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  Quinn let out a chuckle, smiled and started to swim away.

  “Ever think it might be raging hormones Lana, you know none of us has seen you since you were ten” Derek had a bit of a defensive tone.

  “Yeah I know, and I know everyone thinks I am a pretty tiger, but this is all really new to me and no one seems to care about how I feel”. It was nice to talk to someone other than my Dad.

  “There aren’t any more Siberian tigers around these days so you’re rare. I’m sorry if you read anything shameful in my thoughts” Derek said smiling.

  “Your thoughts aren’t that bad. Now James, and Jason, theirs are pretty detailed” I said laughing. All three of us started to laugh as Quinn reentered our group with strong powerful strokes.

  “Hey want to see who can do the biggest cannon ball? Derek asked me excited at the thought of acting childish. “Sure”. I answered, as I was feeling much more at ease. Men really didn’t, ever grow up. Derek got out first since he was closest to the dock. He was very muscular and very well proportioned.

  As Quinn got out, I couldn’t help myself. I was mesmerized, his muscles were sculpted and everything seemed like poetry in motion when he moved. His body was very manly and… ”Oh my god” I thought. You would think that being a virgin and never having dated would make it hard on a girl to have these feelings, the lustful type with the heat and everything. I was wrong, dead wrong.

  Quinn held out his hand for me to take so he could pull me up once he was fully out of the water. I looked up at him and saw his beautiful teal invitingly, intriguingly eyes. They were looking deep into mine and I felt I was falling into something to deep for me to understand. I felt a gentle tug after I took his hand in mine his strength was so great that I shot straight out of the water, landing right in front of him. I was looking up because I didn’t want to look down and tease myself.

  “You’re as light as a feather” Quinn said in a husky voice. He seemed to be having difficulty breathing. A warm feeling started radiating from my abdomen.

  “Lana you got a banging body”. Derek said looking at me up and down from the side of the dock. I smiled a gentle smile and pushed him in the water. I was laughing when he came up for air. Quinn tried to push me in, but I grabbed onto his arm before I lost my footing and we both made a huge wave the rippled across the lake. Derek was close by and tried to dunk me by pushing my head under. I went down but grabbed him by his leg, and brought him down with me for several moments before letting go before I had to finally surface for air. Feeling that Quinn was behind me, I started to swim away.

  “Hey your pretty fast” a voice from the dock said. I looked up to find it was Albert.

  “Oh well thank you” I said a little on edge. I was unaware of the audience that was forming. One by one, the lake became crowded. My cousins were now all in the water. I started to make my way to the dock and remembered I didn’t want these jerks to see me in my bathing suit. Quinn and Derek got out first.

  “Here grab my hand and I’ll haul you up here.” Quinn said pleased to help me in this situation.

  “I don’t want them to see me” I said looking at Quinn with pleading eyes.

  “They won’t I promise, just hold on to my hand” he said again. I didn’t know what he was talking about, but I read from his thoughts that he could be trusted, so I held onto his hand and quicker than I could blink, I was out of the water. He was standing at the edge of the dock with his back to the water cradling my back against his chest since he was so broad no one could see past Quinn’s back. “Hey, that’s not fair” James called from the water.

  “We aren’t going to say anything. Promise” Albert said. I turned around and smiled at Quinn a calculated smile. I heard that every person in the water thought I was fat or might have had a skin disease. I had to prove them wrong.

  “This might not be so bad” I told him smiling evilly.

  “Are you sure babe?” He was concerned for my modesty, which was really sweet of him.

  “Yes. I am so sure. My dad will break their necks if I tell him what they were thinking”. I said. I looked at Quinn and yelled around his massively huge protecting body to the guys in the water.

  “If I show you what I look like in this bathing suit you can’t say anything suggestive while I’m here and you can’t think of me in any way, got it?” I heard all the guys start to laugh. They all started laughing and thought I didn’t have the balls to go through with it.

