Only To Me (Secrets of the Past) Read online

  Only To Me

  Prologue

  “Let the hunt begin!”

  One after the other, the women begin sliding their dresses from their shoulders, exposing their bare bodies. The other six young wolves hesitantly followed. I would have felt a sense of embarrassment if they hadn’t decided to wear underwear as well.

  Lily stood uncomfortable as Mike undressed her, and Clara stared at Eric as she slid her dress down, and her perfect breast stood firm. The men yanked their shirts open and stripped from their pants. Some were completely naked and unashamed, while others remained in their underwear. Mated couples playfully undressed each other in a way that would make the average person uncomfortable.

  Eric walked back to me with his shirt already off. He grabbed the straps of my dress and slid them down my shoulders, which caused it to fall to the floor.

  I didn’t object to what was happening; I couldn’t feel the usual anger that engulfed me whenever he touched me. I could only feel the pull of the moon telling me to run. I was about to pull the chain over my head to shift when I was stopped by his hands.

  “Keep that on little wolf,” he smiled eyeing my frame before throwing my hair from my shoulder. I tensed at his touch and I felt horrible inside although my skin was fevered with desire.

  The crowd begin to blur as one person after the other shifted into their wolf form. I could see my mother and Lucas had already shifted, and he was tugging at her ear like a cub.

  Almost in Unison the wolves howled together when the moon peaked through the night clouds.

  I could feel my body heating up uncontrollably, and I was being compelled to shift. Eric reached to my head and pulled the hair clip out causing my hair to fall wildly in my face. I could feel the heat intensifying, and Eric jumped into his wolf form. My mind was being dominated and I fell to the ground.

  I was now on all fours, fur covering my body and the moon calling my name. Eric’s black wolf and my russet colored fur stood out amongst the grey wolves that lined the yard. The chain that was too big in my human form fit the shape of my neck perfectly as a wolf, and I realized it was a diamond collar.

  I was angry for allowing myself to change with the jewelry still on, and a low growl came from my chest. He walked towards me and a strong unwelcome desire filled my body. Clara stepped forward a bit and I stepped back to avoid the yearning to snap at her and lick his lip at the same time.

  Chapter 1: The Dream

  The rain poured down hitting the black umbrellas with anger. The crowd stood still in black, as graves sprinkled the lawn. I pushed my way through the circle of people unnoticed.

  I looked to my mother who stood immobile holding a black rose. Her eyes were black and full of sorrow. I grabbed her hand but she didn’t react to my touch. She dropped and her knees sunk into the soggy ground. I called out to her but my voice was unheard. I took a step towards the coffin.

  My father laid there. He was still and cold. I touched his cheek, and a fire rose inside of me. When the heat reached my heart his eyes blinked open.

  I took a step back.

  It was no longer him in the casket.

  My eyes shot open from the image and I knew it was just a dream, the same dream I had al-most every night for the last month or so.

  My phone rang and I rolled my eyes annoyed.

  “What do you want Christian,” I said groggily into the phone without looking at the caller I.D.

  “Let’s get some ice cream.”

  “It’s too early.”

  “It’s twelve. Get dressed, I’m outside.”

  I groaned and rolled out of bed. I splashed water on my face and brushed my teeth before walking out the door still in my sweat pants and t-shirt.

  “You look nice,” he lied before laughing, “Did you at least get the drool off of your mouth.”

  I ignored his comment.

  “Why are you bothering me so early in the morning?”

  “I told you its twelve.”

  “Yeah but it’s the weekend, so technically it’s still morning.”

  He laughed at me and turned the radio up. Country rock played and he sang along to almost every song. The May air in North Carolina was moist and hot, and I regretted wearing the sweat pants outside.

  We pulled into Ray’s burger joint at the edge of the reserve. The parking lot was full of cars and motorcycles, as kids from the area enjoyed the Saturday afternoon.

  Rays was about the only place for us to hang out, without driving an hour into the city. The white paint was chipping and the jukebox was older than most of us, but it was our spot.

  Inside, music was playing and people sat and chatted loudly with their friends.

  “Two vanilla cones please” Christian said to the cashier while handing her a five.

  “What are you doing tonight?”

  “I don’t know” I replied nonchalantly scanning the room.

  “Ýou wanna go out? Maybe drive into the city, raise some hell?”

  “Nah, I’m staying in tonight.”

  “Ok how about I come over and we watch a movie”

  Before I could answer, the crowd inside was headed outside. Christian grabbed the cones, passed one to me and grabbed my hand pulling me towards the door.

  “It’s a fight!”

  “There’s always a fight, Christian” I said annoyed.

  Someone fighting in our pack was about as common as the sun rising every day.

  A huge circle formed around the two boys as they pulled their shirts off and begin cracking their knuckles or necks, ready to brawl. People were standing on picnic tables and hoods of cars to get a better view but, Christian pulled me to an opening in the circle. I had no intentions of watching the fight but was dragged along anyways.

