WHO’S COUNTING
1815 Words
BRAILLE grinned as she parked the car in front of the bakeshop. The aroma of the freshly baked bread brightens up her stressful day.
It was eight in the evening. She just left the office a few minutes ago.
Damian and Carl understood that she wanted to be alone this time. Both of them went home without so much reminder than to enjoy and take care of themselves.
The bell rung when she opened the glass door. Marie smiled at her after a discreet bow.
She mind linked her orders before sliding herself in the chair in front of a certain beauty who was alone in the corner.
“That sit is not available.”
She grinned when Natasha said that without raising her eyes from the book she was reading.
“I’m glad you said that.” The petite woman finally looked up.
Natasha was clearly surprised upon seeing her. Braille smirked before she as. “Are you waiting for someone?”
She thanked the waiter when her order was served. Her eyes did not leave Natasha.
“You like his books?”
Natasha closed the thick paperback. She put it on top of the table. She sipped her coffee before responding.
“Are you following me, Miss Wilson?”
“That is quite an accusation, Natasha.” She responded as she made a bite of the cookie she ordered. She finished the pastry in three big bites.
The petite woman stared at her for half a minute before blinking while she on the other hand did not leave her pretty face.
“Who are you, Miss Wilson?”
“I’m Braille Wilson.” She sipped the black coffee. Her eyes did not withdraw from the scrutiny of Natasha.
“Aside from being the CEO, who are you?”
She smiled when she heard that. The girl has guts. And she likes the way her forehead knot when she is thinking.
She leaned in her chair and smirked at the petite woman.
“Only family and very close friends knew the person behind the CEO.” Her smile widens when then human’s brow shot up. “I wouldn’t mind though if we become family.” She took another sip of her coffee as Natasha’s frown deepened. “I wouldn’t mind creating a family with you, Miss Natasha Russo.”
She chuckled when she found the human blushing. One point for Alpha Braille.
“Are you free this weekend?” She asked after a while.
“Why?”
“It’s my nephew’s birthday.”
“Oh?”
Braille gripped the cup tighter when she saw how her lips pouted as she said that. Slowly, she put the cup down.
“Come with me.”
“I might be somewhere on weekend.”
This time, it was her brow that went up. “Where will you be, Miss Russo?”
“To the place where you will not stalk me.”
She laughed out loud. Natasha gawked at her as if she lost her marbles.
“I don’t know a place where I can’t find you.”
“Should I be afraid now?”
She shook her head. Natasha said that but there was not even a slight of panic in her demeanor. One point for Natasha Russo.
The petite girl stands. Braille followed every move she made.
“Pick me up at 4 PM.”
She grinned. The smile stayed on her lips even after Natasha turned her back from her.
“I’ll be there on Saturday at 4PM sharp.”
The human just waved her hand as she exited the door of the bakeshop.
**********
“YOU don’t have to bring anything but thank you.” Braille said as they paced towards the car.
She went to Natasha’s apartment building ten minutes before four in the afternoon. The woman was ready when she opened the door.
Natasha was wearing a gray shirt paired with black skinny jeans. A jean jacket was in her arm while the other was holding a medium-sized gift-wrapped box. Two points for Natasha Russo.
“Everyone bringing a plus one?” Natasha asked as they started their journey to the venue. It is a forty-minute drive from the urbanized zone.
She nodded. “Maybe a plus two, three.”
“I don’t even know anyone there.”
She threw her a glance. Natasha was looking out the window. There was nothing to see outside aside from the canopy of trees beside the road.
“You know me. My secretary will be there, too. You knew him from the office.” She glanced at the rearview mirror when she said that. She did the same in her side mirror.
“You can tell the guys from the midnight blue SUV to stop following us. I will send you home later.”
The lady in the passenger seat turned her head at the back of the car. She exhaled before fishing her phone from the sling bag.
“Stop following us. I’ll call you when you get home.”
After that call, the SUV slow down until she can no longer see it. That was also the exact moment when they reached the beginning of the pack territory.
