A Twisted Anthology: A Twisted Design Book

Love is Blind Part 6

The next morning, Rock decided to run me a bath instead of helping me in the shower when I told him my body was stiff. He led me into the bathroom and guided me into the tub. It was huge. Like a small swimming pool.

I soaked in the hot water until he came in to tell me breakfast was ready. Rock helped me get out of the tub and dry off. He put one of his t-shirts on me and it hung like a dress.

Rock took me to the dining room and sat me in a chair. I could hear the sounds of him putting food on a plate, then the most heavenly smells stopped right in front of me. The plate was loaded with meat.

I could smell bacon, ham, two types of sausage, sautéed pork and mushrooms, and a pork steak. He came back with two pieces of buttered toast and a bowl of fruit that seemed like it had been an afterthought.

“Trolls are carnivores, right?” I laughed.

“I realized half way through cooking that you might need more than meat in the morning. I gave you half of a troll sized portion. I hope that’s not too much.” He replied.

“I guess we’ll find out. Is there more if I’m still hungry?” I asked.

“Of course. Just let me know.” Rock said.

As we ate, we talked a little more about Rock’s investments, rental properties, and contracting business. I loved hearing how much pride he had in it. He really loved his work.

“What do you do for a living, or do they not let you work in your pack?” He asked.

“I audit the books. The accounting group does the input and it goes to my computer at home. My program reads the incomes and expenses to me. I make sure everything balances. It took them a while to find something they believed I could do. I had to put together research so they would trust that I was just as capable as a sighted person.” I replied.

“Do you have a lot of hobbies, then?”

“I like to cook. I have a feel for my kitchen and I know where everything is. I have a good nose for spices. I use my sense of hearing and smell to tell me what I need to know. I love reading and knitting. I like working in the yard and garden. I was on the swim team in high school. What about you?” I smiled.

“I like building things. Not always houses. I do furniture too, using reclaimed wood. I like fighting and working out. Just because I’m not the strongest troll, doesn’t mean I’m not a strong man. There are other fae who are about my strength. I like reading too. Mostly alternate histories and murder mysteries.” Rock said. 

When we finished with our meal, Rock collected the dirty dishes and put them in the kitchen before leading me back to the bedroom. He pulled the t-shirt off me and took my hands before I felt him lower to his knees in front of me.

Rock released my hands and I felt his arms wrap around my waist. He rested his head on my chest and just held me for a while. I stroked his hair gently and let him hold me. He probably thought it was the last soft hug he would get.

“Soft.” He whispered.

I giggled and kissed the top of his head. I sniffed his scent and let it relax me. I knew our time was growing short. It seemed like he was feeling our connection.

“What happens if you don’t find your true mate next weekend?” I asked.

“I told you, I spend three days chained up. Then I go on with my life until I find her.” Rock replied.

“I meant, what if she isn’t a troll?”

“I never thought of that. I think I’ll be happy to find her no matter what she is. Maybe I’ll get lucky and she’ll be something soft, like you. Then I have to hope she doesn’t reject me because of how ugly I am.” He chuckled.

“I think you’re beautiful, Rock. Inside and out. I just know that your true mate is going to think the same. Sean told me, the goddess doesn’t make mistakes, we do. I agree with him. The goddess wouldn’t pair you up with a woman who would think you were ugly.” I assured him.

“You need to get dressed. I’m sure your friends and parents are going to be worried if they don’t hear from you soon. It’s almost ten.” Rock said.

I stiffened. “s**t! I have to get home. Help me find my clothes.”

Rock got up and gathered my clothing, holding the pieces while I got dressed. I was supposed to be home by ten-thirty to help with Mike’s birthday party. Luna Lily and my sister-in-law, Beth, were supposed to come pick me up from Ashley’s. I went through my purse and dug out my phone.

Quickly, I dictated a text to let them know I’d meet them at the pack house and then sent one to Ashley asking her to bring my overnight bag to the Beta’s quarters. At the front of the house, I pulled on my shoes. I grabbed Rock’s arm as he reached past me, probably to get the door.

