SHADOW
“That’s the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard. Given the threat outside this compound, you can’t go wandering outside.” My idea didn’t sound appealing to Lyon. It never would. Of course, why did I have to be surprised? He knew the ins and outs of the territory. He was the lead warrior, after all.
“You can’t also lock me up inside, Lyon.” I turned to Califf, who hadn’t said anything but was tapping his fingers on his desk. “And you don’t have a say in this? That’s odd, given what we talked about last night.”
“I don’t wanna fight with you, but Lyon is right, baby.”
I widened my eyes at him. He just called me baby before his men. My face flushed.
“They know. They can smell my scent on you.”
“I took a shower and applied a lot of deodorant.” My face was probably beet red right now, making him smile, and he didn’t even try to hide it from these men.
I squeezed my eyes briefly and breathed deeply before facing Lyon, Zack, Tor, and Kairo. “Really?”
They nodded in unison with their smiles and shrugged.
“I’m probably the first to notice it, just right after you crashed my skull,” Zack confirmed.
“No. I think Beta Duke,” Lyon stated.
“Wrong. Kindra knew before all of you.”
“For real?” I looked at Califf, surprised.
“She said pretty name for a pretty lady when you woke up in the confinement.”
I sighed, sagging my shoulders with exaggeration. “My secret is out.”
“I found out during the challenge. You all didn’t?” Lyon asked them. “Well, Alpha could make you kneel. I thought that’s what happened.”
“Agh. Don’t change the topic. I’m going.”
“With Zack and Lyon.”
“No offense, Alpha, but I can take them down. I don’t need them. I can take care of myself.” It looked like my argument would not even tempt him.
“No offense, Shadow, but we have training since we were pups.”
“Just shut up, Kairo. You don’t know what she’s capable of.” Tor turned his head to Kairo. “She almost broke my head.”
“Shadow, sometimes you have to listen to me. If they weren’t there, you could probably be with Keane right now, and Goddess knows what they do to you. Sorry for being strict and controlling, but I need to protect you. Take Zack and Lyon with you, or I will drive you there.”
“You have a lot of things to do here. We already have many problems, and you are needed here than my errands, and you’re already short of enforcers.”
“Fine,” he said with a growl before he looked at Zack. “Take care of her. Report to me every ten minutes.”
“Jeez. Every hour.”
“I will protect her with my life, Alpha.”
“Can I go with you, guys?” Kairo asked.
“No. You stay here. I need you to keep an eye on Santi. You also have an understanding of computers aside from Zack. He’s going to upgrade our system. I wanna make sure he won’t jeopardize our security and computer system by installing virus or rat or whatever.”
“Got it, Alpha.”
“The rest will have the same assignment. Duke is working on a project I can’t disclose for now. You’re dismissed.”
Everyone left except for Zack and me.
“Thanks. I’ll go up and pack.”
“You’re coming home right away. No hotel overnight.”
“Yes, of course, Alpha. I already got the location from Kent, and we’re just waiting for the meeting place.”
“Why can’t you just call the person we’re meeting?” Zack asked, still had no idea who we were going to meet.
“It doesn’t work like that. She’s cynical considering her line of work.”
“What kind of work?”
“Can’t tell you that right now, Zack, but you’ll find out soon.” I went to the door. “I’ll be back, Alpha.”
I went back to my room, where my things just arrived early this morning. I hadn’t unpacked yet, but the boxes were carefully labeled. I took a shirt and jeans from the suitcase and put them on when I sensed his presence.
“You also wanna watch me change?”
“Yeah. I wanna watch you 24/7 if I could.”
“I’ll be fine, Alpha. I promise.” I turned around once I was done buttoning my jeans. I linked my fingers at the back of his neck, tiptoed, and kissed him on the lips. “I will be careful. If I sense someone’s odd, I will call you right away. Okay?”
He sighed and cupped my head. “Look at me.”
