Another Half

June 2010

Caroline stood alone outside and leaned against the wall of the building of the ballroom. She didn’t care if the peach-colored tule of her strapless dress snagged on the brick. Caroline was going to throw it away after today anyway. She might even burn it along with the bad memory she would soon create if she got the chance.

She looked out to the crowded gardens. The sun was setting, darkening the mood outside. Caroline didn’t want to be in the packed ballroom inside because it was stifling, but it was watching so many wolves finding love at first sight that made being inside nauseating. Unfortunately, the environment in the gardens wasn’t much better. Maverick was right. The whole find-your-mate at a Mating Festival charade was ridiculous. Caroline had put off her supposed mate for two years, but now it was necessary. She had to finally take care of business. She was eager to get on with her life with Mav.

She saw more wolves pouring out of the ballroom onto the gardens and her anxiety rose. Several white tents with tables covered with long white tablecloths and full of liquor bottles dotted the gardens. Unbelievable. All of the tables were out of Azul, her favorite vodka. Maverick had to go inside to fetch her a glass or two.

Where was Maverick? He’d been gone a long time. Caroline was alone and she desperately needed a glass of liquid courage with a splash of orange juice.

A gentle scent of fresh roses and lilies on a summer night released the tension in Caroline’s shoulders. She inhaled and closed her eyes as her mind calmed instantly and her heart was as happy as when her parents threw her sweet-sixteen party. She had looked and felt like a princess, and Maverick had kissed her for the first time that night. Everything had been perfect.

Caroline gasped and realized too late what was happening. She felt a tall presence in front of her along with a soft tap on her bare shoulder. She opened her eyes to a young male with a slender face and dark hair. This kid was definitely not her muscular, blonde Maverick with the scratchy goatee.

“Mate!” the stranger said with a grin full of straight white teeth and too much enthusiasm for her taste. Caroline hoped it was too dark for him to see her grimace.

Mate! Mate! Lily, Caroline’s wolf, howled. He’s sooo cute! Maybe now you’ll abandon your ridiculous plan. Maverick and his stupid wolf are not our mates! We will not be happy--

Caroline’s stomach sank. How did Lily get out? Ignoring her wolf, like she always did, Caroline managed to lock her away again in the deepest, darkest closet of her mind.

Don’t do it! was the last thing Lily screamed.

Caroline craned her neck and looked up at the kid in front of her, and Maverick appeared by her side. He handed her a glass and immediately put his arm around her shoulders. Caroline downed the glass’ contents in two gulps. The vodka burned her throat, but it made her feel better. She appraised the dark-haired kid in front of her. She couldn’t see the color of his eyes, but even in the dark, she could see the shadow of a couple of dimples when he dreamily smiled at her.

“You’re too tall!” Caroline said. “How tall are you?”

The kid had been scowling at Maverick, but he turned to her with a bright smile. “6′3? 6′4? I don’t know. What’s your--”

“I’m 5-foot even. That’s a big difference, don’t you think? I mean, are you going to keep growing? How old are you anyway?”

Caroline didn’t care if she was being rude. He was obviously much younger than her. Since when did they let twelve-year-olds come to mating events? Maverick started to rub her back gently, and she smiled up at him.

The tall kid frowned, clearly troubled. “I don’t know. I guess. I turned twenty a month ago. But, what’s your name? I’m. Rex. Rex Essa.” He offered her a handshake.

Caroline stared at the kid’s hand suspended in midair, and she couldn’t have felt more awkward. She pinched the palm of Rex’s hand with her thumb and fingers in a pseudo handshake. Surely he could also see that they were not compatible.

“Nice to meet you, Rex-- You look so young. I don’t think this is a good—”

“What are you waiting for, Caroline? Do it!" Maverick whispered harshly. “I’m tired. I want to go back to the hotel.”

Rex growled at Maverick, his eyes briefly glowing electric blue before darkening again.

How rude! Caroline was not impressed with Rex’s lack of manners.

“You’re Maverick Lacerta of the Blue Ponderosa pack, aren’t you?” Rex’s ugly scowl returned.

Maverick smirked and tried to stand taller. It didn’t matter that Mav barely grazed Rex’s shoulder.

Caroline wasn’t surprised that Rex knew of Maverick. After all, Mav and his family were important people, not just your ordinary wolves like this kid, whoever the hell he was.

“Yes, and I’m my pack’s alpha,” Maverick said with the sexy smirk she loved. "Or soon will be."

Caroline added, “And Mav’s family owns and runs the largest bar in our area! People come from all over to have a good time there!”

Rex snorted and smiled sarcastically at Maverick. “How very accomplished of you.”

Rude! Why was he being so rude to Mav? This kid had just had the pleasure of meeting him.

“Maverick comes from an important family,” Caroline said, “--and I don’t know who you are, but, but--okay--I, Caroline Parker, reject you, Rex Essa, as my mate now and forever and ever.”

There. She’d done it. And she did it just like Maverick told her so it could never be undone.

The pain in Caroline’s heart and mind was immediate and excruciating. She doubled over and would have fallen had Maverick not been there to hold her and carry her. Tears ran down her face when she heard Lily’s sorrowful howl from the part of her mind where she was locked away.

She stared up at Maverick’s face.

“Finally. You’re really mine now,” he whispered, grinning widely. “Don’t worry, Caroline. I’ll take good care of you. I’ll help you through the pain, the hollowness. I know exactly what you’re going through.”

Caroline frowned with confusion. Maybe she misheard. Maverick had told her that his mate was killed by rogues a few minutes after he found her by a river. Caroline probably didn’t hear right. Lily’s howls of pain continued.

Everything was going to be okay, Caroline told herself. She closed her eyes and hoped Lily was listening to her. This is exactly how things are supposed to be. She knew what she was doing.

Maverick began to move and Caroline barely registered when he gave Rex a hard kick.

"You’re a chump now, Loser,” she heard Maverick murmur before she lost consciousness.