You know what happiness is?
It’s waking up in the middle of the night for no reason, shifting under the blankets and feeling the heat of the person next to you. It’s turning around to see them in their most peaceful, innocent , and vulnerable state. They breathe as though the weight of the world lays on anyone’s shoulder but their own. You smile, kiss their face in the most gentle manner so as not to wake them. You turn back around and an involuntary grin forms on your own face. You feel an arm wrap around you waist, and know it doesn’t get any better than this.
That’s what happiness is to me.1
If I could have just one wish, I would wish to wake up everyday, to the sound of his breath against my neck, the warmth of his lips on my cheek, the touch of his fingers on my skin and the feel of his heart beating with mine. Knowing that I could never find that feeling with anyone else.
I lifted a finger tracing the details of his face. His eyes. His nose. His lips.His eyes slowly fluttered open and her threw me a lazy smile.
“Good morning” I whispered smiling up at him. He leant down to peck my lips before pulling me against him, tucking my face in his shoulder. My breathe probably stunk.
“I have school” I tried to get out of his grip but as always it was futile.
“Stay” was all he said. Before I could say anything else the door flew open. Leopold growled jumping on top of me, using the sheet to cover our naked bodies.
“Oh shit. . .I didn’-”
“Just leave, Jerry. I’ll be out in a few” I said to a stuttering Jerry. He nodded running out again. Leopold still was frozen on top of glaring at the door.
“Leopold, he’s gone” he ignored me resting his head in my neck.
“I’m going to take a shower” I managed to push Leopold off before wrapping the sheets around my body. I ran to the bathroom ignoring Leopold’s calls.
“No Leopold. If we shower together, I’ll be missing school.” I replied for the umpteenth time. Leopold just grunted before walking off.
*****
“So, how was it?” Alexis asked giving me the same look, everyone was throwing at me. Since I stepped out of the pack house everyone had been staring at me differently.
“How was what?” I gathered my books in my bag before heading out of the classroom.
“The hanky panky”
“What?” I choked.
“How the hell do you know?” my scent had already changed.
“You could have been a little quieter” Jerry caught up to us, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
“Well, if you knew why did you barge in this morning?” I pushed him away blushing.
“I thought, you would have been awake. I thought wrong” he laughed. The whole school knew – scratch that – the entire pack knew Leopold and I did the deed last night. Kill me now.
“Alright. Stop teasing her. It’s your birthday in two days. You’re finally going to be turning eighteen. What are you going to do?” Jerry asked as we sat down at a table.
“I don’t know” I rubbed my eyes resting my head on the table. Doing what I did with Leopold last night wasn’t the wisest idea since my energy was already being used up. But I still had no regrets.
“What do you mean ‘you don’t know?’, you’re turning eighteen. It has to be a blast.” Alexis added.
“Guys, I think I’m going to head home. I’m not up to this.” I sighed truly starting to feel weak. They both looked at me for a second before nodding. I grabbed my belongings before exiting the building.
I got to the pack house around twenty minutes later and the first person to greet me was my dad.
“Hi, dad” I kissed his cheek.
“You were right.” He grabbed hold of my hand taking me to Leopold’s office. Leopold and Isaac were already present with a few warriors. Leopold immediately pulled me to his side.
“What’s going on?” I looked around at everyone but no-one answered.
“The car your dad was supposed to travel back in. It blew up.” Isaac finally spoke up.
“What do you mean, blew up?”
“I mean, someone planted a bomb in it. As soon as it left the pack grounds, it blasted.” I stood silent for a minute processing all of it. Am I bad person, to be happy that it wasn’t my dad but he other man inside the car. I’m not happy he died. I’m just happy to have my dad standing in front of me right now. I go out of Leopold’s hold and walked right into my dad’s open arms.
“Why would someone want to kill you?” I asked, trying to understanding the motive behind the attack.
“You’re not even from this pack” Isaac added. Leopold growled and all the warriors left.
“It’s because, it would to leave Elizabeth vulnerable” Leopold spoke up.
“They want her to be weak. Killing her dad will destroy her. That’s when they would attack.” Isaac puzzled together. I’m putting everyone in so much danger.
“I’m just glad you’re okay.” I hugged my dad again. He kissed my forehead before leaving with Isaac following behind.
“Why are you not in school?” Leopold wrapped his arms around my waist.
“I couldn’t be bothered with it.” I admitted turning around in his arms to face him.
“I love you” he sighed pulling me closer.
“Why?” I smiled.
“It’s not because you make me happy. It’s not because you make a feel special and it’s not because you’re the sweetest person ever.” He said after a while.
“It’s because I just love you. I don’t need any reasons.” He bent down capturing my lips.
“You should really talk more often. You’re very good with words.” I laughed.
“Only with you.” he admitted.
“Why do you love me?” He asked as we moved to the couch.
“I can’t say anything because my words will fall short. All that I will say though is that you have no idea how fast my heart races when I see you.” I admitted. I slid off his lap standing up.
“I’m going to go take a nap.” I informed Leopold before walking off towards our bedroom. Just before I entered the isolated wing, a sharp pain exploded in my head. Clutching the back of my head I tried to turn around but instead started to lose vision. But I did see something.
Blood.