Getting Ready

Sylvia:

I put my hand out in front, "If you'd like. It's just a little boost, energy pick up." Silas took a step closer, then stopped as he looked at me. I knew he was giving me a chance to change my mind. When I held my hand in place he walked the final step into it. My palm lay flat on his chest. His earth brown eyes went wide and began to shift between the deep brown and wolf eyes looking out at me. He stayed still, not moving or speaking. "This may feel a bit strange at first." 

His body felt warm under my hand, the warmth began to crawl up my arm. My wolf began to pound on the barrier she was stuck behind. I said a silent apology to her as I ignored her and pulled up the same energy as before. I sent the wave of peaceful and energized current through Silas' chest. He let out a slow sigh as my energy mixed with his, it seemed to be pulled in as it spread and mixed with his own, energizing as it went. His eyes closed and he took a slow breath in. When the energy was fully spread I pulled my hand back, feeling the warmth leave as I did. My hand felt empty, my energy calling to reconnect to his. I kept it separated, letting go of the string connected to what I had given and accepting the cold and empty feeling as my consequence.

His eyes opened and they flickered from his wolf to his own. "Thank you." Those were the only words he said. The simple two words. They echoed in my mind. His voice was tense, low, and quiet. If I had been human I would have probably missed them altogether.

He stood to the side and I saw Sinlan behind him. His eyes focused on me. Their green depths called me to him. I once again put my hand out, "Care to try?" My wolf stilled in my mind, waiting, hoping as I was that he would step into my hand. He kept his eyes on me, his face was still as stone as he walked up to my hand. Unlike Silas he didn't stop early, he went until his chest was against my open palm. I felt a small shock of heat go from his chest as it began to fill the emptiness and cold left behind when Silas stepped away. Sinlan kept his eyes open, his mouth opened slightly and a low growl escaped before he could stop it.

I once again pulled together the energy wave and sent it to his chest. My eyes locked on his, the shift between his own and his wolf eyes happened slower than it had with Silas. When they did switch it took longer for them to switch back. When I felt my energy burst fill every part of his own I pulled my hand back, missing the feeling of his chest beneath it immediately. The cold and empty feeling felt just as it had after Silas. It was like a chill crept behind where his chest had touched my hand and it spread up my arm. It was a silent reminder that I was supposed to be next to him, to be touching him, to be with him. 

He let out a low growl then took a slow breath in as his eyes finally stayed still as his own. I knew they both felt the empty feeling I had when we separated. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding and dropped my eyes. Unable to keep looking at their green and brown ones piercing me, calling to me. "Well, that was fun." Melinda said with a chipper voice, breaking the tension in the air as I turned to face her. "Gotta admit Sylve, you surprised me there." I gave her a small smile as I shrugged my shoulders. I had surprised myself as well. "Well boys, I don't think she'll be talking any time soon, but we are off to get her clothes and supplies!"

"Supplies?" Daniel asked as he tore his eyes from his Alpha and Beta back to Melinda. 

"Yep, she's the one coming with you tonight." His eyes went wide once more before he quickly caught his composure.

"Well, that does explain a few things." Like why his pack leaders were frozen in place with their eyes locked onto me as if nothing else in the room existed.

"Like what we just witnessed? Yep, fun times! Well Daniel, I'd love to chat but off to the stores we go. Get my number from Sylve and we'll set up a date to get together!" We were walking back away from the group of men. All who had my energy rush running through their veins. Silas and Sinlan still had their eyes locked on me and I knew it must be a challenge for them to stay in place and let me walk away without stopping me. I was grateful they did, but considering my own wolf who was once again pounding the barrier to get out and to her mates, I knew their wolves must be going crazy. Daniel was looking between us and his leaders, his mind probably running wild as well. 

When we reached the door I felt the fresh air hit me and bring me back to the moment we were in. My mind had been lingering, still thinking of how warm their chests had each felt beneath my hand. Silas had felt strong, solid, the warmth had radiated up my arm, my energy blending with his as if it was always there. Sinlan was a bit softer, just as solid and warm. His warmth had replaced the emptiness Silas had left behind with a jolt so quick it was undeniable. I felt the coldness from pulling away still in the palm of my hand. I began to rub my hands together, trying to warm my hand once more to normal temperature. 

As I did I couldn't help but think of my energy pouring into Sinlan. His energy had felt cool, like a silk sheet that was out in the cold too long. My energy mixed with his and it became warm and vibrant. Silas' energy had felt warmer, almost like a comforter that rested in front of a fire where it was warm in some spots and cool in others. His energy had reacted by swarming mine and pulling it to spread through him even faster. Whether he had done that intentionally or not I didn't know. 

