Fallen Love
Chapter 3

Since this morning, I’ve been a bundle of nerves; Lisa’s euphoric reaction when I told her I was coming to the game made me nervous. I wait for the she-wolf at our usual spot, in front of the women’s locker room, where we first met. I’ve been studying at this college for four years and I’ve never met Lisa, so our schedules are diametrically opposed, but of course we’ve found ways to be together, mainly at lunchtime.

There’s a hubbub in the corridors, and I see Lisa running towards me, waving, which makes me laugh. She’s barely in front of me when she takes me by surprise with a hug. The gesture warms my heart and makes me want to move on beyond danger.

– I’m sorry I’m late, but I had to brief the pack about last night, if there was anything suspicious. And the red moon, of course.

– Did they tell you when it went back to normal?

– Yes, but they don’t know what it meant or who it might have come from, so I didn’t say anything. she smiles.

Relieved to know this, Lisa goes on to explain tonight’s schedule. She’ll arrive at the game with her pack and join me in the stands, I’ll already be surrounded by people, no werewolves will be able to smell me in case I scramble badly. I suppose that’s the best solution. I’m hoping to find a seat on the first try and, above all, get there before they do. We grab sandwiches and head out onto the grass to eat al fresco. Lisa then tells me about her soul mate, who seemed relieved to see her this morning, but chose to ignore her, magnificently to her regret. Serves him right.

– The only worry is that I want to give him a bit more…but he’s so cute with his face, both sad and angry.

– Listen, if you want to break down, do it, but don’t regret it,” I advised him.

Ever since Emmett joined his pack five years ago, he’s refused to accept the bond between them, dating anyone with a pair of tits or a buttocks, except his soul mate. In the two-plus years I’ve known Lisa and she’s worn my bracelet, it’s reduced the bond to relieve her of the pain she feels. Emmett seems to be getting his act together lately and trying to get her attention, which doesn’t make her insensitive. In my opinion, seeing her ignore him has probably set him straight.

I completely understand Lisa’s point of view, but not knowing anything about boys, it doesn’t make me hot or cold. The fact that she makes him suffer by ignoring him can only be beneficial instead of giving in and having the same problems later as a couple. Even though we’re not of like minds on the subject, we listen to each other and take the advice that comes to us. Our meal over, we make our way down the wide aisles to several wings of the building in case it’s closer to class time.

– So, what are you wearing tonight?

– No idea,” I whispered.

– Don’t wear anything too short, and definitely no jogging pants.

Nodding, I smiled, and we parted as the other students headed off to their respective classes. Well, tonight’s program’s up and running and I’m really looking forward to it, although I’m a little nervous and excited.

*

Well, I’m standing in front of my wardrobe and I don’t know what to wear, so I look on the internet for outfits to go to a match and combine them with what I’ve got, I make a choice. Simple black jeans and a burgundy top with a black cardigan, my black knee-high boots will do just fine. I discarded the idea of jogging suits and short clothes as Lisa had advised, although the only short clothes I own are my pyjamas. I let my loose hair wave down my back, not knowing much about make-up despite Lisa’s lessons, so I decide not to wear anything. Finally ready to leave, I turn to Em, who examines me from top to bottom to give her opinion.

– You look good, at least you’re showing off your breasts, that’s something.

– Em,” I scold her.

She rolled her eyes at my modesty and went to lie down on the sofa. I took my keys and put my cell phone in my back pocket before leaving, to Em’s encouragement, who confirmed that everything was going to be fine. As I leave my building, I inhale and exhale the fresh air and set off for the soccer stadium near the university. By the time I get there, it’s already packed with people, talking and laughing amongst themselves.

I approach in turn, but before I reach the parking lot, I stop when I see several cars parked near the entrance. Some guys are getting out of cars with sports bags, then Lisa gets out of one, sticking to a guy who puts his arm over her shoulders. It’s Nick! Given the similar aura they give off, with their backs to me, I can’t help but notice. They’re all giving off great auras, but the strongest is on the one who has stepped out of his car, alone with no one with him.

People are pushing to let them pass, and I can see that wolves know how to command respect just by their presence among humans. At the same time, given the strong power they exuded, it was better for them. The people entered the stadium just after them. After repeating seven or eight times in my head not to chicken out and that everything would be all right, I decided to go too, but I’ve never been there and I don’t even know where I’m supposed to go.

– Shit,” I huffed.

Hoping to see someone, I turn around in all directions, but to no avail: they’re all already on the bleachers, hearing the noises above me. In a last ditch effort, I pull out my cell phone to call Lisa for help, but a sudden gasp on my neck stops me in my tracks, making me swallow.

– Are you lost, my pretty? whispered a sensual voice that sent shivers down my spine.

After a few seconds, I come to my senses and prepare a scathing sentence to blow him off. I turn around but bump into his torso, not anticipating that he’d be so close to me, my eyes dropping to his black top and then looking up into his face, brown with blue eyes, unlike me, who’s light brown with minnows – green and blue – this guy is absolutely gorgeous. He also looks at me as if he’d never seen a girl before, tilting my head to the side I try to hear his thoughts as I continue to ogle him, because let’s face it, I rarely come across guys who make such an impression on me.

