Strangers to Mates

Chapter 8: Wolfing out

I spent the entire next day unpacking all my boxes, only stopping to eat. I finished late at night and Raymond was bored. He couldn't have hid it any better, but he did leave for a couple hours during the afternoon. He had extra alpha training to do since he'd been gone for the week but when he came back he complained that all he did today was watch his dad fill out paper work. He said that most the time is was a bit more entertaining or his dad made him work out, becoming stronger to protect the pack, but days like these were the worst.

It kinda went like that for a week, I'd stay at home and he'd go out for a few hours to train. To be honest I was bored too. I was so happy when it was Saturday and he said that he didn't train on weekends, it meant we could do something. When I woke I showered and changed into jean shorts and and a sleeveless top that had the word 'wild' across the front. I came over and sat on the side of the bed. I quickly learned that Raymond had even more trouble getting out of bed than me in the mornings and that shaking him did no good.

So like I had each morning to wake him up, I kissed his cheek and he awoke like sleeping beauty. It was kinda funny now that I thought about it like that.

"Morning sweetheart." he said, smiling up at me.

"Hey." I say returning the smile. "Can we do something today?" I ask pouting slightly hoping he'll say yes.

"Of course. I actually had something in mind." he said sitting up.

"Is that so? Are you gonna tell me what it is this time." I say remembering our first date when he wouldn't tell me he was taking me out to diner.

"Nope." he replies popping the p.

"Alright. But you have to hurry. I've been bored all week and I don't plan on being it for any longer." I say standing up and heading down stairs for some coffee.

No more than fifteen minutes later Raymond came into the kitchen, making himself a cup of coffee.

"So when are we going to do this mysterious thing?" I ask making myself some toast, "want some?" I ask.

"Yes please." He takes a seat on the counter, "Um well... will you give me two hours to prepare and then I promise you will love it?"

I hand him his peanut butter toast and take a bite of mine.

"If you must." I say some what dramatically.

We finish our food and I tell him, "Well I'm gonna be in the bedroom watching t.v. Come get me when you're done." and then I ran up the stairs.

I got comfy in the bed and flick on the t.v, watching whatever was on. I must have fallen asleep because I heard Raymond saying my name but I didn't see him at first. I opened my eyes to find him sitting where I was only three hours ago.

"Ready?" He asks while I sit up.

"Couldn't be more." I say hopping off the bed.

Even though I was tall the bed was so high that my toes just touched the ground. Like c'mon who seriously needs a bed that high.

"Do I need to prepare or do something." I ask as we head down the stairs.

He shakes his head silently, leading me out the back door. Right behind his house was a thick forest, he told me it went on for miles, but not that many people went in it because there was another one on the other side of town that was better for groups. Raymond still hadn't told me anything about what we were doing and I was getting seriously confused. Raymond stopped walking at the edge of the forest and stated

"We haven't seen each others wolves" and as he said it I realized it was true. I hadn't even realized.

I hadn't let my wolf out in over two weeks and I knew Julie was scratching to get out and run.

"So my plan is," he continued, "that we will run together to my surprise."

I nod my head eagerly and we went and stand behind different trees, and undressed before shifting. My wolf had midnight fur like my hair but unlike me she had blue eyes, well I guess I did too technically but only in wolf form. I came out from behind the tree, my clothes in my mouth but I set them down because I knew we wouldn't be leaving just yet, I wanted to see his wolf. When he finally came out he did the same thing with his clothes but I was to busy starring at him to pay attention to that. He had black fur, not unlike mine, and his green eyes were now gold. He was a beautiful wolf, not to mention huge. We walked toward one another, walking around each other, rubbing our fur against each other like wolves do with their mates. He licked my face and I did the same to him.

Follow me I heard him say in my head. Even though we weren't in the same pack officially yet, we could still talk to each other through the mind link when in wolf forms. It was like that for every werewolf. I nod my head and we pick up our clothes in our mouths before running deeper into the forest. It felt so good to finally run on all four paws again, the wind in my fur. We ran for at least an hour but it still wasn't enough. Raymond stopped in front of a little stream and said to change. So reluctantly I walked over to a tree changing and putting my clothes back on. I knew he had already changed back cause he yelled from behind his tree for me to stay where I was and not to peek. I waited five minutes when he told me I could come out.

"Wow." I breathed.

He'd set up a blanket close to the water and there was a basket. Aw. He planned a picnic, I always wanted to go on a picnic date. He came over taking my hand and we sat on the blanket.

"How did you get to know me so well after a week?" I question while he unpacked sandwiched, water and a container with something in it, but I couldn't see what it was.

"I have super powers." he joked handing me one of two sandwiches.

They were ham and cucumber. I had to confess they were pretty good but not as good as mine. I quickly ate it, enjoying the taste so much. I watched him patiently until he finished not long after me. I laid down, placing my head in his lap. I'd grown accustomed to doing things like this over the week. He ran his fingers through my hair, looking lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about babe? I asked not moving.

"Oh, not much. Just my dad said something yesterday about you becoming part of the pack" he said still not looking at me.

"What, was it something bad." I asked nervously.

"No. Of course not." he finally looked at me with kind eyes, "he just told me that were we're going to have the ceremony next Friday. Or I guess this coming Friday."

I took a deep breath, "that's good."

