The Summer Moon

Chapter Seven

Malia



The number of people that filled Emily’s house amazed me. Everywhere throughout the house I was bumping into people. How do they even know this many people? I wondered to myself. “I’m going to get more punch, want some?” Emily bumped against my side. I shook my head no, I’d already had one glass and was feeling a little warm inside. I never was much of a drinker, and standing in a crowd of strangers didn’t sound like a safe place to start. I slowly swayed to the music that blasted through the room. After a while, I assumed Emily wasn’t coming back. She had probably run into someone and started talking. No one could talk as much as she did. Although I had just met her, I felt like we already knew so much about each other because we had been talking non stop while getting ready today.

I decided to go look around the house, hoping to find someone I knew or maybe I would just go home. As much as I wanted to try and push myself out of my little safety bubble, I felt afraid of being here with people I didn’t know very well. I walked into the main room of the house and saw crowds of people dancing off to one side of the room. Looking to the other side, I was hoping to find a familiar face from today’s volleyball game, when my eyes came to rest on someone I'd been wishing to find tonight. Ty.

My heart instantly began to thud in my chest. I could feel myself salivating as I looked him over. He was wearing the same jeans as he had been earlier this morning, but now he wore a black hoodie with the sleeves pushed up to the elbows. I watched as he stood with a group of guys around him playing beer pong. I recognized the guy standing directly beside Ty as Jesse, the one who had invited me to play on his volleyball team today. Ty began repeatedly tossing a ball in the air and catching it again, awaiting his turn. I leaned against the door frame, taking him in. Part of me felt nervous about seeing him again, but the other part was completely ecstatic that he was here.

Tyrese

Jesse had been bothering me for weeks now to come out with them, and I had to admit, I missed seeing my friends a lot. The alpha duties just kept piling on though, it was exhausting, trying to keep up. Plus, if my dad found out I was out messing with my friends, I’m sure it would just be another thing to add to his list of reasons why I’m not fit to be the Alpha. Another thing on the list I wish he would stop repeating to me. But halfway through my nightly run, I heard the music blasting from Jesse's house. He asked me twice today if I would come to the party tonight, and I was dying to. I missed them, I missed my old life. Slowly, I approached the house, careful not to be seen as I weighed my options. I shouldn't go. I knew I shouldn't, but what was the harm in just checking it out? One look and then I would turn back to the woods.

I looked at the people dancing around the pool, not seeing Jesse in the crowd. Then, just as I was about to turn and leave, the faintest lavender scent hit me. Mate is here! My wolf was howling inside. I quickly spun on my heel to face the party again, surprised. She must’ve made some friends in town quickly if she’s already attending parties. I scanned the crowd of people and didn’t notice her, but her scent was faint. She must be inside. Thoughts raced through my mind. How did she get here? Did she come with someone? Did she come as someone's date? Was she safe?

I suddenly couldn’t hold myself back any longer. Any fear of my father's criticism disappeared as I quickly shifted back to my human form. After slipping on the clothes I had been carrying in my bag, I strolled out of the trees and towards the party. People began to greet me as I entered the crowd of people. Several people stopped and gave me fist bumps while others just nodded towards me. While I wanted to immediately just go find Malia, I knew I couldn’t. I wanted to see if she would come to me first, if the mate bond was pulling her as well. As I entered the house, I immediately saw Jesse and the rest of our friends crowded around a beer pong table. I rolled my eyes, their usual place.

“No freaking way! Ty!” Jesse came bounding towards me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a half hug. His grin spread wide across my face and I couldn’t help but return his happiness. It felt so good to see him again, and the rest of the crew. I turned to greet everyone else, grateful that they were so welcoming to have me back again. I hadn’t spent a lot of time with them since taking over as Alpha and was worried things would be awkward. One of my biggest fears about becoming alpha was how differently people would treat me. I understood that it came with the role, but I liked my life how it was. I didn’t want anyone to feel like I was controlling their every action. I didn’t want to feel responsible for everyone. Jordan was always better at that.

“Okay, Ty and Jesse against me and Connor,” Liam piped up, and I went to join Jesse at his side of the table. I picked up a beer and began to drink until it was empty.