“Something wrong?” He asked.

“One more kiss before I go?” I smiled.

He kissed me like a starving man. I stroked his ears and pressed myself against him. Rock squeezed my butt and growled. I growled back, to remind him that I still wasn’t intimidated.

We pulled away and it felt a bit lonelier. I’d have him back soon. I would use this week to tie up loose ends in the pack.

Rock reminded me of the step down as we headed to his motorcycle. He put the helmet on me and picked me up, placing me on the back of it. I wrapped my arms around his waist as he started it up and I tried not to think about being without him.

-

When we reached the border of the pack lands, we were stopped by the patrol. I sniffed. Doug and James were the road guards for the day.

“Can we help you find something?” Doug asked in a stern voice.

“Doug, this is my friend, Rock, he’s bringing me home.” I said, turning to his voice.

“Carmen! What are you doing on that thing? You could fall off and get hurt.” He scolded.

“She’s not a child. Don’t treat her like that.” Rock said sternly.

“What the hell are you? You don’t smell human and you don’t smell like wolf.” Doug challenged.

“I’m a troll. Carmen is a grown woman. Treat her with the respect she deserves as an adult wolf in this pack.” Rock commanded.

“Please, don’t fight!” I said. “Just let us through. I have to help set up the birthday party for the Beta.”

“I’ll link someone to come get you in a car. That thing isn’t safe.” Doug insisted.

“It’s safe. This isn’t the first time I’ve ridden on the back of a motorcycle, Doug. Let us pass.” I ordered.

The men were silent. I never ordered people around, so they were probably shocked. I didn’t hear anything, but Rock started driving forward and I held on to him again. He found the pack house pretty easily.

“There’s trouble.” He sighed as he turned off his motorcycle.

Rock got off, then helped me off and took the helmet. I could smell my parents, my brother, Beth, Luna Lily, and Alpha Trent nearby. I groaned.

“No matter what, I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself today. I’m sorry you weren’t able to keep this a secret.” Rock whispered.

“I don’t care who knows. I just know they’re going to embarrass me.” I said quietly.

I turned toward their scents. I could feel Rock standing behind me. His presence at my back kind of helped.

“I’m Alpha Trent Padua. Thank you for bringing Carmen home. My patrol says you’re a troll. We appreciate the help of the fae community.” Trent said.

“No problem. She said she had to get home and I promised to bring her. You know how fae are about promises.” Rock replied.

“You were supposed to be staying at Ashley’s house, Carmen. You told me that was your plan for after the club.” My mom said. “And what on earth are you wearing?!”

“My plan changed. I’m not a pup, mom. I didn’t have a change of clothes with me, but Ash is bringing them here so I don’t have to go all the way home. Can we please go inside and let Rock head home? I’m sure he doesn’t want to get involved in a family argument.” I sighed.

“Don’t use that attitude with your mother, Carmen. She was worried about you.” My dad scolded.

“She didn’t use and attitude. She explained what was going on, she tried to be respectful of a guest’s needs, and she is just really f*****g tired of all of you treating her like a child.” Rock growled.

“I don’t need a troll telling me how to raise my daughter.” Dad replied with a growl of his own.

“She’s already been raised and is an adult! She’s old enough to have a mate and a family of her own, if that f*****g wolf hadn’t rejected her.” Rock shouted. “And why did he reject her? Because all of you treat her like a child and he couldn’t see that she was an amazing woman!”

I covered my mouth and squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn’t see, but people said my emotions could be seen in my eyes. I didn’t want them to see that I didn’t care about having been rejected anymore, because I’d found my second chance mate.

“Oh, Carmen.” My mom, Luna, and sister-in-law gasped.

“They didn’t know I was rejected, Rock. I didn’t tell them.” I said softly.

“s**t. I’m sorry, little wolf. I just got so angry. It’s a troll thing.” He replied, putting one of his large hands on my shoulder.

