Chapter 13: Meeting The Wolf

I wake up to the sound of birds chirping outside my window. I stretch my thin arms before getting out of bed and walk over to my closet to pick out what I want to wear today. I pick out a pair of light denim ripped skinny jeans, and a thin flowy short sleeve black blouse. I place the clothes on my bed and go into the bathroom to take a shower. After my shower, I put on my clothes and a bit of makeup.

"What are you getting all dressed up for so early?" I hear Jo ask me as she walks into our room with Evelyn and some coffee.

I didn't even know what time it was and pulled out my phone to see.

"I was just going to see if Ryder wanted to go get lunch with me but I didn't realize it was only 7:50 am.. I figured it was at least 9 or 10. I feel like I slept forever." I say as I rub the back of my head.

Jo hands me my caramel latte. "Well, since you still have a few hours till lunch, why don't you tell me about last night." She said as she gave me a wink.

I sit down at the edge of my bed and pull out my phone to send Ryder a text about lunch.

"I was wondering if you'd like to go to the Bistro with me later and grab some lunch?"

I sit my phone down on the bed beside me before I tell Jo everything that happened last night.

"I figured Evelyn would have told you since you two went out this morning."

"Nope! I decided I'd just let you tell her." Evelyn said as she laughed.

Jo looked at Evelyn before asking, "Did you ever get any leads on who that ass wipe is yet?"

"No.. everyone I texted last night said they don't know anyone who looks like that. So he doesn't go to school here, and it seems like he doesn't know anyone who does. He was literally just some random dude who showed up."

"We can always take your description of the guy down to the police department if you want, Vii." Jo says as she places a hand on my shoulder.

"No, it's okay. Ryder kind of fucked him pretty good, so I doubt he'll come back."

I hear my phone ding and pick it up to check my text messages.

"That sounds great, love! I'll come pick you up at 11."

"I'm just going to assume, because of the enormous grin on your face, it's Ryder, isn't it?" Jo asks me while shaking her head.

"He said he'd be by to pick me up at 11 for lunch! I still have like and hour and a half before then if you guys want to do anything!"

"I'd love hang out with you guys today, but my first shift at the Bar starts in like thirty minutes. So I've gotta head on to work. I'll see you two later!" Jo grabs her purse and waves at Evelyn and I before leaving for work.

"I hate to leave you here alone babe, but Matt's here to pick me up and I'll be gone most of the day. Love you, have fun with Ryder today!"

"Love you too! Have fun and be careful!" I say as Evelyn leaves.

I decide to relax for a bit and read one of my favorite books, 'To Kill a Mocking Bird'. I make it through two chapters before I hear a knock at the door. I place my book on my nightstand and open my door to see Ryder.

"Hey, come on in! I have to put my shoes on and I'll be ready to go!" I say as I motion for him to come in.

Ryder walks in and leans against the wall beside the door, watching me.

"Are you going to say anything or just keep staring at me?" I ask with a laugh.

"I wasn't staring.." He says nervously.

"Oh, sure!" I tease. "Okay, I'm ready. Lets go!"

We walk outside and Ryder walks over to a solid black 1972 Chevy Camaro. He opens the door for me and I get in. Once Ryder gets in, he drives toward the Bistro.

Once we get to the Bistro, Ryder gets out and opens my door for me.

"What a gentleman." I laugh as I get out of the car.

"I just like to impress the ladies." He says, winking at me.

"Excuse me, but I better be the only lady you're trying to impress."

"Of course, love." He says with a grin.

We walk inside the Bistro and sit at a table in the corner. While we wait for our waiter, Ryder gets a phone call.

"I have to take this. I'll be right back."

I watch him as he walks outside and leans up against his car and runs his hand through thick hair.

I wonder who he's talking to? He looks like he's nervous..

After about five minutes, Ryder comes back in and sits down in front of me at our table and still looks a bit nervous from the phone call.

