Meeting the Werewolf Read online

  Meeting the Werewolf

  A Young Adult Paranormal Romance Story

  by Gabby Stone

  all rights reserved copyright 2012 by Northern Starlight Young Adult Press

  cover by Lex Thorne based in part on an image by Juan José González Vega

  Once Emily laid eyes on him, she could not stop staring. He was dark and tall, with messy curly black hair. She could not get a good look at his eyes, it would be too obvious. Obvious that she was staring at him, obvious that she was checking him out. What she could see clearly, was his truly bulky physique. The solid muscles in his arms were trying to burst through his t-shirt and she could just make out his perfect, strong looking chest. Emily blushed and looked away. Something told her inside that she had to know him, but she couldn’t just march over to him boldly. Or could she?Emily finished her noodles and made an excuse to leave the table.

  “I need to go to the bathroom.” she pointed to her tummy.

  “Are you OK sweetie?” said her mother.

  “Yes, I think I just need a breather, I’ve eaten too much.” she replied.

  She made her way through the many small, dark wood tables, of the Asian restaurant. This was a family regular, they came here often for an early dinner. She dodged the low, pale coloured, lamp shades, as she meandered her way through. She admired the crimson walls with the metallic gold flower designs, someone must have painted this by hand, she thought. Eventually she got to the bathrooms, she hovered around outside for a moment. Surely he would have to make a trip here eventually. She pretended to hunt around in her bag for something, stalling for time. He did not come. She continued to hunt through her handbag. Nothing. She felt frustrated, he had entered the restaurant for dinner not long after her family had. Wouldn’t he need to go to the bathroom? Maybe she should just go directly to him and give him her card.

  “Emily? Are you OK?”

  Emily’s mother had caught up with her, at the bathroom area.

  “Yes mother, I won’t be long.” said Emily.

  “We will go and collect the car. Meet you outside.” replied her mother.

  Emily then made her way into the bathroom.

  Dam it. How can I approach him? She thought. Bump into me dam it.

  She arranged her long red curls around her shoulders and hurriedly moved out of the toilet. Maybe she could give him a long stare and get his attention. She wondered why she was obsessing about this person she had never met. She knew it was because he was …. Here he was. She was staring directly at him and was completely transfixed.

  “Hi.” she said.

  “Hello.” he replied.

  His eyes moved around her face, looking at it in detail. First her dark red hair, that curled around her heart shaped face. He smiled as her looked into her pale blue eyes, taking in her English rose skin. He liked her rosy, red cheeks and her cute, snub nose.

  “I’m sorry, I’m …..”

  “I know.” he said. “I feel the same.”

  They were both transfixed.

  “Emily we're leaving.” said her mother.

  “I’ve had to get out of the car and come back for you. Are you OK?” she continued.

  “Yes mother I’m coming, sorry.” said Emily.

  She pulled out a card from her bag and stared up at him.

  “Take this, it’s my card.” she said.

  She disappeared out of the restaurant, leaving him staring at her card. It read;

  “Emily Stone. Artist Extraordinaire.”

  It had her phone number and website address. He smiled and slipped the card in his pocket.

  Emily got home and continued to think about him. She knew she had been quite forward, but then, she wasn’t shy at all. She surprised herself because she didn’t have much experience with boys and would probably not approach someone like she did tonight. Oh well, he has my card. Our fate is in his hands. She thought.

  ***

  Jared Hoyer had just turned eighteen years old and was just getting ready to start his degree in psychology. His parents died when he was young and he had been brought up by his grandfather. He made his way into the cottage and moved up the stairs to his bedroom. The cottage was quite small, two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. Kitchen, toilet and lounge room downstairs. He removed his thin jacket and threw it on the bed. He switched his computer on and made his way downstairs to see his grandfather.

  “Jared?” his grandfather was calling him.

  “I’m here, I’m here.” said Jared.

  He didn’t call his grandfather, “Grandfather”. He called him Joe. Joe was a young grandfather at only fifty three years old. To Jared, he was like a father more than anything. Their relationship was extremely close, but relaxed. Joe owned a night club and would soon be off to open up. Jared helped out sometimes, now that he was eighteen. He would glass collect and help behind the bar to earn extra money.

  “Jared did you put petrol in the car son?” said Joe.

  “Yep, all done.” said Jared.

  “How was the dinner?” said Joe.

  “Yeah cool, no dramas. Same, same.” replied Jared.

  “Did you talk to them about University?” said Joe.

  “Yes, it’s all cool. I’ve been given permission. I’ve still got four months until I go Joe.” said Jared.

  “I know son, I just want to make sure they’re OK with it, that’s all.” said Joe.

  Jared appreciated it, but he wanted something else. He wanted to know why in the world his mind was filled with images of the girl at the restaurant. He’d been warned that one day his mate would fill his thoughts long before he knew her, but he was certain she was no wolf. He would have smelled it. Was it possible he would be linked to a girl not of the breed? It was making his head swim, and he wasn’t ready to talk to his grandfather. It was strange. The prospect of being linked to anyone for a lifetime was scary enough. The thought of being married to another monster was impossible!

