Chapter 3 - Not safe anywhere ...
2463 Words
Willow
“Could have fooled me.” I crossed my arms, but I didn’t have any resistance when it came to him.
“I promise. Once we have your sisters in the dungeons so I can feed off their energy, you and I can finally work on us. I just need their energy, that is all.” He sighed deeply. I searched his eyes for the truth, but I knew what he was thinking and what the real truth would be in the end.
It would probably be the complete opposite. Pulling me closer to him, he kisses me. Unable to resist, I returned his kiss even though I didn’t believe his words.
“Fine. Dinner, just the two of us tonight?” I hoped, especially after the tension that had sprung up between the two of us in the last couple of days.
“Sure.” He started to walk out of the office, turning back inside the door. “Wear that little black see-through thing you bought last week.” Then he disappeared. I bought them two months ago! UGH!!! I called the kitchen to tell them what to put on the menu for dinner.
At least I would have his full attention tonight for a change. It had been a while since…
Glinda
“I can get used to being called Princess… especially if it’s Gareth.” Lowella almost drooled.
“You are kidding me right now!” I knew she had a crush on Gareth … But eew!
“No! He’s cute.” She drooled again.
“I think we need a mani-pedi. At least there he won’t join us in the shop.” I changed the subject and walked into the spa ready to book at the reception when Gareth leaned against the desk right behind me. Checking out his nails.
“What a great idea! Make that two.” He waved at the receptionist. “Even us boys need to look good.” He winked at the receptionist. She showed us to seats and I looked at him as if he had just lost the plot. Gareth of all people getting a mani-pedi and there I was getting ready for some alone time!
“What are you doing?” I whispered through gritted teeth.
“Protecting you, with the added bonus of some treatment.” He grinned at me.
“URG!!” If my fingers and toes weren’t already soaked in the treatment oils, I would have jumped up and left him right there! Deciding not to let him spoil my treat, I closed my eyes and leaned back into the chair.
“Hi girls. Just a little around the edges. Yeah! Thank you. I know.” His voice drifted past me. Were they honestly complimenting him on his damn cuticles!! I sat upright, looking his way. My face slowly turning red with fury.
“Glinda? Are you okay? You look a little parched. Will one of you please get my friend some water.” He grinned from ear to ear, and I was about to explode! Taking a deep breath, I lay back down, this time, not without putting my earphones in my ears. Two can play that game. I felt someone shaking my shoulder and opened my eyes, looking right into his. I heard bells playing and wondered when he turned into an angel…
“Glinda! You fell asleep.” He pulled the earphones out of my ears.
“Oh, how long have I been sleeping?” I suddenly felt really embarrassed.
“Not long. They just finished our nails. Anything else you want to do at the spa?” He was laughing at me and the girls were snickering. What happened? What did I miss? I stood up and pulled him down to my level.
“Why is everyone laughing?” I hissed.
“Oh that… Don’t worry about it. They were just laughing at a joke I told them.” He looked around the room and they stopped.
“No, I think I’ve had enough of the spa for today.” I walked to the change rooms and when I walked out the door, he was ready and waiting, this time holding out his elbow for me to hook into. “Isn’t this fraternizing with the boss’s daughter?”
“Not when she has a habit of trying to escape. Besides, your dad likes me.” He winked at me and I tried to pull my hand out of his grip, but he had me in a tight hold.
“I can always scream.” I smiled at a couple walking past us.
“Sure, you can go ahead… once you’ve cried wolf once, you won’t be able to come to your favourite mall ever again.” He walked into the first shop as if knowing where I wanted to go.
“This is not where I want to go,” I said, this time sounding upset.
“Oh? Didn’t you want the boots you have been talking about for the past two days?” Huh? Did he actually listen to me talking about fashion while we were practicing?
“Well, if you also remember… I told you my dad wouldn’t give me the money to buy them.” I frowned, feeling very confused.
“Yeah, I know… but I want to buy them for you.” WHAT?! I looked at him wide-eyed. Did he just… we walked up to the sales lady, and he pointed at the boots? “What size, darling?” he asked, smiling lovingly at me.
I gave the girl my size and when she returned, I could see the jealous looks she threw my way when Gareth, out of the blue, kneeled in front of me to help me fit the boots. What had gotten into this man?!
“There, perfect fit. What do you think?” He smiled. I decided to play along, to find out what game he was playing at.
“Oh Gareth! They are perfect! Thank you.” Jumping up, I jumped into his arms the second he stood up, placing an innocent peck on his lips, watching him blush a soft pink.
“We will take them. Please box them for me.” he told the sales girl who was still watching us with jealousy. Gareth handed his card to one of the other guys, who paid for the shoes and took them back to the car.
“Why did you do that? You didn’t have to, you know?” I frowned when we left the store.
“Oh, I know.” He smiled, still holding onto my hand as we walked through the passages of the mall, walking into the photography department. I paid for the new lens that I ordered and couldn’t wait to get back home and try it, but I couldn’t let him see how eager I was.
We walked through a couple of stores but finally, my excitement got the better of me, and I was ready to go back home.
“The Princess wants to leave the building,” I announced, and he burst out laughing.
“Oh, she does, does she? Well, I guess we better get her back home then.” Laughing, he called over the radio, and we made our way out of the mall and back into the vehicles. Just as I was about to climb into the SUV, I noticed a man in a blue beat-up old Mazda with a camera pointed in my direction.