"Are you okay?" I ask, concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It was just my dad letting me know some important business issues."

Our waiter comes over to take our order and within ten minutes, brings our food and drinks out to us.

While we eat our lunch we talk about everything, like our favorite foods, and hobbies, just trying to get to know each other more.

"If it's okay with you, I want to take to you to my favorite place out in the woods after we finish our lunch." He says with a smile.

"Yeah! That sounds fun." I say enthusiastically.

After we finish our food, we get back into the car and head toward the Garden so he can park his car close to the entrance of the woods. Once he parks the car, we get out and make our way into the woods.

"You know, I've lived here for two years now and I have never once been into these woods. It's always kind of creeped me out." I said nervously.

Ryder takes my hand into his before saying, "It's really not that bad, trust me. I spend a lot of time out here and I've never seen anything dangerous." He says as he laughs.

He leads us to a gorgeous clearing in the middle of the forest that's covered with thousands of wild flowers. He walks over to a spot in the center of the clearing and sits down, so I sit beside.

"It's so beautiful out here." I say as I look at everything around me.

"I like to come out here when I need to clear my head. It's so quit and peaceful without the noise of the cars in town."

"I usually just go to the Garden when I need to think, but I really need to come out here more!" I say as I lay back onto the grass beneath me.

"So.. I wanted to bring you out here to tell you something." He says as he stands up. "I need you to trust me, okay?"

"Um.. Okay, sure.." I say confused. "What is it?"

"What all have you learned in the Occult Studies class so far?"

"Miss. Reid's only talked about Faeries so far since class just started a couple days ago. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Okay, you know how Faeries are myths?" He asks.

"Yeah, I guess. Why?"

"Well, myths are based on actual things." He says as he looks around the clearing.

"Wait. Are you saying Faeries are real?" I ask as I stand up, facing him.

"They are real. Just like most other myths. I'm sure you've seen movies or read books that have Vampires or Werewolves in them too, right?"

"Are they real too?"

"They are.. but they're not what the movies and books make them out to be."

"So you expect me to believe that blood sucking monsters and people who change into a whole ass wolf are real? You're fucking crazy!" I say as I start to storm off out of the clearing.

Ryder grabs my arm and turns me around so I'm facing again. "If you don't believe me, I can show you."

"Show me then." I say, laughing.

Is he insane? I think he's insane.. What person actually believes that supernatural creatures exists?

Ryder lets out a deep sigh before reaching to his pants and unbuttoning them.

"Um, what the fuck are you doing?!" I say backing up away from him.

"You want me to show you, so I'm showing you. Just trust me. I promise I won't hurt you, love."

He continues taking off the rest of his clothing and lays them on the ground beside him. As he's standing there, completely naked, I realize this is the first time I've seen naked and I immediately feel my face get red. I can't help but to just stare at him. He look's perfect.

"If this was anything other time, I wouldn't care about you eye fucking me. But I need you to be serious, love."

"Oh.. Um, okay." I say, embarrassed that he caught me staring at him.

"This will probably scare you, but I just need you to remember that I won't hurt you."

Suddenly, I hear what sounds like bones breaking. Before I can think about what is going on, I watch as the man in front of turns into an enormous solid gray wolf.

"What the fuck!" I scream.

I Immediately back away, looking around me, debating on running and yelling for help. I hear a soft growl and bring my attention back on the wolf in front of me. It's not sitting on the ground just looking at me like a lost puppy. I stare at it and notice the wolf has the same steel-gray colored eyes Ryder does, and for some reason I relax a little.

I walk over to the wolf, and it cocks its head at me, confused. I sit on my knees in front of it and stroke the thick fur on its side. The wolf stands up, and I take that as my cue to back away. Once I back up a bit, I see the wolf quickly shift back into a human. Back into Ryder.

Once Ryder puts his clothes back on, he walks over to me and grabs my hand.

