Wolf Blood

Chapter Eight: Boys Who Hover

A knock sounded on my door followed by mother’s soft voice. “Selene, you have a friend here,” she said opening the door enough to stick her head through. “He said his name was Ezekiel.” She raised her brow at me. “I have never seen him before.” Her raised brow did not mean she wanted to talk about boys. Mum was the suspicious type and since Ezekiel was older, I don’t want to hear what she’ll say later.

However, this wasn’t how I imagined my day would start. “Can you tell him I’ll be down soon-ish,” I said, and she nodded before closing the door. Groaning, I pulled my covers over my head. This was not how I wanted my day to start. Eventually, I pulled the covers back and dragged myself out of bed. Since he showed up unannounced, I’m going to shower. Stalking off to the bathroom I heard snoring from Zander’s room. I smiled before closing the door.

I knew it had been at least twenty-minutes, maybe more since he showed up. Once I was dressed, I pulled my hair back into a bun before running down the stairs. Mum stood at the bottom of the steps.

“Who is he?” She asked.

“Everette’s older brother. I met him the other day,” I said shrugging. Playing it off was typically the best strategy. She’d make a big deal of it either way, but the more relaxed I acted, the more relaxed she would respond.

“Everette. Okay, I like him. Have fun.” She watched me open the door before walking toward the kitchen.

“Hey, Selene,” Ezekiel said. “Sorry about yesterday. Everette is mad at me about something.” He shrugged before saying, “He just won’t tell me what.”

“It’s okay. I find the best method is talking it out.” Not that I always followed my own advice.

“Yeah. I know.” He nodded. “Do you want to go for a walk?” He motioned toward the road.

I nodded before slipping my shoes on. Once I closed the door we headed toward the road. Everette’s maroon Mustang came careening down the road. The breaks squealed before the car came to a stop in front of my house. Everette jumped out of his car.

“Ezekiel,” Everette said with wide eyes.

“Hey, Ev,” Ezekiel said. Everette looked at me then back at Ezekiel. We stood for a few minutes staring at each other before he hopped into the car and drove away. Ezekiel turned to face me and placed his hand on my arm. “He’ll be okay.”

I wasn’t convinced. I only agreed to walk with him because I felt like I couldn’t say no. He looked at me with his dark green eyes and smiled. His fingers rubbed my arm and I felt sick as his hands moved up and down. “Maybe we can do this another time?” I asked. His eyes grew dark.

“I’ll hold you to that, Selene,” he said, releasing my arm. He stepped toward the road before beginning to run down it.

Pulling out my phone I called Everette. When he answered I quickly said, “Sorry. He just showed up.”

“It’s okay. Is he still there?” He said.

“No, he just jogged down the road.”

“Do you want to come over?” He said. After I said yes, I grabbed my keys, hopped in my Jeep, and headed toward the Cardova mansion.

It wasn’t long before I pulled up to the large house. Once I parked, I walked up to the door, but before I knocked Everette swung the door open. His green eyes were bright, but he didn’t smile. He waved me inside and I followed him. We walked up the staircase and to the left. I’d never been up here. The walls were adorned with family photos framed in gold, which matched the molding.

Everette paused in front of double large wooden doors. He pushed them open and closed them after I stepped inside. There were rows of bookcases and several tables nearby. He led me to a table in the far corner behind a bookcase. He pulled out a chair and moved another one in front of him before looking at me.

“Everette,” I said, and he raised his hand. I sat across from him and clasped my hands.

I looked at him, but his eyes were on the floor. His hands grabbed the armrest before he met my gaze.

“I think Ezekiel is the one that bit you,” he said. My stomach tightened.

“What?” Everette was a wolf? Ezekiel was a wolf?

“I think that’s why he’s hanging around you.”

I stood, pushing back the chair. “You’re a wolf?”

“No. Ezekiel is.” He stood.

“How do you know?” I asked. “About me?”

“I know what a werewolf bite looks like. My father is the alpha of the pack and almost everyone here is a wolf,” he said sliding his hands in his pocket. “I know Ezekiel and I’m confident he made you turn.” He stepped toward me and I turned away. I felt him behind me as he places his hands on my arms.

I placed a hand over his. They were werewolves. How did I not notice? I guess I don’t make a very good wolf. After all the craziness over these few days I didn’t feel too freaked out. First, I was bitten by Ezekiel and now I’m discovering that this house belongs to a pack of wolves.

