Chapter 18 - Brooks
With the festival set up on the outskirts of the village square, I’m finally able to go through with my plans.
While the festival grounds lie on the outer edges of the village that isn’t bound by Luna Aurora’s protection spells, we’ve decided to let the festivities run throughout the day, when it’s safer for the Snehvolk Pack against the demon.
The demonic creatures don’t attack during the day, and won’t attack crowded spaces.
I’d already asked the patrol guard to sweep the perimeter to ensure it was safe for Rissa and me to spend some quiet time here, even if we’re not under the umbrella of Aurora’s spell.
We aren’t going far from the village, and I have a good feeling about tonight.
My impromptu announcement at the bonfire gathering the other night isn’t exactly what I’d had in mind to officially declare Rissa as my mate, but now that it’s out of the way, there’s only one thing left to do.
I have to win her over in every other sense, like with this date I have planned for tonight.
She has no idea that it’s a date, and I told her that the Council was gathering for dinner, so she needed to dress up after a day spent training her magic powers.
It’s a lie, I know, but it’s a white one. I’m hoping that the surprise will make up for it.
Hearing her shuffling at the top of the stairs, I grin and make my way out of the kitchen. She’s bent over and fumbling with her shoes on the landing, and I clear my throat to get her attention.
But the moment she straightens up, I’m the one fumbling with my thoughts when her vibrant eyes meet mine. Stunned by the beauty of her eyes alone, it’s my undoing when I rake my gaze over her from head to toe.
Wow…
Rissa is breathtakingly stunning in an emerald-green halter dress, her bubbling golden-brown curls cascading down and brushing her exposed shoulders. Strappy golden sandals wrap around her ankles up to her knees, showcasing her toned, tanned legs.
For a moment, I’m lost in a daze, until Rissa walks down the stairs, clutching the rail nervously.
“Am I underdressed?” she asks sheepishly. “I felt underdressed when we were at the dinner in Whittier. I don’t wanna disappoint the council tonight. I just don’t—”
“Shh,” I stop her as I step closer, reaching out a hand as she approaches. “You are stunning, Rissa,” I admit without holding back when she slips her hand into mine. “The only reason you need clothes at all is to stay decent.”
Rissa immediately gasps, her cheeks turning beet-red, and that’s when I realize what I’ve just said. I mutter a string of curses under my breath to chastise myself, but when Rissa giggles, I feel relaxed again.
“That’s not what I meant…” I say with a nervous chuckle. “I just mean you look perfect in anything you wear. You’re beautiful as you are.”
“Thank you,” Rissa blushes again, biting her bottom lip as she turns her face away shyly. “You know, I really like this new version of you.”
“Well, he’s gonna stick around if it means I get to see you blush more often,” I tease, noticing the twinkle in Rissa’s eyes and realizing that I’m about to lose my mind with how much she appeals to my inner wolf.
As she climbs down the last set of stairs, I turn my face away and clamp my teeth onto the knuckles of a curled fist.
It takes every ounce of self-control to remind myself that I vowed to take my time with Rissa, being her friend before anything else. This date is simply to make up for the past and show her that I can be better.
Even if she catches on to my little white lie earlier than I was hoping. Of course, I enlisted Aurora and Yvonne’s help with maintaining the ruse, letting Rissa believe that we’re attending a dinner in the main hall.
But as soon as we pass by the hall on our way toward the village square, Rissa slows down.
“We’re not going to the hall?” she asks with a slow frown.
“No,” I shake my head. “I hope you don’t get upset, but I might have lied,” I grimace. “There’s no dinner with the Council tonight. I made it up as a way to surprise you. This is more like a date.”
Rissa’s eyes grow wide when she gasps. “A d-date?”
I nod, giving her hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “Since we’ve agreed to give this a shot, I think it’s only fitting for us to spend some time together. As friends, of course,” I add for good measure, not wanting to pressure Rissa into anything that she’s not comfortable with.
She’s agreed to being my mate, and has shown no indication that she doesn’t want that anymore. It’s a good start.
“Friends,” she concedes with a tentative nod.
Was that disappointment I glimpsed flashing across her face, or am I being too hopeful?
Rissa has no idea that it’s driving me crazy that I can’t just pull her close and crush my lips to hers.
I’m exercising self-restraint at every turn, and when we finally reach the field just outside the village for the setup for the summer festival, my relief comes with the distraction of enacting my plan.
