SPENCER
I lay in the clearing with my eyes on the sky, thinking of Alex, imagining her sunbathing on one of Savannah's beaches.
Then my thoughts traveled back to graduation, then Brian, and then to Finn. To the day I first met him when he stood up to Brian for me after the party and then told me I was a werewolf.
I remembered the day in the coffee shop when I asked him for proof that he was a werewolf and he showed me his gorgeous wolf’s eyes for the first time. Our conversations on the phone all night long during the full moon. And everything after that until the moment we kissed in this clearing for the first time.
I sat up and looked around. I didn’t know how much time had passed, and I wondered if he had finished talking to his friends. I got up and headed back to the river.
After a few steps across the bridge, I stopped and looked down into the water, at the reflection of the sun that looked like a small fireball. The moving water made the fireball dance, jump, and make circles. I was so attracted to this pageant that I didn't hear when somebody approached me.
Of course, he would know where to find me.
Smiling, I turned around.
“You.” My smile was replaced with a deep frown. “What are you doing here?” That’s all I managed to say before the shock followed as I stared at the blue-eyed guy from the gas station.
“I wanted to see you.” His lips twitched in a cryptic smile. “To introduce myself.”
“Why?”
“We didn’t get to talk much last time I saw you. I’m Eric. I would like to know you better.”
That is so creepy. How the hell did he find me?
I pulled all my courage together and fired out. “Listen, I don’t know how you found me here, but this is a really bad time for this. And this is private property. You shouldn’t be here.”
“Does it belong to your family?”
“It belongs to me.” I heard Finn’s cold voice and looked back. He stood at the end of the bridge with a murderous look on his face. My heart stopped beating for a moment.
The Eric guy didn’t move a muscle but gazed back at Finn like he knew exactly what he was getting into.
I didn’t want to see a fight right now, and I hurried to Finn’s side.
“He was leaving. He probably didn’t see the sign.” I said aloud before I gazed at Finn and whispered, “Don’t start anything.”
But standing like a monument, Finn didn’t even look at me, and as he glared at the guy, I saw the golden ring glow around his pupils. And I realized what that meant.
No way. Oh my God, does this mean that this son of bitch is a wolf? THE wolf?
This was bad. I turned back to the guy.
“You need to leave.” My voice was quiet but firm. “Now. Like I said, you shouldn’t be here.”
“You heard her,” Finn nearly growled, a muscle jumping in his jaw.
“Very well,” The guy arched a brow and smirked like he just won something. “Until we meet again.” He held his eyes on me for a second, then turned and strode away.
For a moment, the two of us stood on the bridge, looking after the Eric guy.
“Finn?” I looked up at him, and he finally turned his eyes to me.
“Let’s go.” He put his hand around my waist and led me back to the house.
Still looking angry, Finn was deep in his thoughts, and I was afraid to say a word. But the moment we reached the backyard, I stopped.
“Finn, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”
“No, it’s not. Liam said he sniffed a wolf nearby. He probably followed Liam here.”
“You don’t understand,” I started, but Liam, who was crouched in front of the barn, painting a symbol on the ground, turned his head.
“The wolf followed me?” He straightened up.
“Finn, what’s going on?” asked James.
“The wolf we were talking about was here.”
“Here? On your property?” James gaped at Finn. “That’s a pretty bold move.”
Liam looked confused. “Listen, if he had followed me, I would’ve noticed. But it doesn’t matter how he got here; we need to deal with it. I’ll go track him down and—”
“Stop,” I shouted. When everybody stared at me, I spoke in a lower voice. “It’s not Liam’s fault. It’s mine. He was tracking me.” I gazed at Finn. “I've met him before.”
“You know him?”
“Yes. But I didn’t know he was a wolf.”
“Spencer,” Liam fixed his serious look on me. “Could you please start at the beginning? Where do you know him from?”