  “I can hear you” I taunted to no one in particular. I was still in front of Quinn where no one could see me using him as my human shield. Everyone immediately froze.

  Suddenly Jason yelled “Fine, deal”. I stepped very deliberately around Quinn. What I saw was everyone in the water had their eyes open just as big as their mouths. I just smiled.

  “Not a word. Got it”. They all just nodded still with their mouths gaping. I turned and walked away picking up my towel from the dock. Quinn and Derek followed a few steps behind.

  As we approached the forest, Quinn and Derek started to laugh.

  “Did you see their faces Lana?” Derek asked. “I’ve never seen Jason lost for words when it comes to girls.” he said still laughing. That silently amused me and a grin crept across my face in victory. Thankfully, Quinn had grabbed my clothes as he left the lake. I had completely forgotten them and was thankful he had.

  “Thank you Quinn” I said taking my clothes, he just stood there admiring my body.

  “You really are pretty Lana, and you shouldn’t hide that fact” he said as he turned around to give me some privacy. I didn’t know how to respond. I got dressed pulling my clothes over my wet swim suite; towel dried my hair and started walking back to the house. Once again Quinn and Derek followed in quick succession.

  “Can I ask you guys a question?” I asked slowing down until they were beside me. They nodded.

  “How come you are so tall and I am short?” They both laughed.

  “Well, being tigers takes a lot of muscles and strength which is why we look like this. Now, you on the other hand, I don’t know, because you also change into a big tiger. Your mom wasn’t very tall I have been told, so you probably took after her” Derek said.

  “Derek your only two years older than me. Don’t act like you knew my Mom for any length of time” I said sounding a little rude. My mom was a touchy subject and instantly I went into a defense.

  “Hey what does it sound like listening to people’s thoughts?” Derek asked quite excited changing the subject.

  “Well, it’s kind of like people shouting over a loud speaker. You’re easy to read Derek. Like right now I know you can’t wait to go hunting tonight” I said looking at him.

  “But it’s hard to read Dad, Uncle Tyler, or Uncle Allen, with them it’s all snarls and I have to really dig to find out anything through with Uncle Bill” I said informing them both on my mental abilities.

  “So Uncle Mike is pretty strict huh? Derek asked changing the subject yet again.

  “Yeah he is, but I know now it was for good reason. Your comment about me being so rare made me realize why he is so strict”.

  “Oh no Lana, you miss understood. I was talking about the species, but you being a girl is also rare. I think there are only, like, twenty female tigers left. We’re a dying race” Derek said shrugging. He was just easier to get along with and didn’t seem to pry or push any issue I wanted left alone.

  “Do you want to hunt with us tonight?” Quinn asked.

  “Oh I haven’t hunted yet without my dad. He was the one who killed the buck for me last night and to be honest, I am not looking forward it.”

  Quinn stopped “Not looking forward to it, why not?” he asked looking shocked.

  “I am not very good at it. I am better at the telepathy thing plus,

  I don’t like waking up naked since the only time
I am ever naked is in the shower” I said conflicted as to why I was sharing so much information.” Oh I’m sorry that was a little too much information.” I said looking at Quinn scared I might have just frightened him off. “So it’s the change back that you aren’t looking forward to then, not the hunt itself” He smiled widely. “Yeah you could say that, though the thought of killing something is kind of repulsive maybe im just being too much of a girl”

  “No! Not at all” he said with a small chuckle.

  “Hey Lana can I ask you a real personal question?” Derek asked in a weary tone.

  “Ok” I said a little skeptical. “Is it true your still an um… you know” he asked. Without having to read his thoughts I knew what he meant.

  “Yes it’s true” I said mentally kicking myself for clearly letting them both know I was still a virgin.

  “WOW, really?” Derek said like it was a miracle.

  “Damn, I lost mine when I was like ten years old. You know we all have an animal magnetism kind of thing and it is hard to resist.” Derek said looking at me seriously. I laughed.

