ROWAN
NB: Conversations between characters and their wolves are made internally.
“Now, what do you have for me?”
“I gave him the note as you requested,” Alden says as he walks towards me to hand me a disk. “It took a while for him to get what you wanted but he got it.”
I take the disk for him before placing it into my laptop. A few clicks later and a series of moving images play before me.
Different, unfamiliar wolves can be seen moving around the city in one video, on another we can see two different sets fighting with each other, while a few others watch from the sidelines.
“They are not together,” I mutter quietly.
“No, they are not.”
“This is a mess,” I mutter on a sigh. “What was their aim? Did they come together to attack us and have a falling out? If so, then their packs should not be fighting with each other now. Or did they just meet coincidentally in that field?”
“That seems unlikely.”
“We need to capture one of them and question them,” I say.
“While I can see the reason for that, it might not go so well with the packs. They will see it as an act of aggression in our path,” Alden cautions.
“They came for us! Let’s not delude ourselves on that fact, they came for us! To attack us! I couldn’t care less what they see it as. I want answers.”
He says nothing to my outburst, just waiting for me to calm down.
“Did you find anything in the man that was with Louis.”
“No,” he answers. “I asked around with an image of him and no one knew who he was. He must have come with the wolves but we don’t see him with them, like he was deliberately avoiding the cameras. In fact, the only time he is caught on camera is when he approaches Louis.”
“Like he had no choice to,” I say. “Do me a favor, find out the time we left and see if any of those sets of wolves left too at the same time or within the same time.”
He nods before taking the laptop to do as he is told.
While he does that, I think back on my reaction to Louis.
He must think I am so weird right now. A crazy person for sure.
Who reacts like that when someone tries to kiss them.
Their own mate for that matter.
Still…
He didn’t react like he was disgusted or put off by me.
He had seemed… understanding.
Gentle.
Protective.
And even the flash of anger I had seen was not directed at me, he did try to pull it back.
Did he suspect?
Why I reacted like that?”
He has to.
I mean, how many people freak out like that because of a kiss.
Only those who were abused.
Oh, this is confusing.
I wish I could know what he thinks right now.
“Why?”
The question startles me and it takes a brief short second to realize it came from my wolf.
“Oh, would you look at that?” I snark. “You finally deign to speak to me.”
“Why do you want to know what he thinks of you?”she asks, completely ignoring my words. “I thought you didn’t care about the whole mate business. And didn’t want a mate and all that other nonsense.”
“Nonsense? Nonsense?!” I rage at her. “How can you say that? You know why I am not enamored with the idea. Domi-”
“Enough!”she snaps. “Enough with Dominic. The bastard most likely thinks you are dead and has gone on living his own life! Why would you let him control yours like this?!”
“I-”
“For years,” she plows on. “Every decision you have made has been colored by what he did. You can’t continue to live like that. You can’t let him win. Yes, Dominic assaulted you but he is just one man. A weak, pathetic, shortsighted and abhorrent man. Not everyone is like that. And if you keep looking at people through the broken lenses that Dominik gave you, you will never really be happy in life.
“if you want to really prove that you have overcome him, that he has no power over you, you will live your life to the fullest without fear. He tried to break you, will you let him succeed.”
“It is easy for you to say. You are not human!” I snap back.
“No, I am not. We wolves don’t force ourselves on each other. We don’t disrespect our chosen mate. It is you people that do that. ”
“What? I have never…”
“You have been given a second chance with a mate and you’re spitting in his face. He has treated you with courtesy, loved your daughter without any holds barred, protected you so that no one will see your tears and you are still hung up on a man that should have been drowned at birth. If that is not disrespect then I don’t know what is! And just so we are clear, we wolves kill anyone who would dare harm us. If you are still so butt hurt about him, go find him and kill him. You know you can.”
“Enough!” I snap out loud as I get to my feet, startling Alden.
“Guia?”
“Not you,”I say as I move out from behind my desk. “Continue what you are doing, I am going for a walk.”
Disrespect.
Me?
What about the disrespect done to me?
Am. i not entitled to my anger?
To my caution?
What does she know? She is a wolf.
Not even human.
“Oh, okay. Last question then.”
I stop in my tracks as Jhenelle’s voice flows over to me.
Turning, I see her with Louis kneeling before her and Lisa a few steps away.
What are they doing? I wonder as I head I’ve to get closer to them.
“Shoot.”
“Do you like my mummy?”
I watch a surprised look flash across his face before he settles into a gentle smile.
“Yes, yes I do.”