I met him in the eyes. “You look handsome.”
“I know. I just want you to know that I can’t forgive myself if something happens to you. Right now, I already feel like walking on a rope with a fire below. Be careful.” He kissed my lips. It was different than how he had kissed me before. This time, it was a sweet, passionate, toe-curling, heart-pumping, foot-popping kiss.
We broke apart, staring at each other, when something dropped on the floor.
“What’s that?” Our eyes were on the square white envelope.
“I have no idea. An invitation.” He picked it up. “Nothing is written on the envelope.”
“Because it’s probably not intended for you.” I took it from him. The cursive penmanship suddenly appeared written in gold. It was the address. “Holy shit. Can you see this?” I showed it to him.
“No.” He shook his head. “I guess the mobile phone doesn’t work in their area and is pretty convenient than adding another bill.”
“I can’t share the address with you. For my eyes only, but do you trust me?” I looked at him. I wanted him to trust me because this meeting was important to me.
“I do, baby. But that woman, I don’t trust.”
“That’s good enough. She won’t hurt me unless I hurt her. She told Kent about my background. That’s a reason enough for me to see her.”
“Okay, baby. Please, take care?” I could feel the worry in his voice and saw it deep in his eyes.
I hugged him tight. “I will.”
I met Zack waiting for me outside the house. The pack house still amazed me. It looked like an English country house, big enough to fit half his pack.
“Ready?” He already opened the passenger door for me.
“Yes.” I waved my hand at Califf at the door. “Mata ne, Alpha.”
We hit the road, hoping it turned out uneventfully.
“Now it’s the time to tell me where we are going. Because I’m driving, I need a destination.”
“Just straight ahead. We’re four hours away.”
“Okay.” He relaxed before he asked, “So, you and Alpha, huh?”
“You don’t sound surprised.” I turned my head to his side.
“He called me to continue your training and said to keep it professional.”
“Really? I didn’t know that.”
“Yeah. And he was too confident you could win.”
“Probably because I have a good trainer.”
“I just walked you through, and you did all that. I have a feeling that you intended to get hurt to make it look like you couldn’t snap Tor’s neck.”
I squinted my eyes. “I did that? Bruising myself pretty bad and breaking my nose?”
“Yeah. You were really holding back.”
“Probably.” I hid my smile. Then my phone vibrated.
“Alpha is already checking on you?”
I checked the caller ID. “No. It’s not him.” I answered it. “Hello?”
“Raven.” It was a woman’s voice, maybe in her late twenties or early thirties.
“Who’s this? It’s Shadow.”
“To the human world, yes. Did you get the address I sent to you?” Oh, the witch.
“Yes. It’s with me.”
“Memorize it and throw it in the air.”
“Okay?” My answer sounded unsure. Even Zack stole a glance at me.
“See you soon.” The call hung up.
I picked up the envelope and memorized the address. I opened the window and threw it in the air. I watched it burn to ash. “Wow.”
“What happened?”
“The witch-”
“Wait. We’re meeting a witch?” His eyes widened.
“Yeah. I have some questions. She’s the one who called me to memorize the address and throw it in the air. And it lit up, burned, and turned to ash.”
“Weird, huh.”
“Yeah.”
Four hours later, we arrived at the address. It was a Victorian cottage-style house. The entrance had ivy vines, and the lawn was covered with flowers. I could smell the spices and sage coming from that house.
“Are you sure this is the right place?”
“Yeah. I can feel the surge of energy around.”
“I don’t feel or smell anything.” He sniffed the air.
“Really? I smell cinnamon incense, cloves, and sage. We’re in the right place.”
I pushed the iron-wrought door. It was surprisingly unlocked. Probably, a witch doesn’t need a human security system or padlock. I entered the entrance that had me gasping. I felt a force of energy rush in my body.
My heart skipped. A shiver crept on my skin. It felt like I passed through thick bubbles until I heard a thud behind me.
“Shadow!”