After Dane had 'nagged' and 'scolded' Erick for talking bad about him behind his back, the two teams went into the locker rooms where they had their showers. Because the Port Robston Bay team had used the school team bus to get to Burkendall town, they couldn't stay long.
Hence, the two future alphas promised to meet each other once again; hopefully for a longer stay. Erick did suggest that perhaps they could meet up just to hang out. It was not necessary that they have to meet up at the football field. Bastian had nodded but he did not promise since his schedule was packed too. He also has his own personal duties as the future Alpha.
Feeling mentally and physically tired, Erick decided to go back home with Hamish joining in. The two were in Erick's car with the latter driving. Hamish hasn't gotten a car yet. Earlier that day, his dad dropped him at the school. He could have shifted into his wolf counterpart but he did not want the hassle of going to carry his clothes everywhere and coming to school naked. So, Erick had volunteered to drive him back home.
It was already late by the time they walked over to Erick's car. Inside the car, on their way home, the two began to talk about the shifter ritual. It was then Erick noticed that someone was walking on the street, with her back to them. But he could still recognize that blonde hair and silhouette.
He began to grin, feeling excited to see 'her' that he veered his car to the sidewalk, making Hamish startled at the sudden action. He hit the side of the door roughly and cursed out loud.
"What the hell, Erick?" Hamish cursed, rubbing his shoulder because of the pain.
Luckily, there weren't any cars behind them so they were still safe. Still, Hamish was wondering what made Erick drive like a maniac. It was then he looked up and realization dawned on him.
Before Hamish could say another word, Erick had moved the car to a parking mode and had jumped out of the car.
He ran towards the oblivious blonde girl, who was walking on the street, with her backpack and arms filled with books. She had her headphones on so she wasn't aware of the chaos happening behind her.
The girl jumped in surprise when she felt an arm around her shoulders. Her fist instinctively clenched tight and was about to punch the person who had his 'paws' around her. Before her fist could reach the 'intruder', that 'intruder' had her fist in her hand. He grinned down at her and soothe her clenched fist to a soft hold. "Yes, that's how you should do it when someone touches you without my permission," Erick praised.
Amber narrowed her blue eyes at the shameless guy beside her and retorted, "And that's also how I should do it when YOU touch me! And what do you mean by, 'without your permission'?"
Erick shook his head, still grinning. He pulled her tighter into his arms, "Nah, when I touch you, you should hug me, instead," he said, feeling unashamed. "And that's just it. I'm yours and you're mine. That's why they or even you need my permission."
Amber rolled her eyes and tried to pull away from him but it only made him hug her tighter. She was actually feeling embarrassed with him being all touchy. She was not used to this. She doesn't believe that he would have the same feelings for her as she has for him. Though, she was still confused with hers. She really could not believe that a handsome and smart guy like Erick would fall for someone who was plain like her.
"So, where are you headed to? Out for another eat out?" Erick asked.
She shook her head. "I'm heading home," she answered, hugging her books tighter to her chest.
He then gently turned her around and led her to his car.
Standing beside his car was Hamish, with his arms crossed, watching them with narrowed eyes. He has seen and heard everything from where he stood. Like Erick, his eyesight and hearing have improved a lot, ever since the shifter ritual.
Kaius, the name of his wolf, was a brown wolf. At first, Hamish was shocked when he first met Kaius. He was probably more or less larger as his father's wolf, Elias. But Hamish could tell that Kaius was a gentle and intelligent wolf. It hadn't hurt as much as he expected during the shifter ritual. Probably because Kaius had shouldered most of the pain too. And with Kaius merging with his soul, Hamish too gained his abilities such as super speed, great eyesight and hearing and so forth.
Watching the couple in front of him, he could sense the happiness from Erick. What surprised him was that although he could sensed the excitedness from Amber, he could also smell fear and wariness. And knowing Erick who was in his cloud nine, he probably would not notice them.
Hamish sighed. He sincerely hoped that the two would work it out. He looked up at the sky and thought to himself. 'Love can be such a pain.'
Once they reached the car, Erick gestured to Hamish to move aside.
Moving away from the car, Hamish watched as Erick gently pushed Amber into the passenger seat. Closing the door, he turned to Hamish. Understanding can be read between the two shifters.
Without a word, Hamish opened the door to the backseat and grabbed his backpack from there and shut it close. He then nodded to Erick and stepped a bit further away from the car.
He then could hear the mind-link from Erick. 'Thanks', Erick said.
Hamish just smiled as he watched Erick drive off with his mate.
----
Amber looked over her shoulder, watching Hamish standing on the sidewalk all alone, looking after them. She felt a bit guilty for leaving him alone. She wondered how he would go home. Although she does not know where he lives, she assumed that it might have been far, considering that he had always been dropped at the school with a car.
She has always been a curious girl so knowing about how close the two guys were, she asked Erick, with her eyes still looking at Hamish, "Will he be alright?"
Before Erick could answer, she gasped in surprise, her eyes widened. "Hey! He just disappears!" she exclaimed, tugging on Erick's sleeve. She pointed at the empty area where Hamish last stood.
"Who?"
"Hamish!"
"Okay."
Amber turned to him, frowning. "Did you just hear what I've said? I've just told you that he had disappeared!" she exclaimed angrily. She felt a bit frustrated when she thought that Erick might be thinking that she was joking. "He literally just disappeared!"
"I see."
"You think I'm crazy, do you?"
"Crazy in love with me? Yes, I do."
Her heart started to beat faster as her face flushed red in indignation. "No, I don't!" she denied vehemently.
"You will, soon," he said confidently, his eyes on the road, as he drives.
Amber sighed. It was tiring to argue with a person like this. She decided to ignore him and just pretend that his words meant nothing. Even though her heart was still beating hard. Putting on a cool face, she showed him the way to her house.
Minutes later, they finally arrived at a small two-storey house. There was a car parked in front of the house. It seems like her father, Eren Keene, was at home. Her mother, Syden Greer, was a housewife, who used to work as a nurse. They were a family of four, with Amber being the eldest. She has a younger brother named Remi. Ever since Remi had cancer, her mother had quit her job to take care of her brother.
Before Amber could climb out of the car, Erick had grabbed her hand and kissed the palm, sending a slight shiver around her body. She was about to snap at him when he said, "I'm sorry about your brother and I'll see you tonight."
Surprised, Amber could only nod and say goodbye.
After he had left, it was then Amber realized. "Tonight?" she repeated, confused.
A little detail about Amber's little family!
4/4
That's end of today's mini mass release! Hope you enjoy the chapters! And have a nice weekend!