Chapter Nine

(Tracy)

I can't believe James just jumped at Anthony like that. It was kind of a blur how fast it all happened. Funny thing is, I didn't feel scared or threatened or upset…just surprised at myself for not being surprised. Anthony had leaned in and warned me that he might make James upset. Had he been doing it on purpose?

Anna was looking at me with something that rivaled pity and I didn't know what to think about that. Or the fact that Brianna just slid over into the seat beside me. "That was crazy! Do you know what that was all about?" she asked, just as clueless as I was apparently.

I didn't really care for her or the way she drooled over James. He wasn't truly mine, but she didn't know that. No one, except for me and him knew the truth. "Oh that was just some brotherly love." I shrugged off whole encounter and turned back to my plate.

"You know that was pretty fierce. It may take all three of us to handle that," said Stacy from beside Brianna.

Oh my gawd! These two were going to kill me. What were they even doing here? Are these the girls his mother was trying to set him up with because I would have figured she'd have better taste…?

"Don't worry ladies; I can handle my man all on my own."

"Tracy, would you like to come help me with the dessert?" asked Bonnie from beside me.

Surely she could sense the tension, everyone in here probably could. That and Brianna and Stacy each turned as red as my sweater. I don't think the appreciated the reminder that he was mine and not theirs. Nor was I about to offer we share. Nope, not happening.

As I joined Bonnie in the kitchen I saw Anna heading in the same direction the boys had gone. I wondered if she was checking to make sure her husband and son were getting along okay or if she needed to intervene. "Thank you."

"I could tell you wanted away from those two. Can't say that I blame you either. They are a little much if I do say so myself."

I laughed.

"Miss Bonnie, may I ask you a personal question, as James' aunt?"

She looked at me for a moment, and then motioned me to sit beside her at the bar, where she was arranging the cookies we'd made earlier on a platter. "You may."

I wasn't sure how to ask and not sound like a complete nut job, but James ignored the question when I had asked him earlier. I felt like I was going crazy. Like I knew, but didn't. And I needed to know. "Are you a wolf?"

She made a choking sound and I reached around, patting her on the back. Her eyes met mine and what was once a bluish gray were now more yellowish, but she blinked and they went back to normal.

She opened her mouth to reply, but I beat her to it. "I will take that as a yes."

"Tracy, I…"

"It's okay. Can you please do me a favor and tell James that I borrowed his truck and that I will be at home? I need some time to myself before I see him again. I'm sure he can find his way there on his own."

She simply nodded.

I knew he had left the keys in his truck; lucky for me I guess.

As I sat inside his truck, in my driveway I realized that I didn't want to be here. Being home wasn't going to help clear the clutter from my head. It wasn't going to help me determine reality from dream.

Before I even realized what I was doing I found myself walking down the darkened path, crossing the barely visible bridge, dodging booby traps no one else would have known existed, let alone in seen beneath the night's starless sky, and entering the pitch black cave. The sound of the waterfall soothed me even as the dampness cooled my skin. I curled up in the corner, wrapping my arms around my legs, and closed my eyes.

This time when the dreams came, they came with a clarity I'd never known before. Where the images where vague, now they were crystal clear. James was my black wolf. It was him who comforted me. It was him who called me mate. And it was him who curled around me, warmed me, and brought me comfort.

When I opened my eyes the cave was bathed in a soft light where the sun was shining through the water. I was warm and relaxed and…was the ground beneath me moving?

I slowly turned my head and realized my dream had not been a dream at all. There was a very large black wolf curled around me. I reached out my hand, running my fingers slowly through his soft fur. It almost felt as if he were purring. The thought made me chuckle silently to myself. The movement of my chest caused his eyes to open and my hand to stop mid-motion.

Those deep blue eyes gazed into mine as if trying to tell me something, but I wasn't quite sure what. "James? I know we need to talk, but for now can we just stay like this?"

He nodded once and then lay his head back down, snuggling into me. My fingers went back to slowly moving through his fur and I tried to find comfort in knowing that I knew him, knew this…even if it was completely new to my world of reality.

After some time I sat up and looked at him. "Can you change back now? I'm ready to talk."

I wasn't sure if I should look away or watch, but found myself standing and walking toward the water. I stopped just short of where small droplets splattered inside. Before I could say anything I felt his chest against my back and his arm wrap around me.

"That was the best night's sleep I've had in a very long time. Thank you," he said softly, leaning toward my ear.

I turned within his embrace, placing my hands on his chest. After a deep breath I looked up into his eyes. "Am I really your mate?"

He nodded. "Yes."

I wasn't sure why, but I needed to know the truth. I needed to know if he had been honest or if he'd lied to me. "Did you know that day we met?"

He shook his head. "No. I felt drawn to you, but with you being human I chalked it up to you being adorable and all. I didn't know for sure until last night."

"Are you disappointed your mate is human?"

His lips curled up into a sexy smile that lit up his entire face. "No. I wanted you even before I knew you were meant to be mine."

This man. This wolf. They were my everything. I had dreamt of them for years. To be here now, in his arms… "Then make me yours."

His eyes searched mine as if looking to see if I meant what I had just said, but he would find nothing but truth.

He brought his hands up to my face, this thumb brushing my bottom lip. "What about the other stuff in your dreams you told me about? If we do this, it may not be safe for you. I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you."

This time I smiled. "I already know what's going to happen. We can handle it. We can handle anything as long as we do it together." I pressed my cheek into his hand, my eyes going from his down to his lips and back. "Are you going to make me say it again?"

"Never."

Then his lips crashed to mine. It wasn't a sweet kiss like before. It was one full of possessiveness. He was claiming me, and this kiss was only the beginning.