  “Well, you clearly don’t know the people where I live. I am just a bug on the wall compared to other girls my age” I said as we came into the clearing of the cabin. Quinn smiled and said “I doubt that”. I felt my face redden.

  “What about you Quinn, you still one to?” I asked since we were all talking about sex. Thought I might as well see if he was experienced.

  “No, I am not. I lost mind when I was thirteen.” He said shrugging like it was no big deal.

  ‘Wow I am way behind huh?” I said feeling my face getting hotter.

  “How old are you Lana?” Quinn asked tilting his head to look down at me.

  “I’m seventeen” I said as my face dropped a little.

  “And you changed for your first time last night?” Quinn said looking puzzled.

  “Yeah, why is that bad?” I asked confused as to why that would be a bad thing.

  “Well… It’s a little odd. See usually when puberty hits the change happens. Since you are seventeen, I am guessing you have already hit puberty an all… ” Quinn said trying to look away embarrassed. Understanding what he meant, I quickly interrupted.

  “Oh yeah. I did all that when I was ten and actually that was the last time I was here” A comfortable silenced ensued leaving everyone time to gather thoughts and reason out details.

  Just before reaching the house to break the uncomfortable silence I said, “Well at least now I know why my Dad freaked out so badly when I started” You couldn’t mistake the smile on my face. I was remembering my dad’s horrified expression when I told him I had started my period.

  “Lana ! ! ! ” my dad bellowed from the back doorway, speak of the devil. He was outside with his fists clinched at the sight of me walking with Quinn I hear from his thoughts.

  “I gotta go, see you guys later” I said waving and closed the distance to the house.

  “What are you wearing?” Dad asked the minute I was close enough for him not to yell. I looked down and since I had been wet when I put back on my clothes, my white t-shirt was see-through and my shorts were damp. Quinn and Derek hadn’t said or thought anything suggestive about me at all. I would have to remember that.

  “Oh I went swimming at the lake Dad. Sorry next time I’ll bring a bigger towel”. I said going inside. “Lana there is a lot of young men with raging hormones here. So day after tomorrow we are going home. Okay?” he said looking at me sternly.

  “Ok. Whatever you say.” I said rolling my eyes and we proceeded into the house.

  “Lana, I want you to be careful around Quinn” he said unexpectantly.

  “Why is he dangerous?” I said in a sarcastic voice.

  “No, I like him, but you are young, and now that you have changed, you’re going to go through some… . Uh… hormonal changes” he said trying to avoid my eyes. I giggled.

  “What do you mean hormonal changes?” Half of me was curious and the other half wanted to make Dad squirm.

  “Lana you are going to start feeling um… ” he started.

  “Spit it out dad. I’m not sure I can handle anymore secrets”. He took in a deep breath.

  “Lana I want to talk to you about sex” he said turning red. I jumped up from the couch where he had led me to. I seemed to be doing that a lot of lately.

  “Dad we are not having this conversation, I went through sex education in the eighth grade remember!” I nearly yelled. This was not the time, nor place for this conversation.

  “I know Lana, but now your hormones will be intensified, because of the “animal magnetism”, as they call it” he said matter-of-factly motioning to the oncoming group of feral men at the back door.

  “Dad, Quinn and I are just friends. Trust me. I am not planning of giving my virginity to anybody soon. So stop worrying about me ok” I said patting him on the back.

  He smiled at the fact of me offering up the detail of me still being a virgin. He thought I lost it a year ago when Michael kept coming around. My face fell. “Ewe, Dad. I didn’t even like him” I said giving him a gross look.

  “Lana, I told you to stay out of my head” he protested.

  “Sorry” I said smiling. Dad stood up and gave me a hug. I heard a faint quiver in his voice,

  “I just don’t want you to grow up to fast” he said looking down at me. I gave him a smile and hugged him tightly.

