It’s Funny How Love Starts (IFHLS Book 1)

Alexia’s POV

When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was my sore neck. I rubbed it, hoping the feeling would pass but instead I felt a bite mark.

Right, he had marked me.

Looking at the empty space beside me, I fought the feeling of loneliness. Lucas had already taken the advantage of starting the day early and that had left me sad and well, lonely. I was crazy to want him near. Last night had supported my thoughts. He didn’t love me yet but then again, I didn’t even know if I loved him back. I definitely liked him but I still didn’t understand the true meaning of what love was.

Love was something new.

The guys that I’ve gone out with soon turned into jerks and in the end I was the broken hearted one and each breakup my heart have been on a defensive stand which was why it was hard letting Lucas in. I knew he meant well but I couldn’t let myself get any hurt because that’s what all the guys did.

They were nice to me and easily earned my trust but as soon as I gave in, they would become jerks. It was only Zane who helped me through all the mess I put myself into. Zane was always on the protective side whenever guys approached me which was understandable considering how much trouble I caused myself and even if Lucas was our Alpha, it didn’t stop him from protecting me.

A knock made me snap my head up and I hesitantly let the person in, hoping it wasn’t Lucas since I needed to stop what I thought was my obsession towards him. I can be independent if I wanted to. Thankfully it was only Cynthia who came in.

“Miss Alexia, I have orders from Alpha Slade to aid you for tonight’s party.” It was only morning. Did he really expect me to get ready all day? Hell, no.

“I won’t be needing your help until evening so I’ll be sure to call you up then,” I said politely, hoping it was a good enough answer for her to leave. It wasn’t that I didn’t like her, I just needed some time to myself before slipping into the responsibility of Alpha Female.

“Of course Miss Alexia,” she bowed and excused herself out.

“Wait,” I called out and she turned.

“Yes?” she asked patiently. She looked like she would do anything at my command and I felt how Lucas would feel around people who he ordered around.

“Did Travis leave yet?” I asked.

“He left on the break of dawn I believe,” she said and I thanked her. She bowed and left.

Once she was gone, I quickly went through my shopping bag of new clothes and pulled out a random shirt. I ran out of the room and went straight to Zane’s room, hoping he was there. When I knocked, there was no answer so I let myself in.

A bump underneath the covers told me he was still in bed. I smiled at myself as I walked over to his side. He was sleeping so peacefully that I almost felt guilty for what I was about to do next. I stood back, hesitant at first but carried out my plan and jumped on his bed, landing on his back.

He jerked awake in surprise but our eyes met and he grinned devilishly. “You shouldn’t have done that,” he said haughtily and attacked me with his famous bear hugs, crushing me in the process.

“Argh, Zane,” I complained but I couldn’t help laughing. It was as if everything was back to normal.

Zane suddenly stopped and sniffed me. “You’re…marked,” he growled, letting me go.

“I…Uh, yeah,” I said awkwardly and was hurt on how he brushed me off as if I carried a disease.

“You’re all grown up,” he sighed.

“What does that mean?” I snapped. I hadn’t mean to be snappy but I didn’t want another thing to worry about. When I was with Zane, I felt as if everything was OK and normal but now it would be definitely different.

“Nothing, nothing. So what brings you here?” he asked, getting up from bed. It was now getting uncomfortable seeing him half naked. It used to be fine and we’d joke around about how he has abs when he didn’t even work out much but now, it felt as if I was somehow cheating on Lucas. That was crazy, I told myself, giving myself a mental slap to wake me up. He grabbed a shirt from the shopping bag I had given him and put it on.

“I was asking if you saw Travis leave but seeing how you were sleeping, I guess you missed him too,” I said, getting up from his bed.

“Actually, I saw him go. It was so early so I figured I should sleep again,” he said pulling the shirt over his head. “Where’s Lucas?”

“I don’t know. I just woke up and he wasn’t around,” I said. “Want to hang out?” I asked, hoping we could fix our relationship.

“I…yeah, sure,” he hesitated.                                                                                                                               

I frowned. “I mean if you don’t want then we don’t-”

“Hey, of course I want to hang with my little sis,” he grinned, messing with my hair like he used to but it didn’t seem to have the same effect although I tried to make the best of it.

“What should we do?” I asked him.

“Let’s go catch a movie,” he smiled, taking my hand, dragging me out of the house. Lucas and Jace weren’t home so it was easier to sneak out without being noticed, even by Cynthia who was busy for the party.

“So, how do we get to the movie theater when we don’t even have a car,” I realized when we were in the driving lot.

“You can change now can’t you?” he said both curious and interested. There were no more cold shoulders about me being marked and I was glad of his acceptance.

“I don’t know how,” I said honestly. How on earth do you change into a wolf? I definitely wanted to know. “You teach me.”

“Well, usually your mate is supposed to be there for you during the first step but for now, why don’t you get ride my back?” he suggested. I was mumbling about how we could walk but he began to take off his clothes in front of me.

“Ah, don’t strip in front of me,” I cried out, shielding my eyes before he took off his boxers. Suddenly, soft fur brushed my hand, tickling it. I opened my eyes to find a large wolf with midnight black fur that glowed darkly. Zane’s wolf.

Climb on my back.

“What?” I shouted out loud, particularly to no one. I had no idea where the voice had come from.

