Micalea Smeltzer

“Laughter can cure anything, when you laugh, it pushes the darkness out of your soul.”

“I held onto Caeden’s neck with one hand and used the other to keep my dress from flashing my fanny at any unsuspecting woodland creatures. The sight might shock them to death.”

“He started wrapping the fabric around my eyes and I laughed, “Caeden, what are you doing?”“I think that’s pretty obvious. I’m blindfolding you, silly girl.”He secured the knot on the back of my head. “You better not mess up my hair,” I warned.”

“Evan slung his arm over my shoulder. “That’s my mom and dad,” he pointed to a couple approaching us as families trickled onto the field. “Mom! Get a picture of me and she-wolf?” “Sure, sure,” the strawberry blonde lady said, digging in her purse. “Aha! Here it is. I’m Elaine, Evan’s mom,” she announced to us. “Now smile!”I smiled but just before the flash went off Evan kissed my cheek. I gasped in surprise, probably making the funniest face known to man. Evan snatched the camera from his mom and laughed. “That is totally going to be my facebook profile pic. Take a look she-wolf.”He turned the camera so I could see the image on the screen. Oh, God.I narrowed my eyes and pointed a finger at Evan. “You better promise me that, that picture never sees the light of day.”“Well, technically it’s already seen the light of day, seeing as it’s the morning and all.”“Evan, you know what I mean.”“Fine,” he lowered his head, “I won’t post it on facebook.”“Or twitter, instagram, or any other picture sharing site. Got it? Maybe you should just delete it now?”“Nah,” Evan grinned. “I’m keeping this forever and ever as proof that I kissed the she-wolf.”

“I feel like someone’s going to see my hot pocket if the wind blows this thing up a bit.”I snorted. “Gram!”

“Don’t you two dare say a thing,” she pointed a finger at us, straightening her skirt with the other hand. “Just bite your tongues.”“You look great, Lucinda.”“And you’re a liar and should have your mouth washed out with soap,” she tugged on the sleeves of her cardigan. “Nice pearls,” I pointed to her neck.“Didn’t I tell ya’ll to bite yer tongues,” Gram’s southern drawl became more pronounced when she was irritated.”

“Kyle tapped Caeden’s shoulder. “Isn’t your little brother the one who sang the Fergie song at the top of his lungs during that assembly last year.”Caeden buried his face in his hands. “That’s the one.”Shane snickered. “I watched that on youtube.”“He did a dance too,” Tyler said, and began to, I guess, mimic it. The other guys joined in and they began to sing the lyrics to Glamorous.“Oh God,” Caeden croaked. “Youtube?”They finished mimicking and Shane said, “Yeah, it’s on youtube. It’s got like a million hits or something.”“A million?” Caeden squeaked.”

“I felt my knees turn to jelly. I never thought I’d be one of those girls who swooned over their boyfriend but Caeden was completely, and undeniably, swoon-worthy.”

“I found Caeden lying on my bed with both the dogs. He was talking to them and petting Archie behind his ears. It was like our own little family.”

“How come you didn’t win me anything?” Charlotte asked Bryce.Bryce looked at the smorgasbord of stuffed critters that Caeden had won for me. “Because babe,” he turned to her, “I don’t do clichés.”

“He chuckled. “Most girls want jewelry. Instead you want a balloon. How did I get to lucky? Which color do you want?”“That one,” I pointed to a pale blue one.The gray haired man running the balloon cart seemed to find Caeden and me very amusing.“Mommy! Mommy!” A little kid behind me shrieked. “I want one! Boon! Boon!”“No,” she said, from the tone of her voice I could tell she was exhausted. “Boon! Boon!” the little girl cried as the mom picked her up and balanced her on her hip. I looked over at Caeden and saw him holding two balloons. He grinned. “What? I heard someone else wanted a balloon and I just can’t resist a damsel in distress.”

“I laughed. “I don’t care if you’re nice or not. I just want you to be you. No more pretending. I think it’s time we all got to know the real Logan Lyke.”“What if I don’t know who the real me is?” he asked.“Then I guess you better find yourself,” I smiled.”

“I wanted to smack Logan over the head for his pessimistic attitude.”

“You always did look like a girl as a baby. Is there something you’d like to let me know?” “I did not look like a girl,” Bryce said between gritted teeth. “I just had luscious hair, don’t be hatin’.” –Caeden and Bryce”

“Hey ya’ll, you’ll never believe what I just heard! Apparently some girl totally flipped out on the Ferris wheel.”I paled.“Oh God, it was you wasn’t it?” he looked at me and busted out laughing. “It figures.”

