Black Flames, page 7
“Oh, I thought you knew about that already. He just told you?”
“Yes, he just told me! How long have you known about whatever it is?” Corey lifts his hands up as if I were going to attack.
“Calm down. I only learned about it yesterday. I thought you knew already. I’ll be there with you. I have to be. I’ll be his Beta and second in command.”
“Well, let’s hope he doesn’t stay in super-territorial mode. I can’t handle that and I’m trying to maintain appearances. I’m still looking to get out of this whole debacle.” I sigh.
“We’ll figure something out, Em. At least we can make the best of whatever we are given. If you can shoot me a text later, do it. I want to know if you’ll be able to practice your magic today or if he plans on staying over.”
“I will. I’ll catch you later, Corey.” I smile, and he jogs back toward the pack house. Once he’s out of sight, I let my shoulders droop and head home.
Why does this all have to be complicated? Why can’t I find my actual mate and live the life I want to lead?
Chapter Eight
Trudging through the front door of my house moments later, the smell of burgers cooking catches my attention. Carrying my empty thermos from this morning, I follow my nose as it leads me into the kitchen.
My family doesn’t have a large kitchen. It’s an open concept layout with a rectangular table for dining and a small area for cooking. A decent-sized island rests in the middle of it all with barstools, and the decor has always reminded me of one of those sixties diners you come across on family trips.
My mother picked out black-and-white tile for the floors with red accents throughout. She even went as far as to hang pictures of Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe on the walls. My mom swears it reminds her of her first job and where she met my dad. Well, my not-dad, I guess.
I push those thoughts from my mind regarding my dad situation. Even though my dad is not my dad, I still love him. A smile breaks out across my face as I walk through the entryway and find my sisters seated at the bar, watching my mother cook. Their long red hair is pulled back into matching braids, and they watch her at the stove eagerly. They must be hungry.
My stomach growls loudly, and both of them whip around to find where the noise came from. I offer them a sheepish smile in response. It’s been a busy morning.
“Hey, what all are you cooking? It smells delightful in here.” I move closer to my sisters as I speak to my mom and pull them into a hug.
“Mom is making us all burgers and fries. We weren’t sure if you would be home for lunch or not,” Tansy says, returning my hug.
Winnie hugs me from the other side as she adds, “Yeah, we thought you wouldn’t be back until late again.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re home, sweetie. They must be working you hard. We’ve barely seen you this week. Is training going well?” my mom asks, angling away from the stove enough to see me but maintain an eye on the food.
“It hasn’t been easy, that’s for sure. I’m exhausted, and I can tell my body has been through the wringer. So, how are things for you two?” I ask my sisters.
Winnie groans. “I hate training. I feel like I’m always tired now.”
“Oh, stop your complaining, Winnie. We’re doing the easy stuff. You’re just out of shape. I told you it was important to run and exercise with me. It’ll help us when our wolves finally surface,” Tansy adds, ever the active one.
“I didn’t think we would be doing this, but they explained to us what happened with the demon and that there was another attack. Did you know anything about it? They were really vague,” Winnie says, watching me eagerly.
I look at Mom as she begins to plate the food with a frown. “I told you that we would fill you in on things if needed.”
“Yes, but they mentioned that Ember was there. Why don’t you tell us about it? Was it scary?” Tansy watches me, and Winnie’s brows shoot up into her hairline. Curiosity dances in their eyes.
“Yes, I was there, and so were Corey and Adam. We took them out. It was pretty scary. I hope you never have to face any, but the things they are teaching you now will come in handy if you do. I’m glad that they’ll be teaching everyone now and not just those fated to be high-ranking Betas or a Luna.” I move to an empty stool and sit.
Mom finishes up our plates and begins to pass them out. “Hopefully you girls will never have to face them. Let’s stop this talk about the demons and attacks, though, and enjoy our lunch. Is there anything other than training going on, Ember?”
