Reflection

Chapter 6

(POV- Adeliya)

I couldn’t help but smile when I caught a glimpse of her. She stood there, without a jacket, and welcomed the crisp air. I suspected it was because of the gore filled scene she had just witness. But then again she did have an odd fetish with shivering.

“I need to have a talk with her before you take her home,” said the chief spotting her at the same time.

I nodded and watched the large, chain smoker make his way to the lost soul, who was leaning against the front door. I caught her glancing back at me before frowning at the chief.

As they talked I huddled deeper into my jacket while looking over the scenery behind the house.

The tall weeds bent effortlessly to the will of the howling wind. The sun beamed down into the toxic stream, causing it to glimmer from the tin and glass bottles that slumbered just below the surface. The gloomy, gray, clouds darkened the back backyard like a veil of death. A single, well loved, teddy bear with one arm lay out in the center of the landscape.

Out of the corner of my eye I caught hint of movement. There was something just past the shallow stream staring out at the gathering crowd. I narrowed my eyes trying to shield them from the pesky sun. Looking harder I could just about make out the outline of the creature.

I blinked twice reassuring myself of what I saw. I inhaled sharply as I take another quick glance over the graveyard like backyard. Nothing dared moved and nothing pointed to another unwanted lurker.

“Find anything good?” She asked shaking me out of my quest.

“Afraid not,” I replied, resisting the need to look back across the stream.

I pried my attention away from the backyard and looked at her. Her eyes danced across the surrounding landscape. I shift nervously while wondering if she had spotted the creature too or if she was just blindly looking over the landscape.

I smile slightly, as I watched her cross her arms under her breast and straighten her posture before turned her head to glance at me. My smile automatically turned to a smirk as her eyes traveled down past my eyes.

Slowly, her eyes made their way back to mine sending a warm flow of energy throughout my body. With the look in her eyes I couldn’t help but wink at her. She swiftly turned her head to the side allowing her hair to shield her reaction from me. I could see her lips moving through the veil of hair but all I could hear was my own fantasy pulsing in my ears.

“Sorry, could you say that again?” I managed to blurt out.

“I said ‘are we going to go home or are you just going to stand there and look at me all day?’” She asked while sliding a hand through her hair, causing it not to hide her face.

“I would gladly stand here all day and look at you,” I say with a wicked smile.

“Don’t even start with me,” she snapped at me as she pivoted on her heels and headed for the car.

I could help but laugh as I watched her walk away. I had spent months and maybe even years chasing after that beauty and the one night she stops fighting it all I let her go. Hoping like hell she would come back to me.

She had already let herself into the car by the time I had caught up. Once in the car I could see her shriving. I wasn’t sure if she was replaying the scene in her head or if she was just cold.

“Want my jacket? I won’t need it for driving.”

She shakes her head with a small smile playing across her lips as she replies. “Haven’t you heard? Shivering keeps the muscles toned.”

I smile at her as she portends to be focusing on something outside the front window. I loved talking to her when she actually responded to me. Half the time I get a simple nod or shake of the head.

Had we reached a new level after all? Would I no longer have my heart crushed when she only frowned and walked away? Would I no longer have to continue a one sided conversation? Could I stop trapping her in the car to get her to talk to me?

“Just put the jacket on and worry about your already toned muscles later,” I say while tossing the jacket at her and starting the car.

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I couldn’t help but beam when I turned off the car and looked over. At one point or another she had fallen asleep with my jacket draped over her small body. She looked so small and so helpless.

For the first time, I felt the need to protect her. To hold her in my arms and ward off all the awful things that life could throw at her.

Maybe it was because I had never seen her in such a valuable state. Or maybe it is the sheer fact that she felt safe enough to fall asleep.

Slowly, I shift in my seat to face her and without being able to resist the erg any longer I reach out and tuck a lock of hair behind her ear before I glide my finger tips across her high cheek bone.

Within no time her bright, green, eyes open, clouded with uncertainty and surprise. Her body stiffens and she begins to take in everything at once causing me to loss the protective feeling.

In one smooth movement she turns her body to face me. Her groggily eyes dance over me and a small, almost unnoticeable, smile glides across her lips.

For a second her reaction takes me off guard. Her eyes are filled with softness and a hint on mischief shines in the depths of them. The look makes something inside of me swirl with joy and warmth. A smile automatically spreads across my lips and I leaned in closer, closing my eyes as I do so.

Instead of soft, warm, lips I am greeted with the warm, silky lining of my jacket.

“Thanks, for letting me use of your jacket,” she whispers while snickering.

The jacket slides off my head just in time for me to watch her walk through the front door.

“Tease!” I bark back to the empty seat next to me.

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Inside, I find her sitting on the dog bed with Conri, sprawled across her lap. I wonder if she’d still love him if she knew what he really was.

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The first time they met I was sure she had figured him out. He was less sure then, new to leadership, and still unsure of sharing a house with someone who set out to kill most of his pack.

They danced around each other for weeks. Testing each other from a distance; pushing the other one to make the first move. Within no time he took a strong liking for her and deemed her as pack; darning anyone to touch her.

The first time she gave in was after a gorily crime scene. Not her first big case but one that seemed to hit a nerve. She stormed through the door and nearly trip over Conri, who was always sitting at the door waiting for her. She had yet to even pat him on the head or scratch behind his ears at that time and yet he waited like a trained house pet.

He let out a yelp and held up his tan paw.

“Wimp,” mocked Emma.

Sage went to her knees and held out her hand for his paw. He did as she asked.

“Sorry,” she whispered to him in a soft tone.

He leaned in close and licked her chin. She gave him a feeble smile and released his paw before messing up the hair on top of his head.

“What’s his name?” she asked taking a new interest in him.

“Conri,” I answered.

She stood for a second and looked back at him with a frown.

“As in wolf king…” She said in a soft, almost unheard statement.

The three of us stood watching her. Wondering how she managed to get all the pieces to the puzzle. Silently, I prayed she wouldn’t put those pieces together.

To this day, none of us know if she has put those pieces together or not. None us dare to push the issue and none us breathe a word about her deadly knowledge to the rest of the shape shifting community.