“He leaned over, putting his hand on my face, and tracing my cheek with his thumb. “I will always take care of you.” –Caeden to Sophie”

“Caeden grabbed my hand and grinned like a little boy in a candy shop. “Carnival time!” He drug me from the car and then behind him as he headed to a ring toss game. “I think I need to win my girl a prize,” he said.I laughed.“What?” he shrugged. “It’s like a rite of passage. Every boyfriend has to win his girlfriend a prize,” he winked, turning my stomach to jelly.”

“Watcha doin’?” Caeden flopped down on the couch beside me.“Homework, you should really try it sometime.”He snorted. “You don’t even know what grades I make.”“I’m sure they suck.”

“Evan looked at my empty pizza box and then held up three fingers, “You’re hot, you play soccer, and you have a very healthy appetite. Please marry me?”I laughed and leaned into Caeden who then put his arm around me. “Sorry, you know I’m taken.”“Darn,” Evan smiled. “Have any sisters?”“Only child.”“So not fair,” he said. Evan looked over at Caeden. “You better put a ring on that before someone tries to sweep her out from under you.”Caeden grinned and kissed my cheek. “I’m not worried,” he winked at me.”

“Before I knew what was happening the game was starting. A guy from the other team looked me over. “But you’re a girl,” he yelled and looked over at his coach. “She’s a girl!”Bryce stood up in the stands. “No dip dumb shit! Of course she’s a girl! She has boobies and a-” Caeden tackled Bryce before anything else could slip out of his mouth.”

“Is princess here?” Coach called from his office.“The she-wolf has arrived!” Evan yelled back.Coach emerged from his office and stood in front of us. Oh God, he had the short shorts on again.”

“Gram?” I asked. “You okay?”“Damn men,” she said. “I fell in the toilet.”I busted out laughing. Tears of laughter coursed down my face. “Oh God,” I said, still laughing.Caeden was blushing. Even his ears were red. “I did tell you I can never remember to put the toilet seat down.”

“What are you watching?”“Infomercials,” I said.Bryce laughed and wiped his hands on his pajama pants before grabbing the house phone off the side table. “These are the best. I love calling and asking them questions.”“Like what?”“You’ll see,” he grinned mischievously, waggling his eyebrows, and punched in the number.”

“Travis,” Caeden’s teeth groaned together. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll run.”“Oh, are we playing cat and mouse?” Travis grinned, showing elongated teeth. Hair began to sprout and he started to shimmer. “I love games. I choose cat,” his words were muffled around his teeth.”

“I think he’s dead,” Caeden said. “No,” I shook my head. Caeden continued like I hadn’t said anything. “And when I get my hands on Travis I’m going to make him suffer through every unimaginable thing before I kill him. And when I kill him I’m going to make sure he begs for mercy. He hurt you and if he’s hurt or killed another member of my pack, none of you will be able to stop me.”

“Wake up, Sophie,” Caeden said against my ear.“Go away,” I mumbled. “Rise and shine,” he said and shook me slightly.“I’m going to stab you in the eye,” I mumbled into the pillow.“Ah, you wouldn’t do that, you like my pretty blue eyes too much.”

“My she-wolf,” Caeden came up to me and kissed my cheek.“Didn’t I tell you never to call me that?” I smiled.“I seem to remember that conversation but I chose not to listen to you.”“Ah, of course,” I laughed. “Is this what I have to look forward to for the rest of my life? You not listening to me?”“Yeah, pretty much,” Caeden nodded.”

“I’m done,” Bryce said, blood dribbling out of the corner of his mouth. “My bruises have bruises and those are quickly forming more bruises.”

“Looks like I’ve found myself a handy man,” I smiled. “Oh yeah,” he grinned, “I’m as handy as they come.”“I can see it now,” I fantasized, “leaky faucets, fixing lights, painting walls.”Caeden’s laugh filled the woodshop classroom. “And let me guess, you’re not going to help me, you’ll just watch.”“It’s what I do best,” I laughed.Caeden stood the cabinet upright and grabbed some trim pieces for detailing. “That’s okay, at least I’ll have something pretty to look at,” he winked.“And I’ll always be there to hand you tools,” I said.“Just not the power ones,” he grinned crookedly.”

“Pushing his black-framed glasses up his nose, he said, “Today, we’re going to start building cabinets. I’ve run out of storage areas and I thought this would be a good learning experience for you. You should see a sheet in front of you that shows that dimensions that I need. You can either make a plain cabinet or you can add detailing for extra credit. And Sophie?” He looked at me.“Yes?” I asked.“Please, I’m begging you, stay away from the power tools.”

