Filed to story: Wolf Crying Mate of the Alpha by Jazz Ford
Come on then,’ she says, pulling me along to catch up with Flint and Josie.
“Hey Claire, aren’t you going home?’ Josie asks,
‘No, Magnus invited me over, I’m going to help him pick out something to wear to my party. I am his date, after all,” she says.
Josie goes to glare at me but quickly smiles when Claire looks at her again.
‘You are coming to the party too, are you not?’ she asks,
‘I guess I’ll be there,”
‘Great!’ she says, giving Josie a squeeze.
Nina walks behind us home. Every time I turn to see if she is still behind us, she is staring down at the ground. I can’t see her face, her emotion, she completely ignores me and I don’t like it.
We arrive at the Packhouse and are greeted by my parents. They look down at Claire’s hand holding mine and frown.
‘And who is this… lady?’ mum asks,
‘Oh, this is Claire, a… friend from school,’
Oh, don’t be so shy around your parents, Magnus. I’m his date for the party this weekend,’ she beams.
‘How… lovely,’ my mother says, forcing a smile. ‘Well, you must come in then,’ she says and gestures for us to enter. Claire and I go straight upstairs to my room.
‘Wow, this room is so large, and you even have your own bathroom. Please don’t tell me that is a walk-in wardrobe over there?’ she asks. She is so excited I’m waiting for her head to pop and blow streamers out everywhere like a party popper.
‘Yeah, it’s no big deal.’
‘No big deal? This is an enormous deal, Magnus!’ she says, entering the wardrobe. Instead of following her, I make myself comfortable and lay on my bed in hopes she will get bored and go home.
Instead, she comes out with a pair of black jeans, a belt with a silver wolf’s head as the buckle, and five coloured shirts.
You must try this one on first Boo-boo,’ she smiles and hands me a silver-grey shirt,’
“Can’t you just pick one? Then I don’t have to try it on?”
This will be more fun, Magnus.”
Rolling my eyes, I sit up on the bed and remove my shirt.
Magnus, my-my you’re so much more masculine than I even imagined,”
“You’ve imagined me shirtless? I ask, feeling awkward.
Claire crawls up the bed towards me and sits on my lap, pinning me down.
Oh, Boo-boo I’ve imagined you with far less on she says,’ and smashes her lips to mine just as Josie enters with Nina.
Magnus!” Josie yells
In the utter shock and disgust of Claire kissing me, I push her away at the same time I hear Josie angrily yell my name.
Nina and I make eye contact and I can see the hurt in her eyes. She runs off down the corridor without saying a word.
‘What the hell Magnus? Josie says,
Oh, sorry about that, Josie,’ Claire says with a giggle. ‘1 get how gross it can look when your brother is making out with his girlfriend. Next time we will try to be more discreet,’
“Discreet are you serious?’ Josie yells then lets out a frustrated ‘G«,’ and slams my door shut, leaving Claire and me alone,
What the hell Claire?’
What’s wrong Boo-boo?’ she says and tries to cup my face. I lean back, avoiding her touch.
You can’t just kiss me like that.’
‘Why not?”
‘Because you just can’t.’
‘Oh, I see, too soon?’
Yes, too soon Claire, we haven’t even been on a date yet,’
I’m sorry Boo-boo, I’ll hold off until then,”
I’d appreciate that,’
‘Now, are you going to try this shirt on?’
I take the shirt and put it on.
‘Oh, very smooth, now try this one on.’
‘This one is fine, Claire; there, we have an outfit picked. It’s time I take you home,’ ‘So soon?
‘Yeah, I forgot I have an um… assignment to do.’
“Oh, okay then,
On my way out of the Packhouse, I run into Seth.
‘Hey Magnus, where are you off to?’
‘Taking Claire home. She lives near the school.”
I’m about to drive past the school. I can drop her home if you like ‘Oh, could you?’ I say, a little too excited, to Claire’s dismay.
‘Sure,
“Great! I take Claire’s hand and help her in the car and shut the door before she can give me a kiss on the cheek goodbye,’ I had never been so happy to see the back of Seth’s car driving away into the distance. Now to go find Nina. I run back inside and halfway up the staircase; I’m stopped by Josie storming angrily towards me.
‘What is wrong with you, you said you wanted to make things right with Nina. Minutes later, you are making out with Claire! ‘Look, it wasn’t what it looked like, I swear.’ Josie laughs. ‘Are you serious? It wasn’t what it looked like?’
‘Yes, Claire gave me shirts to try on for the stupid party. As soon as I took my shirt off, she climbed onto me and kissed me as you both walked in. I swear I didn’t know she was going to do that. She caught me off guard.’