Unraveling Sarah Cresley by Marisa Maichel (best summer books .txt) 📕

"She trusts me. She doesn't completely trust you yet. And she's got mixed feelings for you." It was painful to hear that Sarah felt this way.

"Did I do something?"

"Well, Reese, you are a bit overeager. Cool the engine. As for her feelings, you're not the type of guy she generally goes for. She prefers boys like Caden Cartwright and that foreign exchange student from Japan with the long hair."

"I've got long dark hair!" I cried.

"Except for the white. That's the problem. And your eyes are weird. I admit that even I felt a little weird around you at first."

"Is that why everyone avoids me?" I asked.

"Kind of. Also because you seem to prefer being a loner."

"Well, I admit that's true. I do kind of like being a loner. It's better for everyone if I kept myself at a distance." Father nudged me. Ariella looked at me strangely. Then her grey eyes flickered over to the door.

"Oh my god, it's Damon!" she shout-whispered, ducking her head. I glanced back. Sure enough, there was Damon Sage, and he looked furious.

"There you are!" he said, coming over to our table and roughly grabbing her arm. "You're coming with me!" Father stood up, and so did I. Father discreetly put his hand on my head and pushed me back down.

"Leave her alone," Father said gruffly. Damon opened his mouth, then his nostrils flared. He took in a deep breath, and his eyes widened. "I knew it," he growled. He frowned at me. "I knew there was something weird about you! Have you bitten her yet?"

"I would never bite her!" I snapped. Father placed a warning hand on my shoulder.

"We have no idea what you're talking about," he said calmly. "Leave Ariella alone." Damon glanced from me to Father and back again. Then he left without Ariella, growling under his breath.

"Ari, are you okay?" I asked.

"Yeah," she said. "I'm just shaken up." I looked at Father. He was typing in his cell phone. Seconds later, I got a text message.

Father: Damon is a werewolf.

A werewolf! How did I not see or smell it? I took in a deep breath, and was suddenly hit with a pungent smell mixed with bad cologne and expensive perfume.

Father: He was newly bitten.

We stayed for another hour, finishing our coffee and sandwiches, and then left. Ariella grabbed her purse and went straight to her car. The Beautifuls were still there when we left, of course, talking about the incident with Damon.

I went to my own van. Father went to his Rolls Royce. I nodded at my father, who frowned at being so abruptly left alone.

When I got home, Alexander opened the van door and snatched me up.

"What the hell?" I cried as he threw me over his shoulder. He took me inside the house where he dropped me on the living room floor, causing me to land on my tailbone. Alexander locked the doors and windows all around the house in seconds and came back to me panting. We just stared at each other for a moment. I heard my father try to open the front door, but he couldn't.

"ALEXANDER, DO YOU HAVE REESE? DAMN YOU! LET ME IN! DON'T YOU DARE HURT HIM!"

"SHUT UP, MORDECAI!" Alexander cried out. "I'm not going to hurt you, Reese," he said, turning his attention back to me. I heard an explosion, and realized my father had knocked the front door off. He ran straight to me and picked me up like a baby.

"Shh. It's all right, little one. Daddy's here."

"Mordecai, leave this house immediately. I need a word with the boy."

"Screw you, Alex. This is my house, and you're trespassing. Leave now, and do not come near my son again."

"Reese," Alexander said, "How is Sarah? I have not heard from her."

"I don't know," I admitted. "I think she's fine, though. Is that all you wanted? All this fuss over one question?"

Alexander bared his teeth at me. His incisors started to grow.

"Let him loose, Mordecai," he said.

"No! You will take him away!" Father squeezed me until he nearly broke my ribs again. I squirmed and tried to get away. Father growled and held on more tightly.

"I am going to kill both of you." This caught my attention.

"Wait, what?"

"I was wrong, Reese. You're clearly not my son." He leapt toward us, knocking us over. He rolled on top of me and tried to bite my neck. I kicked him in the chest and he went flying across the room. I ran outside. Father was by my side in seconds.

"Are you all right, Reese?" he asked, checking me over.

"Father, I...I'm sorry, I had no idea..."

"It's not your fault, son."

"MORDECAI!" Alexander knocked my father over and they started pounding each other. I wrapped my arms around Alexander's midsection and tried to pull him off my father. He elbowed me in the face. I heard a loud crack and felt pain in my jaw. And then I felt someone pulling me off of him. Uncle Soren and Grandfather had arrived, and they were breaking up the fight.

Uncle Soren had been the one to pull me off. He held onto me as Grandfather pulled Alexander away from my father. He had Alexander's arms locked.

"Alexander," Father said, getting up, "You are banned from this territory. Do not come near me or Reese Mordecai Emerson again. This includes every part of the city except doctor's offices and hospitals. I know that you still have an agreement with Sarah Harper Cresley, and you may see her as long as she does not ban you from seeing her or what is in her belly. But only if she is not with Reese. This is final and binding."

Alexander let out a furious roar which shook the trees and ground.

"You heard what he said," Grandfather growled. "Leave. Now." Alexander kicked my grandfather in the stomach and took off into the woods. Grandfather growled at him, even though he was long gone.

