Flora’s P.O.V
“Hey! Looks like I’ll be your babysitter tonight.”
“Yay!” I squealed in delight as I jumped up and down. I had been waiting for this all week! Clay and I would be alone all evening while mom and dad went out to a restaurant and Riley was going on a date of his own once mom and dad left.
“Someone’s excited,” my mom smiled down at me as she ruffled my hair. She was looking so beautiful in her red dress. She never dresses like this; she’s always wearing shirts and pants. She even had her hair down!
“Thank you for looking after Flora.” Mom told Clay before turning to Riley. “And remember what I told you, young man?”
“Treat every woman like your dad treats your mom.” Riley recited the lines like he was in an exam. “I know mom, I’ll behave and have her back at her parent’s before eleven.”
“Good boy.” Dad patted Riley’s shoulder before wrapping an arm around mom’s waist. “You kids have fun. We’ll be on our way now.”
“Bye!” The three of us waved at my parents until their car left the driveway.
“Well,” Riley said to Clay. “I’m off too.”
He ruffled my hair and pinched my cheeks. “Be nice, chubby!”
“I’m not chubby!” I whined at Riley as he got on his bike, before looking up at Clay. “Am I?”
“Of course, not.” Clay gave me a bright smile. “You’re adorable.”
“See? Clay thinks I’m adorable.” I stuck my tongue out at Riley.
“Yeah…adorably chubby!” Riley laughed as he put on his helmet and left.
I sniffled, trying to keep from crying in front of Clay, but I guess he heard my sniffles as he bent down in front of me and put his hands on my shoulders in comfort.
“Heyyy…” He gave me an adorable smile. “You are a beautiful young lady and even Riley wishes he could be this pretty. Don’t cry.”
“You think…I’m beautiful?” I sniffled, wiping at my eyes.
“Of course,” he gave me a small tap on my nose. “No matter what anyone says, I will always think you’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“Thank you.” I smiled at him in happiness. Riley can say whatever he wants! But Clay thinks I’m beautiful! That’s enough for me!
“Now, what do you want to eat?” Clay got up and held out his hand. “Should we order pizza?”
“Yes! I love pizza!”
Clay threw back his head and laughed. “Pizza it is then…with extra pepperoni and cheese!”
*
*
“Come on, Flora.” Riley called from the door. “Come say goodbye or you won’t get to see you again for ten years! Who’re you gonna be mad at then, huh?”
I hid in my room, silently crying as I heard my brother’s voice through the closed door.
I wasn’t just sad because Riley was leaving for his training…but Clay was leaving too. They would both be gone!
But Riley was right…if I didn’t say goodbye now, I won’t see them again for ten years and Lindersay didn’t have phones.
I wiped at my eyes vigorously, getting rid of the tears and then hesitantly turned the knob on the door….only to find Clay standing on the other side.
I looked up at him with wide eyes. He was really tall now and he had just turned seventeen. He didn’t have very big muscles but neither did Riley. At ten, I only reached a bit higher than his waist, so he crouched down in front of me, so we could be eye level.
“There you are.” Clay gave me his gorgeous smile. “Were you really going to let us leave without saying goodbye?”
I shook my head instantly. “No.”
“Good,” he tapped my nose with a finger. “Come now. Everyone is waiting for you.”
“Not just Riley…” I told him quickly, before he got up. “I’ll miss you too.”
“Yeah?” Clay’s smile was gentle and beautiful. “I’m happy to hear that. Next time we see each other, you’ll be a grown woman and you’ll be beautiful. I guess there will be a lot of fight for your attention then.”
“Don’t worry!” I felt myself smile. “I’ll always pay attention to you!”
“Thank you; it’ll be an honor, My Lady.” Clay got up from his crouch and held out his hand. “Let’s go.”
*
*
“You need to work on you footwork, Flora.”
Spoke the man standing in over me in a pair of cargo shorts and a black vest. His copper hair was messy, but he hadn’t even broken a sweat, while I was down on the ground, covered in perspiration and dirt and about ready to murder someone.
“Must be nice having Alpha strength,” I sneered up at him, my exhaustion getting the best of me. “Next time, don’t even dare come to me to get healed. I’d like to see Jessica whoop your sorry ass!”
Clay threw back his head and laughed; the sound throaty and contagious…and it made the corner of my lips tilt up despite my sour mood. But I controlled my emotions before he saw me smile and gave him my meanest glare.
“Someone’s grumpy today.” Clay simply came down on top of me, straddling my hips so I couldn’t escape while he leaned down with his hands on either side of my head. “Was it because of all the valentines’ chocolates I got?”
“Grrr!” I growled low in my throat, remembering the long line outside the Staff room, all women with flower bouquets and chocolates in hand and all of them for Clay. Why did I have to fall for the hottest guy in the pack?
“Don’t be sad.” Clay grinned. “I still have room for your chocolates.”
I decided to tempt the beast. “I gave them to Garrick.”
This time, the growl that came from his throat wasn’t nice or playful. His mood went from teasing to dark in a blink of an eye, enough to give me a whiplash.
“That soldier is dead the day I become Alpha.” Came his gritted out reply.
“You will do no such thing!” It seems like dating the future Alpha had given me a spine as well. “You aren’t the only one allowed to be jealous and growly.”
Once again, the change in Clay’s expression was so sudden, I found myself wondering if he had been joking before.
“You were jealous?” He blinked at me, eyes wide in surprise.
“Don’t change the subject.” I narrowed my eyes at him, bringing my hands up to his chest to push him back. He didn’t budge an inch.
“You were jealous.” This time, a wide grin spread on his face and I found it increasingly difficult to stay mad at him.
“So were you.” I countered.
“I’m the jealous type, remember?” Clay raised his eyebrows at me. “I get growly the instant another wolf looks at my girl.”
“Then I guess you’re rubbing off on me.” I smirked.
“Yeah?” Clay smirked back. “That actually sounds pretty good right now…I want to rub off on you more.”
“Clay!” I felt my face heat up. “I’m dirty!”
“You know I like it dirty.” With that, he claimed my lips.
*
*
*
I woke up to the startling bright rays of the sun and the chirping of birds outside my window. I opened my eyes to find myself lying on the floor, where I had been standing last night and my entire body felt sore.
Groggily, I got up from the floor, using my hands to steady myself when I felt my head spinning. By now I had a hunch that the reason for my headaches and disorientation were a result of my memories coming back little by little. And last night…I hit a milestone.
I remember how I had always been fond of Clay since I was young…and how I was his lover when I was older.
Not only was that a valuable memory…it told me one very important details that I had been missing. A detail that might actually be connected to the reason why I lost my memories in the first place.
Clay wasn’t my mate.