MATE AND HIS LOVER 11

20. She's A Witch

Helena jolts awake from her sleep, eyes wide with surprise. Sweat trickles down her chest. She takes a moment to catch her breath before trying to piece together what she was dreaming about. There was something important, something she feels she should remember. But failing to do so, she picks up her phone, and pulls up Ethan's number. They haven't gotten in touch with each other since Helena and her friends visited Ethan's packland. Helena was hoping he'd text her, but he hasn't. She doesn't want to be the first to reach out, though, in case that bothers him. The werewolf men seem to be seldom understandable.

She puts down the phone, closes her eyes, and draws a long breath, while bringing up the image of the wayport in her mind. She has been curious about it ever since Ethan brought it up. Lores are all she knows about the wayport, but perhaps there's more she can learn from The Stregon Library, the largest bibliotheca on sorcery.

ETHAN SPOTS THE couple across the cafeteria. That's his old pal turned enemy, Leland, and his mate, Sophie, the girl who only a year ago confessed to Ethan she liked him but now looks like the only boy to exist in the world for her is Leland. Ethan can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy, not because of who they are, but because he doesn't have the same easy access to his own mate as Leland.

Maybe another visit to her dorm won't be so risky... or maybe she can come to him again. But he can't ask her. He made a decision not to give into this concoction of feelings and desires that has been brewing in his gut since he found his mate, because the said mate, not being a werewolf, doesn't really understand what the bond does to him.

Ethan scoffs. Movies? That's what she wants — to go to the movies like a human couple. It's silly. He doesn't want to go to a movie with her. He wants other things. "Ugh," he groans and puts his forehead on his hands.

"You look like a drug addict experiencing withdrawal symptoms," Ken says, taking a big bite of the boiled egg.

"That's because I feel like a drug addict on withdrawal. And since when there are so many mated guys in our school? Can't they fucking tone it down with the PDA?"

Adam gives Ethan a reassuring pat on the back. "Your time will come, buddy. Hang in there."

"Besides," Ken says, smiling with a stuffed mouth, "this way all three of us remain single in solidarity."

Ethan straightens up, his restless thoughts screaming for a resolution. "I should just fucking take her to a movie like she wants me to."

"Here?"

"No. Remember that human town? We saw Terminator. There."

"Which movie?" Adam asks.

Ethan types quickly on his phone and starts browsing through search results. "There's the latest Saw movie... Fast and Furious... Oh, wait, how about this? The latest Conjuring film!" He says and looks up, expecting to see his friends' impressed faces, but they look confused. "Really?" Ken says, "Conjuring?"

"She's a witch, remember?" Ethan says, explaining why he thinks Conjuring would be a good choice, "Won't she like spooky things?"

The other two seem like their eyes have been opened. "That's right!" Adam says, nodding, "She'll like Conjuring. Go for it."

With the movie and place decided, there's just the matter of when, and of informing her. That he'll do later tonight, away from his friends' eyes and ears, in case his voice or face gives away the secret while talking to her over the phone — that he's very much looking forward to watch a movie with her.

AFTER THE SEX Fiona snuggles into Devon when he says, "Wish we could just go away for a few weeks."

"We can!" Fiona says, excited at the prospect.

"We can't," Devon says. "School keeps me busy. Besides, what about your aunt and uncle? Won't they be worried?"

"I don't give a shit what they think," Fiona says.

"You don't like them? Don't tell me they treat you bad."

"Not really. But they still are her parents."

"Who? Your cousin? What did she do?"

"She killed my parents, that's what she did," Fiona bitterly says. An unnoticeable smile spreads across Devon's face. Finally, he's getting somewhere.

ALONE IN HER dorm room, Helena squeals noticing the caller id on her ringing phone. She takes it right away.

"Still want to go to a movie?" He asks.

"Yes!" Helena says, not being able to believe what she's hearing. Forget any heart-throbbing romance; she had given up hope to even get a call from him first. Now suddenly her luck had turned around. "We are going on a movie date?" She gleefully asks.

Ethan smiles at her enthusiasm. "Saturday, I'll pick you up at your coven's border at ten."

"Great! Which movie?"

"Conjuring."

Helena's grin shortens. "Conjuring?"

By the tone of her voice, Ethan is not sure anymore if that's what she would like to watch. "You don't like Conjuring?"

"No, I like it! It's great!" She says, worried he might pull back on the whole thing.

Ethan smiles. He chose right. He knows her so well. In no time he'll know everything there is to know about impressing his witch mate.

After the phone call ends, Helena frowns. Conjuring? That's what werewolf guys like? Horror films? But better that than nothing. She'll just have to get used to her werewolf mate's poor taste in date movies. "Who cares?" Helena says to herself while reaching for her closet — she'll need to pick a pretty dress — it doesn't matter which movie they'll be seeing, for as long as she gets to see him.

Ethan falls back on his bed, excited. He can't wait for it to be Saturday already. He can take her to as many horror movies as there are if that means he can be with her. It's his own pleasure, unlike any of the other werewolf guys had ever experienced. "She's such a witch," he chuckles.