Cecilia's Wolf {Rewritten}

27 | Cecilia's Wolf

Cecilia

The pack barbecue ran a little later than normal. The pack still had work in the morning, so it didn't go really late, but Jackson didn't have me home until after nine thirty. According to Jackson, most of the barbecues ran until about eight when the parents then went home to tuck the children in.

Jackson drove me home afterwards and walked me to the door like a gentleman. I wrapped my arms around his neck when we reached the porch and gave him a long, goodnight kiss. Both of us were smiling softly as we pulled back and Jackson rested his forehead against mine. "Good night, Cecilia," he whispered.

"Good night, Jackson," I answered just as quietly as I stared into his eyes.

He reached behind me and opened the door before taking a step away. "Sweet dreams, sweetheart."

My heart just about melted into a puddle and I couldn't resist stepping back to him, our chests brushing as I gave him one more lingering kiss and then backed into the house. I leaned against the closed door, after locking it, and sighed. I was falling hard and fast for that boy. Man. Werewolf. Whatever.

Shaking my head and smiling to myself, I headed upstairs. Xavier was waiting for me in my room, sprawled across my bed and watching my door expectantly as I walked through it. "You're home late," he commented.

I raised an eyebrow and gave him a droll look. "It's not even ten, Xavier," I told him.

He laughed and I knew he was just teasing me. He was out far later than this on the nights he spent at the club. "I know. How did the meeting with the pack go?" His face lost all humor as he became serious and protective.

I collapsed onto the bed beside him and we both scooted back to rest against the headboard, stretching our legs out in front of us. "I had an idea while they were talking," I told him. "They liked it, so at least we have a plan, now."

"That's my cousin," he told me proudly, nudging his shoulder against mine. "What did your genius mind come up with?"

"I told them that we should send a spy over to Bane's pack. A girl that could pretend to be in love with Jackson and propose to help Bane if he got me out of her way. Lisa is a talented actor and their best female fighter. We decided to send her."

"It's not bad," Xavier replied, his face thoughtful as he looked at the dark tv across from us. "What's next?"

"If she can get Bane to trust that she just wants me out of the way so that she can get to Jackson, then she will feed him the bait. Tell him that Jackson and Eli have a meeting with an alpha in the next state and will be gone all weekend with their highest fighters. Add in the fact that I'll be at the pack house for protection while Jackson's gone and we don't think that Bane will be able to resist."

Xavier nodded in agreement. "He'll think your vulnerable and he'll take the chance to attack, given you don't leave any holes. What's going to happen if Bane decides to check it out and realizes that you won't be at the pack house."

"That won't happen," I told him, shaking my head. "I have every intention of spending the weekend at the pack house. As far as my parents will be concerned, I'll be spending a fun weekend with my new friend, Alice."

"No," Xavier replied. "No, no, no. You're not going to be anywhere near this battle, Cecilia. You're not a werewolf, you're not a vampire, and you'll be nothing but a distraction. You can't help in this fight."

"Just relax, Xavier," I told him, rolling my eyes. "I'll be at the pack house for the battle and I won't be anywhere near the fighting. For this to work, my parents need to think that I'm having a sleepover with Alice and Bane needs to be able to check and know that's what I'm doing. This whole thing could blow up in our faces if he finds out that I won't be at the pack house."