Chapter 10
The air was crisp this morning, so I wore a thin sweater for the time being. We had been hiking for the past hour and a half and were making good timing. Jasper figured we’d be seeing Nealin soon.
“So, tonight...” Jasper trailed off. “What about it?” I asked, hands squeezing the straps of my backpack. The thought of it made me nervous.
“Since you’re my plus one I wanted to get you a little something” he explained. “What do you mean? It’s your special day. I should be getting you something” I laughed.
“Hear me out, it’s a dress. Nothing fancy, it’s kinda bohemian but I requested it last time the guys did a town run and I’ve had it hiding in my closet ever since, so I hope you don’t hate it but I had Gracy help me pick it out” he explained.
My best friend was adorable. I threw my arms around him for a hug. “You didn’t have to do that” I exclaimed.
I didn’t have anything super crazy to wear tonight. I was just going to go in one of my summer dresses. I hadn’t been expecting this.
“Yeah yeah, don’t get sappy about it. I didn’t want you embarrassing me looking all ugly” he teased. I laughed and swatted at him. “You’re the ugly one,” I retorted.
“I’m literally the most handsome man in town. I know it’s overwhelming for you but it’s okay, you try your best” he continued to tease.
We just kept insulting each other for the next five minutes until Nealin appeared. “Oh hey” I stated, not expecting him to just pop up.
“Jasper told me you’d be coming. I stayed out of wolf form waiting for you” Nealin nodded in greeting.
“Nealin, I just came to thank you. I know we don’t know each other well but your house is in good hands. I just appreciate it so much” I started to gush. He chuckled and waved his hands for me to slow down.
“That house has been empty a while. I don’t much like going there. It’d be good to put the place to use, especially when my boy comes back. It’s not a problem” he assured me.
“Well, I walked two hours to get here so you must accept my thanks and this gift” I said, slipping my bag off my shoulder. Both Nealin and Jasper cocked their heads in curiosity. I pulled out a round container. Small like a cosmetics bottle.
“I made this. It’s, well, I think it’s going to help your scarring. Would you be willing to try it?” I asked. I don’t know where the idea came from and how I knew to mix those ingredients but it felt like secondhand knowledge and I went with my gut.
“I don’t mean to offend you either” I added when I noticed him observing the balm.
“No offense taken. I just never thought about trying to do nothing with these scars” he shrugged.
“Of course you don’t have to feel pressured to try it. I just figured...” I looked him dead in the eyes so he understood that I understood what those scars represented for him. “I just figured it’s been too long and the scars need soothing” I said with a small smile.
I saw an emotion flash behind his eyes but he masked it well. He was a warrior after all. He had to be stoic.
“Thank you, Mira. I’ll try it” he nodded in agreement. I smiled bigger now. I was pleased to hear it. We chatted for a little while before he handed me the keys to his home and we were on our hike back to town.
“I wish you could buy supernatural stamina from the flea market” I joked, taking a second to grab my water bottle. I wasn’t terribly out of shape because my friends often made me trek the woods with them but it was getting especially hot and three hours of hiking was still tiring to a human like me.
Jasper laughed, “If you’re too tired we can take a break” he offered.
“No, today’s a busy day. We should get back sooner rather than later.” I thought about this present of his and whether or not I’d like it. Not that I wouldn’t thank him a million times for it. I never get gifts and suddenly this week I’ve gotten two. I felt lucky.
“You’re thinking about the dress huh? I swear to Goddess it’s not ugly” he defended himself. That cracked me up.
He knew me so well. If I didn’t know for a fact that Werewolves can’t read minds I would’ve sworn he did because he always seemed to know what I was feeling or thinking.
Same went for me I suppose. I always was in tune with how Jasper ticks and I usually can anticipate his next move. It’s how I’ve stopped him from doing a lot of dumb things.
“I’m just really excited for you. You never talk about your upcoming role as Delta. Do you not wanna be a Delta or something?” I questioned.
He’s mentioned it briefly through the year but not the way you think he would. It’s like these boys were born for their roles and often identify closely with their titles, but not Jasper.
“I look at it as more of a job than a title. It’s silly to think I’m superior. If anything it’s a lot of work and responsibility” he rolled his eyes. “So you aren’t excited for it” I reiterated.
“Maybe when I step into the role I will. I mean I haven’t gone through training yet. I hate the wait Delta’s have, but maybe after tonight I will get a bit more enthusiastic” he explained.
“Well you certainly don’t have to feel superior but you will be looked up to, and I think that’s cool” I pointed out. He gave a crooked grin and shrugged.
