, or say sidechicks.
He opens the car door for me and I step out.
“Hug me tightly.” He requests.
“Step back a bit.” I also request and he pleasurably does.
I run towards him as I jump on him and he controls me immediately. I guess if he was less strong, he would be lingering now. His veins pop out and I realize that I have a good body weight.
He carries me in his arms and kisses me on my lips, conveying me back to the car. I start to feel embarrassed now that some folks stare at us.
Some even take a snapshot of us and they’re probably going to post the pictures on Snapchat.
“Why are we heading back into the car?” I ask him, shaking my feet, wanting to be let down.
“Let me down!” I scream at him but he bubbles with laughter. He stares back at the small audience staring at us, and stares at me. He doesn’t look their way after then.
“Did you bring me out for fun?” I ask, nervously.
“Isn’t it worth it?” He asks. Gosh. This man brought me out just for fun. I thought we are there already. I start to feel nervous and less excited about this whole couple love of a thing.
“We are not there yet, but can we have our honeymoon tonight?” He asks me, dropping me gently back into the car.
“Why aren’t we there?” I ask with a thick voice. He notices something unusual but he rushes to his seat first. When he gets there, he looks back, wearing his seat belt.
“I guess you’re scared that I’m taking you to a place you’ve never been.” He speaks up. “I promise you that this is not a wolf world and we aren’t going to discuss anything wolverine with people till we leave.”
“Discuss wolverine with people?” I ask, extracting my question from his affirmation.
“Yes. We won’t let them be aware we are wolves. If they ever do, we can’t escape wrath from two great sides – the government and moon goddess. That’s the major reason why moon goddess assigned forests and bushes for pack houses.”
“Pack houses can’t be built in cities anyway.” I add.
“Nah, that’s not correct, Lisa.” He objects. “There was a time when moon goddess had her own pack house in a city here in America.”
“Were people aware that she owned it? Did people know who she is?” I ask again, perplexed.
“They did know. The government wasn’t able to stop her. She needed a greater space, came in person to ask the government for it. She was denied of that till she had to live and build her branch in the forest though she still owns that place in the city.” He says.
“Why don’t we go visit then – why don’t we go say, hi?” I request as he holds his lips in shock.
“I’m glad you didn’t decide to try it out. It’s better that it came like a suggestion.” He now says. “Do not ever try to get near there. If you’re indeed a wolf and you go there, you’d be caught red-handed. I promise you.”
“Don’t promise. Turn on the keys and let’s get home. I’m tired, hungry. Whatchamacallit.” I complain.
He softly chuckles and turns on the key as the car staggers before it moves forward. I laugh at that ignition or it’s the normal way? Probably it is, and I don’t know because I’m local. A wolf. I don’t come out to know what the city looks like.
Thoughts of dad, Jason, and James start to return to my head now. I want to get it out but they don’t, so I decide to try out a thing.
“Erm… Alex, I don’t know… probably you have earphones?” I request and he brings it out from his cross bag. I warmly collect it and appreciate. He rubs my hair and chuckles at that.
“Are we almost home?” I ask after getting the earphones.
“Make use of the earphones. We’re not getting there soon.” He states. I feel dejected at that but I use cool music to calm my tension.
‘When The Party’s Over by Billie Eilish’
“I was just joking. We are already at my mansion. Our mansion, sorry.” He says as my mood switches to being very happy.
“That’s very impressive. Kindly swerve into a park and let me get down and get in to my mate’s abode.” I remark and he chuckles again. He drives into a compound as I stare at the building. Heavenly.
“You fenced this house?” I ask.
He glares at me, and removes his invisible pair of glasses. I shake my head, and roll my eyes.
“It’s not fenced. This blockage is owned by some brothers behind us. If you mind your business well, you won’t have a problem with them.” He tells me and I open the door before he does.
“Oh – you little thing! Why would you open the door yourself? You might get hurt.” He cares.
“I’m not a kid. I can’t get hurt.” I profess and he points at a deep hole in front of us. It’s also a bit wide.
“Jump into it if you’re not a kid.” He requests. I roll my eyes angrily at him as he grabs my hands and leads me inside his mansion.
