The house door burst open as our parents' wolves crashed through, followed closely by Clark in his wolf form.
We jumped and screamed. "Mom, Dad... what the hell?" I shouted as we stood, watching our parents huffing and puffing. They ran around the house, sniffing every corner. Alpha and Luna did the same, racing up the stairs and back down. Clark was outside, growling as he paced.
"Um... hello? What is going on?" Camilla asked her parents, wiping away tears. My parents came downstairs in their human forms, quickly throwing on clothes and handing some to Alpha and Luna. They headed into the guest room, emerging dressed and ready.
My dad tossed some clothes outside for Clark, who came in wearing my dad's sweatpants, his torso exposed. I gulped. Void purrs. "Down, girl." I pushed her back and shifted my gaze to my parents.
"Um, can someone please explain why our door is broken?" I asked, eyeing the chaos around us. My mom approached, scanning our faces while we remained wrapped in each other's arms from both the ugly sobbing and the surprise entrance. Her hands cupped our faces.
"What happened? We all heard you two sobbing through the mind-link," she said, concern etched on her face. I glanced at everyone, deliberately avoiding Clark's stupidly handsome face. Camilla and I exchanged a look, then stared at our feet.
"I'm sorry," we both mumbled.
"Why were you crying?" Luna interjected. "We were so worried!"
"Sorry, Mom. We didn't know our link was open. We were just having a best friend moment," I explained, squeezing Camilla's arm. "I'm sorry, Mama." I called our Luna that and my mother "Mom." "We didn't mean to scare everyone. I'm so sorry, Dad. So sorry, Papa." I sent a mind-link to Clark. Sorry, Clark, because there was no way I was saying his stupid, beautiful name out loud.
Everyone looked at our tear-stained faces and burst into laughter. We glanced at each other and started laughing too. Luna pulled us into a hug. "Oh, my girls! I was ready to fight the world when I heard your cries." She placed kisses on our foreheads. "Don't ever do that again." My dad and Alpha shook their heads, walking out, followed by Luna.
My mom took our hands and turned to me. "Will you be okay talking to Clark, sweetie?" she asked. I nodded. She looked at Camilla. "Let's give them some privacy, okay?" She gently pulled Camilla away, heading up the stairs.
As everyone left, Clark and I were left alone. Still in just his sweatpants, he came closer. Well, this was going to be hard. I walked to the other side of the counter and resumed my seat while Clark took Camilla's spot. An awkward silence stretched on for about five minutes. I stared at my hands, wondering if I should be the one to start this conversation. I didn't start this drama—the Moon Goddess did.
"Your wolf is beautiful," he began.
Uh... stalker much? But I couldn't disagree.
"Thanks," I replied.
"Adi... I'm so sorry," he continued.
Shoot, even my name sounded gorgeous on his lips. Damn... I could think of other things that would look and sound good between those lips. Shut up, Adi. Bad, bad Adi. Focus.
"Clark, stop," I cut him off. "It's not your fault. We didn't see this coming. I don't know what the Moon Goddess was thinking when she put us together, but it's neither of our faults."
"But the Goddess is always right," Clark interjected. "I believe in her judgment." He fell silent, leaving me to overthink everything. My wolf, however, was quiet, searching his face, studying his actions, calculating how to treat his wolf. I had to admit, she was impressive in how she handled it all.
"Adi... after talking with my parents, I was wondering if you could give me a chance. I want to get to know you as Addison, my mate, not just as Addison, my sister's best friend." He looked at me with those big, stupidly beautiful gray eyes.
"Clark... are you doing this because your parents made you?" I asked, annoyance creeping into my voice.
"What? No, Adi... they advised me, but this choice is all mine. I want to get to know you. I want a chance. What happened last night was a rash decision on my part. It just took me by surprise to see my sister's best friend suddenly become... a woman," he explained.
I sighed and closed my eyes. "Okay, Clark," I said almost whispering, "on one condition."
His eyes lit up at my words. "Anything."
"No more floozies," I said, chuckling as I imagined my dad saying that to him.
He laughed and replied, "I see Cam told you already. Yes, absolutely—no more floozies. I promise." Then he added, "Can I hug you?"
Yes! Void in my head yipped. Dude, really? "Shut up... have some control," I muttered to her.
"Um," I rubbed my elbow and looked down at my feet. "Sure." Before I could look up, his arms were already around me. Goddess help me. I rested my head against his chest, breathing in his scent. Stupid hormones. I wrapped my arms around his waist and leaned in, feeling dangerously close to losing control. I could feel his breath on my neck, an urge to bare it to him for a mark surging through me. F**, stop. Control yourself, Addison.
Void wasn't helping. We stood in silence, breathing in each other's scent, his firm hands holding me close. I didn't want this to end. I loved the sensation of his touch and smell. I was so lost in the moment that I didn't even hear him mumble something. I pulled back slightly and raised an eyebrow at him.
He placed his forehead against mine and whispered, "I, Alpha Clark Knight of the Blood Moon Pack, take back my rejection."
Before I could respond, I heard a loud sigh followed by an "awwww." We both turned to see my mom and Camilla peering down at us from the staircase, their eyes wide with excitement. Catching our glances, they shrieked and dashed up the stairs, giggling like little girls.
"Ugh, kids these days," I said, rolling my eyes as Clark laughed.
