Wolf Blood

Chapter Two: Mark of the Beast

Kinsley insisted on helping me get ready for tonight. As the best friend, she was way too supportive about guys and me. I sat on my bed and glanced over at my closet. My room was small, but I didn’t need a lot of things. My room faced the back of the house. My bed face to the right of the door and sat in the middle. I had my dresser to the left of the door and a closet across from the bed. Photos of the forest, friends, and the occasional quote adorned my grey walls.

“Find anything?” I asked as Kinsley tossed another dress from the closet onto my floor. There were at least three dresses on the floor. My little black dress, the one Kinsley insisted I buy. Another long black gowned that had a strap over the right shoulder and tight-fitting blue dress that fell just below the knees.

“We should have gone to my house for this,” Kinsley said stepping out of the closet. She looked at the dresses on the floor before her eyes fell on me. “Is there a reason these are on the floor and not on your body?”

I raised my brow and smiled. “I was waiting for you,” I said, my voice high as I spoke.

“Strip. Now.” She bent down and tossed the long black dress at me before going to my dresser.

I caught the dress and laid it across my legs before saying, “I’ll need the oof-” a laced fabric smacked me across the face. It was my strapless bra. “Thanks,” I said.

“I’m going back in. Call me when you have it on.” She took a deep breath as she headed back into my closet. I wasn’t a messy person, but my closet was overstuffed. I had a problem throwing things away and those “things” found a home in my closet. After eighteen years of collecting things and other clothing items my closet could be on the next episode of hoarders.

Sighing I took off my shirt. Bras were the bane of my existence sometimes. Slipping the strapless one on I pulled my shorts down before sliding the dress up. The smooth fabric caressed my skin as I slid my right arm into the sleeve.

Kinsley backed out of the closet before turning around. “Perfect,” Kinsley said. The red dress in her hand was tossed back inside.

I looked down and slid my hands down my stomach, the fabric was soft to the touch. The right shoulder strap lead to a long sleeve and the slit traveled up my right leg and stopped mid-thigh. The dress rested just above my ankles.

“Are you sure?” I asked. Glad she didn’t insist on the LBD.

“Positive.” She stepped over to me and pulled at my hair. Gritting my teeth, she yanked my curls into a bun before pulling out a few strands to frame my face. “Once I touch up the makeup, you’re good to go.”

“But shoes?” I met her hazel eyes.

“Already decided for you. I put them by the front door when I came in,” she said. I didn’t own many heels and she hated the limited options I provided. “I better get going though, don’t want to invade on your date.” She smiled before adding, “Don’t worry, I’ll get there fashionably late.”

Everette tightened his grip on the steering wheel before glancing over at me. He cleared his throat and smiled.

“You look lovely,” he said, eyes on the road again. His large hand rested on the shifter and his fingers twitched a couple times. He was thinking of something, maybe a way to mock my outfit.

“Thank you,” I said. He had a maroon button up on and black dress pants. His hair was slicked back, which was a cute attempt at taming his mane. Taking a breath, I rested my hands on my lap.

“Thank you for agreeing to be my date.” He smiled at me. He lifted his right hand before he drew it back to put it on the steering wheel. I hadn’t agreed, but his tone was sincere. My stomach tightened. I’d never felt uncomfortable with Everette before. He was jittery and I’d never seen him jittery before, maybe he had too much caffeine.

“Kinsley coming?” He asked looking at me.

“Yes. She said she might be a little late though,” I said clasping my hands together. I should have panted them. Frowning, I saw how uneven they were and bit my bottom lip.

Everette’s hand slid between mine and his warmth eased the knot in my stomach. He tightened his fingers around my hand.

“Wow, you’re cold,” he said without looking at me. I watched his face. He wasn’t smiling and he wasn’t looking at me, but his hand remained in mine. “We’re almost there.” He spoke as though I didn’t know where he lived.

I tightened my grip on his hand and place my other one on his before looking out the window. The unease in my stomach was something I’d decipher later. I enjoyed his hand being so close to me. His warmth was comforting, even if we weren’t addressing the elephant in the room.

He pulled up to his mansion and stopped in front of the main doors. He stepped out of the car and walked around to open mine. I took his outstretched hand and he led me into his home. The mansion had double front doors and once inside there was a large single staircase the led to the left and right of the house, which were rooms. I’d only been on the main floor and in the backyard.

“The party stretches to the backyard,” he said. His breath tickling my neck. The backyard deck was adorned with small lights around the hand railing and on the edges. Beyond the pool was a gazebo that was covered with the same small white lights. The gazebo was a new addition to their home.

“It’s beautiful Everette,” I said as he slipped his hand in mine.

“Care to dance?” He asked and I nodded before being swept to the gazebo.

“There’s no music.”

“Not a requirement for dancing,” he said smiling. It wasn’t long before people began arriving “I should greet my guests. I’ll find you.” We separated and he disappeared inside the house seconds later.