You idiot. Get on my back.

“Zane?” I realized.

Yes, you Einstein. He rolled his wolf eyes at me.

I flinched. “How can you do that?” I never knew that werewolves were able to connect but I mentally smacked myself. Of course they could. How else would they be able to communicate without even talking?

Good, job. You figured out yourself. He gave me a look that would have been a smirk on his pretty boyish face.

You heard that? I thought in my head.

Yeah. You do have a lot to learn but right now, let’s just go catch a movie.

I grinned at Zane and he lowered himself so I could get on his back. It was harder than it seemed.

You ready? He asked as soon as I got situated.

“I think,” I said aloud but my words were lost in the wind when he jumped and started a fast run. The forest that surrounded the estate seemed to blur together forever and I had to hold onto his fur with tight hands so I wouldn’t be fling off.

You’re stronger than you look little sis. You’re going to leave me with some bald spots.

I laughed at the thought. He growled but continued on until he slowed down and then fully stopped.

We have to walk the rest of the way. I’m pretty sure humans would think it weird for a girl who comes to a movie theater on a wolf.

True, I grinned. “Here are your clothes.” I handed his clothes back to him and turned around, giving him enough privacy to change. I received a nice big grizzly bear hug from him that made me lose my balance. “Ugh, Zane,” I laughed as he helped me back up.

“And to think you were strong,” he mused. “I guess I was wrong after all.”

“You caught me by surprise, idiot,” I punched him on the shoulder.

“Damn, Alexia,” he said, massaging his shoulder, “forget what I said before.”

“We’re probably late for the movies now,” I commented when we entered the deserted theater. There were only a scatter of people but otherwise, we were the only ones.

“Who cares? At least I’m here with you,” he said, giving me a wicked grin. He tugged me along to get the tickets and we entered the theater to find two seats left, next to each other. “How convenient,” Zane whispered and we both sat down for the movie.

Lucas’ POV

“Congrats, you finally marked her,” Jace mused. “I knew you could do it before the Elders arrived. There’s nothing in the world you can’t do.”

“It’s nothing to be congratulated about,” I said, hating how everyone will know that we’re marked. It was what I wanted, to flaunt how I’ve finally found my mate and how she’s mine but now I think about it, that idea seemed more animal-like than the new feeling of ‘love’ I’ve been exploring the night before. I wanted our signs of our feelings to be kept between us but once you get marked it’s hard to hide it from the rest of the society.

“You had sex yet?” Jace smirked and then laughed when he saw my look of surprise and horror. “The man finally shows some kind of emotion.”

“Jace, I’m serious about her. She isn’t like the other women I’ve been with.” No she wasn’t like any of those whores who would try to get me to sleep with them. I remembered after my parents’ and Lexi’s death I was too drunk to notice how many girls I’ve slept with. It was the dark past that I hoped to leave behind and never touch Alexia’s mind. Who knows what she would think of me if she found out. I wasn’t proud of it and I definitely didn’t want to even think about it.

“You mean slept with,” Jace said. God, sometimes he knew how to tick me off.

“That isn’t the past that I want to mingle with right now. Let’s forget about it,” I said hotly, my voice growing hostile.

“I’m just playing,” he said, holding his hands up in surrender. “You guys need to start a family sooner or later anyways,” he trailed.

“Are you fucking kidding me? She’s sixteen!” I yelled. I never even thought about having sex with her or even starting a family. Jace was totally losing his head.

“And your only twenty years old which is what? Four years apart? That’s not the end of the world,” he reasoned.

“But that doesn’t mean I’m ready for this,” I countered.

“Hey, I’m just saying. I wish Lexi and I were mated long enough that we had a child,” Jace said sadly. He had been with my sister for only two years and she said she wasn’t ready to start a family yet. It drove Jace crazy but he loved her so much that he obliged.

“I just don’t think it’s fair for her. I’m not exactly the best person in this world,” I admitted, feeling guilty just thinking about her and my past.

“Sheesh, ever since you met her, your emotions just been out of control,” Jace said, his eyebrows furrowing in worry but there was an amused tone etched in them.

I ignored his comment. “Where is she?”

“Who’s she?” her voice trailed in the hallway. Before seeing her, I smelled her light lavender scent that was now mixed with my own.

“Where were you?” I began to say but I saw Zane by her side and dropped it. I promised him that he could take Alexia anywhere she wanted and had forgotten about it. It was only this morning after we saw Travis off that we agreed to it and it had been an absolutely long day. I noticed everyone tensed, wondering if I would break Zane’s neck. Gosh, it was only that one time that I blew up and now everybody was giving each other nervous glances.

I clapped my hands hoping the tension I had created would cease. “We should all get ready for the party. The Elders and the guests should be arriving shortly in an hour’s time.”

Cynthia then came in the room with her apron on, the smell of food lingered on her clothes. “Alpha, the first guest has arrived early. He said he wanted to see Alexia before the party,” she said hesitantly. She wiped her sweaty hands on her apron. Why was she nervous?

“Who’s our early guest?” I asked, eyeing her carefully, trying to send a wave of comfort to her but she was too stiff to even notice.

“I-i-It’s Amos, sir. Amos Awbrey.

Awbrey? What did an Elder want to do with Alexia?