I push the low metal gate in, leading Rissa toward the stalls where dinner is set up in one of the tents. Rissa appears pleasantly surprised at the simple meal—hot dogs and French fries, something I had Connor put together since he’ll be manning this stall.
Leading Rissa to the wooden bench on one side of the table, I wait for her to take a seat before going to the bench on the other side.
“I know this is quite simple, and not some fancy dinner, but I thought it’s fitting since we’re at the festival.”
Rissa takes a look around, her eyes lighting up as she traces them across the fairy lights hanging above.
“It’s perfect,” she giggles, the sound like music to my ears.
I shrug casually as I pick up a hot dog. “The festival only starts this weekend, so technically, we’ll be the first to ride the Ferris wheel.”
Rissa is about to take a bite of her hot dog when she stops, her eyes widening. “You were serious about that?”
“Of course I was,” I chuckle coolly. “Do I not get points for being a man of my word?”
Rissa giggles nervously. “I told you I’m afraid of heights.”
“And I told you we’ll get over that fear,” I wink.
I distract Rissa from worrying too much about the Ferris wheel by catching up on the progress she’s making with training. She tells me how well it’s going, but how she’s still unsure if she’s able to use her powers outside of the magic room.
“I’m sorry that we haven’t had much time to practice together,” I apologize. “I’ve just been so busy with pack duties, and I’m usually swamped this time of the year. For obvious reasons.”
Rissa smiles thoughtfully. “It’s fine, Brooks. I understand.”
Returning Rissa’s smile, I stand up and offer my hand. “Now, for the main event. You ready?”
Rissa sucks in a breath as she reluctantly takes my hand. “I’m not ready, but I’m willing to give this a shot.”
“I thought you’d say that,” I smile proudly as I lead her out of the tent and toward the rides.
“I can’t promise that I’m gonna enjoy it,” Rissa grimaces when we near the Ferris wheel. I pull the gate open and lead her toward the first cabin, its shell painted with pastel shades of the rainbow and a canopy shaped like a cloud above.
“You can at least try, Riss,” I say with a wink as I turn and grab her waist. She gasps, but soon realizes that I’m helping her into the cabin when I lift her off her feet.
Once she’s inside, I climb in behind her, securing the latch on the little safety gate.
“How are we gonna move?” Rissa asks when I sit down beside her, and she points to the controls. “The switch is over there.”
“I was hoping you’d help with that,” I say with a sly smirk, and Rissa frowns for a moment before she catches on.
“You want me to use my magic?!” she gasps.
“Yeah.”
Rissa shakes her head fervently. “I could blow this whole place up. And what if a demon comes?”
Clicking my tongue as I shake my head, I press my hands on her shoulders and lean toward her ear as we both stare at the controls.
“I believe in you, Rissa. I know you can control your powers if you want to. Besides, I had border patrol sweep the area before we came out here. It’s safe.”
Rissa gulps, but slowly nods as she takes my encouragement, opening her palm to harness her magic there. Her breaths are slow and calculated as she draws up enough power to ignite a flicker of emerald light in her palm, then turns her hand to face the controls.
The light emits from her palm and sends a small bolt of energy at the lever, kicking the Ferris wheel into gear. When it jostles as it starts moving, I press a protective arm in front of Rissa’s chest until the ride moves more steadily.
“See! You did it!” I cheer her on, and she smiles shyly. The brightly lit amusement park illuminates her face, making her appear as soft and innocent as ever.
“This is actually fun!” Rissa squeals, turning her attention to the panoramic view of Girdwood as we crawl to the highest peak of the Ferris wheel. “Wow…it’s beautiful from up here…”
“I know,” I agree in a whisper without taking my eyes off Rissa.
Just as she’s turning around slowly, she’ll realize that I wasn’t talking about the view of the village, the lights of the Ferris wheel flicker before the cart abruptly squeaks to a stop.
My arm goes in front of Rissa’s chest to protect her from the jostling force, the lights cutting off when the electricity goes out.
“Brooks…?” Rissa whimpers in fear when we’re covered in darkness.
I hold my breath when I feel an icy coldness slither down my spine, my arms erupting in goosebumps as I look up to see that the navy sky has turned dark and ominous.
“The demon dog is coming,” I whisper as I turn to Rissa, grabbing her by the shoulders and glancing at our surroundings.