  “Dad, I am going be growing up rather you like it or not. It’s just a part of life” I said holding him.

  “I know but I still don’t like it. If your mother were still here… . ” His voice trailed off, he took a deep breath and let me go before he walked into the kitchen. Dad always got a little emotional when he thought about my mother. I threw my shields up; I figured he wanted time alone with his memories.

  I went back outside to see what Derek and Quinn were doing. I sat on the steps of the porch and watched them throw a football. Quinn was not wearing a shirt and I watched all of his upper body tense as he retracted his arm to throw the ball. They were so comfortable in their own skin I was almost jealous. Not that a girl can get away with these actions without being label something derogatory.

  Although it wasn’t a particularly hot day, his skin had a sheen of sweat that was very sexy. I felt my body growing warmer as I watched. I could feel my nipples straining against the fabric and my panties felt damp at the fantasy I was creating. Derek looked at me and asked. “You alright?”

  Quinn sniffed the air and I swear his eyes were dilated.

  “Lana, you’re beginning to smell really good” he said staring at me dreamily.

  Wow. Ok, maybe dad was right I thought I stood up and rubbed my palms on my thighs. I wasn’t hot from the sun, but my palms were sweaty. I turned to go in the house and Bryson was there sitting on the porch. He looked at me, sniffed.

  “Wow, Lana what perfume you wearing?” He asked as he looked at me up and down. The core of my body started to shake. I ran into the house.

  “Dad” I yelled. He came running down stairs sensing the emergency in my tone.

  “Lana?’ He grabbed my shoulders and then he caught my scent. I watched his eyes dilate.

  “Dad, not you too, what’s going on?” He was trying very hard not to breathe. He was actually holding his breath as he grabbed my arm and took me upstairs. Just to roughly shoved me in my room.

  “Take a shower now!” He yelled as he slammed the bedroom door. I was a little frightened and did not understand these reactions. I came to him for an explanation and all I got was more of an alarm going off. I smelled my hair and clothes, but I couldn’t smell anything out of the ordinary; lake water and a faint scent of some shampoo. I took a shower as my dad ordered scrubbing more intently then normal hoping to scrub away the illusive offending odor.

 
; When I was done I smelled my hair again, nothing but the smell of soap and shampoo. I got dressed, putting on different clothes in case I had something on my clothes that had caused this reaction. I opened the door into the hallway, dad was standing against the wall reminding me of a bodyguard. He closed his eyes and sniffed. He expelled a loud sigh of relief.

  “Ok Dad now will you tell me what just happened?” I asked looking up at him.

  “What were you doing outside before you ran in the house?” he asked in an accusing tone.

  “Nothing I was just standing outside watching Derek and Quinn throw the football around” I told him confused by his question.

  “Lana you smelled like you were in heat” he said irritably.

  “I smelt like what?!” I asked still confused.

  “Lana when you get aroused you put off a very distinguished smell and it is intoxicating around men. Can you please just try to hold onto your hormones until we leave” he told me.

  I started to turn red. “Sorry dad. Is there anything else I should know?” I asked him. I was a little irritated that all of my emotions and thoughts were no longer my private feelings.

  “Yes, you will be hunting with me tonight, so don’t think you are going with Derek and Quinn especially now since your hormones are out of whack”. I felt anger building. What? Did he I had so much control to do this on purpose? Did I do anything wrong? This was so typical of him, always telling me what to do. I was feeling very rebellious and wanted to fight back. Coming to my senses, I knew I would lose in the long run. So I bit my tongue, shrugged my shoulders and went down stairs.

  Everyone was in the kitchen or dining room, preparing dinner. When I came down most of my cousins closed their eyes and smelled the air. You couldn’t help but hear the sighs of relief, much as my dad had done. I smiled and looked elsewhere, which in a house full of people was hard to do. Uncle Tyler came over to me.

  “You look a little different” he said grabbing a piece of my hair. I pulled away.