Chapter 4

*2 Years Later* It felt like every bone in my body was breaking over and over again. I tried to hold in my screams but it didn't work. I knew that Derrick was there with me but I couldn't hear what he was saying, the pain making me temporarily deaf. I screamed as another wave of pain hit me. Nick was so right about puberty being a bitch. Every movement made my skin feel like it was being rubbed with sandpaper because of my clothes but anytime I tried to take them off Derrick stopped me. "PLEASE! TAKE THEM OFF!" My scream was guttural and pain filled. I just wanted them off. The pain seemed to never end and continued for what seemed like a lifetime before I felt the worse part pass. I still felt soreness and tingling throughout my body but it was bearable. "Are you back?" I looked up at Derrick and smiled a weak smile before he lifted me up bridal style and placed me in the bed. "Rest. I'll be back in a few hours." I didn't have the energy to even mumble, instead falling into a deep sleep. When I woke I struggled to make it to my bathroom across the room. I started to take off my clothes before I stopped and screamed. Soon there was knocking on my door. "What's wrong?!" I cleared my throat trying to get my voice to come out right so I didn't worry anyone. "No-Nothing. I just..." I didn't have to explain more because they seemed to understand I wasn't used to seeing my body like this. Where was the small 4'10" girl who was as skinny as a twig? I was pulled from my thoughts by a knock on the door. "Callie. It's Aria. Can I come in?" I wrapped myself in a towel as I walked over to the door and opened it to see Aria there smiling at me. Aria was Derrick's mate. She was small and petite like a fairy with striking Emerald eyes and golden blonde hair. I moved away from the door letting her in and realizing that I was at least 4 inches taller than her now making me 5'6". I grew 8 inches! "I just came to get your measurements so we can get you new...things." She looked down at my bust and I blushed in embarrassment. They grew as much as everything else seemed to. "Don't be shy. You're becoming a woman." She quickly measured me before leaving me to take a shower. When Nick went through his change he only got taller. I got taller and a lot more curves as well. Wasn't that supposed to come after I fully matured in 3 years? Turning off the shower I stepped out and looked at myself in the mirror. I had to admit that I looked more like a woman than before. It's like I went from 10 to 21 overnight. I quickly turned away from the mirror and went out into my room seeing a bag with a note. I got you something for today so we could go shopping later. –Aria God bless her for not buying me a whole wardrobe. I pulled out a pair of dark washed skinny jeans and a form fitting tank top. All of that was fine until I reached the lacy undergarments she got me. "Aria, why?" I groaned as I fell onto my bed from embarrassment. After I got dressed I walked to Derrick and Aria's office barefoot and knocked. "Yes princess?" I rolled my eyes as I entered the room and hugged my uncle Darrius. "I'm not a princess." Derrick leaned back in his chair, placing his hands behind his head and crossing his feet on top of his desk. "Now that you're gorgeous, I need you to call me if boys try to get out of hand. Understand?" Oh God. Do I have fragile written on my forehead? Every guy I knows seems to be out to protect me. I'm pretty sure I can handle myself. I was ranked 1st in combat as a human, thank you very much. At Aira's warm invitation, I went shopping with her. After shopping , Aria had to call out 3 of the warriors to get the bags for us. One of them stopped when he saw me and I blushed like crazy. A guy never stopped just to look at me before. "Russell. Keep moving or Derrick will have your head." He quickly moved to the back of the car while we went into the house. When I made it to my room I was shocked to see my uncle and cousin there. "Uncle Darrius, Derrick. What are you doing here?" "Come to tell you the news." "What news?" They looked at each other before they looked back at me, a flood of emotions in them. "You're going home tomorrow. Your dad called an hour ago." I stared at my uncle blankly not knowing how to process what I was just told. "Are you serious?" They both nodded and I ran into their arms. I was so excited to see Nick but I was sad to leave everyone I met here behind. "Well you should get packed." I nodded and pulled away before I grabbed my luggage that I came with 2 years ago and started packing. Soon Aria came to my room with red eyes that showed she had been crying. "Don't tell me you're crying because I'm leaving." She tried to laugh at what I said but it only made more tears fall. I quickly went over to comfort her and we stayed like that for a while. *** *The next day* The plane ride was just as bad as I remembered it. I tried to stretch as I finally made it off the plane. Customs went by slower since I got stopped and checked, even at immigration before I finally walked to the baggage area. I found my luggage and walked to the arrivals gate. When I walked through the doors the first person I saw was Nick. I quickly dropped my bags and ran to him. He picked me up like I was nothing and swung me around. "Well hello to you too." Nick and I couldn't help laughing before I gave my dad a hug as well. "Hi dad." I went to my mother and gave her a hug before she burst into tears. "Oh you're so beautiful! I'm so sorry I couldn't be there for your change." "It's okay mom. Derrick was there for me." Nick growled and I quickly turned to face him. "He's our cousin and happily mated." He shifted a little before my dad grabbed my bags. "Well let's get going. It's quite a drive to get home." We all followed after filling up the car. I looked over at Nick and realized how he has changed the last two years. My Nicky was no longer a scrawny teenager. He was bigger, much bigger which only made me wonder how big Braden got. "Nick." "Hmm." "Have you seen Braden lately?" I bit my lip as Nick raised his eyebrow at me. "Can't say I have. A lot has changed since you left and I'm not just talking about looks." He looked out the window cutting off our conversation and I could feel his worry. What was he worried about? Coming home felt surreal. It looked exactly like it did when I left, like déjà vu. I opened the door to be scared back outside. "SURPRISE!" Did they have to throw a pack party for this? I put on a smile as I walked back into my house into the sea of people. Nick was right once again. Everything seemed to change. People dating, going from geek to chic, drop outs, new warriors, I could barely keep up. I looked around for Braden but I didn't see him. I texted him to see why he wasn't at my welcome back party. *Braden. Where are you?* Just the second after I sent the message I heard the best thing ever. "Hey, sweetheart." My heart skipped a beat when I heard his voice for the first time in two years. I turned around to be met by his gorgeous hazel eyes. I also saw I was right about him getting bigger. I watched as he looked me over once and his eyes changed, making me feel weird under his gaze. "So I don't get a hug?" He held out his arms and I couldn't deny that I wanted nothing more than to be in his arms at that moment. The instant he wrapped his arms around me I forgot about everything that was bothering me. Me and Braden slipped away from the party and went to the hill by my house. I was lying on the grass looking up at the stars when Braden's face came into my view. "Is this something you picked up in Hungary?" I nodded and he just laughed. "Looks like you picked up your head movements as well." I stuck my tongue out at him before I sat up next to him. He sighed before he pulled me closer to him. "I have so much to tell you. I don't even know where to start." "Start by telling me why you weren't at my party." He looked at me with a serious look before he looked straight again. "I became the alpha of my pack." I looked at him blinking rapidly trying to process what he told me. He was only 17. He still hadn't matured fully yet. How was he alpha? "But before that happened, my dad ended our treaty with your pack." I knew exactly what that meant but he kept explaining it to me anyways. "It means we are technically at war right now. I'm trying to come up with a new treaty with your father but he's being a little difficult." I placed my hand on his arm as a way to comfort him. If anyone knew how difficult my father could be, it was me. His eyes quickly found mine and I couldn't breathe for a moment. "But there is something else I have to tell you." I looked at him seeing he seemed to be worried about what he has to tell me. "You were right." "Right about what?" "Me and my hormones. I played the field...a lot." I felt a pang in my chest at hearing him say that he had been with other girls, a lot of them but what he told me next is what shocked me the most. "I got a girl pregnant. Callie. I'm going to be a father."