Knowing better than to hesitate, I climbed into the car.
“Gareth, we are being followed. Blue beat-up Mazda in the parking lot. He got pictures.” I quickly said before we could even pull away. He must have seen me because he pulled out of the parking area before our guys could even register what I had just said.
“Damn! Don’t worry honey, we will find him. There can’t be many cars like his around. Did you see what he looks like? Can you identify him?” Gareth’s face instantly changed from happy to serious.
“No, it was too fast.” My heart raced.
“Okay, let’s get you home, Princess.” The car sped away from the mall, and we drove into the pack grounds, parking in front of the main house. The driver took out my bag with my new shoes, handed it to me and Gareth followed me inside.
“Go on upstairs. I will talk to your father.” Gareth nodded at the stairs and I rushed to avoid showing him the tears in my eyes.
“What happened?” I heard mom, but I didn’t turn around.
“We were followed.” Gareth sounded grim.
Frank
“What? Already?” I knew this would happen, I just didn’t think it would happen so fast.
“No Sir, I believe that they have been watching the girls since before Isobel’s death. This guy must have known Glinda’s routine. The moment he saw us, he drove away. He was parked in a spot where he could keep an eye on the exact exit we used today, and he was in no hurry,” Gareth explained.
“Are you sure? I don’t want someone from the inside leaking information again.” I felt uneasy after the information I had just heard. I thought it was safe for Glinda to go. I would never have let her go if I thought she would be in danger in the human town.
“I’m sure Sir. All pack protocol was changed after the attack. If they decide to attack here, they will be fighting blindly. If it wasn’t for Glinda’s sharp photographic eyes, we probably wouldn’t have even seen this guy.” Gareth sighed.
“Yes, her sense of detail has always been staggering.” Melissa frowned.
“Gareth, I don’t want her going out in public again. At least not until we know more about this photographer.” I instructed Gareth and he nodded.
“Excuse me? Someone invades my privacy and I have to stay put?! You can’t be serious, dad! I was the one who spotted him!!” Glinda stomped her foot like she did when she was young, right after storming into the office. Or at least younger. I couldn’t help but laugh at the image of a three-year-old Glinda stomping her foot at me when she wanted something.
“Daddy! It’s not funny!” She shouted as I laughed out loud. It felt good to laugh again. Especially after all the sorrow we had been through the past couple of weeks.
“I’m sorry my darling, that is not why I was laughing. I’m sorry. But I have to keep you safe. You are my baby and your mother will never forgive me if anything happened to you. You are to remain within the pack grounds, under the watch of Gareth, until further notice.” I knew she wouldn’t be happy, but we had no other choice.
“UGHHH!!!” She turned on her heel and walked out of my office.
“Don’t worry Sir. I will keep an eye on her.” Gareth blushed and smiled.
“Thank you, Gareth.”
Glinda
Dad couldn’t be serious! I stomped outside, stripped behind a tree, and shifted, running into the forest.
“I know you are there, Gareth.” I heard him as soon as I left the house. “Can’t I even have privacy around the pack territory?”
His wolf walked up to me. Dark chocolate brown in color and the same size as me. He was big for a normal pack member and, because I was Alpha born, I was bigger than the rest. His glowing amber eyes caught mine.
“No, you can’t. I’m not going to let anything happen to you on my watch, Princess,” he said through the pack mind link.
“Well, if you insist on coming with me, then let’s go.” I ran towards the river hearing him follow behind me. “You better not be checking out my backside!!” I shouted, hearing him laugh. We reached the waterfall and I slowed down, drinking the fresh cool water.
Walking into the water, I shifted once inside. This was my hideaway. My spot. I had left my camera on the river bank, cr@p… Gareth was still in his wolf form, calmly laying there keeping an eye around us.
“I want to take some pictures. Turn around.” I could swear he was grinning at me. I would have to remember to bring clothes with me from now on. He slowly stood up, stretched on purpose, turning his back to me.
I made my way to the edge, grabbed my camera, and walked back into the water. Making sure the waterproof covers were all still tight, I lowered my lens into the water, mesmerized by the plant life. Capturing the movement underneath the water was amazing, then a fish swam by, and I took a picture with him in it.
I lifted my camera out of the water, looking at what I caught on camera.
Gareth
She was beautiful. My future mate. Frank and Melissa knew and had given their approval, but Glinda still had to reach mating age. Until then, all I wanted to do was watch over her and make sure that bastard didn’t come near her!
I watched her face as she got excited over the pictures she had just taken underwater, amazed at how the simple things in life could make her so happy. Photography had always been her passion and her pictures, although simple, spoke a thousand words.
We had spoken about having a gallery opening when she was finished with school, showcasing her work. But she always blushed, not thinking that her pictures were meant for public viewing. A strange scent captured my attention!
Magic! I double-checked to make sure it wasn’t hers, and it definitely wasn’t. I knew the scent, sniffing the air again.
“Glinda… someone is here.” I warned her through the pack link. She looked up immediately, hanging her camera around her neck, shifting, she sniffed the air.
“Willow! It’s her magic.” Glinda’s fear in her eyes was infuriating me. Then she became angry.
“She isn’t that close. Come, I need to get you home. Now.” I ordered, and she swam to the edge and climbed out of the pool while I checked where the scent was coming from. I let her run in front of me, making sure we weren’t being followed.
Her sister was definitely in the forest. What would she be doing there? I had to inform Frank. That was not good news.
- Writer