“Maybe. Time just flew by. I was just a kid and suddenly I’m an adult. When did that happen?” he joked.
“Well this is a transitional period, right? Like you’ll still be getting guidance from your fathers?” I asked, genuinely unsure of their customs.
“Yeah, they’ll still be active.” We walked a bit in silence before he continued again. “It’s just...” he trailed off lost in thought. I urged him to continue.
“Everything is changing. I step into my position. I have to start being more involved in the pack instead of hanging around town with you. I have training coming, and...my mate. I’m coming of age. I will meet her soon enough” he continued.
“Does that freak you out or something?” I asked.
“If you were told you were about to meet your soulmate wouldn’t you be a little freaked out” he laughed.
“Well, the way it’s been described to me it seems like it’ll be a beautiful thing. You’re fated to each other. No matter what you’ll end up right where you’re supposed to be” I pointed out.
I found their mate bonds to be so interesting. I had only ever heard of this once I moved in with wolves. It sounds like an intense bond but isn’t that what love is? It’s the same for humans, the lucky ones anyways.
“I know you’re right. I’ve seen it for myself time and again within the village, but it still just rests heavy on my mind” he confessed.
“Everything might be changing but one thing will stay the same. You got me” I nudged him. He tried hiding his smirk and rolled his eyes instead. “Is that supposed to make me lucky?” he teased.
“The luckiest.”
-
When we got back to our village we had a hardy lunch and Jasper told me to head to Mel’s house and he’d be over in a little bit with my present. I found Mel and we headed to her house to wait for my dress.
“That’s adorable, why didn’t I befriend him better?” She jokingly sighed. Jasper and Melanie weren’t actually friends when I had first arrived. I became friends with them separately even though they’d gone to high school together and had mutual friends.
When they both started hanging around me, and therefore each other, they became better friends but not close the way I am with each of them.
“I would swear you’re soulmates if not for you being human” she told me. “Literally everyone says that. Have you guys never heard of male/female best friends?” I asked sarcastically.
“I know, but you’re so darn cute together” she instigated.
“People don’t seem to get what we have. I guess it’s hard to explain but I know he feels the same way I do. It is a strong bond for sure. He’s my comfort. A piece of home if that makes any sense. He feels like home” I tried to explain.
“Nope, that makes no sense to me” she waved me off.
When we heard a knock at the door we knew it was him. Standing there he held a long white bag that covered the dress which was on a hanger. He had it folded over his arm but held it up and had Melanie pull the plastic so it could be revealed.
It was a Sun goddess maxi in a crinkly crepe with a deep V-neck, adjustable rope halter, and stretchy smocked empire waist with geo cutout detailing below. Raw edges. It was gorgeous and perfect for tonight. Not flashy but flattering.
“Oh my god” I gasped, looking at the dress. “Jasper, I love it!” I exclaimed, jumping into his arms. He laughed at my reaction and hugged me back.
“Uh you’re welcome then” he replied to all my excitement. “Boo, you bitch. I want it” Melanie whined.
I tried it on and we all agreed it was a perfect fit. I took it off and hung it again. I still needed to shower and get ready before actually wearing the dress.
We all hung out in Melanie’s living room until her parents showed up and we parted ways with Jasper. Back in her bedroom the two of us started talking again about how tonight would be and how excited she was for it.
She’s never super into town stuff but even she was looking forward to tonight.
“What’ll you be wearing tonight? You haven’t even shown me” I pointed out to her. That got her going. She jumped up and over to the closet so she could pull out her dress.
It was a beautiful deep forest green color and not flashy either. It had similar vibes to mine even though the styles were completely different. Hers had a squared neckline and was opened more so in the back rather than the deep V I had at the front of my dress.
“We’ll look so hot” she held her dress up to herself and watched the mirror as she moved. “I can feel the energy of the new moon as we speak” she sighed, acknowledging her Moon Goddess.
“It’s ironic I’m wearing a style called the sun goddess dress, huh?” I laughed. She joined me. The moon goddess wasn’t mine anyways, she belonged to the wolves. I had said so out loud but Melanie disagreed.
“The Moon Goddess belongs to the tides, cycles, and anyone who praises her” she said.
“But she directly affects your lives. She chooses a soulmate for you and creates a bond” I pointed out.
“Yes, that’s something she does for wolves, you’re right, but maybe you just aren’t looking hard enough for what she does for humans” she eyed me as if to say ‘think about it’. It really did get me thinking though.
The entire time we were getting ready I was wondering if the Moon Goddess had touched my life in some way.