Talons

Chapter 51: The Shovel

Rhea’s POV

Mike has absolutely lost his mind. I specifically told him that I did not look up the legal age of consent in our state for him, yet he has convinced himself that I’m not being truthful. 

Yes, he was the person on my mind when I researched the topic, but only because he is the only human who has piqued my interest. To me, it’s no different from when I tried to figure out ways to meet with Jack in private as soon as I recovered from my injuries.

I tried to give Mike back his shirt, but he refused, telling me that he wants me to wear it every day. I don’t know what I have gotten myself into, and when I am done with my classes, I share the details with Jamie.

She is no help and quite literally burst into laughter at the situation. According to her, she has never seen Mike behave in a manner other than an ass, and while not much has changed, she believes the goddess is using me to get back at him for all the women he has used. 

I have to remind her that Mike is human, but she turns the tables on me by reminding me that the first werewolf was born to humans. I know the story, it’s one we are told growing up, but Jamie goes into a detail I have never, ever, heard.

“How do you not know this? What level of goddess studies did you complete?” I turn to stone because I technically failed the first course, and I didn’t even know there was more than one level until after my mother told me.

“I kind of failed,” I say, making a pained expression. Jamie also turns into a rock before taking my hand and dramatically looking into my eyes as if I have just shared with her the hidden piece of information needed to confirm that I'm her long lost relative.

“I failed too!” She shouts excitedly. “Oh, I can’t wait to tell my parents I’m not the worst.” I giggle at Jamie, but I can’t tell if she is being serious. “I’m for real. I failed the first course twice because I questioned the guide about the bond.” My eyes widened with her words. “You too?” She asks with glee. 

The two of us fall into a fit of laughter before we are interrupted by a knock at the front door. Neither of us are expecting company, and Jamie goes to sniff out who it could be. It's relatively late, and Mike doesn’t come over anymore; so there should be no one.

Jamie comes back with Mike carrying a large package. Based on the address written on it, I know it's from my family.

“The mail girl couldn’t carry this up,” he says, and I have to shake my head at how lame his excuse is, but I say nothing.

We immediately start pulling the box open and find it filled with gifts from each one of my relatives.

As usual my parents have sent me money, which I feel bad about accepting because I don’t need it. Luke sent me walking resistance bands, while Emma and Lark sent me shirts. The last gift is from Robin, and I’m shocked that she got me something separate.

Without thinking I open it, and an assortment of condoms fall out of the box, which was clearly boobytrapped. 

“I think I like your family,” Jamie says, with a hint of longing in her tone.

“Me too,” Mike adds.

I look at the packaging and grit my teeth. I should have known it was something that would embarrass me by the ‘enjoy sis’ written on the underside.

Jamie starts to pick up the condoms, reading the ones that look interesting to her and I tell her she can have them all. 

"All of them?" Mike asks, and I tell him he can take the ones he wants too. "No. I mean… we may need them." I know Mike thought he was whispering but to wolves, he might as well have shouted. 

"I think Ashley is looking for you," Jamie says, stuffing several shiny packages into her bra.

"Cut the sh*t Jamie. You know she and I haven't been together in years." Jamie chuckles and I find myself having to push her away from Mike. 

I know he is confused, but I'm not worried about Jamie getting hurt. She is a wolf, and she grew up with rough parents, she can hold her own.

Once she’s in her room and I tell her that Mike is delusional, I head back toward where he is waiting for me.

"It's late," I say. 

"Give me a second.” Mike digs into his pocket and pulls out a small gold necklace that looks like a tiny shovel and I can’t help but to smile at it. “I didn't forget your birthday." I know the meaning behind the necklace, and I'm actually shocked that he went out of his way to find something so specific.

Mike tells me that he wanted to get me something to replace the one I lost. I haven’t lost anything. Those glasses were once my favorite piece of jewelry and in some ways, they still are. I just can't bring myself to wear it. 

