The Legacy of Kilkenny (29 page)

PRU

I rolled over wide awake; I’d had my best night of sleep in months.
 
Prom night!
I think to myself.
 
I can’t believe how giddy I feel.
 

I smelled Oakley outside my door.
 
“Come in Oak, the door is open.”

“Hey, you slept in today.
 
It’s already nine.
 
Rise and shine sunshine!”
 
He announces.

I throw myself back on the bed and pull my pillow over my head, peeking out I said; “What has you in such high spirits?”

“Nothing really, I’m just in a good mood.
 
Don’t bother dressing, let’s go run.”
 
He pulled the blanket off of me, I wiggle to pull my t-shirt down to cover my butt.

I jumped up and tried pushing him back onto my bed so I could get a head start out the door.
 
He was too fast though, he held me back as he ran out of the room.
 
Both of us were laughing all the way to the woods.
 
It wasn’t a bad trade off, I got to watch him take off his clothes and shift.
 
I loved his back muscles and the way they rippled as he took off his shirt.
 
I was going to have heart failure on prom day if I didn’t focus on shifting.

We ran for an hour, chasing a few rabbits and squirrels into the trees.
 
I don’t enjoy squirrel meat but rabbit is pretty tasty.
 
Oakley caught the first rabbit and flung it over to me, offering for me to eat first.
 
I hunkered down on the rabbit and enjoyed my snack.
 
It was only a minute or two before he caught another one and sat next to me enjoying his tasty morsel.
 
Once he was finished he started licking the blood off my muzzle, I closed my eyes and imagined us in human form, making out.
 
It isn’t as sexy thinking about licking blood off the face of a human, but it was a little sexy.
 
We groomed each other, and then we went to find a perfect spot in the sun for a nap.
 

I woke up realizing I had shifted back in my sleep but what caught me off guard was he was next to me with his head resting on his hand propped up on his side.
 
He was just staring at me.
 
I felt tingles in places I didn’t know tingled.

“You’re simply beautiful Pru.”
 
His voice was slightly husky as he said it to me.
 
He put his arm around me and pulled me closer to him.

My heart really felt like it was going to jump out of my chest.
 
“What are we doing Oak?”

“It’s okay Pru.
 
We won’t do anything you’re not comfortable with.
 
I just want to be closer to you; I want to feel your warmth.
 
You have to know that I like you, and not in a brotherly way.”
 
I felt myself flushing as he said the words I’d been dreaming of.
 
“You’re the most important person in my life; I don’t want that to change. You’re so beautiful, like when the stars light up the night sky after a long day.
 
Protecting you is easy, well most of the time.
 
But seriously, I want to be that for you too.”
 
He pulled me even closer, to the point that we were skin to skin.
 

I could hear my heart beating in my ears as he was talking.
 
I exhaled as silently as I could, I must have been holding my breath for a while.
 
“I had no idea that you ever thought of me other than as an assignment.
  
These last few months have made me like you even more.
 
I thought you like Josie.”
 
I blurted out.

“Josie is just a friend.
 
I’ve just been focusing on protecting you and Abe but I’m afraid if I don’t let you know now how I feel, you’ll run off with someone else.”
 
He stroked my hair and then he pulled my chin so our lips met ever so slightly.
 
His mouth was gentle at first, and then his hunger and my hunger for that closeness started taking over.
 
His hands in my hair and my hands feeling his back muscles, everything felt right and I wanted him right now.
 
I was going to die a happy woman, a real woman.
 

He pulled back from me.
 
“Pru, I’d like nothing more than take this to the next level, but we can’t right now.
 
Trust me, this isn’t easy for me to say no, but right now we can’t.
 
We are no good at protecting Abe if we are in a relationship.
 
I can’t do this behind your dad’s back either.
 
Once I can talk to him and make sure he is okay with us, we can be together.”
 
He pulled me in for another kiss.
 
“Come on, let’s shift and run, it will help cool you off. Trust me, I run a lot.”

Did he just say I turn him on?
 
It wasn’t like I didn’t notice he was turned on right now, but I didn’t know there had been other times.
 
AWESOME, what a fabulous day today was turning out to be.
 
“Okay, but don’t make me wait forever.”
 
My brain was scrambling for oxygen, my heart melted, I knew he was my forever.

The rest of the day went pretty fast, between hair and nail appointments and a fresh coat of spray tan.
 
Allie went with me, bossing around the stylist telling him exactly how my hair had to be.
 
The chemical smells inside the salon were making a little woozy.
 
I’d put a dab of vanilla inside my nostril before I left the house, my mom said that is a little trick she does before she goes into a salon to over-ride the hairspray and nail polish smell.
 
The vanilla was wearing off and Allie was wearing me out, but nothing was going to ruin today, not after the morning I shared with Oakley.
 
I sat under the hair dryer contraption and reveled in the memory of his lips on mine.
 

I dropped her off at her parents’ house as I headed home to get ready for tonight.
 
I parked my car on the extra parking pad so the limo would have plenty of room to pull in.
 
I ran inside the house with an excitement I didn’t expect.
 
