In Reach?

Mira's POV

We go to the open field behind the house. There are so many people, chatting like they haven’t seen each other in ages. Then again, it is a big pack. They probably don’t see each other all the time on a regular. Which is probably why events like this are held.

It looks so comforting to just watch, and listen. You can hear the kids laughing and playing around.

In the far end, I can see a huge fire, with some people sitting around it on sitting logs, drinking beer.

Beer! That reminds me.

I turn to Aubrey next to me. “So where are the drinks?”

She rolls her eyes at me and smiles. “Mira. This is a country barbecue. Just pick a cooler.” She sways her hand in front of her. “and take whatever you want.”

Really? Just like that? There are coolers everywhere. I guess they made sure to be stocked

“Ju-st,” I turn my head to her again “try to stay clear of the hard liquor. Your wolf is dormant, so chances of you getting drunk are far higher than they are for the others.”

Great. Now I can’t even join in on any of the drinking games. My alcohol tolerance is basically nothing compared to theirs. I am literally the weakest one here.

Woah. I just realized. I’m at a barbecue in the middle of the woods with a bunch of wolves. I think the correct term is, - a pack of wolves.

I’m low key very happy that Aubrey isn’t the social butterfly, as that sassy hidden attitude of hers would have me think.

It didn’t take long before Sarah found us. We went to get drinks and luckily we found an empty patio table close to the bonfire.

It was really fun. I enjoyed playing bar tender, making them cute pink drinks. I once had a part time job as a waitress, and it wasn’t the best experience, but the skills I learnt I know I’ll never forget. It didn’t take long before we couldn’t stop giggling.

We were laughing so much, with the random stories we were telling. There was a point Sarah tried to act it out, ‘for effect’, as she says.

Aiden eventually joined us, but it didn’t take long before we were on his case of being a mamma's boy. He looked annoyed, but it was so cute with that blush of his. He really is a Cutie.

I don’t even know how long we were talking, but later we hear Mason shouting at us, as he sits at the fire. Something about us needing to stop crowding Aiden with all our attention. Saying he can’t handle it and it’s making him blush too much that he looks like a tomato. We laughed so hard as Aiden tried to hide his face in his elbows on the table.

That’s when I looked around and noticed there were far less people around. It seemed quieter too. Looks like the kids went home. What time is it? The sky is pitch black, with just the glow of the crescent moon. It’s beautiful.

“Hey, come join us.” Mason shouts.

Why not? It seems like it’s just the head members left at the bonfire. Probably because they live here. Everybody else seem to be leaving one by one. It must be late.

We all get up and make our way to them. Sarah and Aubrey though are dragging Aiden along, each on one arm. He still seems like he’s blushing. Awh.

I go take the seat next to Mason, with the three of them next to me. Theo is next to Mason, and then there’s Noah. Liam is sitting next to him and opposite me. On his other side is Liz, who is also next to Sarah now. We’re all sitting around the fire, each with a bottle or cup in hand.

Mason is passing a bag of marshmallows and wafers to me. Seems like we are making smores. Perfect.

Before I can get my marshmallow on a stick near the flame, I see Mason holding his out directly into the fire. It’s pimpled with black spots. When he pulls it out, it's completely black and he struggles to blow out the small flame still on it. Oh please no. He’s not going to eat that is he?

He takes the wafers to cover the marshmallow and pulls it off the stick. Before I could even stop him, he takes a bite.

“Awh man. I don’t know what the big fuss is about this. It tastes like crap.” He pulls his face as he swallows.

Wait! He actually swallowed that?

“That’s because you practically charred it to crap.”

He looks at me confused. “What?”

“Here, come. Let me show you.”

I take the bag of marshmallows and wafers to go sit closer to him. I show him and give instructions on how to do it, but he still gets the marshmallow alight. How?

I can hear how the others around us are laughing at Mason not getting it. The man that can do anything, is getting his ass whipped by a flaming marshmallow. Wow. I didn’t even realize the others were looking at us, but Mason just seems annoyed at the pressure he’s getting now.

“It’s just a marshmallow Mason,” Liz teases him, “Look, even Theo can do it.”

When he looks up and sees Theo with his perfect smore, he literally swears. “Fuck this shit.” He throws the stick with the burning marshmallow to the ground next to him.

After a while, and another beer in hand, the laughter dies down.

“So, Mira.” I look up at Noah calling me. “What’s the secret with you calling Theo Teddy.”

Everybody looks up and at me. I can hear some questioning whispers of ‘secret’ in the background. Of course Noah will be the type to just make a show of something like this. I guess when he really wants to know, he pushes for it.

I look at Theo, and he’s trying to hide the biggest blush I’ve ever seen on him as he looks down.

“Why do you wanna know so badly?” I can’t help but chuckle as I take another sip.

“I just want to know how it came about.” He shrugs his shoulders with that sly smile of his. “If the story is funny enough, maybe I’ll start calling him Teddy too.”

I burst out laughing and Theo gives him a shocked look as he shouts, “Dude!”.

Everybody else is quiet and clearly lost at my and Theo’s reaction. Liam though is just staring straight at me. As he has been this whole time since Noah brought this topic up.

“What!” Noah is shocked at Theo’s reaction. “It’s not that big a deal. It’s just a name.”

“No it’s not.”

“What? Is it special or something? You don’t want us to take it away?” Noah chuckles like he’s trying to tease Theo.

But Theo seems a little pissed at Noah. “You know, she has a nickname for you too.”

Noah stops laughing, and when he sees the smirk on Theo’s face he looks at me questioningly.

“Really? You have a name for Noah? What is it?” I look at Aubrey next to me, smiling brightly at her. I think all the alcohol is finally kicking in.

“Of course I have a name for him. In fact, I have a name for all of them.” I sway my hand around the circle.

