Johnny looks down at us with a smile on his face obviously noticing the change in me. He wipes his hand through his hair before letting out a deep breath.
“We wanted to spend the rest of your birthday with you, but I suppose you’d much rather hang out with a friends than your parents.” He lets out a sigh then looks to Alex. “…and of course he will look after her because if anything happens, he knows what I’ll do to him.” He moves slowly towards me then gently wraps his arms around me and pulls me against his warm chest. It’s as if he’s afraid I might run away.
“Happy Birthday, my girl. Your wolf is absolutely beautiful. I Hope you know how proud I am of you. I Wish I could keep you locked up and away from all the boys forever and make up for all the years we were apart, but your mother is right, you’re a big girl now so you get to make your own decisions.” I hug him tighter, then pull away and kiss his cheek.
“You’re the best, you know that right?” I watch as a grin spreads across his face.
****
“Do you know why Nixon was never called by his first name back in Point Bright?” I look back and forth between them, not sure whether I should be asking them the question or going to Nixon directly.
“Gregory is his middle name, the name his old pack called him by because they felt he didn’t deserve to be called by his first name,” Johnny says as Alex butts in. “It’s a wolf thing, you know… cut down a wolf’s pride, make him feel unworthy and he’ll start to believe it.”
“I don’t believe in that shit. He is part of this pack now and we will call him by his given name,” my father says, sounding proud.
I nod in understanding. “Well, just so you know Daddy, Nixon is only a friend,” I tell him. Placing his hand on his chest he lets out an exaggerated deep breath. “Thank the Fates,” he mumbles.
“That’s right, you already have a boyfriend,” Alex blurts out. Johnny’s panicked face is back as he whips his head in her direction.
I laugh then shake my head. “No Mom, not anymore.”
A frown takes hold of her face and I know she wants to ask questions, but I hug her before she has a chance to. “I’ll tell you everything another time, I promise.”
“Okay sweetie, it seems we have a lot to catch up on, and we still need to give you your birthday present. But we can do that tomorrow after your ceremony, Okay?” She kisses my forehead and I pull away quickly, making my way past them and down the stairs before they can ask anymore questions.
I throw the duffle bag over my shoulder, nudging open the front door that leads to the porch. I make sure to avoid the backyard where I’m guessing the twins are having a bonfire judging by the noise coming from the back.
As I step out onto the wooden front porch I hear giggling and a familiar scent fills my nostrils. To my left in the darkness is Tyler sitting on the porch swing with his girlfriends legs resting over his, his face in her neck while she holds his head there.
The sharp pain in my chest as well as the pain I feel coming from my wolf witnessing this for the first time forces a whimper out my mouth. They both turn to looks at me, I quickly place my hand over my mouth as my eyes catch Tyler’s. His smile vanishes and creases in his forehead appear as he gives me an ashamed look. I quickly turn my head, forcing myself to pass them before either get to see my hurt.
I walk along the grass, feeling his eyes on me the entire time. I try thinking of every other imaginable thing to take my mind of what just happened. I pass a group of guys standing around their cars, but I don’t bother to look up at any of them. I stare at my feet as each step takes me in the direction of Nixon’s cabin. Damn, I need to get used to calling him by that name.
It’s a dark night, the only light is coming from the lamps on the different porches and the light shining through the different windows of the cabins as I pass. I lift my head when I see Nixon sitting on the steps of his porch with a beer in his hands. He lifts his head to look at me, then frowns, placing his beer on the step beside his feet before standing up and walking to meet me halfway. I hug him tight.
“You need to keep those walls up, Angel,” his voice echoes in my mind.
“I don’t know how to do that, Nixon. Or if I’m even doing it right; I still have so much to learn,” I link back with him.
“Just think about something else. Let that take over your whole minds focus, so all they see is the picture your thinking about. It’s hard at first, but after a while it will become second nature to you.”
I think about the waterfall in Point Bright and the sound the water makes as it trickles down the rocks. That was always a place of peace for me, seems fitting that I use that as my barrier.