I put on my dress, turning back and forth in front of my mom’s full length mirror.
 
I admired the crystals on my strappy heels showing off my French manicured toes.
 
I felt like a little girl playing dress up in a fairy princess dress.
 
I’d made the decision that tonight was just going to be a night full of fun and laughs - both Abel and I needed that.
 
I came down the stairs and was faced with fifteen gawking men, a mother in tears and a beaming father.
 
I savored the moment, up until the guys had to be wolves and start howling and whistling.

“Boys, you’re just jealous you aren’t taking this to prom.”
 
I twirled around so they could see all of my dress.
 

“Pictures, I want pictures of you coming down the stairs.”
 
Mom said.

“I’ve already come down the stairs.”
 
I whined.

“Get back on them, you look so beautiful.”
 
She had me pose coming down the stairs, in all of the most unnatural poses, but I was aiming to please.
 
The guys were all cat calling and dancing around together like a bunch of jack asses, but they’re all my favorite jack asses.
 
“I want us all to go outside and get pictures of everyone with our beautiful Pru.
 
Where’s Oakley?
 
Oakley! We’re going outside for pictures.”
 
Mom started shooing the guys outside.

I turned around and Oakley was coming down the stairs dressed in a black tuxedo and one simple red rose on his lapel.
 
I’d never seen him dressed in a tux and it was indeed a moment I’ll never forget, his eyes were full of mischief.

“Wow, why are you so dressed up?” I asked.
 
He was looking very manly all dressed up. The picture in my mind was filed so I’d never forget how he looked on prom night.

“You look stunning Pru. I’m at a loss for words.
 
Just stunning.”
 
He walked up to me taking my hand and spun me around.

There went the tingles again.
 
My body came alive just by the sound of his voice.
 
“Thank you.
 
Are you going with us?
 
No one said anything to me about it.”

“Your dad thought it’d be a good idea if I chaperoned the dance.
 
I guess they call the parents and ask for a chaperone to make sure everyone is safe.
 
He thought I’d be perfect for the job.
 
I didn’t say anything because I wanted you to be surprised.”
 
He came up next to me and whispered. “You take my breath away.”

I shivered.
 
“Hey, everyone just went outside for pictures, come on.
 
I hope we get a chance to dance tonight.”
 
I grabbed his hand and pulled him out the front door with me.

Everyone had their cameras out simultaneously taking pictures.
 
My dad announced he wanted a picture with me and mom.
 
The three of us stood in front of my mom’s prized rose garden with Oakley snapping our picture.
  
After what seemed hours, we were finally ready to go.
 
Oak was riding with me to Abe’s house, I def wasn’t complaining about some alone time with the hottest werewolf ever.
  
The limo was tricked out with neon lights and a mini disco ball, it was pretty cheesy but fun for the event.
 
I got a whiff of the limo driver and realized he was one of us.
 
Oakley told me that he’s a driver for one of the Dallas Packs. They bought the Hummer so the Pack can all ride together.
 
Not a bad idea.
 

ABEL

“Mom, stop.
 
I’m fine.
 
The tie is straight, you’re going to strangle me if you wiggle it any tighter.
 
The stupid collar is so sharp I just might get cut.”
 
I fussed at my mom.
 
Allie and dad are across the room snickering at me behind mom’s back, I just love my family.
 
Mom tells Allie and I to stand in front of the fireplace for pictures.
 
I will be satisfied if we don’t take any, but Allie kept calling me an ass. Funny coming from her.
 
Dad told me to meet him on the back patio.
  
I walk through the French doors from our family room onto the back porch.
 
I noticed the cotton wood trees shedding making it look like a steady slow snow is falling from the sky.
 
I tune in to what my dad is saying and realize he is telling me about safe sex.
 
 
I can’t believe he is actually lecturing me about condoms which may just be the most awkward moment I have ever had with my dad.
 
I had to hear all about ‘back in the day’ and how he knows what happens on prom night…he seemed to have some great memories he wanted to reminisce about.
 
After he is done walking down memory lane, he ends up giving me six condoms! I guess he wants me to give them to all the guys thinking their dads probably aren’t cool like him.
 
He hands me two hundred dollars to pay for dinner.
 
I should take the money for making me sit through his story.
 
I know I’m a wolf and all, but I don’t expect to eat a couple of hundred dollars worth of food.
 
He and I went back and forth about the money, I tell him I have some money saved up just for prom so everything is good.
 
He insists and I finally accept.

I hear the limo pull into the driveway, turned to my mom and say “Just relax, don’t smother Pru okay?”

I’ve never been in a limo before; I’ve never even seen one up close.
 
Well there was that one at a funeral we went
to
for one of the neighbors and I don’t think it really counts.
  
All I see is a high heeled shoe and a long leg, a slit on her dress to…oh I don’t even want to think how high up that slit is.
 
Her skin is all shiny, her red hair looks like satin the way it sparkles in the evening sun, and I think about how beautiful she is.
 
No sooner do I think that thought and I see another shoe, it is black and attached to a pair of trousers, which happens to be attached to Oakley, damn.