Though it was hard, I resisted the urge to rub my cheek against it. I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I didn’t want more pity and this would make people pity me even more.

“Who was it? I’ll kill him.” My brother growled.

“He’s already dead. Leave him alone. His chosen mate doesn’t deserve to have to deal with people trying to blame her. He didn’t pick her until a year after he rejected me. No one will care about that, they’ll just care about poor blind Carmen. I don’t need that. I have a second chance mate. I know I do. I’d rather focus on that.” I smiled. “And your birthday party, Mike.”

“Why didn’t you tell us, sweetheart?” Mom asked softly.

“Because I didn’t want more pity. I have enough. I’m full up on pity. Can we please get on with our lives?”

My dad sighed. “I don’t know why she felt more comfortable telling a troll about this than she did her own family, but thank you. I’m guessing her friends left her behind again. I’m glad you were there to take care of her. Maybe we should start treating her more like an adult.”

I tried not to look shocked. They thought of me so much as a child, that they weren’t picking up that I’d spent the night with Rock in a very non-platonic way. It was kind of a relief. It meant no one would stop me from seeing him again.

“No problem, sir. I better get going. Carmen promised to be at my coming of age party next weekend. I hope she can come to the fae lands, you know how we are about promises. I’m getting a special privilege for her so she can find her way without getting lost.” Rock responded in an oddly wholesome tone, as if he didn’t just spend the whole night plowing me and calling me his little wolf slut.

“I’ll have a ride. I can go with Sean and Rosario. I met them at the club last night and they told me they’d be there.” I said cheerfully.

“Rosario is the future king of the fae in the region. I know both boys. They’ll take care of her.” Alpha Trent told everyone.

“I’ll see Rock off, then I’ll come in.” I told them.

There was some shuffling. I waited until I didn’t hear anymore, then turned to Rock.

“Are they all gone?” I whispered.

“Yep.”

“Will I see you next weekend at all?” I asked.

“Probably not. I’ll be chained up in a dark room, remember?” He chuckled.

“Yeah.” I sighed. “Anything I should remember so I can stay safe at the party?”

“Make sure they know they can only touch the skin that is showing, that they can only use their hands and nothing else, and do that feeling faces thing for anyone who wants it. No one wants to touch trolls. Especially not softies like you. They’ll love it.” Rock told me.

“I gave you that kiss before I left the house because I knew I’d want one more, but now I want another.” I sighed.

“Let me expand my glamour.” Rock said.

“You can do that?” I asked.

“Everyone will just see you and me talking.” He replied. “There. Now come here my little wolf slut.”

I giggled. “Yes, Alpha.”

He embraced me and kissed me deeply. I’d thought the other kiss felt like goodbye, but this one did even more. There was a level of longing and sadness in it. When we pulled apart, he pressed his forehead to mine.

“I’m going to miss doing that.” Rock whispered.

“Me, too.” I murmured. “Drive safely. I’d rather go to your party than your funeral.”

“As you command.”

I took a step back and waited to hear him mount his motorcycle and drive away. Blanche howled sadly. When werewolves found their mates, they usually stayed near them as much as possible. This was hard for her.

Once I’d collected myself, I headed for the pack house. I was immediately pulled into the bustle of party planning, only taking a few moments to change when Ashley arrived at the house. I apologized to her for letting my dad think she abandoned me and I asked her to deal with the shame for a week, then I would resolve everything. She reluctantly agreed.

Everything went smoothly. My parents and sister-in-law kept fawning over me like I was an injured child. So much for treating me like an adult.

Word spread that I was rejected and, by the time the party started at dusk, pretty much everyone in the pack knew. People kept coming up to me, trying to get hints about who had rejected me. They made a list of every wolf in the pack who had chosen a mate in the last four years and died. There weren’t too many.

I just smiled and never gave a clue as they guessed. I refused to be the person who caused someone to hurt. It seemed to frustrate people, but I heard them whispering that I was just too sweet and simple to realize how serious it was. They didn’t feel the pain of their connection to their mate being severed, I did. And I knew Jordan’s mate had that same pain when he died.

