7. Chapter 7
Meeting Mandy
The days flew by as Abby taught me more and more about shifter culture.
We went shopping Wednesday and I was amazed at how welcoming everyone was.
Children ran up to me and hugged me, sniffing my hair and grumbling in their chests.
Abby cocked her head as she watched the crowd of children interact with me, but she didn’t say anything was wrong, so I ignored her strange look and played with the kids.
It takes a few minutes for the mothers to wrangle in the little ones and they all apologize but I wave it off and tell them to call me if they ever need a babysitter.
Walking back to the car, Abby finally brings it up.
“So, you’re really good with kids, huh?”
“Yeah,” I smile again just thinking about all the sweet little ones I got to play with today. “I used to babysit for money and I was planning to go to college to get an Early Education and Business Degrees so I could start my own Daycare and Preschool.”
She nods, showing that she is listening even though her eyes are unfocused.
She doesn’t say anything for the rest of the walk or while we are in the car.
I let it go and told her about how excited I am to draw the ocean again now that I got new art stuff.
We spend the rest of the day talking about anything and everything.
Neither of us bring up the kids again, though I do catch her looking at me funny every once in a while.
Thursday is spent on the beach. Abby reads and I draw.
We both spend a little time cooling off in the waves.
It’s a perfect day spent with a new friend.
I do notice new things, a scent I’ve never smelled or a sound that is new.
Abby explains every time I ask about something and when I try to say sorry for being a burden, she waves it off and explains that it's her job to help me get used to being a wolf. Random questions come to mind and she is patient and kind as she explains it all. I couldn’t be more thankful for Abby.
Now it is time to get ready for dinner at the Alpha’s house and I’m a nervous wreck.
I keep pacing the floor in my room and I have clothes thrown everywhere.
Nothing seems good enough for meeting the leaders of the community.
My makeup is done and I must admit that the wing liner looks better than ever before.
But no amount of great makeup or good hair days can calm the storm of nervous energy in my belly.
“Becca. We have to go in ten minutes or we’ll be late.” Abby walks into the room as I start the track of pacing again. She freezes in the doorway and glances around the room then at me and my robe. “What’s wrong, Becca?”
“I don’t know what to wear. Everything I’ve picked just doesn’t seem good enough. School starts next week and I’m going to dinner with the Alpha and Omega of the community and I ….”
Abby’s arms wrap around my shoulders and I stop in my tracks.
Her warm honey scent relaxes me a bit and when she starts grumbling in her chest, or purring as she calls it, I calm even more.
Abby has a way of making things not seem as bad as they did before.
Since becoming a wolf, my anxiety has gotten worse and any little thing can set me off into a fit of nerves.
She seems to have picked up on it and is quick to jump in and help me work out whatever is bothering me.
“It’s just dinner with friends, Becca. Go sit down and I’ll get you some clothes to wear okay. I promise, they aren’t judgey or mean. Just be your charming self and they’ll love you. Hell, James and August already do! That's why they invited you to dinner in the first place. Okay?”
I nod and head to the desk chair as she riffles through what I already have out on the bed.
Picking a pair of dark wash skinny jeans, she heads to my closet to look at the other clothes I have there.
After a minute or two in the closet she comes out with a bundle of clothes in her hand and a pair of flats dangling from her fingertips.
“Here, go to the bathroom and put these on then we have to leave. Your hair already looks amazing, so does your makeup.”
I rush to get dressed. She picked out a sparkly purple sequin tank top and a short sleeve black cover that matches the black sequin flats perfectly.
Looking in the body mirror hanging on the bathroom door, I’m happy I let her choose my clothes.
I feel pretty and comfortable, but still look nice enough to be meeting the leader of my new community.
Bouncing out of the bathroom I grab the new Black bookbag purse that holds my phone, wallet, sketchpad and charcoal pencil and I grab Abby’s hand to leave.
The car ride is quick and quiet. It turns out, the Alpha pack lives in a big two story house right down the road from Abby.
The brick siding of the house makes it look like a typical suburban house, but the robin egg blue shutters and wraparound porch with a swing and rocking chairs give it the cozy feeling of home.
I love the blue door with a large fogged window in the middle.
Honestly, I love the house completely. It’s the most beautiful home I’ve ever seen.
When the car shuts off, the front door swings open.
There’s a tiny blonde woman standing there smiling while Dr. Lycan stands behind her, his hand resting on her shoulder as she bounces on her toes.
His smile is the same comforting one he gave me at the hospital and my nerves instantly vanish when I see it.