I climbed into the car and let my head fall back against the headrest, the headache from my wolf starting. "Please stop, I'm sorry we can't go back right now!" My wolf did stop, she seemed to lie back down and rest. She may have stopped because she heard me, she may have stopped because there was finally some distance between them and me. I was just grateful she stopped. If she was going to do this every time I was around them it would be a very long few days. 

"Well, time to get ready. You alive over there?" I had my eyes closed as I let my head relax. I turned to face her and let out a small laugh. She smiled at me and my laugh grew.

"What the hell did I just do?" I pulled on my seatbelt and shook my head at myself. 

"I have no clue! You surprised the hell out of me and that is saying something girl. What happened?" She started up the car and I just shook my head again as I looked out the window.

We pulled off and headed back to the mall we passed getting to the hotel. "Honestly, I thought it couldn't hurt and it felt almost like a dare when Silas asked. I just wanted to do it, so I did. It was…" I took a moment but couldn't think of the right word.

"Intense?" 

"That's a word for it." 

"Girl if those growls got any louder you'd have an audience waiting for the big bad wolves to come out and play." 

"Honestly, it would have been incredibly difficult for them to control themselves. I'm a bit surprised they managed, and that they bothered. I don't think I know as much about werewolves as I thought." Everything I'd been told growing up about them seems to have been limited to my family's own experience rather than objective truth.

"Well, you've tried avoiding them your whole life. You are bound to have a few things to learn. Those men though, can we say yum at least? I mean come on!" We both laughed as we pulled up to the mall's main parking lot.

"You're not wrong. By the way, that Daniel seems cute. You took to him pretty quick?"

"Told you I'd kill for a wolf, he may not be mine forever, but that doesn't mean he can't be mine right now." I rolled my eyes at her and shot her a look letting her know I knew very well she was interested in him for more than right now. I knew that the moment she saw him today. Her energy had immediately given away just how much she liked him. She was a smitten kitten just trying to pretend she wasn't as interested as she really is to hide the truth. "Hey now, you get to keep your lies and I keep mine!" I smiled at her and shrugged, she had a point. Although I was curious just how much time she'd had to get to know him at the party before everything happened and her evening was cut short. A conversation for another day though.

We walked into the mall and went to the first clothing store that we found. I only found two outfits I liked there but got them for now. We checked out a few more stores before finding one with clothes much more suited to my style. I got another three days' worth of outfits, a set of pajamas with shorts and a tank top, a nightgown, and a new set of underwear and socks. A bathroom supply store got my shampoo, toothbrush, and other bathroom essentials. I also grabbed a big tote bag that was on sale to keep everything in and a smaller one to separate out the witch supplies we brought so I would only take what I needed. We hit up the food court where I got a pretzel and cheese. I pulled out my phone and realized it was four thirty and we definitely had to head back.

"We totally lost track of time. I'm supposed to meet them at the car by five!"

"Well, guess you have to text them we will be back late." I eyed her as she took a drink of her soda and avoided eye contact. I let out a small chuckle as I pulled out the note with the number for Silas and put it into my phone. She had definitely taken this long intentionally. 

I typed in his number and started a new message. 'Running a bit late, we'll be back by five but I'll be ready to go and head right back down after grabbing my bags.' 

He responded immediately, 'No rush, we'll be here.' I felt my heart jump at the idea of him and Sinlan waiting for me. I put my phone back in my pocket and looked back up at Melinda.

"All good?" She asked innocently.

"Sure, if you take him now having my phone number as good." It would only make it harder to avoid him if I decided to reject him and run off. She just shrugged as she smiled and we got up to throw away our trash. "Let's go, our guys will be waiting." She smiled at me that time and led the way out and back to the car. I was as ready as I could be. There was no more use in avoiding the inevitable. Time to honor my promise and give them time to show me around their pack. "We'll get through this." I said to my wolf, still not knowing if she could hear me since I couldn't hear her. 

We pulled up to the hotel and ran inside quickly. I saw Daniel pulling the car around and Melinda waved at him quickly before chasing me inside to the elevator. We quickly divided up the witch supplies, "You take all the candles, I have more at home." I nodded as I put them into the small tote bag I purchased. 

"Okay, and listen if you need me just call. I know there's another job coming up. I wasn't scheduled but…"

"Stop! I got this end of things. You go learn about wolves and your hunks!" I smiled as I looked at her. Was I really doing this? "Are you ready?" Was I? 

I nodded, "Ready as I can be." We turned and headed out, all of our bags packed and the room back as we found it yesterday. We quickly dropped off the key at the front desk and I squeezed her hand as she walked me out. I pulled her into a tight hug before she turned to load her stuff into the car and I walked over to Daniel waiting for me at a vehicle I could only assume was my ride.