Lunar wolves: The chase (Book 2) - Complete

Chapter 1 - Willow is back

Willow

The castle was colder than I remembered. I looked up at the huge building as we drove up to the huge wooden front doors. It had been a month and I still didn’t know why we had to go back there at all. We could have hired people to take care of this.

The driver opened the door for me and I put my black stiletto heel down on the paved driveway, holding out my hand for him to help me climb out of the car. Dressed in a black tight-fitting skirt with a slit up the back.

Black stockings, black jacket, and silver blouse. I took off my gloves, put my clutch under my arm, and looked up at the balcony where I could feel him looking at me. I looked up slowly from underneath my designer hat and smiled.

My dark red lips turning up on the sides. He still took my breath away each time I saw him. I might be angry at him, but I had to admit, I couldn’t stay away from him. He was only supposed to have arrived a week after me, but somehow the council had him sneaked in that morning.

The housekeeper greeted me at the front door, ready with her report. She followed me, bringing me up to date on everything on our walk-up to the executive offices. I unlocked my office, putting everything down on the chair in front of my desk.

“And that room? It has been sealed as asked?” I stood at the window looking out at the gardens, imagining that awful bedroom Isobel loved so much.

“Yes Ma’am. You won’t even know that there is a room. The decorators did a great job in covering it with the wall as per your specifications.” Brumilda sounded as professional as normal. Not a hint of emotion in her voice.

“Good. One last thing before you go. I want dinner to be served in Mr. Silver-fox’s personal living room tonight. He has been under immense strain in the past month and I don’t want gossip upsetting him on his first night back. Please take care of it yourself. I don’t want his arrival to become common knowledge as yet.” I looked her straight in the eyes.

I knew that the entire household probably already knew that Radagast was home, but this way I could make sure she made sure none of them whispered about it.

“Understood.” She nodded, turned abruptly, and left. Looking around my office, I noted the decorators followed my every instruction. All traces of Isobel had been removed and my office from downstairs was now right next to my darling Radagast.

The office he had designed for me. Removing my hat and my jacket, I opened my laptop to get some work done. He might be upstairs resting, but I still had a company to run on his behalf. He signed power of attorney over to me in one of his drunken rages, so I could make the necessary decisions on his behalf for the company.

He was basically just the face of the company for now … and not a good one. But I was sure it was all just temporary and that I would soon have my strong Radagast back. Losing that horrible sun-shining sister of mine couldn’t possibly have been that bad.

The time in the office in the city lasted a total of three hours before he went back up to the apartment and got drunk again. It was all a farce to get the council to agree to his plan. From the whispers in the office, I could tell that my Radagast wasn’t back yet.

I spent the rest of my day replying to e-mails, making calls, arranging meetings, and all-round, working my a*s off. By the time dinner rolled around, I heard my cell ringing next to me and was frightened by the sound.

“Hey, just checking if you are still around.” Radagast’s voice sounded lonely.

“I’m sorry Radagast! I didn’t see the time! I’ll be right up.” I gasped when I looked at my watch, leaving everything in my office behind. I locked up and almost ran upstairs.

Frank

“Border patrol tells me that there is movement at the castle.” I told Melissa when we sat outside on the porch having coffee. Things around there weren’t as relaxed anymore. I strengthened the security around my girls, which, of course, made them all very angry at me. Apparently “I ruined their lives, and they had grown up enough to look after themselves”.

“Is Willow back?” Melissa sat up straight, looking at me with wide, teary eyes.

“What would you do if you knew my love?” I asked her, feeling heartbroken. Out of everyone in our family, Melissa took Willow’s betrayal the hardest. Not believing that one of her daughters could turn on her family in such a cruel way, going against everything she was taught.

“I don’t know.” She turned away from me, looking out into the distance again, her hands on her lap, her fingers fidgeting in a knot.

“Yes, she is back my love. There is no sign of Radagast, but with Willow’s return we can be sure he will be back soon.” I watched as a single tear rolled down the cheek of my darling wife. I wanted so much to see Willow and shake some sense into my daughter! But for Melissa’s sake, I kept my feelings to myself so I could be strong for her. She knew best how to handle the situation with our daughter.

“Yes, he will be back soon. She would not have come to the castle alone. What do they think they will accomplish by moving back? There is nothing left here for them!” She stood up in anger, her arms clinging to her sides, her hands in such tight fists her knuckles turned white.

“I guess, we will only know when they make their move.” I got up, took the two steps towards her, and slid my arms around her tiny waist, putting my cheek against hers. Her skin was cold and clammy. “When last have you eaten properly?”

“I can’t keep anything down.” She sighed.

“Hmmm.” It has been a tough enough time for our family, and it seemed that things were about to get even tougher.

