Red Riding Hood

Chapter Seventeen

There are times in life when you would do anything to have a moment last forever, to slow it down and savor every second. This was one of those moments. I was lost in a lust filled haze, waiting for something I couldn't comprehend to happen and just as I felt the piercing touch of teeth against my skin it all stopped. Before I could manage enough control of my body to protest a vicious snarl ripped through the air, the heat escaping me as my eyes flashed opened and reality set in. William as gone and beside the bed his black wolf stood defensively as another growl which was more like a roar came from him. His hackles were raised making him appear even larger, taking up the majority of space in the room as his head dipped low to glare at the figure of my mother who stood in the door way. I had never wanted to disappear into thin air before; nothing in my life had ever reached this level of humiliation. I pulled the sheet that was covering me a little tighter against my body, as Williams wolf vibrated with growls.

"Elizabeth" Mums tone was flat and void of any emotion as her eyes met mine. Her hair was un-kept and a few stray clumps stuck out slightly, evidence of having woken her up. I felt nauseous. Hesitantly I began to get out bed, seeing my sweatpants I quickly grabbed them and shuffled them on, but the pair had become locked in their own staring contest and didn't notice my movements. Spying William's shirt I quickly put that on to. Mums face was set in a scowl, her eyes matching William's own fury. As I walked around the bed she looked over to me, breaking what ever was going on between them. His tail whipped from side to side in agitation, his eyes never leaving Mum.

"I can explain," I whispered, not sure if she heard me over the series of rumbles coming from the giant black wolf in the room.

"Oh trust me, I don't need an explanation of that" she waved her hand signaling to the bed, her voice was tight and I knew this was her calm before she would erupt like a volcano. James suddenly appeared beside her, rubbing the sleep from his eyes he looked up and screamed at the sight of William's wolf. Mum scooped him up and shooting us a final glare left the room and William followed to the doorway, making sure she had left. My heart broke at how scared James had become, would I ever tell him about me when I could shift? What were we going to tell him now? I ran across the room to go to him and instead William blocked the exit.

"Move" I snapped, going to push past. He relaxed slightly, his ears twitching as he listened to the voices in the other room but he didn't move. Every time I tried to move he blocked me.

"Let me go to my brother" I finally snapped, amazed how in the period of ten minutes we went from one extreme to the next. He nudged me gently but with enough force I had to step back, again and again until giving in I sat on the bed. I sighed as I folded my legs underneath me, sitting crossed legged as his large head was placed in my lap and I couldn't help but return the contact he obviously needed. His muzzle rested on my knee as I draped one arm around his neck while my free hand gently stroked the soft fur between his ears. He let out a low whine and pushed against my stomach, nuzzling me gently. I looked at his almost grey eyes, which still held so much love in them and couldn't keep the anger I had just felt towards him. To caught up in our moment we didn't notice Mum had returned.

"James will think it was just a bad dream," she snapped, my head shooting up to look at her regretfully. But the sadness I saw coming from her hurt. Was she disappointed in me? William leaped back towards her, snarling, as a moment between us was broken again. Just when I went to get up to try and calm him down, Mum raised her hand, her mouth moving in silent words as William froze. Pinning his ears back he snapped at her warningly, what ever she was doing, he really didn't like it. He went to charge her and the thought of him hurting her was too much. She was the only parent I had; he had no right to threaten her.

"Stop it! Both of you!" I yelled; praying James wouldn't wake up again. William stopped and looked back to me unsure what to do and I felt my wolf itching to go to him. It was then I saw him inside the wolf's eyes, the control I wondered if I would have over the creature inside of me had been lost with him. But he was back now. The wolf needed to protect what was his and until this point, William had only along for the ride.