I sigh and pick up a fry. I stare at it and bite into it, groaning at the flavor. It tastes delicious, and it gives me time to organize my thoughts. “Yes and no. I’m supposed to go to some type of event tomorrow with Adam per the Alpha’s orders. I don’t have many details yet. Adam is supposed to come by later. He’s having territorial issues right now.”
“Territorial issues? Why would he be having that?” My mom stares at me, and I look at the ceiling, trying to figure out what to tell her.
I’m definitely not telling her about the thing with Zeke. That will stay a secret until I figure out how to get out of the Luna thing. “Oh, you know how males get when their female is around a lot of other males.” I shrug.
“You are so lying,” Winne says with a giggle and Tansy giggles as well.
I glare at them, and my mom says, “That doesn’t make any sense. Did you and Corey get together again? I thought you were past that?”
I had just taken a sip of water she had put down with the plates, and now it spews from my mouth. “What?” I ask incredulously. I didn’t think she knew about that.
“Oh, you think I was oblivious? I’m not stupid, Ember. I was young once too. I get why Adam is territorial. He is your betrothed, despite what you would like,” she says with a brow lifted. She takes a sip of her own glass of water.
I stare at her in disbelief as my sisters laugh. I have no words. How do I respond to that? I pick up my burger and begin to eat in silence, and my sisters finally settle down. Several minutes go by, and we finish our meal.
My mom finally says, “So, should we expect Adam later?”
“Yes. He’ll most likely come by. I plan to try and get some more conditioning in this evening after he leaves if I can. It may be a long night.” I stand and gather my empty plate and cup.
“I’m glad you’re taking this training seriously but don’t overdo it, okay, Ember?” She seems to have something else she wants to say by the look on her face, but she doesn’t say it. I know she’s worried about me with all the demons hanging around, but we should be fine.
“I won’t, Mom, don’t worry. I’m going to head to my room for a bit. I’ll check in with you all later.”
A resounding bye from my sisters follows me out of the kitchen and down the hall.
Once I make it into my room, I grab my cell off my nightstand. Since I’m not able to leave the area, I haven’t had much reason to carry it around with me. I know I’ll take it with me when I go to Alaska, but maybe with Zeke gone, I need to keep it close. Especially if something happens that I have no control over in regard to my new power. He did tell me to keep it handy anyway.
I glance down at the screen and see a message from Zeke.
Zeke: Hey, hope all is going well. I hope to hear from you soon.
I smile and respond eagerly with a lengthy message telling him about training. I leave out the thing with Corey and mention that Adam is more territorial. I also mention that I have a decent aim with my flame now and that I can’t wait until he gets back.
I set the phone down and busy myself with picking up my room. I pick up dirty clothes and organize things on my dresser until my phone goes off. I’m surprised Zeke messaged back so quickly. We continue to message back and forth while I tidy up, and I faintly hear the front door open downstairs.
Seconds later, footsteps pause outside my door, and a knock echoes through the room. “Come in,” I call out, and Adam pushes through the door.
“Hey, are you cleaning up for me?” he asks curiously.
“No, just doing a regular tidy-up. How was lunch?”
“It was good. Dad filled me in a bit more on what to expect tomorrow. He wants us to dress nicely for dinner. Apparently, we’re going to meet the Alpha for the pack stationed in Alaska and learn a bit about the other shifters and tribes in the area.”
“Oh, that sounds complicated. Is your dad sure he wants us to go help out? If there are that many in the area, why is there an issue with the Kushtaka?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. I think it’s just a training thing for us. It will be good to learn about the different cultures because it’ll be useful when we lead.”
I sigh and plop down on the edge of the bed. He joins me a second later and grabs my hand. I look up at him as he traces circles with his thumb.
“I get you’re still not on board with all this, Ember, but we have had years to come to terms with being pushed together. So please help me make the best of it,” he says quietly, staring down at my hand.
“I’m trying, Adam, but I feel like I’ve lost all of my freedom now. I can’t even leave the area. Is this what life as the future Luna will be like?” I ask, over the lump forming in my throat.