"Ya, it its. But my parents want to have us over for dinner before Friday so that they can meet my mate." he says, now the nervous one.

I sit up and put one hand on the side of his face comforting him.

"It'll be fine." I say.

I was actually quite nervous myself, even though I sorta already met his dad it was different now, but I wasn't gonna let Raymond know. I lay back down on his lap when he nods his head. I watch him reach for the container,

"Ready for dessert?" He asked, with a grin on his face again.

"Always." I was laughing lightly.

He opens it and pulls out a chocolate covered strawberry. Yum. He holds it over my mouth and after a second I get what he was doing. He was being super cheesy, but it was cute so I opened my mouth, letting him feed it to me. It tasted so delicious, the strawberry wasn't to cold and it wasn't overly sweet or sour, it was perfect. He pulled it away eating the other half. When he finished he gently wiped some chocolate off my lip, or at least I assumed it was chocolate, then sucked it off his thumb. I blushed but Raymond seemed completely unfazed by it. I was so shocked that he's never had a girlfriend, considering he was really good at being a boyfriend.

We continued sharing the rest of the chocolate covered strawberries till they were all gone. Even after that we didn't leave or move right away. I was starring at the stream when I suddenly ask, curiosity getting the better of me,

"Where does that stream lead to?"

"A lake. I don't know where it starts, I've only ever followed it downstream." He says, now looking at the water too.

"Like a lake that you could swim in? Is it very far?" I didn't get curious a lot but some things sparked it.

"It's not that far, maybe another half an hour on four feet. And I've never swam in it but I'm sure someone could, the waters super clear."

I nod my head slightly and ask, "how come you've never swam in it?"

"I guess I never really had a reason to." he replies shrugging.

"We should sometime." I say thinking out loud.

"What about next weekend?" He suggests.

"Sounds like fun." I agree.

"Then it's a date." he says with a playfully wink, making me roll my eyes.

I stand up, expanding my arms to him.

"We should get back before it gets dark." I say helping him up even though he didn't need it.

"Why, we have no problem seeing in the dark." he says, now standing up.

"But if we get back right when it gets dark then we can watch a movie. Besides, you are long over due for a movie." He chuckles folding the blanket putting it in the basket.

I watch him put it in a tree and when he sees me watching him intensely he answers my unspoken question,

"I'll have James come get it tomorrow."

"Are you sure. We could bring it back ourselves, he doesn't have to." I say feeling kind of guilty.

"It's alright he won't mind. Our parents have me ask him to do little things to make sure he's beta material. I don't do it often though because I already know he is, but you know strict parents, always preparing us in anyway they can." He says sort of sarcastically like he didn't like the idea much, before we go behind different trees again, stripping and shifting.

We ran back and it was just as enjoyable as the way out. Every time I run it always feels like my first time. And just like before it ended to soon when we had to get dressed and head back inside. I asked Raymond to make some popcorn while I went to change into some more comfortable clothing. I ended up in dark green pj shorts, they were a bit inappropriate being super short but they were for sleeping in and they were comfy therefore I didn't care right now, and in Raymond's black long sleeve shirt. I can't remember the last time I wore one of my shirts to bed but it just seemed normal.

I came downstairs as he was pouring the popcorn in a bowl and grabbed us each a coke out of the fridge. When he turned around to face me he couldn't see my shorts because I was standing on the other side of the counter, so it blocked his view from my bottom half. He handed me the popcorn telling me I could chose a movie while he changed. After he was upstairs I grabbed everything, skillfully balancing it all in my two hands and brought it to the theater like room.

I set it all down on the table and walked over to the selves that held an endless amount of movies on it. I finally chose a movie called 'Oblivion' and turned around right as Raymond walked in, wearing only black sweatpants that hung low and lose on his hips. I blushed starring at his defined chest, I'd seen it before, he doesn't wear a shirt half the time around the house, but I blushed every time. The second his eyes landed on me I saw them darken a few shades as his eyes raked my body. Okay so maybe these shorts were a bad idea since I could tell they were making him feel slightly lustful. I mean honestly most of his shirts were so long that they covered more.

He was in front of me in two strides and grabbing my waist, pulling me against him as he kissed me. At first I was shocked. We hadn't really kissed kissed since arriving here, a few pecks here and there, but that was all. I dropped the D.V.D case bring my hands up to his neck, kissing back. I was lost in the kiss but when I broke away to breath I didn't continue the kiss. I was not ready for what this could possibly lead to. Most couples, marked and mated within the first couple week of knowing each other but I was not ready for that.

"Um, why don't we watch the movie now." I suggest, pulling away but still staying close to him.

"Sure." I knew he didn't want to stop but he didn't want to push me more, and for that I was thankful.

He picked up the movie I'd dropped and put the C.D in the player. We sat down on the couch, me laying my legs across his lap. Once he'd pressed play we ate the popcorn, drinking our drinks and before I knew it the two of us had finished it all not even half way through the movie. I shifted slightly, getting comfy again and Raymond rested his hands on legs. My eyes started to drop and I passed out before the movie was even close to finishing.

I woke up partly when Raymond picked me up bridle style, turning off the t.v and carrying me into our room. He laid me down, kicking off his pants before joining me. His arms enveloped me as I rested my hand on his chest.

"Night Ray." I mumble.

"Night babygirl" I heard him say before falling back to sleep.