Moon bound

CASSIE

****I walk towards my mother's room but I'm stopped by the light that's peeping through the spaces on the corners of her bedroom door, I take slow steps while watching the flashing light change colours, from purple to white to blue, almost like lightning

I press my ear on the door and hear my mother chanting some foreign words which I can't understand, curiosity suddenly gets the better of me and I find myself twisting the door knob and pushing the door open giving my mother a fright

She immediately jumps up from her dresser chair and the colour changing light is long gone

"Cassandra! You scared me!" she practically screams but quickly contains herself when shes sees that her loud voice frightened me

"I'm sorry mommy, I didn't mean to"

"it's ok sweetheart, I'm sorry, mommy is just... Distracted a bit, it's not your fault"

I take in the scene in front of me, different coloured candles, a bowl of water and what seems to be a globe on top of her dressing table

"What is this mommy?" I ask walking towards the table

"Don't touch that!" she rushes to stop me "it's just mommy's work things" She says with a smile while kneeling down to have the same eye level as me

"listen sweetheart, I need you to promise mommy something"

"yes mommy?"

"don't tell daddy about what you saw today, infact please don't ever mention it to anyone because if you do, mommy will get in serious trouble my angel" she said as she cupped my face with both her hands and looked at me with pleading eyes

"ok mommy, I promise" I said as we intertwined our pinky fingers as a sign of keeping yet another one of my mother's secrets.****

The slamming of the glass in front of me pulled me out of my thoughts and straight into my reality.

"This one is on the house, so will the next one, and the next one" Jayden said mindlessly but with a low tone. We couldn't have other customers knowing that I was drinking for free.

"Thanks Jay" I tried to smile as I took the glass of gin mixed with tonic, a slice of lemon and some mint, bringing it closer to my lips and savoring the tsdte before swallowing the liquid.

"Pleasure, kid. Now if you're planning on getting drunk best hand your car keys over" he stretched out his hand and beckoned for me to hand him my keys and I did so without hesitating. Jay was my safe haven and if he wanted my keys in exchange for more drink s then why not?

" So it's been twelve years, huh? " he said as he opened a beer for himself then leaned on the counter while standing across me.

"Yeah, twelve cold years." I said as I circled the glass in front of me with my index finger.

" Your dad?"

"It's been six years" I I downed yet another gulp.

"Ever thought of reaching out to him?" Jay asked cautiously because he knew the weak state that my relationship with my father was in.

"Why? So I can be reminded of how he wishes it was me who died?"

"You know that's not true."

"Really? Then how do you explain that he basically shut me out when I turned sixteen? He told me I was old enough to look after myself and always locked himself in his bedroom whenever he was around at home which is almost never."

"Maybe you remind him more of your mother now that you're grown, people grieve differently Cassie"

"I'm also grieving, Jay. I have been for twelve years now. The truth is, I became an orphan at that moment, my father has distanced himself from my life."

This was true, I had been by myself for years with no parent to depend on. I never understood why my dad pushed me away. At first I thought he was just grieving but as I grew older I also stopped trying, he went his way and I moved out of the place I called home when I turned eighteen.

I used the large sum of money my mother left for me from her life insurance to rent a small apartment and a second hand car. I also enrolled at university and graduated with a Bachelor of science in Nursing.

I managed to get a job at the local clinic but I'd always wanted to further my studies and become a medical doctor. A dream I intended on fulfilling.

I met Jayden when I moved into my apartment, he lived in the same building and we became instant friends. Although he later moved out to live on the top floor of the bar that he was managing, we kept in touch and he became more of a big brother than a friend and and he knew that each year on the 2nd of April I always drank my sorrows away as I went through the anniversary of my mother's death.

He always offered me free drinks and ended up drinking with me, and I ended up crying my eyes out while he comforted me. Tonight was no different.

As we were still drinking the door opened and in walked three men, they were all wearing formal trousers and shirts, too formal if you ask me. Two of the guys walked infront of the other guy as though to protect him which kind of confused me because his appearance said he could take both of them out at the same time.

Their well built bodies and heights clearly indicated that they weren't human but werewolves, something the human society had to get used too ever since I was a child. Something my father also despised openly.

I somehow felt drawn to the one at the back, the one being shielded and I ended up checking him out, deciding that I'd blame it on the alcohol if I got caught out. His strong arms that were hugged by his tight shirt, his well groomed black hair, his facial features. Everything about him was attractive, or was I just drunk...

The guys headed towards us to get a table but as soon as they passed us, the one I'd been checking out stopped.

He tilted his head a little and our eyes locked.

I desperately wanted to look away but I couldn't, it's like I just froze in the moment and everything stopped. He never took his eyes off me either it was starting to get intimidating.

I forced myself to stand up, wanting to get away from the awkward situation. I really didn't like strange things happening around me, even if there just happened to be this sexy man who was staring at me like we were in a staring contest.

I stumbled a bit due to my intoxication but balanced myself in time not to fall, the guy growled as his eyes started glowing and changing colour from brown to yellow

"Mine." Mr Hot, as I chose to call him mumbled.

"Eh-what?" I stuttered, ofcourse I knew what it meant but was this really happening... To me?

"Hello, mate" he said with his eyes still glowing. He took a step closer and Jay moved from the other side of the bar to come stand next to me.

"Step away" Jay warned

"She's mine!" The wolf snapped "And I'm taking her with"

Jay pulled me behind him "I think we can both clearly see that she's too drunk to give consent to anything right now so I cannot allow you to take her with. She needs to agree to this while she's in the right and sober state of mind, isn't it?" Jay asked and even though I couldn't see his face I knew he had his serious big brother face on.

" You don't tell me what to do with my mate" Mr. Hot countered.

"Alpha, we can't afford to create a scene, we can always come back tomorrow." one of the other guys said and Mr. Hot did not even turn to look at him.

Just then, Erica, Jay's girlfriend walked in "what's happening?" she asked Jay

"Take her upstairs." he told her and she reached for my hand.

"2nd April" she said knowingly.

"Yeap" I popped the P, I was just done with this day.

When we turned to leave I heard a low growl, Erica and I both stopped. I felt dizzy, like I was going to pass out. Just how much gin did I drink?

"Are you really going to start a scene here?" Jay asked knowing full well the werewolves couldn't start a fight as part of their agreement to live in the open with us humans... Unless they were under attack.

"Alpha, let's go. We will come back tomorrow"

"I think I'm gonna faint" I announced and Erica quickly sat me on a chair.

"Fine, I'll come back tomorrow. She better be here." Mr. hot warned before taking another look at me and turning to walk away.