Inheritance

Chapter 15, Tension

The post-renovation barbecue was set to happen this afternoon. I checked my watch. They should have come at 3. It was 3:05 pm. Was it a thing to be fashionably late to barbecues...?or had I sent out the wrong date? I checked the watch again. Dakota wrapped his long fingers around my wrist and kissed my palm. I felt his breath and stubble against my skin as he murmured,

"They'll be here. Don't worry."

I asked, looking at the picnic table covered with bowls of fruit, chips, and buns for hot dogs

"Did I make enough?"

He laughed, looking at my spread

"For a pack of werewolves? Absolutely not. But... you invited Sofia and Embry Noche. They're not only grocery store owners, but also the best cooks. They'll probably be bringing a whole cow, knowing them."

My eyes flickered up at his, "I don't know if you're joking."
He smirked, "I'm not."
I clarified,"Will... will everyone here be werewolves? Like, from your pack?"

He shrugged, "Yeah, probably. Although you said you invited a girl you met while gardening?"

I nodded, "Yeah, Nia. I'm surprised you don't know her. I thought everyone around here knew each other."

He shrugged

"I guess not. I haven't heard of a Nia from around here. So she'll probably be the only human then. I'll let the others know."

I wasn't sure if it sat well with me that I wasn't considered human, in Dakota's eyes at least. His thumb ran over my forearm, gently, and he observed

"Your scars... are healed."

Only four faint, blue-tinged scars lined my arm... completely healed, and no longer irritated.

I asked, "Do... do you know who that wolf was? The one who scratched me?"

He shook his head,"Honestly... no. I tried asking Amber... and even Ivy-- which didn't go well and involved her calling me a jackass-- but they didn't remember the incident. I'm sorry, Summer. It might just remain a mystery. I mean, it was probably not someone from our pack. We have a strict code of conduct regarding marking children. It's a huge 'no'. That's why we have Ritual, at 18. It was probably someone from the other pack."
I exclaimed, "Wait-- other pack? As in...there's more than one?"

He turned his head,"Hey, look who it is!"

Out of the thick forest near the property came two wolves. One had stunning blue eyes with shiny, umber fur. The other had a longer, thicker fur. Large dark eyes, and a smoky blond coat. I whispered, almost afraid that these majestic beings would disappear if I spoke too loud

"Who are they?"
Dakota commanded, "Alter!"

And the two beautiful beings shrunk and changed, the long fur sucking beneath clothes and into skin. The hair on their heads grew longer; and their bright, intense eyes subdued. My eyes were shocked. but I didn't recognize these people. Dakota introduced us

"Summer, meet Jasmine and Tyler Reed. They're great friends of mine and part of the pack, but they live farther from the lake, so they don't come out as much."

Jasmine shook my hand and said,

"It's so great to finally meet you, Summer. Dakota talks about you a lot."

Tyler nodded, pulling me into a hug
"I feel like I already know you! Well, I think we met a couple times when you were itty bitty. I'm a little older than you so you probably don't..."