At the party, Gray came and introduced me to his mate, Echo, and her other mate, Victor. I talked with them for a while. Echo asked a lot of questions about what it was like to be blind. She sounded totally innocent, like she was trying to understand. I asked to feel her face and she agreed excitedly.

The change in Gray was amazing. He’d always been kind of a spoiled brat. Now he was gentle and caring.

My brother loved his gift. I had knitted him a sweater in his favorite color and he acted happy about it, until he pulled it out of the box and found the watch he’d been drooling over for a couple of years. It was pretty expensive, but I’d been setting aside money since I heard him talking about it.

When I got home, I made a plan. I pulled the suitcase from my closet and started packing it. I made sure to leave out clothes for the week and something to wear to Rock’s party.

Ashley sent Gemma with my packages from the mall. She didn’t want to get scolded by my parents again. I’d already linked Gemma asking her to keep quiet about me going home with a fae boy for a week, then I’d clear their names. She also agreed. I was grateful to have such good friends.

-

On Wednesday, they picked me up and we went out to lunch in town. My parents reminded them that they left with me and had better come back with me. I apologized the entire way into the city.

We picked up food and drove an hour outside the city, to a nature preserve in the opposite direction of our pack. Ever since we were sixteen, we would have our secret lunches there, the ones where we could talk about anything because our packmates wouldn’t find out.

They led me to our spot and set out a blanket. We settled in with our food, but they didn’t even let me get a bite in. I could feel them staring at me.

“Dish. We’re being persecuted and you owe us.” Gemma growled.

“The fae boy I went home with…. He’s my second chance mate.” I told them.

“What?!” They both squealed.

“He doesn’t know it yet, because he hasn’t come of age. You can’t tell anyone. I don’t want them to try and stop me from being with him and I know they will.”

“Wait a minute. Doug told me a troll brought you home. Like, a literal troll. Please don’t tell me he’s your mate.” Gemma said with disgust.

“Okay. I won’t.” I replied and started eating my food.

“Ew! You have to reject him. We can find you a nice werewolf or a human to be your mate. You don’t have to give in just because the moon goddess made a mistake.” Gemma insisted.

“Stop that, Gemma. This is Carmen’s mate, not yours. She isn’t obsessed with looks. I’m sure he’s a really sweet guy… for a troll. So, you spent the night with him, how was it? I met a couple trolls at the club. They looked like they were made of stone and they kept calling everyone ‘softies’ and trying to touch girls and stuff.” Ashley shuddered.

“Their skin and muscles are hard as stone. They call us softies because we’re made of flesh. They really like how we feel. He kept rubbing his face on me and saying ‘soft’. It was really cute. And, it was amazing. I keep having dreams about it and I’m a little scared that I’m going to start talking in my sleep and my parents will find out.” I blushed.

That was true, but my biggest fear was that I would call out ‘Alpha’ instead of ‘Rock’ and they would think I was having an affair with Trent. And, well, gross. I knew it was a bad idea to agree to it.

“Keep going. I want all the down and dirty details.” She said.

“He was really sweet in the beginning. He touched, kissed, and licked every inch of my body. He would whisper ‘soft’ from time to time. Trolls need to be rough, though. No one had ever been like that with me. Even when we played, you two were careful. We did practically everything. He was commanding and forceful. Powerful. And, when we were done, he held me and made me feel cared for. It was the most amazing night.” I told them with a smile.

“I heard he yelled at your parents and at Doug for treating you like a child. I wish I could have seen that.” Ashley laughed. “I can’t imagine what they are going to do with a troll for a son-in-law.”

As we ate, Gemma and Ashley told me how their night had gone. Gemma struck out with every fae she hit on. Ashley had a hot and heavy make out session with a werepanther in the coat room, until they were caught by the vampire that ran it. We all laughed and it felt like we were back on solid footing.