“When I say know . . . I met him once, at the gas station, on our way here to Asheville. Mom and I stopped to get some gas and have something to eat. First, I saw him when I was filling the tank. Then, when I was leaving the diner, he came up to me holding my phone. Said I left it on my seat. I thanked him and left. That was it. But then, on my birthday, when we were at the restaurant and you,” I turned my eyes back at Finn, “said that you sensed a wolf, he was there. Right behind the window, staring at me. But I thought it was a coincidence.”
“You should’ve told me.”
“And say what? That some guy is checking me out? It’s not like he has a sticker on his forehead that says I’m a werewolf. I’m not like you guys.” My eyes darted from one to another. “I can’t sniff them out.”
“Spencer, do you understand what kind of danger this puts you in?” Finn heaved a breath.
“After I saw the way he looked at us at the restaurant’s parking lot when we were getting into the car, I thought maybe I should tell you. I was going to,” I said in a justifying tone, “but there wasn’t a right time at first, and then I forgot all about him.”
“I don’t understand.” Liam looked at Finn. “He could’ve sensed Spencer only if he was like us.”
“That’s the thing, he isn't,” said Finn. “If he was one of us, I would know.”
“Yeah,” said James. “We know every one of our kind.”
“If he had turned a few months, or a year ago,” said Liam, “there could be a chance we’d missed him. How old did he look?”
“About my age.” Finn shrugged. “Give or take. He isn’t new. He’s a fully grown wolf, and I’m sure he’s not like us because we can sense each other, remember?”
“So you’re saying that he came all alone, here, looking for a girl he liked? Why would he take such a risk?”
“He left, didn't he?” said James. “He realized he made a mistake.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Finn said thoughtfully. “He didn’t look like someone who made a mistake. He’ll come back. Let’s just hope not today. You two finish that circle. I need to go for a run to make sure he’s gone.”
“I’ll come with you,” said Liam. “If he’s still around, it’s better if he knows you’re not alone.”
“I’ll help James.” I stepped to Liam, stretched out my hand, and he handed over the spray paint he was still holding.
“Spencer,” Finn said quietly. He took my hand and pulled me aside. “I’m sorry if I was a bit . . .”
“Forget about it.” I squeezed his fingers.
He pulled me to his chest. “Everything will be okay,” he whispered. “I won’t let anything happen to you; you know that.”
“Me is the last thing I’m worried about,” I whispered back. My face was too close to his chest, and I pressed my lips to his shirt. “Just be careful, okay?”
Mom came out of the house.
“You found her.” She stopped, looking at the two of us.
“I did.” Finn let go of me.
“Good. It’s nearly dinner time. I’ll make something to eat.”
“Thank you, Clare. That would be great.” Then he said to me, “See you in a bit,” and he and Liam headed to the woods.
Mom stopped her perplexed look at me. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I shrugged, making a naïve face.
“Then where are they going? There isn’t much time left; it’s going to be dark soon.”
“They’re only going for a run.” James gave her a reassuring smile. “It shouldn’t take long.”
Mom rolled her eyes. “Wolves,” she muttered, walking back into the house.
I watched Finn and Liam disappear behind the trees, then went closer to the barn and looked at the drawing of the bracelet in the open grimoire sitting on the big stump.
“You’re worried about him, aren’t you?” James shook the spray can in his hand.
“Yeah, I am.”
“You shouldn’t be.” He crouched next to the unfinished symbol he had been painting. “He’s one of our strongest. He knows what he’s doing.”
“It’s just . . . A month ago, he was living a normal life, and now . . . This is all because of me.”
“Don’t be silly. If I had someone who . . . You see, it’s in our nature to protect someone we care about at any cost.”
“What about you and Liam? Why would you put yourself at such risk?”
“For the same reason. Finn is our friend, and we care about him a lot. And of course, we care about you too. You still don’t understand how special you are, do you?” He peeled his eyes from the symbol and looked at me. “It’s our honor to protect you, Spencer.”
“You mean that Great Alpha thing?” I chortled. “I don’t even know what it really means.”
“You will when the time comes.”
“You mean if. If the time comes.”
“Spencer,” he started.
But I stopped him.