  They were hitting each other back and forth, but neither was losing. They continued to hit each other until blood was coming from their mouths or noses. I stood in the crowd eating my ice cream cone uninterested in the barbaric fight in front of me. This was typical, the men always had something to prove.

  When the two finished brawling they shook hands and the announcer asked who was next.

  “I’m up.” Christian almost growled excitedly.

  “Oh come on Christian, not today, let’s just go.”

  “Hold on Anna, I’m going next.”

  I rolled my eyes and squeezed out of the crowd.

  I sat at an empty table and finished my ice cream. A kiss came from behind me, on my left cheek, but Andrew sat to my left as I looked towards the kiss.

  “What’s up Anna?”

  “Hey Andrew.”

  I looked at Christian’s baby brother, they were only two years apart but looked nothing alike. Andrews’s hair was blond and his eyes were hazel while Christian had dark hair with bright eyes.

  “I see my brother is at it again.”

  “Yeah, you know how he is, now I’m stuck waiting on him,” I chuckled

  “Ca’mon I’ll give you a ride if you don’t mind the back of my motorcycle.

  “That’s fine, let’s go.”

  I was up before I finished the sentence.

  He jumped on the bike, and handed me his helmet.

  “I’m good,” I said hopping on behind him.

  As he jumped and started the bike something pulled me towards a black car that stood out from the others. I stared at the car but was unable to see anyone inside from the distance.

  “Hold on tight.” He demanded.

  We drove past the car and the driver followed us with eyes. I couldn’t pull my eyes away from him and wondered why he scowled at the sight of me. He continued to follow my gaze until we disappeared onto the street.

  It was now dark outside and I was sp
rawled out on my bed watching TV. Christian tapped on my window before jumping through. I didn’t bother to move as he made his way to the bed and grabbed the remote out of my hand.

  “Did you at least win” I asked sarcastically as I looked at the bruise on his chin.

  “I always do.”

  He was too confident and enjoyed a good fight a little too much.

  “You really are something else Christian,” I muttered as he flipped through the channels.

  “Yeah but you like it,” he teased

  “Whatever”

  He got up from the bed and walked to my bathroom. A long sigh came through the door and I could hear him urinating.

  “I hope you lifted the seat.” I yelled to him.

  He walked out still zipping up his pants.

  “Could you at least wash your hands?”

  He turned back to the bathroom and ran the water as he hummed to himself. A light knock came from the door as he was walking back towards the bed.

  “Come in,” he said boldly.

  My mother walked in

  “Christian does the thought of using the front door elude you.”

  “Sorry Mrs. Jameson, it’s a habit.”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “Dinners downstairs if you kids are hungry.”

  “Ok” we said at the same time.

  Christian was already headed for the door before I even sat up.

  My mother shook her head as she laughed.

  “Between him and Lucas we’ll be eaten out of house and home soon enough.”

  I laughed as we walked to the kitchen together.

  Christian and Lucas were wolfing down huge bites of spaghetti when my mother smacked my brother in the back of the head.

  “Whatever happened to good manners around here, you two couldn’t wait for the ladies to take a seat before eating.”

  “Sorry ma, long day today,” Lucas spoke.

  “And your excuse Christian.”

  He looked up from his plate.

  “Um my mother can’t cook…..and I’ve had enough raw fish to last a lifetime.”

  We all laughed.

  Christian and I couldn’t have been more different, but he truly was my best friend.

  After a couple of hours of mind numbing action movies, I rolled and placed my arm around his waist. He continued to sit in the bed staring at the TV. He twirled my hair around his finger, as small chills crept through my body, until I fell asleep.

  This was a routine I grew accustomed to. I knew he wouldn’t be there in the morning, but he would always stay until I was too far gone to notice him leave.

  Chapter 2: Forgotten Manners

  The sounds of a disagreeing conversation woke me from the dream that held me hostage.

  The conversation continued and I strained my ears to hear the details of the discussion.

  “Yes hopefully, we are expecting her to shift before” I heard my mother say, before she was interrupted by an unfamiliar voice.

  I knew she was talking about me, but why, and to whom?

  I listened harder as the unfamiliar voice spoke.

  “Regardless if the change happens or not, the decision has already been made,” the male voice snapped.

  I was instantly interested in who my mother was speaking with and decided it was time to roll out of bed.

  I walked to my mirror and pulled the brush through my thick reddish brown hair, which was now to the center of my back.

  I seriously need a haircut, I thought to myself, still listening to the conversation from the other room.

  “I understand Eric, but this is a delicate situation, one that must be handled,”

  “Handled accordingly” the rude voice interrupted her again. Apparently belonging to this Eric guy.

  My annoyance was turning into anger, as I realized my mother was being disrespected and ignored.

  “Yes, I understand” I heard her strain in a barely audible voice. I stuck my head out of my bed-room door towards the voices.

  “Eric, we understand the situation, but we weren’t expecting it to be so soon.”

  I instantly recognized that my brother was now speaking for my mother, which usually occurred whenever there were male wolves around.

  My blood was boiling at the rudeness and superiority that Eric spoke with, and the fact that I was the topic of this conversation.

