Chapter 7 #2
The accusing questions stung, not only because Allie fired them off mercilessly, but also because they were accurate. Selene hadn’t dated anyone in longer than she liked to admit. As for love, she honestly didn’t know if she’d ever been as far gone for someone as Allie was for Josh.
“May I go to my room?” Allie asked stiffly.
Selene nodded but kept her eyes averted.
The tears stung before they rolled down her cheeks.
Everything she worried might go wrong with that conversation had.
She didn’t know how to do this. What she needed, more than anything, was to do right by Emma.
And she was failing. She waited until her own shame and fury had passed before she climbed the stairs and knocked on Allie’s door.
“Yeah?” She could hear regret in her niece’s voice.
“May I come in?”
“Yes.” And guilt.
Allie was sitting on her bed. Her face was tear stained.
“I’m sorry for what I said,” she murmured. “About you not being my mom.”
Selene smiled weakly.
“Thank you for apologizing.” Selene sat next to her niece.
“Allie, I didn’t want to upset you. I know your feelings are real, and Josh seems like a good guy to me, but I know almost nothing about him or about the world he comes from.
This new relationship is a little scary for me. I want to protect you.”
“I know,” Allie said quietly. “But I really do love him. And I trust him.”
“Can you tell me how old Josh is?” Selene asked carefully. “I just want to know. I promise not to judge.”
If I can show Allie she can trust me with this, we’re making progress. We can tackle the wolf stuff another day.
“Promise?” Allie’s eyes got big.
Selene nodded.
Allie picked up a pillow and squeezed it against her chest. “He became a werewolf in 1932.”
Selene kept a straight face but dug her nails into the coverlet. Well, at least he was born in the last century.
“It was during the Depression. His family had a farm in the Dust Bowl. They lost everything. Josh came west to try to find work,” Allie said. “He was starving when Fenris found him on a road outside Avondale. Then life got much better for him.”
“Fenris Hall turned Josh into a werewolf?” Selene asked.
“Yeah,” Allie said. “Josh says Fen has been like a father to him ever since then.”
We’re calling him Fen now?
Her eyes gleamed. “Fen would be such a cool dad.”
That would be a yes. So Fen it is.
Selene’s stomach twisted. Allie’s own father had disappeared. Of course she’d idealize a strong leader and guardian, which, according to everyone, seemed to be precisely who Fenris Hall was.
“Auntie Selene.” Allie grabbed her hand. “You’ll feel so much better about all this after dinner tomorrow. Fen is really cool and smart. And the wolves are like a big family. They all take care of each other.”
Selene nodded. “About the family thing—I was surprised Josh said it would just be the four of us at dinner. Isn’t Fenris married?”
Her jaw tightened a bit as she waited for Allie’s answer. That was . . . odd.
“No,” Allie said. “I guess his mate died a long time ago.”
“His what?” The stomach clench Selene felt at the word made no sense whatsoever.
Allie blushed. “Josh says that werewolves don’t get married. They find their mate. He says it’s actually a much stronger bond.”
“I see.” Selene studied Allie’s face. Does she think she’s Josh’s mate? What does that even mean?
Selene ground her teeth. There was so much in play here that she didn’t understand.
How could she ever catch up and steer Allie toward the right path?
Maybe Natalie was right, and she’d discover that she and Fenris Hall were on the same team—the this-relationship-is-going-way-too-fast-for-my-sixteen-year-old-niece team.
No matter what his opinion on Allie and Josh was, Fenris would have answers.
And Selene was desperate for more information.
“I don’t know how Fen’s mate died,” Allie continued. “The wolves don’t like to talk about it. But I get the sense it was really tragic. Fen has ruled their clan alone since she died.”
Again with the gut clench.
Selene nodded, then braced her heart before looking at her niece. “Allie, about what you said downstairs about me not understanding love—”
“I’m really sorry, Aunt Sel,” Allie said quickly. “I didn’t mean it. I know it must be hard, finding someone at your age.”
At my age? Thanks a lot, Allie.
With a grimace, Selene replied, “I know, honey. It’s not about me. I’m just concerned . . .”
The last talk might have ended up being nothing like she’d anticipated, but it was obvious that she and Allie needed to have the other talk. Deep breath, dive in. “Are you and Josh having sex?”
“Aunt Selene.” Allie turned her face quickly and stared out the window. “Come on. I told you we weren’t.”
“We’re having the talk,” Selene said, as much to herself as to Allie. “And we’re having it now.”
“It’s really not necessary.” Allie refused to meet her gaze. “Mom had the talk with me.”
“And we need to have it again,” Selene insisted. “Hypothetical sex is not the same as being sexually active. I’ll decide what’s necessary. Please answer the question.”
Allie squeezed the pillow again. “Not yet . . . but we’re talking about it.”
“Are you taking precautions?” Selene kept her voice firm but calm.
Allie nodded.
“I need specifics. What are you doing to be responsible and protect yourself?”
“Werewolves can’t get humans pregnant,” she said, a little too quickly.
Selene took a moment to digest this.
“Allie, pregnancy isn’t the only risk. STIs can have lifelong consequences.”
“I know, but we’re just talking about stuff. I’m not ready, and Josh isn’t pressuring me. I promise.”
Selene tensed up, and she waited a beat before speaking. “I’m really glad to hear that.”
“He would never pressure me. That’s not who he is,” Allie said. Her voice cracked when she added, “I love him, Auntie Sel.”
“Oh, honey.” Selene felt her throat tighten.
First love. No matter what she said, it couldn’t compete with the intensity of Allie’s feelings.
All she could do was be there for her niece through the ups and downs, ready to pick up the pieces when things fell apart.
And despite what Allie insisted, Selene knew trouble lay ahead.
“Please don’t say I can’t be with him. Please.” Allie hiccuped then started to cry. “I think he’s the one.”
“Okay. I hear you.” Selene pulled Allie into her arms. All the while her heart banged around her chest like a pinball.
Being a teenager was so, so hard. Allie’s unexpected love life was stressful for Selene, sure, but enduring the maelstrom of hormones and oh-so-intense emotions was much worse.
Selene remembered those years, and she’d never want to go through them again.
“I’m not going to say you can’t date him. Just keep taking one day at a time.”
Selene smiled through tears, and Allie hugged her tightly.
“And the wolf thing is new to you, too, not just me,” Selene said. “We both have lots to learn about them. I need you to promise me something.”
Allie stiffened. “What?”
“If you decide to have sex with Josh, it needs to be because you believe it’s what you truly want and what’s best for you. Not because it’s what Josh wants. If he loves you, he’ll wait until it’s the right time for both of you. Can you make me that promise?”
Allie nodded. “I promise.”
“Okay.”
“I love you, Aunt Sel,” Allie replied with a sniffle.
“I love you too. Wanna try and bake cookies together? If you’re supervising, I might not burn them.”
Shaking her head, Allie smiled. “Let’s order pizza instead.”