"Elina, stay here, keep the doors locked, and no matter what happens, do not come out." I nod; mom and grandma open the door, then hurry to the house. They disappear in the house, and I am left alone in the dark. Rrrrr, I jump as a loud growl comes from the house, followed by blood-curdling screams. That sounds like mom; fear grips me as I begin to panic.
"Mom! Gran!" I shout, grabbing the car door; I unlock it and push it open. I must find them; they are not safe. I scramble out of the car and start running but smack into something and tumble to my feet. I look up at the angry face, boy. I stare at him for a moment; Rrrrr, that sound again followed by screams. I scramble to my feet frantically and try to move past him, but he grabs my hand before I can.
"Let go of me! "I scream, tugging my arm but can't break free. I kick his shin, but he does not budge; his grip, however, tightens.
"I have to save my mom and grandma, please," I plead with him, but he still does not release me; I cannot wait on him. We are at the Alpha's house; witches and wolves we do not mix. Why are we here? I wonder as I try to pull away again but to no avail.
"I'm sorry. "I whisper before saying the incantation that releases his hand and throws him across the lawn; he hits the grass as I run to the door, another growl sounding out, but this time no screams follow. I twist the handle frantically. Mom, grandma, where are you? The door is closed, and it does not budge. I step back, take a deep breath, and whisper another spell to open the door, but it repels, striking me; I stumble back before regaining my footing. That is right because all werewolves have their witches who protect them. I grunt, feeling the side effects of the repelled spell. The growl sounds again as I start pounding on the door.
"Mom! Mom! "I knock on the door frantically, but no one answers. As I continue to knock on the door, I feel something grab my arm again like before, only this time with more force. I whimper as he forcefully spins me to him, the boy he is up and angry. My heart pounds in my chest as he inches closer to me. I want to use another spell, but my lips will not move; I am frozen by fear as his obsidian eyes come closer. He stops before me and whispers one word.
`"Mine."
*************
Elina
"Elina, wake up, sweetie." Mom shouts from the hallway as I sit on my bed, trying to make sense of my recurring dream.
"I'm up, mom," I reply as she enters my room.
"This is a first. Are you excited for Senior year?"
"duh, once my senior year is over, I can move out of this Podunk little town and never return."
"Why are you so excited to get away from me, my only baby." She wraps her arms around me, pulling my head into her chest. I smile into her warm embrace and mumble.
"Mom, you know it's not you, I love you, and I would never leave dad if I could." She pulls away and scowls at me
"You can leave me, but can't leave your dad, ungrateful, who carried you for nine months?"
"Of course, you did, my beautiful mother." She smiles as I continue.
"However, Dad carried on his back of 17 years. "She grabs a pillow from my bed and hits me with it making me chuckle. However, my laughter stops as I recall memories of the dream.
"Mom, I had that dream again. "I whisper; she freezes for a second before her face relaxes into a smile.
"I'm sure it's nothing."
"Mom, what if I'm him m..."
"No!" She screams; she always gets like this when I bring up the possibility of being his mate.
"No, his mate was chosen when they made the treaty with the Chehalis Pack." She continues once she has calmed. I nod as I slowly stand.
"Mom, are you sure it never happened? You and grandma never took me to that house in the night." She shakes her head, adamantly.
"No, baby, it never happened; it's only a dream. Maybe you are starting to become interested in boys. I ponder this reason for a moment before rejecting it.
"That's a weird dream to have about your crush."
"So, you admit you have a crush on the future Alpha of all boys, my daughter; you're super ambitious. “My face heats up.
"I do not have a crush on him, I don't know what that dream is about, but it certainly is definitely, in no way a crush."
"Many would say, one doth protest too much."
"Mom!!" she grins and me and tousles my messy afro hair.
"Okay, I believe you; you don't have a crush but don't worry about the dream too much, sweetie, okay, see you at breakfast." I smile at her as she leaves my room, then plop in my bed once she is gone. Recalling the dream again, Xavier and I are both around 11 years old; if I have to guess, it always begins and ends the same way, a scare, and those screams then a declaration of ownership, mine. I started having those dreams six months ago, and although mom swears they are just dreaming, I feel she isn't telling me the truth. Why else would she freak out about me being Xavier's mate? I mean, even if I were, I would probably reject him, or he would reject me.
Witches and Wolves do not mix; we are convenient allies when we both share a common goal. We are not friends, and we certainly are not lovers. I am from a long line of witches here in Chelan; my family is what you call witch royalty. The family line dates to the 18th century. Xavier is next in line to be Alpha of the Tukwila Pack. The strongest pack in the state of Washington. He will need a strong queen to serve at his side, but I do not plan to be me.
"Baby girl, are you okay?" Dad walks into the room, interrupting my thoughts.