“Needed that, huh?”Jesse laughed at me.

“You have no idea,” I rolled my eyes, then made my first toss.

“Any luck with Jordan?” Jesse asked, and I just shook my head. Jordan was the last thing I wanted to talk about right now. Jesse obviously understood as he let the topic go without any further questions. The game continued for a while, fairly tied up, and I proceeded to catch up with the boys on everything I had missed. Liam talked about his latest conquests and we all laughed as Connor tried to explain to Liam how angry his mate would be whenever he found her. Liam would never listen though. We all knew he never wanted a mate.

Suddenly, Malia’s scent grew stronger and I peered out of the corner of my eye to see her leaning up against the entry frame, watching me. My wolf was howling with excitement, knowing that she too must be feeling the pull of the mate bond. She was looking me over intently and I began tossing the ball in my hand, eagerly waiting my last turn so I could go to see her. As I tossed the ball and sunk it into Liam and Connor’s last cup, Jesse and I threw our hands up in the air to celebrate their defeat. Liam downed the last cup and groaned, “you guys are such cheaters, it’s not fair that you play on the same team!”His comment only made Jesse and I laugh.

“Liam, you picked the teams!” Jesse shouted back, earning another groan from the other team.

Liam walked over to our side of the table next. “Hey Ty, looks like the new girls got her eyes on you,” he said, nudging my shoulder. I finally let my eyes drift over to Malia and it took everything in me to control my wolf from jumping at her. She looked so sexy! Her jeans clung to her in all the right places and her shirt showed just the right amount of cleavage.

“Looks like Ty’s got eyes for her,” Jesse smacked me over the back of the head, pulling me out of the haze I was in while staring at Malia.

“Gotta go boys,” I winked at my friends and began strolling through the crowd towards her.

“Wait, he’s actually going over there,” Liam questioned, and he’s right, this was unexpected of me. Plenty of girls had flirted with me at parties but I never pursued much with any of them. A lot of the time, I just found them annoying and preferred to focus on training or just hanging out with the boys. Malia was different though, everything about her just drew me in. The way she talked, her laugh, that red blush that suddenly flew across her face as she realized I was coming towards her. I watched her turn quickly to glance into the crowd, pretending she hadn’t just been ogling me from across the room. Goddess, that was adorable.

“Hey Gorgeous, what are you doing here?” I said, immediately wrapping my hand around her waist and pulling her close to me. I felt her body lean in towards mine without any hesitation.

“I could ask you the same thing,” her enchanting green eyes met mine and a grin spread across my face.

“Well, this is my friend's house,” I smirked at her and watched that adorable blush spread across her face.

Her wide eyes looked up at me, “You know Emily?” I chuckled a little, of course it was Emily that had invited her tonight. Emily was definitely a social butterfly in the pack, she’d practically made it her job to know everyone.

“I do, but I was actually referring to her older brother, Jesse,” I nodded my head towards the group of guys I was sure were still staring at us, but my eyes never left hers.

“Oh,” Malia giggled, making my heart beat faster. “Um,” she looked over briefly at Jesse and Liam and I followed her gaze. Sure enough, both of them stared at us intently. I wanted to kiss her so badly, but away from their prying eyes.

“Come on,” I took her hand and pulled her down towards the exit. Once outside, we walked towards the less busy area with the lounge chairs. I pulled her down to sit beside me on one, then immediately captured her lips with mine. She froze in shock at first, then eagerly began to kiss me back, her mouth opening, allowing my tongue to slip inside. I repositioned us so she sat on my lap. Her hands tangled into my hair, pulling her body closer to mine. I broke away from her knowing that I’d struggle to control myself if this went on any longer, and there were way too many wandering eyes around for that.

Malia nervously bit her lip and I pushed her hair away from her face, back behind her ear. “How about I go get us a drink?” I asked her, while I had truly wanted to ask her to let me take her home to bed. But I had to assume for now that she was a human, and that would be too fast for her. I wanted her forever. I couldn’t let her think this was just a one-night stand. Malia nodded her head and climbed off my lap. My body immediately missed her presence. I stood and tried to readjust my pants without her noticing, then headed towards the bar.