"I'm a little surprised, love. You weren't as a terrified of me as I thought you'd be." He says with a laugh.

"Okay, so let me get this straight. Werewolves are real right?"

He laughs. "Yes, they are."

"So that means you're a werewolf, right?"

"Yes, love. There's something else I need to tell you, though. It just wouldn't make sense if I told you this without you knowing what I am. After I tell you, you can ask me any questions you have."

"Um, okay.."

"So werewolves have what's called mates. Just think of it as what humans call a soulmate or other half. Except when a werewolf sees their mate, their wolf instantly knows that person is their mate." He says as he walks over to me and grabs my hand. "So, that day I first saw you outside of Miss. Reid's classroom I knew you were my mate Violet. I wanted to stay away from you, because I wasn't sure if I would be able to control myself around you.. but once I ran into you in the cafeteria, I knew I wouldn't be able to stay away. I need you. I need to be around you." He says as he grabs my chin, making me look him in the eyes.

"That kind of make sense, actually.. Ever since I saw you in the hallway the other day, I haven't been able to think straight. I would catch myself thinking about you literally all the time, no matter how hard I tried not to."

"That's because of the mate pull. If a human is mated to a werewolf they'll feel it too, it's just not as strong as it is for a werewolf. You'll feel drawn to them and want to be around them every second of every day, but you won't know why since you don't have a wolf."

"Okay that explains a lot then. What about the tingling sensation I feel every time we touch?" I ask, confused.

"That's part of the mate pull, love." He says as he smiles at me.

"Oh, okay."

"It's not too much is it? I really didn't want to tell you this soon.. but I didn't have a choice.."

"I'll admit, it is a lot to take in.. What do you mean by you didn't have a choice?"

Ryder lets out a deep sigh and lets go of my hand. "The guy that attacked you last night is a werewolf from one of the neighboring packs.. My dad and I think found evidence to believe the Alpha of that sent a few of his men here to come after you.."

"Pack? Alpha? You're saying these things like I should know what they are. Why would someone come after me?" I ask, my voice rising.

"Werewolves live in packs. Some can be small, and others like mine are larger. An Alpha is what we call the leader of the pack. Each pack also has a Beta and a Gamma. The Beta is second in command to the Alpha and the Gamma is third. The pack looks to the three of them for orders and guidance." He explains.

"Okay.. but what about the pack that is after me? What does the Alpha want with me? I'm just a human.."

"He's after you because you're my mate.. One of his men somehow snuck into our territory and heard me telling our Seniors that you're my mate.."

"But why does it matter to him that I'm your mate?"

"I'll have to tell you that later, love. There's something else I need to tell you." He sighs. "My dad and I both think it's in your best interest if you come stay with me at our pack house.. We just want to make sure you're protected at all times, and the safest place for you is with us."

"Why can't I just stay at my dorm? I live with two other people, and I kind of doubt anything would happen with other humans around me." I say.

"I can't risk you being left alone. The second they know you're alone, they could come after you.." He says worriedly.

"What about school?" I ask.

"You can still go to class and do whatever you want to do. I just can't have you go anywhere alone. Even if it's for only ten minutes. You'll be safe during school, sense there's so many people there. Plus, my sister and I will be there with you too."

"You're sister? I didn't know you had a sister. What grade is she in?"

Ryder laughs before saying, "She's the Occult Studies Professor, love."

"Wait?! Miss. Reid is your sister?! And she's a werewolf? That's so cool! I guess that would be a perfect job for someone like her." I say laughing.

"Her name is Monica, just don't call her that during class okay?" He laughs. "But you're perfectly fine with staying with me for right now?"

"It's for my protection, so I don't really have much of a choice, unless I want to be attacked again.. Plus I'll get to be with you and learn more about werewolves so it can't be that bad."

"I'll take you back to your dorm so you can grab a few of your things. After that I'll show you the pack house." He says as he takes my hand and starts leading us out of the woods.