“I’m with a human. Please be discreet.” She mind linked everyone.
“This is a big land.” Natasha commented. “And full of trees, too.”
“Yes. My forefathers own the territory. It was passed down from generation to generation.”
“A legacy. I hope your generation keeps this the way it is.”
“I’m hoping to maintain this place. I try to minimize cutting the trees. However, the population continues growing as the years go by.”
“Your family is rich.”
She shrugged. She turned left. “I want to preserve the forest part of this land. I want the future generation to experience walking in the forest.”
“That’s a good plan.”
“Thank you.”
She parked the car beside her brother’s. She faced the beautiful lady beside her. Natasha has her eyes on the spacious lawn where her pack members hanging around. Most of them were already looking at her car.
“There’s a lot of visitors.”
“Everyone please be cautious. I have a human in the car. Please contain yourself from shifting.”
The third benefit of being a werewolf is the ability to shift from being human to a giant dog. A werewolf is at least twice as big as a huge dog. Often, when a human had seen a werewolf, they would just consider it as a big bear since a human mind always comes up with a thought in order to have a sensible reality. An acceptable reality. As a shapeshifter, a werewolf’s body, even in human form, is a little warmer than a normal humans. That is in order for them to survive in the wild and forested area even with just a thin jacket.
She heard a chorus of ‘yes, alpha’ after her mind link.
“I love the netted trampoline with the balloons inside.”
“Is that a little Natasha I’m hearing?” She bickered. A grinning Natasha faced her.
She’s so beautiful, she thought. She put the stray curls at the back of Natasha’s ear.
“Ready to meet the birthday boy?” She climbed out of the car when Natasha nodded.
“Thank you. Chivalry ain’t dead after all.” She chuckled when Natasha said that when she opened the passenger door for her.
She picked up their gifts from the back seat before marching towards the birthday party.
She just nodded to the pack members as they saunter inside. She noticed that other bow their head a little.
“Are you sure you’re not Chinese?” She chuckled and shook her head again. “You’re not part of a cult, right?”
Another point for Natasha Russo for keen observation.
“No.”
“Good. Because I’m no virgin to be sacrificed.”
She was not able to stop herself as she laughed loudly. Some of the members of the pack turned to them. They were a bit surprised to see her laughing. It has been a while when she did.
“Don’t worry. The sacrifice will be offered to me first. I decided what to give away.”
She received a punch in the arm for that. She was still amused as they encountered her brother with the birthday boy.
“Hey, A--. Braille.”
“David.” She beamed at her nephew. “Happy birthday, Ivan!”
“Thank you, Aunt Braille!” The young boy said that with enthusiasm but his eyes were centered on the gifts she has on her arm.
She gave it to him. The boy‘s eyes sparkled.
“Thank you. Thank you so much!”
Before they could utter another word, the birthday boy was gone. They all laughed at his excitement.
“And who is this beautiful lady?” David turned to her guest. She growled lowly. Her brother grinned wider.
“My name is Natasha. How are you?”
“I’m good. Thank you.” David said as he reached for her hand. “I’m glad my sister finally went out of her cave.”
“Very funny, brother. That’s a great way of building my confidence in your future Luna.”
David stopped shortly but his smile widened. He clasped Natasha’s hand with his two.
“I’m pleased to finally meet you, Natasha. Welcome to the family. I mean, welcome to the party.
Braille blinked a few times when she was bombarded with a chorus of mind links. She did not know that hers was opened to everyone when she reprimanded her brother. Now everybody knew who Natasha is.
She inhaled deeply. “Members of Moon Howlers Pack, the human with me is your Luna. She was given to me by the moon goddess as my second chance mate. However, the Luna is human and she did not know about us. Please be patient. I will tell her the truth about us and our tradition.”
She noticed that everyone was nodding at each other. The smile was also painted on their faces as they glanced at her.
“Thank you.”
A few congratulations and words of support were sent to her before she closed the link.
- Writer