“What did you mean by no?” I asked. “You said you weren’t a wolf, but you’re an alpha’s son.” That didn’t make much sense. I don’t know a lot about how this works, but I assumed the genes are passed down from one wolf to the next. I’d watched enough TV to figure that out.

“I can’t turn. Wolf blood doesn’t mean I can become one,” He said.

“Why don’t you just have someone bite you?” Wasn’t that how it worked if one didn’t turn? It worked with me.

“That’s not how it works.” He rubbed his thumbs in circles on my arm. “Pack law keeps us in check. Wolves don’t bite their own.” He let out a deep breath. “Packs have strict rules about how and when to turn someone.”

“You can’t turn anyone at random?” I felt my stomach stir.

“No. Ezekiel bent the rules. Technically, he has permission to turn his future mate, but after they agree,” he said, turning me around to face him. He smiled at me before caressing my cheek. “Pack laws are very strict. We follow them to survive.”

He always made me feel lighter. His smile loosened the knots in my stomach. He slid his hand around my back. My heart thudded. I liked him and there was no denying it. The fear of losing my friendship with him melted because it didn’t matter. What I felt about him mattered and he mattered so much to me.

He pressed his lips to mine and my stomach swirled. My hands found their way behind his head and he pulled me closer before separating. Kinsley was right about his hair. It was soft and I liked the way my fingers felt tangled in it.

“I really like you Selene,” he said.

A growl erupted throughout the room. My chest tightened at the sound. I’d never heard anything like it before. Retracting my hands from behind Everette I turned to the door. Ezekiel walked toward us, quietly growling. Everette stepped forward, half standing in front of me.

“Everette, you know better,” Ezekiel said, his voice low and chilling. I felt my hair stand on end.

“You broke the rules Ezekiel,” Everette said and Ezekiel laughed.

“You know better than to come between the future alpha and his mate.” Whoa, mate? I am no one mate, whatever that entails. “You know better,” Ezekiel said again, shaking his head. “I’ve staked my claim, now back off.” He growled.

“You back off,” Everette said. “She isn’t yours.” The strength in his voice wavered.

I was no possession to own. I could feel my skin beginning to burn. Stepping forward I growled, like it was normal. It felt normal to growl.

“I am not a possession,” I said clenching my fists. “Did you bite me?” I had to know, and it could lead to a cure.

“I suppose possession was not the best choice of words,” Ezekiel said.

“Did you bite me?” I asked.

“I am sorry I called you a possession.” He seemed to relax a bit. His dark eyes turned green again, that must be a wolf trait.

“Ezekiel. Did you bite me?” My neck burned more intensely the longer I looked at him. “Just answer the question.” A simple yes or no would suffice.

“Yes.” He nodded. “Yes Selene, I bit you. I made you the glorious beast you are,” he said smiling. “It’s truly a gift you’ve been given.”

A gift? It felt like a curse. Trapped under the enchantment of the moon to become a wolf. A mindless killing machine – that didn’t seem like a gift. It didn’t matter that Kinsley said I could control it eventually, eventually wasn’t now. I needed it now. Instead, I was stuck not knowing what I did.

I growled at Ezekiel. He made me this monster because he thought he could own me. “This is your fault,” I spoke quietly. The thudding of my heart reached my ears. I could feel it coming. The anger in me swirled.

Pain shot through me. I heard cracking before I fell to my knees. A growl rumbled through me before the pain subsided. When I stood, I looked down at Ezekiel. My vision blurred as I growled at him. I wanted to tear him apart. I wanted to give into the anger and let my consciousness give way to the beast.

I stepped forward. Ezekiel stood his ground and looked at me. He looked proud. I wanted to knock that smug smile off his face and being closer to him made it far more tempting. I lowered myself, ready to strike before a familiar voice shouted.

“Selene,” Everette said as he ran in front of Ezekiel. “Selene, come back to me.” He raised his hands at me.

“Let her come at me, Ev,” Ezekiel said placing his hand on his brother’s shoulder.

I barked at him. My muscles tensed. He was intervening with my target. But it was Everette. He stood in the way. Quickly, I knocked Everette aside and leaped at Ezekiel. A scream filled my ears before Ezekiel jumped out of the way. I turned and saw Everette clutching his side. Shaking my head, I stepped back.

I hurt Everette. I couldn’t control it. I let out a whimper before dashing out the open door and down the steps. As I rounded the corner by the steps, I saw someone walking in the house. They stepped out of the way before I burst out the open door. I took off toward the woods, but I wasn’t ignorant to the sound of footsteps behind me.