“Really? Do you have names for us as well?” Sarah looks a bit too excited.

“Sorry.” I pout my face at her. “I gave them nicknames, because I didn’t know their names. And I like to put a name to a face.” I take a sip.

“Wait.” Aiden sits straight up, looking all excited. “Tell me, tell me. What’s your nickname for me?”

I chuckle at his adorable behaviour. I might as well tell them. It’s not like it was really a secret.

“Well, your nickname is Cutie Pie. Cutie for short.”

“Awh!” I hear Aubrey and Sarah next to him, making him blush again. “He really is adorable if he blushes like that.” Sarah shoves his shoulder lightly.

“I know, right? The moment I saw him, he was asleep on the couch with those cheeks all puffy. I knew his name would be Cutie.”

“Wait, you have reasons for the names? So what’s the story behind Theo’s. I just thought it was a typical shortening for Theodore.” Aubrey asks again.

“Actually.” I look up and he’s already blushing. He really is a softy. “I call him Teddy because he reminds me of a huge teddy bear. He looks so big and scary, but he really is just a huggable softy.”

Everybody chuckles at hearing him groaning annoyed.

“So wait? What’s my name?” Mason asks.

“Well, you actually have two names.”

“Two? Was one not enough?” He tries to give me a sexy grin.

“Oh definitely not.” I chuckle a bit, making his smile drop a little. “My first nickname for you was ‘Stretchy Pants’.” I hear someone spit out their drink and laugh. I look over and see Liz wiping her mouth.

“Stretchy Pants??” He pulls his face unimpressed. “What kind of a name is that.” Every else is laughing though.

“You have to understand. The first time I saw you, you were in nothing but those shorts you always walk around in. And you were with a few of your buddies. So I call you guys the ‘Stretchy Pants Crew’” I wipe my hands in mid-air in front of him as I say the name, ‘for effect’.

He doesn’t look impressed though.

“So, what’s my other nickname?” He folds his arms.

“Swimfan” I quickly say as I take a sip, hoping he doesn’t know the meaning behind it.

“What?” He leans a bit forward.

I clear my throat, knowing everyone is quieter. Probably trying to hear the name. “Swimfan” I say clearly.

“Swimfan?” He sits up straight again. “I don’t get it.” He looks at me questioningly.

He might be a little pissed at this, but oh well.

“So-,” I look away trying to avoid eye contact. “The name actually refers to someone with an unhealthy obsession of brown nosing with a certain some-one.” I enunciate the last part.

Everybody’s quiet for a few seconds, until Noah bursts out laughing. “That’s a good one!” He says through laughs.

“Are you saying I’m a kiss ass?” Mason stands up asking Noah.

“Hey she said it, not me.” Noah points to me. Mason look at me very angry.

“Hey, I’m not saying you are one.” I hold up my hands in front of him. “These names are just based on my first impressions of you guys. You just seemed like the type to always want to impress, you know,-“ I nod my head towards Liam, hoping he gets what I’m saying.

I take another sip as I still hear Noah laughing in the background.

“So what’s my name?” I hear Liz on the other side.

“I called you Buffy, because your one buff woman and knows how kick ass.” She seems impressed by it as she purses her lips.

“Sweet.” Is her only response as she raises her bottle in hand to me as a ‘cheers’.

“So what’s Noah’s?” Aubrey chimes in, getting Noah to quieten down with his chuckling.

He looks expectant though.

“Well, there wasn’t really much to go on with him, so I couldn’t really be that creative.”

“What kind of an excuse it that.” Noah leans forward. “Come on. Spill it.”

As you wish. “Bro.”

Everybody’s quiet, you can hear the crickets in the night wind.

“Bro?” He sits up straight. “Bro? That’s the best you could do?”

“Hey.” I shrug my shoulders. “I didn’t really know what your relationship was with him,” I point to Liam, “so I tried to take the safer option.”

“Wait. What is that supposed to mean?”

“Oh my god.” Everybody looks at Liz. “Did you think that they,……” she points between Noah and Liam, “that they,…..were a thing?”

“What?!” Noah shouts standing up. Even Liam sits up straight looking annoyed. Everybody else is laughing though, most likely at Noah’s tantrum.

“No.” I smile slyly. The thought did cross my mind though, but that was just me trying to not be disrespectful should it be the case. But deep down I knew they couldn’t be. I mean, look at them.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t have a little fun with Noah. “I didn’t think that they were a thing. I just wasn’t,…..sure what Noah’s impression of Liam was.” I bite both my lips to stop myself from laughing. Noah looks like he’s about to blow.

“You thought I was gay?!”

“Hey, eventually I just pegged you to be like a baby brother that always follows him around like a shadow.”

“Oh this is gold!” Aubrey is busting into laughter.

“Yeah, yeah. Laugh it off Aubrey.” He gets her to quiet down. “Yeah, just remember that this ‘Bro’ is still your big brother.”

I don’t even know what type of a threat that was. But she looks annoyed.

“So do you have a name for the Alpha too?” Liz is getting chatty now.

Good. I thought I was the only one.

“Well he did try to kill her the first time they met. So it might be something mean. So spill it.” Noah’s honesty is not best served when he is annoyed. Even Liam growled a bit at that attitude, which Noah instantly regretted as he looked down.

“How bad could it be?” Liz is pushing again.

But that’s just it. It’s not bad at all. It was one of the reasons I got pissed that his name was Dimples. Because doesn’t matter how hard you try, you can’t make it sound bad. Out of all of them, this is the one name that will remain my secret.

“Actually no. I heard you guys call him Alpha, so I just figured that was his name.”

Well this is anti-climactic. Everybody seems disappointed, even Liam, especially Liam.

Everybody’s quiet again. All you can hear is the music in the background. Time for a change of vibe.