Admiration, Envy, Desire.

Not understanding why he feels this way, I step back because we were really stuck together, my step backwards doesn’t seem to please him because I feel red eyes take place on his blue eyes for a few seconds. It’s the same power I felt in the parking lot, the guy all alone in his car.

Why the hell is a wolf doing this to me?

I’m unsettled and it’s so unlike me. Remembering what happened before I met him, I clear my throat and smile slightly. “You have to be polite,” my mother always told me. While answering his question, I decided to broach a topic of conversation that would obviously be useful to me.

– Well yes, I’m lost indeed and late for the game.

He looks at me a little longer without saying anything, then smiles at the corner, which makes me stop. He’s so handsome. We look at each other, not saying a word. Wow, I’ve got to stop, he’s a wolf and it’s simply impossible to have a crush on a wolf. A shout from the bleachers startled me back to reality.

– The entrance is at the end of the corridor, you just have to climb the stairs.

– Thanks for your help.

Following his indication, I turned to leave, my arm trapped in a powerful hand. Just as he was about to ask me something, there was a noise behind us and I sighed with relief to see Lisa appear.

– At last I’ve found you,” she said.

– I was lost,” I explained.

– Do you know each other? asked the wolf.

She looked at him, then gently released me from her grip, pulling me close to her and away from me. He didn’t seem to understand her gesture, nor the fact that she didn’t answer him.

– The guys are waiting for you in the locker room,” she tells him.

He stared at me one last time, then left without a word. We headed for the stairs, Lisa glancing at me, wondering what I was doing with him.

– He must have seen that I was lost.

– He told us he’d smelled something funny,” she whispered when we reached the bleachers.

We climbed the stairs and Lisa remained silent, which began to worry me. We took our places at the front and I saw her staring at the pitch, frowning.

– Lisa, you’re starting to scare me.

– I’m wondering something but I don’t know if it’s possible.

I nudge her with my shoulder to wake her up and when she looks at me, I smile at her, giving her a little nudge to relax her.

– Don’t worry, I’m sure it’s nothing, I was camouflaged.

– Esra, this is Chris, my Alpha.

– You’ve got to be kidding me,” I exclaimed.

His Alpha? Shit, I’d better watch out, for all I know he’s managed to smell me but hasn’t guessed who I am. No, I can’t get burned now, I won’t let myself. If need be, I’ll use magic, but on a wolf it’s only temporary. Lisa reassured me that she couldn’t feel my magic, so by deduction her Alpha couldn’t either? I held on to this, until the players entered the field.

Right away, I spot Shane waving to his audience, my head turns to Lisa and we look up. Unfortunately for him, the girls react more to Lisa’s pack, which makes her proud. Watching the pack invade the field, I concentrate on each player until I reach the Alpha and see him staring at me. I lose myself in his blue eyes, which I can see clearly despite his protective helmet, I don’t understand why. When I look to Lisa for an explanation, she can’t give me one. As the stands cheer on the dispersing teams, Lisa informs me that her soul-sister, Emmett, is wearing number 14, her brother Nick 31 and her Alpha 8. Finally able to spot them, the game can begin. They positioned themselves correctly and the whistle blew, our college team had the ball, but Lisa’s brother stole it with no problem and ran up the stadium leaving his pack brothers to make a path for him by tackling those who would prevent him from advancing. Once the point had been won, Lisa stood up and raised her arms.

– Bravo Nick, I love you too much,” she shouted.

All the players looked at her in amusement, and I made her sit down by pulling on her arm, dying of shame under the laughter of the people around us. So much for discretion, eh? In the end, the pack won 7-0, the match came to an end and I was happy to be able to stand up at last. Lisa jumped out of her seat and ran across the field to pounce on her brother. Together they fell over backwards to everyone’s laughter. As I slowly made my way down the steps to join her, stopping just short of entering their personal spaces, I looked at her soul-sister who, after removing her helmet, was watching Lisa laughing, lying next to her brother who was hugging her. As I concentrate, I sense that their wolves are linked by a powerful bond. Nick and Lisa’s complicity reflects the thoughts of their animal doubles.

– Esra, I suddenly hear.

I turn at my name and put my hand in front of me just in time to push Shane by the forehead before he k****s me. I stepped back as he smiled at me, instinctively slapping him. Who does he think he is? I’m so horrified by humans who never think before they act. Especially coming from him, it’s the worst thing ever, it doesn’t occur to him that with all the wind he’s been blowing since the first time – that’s four years after all – that means I’m not interested, but no, he thinks it’s a game. Luckily for him, I can’t use my magic on this idiot.

– You’re sick,” I shouted. Get out of my face.

– Well, I need a k**s to make up for my defeat.