"Are you all right, Father?" Uncle Soren asked.

"I'm fine. See that Reese is okay. I will check on your brother." My uncle did check me over meticulously. He smelled and felt me all over. I hissed a bit when he touched my ribs.

"Sorry, baby," he said softly. I hissed again. In some ways, being the baby of the family is a good thing. I'm a little more spoiled, I get what I want, I get more protection and love. In other ways, I'm tired of the overprotection.

I stood up straight, only to nearly fall onto my knees. Uncle Soren caught me. He lifted me up, only to be punched by Father, who took me into his arms.

"Mordecai, control yourself!" Grandfather said. Father ignored him and buried his nose in my hair. He began smelling me. He took me into the house and put me into bed.

"Get some rest, little one," he said softly. "I will watch over you."

"Father, what's wrong with Alexander?" I asked.

"He's a selfish, piece of shit, horrible being. There are not enough insults or bad words to describe what he is."

"That's your own opinion, Father."

"No, son, that's fact."

CHAPTER TWELVE - Struggle And Power

I was sure my dead heart would burst out of my chest when Sarah asked me to go to a party with her. I was slightly disappointed when she asked Ariella if she wanted to go as well, but for once, Ariella said that she had other stuff to do. She gave me a wink when she said that.

We were all together in To Bean Or Not To Bean, and the girls were drinking some kind of green juice with little gummy-like chews in the bottom of the drinks. Sarah was cutting down on her coffee for obvious reasons, and Ariella only went along with her because she wanted to try this new juice. My stomach was still upset after all the human food I'd been eating recently, so I ordered nothing except for a glass of water.

"Yeah, my dad used to call me Belle," Sarah said. "Beauty And The Beast was my favorite movie. I can't tell you how many times I wished I was Belle."

"My dad calls me Ariel," Ariella said perkily.

"My dad calls me Reese," I said jokingly. The girls gaped at me for a moment, then broke into grins.

"Very funny, Reese," Sarah said as Ariella giggled at my lame joke. Butterflies attacked my middle as Sarah intoxicated me with her musical laugh. The butterflies went away after I saw Alexander. He was sitting in a tree, watching us. When he noticed me looking at him he looked away jumped down. To my surprise and irritation, he walked into the shop. I overheard him order a regular coffee and he sat beside me.

"Hello, Alexander," Sarah said.

"Hello, girls," he said, studying Ariella. "Reese."

"What are you doing here?" I said beneath human hearing. "My father specifically told you-"

"I don't give a shit what your father says," Alexander said out loud. The girls looked at us curiously.

"I have to go," I said, moving him out of the booth. I left enough money on the table to cover everyone's orders.

~~~~~~~~~~~

When Father saw me, he smiled at first, until I got closer. He flitted off the porch and smelled me all over.

"Alexander," he growled. He grabbed my shoulders. "Tell me the truth, Reese. Did he touch you?"

"No," I said. "I saw him in a tree at first. Then he jumped down and slid beside me in a booth." Father snarled.

"That's still too close," he said. "That's it, I am never letting you go out again!"

"Can I go to a party with Sarah tonight?" He paused and thought about it.

"I drive you both there, and I pick you up. I will stay within hearing distance. Is that a deal?"

"Yes, Father. I will talk to Sarah."

I did talk to Sarah, who said she was fine with that. I took a shower, redressed myself, put on deodorant and brushed my teeth, especially my canines, and even put on a cologne that Ariella had once said that she liked. I considered putting on eyeliner, and eventually decided not to make a fool of myself. It's not that I have a problem with wearing makeup, I just have no experience and would probably screw up. I did, however, study my eyes.

I did not see what everyone else saw. My eyes are yellow. Not ocher, or bronze, or even gold, but yellow. My hair is long, almost to my shoulders at this point, and cut in a sharp style. My bangs cover nearly half my face, covering my eye and my cheekbone. The white tips are quite noticeable, especially with my black hair. If I had inherited Father's golden locks, it would not be as much of a problem. Luckily, my hair is naturally straight, so I have no waves or curls.

I thought about Sarah's curly hair. Her curls were soft and romantic and so incredibly touchable. Her hair was the perfect shade of light brown with occasional caramel flecks. She kept it brushed and tangle-free, which must have been a chore for her. She liked wearing buns and braids, occasionally wearing her beautiful hair down, which was the style I liked best.

I had smelled product in her hair before, but not much. A little bit of hairspray everyday and some mousse occasionally. I was so caught up in thinking about my future wife, I almost did not hear Father calling me and saying it was time to go. I grabbed my wallet and keys and headed downstairs.

Father decided to take a little 1994 Honda Accord that we rarely used. I could have used it, but I chose to buy a Chevrolet Astro instead.

Sarah was waiting on the front porch, with the yellow lab Spunk beside her. When Spunk saw us, he started barking. She held him back as she walked toward the car. Her mother Alicia came out and grabbed the dog's collar. Sarah walked slowly down the stairs and hopped into the back behind Father.

~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as we got there, she thanked