I drifted back into the house. I always thought there was an unusual amount of people that lived here, but Everette said something about not being able to turn family away. I think each room was full and there were over ten in the house. I could hear Everette talking from the front door while I stood in the living room that led to the pool. There weren’t a lot of people yet and I knew that there would be an influx soon.

“I don’t believe we’ve met before,” a deep voice spoke. His voice was calming. I turned and met dark green eyes. His face was long, and his facial hair was short. His brown hair was pushed to one side and the sides of his hair were buzzed.

“I’m Selene, you are?” I asked taking the hand he offered. Slowly he lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed it.

“I’m Ezekiel,” he said releasing my hand. “Soon to be owner of the very mansion you are standing in.” Everette’s older brother. I’d only heard the stories Everette told about him being a brooding recluse.

“It’s nice to meet you and to put a face to the name.”

He lifted his brow. “Everette talks about me?” He chuckled before adding, “Please, don’t listen to anything he says.”

Smiling I said, “Then change my opinion.” I could see the similarities between him and Everette. Both had pronounced jawlines, deep eyes, same hair colour, and a laugh that fills the room. There was something about him that I liked, aside from his face. He wore a tight-fitting blue button up and black dress pants, which suited him and didn’t hide his muscular stature.

He gave me a half smile. “Don’t play with me Selene,” he said leaning closer. His fingers trailed up my arms. “Unless you mean it.” My chest tightened and stomach flipped before he let out a soft chuckle that sounded more like a growl.

My eyes grew wider and he took a step back – a smile playing on his lips. Clearing his throat, he looked over at the direction that led to the front door.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Selene,” he said, saying my name slowly. He turned, leaving the room without another word.

I took a deep breath and stepped outside; music filled the air. I walked toward the grass by the gazebo before pressing my hand against my stomach. What was it about the Cardova boys that made my stomach twist? I just met Ezekiel and he affects me the way Everette does, but both are so attractive. How did I feel about Everette? I wouldn’t call it a crush, would I? Shaking my head, I sighed.

I leaned against the gazebo and looked at the woods. It was strange how close the forest was to their house. I’d never seen a mansion that didn’t have a large grassy backyard. I guess it wasn’t just Everette that liked the forest.

“Selene,” Everette said from the woods. At least it sounded like Everette.

Smiling I chuckled. “It’s hard to walk in the woods in heels, Ev,” I said. We shared a love of the woods. Sometimes he invited me to go hiking in the woods with him, but there was always some guy that came with us. He said it was his cousin who liked the woods too, but that guy always creeped me out.

“Come on,” he said. I could just hear him over the music.

“If I rip my dress, I will be so angry with you,” I said before stepping into the woods. I could see a few feet in because of the lights from the house.

“Come see my spot.”

“I can barely hear you and I can’t see you. Don’t even think about scaring me,” I spoke loudly as the leaves crunched under my feet. I listened for him, but I couldn’t hear him walking. The deeper I walked the darker the woods became. The music from the house grew quieter, but I wasn’t too far away.

“Come on,” he said.

My heart thudded. “I’m not coming any further,” I said crossing my arms. The woods were haunting. Glancing behind me I saw the house. More people arrived and they were dancing and eating. “Everette, I’m going to head back. You can show me tomorrow.” I turned around and started walking back.

A soft growl sounded by my ear before a sharp pain shot through my neck. It felt like hands with claws grabbed my arms. The teeth dug deep, and a scream left my lips. Whatever it was pushed me down before dashing away. My arms shot in front of my face before I collided with the sticks and dirt of the forest floor. I pushed myself up and scrambled to my feet. Neck throbbing, I ran back to the house.

People walked toward the woods as I ran closer to the house. When I made it back people shouted to call the police or ambulance, I couldn’t hear them well. The thudding of my heart reached my ears. My hand shot to my neck and I covered the wound. Warm blood gushed at the bottom of my hand.

Everette ran over to me. “Selene, what happened?” He asked, his arm sliding around my waist as he led me to the house. Frowning, he looked over his shoulder at the woods. His eyes darkened before he turned his attention back to me.

“Everette, what happened?” Zander said rushing to my side. “Hospital. Now.” Zander opened the doors while Everette led me to his car. After getting into the car Zander slammed on the gas and the car shot forward.

“Everything is going to be okay Selene,” Zander said reaching over to place his hand on my leg. “You’re going to be just fine. Everette, can you call my parents?”

I looked down and saw red streaking my right hand. The bite mark, on the left, was still bleeding. The pain was a steady throb and my eyes began to grow heavy. My stomach was knotted, and I felt sick.

“She’s getting pale,” Everette said. He sounded out of breath.

Slowly I leaned against the car door. My eyes closed and the pain seemed to subside as everything grew quiet and dark.