– Go see whoever you want, but not me,” I said, folding my arms and stepping back in anticipation of his thoughts.

He repeated his gesture by stepping forward again, only to have his shoulder pushed by a hand coming from behind me, which surprised me for a moment. Feeling a powerful aura surround me, I knew it was Lisa’s Alpha. Shane was holding his shoulder, probably in pain, and I was willing to believe him. The wolf stepped forward to level with me and I saw him staring coldly at Shane, which didn’t reassure me given that I might get the same or worse stare if he knew I was a witch.

– I think she said no,” intervened the wolf.

– Who do you think you are? says Shane, annoyed at being interrupted.

– You’re better off not knowing,” intervenes Lisa’s brother, standing next to us with his sister.

Suddenly I was surrounded by the pack and Shane wasted no time in leaving, as did the last people left in the stands and the players on the pitch. Now it’s just us, I turn to them in embarrassment. I feel like a mouse in front of a pack of lions.

They noticed my embarrassment and seemed to be amused, only Lisa understood what was going on in my head. I’ve seen wolves before, but not up this close and certainly not all at once. I may tell myself that I’m a powerful witch, as Em often says, but at this very moment, I’d just as soon bury my head in the lawn. Well, I have to react instead of staring.

– Thanks, but I’ve got it under control.

– Yes, we’ve seen that,” says the Alpha.

– He’ll leave you alone now,” smiles Lisa.

Without giving me time to reply, she takes my hand and leads me towards the changing rooms to retrieve her handbag, before leaving the boys to change. While we waited for them, we headed for the parking lot, where there weren’t many people left. It’s amazing how quickly and calmly everyone has left. All that’s left are the pack members’ cars and I can’t wait to get home, away from all these werewolves. Of course, Lisa is out of context.

– How was your evening?

– Well, for a first-timer it went well,” I say, after glancing around us.

– Now that you’ve said yes once, I’m going to take you out, that is, if my Alpha doesn’t confine me to the pack.

– Wait a minute, once is enough, then we’ll see.

She nods, trying to calm down, and I’m as delighted as she is that my first outing went as smoothly as if I were just another student. For a first-timer, it was a success, not counting Shane of course. But as she says, if things don’t work out in her pack, we’ll have to keep an eye out. Which, in my opinion, is already the case.

– Well, I’m off,” I began.

– Oh, too bad, I wish we could have stayed together tonight,” she pouted.

I smile, then feel the boys’ auras coming on and walk away from Lisa, ready to go home. After waving to everyone, which surprises them, I head for my apartment before one of them stops me to speak. Putting my arms around me, as the weather had cooled over the course of the evening, I looked down at my feet, then feeling followed, I stopped, trying to hear footsteps but hearing nothing. Putting my hand to my forehead, I look up at the sky and see the stars.

– I need to relax.

Back on the road, to reassure myself, I hold my silver snake necklace in my hand. In front of my building, I enter without waiting, then double-lock my apartment before going to my window overlooking the street. Looking for anything suspicious, my eyes roam the street under the misunderstood gaze of Em, who looks at me curiously.

– Can you explain?

– I feel like I’m being followed.

– Why would anyone be following you?

– I don’t know, just a hunch.

She sighs in her own way and pulls me back to sit on the sofa. Blocked by her weight on me, I abandon my paranoia. Once Em is sure of my sanity, she gets up so I can get into my pajamas, nibble on something so we can get into bed and I can tell her all about what happened. She doesn’t seem distraught about the fact that I might have been surrounded by wolves, or about the Alpha’s bizarre behavior towards me, which calms me down and puts things into perspective. It was all new to me, which is probably why I panicked at the slightest suspicious movement.

– Say Em, how do you think they’d react if I told them about me as well as Lisa?

– Oh wait about that, you don’t know them, they don’t know you know about them either so really wait, Esra, don’t go too fast. Your meeting with Lisa was special, don’t get all mixed up.

– You’re right, it just did me good to be surrounded.

For a Friday night I decide to go to bed because tomorrow we’re planning to go magic in the forest and it’s not going to be any fun.

*

I wake up sweating, short of breath, Em has risen to my level to caress my face, hoping to calm me a little, I get out of bed to walk around my room but cold sweats make me tremble. Going to the window in the living room to grab a cardigan, I look out and recoil in surprise to see another red moon. I open my window to let in some fresh air, wondering what message to send to the black witches.

The moon reflected on my necklace and after a smile, I conjured up my crossbow and using my necklace, which stretched like an arrow, I aimed at the moon and fired. My snake surrounded the red moon as if it were smothering it, then when it disappeared the moon was clear again. Maybe seeing that my totem animal is a snake will dissuade the evil side from sticking around. My necklace returned to its place around my neck and I took the chain between my fingers. When I returned to my room after closing the window, I saw a message from Lisa.

From the Wolf: Your message hasn’t gone unnoticed.

I smile back at her.

From me: I hope so, good night.

After an identical reply, I finally went to bed and was happy not to be woken up again.