“No, it won’t be. We’ll change things. I promise that you won’t feel like you’re trapped much longer. I’ll find a way to increase your freedom, but I will need time. I need you to work with me, and I also want to keep you safe. You’ll get to take those classes you dropped and get any degree you’d like even. It’ll be on a different timeline, obviously, but just work with me.”
“I get it. It’s just difficult.” I frown, and he lifts his gaze to mine.
“I brought you something, and I hope it will cheer you up,” he says, changing the topic at hand. I watch in confusion as he drops to the floor and slips something out of his pocket. I stare in shock as he flips his hand over, and shows me the ring in it. “I know this isn’t a traditional thing, but I wanted you to have this ring to show that you’re mine since you aren’t ready for me to leave a mark on you.”
I blink and realize I can’t say no because we aren’t in a traditional relationship. We were thrown together via a contract by our parents, and he’s trying to make it the best it can be. Frustration fills me, and I want to cry but not in a good way. I hate that we’re both being denied the chance to find our true mates.
I hold my hand out, fighting back my tears, and he slips the ring on my finger. “Thank you, Ember. I promise I’ll do my best to do right by you and make you happy.”
I nod in agreement but stay silent as he moves back to sit next to me on the bed. He wraps me in a hug, and tears finally slide down my cheeks.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to cry,” I say.
“Don’t apologize for how you feel. I want us to always be honest with each other. I hope one day, we can grow to love each other.”
I nod, and he leans back away from me. I wipe my eyes. “So, tell me more about what to expect tomorrow.”
Chapter Nine
It’s an hour before the party, and Adam should be here any minute to pick me up. He refused to let me walk to the pack house, even though doing so would help calm my nerves. I’m slightly thankful that we’re driving because the shoes that best fit my dress are stilettos and walking in them for long distances would cause blisters on my feet.
My outfit for the evening is a black chiffon formal evening gown. It has a V-neck and ruffled lace for sleeves. My stilettos are shiny black, and I curled my hair in loose waves that fall down my back. I even went as far as to pull out my matching ruby jewelry set to wear with the dress. The red pops wonderfully with all the black, and I feel like a princess. This is the most I have dressed up since prom in high school.
Hearing a knock at the front of the house, I’m still listening to see if it’s Adam. I relax as I hear my dad answer the door. Their words are too faint to make out, but it’s Adam’s voice. I apply another layer of gloss to my lips and double-check my appearance in the mirror. I want to look amazing and feel confident tonight. A lot is riding on the image of Adam and I being a unified pair. Despite my desire not to be tied to him, I do care about my pack.
I slowly make my way from my room and down the hall, following the sound of voices. Adam is keeping up a steady conversation from the sounds of it with my parents. When I enter the living room, though, everyone goes silent. You could easily hear a pin drop with the silence. Feeling nervous, I look at them all and notice how wide Adam’s eyes are. His eyes then change and begin to glow faintly as his wolf surfaces. At least he likes how I look.
“Way to make it awkward. It’s not like any of you haven’t seen me dressed up before,” I mumble and move toward Adam.
“Oh, honey, you look gorgeous,” my mother whispers, grabbing me before I make it to Adam and giving me a tight hug.
My dad follows her move, and they wrap me in a group hug, murmuring words of how pretty I look. I gently shrug out of their embrace and look over at Adam, who looks on with wonder in his eyes. They glow faintly, and he shakes himself almost as if his wolf is arguing with him.
He steps forward as my parents finally step back to give me some space, and Adam takes my hand. “You look stunning. I’m not going to be able to leave your side tonight.” I laugh, and he continues, “It’s true! You’re going to turn every head once we get there. Every male will drop to their knees, begging for you to leave me for them. My wolf wants to claim you now so there’s no mistaking who you belong to.”
I flush as memories of what Corey and Zeke did to me flit through my mind. I mentally chastise myself for bringing those thoughts up and offer Adam a smile. “I guess that’s not a bad thing, right?”
