Kayla walked into Paul's pack house, the Shadow Hunters, worriedly. Paul was the son of the alpha and her boyfriend since high school. But, Kayla wasn't taking him very serious like she used to in high school and that was since she discovered that on the mating party seven years ago, they were not mated and till now, they weren't.
Kayla didn't want to get too attached to him if eventually in the next mating season, he wasn't her mate.
In honest words, she was tired of this life cycle of hers. Each mating season that came, she never gets a mate. Not Paul, not anyone.
"Baby," his voice purred into her eyes and she looked up to see him walking down the stairs.
She sighed. The last time she was here, they got into a pretty argument that made her leave and right now, she couldn't even remember what, but, she wss still mad at him. Perhaps she remembered, but didn't want to think of it.
"What's the emergency. Why did you call me out of the blue? I was at the supermarket and I had to rush down here," she said, eyeing him from head to toe. He didn't look like someone who was in pains like he had sounded on the phone.
"Slow down with the questions, love," he replied as he got closer to her and kissed her forehead.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Is that the way to respond to your love's greetings?" He narrowed his eyes at her.
"Since you have nothing to say, I might as well be leaving," she replied stubbornly, turning away.
"Come on now," he said, pulling her back and this time around, into his arms.
She struggled in his arms but he held her firmly. "I'm sorry about last time. Ish, I can't even recall what happened. You just got upset and left. You wouldn't even take my calls until today," his expression softened as he spoke.
"So, you faked being hurt to have me rushing down here?"
He grinned. "It worked, didn't it?"
"Damn you crazy man," she fisted her knuckles on his chest.
He chuckled. "You're rubbing off on me, my psycho queen,"
At that word, she remembered what had prompted her to leave his pack the last time. He had called her a psycho.
"That was what you called me the last time, without the queen though. Call me that again and I'm walking out of here," she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Jeez, woman. It was a harmless joke,"
Kayla turned away once more and he held her back. "I'm sorry, Kay," he apologized.
She turned to look at him with a smile. "It's okay. So, tell me, why did you really call me here?" She asked.
He looked at her outfit. "I'm not sure you're really dressed for the occasion,"
She was confused. "What occasion?" She asked.
He grinned sheepishly. "You'll see,"
~~~~
Amy stretched lazily on the couch. She looked at the clock on the wall and the time was Nine Pm and Kayla wasn't back yet.
Although, she didn't worry much because Kayla texted and had said she was going to see Paul, something about him being ill.
As soon as she got the text immediately after her talk with Cole's father, she had left for the supermarket to pick up the groceries Kayla bought. She wondered if Kayla was spending the night there. She picked up her phone and dropped a text.
"Mom?" Tris called, walking into the living room.
She dropped her phone. "Yes, baby. Do you need anything?" She asked.
"I can't fall asleep," he said.
"Oh, come here," she tapped on the empty space beside her and Tris walked over and sat close to her. She held him. "Would you like to watch TV with me?" She asked him.
"Uh-huh," he nodded.
"With popcorn included?" She asked.
He looked at her as he broke into a smile. "That would be amazing,"
"Give me a minute," she smiled back as she let go of him. She hastened into the kitchen and grabbed some refrigerated bowl of popcorn and headed back to the living room.
Together, she and Tris ate some popcorn and watched TV.
"Mom, is everything fine between you and dad now?" Tris suddenly asked.
Amy tried not to choke on her popcorn. "Um, yeah. Everything is. Why would you ask that?"
"The other day, mom, it didn't look like you wanted to see daddy here,"
Amy inhaled. This wasn't what she wanted. She didn't want her child growing up in an environment whereby the parents were at each other's throat. She didn't want her child witnessing the arguments and fights.
"That's not it, Tris. I really can't explain anything to you right now, but I promise, once you're grown, you'll understand everything,"
Tris sighed and dropped his shoulders. "Okay,"
She pulled him into her arms, stroking him while her mind wandered.
Soon, Tris fell asleep and Amy took him to his room. Just as she lay him to bed and walked out of his room, Kayla walked in through the front door.
"Hey, bestie!" Kayla said excitedly.
Amy was surprised to see her. "Kayla, I thought you wouldn't come back tonight. I sent you a text, did you..." She started to say, but stopped when she noticed how elegantly her best friend was dressed and how she glowed. She wore a red short gown hitting above her knee and her hair was curled. Amy couldn't remember when last she saw Kayla like this. "Damn girl, you look stunning. What brought about this change. Spill it,"
Kayla giggled as she stretched her hand towards Amy. "Check it out," she said, blushing and Amy wondered what it was until she noticed the solitaire ring sitting pretty on Kayla's middle finger.
She gasped in excitement. "No way," she said and broke into smiles. "You've got to be kidding me," she was still in awe. Didn't Kayla say she wasn't serious with Paul?
"No, Amy. I'm not. Paul popped the question!" Kayla replied in happiness as she flaunt her engagement ring.