My Name is Keanne

CORA

I let out a small breath as I stood just behind the pack house, in a small garden I trimmed after washing plates every morning. It was one of the aesthetics of the pack, and the only place I could even remotely let myself cry.

I sat down on the grassy floor, folding my legs under me, barely able to keep the shirt from falling off my bloodied arm. I had to take all the money I had to pay for those plates, and still had some left to pay. That meant I would have no clothes for the coming of age, and also no money till I finished paying. I gave a small sigh as the tears started to trickle down my face, my eyes closing.

"Am I intruding?"

I looked up, my eyes wide, and stood immediately. No one ever came here, so it came as a surprise that there was even anyone around.

He stood tall, way above me, probably a little over six feet three. He looked different, way different. Hair so black it looked almost blue in the sunlight. He had brushed it back into a laid back style, a few strands coming up in front of his forehead, and eyes that toned the darkness in their light blue and green hue. When I looked closely however, his right eye was a dark red, one that even though lightened by the sun, still looked like the color of fresh blood. The left eye was a swirling blue centered around green, and I felt my breath stop in my throat.

I swallowed and took a step back as he walked forward, then slowly removed the jacket he was wearing. His shirt under was sleeveless, and a long tattoo of a burning rose covered his right upper arm.

I swallowed again as he moved further to me, then wrapped the jacket around me. He stood there for longer than he needed to, holding the jacket to close in front of me.

"Thank...thank you," I said, moving away from him.

He removed his hand, then gave a small smile. He had dimples to the left of his cheek and they sunk in as his eyes quickly swept over me.

I was smaller, and his eyes darkened as he let them sweep over my frame, almost as if he was thinking of how I would fit right in his arms.

Probably just my own thoughts, but the way he looked at me...I have never seen something so delightfully impure.

"You belong to this pack, don't you?"

His deep, beautiful voice brought me back to reality, and I nodded, stepping away. I had never seen him before, not even remotely. His voice was low, almost seductive, his eyes even more so.

Suddenly, he sat on the floor where I had been, then stretched his legs. "Then I take it you wouldn't mind me sitting with you."

I swallowed, feeling a sense of calm at his laid back disposition, then immediately sat beside him too, hugging the jacket to myself.

"How...did you find me?"

I watched as he thought about it, and he gave a lazy shrug.

"Probably destiny trying to tell you that you are a bit too beautiful to cry like that."

I burst into a smile, my cheeks reddening and I lowered her head. "Thank you."

He said nothing as he suddenly turned to me, then leaned over me. I moved, my breath hitching, my eyes looking up to his. They swirled like pools I wouldn't mind drowning in, and my heart beat like it was racing against its own self.

I looked down to his lips, my heart clenching. They were a pale pink heavily defined cupid's bow set, and seeing them sent sinful, wicked imaginations to my head. I wondered how it would feel to have them pressed against mine, on my neck, my hands, my...

He brought his hand to my cheeks and slowly wiped the tears away, his fingers tracing the outline of my cheeks, then teasingly down to my lips. He let his thumb hover above it, and he smiled, then moved his hand away.

"Much better," he whispered, his breath teasing my skin.

I gave a small nod as he tucked the strands of my hair behind my ears, then leaned down to whisper in my ear.

"How about... you make sure to return the jacket to me?"

I knew what that meant. He wanted to see me again. I swallowed, blinking rapidly. He stood up, then dusted himself off, tucking his hands in to his pockets.

"You will, won't you?"

I immediately nodded. "What...what is your name?"

He smiled again, taking my breath with him as he did. His scent filled my nose, and I struggled not to close my eyes.

"Keanne. My name is Keanne."