The Tribrid

Confronting Mike

    Emily's POV
     I rush over to the cliffs to meet with Brody. I get to the clearing a little after 4. I look around, but I don't see Brody anywhere.
    "Brody?" I say looking around. But nothing. Dang it Brody I rushed over here. Then a chilling thought crosses my mind. What if Brody, what if he went over the cliffs edge. I walk towards the edge and slow my pace when I get close. I inch myself closer and closer, then peek over to see if I can see anything at the bottom. I lean over a bit more, suddenly someone grabs my arm and pulls me back.
    "Em what are you doing?" Mike asks sharply. Mike is now standing between me and the edge of the cliff.
    "I was looking for."
  Well I can't say I'm looking for Brodys body.
    "Looking for what?" He asks.
    "I was worried about Brody. Your mother asked me to speak with him. We were suppose to meet here, but he never showed." Mike looks back to the edge of the cliff.
    "So you thought he might of." He also trails off.
    "Yes, well, I mean no, I don't know I was just checking. I know he's taking Liams death hard." Mike looks to be considering something.
    "What are you doing out here?" I ask him.
     "I always come out here if I want to hide."
    "Who are you hiding from?"
    "My dad. I just need a break. The whole Alpha training thing is a lot. I never knew what Liam had to go through. I almost regret." He trails off again.
    "Regret what?"
    "Just some things I said to him when I found out you two were fated."
    "I'm sure he knew." I say.
    "Let's head back and see if we can find Brody." He suggests. We walk back to the pack house, but we don't find Brody. Where could he have gone? I spend the rest of the night processing what my mother told me about my family, and what I could be. Do I have powers? Can I do magic? No werewolf can do magic, it's against the law. What will happen to me if I can? Will I have to go into hiding? Will I be killed? Am I in danger? I've always felt safe in my pack, but now I don't. I tell Mike I want to be alone tonight. I could tell he was sad about my decision, but he said he understands and wishes me a good night. I fall asleep early.
    Dream
    I am in a field. There is a puddle next to me and I look into it. There is a man with icy blue eyes and brown hair standing next to an alter. On the alter is a picture of me.
    "This is the man that will try and take it from you." The white wolf appears next to me.
    "Are you Hiroen?" I ask.
    "You have learned of who you are. Good, that will help you save yourself and your kind."
    "But who is my kind? If I am witch and were?"
    "Soon you will learn they are all your kind." He says.
    "Beware, not everyone is with you Emily."
    I wake up in my bed and sit up. I can see it's still early, the sun hasn't fully come up yet.
  What a dream. What does he mean, not everyone is with me.
    I lay back down in bed. I feel stressed out. How can I find out answers to all my questions? I wish I knew a witch or someone. My life has definitely taken a turn. I get up and decide to go for a run to clear my head and give Sam some time to stretch her paws. I get dressed and head downstairs and out the back door. It's still early and I don't see anyone on my way outside. I shift and Sam takes off. Sam runs for awhile before stopping at the river for a drink.
    "Sam what do you think?"
    "I think we should start trusting our instincts more."
    "What do you mean?"
    "I think you make a lot of decisions on what you think you should do, and not what you truly feel is right." I sit there for a moment and think about what she  said. Sam is right, things don't feel right and I need to figure out what's going on. We go back to the pack house and I head upstairs to shower and get ready for Luna training. I head to the Luna's office when again I hear her talking, but I'm much farther back from the door than yesterday.
    "How was I suppose to know he knew anything?" She says.
  I know she's not yelling, but I can hear her clear as day. How can I hear her so well?
    "Nothing happened. You took care of him." She continues.
  Took care of who?
    "You fix it. She'll be here for Luna training soon I can't talk."
  Me?! She's talking about me!
    "Just take her on another date. You are running out of time." Then she hangs up the phone. She was talking to Mike. Running out of time? I'm starting to get annoyed.
    "Mike." I mindlink him.
    "Emily, you ok?" He asks.
    "Where are you? I need to see you right now."
     I will get to the bottom of this once and for all.
    "I can meet you in the library."
    "Good." I say and cut off the link. I walk over to the library and see him standing in the historical section. I march over to him and fold my arms.
    "You need to tell me what is going on, and you need to do it now." I say firmly.
    "What are you talking about?" He looks confused.
    "I heard your mom on the phone just now. First, who did you "take care of" I say with air quotes.
    "And why are you running out of time with me?" I ask.
    "Em sit down." He says a gestures to a nearby couch. I sit down and wait for his response.
    "Ok, the first part is about Brody. I was a bit upset with my mom for suggesting you speak with him. We have all been worried about him since Liam died, and even you thought he could have taken his own life. So I sent him away for a bit to get some professional help. It's only for two weeks and then he will be back. Secondly, my mom wants us to, well, be official by the Alpha Announcement. If she had her way, she'd want us mated by then, but I told her we are taking things slow for you." He explains. My demeanor softens greatly. I need to chill out, I'm letting these dreams get to me. I have no reason not to trust Mike, he has been my best friend my whole life.
