Those red glowing orbs"
"What are you doing to me?"
His face twisted, in wrath? pleasure? anger? I couldn't tell anymore. My back hit the wall, his arms caging me in, the power in them unmistakable. He pulled one hand back, but I didn't move, couldn't.
Then that free hand found my face. I flinched, bracing for pain… but instead came a touch so careful it stole my breath. My eyes flew open.
The Alpha? Being gentle?
If not for the tension burning in his gaze, that battle between control and hunger, I might have laughed at the thought.
And then, without another word, he leaned in and caught my lips, sealing the question between us.
The kiss wasn't soft. It was a war, his restraint against the need he couldn't hide, my confusion tangled with the heat I couldn't deny. The air between us trembled, the world tilting until nothing else existed but the sound of our hearts colliding. I pulled away, shocked, his disappointed face twisting even more, "What are you"
***THE RETURN
"I shut my eyes, leaning towards the glass window of the taxi, I let out a sigh, my chest tightened, I was happy, finally going back, mother wasn't, though I assured her I'd stay out of trouble, As I stared in her blue eyes that evening, I hoped for anticipation, but all I found was worry and fear.
"Mom, I have to go back to Willow", "Willdowdale??", her voice shrieked, startling me I had never heard her voice carry so much fear, she looked at me with wide eyes, the blue in them looked deeper, I was startled, I stared at my mother blankly, my hand reaching out to hold her wrinkled ones, looking closer, her face looked even more wrinkled than I remembered it to be, my gaze softened, "Mother, things haven't been going as well for me, even after college, I have a feeling I'd do better in our home", She looked away, taking her hands away from mine, her brows tightening, "No Athena, you stay here", I knew she would react like this, she always had something against Willowdale, I could never fully comprehend how someone could grow to resent their own hometown. "Too late mom, I've made arrangements, I'm leaving Saturday", I stood up and calmly made my way to my room, leaving my plate untouched,and feeling her gaze linger on my back, I knew she would come around, she always does.
I shut the door behind me, grateful mother didn't walk into my room this past week, I wouldn't want her to see the neat boxes around my room, evidence of my imminent departure, I sat on my bed, feeling the softness under me, I'll miss it, the yellow beddings, the pink walls, and the lamp sitting ever so still on my study desk, I stood up, pulled out the chair and sat on it for the last time, I studied so hard here, I smiled, I was going to miss our tiny house, I was going to miss my friends, and I was definitely going to miss mother, but I had to do it, maybe It would help me make peace with those pair of red eyes in my dreams.
"It was pitch black, fumes of smoke suffocating me, making it even harder for me to see, then I saw them, Red, those distinctive red eyes, staring at me, watching me, they appeared to be a considerable distance from me, but still ever so close, I broke out in a cold sweat, my chest tightened, making it impossible to breathe, "Athena", the darkness called out, I looked around, my brown orbs piecing in the darkness, no matter how much I tried, or how many nights I heard this voice, I could never see the face behind the voice, I gave up, and instead stared at the glow of the red orbs before me, I felt no fear, but instead, a strange feeling of longing, the calmness I felt scared me, "Come home", I jerked awake, holding my head in my hands, "not again" I muttered, Who is she? Who is this woman?, and why do I need to go home? I would never tell mother this, but the strange woman with red eyes was the catalyst, pushing me to Willowdale. I had to find her, I had to find peace.
SATURDAY
I stood outside the house with the few boxes I had managed to pack, I decided to pick and oversized beige cardigan and blue jeans for my trip, simple and cozy, just the way I like it, my silver necklace dangling from my neck, a gift from mother, I had never taken it off, ever, "Athena" I turned around, it was mom, She walked up to me, and held me, just the way she used to do when I was little, she smiled as she pulled away, she warmed up to the idea of my moving over the week, I knew she would, "Stay out of trouble my love" she whispered, staring into my brown eyes and holding my face, "I will mom", I smiled back, 'Honk Honk', we turned around at the same time, my taxi was here, it was time, my driver walked to up to us, I had booked him the day before "G'day ladies", his heavy accent coating every word, and betraying his Australian origin, He implored to assist with the boxes, we readily agreed, we packed the boxes into the truck, with his help and moms, we were done within minutes, of course within those minutes, I had noticed him attempting to flirt with mother from the corner of my eye, I giggled a little, I couldn't blame him, my mother was gorgeous, slightly shorter than I was, I stood at a decent 5'6, mother was barely 5'3, she was the steortypical blond hair and blue eyed beauty, I was a sticking difference, my eyes brown, my hair jet black, while mom had softer features, I looked more sticking and sharper, I hated it when I was younger, but I grew to love it, "Done Milady", the driver winked, obviously directed at mother, I playfully bumped her slightly, using my shoulders, my sly smile making her immediately roll her eyes, I giggled, she smiled too "no chance", "oh come on mom", I laughed, She pulled me into her arms, and placed a gentle kiss on my rosy cheeks, her lips warm against my face, "take care Thena", "Thena", I've always loved that name, "I will mom, take care of yourself too, I love you" , "I love you too baby", She came closer to the car as the driver slammed the passenger seat shut after I got in, "G'bye M'lady", the driver flirtatiously let out, visibly displeased about having to part with mother, she rolled her eyes again, it amused me, The engine of the vehicle started, the car moved "Call mee" she mouthed, "Of course " I mouthed back, I looked back until she was too far away away to see, which was pretty far, I've always had sharp eyes, I turned around,
"Pretty lady, she ya aunt?", "She's my mother", he paused, taking his eyes off the road for a moment to look at me, then darted his eyes back to the road "damn y'all look nothing alike", I wasn't fazed, I understood, I was used to these types of remarks, "definitely" I said simply, I wasn't in the mood for small talk, he stopped talking to me, I was happy he got the hint, I had so much to think about, my new life, the new job I applied for online, and my new home, but for some reason, all I could think about were those eyes, those glowy red eyes…