Next In Line

Next In Line:Ch7

After the shower, I was relaxed. And I also realized how stupid and unessicary the argument between me and Mason was. Also, I said I'd drive myself to school. Yeah, cause there's school on Sundays... I knew I should apoloigize but Mason couldn't hold a grudge against me. The same could be said for me against him, sadly.

I flopped down on my bed and listened to the steady rythm of the raindrops on my roof. I smiled to myself. I loved this weather. It was so calming.

"Sunday morning, rain is falling," I began to sing. "Steal some covers, share some skin. Clouds are shrouding us in moments unforgettable; you twist to fit the mold that I am in." It was funny because that's all I remembered of the song Sunday Morning by Maroon 5. I loved it anyway. I started another song after that.

"It's been a long time since I came around, It's been a long time but I'm back in town. This time I'm not leavin' without you. You taste like whiskey when you kiss me, oh! I'd give anything again to be your babydoll, this time I'm not leavin' without you. He said, 'Sit right back where you belong, in the corner of my bar with your high heels on," I sang while laying on my bed. I've always liked my voice and especially with Lady GaGa's songs.

"You have a beautiful voice," a familiar voice said from my doorway. "Before you jump to conclusions, your mother let me in." I sighed and sat up.

"Hey, Mason. I'm sorry. Those comments were uncalled for," I said quietly. Yeah, I apologized. That didn't mean that I liked it. He sighed too and came to sit besides me on my bed.

"I'm sorry too. You don't have a reason to believe otherwise, considering how I acted and stuff," he confessed. I stared straight ahead. I didn't want him to feel sorry too. That made it worse. "You do have an amazing voice though. Have you ever performed?" he asked.

I shook my head and stared at the only framed picture on my walls. The one of my twin brother and I when we were 13. We were at a lake, with pine trees in the background. I knew that Alec was the reason that my parents wanted me to get a mate so fast; so I'd forget about him and what happened. But I never would. I didn't want to.

Mason rested his hand lightly on my shoulder, and shook it gently. "Cassie? Are you alright?"

I shook my head again, still staring at the picture. He followed my gaze and saw the picture. He shifted uncomfortably, and I could tell he thought that Alec was probably a past relationship or something. His words confirmed it.

"Is that your, uh, ex?" He asked cautiously. Again, I shook my head. What was wrong with my mouth? He studied the picture for a few more moments until he made an 'oh' noise and I knew he knew it was my brother. We were identical except for the fact that he was a boy and I was a girl. Heck, it was hard not to tell that we were siblings.

"I didn't know you have a brother," Mason said slowly. He knew something was wrong with the situation.

"I don't," I whispered. He was about to ask something else but I turned and stared at him. Something in my eyes made him shut his mouth and he took both of my hands in his and squeezed them slightly.

"Cassie. Tell me what happened," he begged. I just kept looking at him. I wouldn't cry. I couldn't. This was not going to happen. I was strong.

But as Mason pulled me into his chest and wrapped his arms around me, all the walls that I put up after Alec died crashed to the ground. I felt hot tears roll down my cheeks as a sob shook my body. I put my arms around his neck and buried my face in his chest and just cried.

I don't how long we sat there;me crying, him stroking my hair softly. It could've been seconds, minutes, or hours but it felt like forever. I pulled back and used my shirt to wipe my face off. I looked at his and noticed it was nearly soaked through in some places and that the collar was stretched out of proportion because of me tugging on it.

"I'm sorry. I ruined your shirt," I mumbled, and looked at him. His eyes were soft as he pulled me close again. He rubbed my back and rested his chin on the top of my head.

"Don't apologize," he murmered. "You've obviously been through a lot." He stopped there, letting me explain what happened. I was thankful that he didn't pry, but it was time that I told someone what happened. My mother, father, and Leah all knew because they were there at the time. I took a deep breath and began.

"My brother, Alec, and I were twins. Leah, him, and I were like triplets because we were always with eachother. Do you remember when the other pack attacked, and was taking mates?" I asked, referring to just one of the many fights between us and neighboring packs. Mason nodded, and his eyes hardend slightly at the memory. "Well, we were 13. Alec, Leah, and I were watching TV and my mom was in the kitchen, making popcorn, when all of a sudden, this huge wolf came burting through one of the front windows.

I remember the glass shattered everywhere. The wolf took one look at us but sniffed and I guess knew we weren't mated yet. It ran into the kitchen and I heard my mom scream. All three of us were there in a couple seconds and saw that the wolf had my mom by the arm and was dragging her towards another window. Since Leah and I hadn't been able to turn yet, Alec immediatly shifted and started attacking the wolf.

Now, keep in mind that Alec was only 13 and even smaller than I am now. And he was attacking a wolf that was bigger than you," I told him. "The wolf didn't see Alec as a treat, more like an annoying pest. He let go of my mom for a second and whipped around to grab Alec in his teeth by the neck and shook him violently until we saw blood dripping and we heard the snap.

My dad barged in the door right then and the wolf took off. Leah and I were just standing there, the whole time. We didn't do anything. We could've saved him..." I trialed off and I felt a lump forming in my throat. I looked up at Mason as my lip quivered and he held me close, like I was a precious item he didn't want to break.

"No Cassie. You couldn't have saved him. The wolf would've just overpowered both of you and all three of you would be dead, and your mother would be gone. I'm so sorry you had to go through that, love," he whispered in my ear and I buried my face into his neck and started quietly crying again. "No, no, Cassie. Don't cry anymore. It hurts me so much to see you hurting," he whispered and wiped my tears then caressed my cheek. I lay back against his chest and closed my eyes. I felt his warm arms wrap around me, holding me securely against him.

I felt so safe in his arms, as much as I wanted to say I didn't. I knew I needed him in my life but I wasn't ready for all of this yet. And it always seemed that the more I pushed him away, the more I wanted him. I knew we were made for eachother, but I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact that I belonged to someone.

I banished all thoughts from my head and focused on Mason's body heat and smell and the way he was stroking my hair as I drifted off to sleep.