“You have no idea how people looked at me when I ordered this.” I keep smiling as Mike gestures for me to turn around so he can put the necklace on me.

When he is done. He kisses the back of my neck which sends a strange sensation down my spine. It feels a lot like chills, but more of the sort you get with the feeling of unease, not from cold or a soft touch.

“I love it,” I say, and Mike beams before leaning into me for a kiss, but I back away shaking my head at him. “I need more time.” He nods in understanding and pulls back.

“I should go now,” Mike says as he does that head scratching thing that Sylvia loves seeing him do. “And by the way, Happy Valentine’s Day.”

With Mike gone, Jamie finds her way back to my room, and pesters me about cutting things off with him before it goes too far. I remind her that Mike and I are just friends, and she points to my necklace telling me that ‘just friends’ don't buy jewelry for one another.

I understand her worry, but for me Mike is just someone I wouldn’t mind being with, not the person I want; neither is Jack for that matter. To end the conversation cleanly, I tell her that I have never come into my urges, and she just stares at me with eyes so wide that they look painful.

“B... Are you a virgin?” I nod with a confused expression on my face and Jamie inhales deeply. “How old are you? But- how? Wait; does Mike know?”

“I guess?” I reply. He and I have never talked about it, but if he was the first person I kissed, then it would make sense that he can put two and two together. 

“Babe, I’m telling you; all the attention he is giving you is because he wants to be the first person to sleep with you. Human males are not much different from our own. If you don’t believe me, ask Ashley.”

I know that Ashley is Mike’s high school girlfriend. I found out her name when she was forced to write a lengthy apology note to me after the coffee incident. The problem is that I don’t have any details of their relationship.

“What happened to her?” Jamie shrugs, and I lightly punch her arm. “Don’t do that; just tell me.” She rolls her eyes at me before making herself comfortable in my bed.

“Like I said, you can ask her yourself, but Mike is a grade above her. Some of their mutual friends are also in this school. They say that he was good to her when she wasn’t sleeping with him, but after he got what he wanted; everything changed.”

“Everything like what?” I start to get nervous, as I consider the promise that Mike made to me.

“Let’s just say that she wears something around her neck too.” A dejected expression crosses my face and Jamie scoots closer to me. “If you’ve already waited all this time, you might as well make sure the guy is worth it. My first time was terrible, and he told everyone afterward. I used to wish a rogue would kill him.”

I turn serious because I hadn’t even considered that aspect of having s*x. It's not that I would be ashamed of it, but I wouldn’t exactly want personal details of my life being shared.

Jamie takes my silence as a cue and she stands to leave my room, telling me not to let her words interfere with my judgement. I nod at her, but the damage has definitely been done. If Mike can’t show me his sincerity, then he is not the one I will be with.

I pull off my duvet and settle into bed, but my phone starts buzzing, so I look at it. I have one missed text from Mike, and twelve from Carter. I open Carter's message first, and I see beautiful wedding photos of him and Mandy.

While I am still going through the pictures, my cousin calls me. I answer with a smile, knowing that she got exactly what she wanted.

“So, you are the mysterious person talking to my mate,” she says in mock anger.

“What can I say? I wanted to make sure my favorite cousin got her dream wedding.” Mandy and I have had many conversations about weddings and while I think that they are financially reckless and hold no real value other than to make oneself the center of attention, she figured out a way to make it cheap and romantic. I couldn’t resist calling Carter and telling him about it.

“It was perfect. My parents have already left, but Carter and I are planning to have a reception at Claw. Will you come?” I know Mandy can’t see me, so I allow my reluctance to show on my face.

I know Colton will be invited, and I’m not one hundred percent sure Mandy can guarantee that he will stay away from me. After our last interaction, I don’t want to see that man ever again. There was something in his eyes when he looked at me that left me unsettled. 

Several nights since he flung mud into my face, I have recalled his expression. He looked almost pained and that let me know the hate he had for me was beyond bone deep.