  I considered stepping into the room to question the situation, but immediately decided against it when I heard the voice of our Pack Master.

  I recalled his tone almost immediately even though it had been years since I heard it. It was loud, deep, and somehow always came out demanding, even when that was not the emotion he portrayed.

  “The date will be set soon Helena, and it would be best for us all, if the situation is…..pacified……..We want this to be as unruffled as possible, I’m sure you understand.” he stat-ed.

  My curiosity was heightened as I wondered why the pack Master was sitting in our family room.

  We had not seen nor spoken to him since my father’s death.

  He arrived the day after to show condolences for our lost, but immediately departed after the memorial.

  I still remembered his exact words from that day.

  “I’m sorry for your loss Helena. Jack was very important to us all…I trust that our agreement will not be broken because of this unfortunate situation.”

  That was two years ago, I now wondered what matter could be of such importance that he was back in our home. He usually sent one of his flunkies or the counsel whenever matters had to be handled within the pack.

  My thoughts were interrupted as I realized I had missed the end of the conversation, and everyone who was sitting in the room was now moving towards the hallway. I tried to duck back into my room hoping no one noticed I was eavesdropping. I was clearly too late when my mother called my name.

  “Annalise. I did not realize you were up.”

  I looked at her like a child who had been caught being mischievous.

  “Um, yeah, not too long,” I lied as I assessed the faces looking at me.

  My mother, and brother, the pack Master Gabriel Gadreal, his wife Isabelle, and their three sons all looked at me curiously.

  I recognized Caleb and Jacob, their youngest sons from school. Twin boys who played mean pranks and had nasty tongues. The eldest, was rarely seen but his reputation was known. He looked strikingly like a male version of Isabelle but held no resemblance to Gabriel as his twin brothers did.

  He had her features, and his build but nothing else to imply that they were related. With Gabriel, the twins, and Isabelle being dark blonds with brown eyes and contrasted against his black hair and bright eyes.

  He was handsome and harsh all rolled into one. His jaw line was strong, apparently inherited from his father, and his light grey eyes were lined with a blue ring; something I had never seen before.

  Without the callousness of his look, he could easily pass as a muscular model.

  My stares were interrupted by my mother as she realized she failed to make introductions.

  “My apologies, this is Annalise, Annalise you remember Master Gabriel, and his wife Isabelle.”

  I nodded with a yes.

  “This is their eldest child, Eric, and I’m sure you know Caleb and Jacob from school.”

  “Hello everyone,” I spoke, immediately moving my eyes to the man who’s voice had angered me earlier. He stared at me, just as he had at Ray’s. I immediately felt uncomfortable being eyed in my pajamas and tank top.

  Everything about him seemed aggressive.

  His hair, his wild eyes, his clothing and shoes, and the ring on his middle finger all screamed that there was a darkness about him.

  What is he Goth.? I thought, silently laughing to myself before someone interrupted and every-one said their farewells.

  “Goodbye,” I spoke and was about to turn towards the kitchen for food I desperately craved, when someone grabbed my wrist. I looked up to see
Eric face to face with me, well face to chest actually, as I realized that he towered over me. I knew he was obviously taller than every-one there, but I must have underestimated his height.

  My 5’7 frame seemed short compared to his 6’2 build.

  I knew of stories about the Gadreal family. Everyone knew of their ruthless and hard behavior, but I had never faced their wrath personally to regard the rumors.

  I yanked my arm from his hand.

  “Don’t touch me.”

  Anger filled my voice, as the dislike that I felt for him resurfaced.

  “Excuse me,” he stated coldly, as if I had just shocked and embarrassed him.

  “I said, Don’t. Touch. Me.” my words came out singularly, emphasizing each one clearly.

  My mother cleared her throat and was immediately beside me apologizing.

  “I am sorry Eric, sometimes my daughter forgets her manners.”

  She squeezed my hand, as her eyes pleaded with Eric for forgiveness.

  “It’s time she remembers them,” he said obviously agitated at the situation.

  “Yes Anna,” she turned to me “Eric will be our new pack Master, I believe you owe him an apology.”

  I glanced at my mother, and saw the worry in her eyes, I looked back to Eric.

  “I’m sorry.” I mumbled not really meaning it.

  I then looked to Master Gabriel.

  “I apologize for my rudeness, Master Gabriel, please forgive me.”

  He nodded with a smile and I turned, releasing my mother’s hand, and making my way to the kitchen.

  As I grabbed a banana off of the counter, I heard footsteps approaching the door.

  Expecting to see my mother, I was surprised when Eric stood a few feet in front of me. I stared at him with annoyance on my face, wondering what he could possibly want, besides to anger me to death.

  Conceited Alphas, they think they have a right over everybody, I thought to myself.

  “You should learn to show respect for those higher than you,” he stated politely.

  “And you should learn to keep your hands to yourself,” I shot back.

  A smile crept on his face, as he walked towards me. I backed up as he came closer until I felt my lower back hit the counter with a thud. He continued to come forward until he was right in front of me. I looked up to his face.