Abby squeezes my hand before letting me go to get out of the car. Waving, she smiles at the couple as she makes her way around the Mini Coop and up the walkway to the stairs. I take one more deep breath before following behind her.
“Hey Amanda! August, it’s good to see you again.” Abby greets the couple, reaching in to hug the woman as I follow behind her.
My hands are twisting together over and over again and I shift from foot to foot.
I thought my nerves were gone, but standing on the porch has them coming right back.
I don’t know why I want this family to like me so much, but something in my heart is screaming that I have to impress them.
Maybe it’s just that they are the community leaders and I want to be accepted into my new life, but whatever the reason is, I’m a ball of nerves as Amanda turns to look my way.
The smile is still plastered on her face and I gasp out in surprise when she throws her arms around my shoulders.
“Welcome to the community, Becca! Can I call you Becca? Abby has been my best friend for forever now and she told me she calls you Becca, but I don’t want to assume anything.
Oh, you’re adorable. That hair …” August chuckles as he pulls her away from me, gently breaking her hold around my shoulders.
“Let the girl breathe, Mandy. She isn’t used to being a wolf or your … enthusiasm.” He’s smirking as she swats his shoulder. Turning to face me again, her flushed face has a sheepish grin as she takes a deep breath then starts again.
“I’m so sorry, Rebecca. I get a bit, um, excited, sometimes. I truly am so happy you’re finally here. Augie and Jamie have been talking about you for the last two weeks. I feel like I already know you. Please, come in, make yourself comfortable.”
August groans under his breath but moves aside so Abby and I can walk in. I smile at Amanda on my way in then stop and wrap my arms around her waist. Despite being at least a foot shorter than August, she is still taller than me. I’m only four foot ten, and she looks to be about five foot one.
“Thank you so much for having me. I’d love for you to call me Becca, but only if I get to call you Mandy.”
She squeezes me tight and I see August and Abby exchange a smile over our heads.
I want to ask what the look is about but the smell of alfredo sauce and seafood and something else I can’t quite place, suddenly hits me and my mouth is watering.
James is standing at the end of the hall looking at me and Amanda still holding each other.
His head is cocked to the side but there's a sweet smile on his face. Clearing my throat, I drop my arms from around her and take a small step back. Amanda wipes a hand under her eye and I pretend I didn’t notice how wet her tearline is.
“Of course you can call me Mandy, all my favorite people do. Come on, Charles said dinner will be done in about twenty minutes, so we’ll go sit in the living room and talk until it’s done.”
Taking each of my hands, Mandy and Abby lead me from the entrance way to the big open room on the left side of the short hall.
The couch is a massive burgundy wrap around with reclining seats and a chaise lounge off one end.
On the wall over the fireplace, directly across from the center of the couch, is the biggest tv that I’ve ever seen.
It has a weird curve to it and I wonder to myself if it warps the image when watching a show.
The fireplace is clean and it looks like I could stand up inside of it with plenty of room on either side.
The sheer size of the fireplace makes the whole room look bigger than it is.
On the wall facing the front yard is a window draped with burgundy curtains.
The chocolate colored swirl design matches the carpet in the room to a tee.
Even the throw pillows match, though they are chocolate colored with burgundy swirls.
On the dark wood side tables are vases of white roses that make the whole room smell like Mandy.
As a matter of fact, the entire house that I’ve seen so far reminds me of the bubbly woman.
Even with the darker tones, somehow the room feels happy and light.
This is exactly what I always imagine home should feel like, warm and happy.
James is laying on the couch when we walk in, his sock covered feet crossed at the ankles on the chaise lounge part of the couch.
He is so big that his size almost makes the massive piece of furniture look normal.
Then Mandy and Abby sit down in the middle directly across from the tv and I see just how big it is.
I’m sure twelve or more average people could comfortably relax on it. Maybe five or six men James’s size.
“Hello again, Becca!” James’s smiling face can be seen just over Abby’s head so I smile back at him and wave. “How have you been? Got any burning questions our good Abby here hasn’t been able to answer?”
“Oh Jamie! Hush! Abby is amazing at her job.”
“Hey!” James grumbles as he sits back. “I didn’t say she wasn’t! I just wanted to check with Little Wolf to see if she had any questions Abby might not be able to answer, like what Alphas do within the pack other than be bossy.”
“All you do is mope and stitch up the idiot pups that try to challenge our boys. Oh, and find adorable Little Wolves to bring home.” A strange voice has us all turning to the doorway on the right side of the room.
A tall lean man with metallic silver hair is leaning on the door jam and smirking at James who growls deep in his chest before huffing out a chuckle and relaxing further into the couch.