Taylor
Taylor sat near the river, drinking Sayor, an alcohol made from fermented bananas and grapes. He was surrounded by his friends, who were strangely quiet. Taylor knew it was because they were trying to give space to his wounded ego. Taylor didn’t know what to think about what had just happened. He didn’t even want a mate; he wasn’t ready to settle down. Sadly, the rules of the pack were that he had go through the ritual when he turned twenty-five.
He pulled out a cigarette and lighted it, taking a drag.
“Hey, Taylor. You are lucky. You didn’t want to settle yet, and the chick rejects you herself,” Harry said, starting to laugh.
Taylor picked up a bottle and threw it at him, which Harry dodged.
“Listen, man. I could reject her too; I don’t mind spending the rest of my life alone. But what confuses me is, why would she reject me?” Taylor asked. That was the question that baffled him. He was handsome, charming, sexy, and very strong. He was one of the best fighters of the pack. Girls fell on him like anything.
“Maybe she was just overwhelmed. She probably never thought she would get someone like you. I mean, you are obviously out of her league,” Harry said.
“Yes. That’s true. I mean there are sexier girls in the pack. No offense, but this one is short and skinny. I mean her eyes are blue, and that is pretty hot. Not much else going for her though,” Lucas said.
Taylor took another sip of his Sayor. He didn’t want to admit it, but he had always found Rose very attractive. He loved the way her beautiful black hair framed her face and how her eyes stood out against her olive complexion. He had often gazed at her when she was distracted, sitting around reading a book. He had always found it fascinating when she pursed her lips, her eyes narrowed in concentration as she read.
Even though the women he usually slept with were tall, blond, and curvy, he really liked Rose. She looked delicate, like a flower. Also, she smelled like a flower too. Taylor had caught her scent many times when she walked by.
Taylor could not believe she had just run off like that. Who did she think she was? Leaving him like that, humiliated.
“At least you dodged a bullet,” Harry said. “Think of all the chicks you can bang! Imagine being stuck with one woman, all your life.”
“It surprises me how immature you guys can be. Believe me, there is nothing more magical than being with your soul mate. Once you taste love, it’s hard to even think about anything else,” Jacob, the only one of Taylor’s friends who was married, said.
The boys booed him loudly, and he held his hands up, grinning.
“Believe me. There is nothing like it. Let me tell you. You think you know what you need. You think this is the kind of partner I want. But you don’t know. Believe me. It’s only later you realise that what you needed was something else, entirely,” Jacob said, sipping his Sayor.
“Hey Jacobs, when did you change into a girl?” Lucas asked, and all the boys burst out laughing.
“Oh, my poor, stupid friends. You will understand it, one day,” Jacob said, smirking. “Have I told you guys about the sex?”
“No, my friend, you have not,” Taylor said, leaning forward.
“You boys know I have done my fair share of… sleeping around. But, my friends, you have never had it as good as you have it with your mate. Believe me, it’s just at another level. It’s like mind blowing,” Jacob said.
“No way, man. You are just trying to pull our leg,” Harry said.
“Nah, man. Best sex ever,” Jacob said, raising his Sayor to toast.
Taylor had been quiet all this time. He just wasn’t able to accept that a girl rejected him. He got up, throwing his bottle down.
“I am going for a walk, boys. See ya around,” Taylor said. The boys groaned and protested, but Taylor waved them goodbye and left.
He started walking around the forest, trying to clear his mind. He had been telling himself he didn’t care about the ritual, that he didn’t want to settle. The truth was it stung. He didn’t know why, but Rose’s reaction had really stung him. Not just his pride, but also his heart.
He was walking around, lost in his thoughts, when he heard someone talking. He frowned, glancing forward. It was Rose, sitting with her friend, Delma. Taylor started to walk away, not wanting to eavesdrop, but then he heard his name. He stopped, his senses high, trying to hear.
“No. Delma, how can I live my life with Taylor? He is the exact opposite of the man I wanted. His head is stuck so far up his ass! I can never have long intellectual, meaningful conversations with him. I wanted someone I could trust with my heart. I can’t trust him. I can’t! He is rude and loud! Just last night I saw him drinking with his friends and getting into another drunken fight. I can’t, Delma! I can’t marry him!”Rose was saying.
Taylor frowned. He wasn’t as bad as she was describing him. He knew he shouldn’t eavesdrop; he had already heard enough. He walked away, lost in thought. So that is what the problem was. He always thought he came off as confident and charming, but maybe Rose got a different impression.
It took him a few moments to realise that he had walked to Dominque’s cabin. He was standing outside on his terrace. Dominique was the leader of the wolf pack. His father Alexander had died in a great battle almost twenty years ago. Alexander was a great leader, and Dominique was following his dad’s footsteps.
“Hey, buddy,” Dominque called out.
Taylor smiled at him, walking over. They bumped fists, and Taylor went to stand next to him.