    "I'm sorry Mike. I don't know why I'm being so sensitive right now."
    "You are going through a lot. You need to find something to help you not feel so.. stressed."
  Mike thinks for a moment. "I think I know just the thing. I will set it up. After your Luna training I'll have Anthony take you." He says. Anthony is one of the warriors, typically used to drive the Alpha around. He's like a bodyguard.
    "You aren't going to tell me what it is?" I ask.
    "Nope, but don't worry you will love it." He says.
    "I'm sorry again for whatever that was." I say as we stand. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me in. I lay my head on his chest, I feel the mate bond calm me and I breathe him in.
    "Don't worry about it." He says and kisses the top of my head.
    "Now let's get you to my mom and me back to my dad." He walks me to the Lunas office.
    "I'll talk to you once you get back." He says and then heads back down the hall. Luna training was good, we went over the spreadsheet and incomes. I learned a lot of how we make money and the pack businesses. After the training Anthony was waiting for me out front.
    "You ready to go Luna?" Anthony is in his mid 20s and is a big guy. He looks pretty intimidating, but he's a big softy.
    "I'm ready. But where are we going?" He opens the car door for me.
    "I can't say. It's a surprise." He whispers. I get in the car and he drives us to town. We live pretty close to a decent sized town. It's mostly wolves, but a few humans do live there. Anthony stops in front of a building and we go inside. It's a spa! I could smell the essential oils in the air as we walk to the front desk.
    "Appointment under Rivers." Anthony says to the lady behind the desk.
    "Yes. Luna, you can follow me." Anthony takes a seat in the front lobby and I follow the young lady through a door. We walk down a hallway and into a changing room.
    "You can change here and I will be right back to take you to the room." She says. I get undressed and put on the robe hanging on the hook. The young lady comes back and leads me down the hall and to another room. This room is dark and has soft music playing in the background.
    "You may hang your robe here and get under the blanket. Anna will be right in for your massage." She closes the door behind her. I take off my robe and get under the blanket. I can tell the table is heated. It feels warm and comfortable. I lay there waiting for someone to come in. After a moment Anna enters.
    "Hello Luna, are you ready for your massage?"
    "I guess so."
    "Have you ever had one before?" She asks.
    "No." I admit.
    "No problem. I am going to have you turn over and I will work your back, neck and arms. Then I will move to your legs and feet. If I'm too rough just let me know." She says. Then Anna does exactly that, she works her hands through the muscles of my body. It is so peaceful and calming I almost fall asleep. When its over I get dressed and meet Anthony in the front.
    "So how was it?" He asks.
    "A-mazing, how have I never had one before?" I say as we head to the car. Anthony chuckles. He drives me back to the pack house. We pull up and Mike is waiting for me.
    "How was it?" Mike asks.
    "It was great. And it was definitely helpful. I feel very relaxed." I say
    "Good now let's have some dinner." He says and we make our way inside. We sit down to eat.
    "Emily can I ask you something, you can totally say no if you want. I'll understand."
    "What is it?"
    "Could you maybe sleep with me tonight. I was just thinking it would help with your stress and I haven't slept as good as the night you came into my room." He is right, I would be less stressed. And I'm being unfair as a mate. But Sam told me to make better decisions.
    "Okay I will tonight, but only tonight. And we're just going to sleep." I say. I don't want him to think this will be a regular thing just yet. After we eat we hang out and watch a movie in the lounge. Then we both head to our rooms to get ready for bed. I change into some night clothes, brush my teeth, and head over to Mikes room. I walk in and he's already in bed.
    "Thanks for doing this. It really means a lot to me." He says. I get into bed and he wraps his arm over me.
    "Is this ok?" He asks. I am surrounded by his smell and the mate bond. Everything was so calming.
    "Yes that's fine." I say. I fall asleep in Mikes arms.
   
    Dream
    "Emily!" I hear my name being called. I open my eyes and I'm in bed with Mike. Liam walks through the door.
    "Emily what are you doing?" He asks.
    "I was just.. you are... What are you doing? You're dead." I say getting out of bed.
    "Do I look dead?" He asks upset.
    "Well no, but Mike is my mate." I say.
    "How can he be your mate if I am?"
    "I DONT KNOW!" I throw my hands up to my face. What is going on? Then Liam disappears. A white wolf walks past the door. I rush out the door and follow him down the hall. We stop at the Alpha and Lunas bedroom door.
    "What are we doing here?" I ask.
    "Little wolf you aren't listening to me."
    "Then you need to be more plain."
    "You have great gifts Emily. And there are people who want to abuse what you've been given. A deal has been made for your blood."
    "These are people I have known my whole life."
    "Power changes people." He says.
    "Then I need a witch I can trust." Hiroen thinks for a moment.
    "Ask your mother about a witch named Miranda. Get in contact with her." He says.