Red Riding Hood

Four

In the end, we bought way too many clothes for my liking. Sebastian insisted that he should see how I look after trying it on, and he bought each and every one that looks good on me.

"As I've said a million times before," I took a deep breath, "You bought way too many clothes for me."

"Nonsense. You do like them, don't you?" He was carrying most of my bags like they weighed nothing. He's a werewolf after all.

"Yeah but..."

Before I could say more, he cut me off. "Then of course we must buy them."

Why is he so stubborn? I huffed, and followed him back to his car. When I got in, I buckled my seatbelt and just looked outside. During the ride, he tried to get my attention several times, but I just ignored him. At last, he gave up and just drove in silence.

Or not.

"Why are you being so cold to me?" He asked, stealing another glance at me. Keep your eyes on the road! I don't want to get in a car crash.

"Because I don't like you? You kidnapped me and took my bag away?" I said in an obvious tone.

"But... Fine. I'll give you back your bag, but you can't call anyone. If you do, then we're out of here."

"I need to call my grandma to at least let her know that I'm alive! And unhurt!" I said, exasperated.

He went silent until we reached his mansion. "Okay."

"What?"

"I'll let you call your grandma."

I was stunned for a moment. I didn't think that he would actually let me call anyone. "Thank you."

✕✕✕✕✕

"Hey Grandma... I got kidnapped by a werewolf."

I expected her to freak out over what I just stated so bluntly, but she took it surprisingly well. "What was his reason for it?"

"Wow... You're much calmer than I thought you'd be. He said that I'm his mate. Come save me, please!" I almost didn't hear her sigh from the other end.

"Sorry, Katelyn. I can't take you away from him, not when you're his mate. It'll literally kill him." How did she know so much about werewolves?

"Okay...? How do you know?" I asked. She couldn't be a werewolf, could she?

"I think it's better if I told you in person. Ask your wolf for your location." I did as I was told, but he took my phone away when I asked.

"Hello? Are you Katelyn's grandma? Yes... Okay...." He walked away from me, and continued to tell my grandma where we are.

"Done?" I asked when he handed my phone back to me. "What did you say?"

"Just told her where we are. Come, I have to introduce you to some of my friends." He pulled me by the hand, and didn't let go until we reached his car. I got in obediently, and he sped down the road.

After a while, we reached a large house also in the middle of nowhere. There were people milling about in the front yard, and some children too.

"Hey Sebby! Whatcha doin' here?" A grinning boy with light blonde curls and sky blue eyes, who looks about ten, ran towards Sebastian.

"To visit you little munchkins." He replied while picking up the boy. "This is Katelyn, my mate. Katelyn, this little guy here is Freddie."

"She's pretty." Freddie said shyly. "Hi."

"Hey." I smiled warmly at him.

"Okay, I have to introduce Katelyn to other people, so I'll see you later, okay?" Freddie nodded.

"Sebby?" I looked at Sebastian, who only shrugged, but I could see the light blush forming on his cheeks.

After introducing me to everyone, I pulled Sebastian aside. "They're not your friends, they're your pack members!" I hissed. "You lied to me!"

"Technically, I didn't. They're my friends and family. And if I said 'pack' would you come willing?" I didn't respond. "Didn't think so."

"Next time, do tell me who we're actually going to meet. Okay? Okay." I didn't give him a chance to actually say 'okay' before striding back to where Freddie was sitting on the floor, reading a children's book.

"What are you reading?" I asked as I sat down next to him.

"The Cat in the Hat, by Doctor Seuss." He replied without even looking up. "It's funny and it also rhymes."

"Of course it does. Everything Doctor Seuss writes rhymes." I started reading a bit before saying, "It's a great book."

"Yep." He looked up at me with adorable pup- I mean wolf eyes and asked, "Can you read to me instead?"

"Sure, little guy." I started reading it out loud.

Soon enough, I finished the book and felt someone's presence behind me. "Sebastian. What are you doing?"

"Telling you is time to go. Come, we have to go back." He pulled me up and we said goodbye to his pack members.

"I'll see you soon, okay?" I said to Freddie before I got into the car. After buckling our seatbelts, Sebastian drove back to the mansion.

"You look beautiful when you smile." He suddenly said. I could feel my cheeks heating up.

"What... Were you spying on me?" I asked suspiciously, eyes narrowed at him.

"No, actually. You were sitting where anyone could see you." He actually had the audacity to smirk!

Deciding to give him the silent treatment for multiple reasons, I looked out the window and ignored him.

I feel like I did this before, too.

I stole a glance at Sebastian, and saw him grip the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles were turning white, a slight frown on his face. Sighing, I rubbed his arm to make him feel better. "Stop being such a big baby."

"Big baby?" He rose an eyebrow while looking at me.

"Yes. Pouting when you get ignored." I told him in a 'duh' voice.

"I do not pout!" He protested like a toddler. I giggled at that thought and he stared at me again. "What's so funny?"

"Your face." I joked. Seeing his eyes turn a shade darker, I sighed again, "Nothing. You just sound like a toddler.

He huffed angrily but focused on parking back in his garage. Did I tell you he has two cars? According to him, one is for formal events and the other is for personal uses. Who needs that many cars?

✕✕✕

"I'm not sleeping in the same room as you." I said stubbornly. We've been at this for the past five minutes, but neither one us is budging.

"I can't sleep without knowing that you're safe! The only way to make sure of that if you sleep in the same room as me." He huffed impatiently.

"In the same room? Okay. I'll sleep on the floor then." I then picked up the blanket and a pillow, then laid down on the fluffy carpeted floor.

"No!" He came and picked me up like a princess. "You'll sleep on the bed. I'll sleep on the floor."

He laid down next to the bed, giving me my personal space. Smiling a bit to myself, I closed my eyes and slept soundly. Much more soundly than I had in years, but there's no way I'm going to tell him that.

I was listening to this song as I wrote this, so I decided to add it as the song at the top of the chapter. Kinda funny though, since this is a werewolf story and the song is "The Wolf" 😜

I've been listening to songs by bands and artists that aren't that popular, mostly rock, so be sure to expect those in future chapters 😙

- Erelaveth ❤