“No, they’ll envy us. Let them.” He smiles wickedly and then laughs.
He maintains his hold on my hand as we finish our farewells and make our way outside. He leads me to the passenger side of his black Chevrolet pickup and helps me in. The truck is an average vehicle and one that is frequently seen in eastern Oklahoma.
I ease into my seat, and he gently closes the door. I situate my skirts around me as he walks to his side and climbs in.
“So, we talk with the Alpha from Alaska and fly out to his territory in two days? Are you sure we’re ready for this?” I ask as he puts the truck into gear.
We pull out of my parent’s driveway. “Yes, I think we’re all ready. It’ll also prove that we’re ready to lead despite your wolf not showing yet. She will soon, though. I’m sure of it.”
I frown and turn my attention to the window. I’m still not sure what will surface. Will it be a wolf or something else entirely?
“Everything will be fine, Ember. Don’t worry.” He reaches over and squeezes my hand, and I turn to offer him a smile in response.
We drive the remainder of the distance in silence, and Corey meets the truck as we park. He meets Adam at his door, and I wait as they both walk over to mine. This is how it will be now, the three of us, always together. Our protector and the Alpha and Luna. Joy.
Upon reaching my door, Corey breaks out into a huge smile, and he assists me as I slide gracefully out of the truck. “Wow, Ember, you look hot! Reminds me of prom!”
I laugh, and Adam growls in warning at Corey, which causes me to laugh even harder. “Chill out, Adam. You’re going to drive me crazy if you do this all night. It’s not my fault you asked someone else to prom. We have good memories of that night.”
He groans. “Fine. You’re right. Let’s forget about my past stupidity. Plus, Corey is going to be with us all night, so I’ll tone it down as best as I can. Just keep your hands to yourself, dude.” Adam punches Corey in the arm playfully.
“I will try my best,” Corey responds with a smirk as he rubs his arm.
“You two are insufferable. Can we go in and get this night over with?” I step toward the porch of the pack house, and it seems to snap them out of their thoughts.
“So impatient. Let’s go through. We don’t want my father upset with us early on. I also want to learn more about what we will face this week in Alaska,” Adam says, grabbing my hand and pulling me to his side.
Corey follows close on our heels as we make our way into the house and toward the spacious dining room. We are to dine first and dance following.
I smile politely perched on Adam’s arm as we enter the room. His grip tightens on me, and eyes follow us to our seats. Adam pauses, letting go of my hand, and pulls out my chair. I thank him as I sit, and both Adam and Corey sit on either side of me. We are positioned to the right of the Alpha, and we offer pleasant greetings as the rest of the partygoers find their seats.
As the seats continue to fill up, I let my gaze move along the table, taking in everyone joining us. Some of the other wolves I recognize from the pack and others I assume came with the group from Alaska. Seated next to who appears to be the Alpha of the Alaska pack are two huge males and a very tall woman. She is taller than any female I’ve ever seen.
The woman has platinum blond hair and a pleasant smile. Something about the trio seems off, though, and I can’t put my finger on it. Their energy is different. I divert my attention away from the group as Alpha Gale begins to speak.
“Now that we’re all here, allow me to make introductions. Alpha Turner, this is my son, Adam, and his mate, Ember. Seated with them is their main protector, Beta Corey.” I fight a grimace at the use of the word mate in reference to my tie to Adam and nod accordingly.
Alpha Turner smiles. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I look forward to you visiting my territory. I have with me my wife, Adeline, and several guests from neighboring territories. This is Zendaya, Ulric, and Prospero. They have been assisting with the Kushtaka issues.”
The three guests nod their heads in greeting, but the final male holds my gaze. He watches me curiously, and something about him sends chills down my spine.
“Welcome, all. Now, let’s eat, and then we’ll join in on some dancing in the room down the hall in celebration of your visit, Alpha Turner.” Alpha Gale claps his hands, and several butlers bring out trays covered with food. They place them in the middle of the table, and we wait for the Alphas to fix their plates before digging in.