  It wasn’t the first time that Jared cursed his existence and the two forces within him that made his life a constant and unending battle for dominion. It wasn’t the first time he wished someone would end his life with his next transformation, to kill the wolf without ever knowing Jared lived within it. To be linked forever to another wolf… This girl, though, this “Artist Extraordinaire”, this was truly frightening. If he loved her, and she loved him, and she had no power to compete with his…his monster, wouldn’t it end in tragedy and blood? How could he live with her death and the knowledge of his part in her destruction.

  ***

  Emily kicked off her lilac pumps and stood in front of the mirror. She was very feminine, unlike a lot of the other girls at school. They were always in Jeans and boots and didn’t seem to make much effort with themselves. Emily always made an effort. As an artist, she felt compelled to feed her talent into her appearance too. She grabbed a hair band and coiled her hair into a loose bun. She admired her blue flowery dress and her new jade necklace. Her face was pale and her lips small. She had not long applied a subtle shade of pale pink gloss and wondered if he had noticed. The guy she met earlier. She wondered if he would call her, or contact her.

  She had not planned anything with her friends this weekend; she had the family dinner tonight and was planning to spend tomorrow working on some new designs. Emily had her own website which she was proud of. She had used some of her designs to produce cards and bookmarks, which she sold on her site.

  “Emily it’s starting. Come on,” her father shouted.

  “I’m coming,” she replied.

  Friday night was normally fun; they all watched the late night chat show together and made banana splits or some kind of other dessert. Emily’s sister was out with friends. She was two years older an
d at eighteen, she was enjoying her freedom as a fully fledged adult. Emily did feel that she was outgrowing the banana splits, but did not have the heart to tell her parents.

  Emily moved to the chair next to the sofa and sat down. Her parents were on the sofa together. She looked around the room. She knew she was lucky. She lived in a beautiful five bedroomed art deco style house. She had a large double bedroom of her own and a nice family to go with it. What more could a girl want? Emily loved her life but desperately wanted to discover love, she had seen it on the TV and read it in novels. She now wanted to experience it for herself. Her thoughts were disturbed by a message on her phone. Her heart thumped as she opened the message.

  “Emily you know the rules.” said her father.

  “I need to check this dad.” she said.

  “In exactly one hour you can.” he said holding out his hand.

  She handed him her phone and sighed deeply. It could have been him. He could have sent her the message. Now she would have to wait an hour to see.

  ***

  Jared put his feet up and turned on the TV. He placed his large hands at the back of his head to stretch out and relax.

  “What do you think you’re doing son?” said Joe.

  “Watching the TV.” replied Jared.

  “You told me you would work tonight.” said Joe.

  Jared sat up and nodded. He had agreed the week before, that he would help out at the night club this coming Friday. He did not make a fuss, he went straight to his room to get the company issue black shirt. He put it on and jumped the stairs two at a time. Joe affectionately rubbed the back of Jared’s head.

  “You will get forty quid for tonight son. Maybe you can wine and dine one of your admirers with the money?” Joe joked.

  Jared looked up at Joe and laughed. He knew that he was popular with the barmaids and club regulars, but they just didn’t interest him. The person that did however, was just at the other end of the phone. Jared smiled to himself, she had aroused something within him and he found himself wanting to know more about her.

  ***

  Emily anxiously collected her phone from her father and headed out of the lounge room.

  “Goodnight Em.” her parents said in unison.

  “Goodnight mum, goodnight dad.” she said.

  She quickly ran up the stairs and moved into her bedroom. Once on her bed she opened the inbox, her throat was completely dry and her hand was shaking. She threw the phone down on the bed in disappointment. A text from her best friend Megan. Emily felt deflated.

  Hello Em visiting my grandparents this weekend. Shopping next weekend?

  Her friend Megan had been on the scene since secondary school. A demanding young lady, but a good friend. Fortunately Emily was quite a tough cookie and kept Megan in line. She was glad to be home for the weekend. She could do some of her art work. Next weekend would be perfect. She replied to Megan’s text.

  1130 market clock next Saturday. Luv u xxxx

  She began to fantasize about this guy she had given her card to. He was very sexy. Not only was he tall and strong, he also had great hair. There had also been something about him that she could not fathom, she had been drawn to him and felt incredibly attracted to him. She was going out of her mind with desperation. Would she see him again? Just then her phone rang.

  “Hello.” she whispered.

  “Emily?” The voice said.

  There was a lot of noise in the background, it sounded like he was in a bar.

  “Yes it’s Emily.” she replied.

  “Hi, I’m Jared. We met this evening at the restaurant.”

  Emily’s heart began to race. It was him. Her mouth was completely dry.

  “Jared .... Hi.”

  MEETING THE WEREWOLF is the first chapter of the exciting new series EMILY AND THE WOLF from Northern Starlight Young Adult Press. It’s volume one of book one, JARED’S QUEST. Can an average teen girl help a young werewolf gain control of the demon within him? And if he can’t keep his animal under control, how can either of them be safe? And why are there so many strange things happening that make Emily think plenty of people would rather he never got a handle on his condition? Northern Starlight Young Adult Press presents the finest in young adult fiction.

 

 

  Gabby Stone, Meeting the Werewolf

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