“I awoke to a loud banging noise and sat straight up. I reached for the light, not to turn it on, but for a weapon. All I could think was that Travis had killed Caeden, and now he’d come for me.”

“To resist the urge to kick my grandma I grabbed a roll, ripped it in half, and proceeded to slather it with butter.”

“Thank you sensei,” I crossed my arms over my chest as she locked up the door. Gram chuckled and said, “Oh Sophie, your sarcasm never ceases to amaze me.”

“Sophie,” he said again and pushed me hard enough to knock me out of my seat and onto the floor. Dang shifter reflexes. Weren’t they supposed to keep this kind of thing from happening?“Caeden!” I hissed under my breath.“Oopsy daisy,” he blushed.”

“It’s getting harder,” his breath caressed my cheek. “What is?” I asked.“To resist you,” his fingers flexed against me.”

“They’re afraid of us?” I asked.“Yeah,” he said, “they are. They can sense that we’re a predator so they just… stay away.”“But we’re not any different,” I choked.Caeden put one hand beside either side of my body against the wall. “Yes, we are Sophie.” A dangerous look glinted in those cerulean blue eyes. “We’re faster, stronger, and-” his voice turned deliciously husky. “Sexier.”His lips brushed against mine in a tantalizing gesture. “You’re definitely sexier,” I breathed.”

“He tossed a helmet to me and said, “Please, no screaming this time.”“I’m making no promises Williams’.” He chuckled. “I’ll probably lose all my hearing.”“What a shame,” I said. “I think the punishment is just for forcing me on this… this… creature,” I pointed to the bike.He stuck the helmet on my head to shut me up.”

“Were board games named board games because most of the time you played them when you were bored? Hmm.”

“It’s raining wolves and panthers out there so we decided to put off exploring until tomorrow. Do you have any board games?”

“It’s raining wolfs and panthers out there so we decided to put off exploring until tomorrow. Do you have any board games?”

“I closed my mouth in order to cut off the high-pitched keening escaping my lips. Who knew a wolf could scream like a jungle cat?”

“No, no, no. No way!” I shook my head and looked at the offending black motorcycle. “I am not getting on that thing!”“Sophie, it’s a motorcycle, it doesn’t bite.”I turned my head to look at the beast. “Really? It looks like it could bite, to me.”“Please, Sophie,” he held out a helmet.I crossed my arms over my chest. “What if I fall off?”“You’re supposed to hang on to me, Soph. What happened to my mighty little she-wolf?”“She packed her bags and left,” I said.”

“I followed him down the hall and into his room. He closed the door and tossed my dirty clothes into his hamper. “Don’t do that! I’ll take them home and wash them,” I tried to grab for them but Caeden grabbed my hands instead. “It’s fine,” he kissed the side of my mouth while I squirmed in his grasp.“Caeden, your mom doesn’t need to clean my dirty clothes.”“It’s not a problem. Besides,” he said huskily in my ear, “my mom doesn’t do my laundry. I do my own, just like a big boy.”I laughed. “And you know what else?” his lips brushed my ear. “What?”“I even make my own bed.”

“He barked a laugh before nudging my leg with his wet nose. “Ew, Caeden! You got wolf snot all over my leg!” I left him behind the bush as I stared at the wet mess on my leg. His barking laughter quickly turned to human laughter. “Wolf snot?” he grinned.“Yes, and it’s all over my leg. It’s gross,” I complained. “Just because we can change into wolves doesn’t mean we need to act like them all the time.”

“A smile spread across Amy’s face. “Bryce Elliot did you make breakfast for yourself and Sophie?”“Maybe,” he said softly and with more volume, “You’ll never get me to tell!”

“I turned to Caeden. “Holy hell, what happened while we were gone? Is it mating season for wolves?”Caeden’s blue eyes were wide. “Apparently so.”

“Was that a sufficient distraction?”“Oh yeah,” I said breathlessly.His husky laugh filled the cabin. “Just wait until we descent.” –Caeden to Sophie”

“Goodbye is goodbye, Caeden, it doesn’t matter who you’re saying it to,” I turned around and sat down.”

“Are you gonna finish that?” I asked.“Huh?” he said around a mouthful of roll.Not bothering to wait for his answer I snatched his chicken.“Hey!” he cried with a laugh.I shrugged. “You snooze you lose.” –Sophie to Caeden”

“You need to shave,” I said to wipe that gooey love struck look off his face. I didn’t need my dad to kill him. Caeden grinned and rubbed his stubbly chin. “But you love my scruff,” he said and rubbed his jaw against my face to drive home the point.”