Radagast

I watched from the top balcony as the car pulled up and Willow stepped out. Catching her quick look, I took a sip of my drink and walked back into the sitting room. All this, cloak and dagger movements were irritating the daylights out of me, but the council insisted that it be done this way if I wanted to return home.

It was part of my protection plan to keep the wolves away from me for as long as possible.

“Well,” her smooth voice filled the room. “That’s done. Pour me one if you don’t mind.” She walked into the living room, kicking off her shoes. Dropping her clutch bag on the couch, she walked up to me with a smile. “Is everything to your liking?” Her blood-red lips touched the glass when she took a sip of the whiskey.

“Yes, except for the fact that I am now a prisoner in my own home.” I groaned, turning around and walking away from her. I knew all her tricks and was not in the mood after having to travel like a peasant to get here. “Do you have to do that?” I asked, waving around the room.

“Do what?” She asked, looking a bit irritated.

“Leave all your stuff all over the place. Go put it in your room, and didn’t your parents teach you to keep your shoes on when you are in the presence of company?” I asked, not wanting her in my space at the moment. I knew I had just called her a couple of minutes ago, but the moment she walked in and started leaving her stuff all over the place, she irritated me!

All I really wanted was to go straight to our room when I arrived, but the door had already been closed as I instructed, and I was angry at myself. I still wanted to smell her presence around me and Willow had taken that away from me! I knew I was being unreasonable, and it wasn’t her fault, but I needed someone to blame.

“My apologies, your Highness… I will leave then!” I saw her face turn red in anger when she picked up her things and stormed out of the room. Exactly what part of mourning the loss of my wife and unborn child did she not understand.

Stepping out onto the balcony again, I looked over the forest. Flashes of a majestic white wolf running through the trees jumped to mind, and I shook my head to try and get rid of them.

“UGH!!!” The glass went flying onto the wall to my right, smashing into little shards of rainbow light. I stormed into the castle walking through the passages to the new room I had chosen to stay in. It was one of the guest rooms, decorated in the generic family colours.

I didn’t want to see my parent’s rooms and was thinking of having that entire side of the castle locked up all together so I wouldn’t have to think about it anymore. I would find one of the other royal rooms on the opposite side of the castle to make my own.

Finding no alcohol in the room, I decided to just go to bed. Traveling had made me tired and irritable, and I had an early morning to deal with the next day.

Glinda

“Wow girl! You are doing good!” Gareth beamed at me while we were busy training. Dad appointed so many guards for us that I started feeling claustrophobic! So, when I asked him if I could train to be able to protect myself, he was ecstatic with my suggestion and immediately appointed one of the warriors as my trainer.

Circe and Tabatha had a lot more experience than I did and didn’t want to train, but I loved kicking Gareth’s butt at least once or twice a day. It also kept me distracted from everything else that was happening.

“I would say I’m doing better than good!” I ducked one of his punches, kicking his legs right out from under him, making him fall to the ground. I jumped him, pinning him… almost, his weight gave him the advantage.

“A bit too overconfident, don’t you think?” He grinned when I tried to get out from under him. Out of breath, I gave up.

“Okay, okay, I give. But only because I’m tired.” I giggled. He got up, holding out his hand to help me.

“Glinda, I’m being serious. You are getting better by the day, but you are not strong enough to take on a fight on your own yet.” He looked concerned.

“Dude… what are you thinking… I’m not going to go pick a fight with a boxer or something!” I smacked his arm and laughed.

“Hmmm… I’m just checking, I know you better than you think.” Handing me my water bottle and towel, he took a drink from his bottle.

“Yes, big bro! I’ll behave, I pinkie swear.” I held out my pinkie, smiling at him. He hooked his in mine laughing at me.

“See, as I said… way too young still.” He ducked when I tried and punch him. “Too slow!!” He laughed, making me laugh.

“Hey you two, are you done yet? Dad wants to talk to all of us.” Circe walked into the training room.

“Yeah, I kicked his butt! What does Dad want?” I asked when Circe looked serious.

“I have no idea, but he said You and Gareth have to come. Now please.” She clapped her hands when we didn’t move fast enough to her liking. I bumped my shoulder against his.

“Yes, slowpoke, move.” I giggled, running ahead. I hated having to stay in my sweaty training clothes, but if Dad called for a meeting like that, there was no time to go take a shower, so he would just have to take it like a man. I ran up to him, jumping onto his lap when I reached him, sitting on his chair behind his desk.

“Glinda!! You are going to break his legs one of these days!!” Mom reprimanded me.

“Hi Daddy.” I kissed his cheek.

“Hi baby girl… you know you stink.” He grinned at me and I grinned back.

“Yeah.” I laughed, climbing off as the rest joined us in his office. Gareth and I took our seats as far away from everyone as possible, giggling when they all pulled up their noses.

“Well, I guess there is no other way than to just put it out there. Willow is back.”