I hear muffled voices inside the building. I start to guess if it is a rented apartment.
“Did you rent this place?” I ask.
“No, I didn’t.” He retorts sharply.
“Did you rent it out then?” I ask again.
“I didn’t.” He says, shrugging his shoulders.
“Then, why the low noise?” I ask for the third time.
“It’s coming from – ugh!” He says and pauses when he’s about to mention the important word. As we climb up the stairs, he pulls me into a room that looks like a ward.
“Clarrisa.” He says as he pins me to the wall. My eyes run straight to the door that’s left open.
“Yes boss.” I reply as we look into each other’s eyes.
“Don’t complain. My in-laws are downstairs. I blocked them from viewing us. I have that power.” He tells me and I gulp, still staring at him.
“Don’t disrespect them. My mum’s there, my dad’s dead, but my grannie is alive. They’ll love to see you.” He finally says and shuts his eyes.
He opens them again, smirking as he lets loose of me and walks out of the room. He stops in his track at once, staring back at me,
“You can now follow me.” He says with a smirk. I walk up to him but he doesn’t wait. I run to him now.
“Don’t make a noise – your feet thud.” He complains. I catch up with him now and ask him t hear me out before we go and see his grannie and the rest.
“Why are we not mated yet?” I ask.
“Clarrisa…” He says and sniffles hard. “Ignore it.”
“No, I can’t.” I say, looking at him fiercely. “I’ve been wanting to ask you. Why is it so?”
“Forget it, Clarrisa!”
“Don’t raise your voice at me.” I warn him. “Did the moon goddess cancel it?”
“Destined, destined, destined!” He screams. “Nothing can stop that. It’ll definitely happen.”
“I hope so.” I say and gulp.
“Just don’t ask anymore question about it until I bring you to the altar.” He commands.
I follow him now as we head downstairs.
As we walk, I tap him. He faces me with a look of rejection.
“One last question.” I plead.
“Shoot.”
“Are they aware that you’re a wolf?” I ask as he seems lost in thoughts. Does he want to cook a lie for me? The answer should be given immediately or almost immediately.
“Dude, you still here?” I tap him on his shoulder as he shudders.
“They are aware, but don’t mention it.” He warns. I sigh at that and follow him behind to see his family.
I get downstairs now as I see all of them seated, like they’re waiting for somebody.
“Alex! Welcome home, how do you do?” Grannie greets.
“Alex! Cute wolf!” His mum praises him but Alex only waves at them only, he doesn’t leave me standing.
“I…” I want to greet but he holds my lips. I bow my head as he looks at me with a bombastic side eye.
“She’s my mate. Don’t probe further. She’ll be marked by me when there’s time.” He introduces me.
“That’s great to hear!” Grannie complements as a “thank you” erupts from my lips. She bows her head for that but mum doesn’t say a word again.
“Seems your mum is angry already.” I suggest and as Alex looks at her, he discovers it can be possible. He rushes up to meet her, but not without telling me to have my seat which I do.
“Is there anything wrong with her?” Alex whispers. I employ my wolf’s abilities to hear him clearly and also to see them clearly.
“Talk to me. I’m not convinced with your now happy looks.” Alex furiously asks her since she doesn’t give any response.
“She’s good, okay.” His mum compliments, rolling her eyes at me. Our gazes meet and she fidgets.
I chuckle nervously at that.
“My mate, my son’s mate.” Grannie calls. “Come over here. I wanna picture your beauty. You should have a dinner with us soon.”
I feel nervous to accept this offer but as I am about standing up to avoid being called a disobedient in-law, Alex rushes to me with an unbelievable speed. He bulges his eyes and stares deeply at me when he gets in front of me.
“I employed my wolf – damn. They could have noticed.” Alex says as he wraps his hands around mine, taking me to my feet to defend me.
“So, um…” He stammers and clears his throat. “I brought her here so you’ll know how and what she looks like. Our journey was tiring so we need to hurry up again.” He says as grannie smiles with happiness written over all her face. His mum maintains her straight face but I shove my eyes away from that.
Then, Alex takes me back upstairs.