“I’m sorry, James.” I felt bad for putting him on spot like that. It wasn’t his job to make me feel better or give me hope. He was already doing everything he could to help, despite the danger he was putting himself into. I gave him a warm look. “I just want Finn to come back soon so I could have a little time with him before . . . you know? I just want him with me.”
“I get it. And he wants it too.” James grinned. “Believe me, I know. Here,” he pointed at the symbol in the grimoire, the one Liam left unfinished. “Keep yourself busy. It’ll make the time go faster.”
“I love your haircut, by the way,” I grinned back at him, changing the subject.
“Cool, right?” He chuckled, brushing his palm over the shaved temple in a funny, artistic way.
“Oh ya. It’s the coolest.” I shook the spray can and crouched next to the half-painted symbol on the ground.
* * *
“Thanks,” I said to James after we finished the circle.
“I think it’s big enough.” He looked satisfied as he examined the symbols. “And Liam and I will watch you in case you try to get out.”
I looked at my paint-covered hands. “I’ll go wash.”
“Yeah, me too.”
James started toward the house. I threw a searching look back at the woods before following him. Once inside, I stopped by the kitchen first to tell Mom that the circle was ready.
“That’s good,” she glanced at me with relief.
She was standing next to the stove and watching over two crackling and steaming pans with a spatula in her hand.
“It smells good.” I drew closer. “Are you making a steak?”
“Wolves like steaks.” She smiled. “Are you hungry?”
“I am now.” I glanced into the pan. “Is it done?”
“Almost.” She put the spatula down. “Spencer, how are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. I don’t feel any pain yet. How are you?” I tilted my head. “Ready to do some magic?”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “I’m ready.” She glanced at my wrist. “Honey, where’s your bracelet?”
“It’s in my pocket. I took it off so it wouldn’t get paint on it. And I don’t want it to go to pieces during the shift. It’s his family heirloom.”
“Spencer, you need to keep it on. It’s okay, Finn can fix it later. We will need every bit of help we can get.”
“Okay. He’ll make me wear it anyway,” I sighed. “I’ll go wash.”
While I was in the shower, the fear of what was coming crept into me again, messing with my thoughts, stirring my blood, and making me dizzy.
I need to control this. How do I control this?
I turned off the water and took a few deep breaths. It didn’t help.
Of course, it wouldn’t. It’s getting dark. From now on, it will only get worse.That thought made me shiver.
I quickly dried my hair with a towel then put on my shorts and tank. Tears rolled into my eyes and I went to my room.
When I opened the door, I saw Finn standing next to the window. My heart leaped. I rushed toward him, and he wrapped me in his arms.
“Thank God you’re here,” I whispered against his lips before I kissed him.
“Spencer, you’re shaking.” Tightening his grip on me, he gently rubbed my back. “You’re not in pain, are you? It’s too early for that.”
“No.” I locked my arms around his neck. “I’m fine. It’s just . . . I missed you.”
He brushed his lips against mine. “I missed you too.”
“How did it go? He wasn’t still here, was he?”
“After we crossed the river, his scent was all over the place. But, no, he was nowhere around. So I want you to forget about it right now.” He ran his fingers through my hair and my eyes closed at his touch.
His lips traveled over my face then slid to my neck. My body stretched up as his hands moved down my back, but the moment they reached my thighs, he quickly pulled them up again.
“No,” I moaned, “don’t stop.”
“We can’t,” he murmured into my ear, heavily breathing.
“What? Why?”
“Not now, my love. It’s too close to the shift, and you’ll need every bit of your strength.”
“But it will help me relax.”
“And that’s another problem,” he chuckled. “You shouldn’t relax. You should be alert and in full control.” His lips touched mine. “Look at the bright side. After tonight, we’ll have all the time in the world to do whatever we want.”
My heart squeezed.
“We don’t know that,” I said quietly.
“Maybe you don’t.” He put his hand under my chin, pushed it up, and his glittering gray eyes looked into mine. “But I do.” His thumb touched the corner of my mouth, and his lips sank onto mine.