We’re stuck at the highest point of the Ferris wheel, suspended in the air while the cart only sways with the gentle wind.
“I guess now’s the time to tell me… ‘I told you so’,” I grimace as I stare into her eyes with urgent apology. ”
“Brooks! Now’s not the time!” she wails. “We need to get out of here! ”
Somehow, the demon has gotten smarter, and it knocked out the power in the main square. But what’s worse is that it seems to be coming for Rissa in an isolated area where it’s just the two of us.
We must have caught its attention when she used her power to turn on the Ferris wheel.
Fuck!
I curse myself for not thinking about that.
“How—how are we gonna get down?” Rissa shrieks when she notices how high we’re suspended. I grip her shoulders tightly, forcing her to look into my eyes, an idea immediately popping into my mind.
“Do you trust me, Rissa?”
Rissa whimpers and shivers in fear, but she nods fervently through her panic. “I do. I do,” she wails, pressing her eyelids shut. “Get us out of here, Brooks. Please.”
The intense need to protect my mate and get her to safety spurs me into action as I get to my feet, pulling her along with me and lifting her onto the seat we’d been sitting on. “Get onto my back, and hang onto me tightly. Close your eyes and keep them closed until we’re at the bottom.”
“What are you gonna do?” Rissa asks, but I shake my head and turn around just as the whooshing of the demon’s dark presence gusts through the air, fanning my hair back.
If we don’t get down now, it’s going to attack us on top of the Ferris wheel, and one of us will get hurt.
“Just trust me, Rissa!” I yell out. As soon as Rissa’s arms wind around my neck and her thighs are draped around my waist, I open the safety gate and step onto the edge, closing my eyes and letting my inner wolf take the reins.
When it takes control, I leap out of the cabin, and Rissa and I plummet to the bottom.
I shift into wolf form midair, landing on cushioned paws on the ground.
As soon as we’re safely on the ground, I shift into human form, simultaneously spinning over to catch Rissa in my arms. I notice her eyes fixed on the forest behind me, her face paling with horror.
“I’m gonna go after it,” I tell her. “Go back home, Rissa.”
“No!” she exclaims. “I’m not leaving you to face it alone! Aurora’s spells aren’t protecting you out there!”
“It’s dangerous!”
“Exactly! You can’t defeat it by yourself! You need me there. You need magic.”
Huffing because we’re losing time as the dark clouds float toward the forest, I know there’s no point in arguing with her. I nod quickly before flashing into wolf form again, and Rissa is on my back in no time before I chase the eerie black mist into the forest.
But as we rush through the forest, the dark smoke above our heads doesn’t stop moving, and Rissa tugs on my fur, prompting me to slow down,
“It’s a trap, Brooks! There’s more of them!” she yells out, pointing ahead to where two other demons stand as shadowy silhouettes.
The one circling the air comes down in a torrent of dark smoke, and Rissa suddenly hops off my back just as the three malevolent spirits charge toward us in their physical forms. Rissa springs into action, throwing flames of green magic bolts at them, creating a boundary line between us and the demons, and they whimper as if afraid of the magic currents ablaze in front of them.
With the demons distracted, Rissa runs back to me, hopping on my back.
“Let’s go!” she yells out the command that I’m suddenly compelled to follow, her instruction sending me into a race back into Girdwood’s main area.
I don’t stop running, chasing the adrenaline that pulses through my veins as if Rissa is the one who fuels me while her fingers are wound tightly in my fur.
I don’t stop until we’re safely on the other side of the village, on the south side where my house stands. Only when we’re near the porch do I shift into human form and grab Rissa’s hands.
A surge of electric awareness shoots through my arm from where I’m holding her hands, and her eyes light up as if she’s wielding her magic.
My attention only goes to the side for a split second to make sure that we weren’t followed, but I know there’s no way the demon would have followed us into the residential area of the village when Aurora has cast enough spells to keep them out.
When I turn back to Rissa, her jaw drops, and her eyes turn even lighter as adrenaline sparks in them.
“I can feel it…” she whispers in awe. “You’re my fated mate…”
I chuckle through the awareness coursing through me now. “Finally! It’s about damn time you figured it out!”
“Shut up and kiss me, silly! My heat’s about to take over!”
Rissa doesn’t have to tell me twice. Sweeping her off her feet, I press her flush against me as my lips crush hers.
At last!
Sweet relief of getting to do what I’ve been dying to do…