Alisson's Escape

The Strange and The Suspicious

The next morning, Alisson woke up with the sun and got started on breakfasts alone, the nice ladies who helped her in the morning will not be joining her today. They usually came when Henry hurt her so badly she could not get anything done, but he had been in a really good mood the last few days (as good as it gets) so there was no need for them.

The pack bond was a blessing and a curse to her. It was a connection all members of a pack shared, like a thin thread that connected them. When one member was hurt or distressed it felt like something was yanking painfully on it, and when they were happy like it was like a gentle vibration of the thread that made a wolf feel warm and content. It was a blessing because it helped connect her with her pack and made it easy to understand each other, but a curse because whenever Henry hit her everyone knew.

Each wolf had a distinct aura which made it easier to understand where the emotion was coming from. It was a great shame for her because she liked to think she had her life sorted and was in control of her relationship, but when she would wake up the morning after a brutal bashing to see a group of sad she-wolves standing at her door and offering help, it thrust her back into the reality of her miserable and pitiful life.

She was not a strong, stubborn woman who supported her mate yet stood up to him when it was needed, she was a weak docile girl whose mate was more often than not upset with her. Her life was hopeful yet hopeless, sweet yet bitter and worst of all passionless. Intimacy with Henry was like having a bad tooth pulled out, necessary but painful enough to loathe the next time. She couldn't not be with her mate in that way but she still was not fond of it.

"Good morning!" Called out the cheery voice of her house guest which drew her out of her sad thoughts.

She looked up and was met with the sight of a naked and shameless Melody.

"Oh, I..... good morning to you too." Alisson was too shocked to comment on her guest's lack of clothing.

Melody saw her shocked look and laughed with a cheeky smile on her face.

"We are wolves, Alisson. There is nothing to be ashamed of. We were born to live in our natural skin, clothing was mainly for humans anyway." She stated expertly. She seemed so nonchalant about it, the brunette had never met anyone like her. It was as disconcerting as it was peculiar.

Alisson tried to reason with her. "Maybe you should put on something, like a robe or a blanket? Anything to cover up before the boys join us."

Melody was stubbornly against doing such as she casually took a sit on one of the barstools, Alisson's eyes narrowed at the action. "This is not the first time they will see a woman naked neither will it be the last. You have female pack warriors, right?" She asked as she gave Alisson a piercing stare.

"Yes we do," she responded quickly becoming resigned to the fact that the older woman would not be wearing anything during the meal.

"See, I'm sure they have seen women naked lots of times. We don't exactly transform with our clothes on, do we?"

"No, but there's a difference between losing one's clothes from changing and ripping it apart, and choosing to not wear available clothing."

The older woman gave an exasperated sigh and picked up an apple, "you do you," she responded and took a bite of the fruit signalling the end of her participation in their discussion. Alisson hoped to the moon goddess, Henry would not somehow find a way to blame her for this and continued preparing breakfast with the silent Melody munching on her fruit.

Hunter was the first to react; like always, when the bubbly female greeted him with a wave. He flinched back like he had been slapped and gave her a confused look before choosing to ignore the elephant in the room.

"Good morning ladies, how are we this morning?" He questioned distractedly as he immediately started shovelling food into his mouth from the plate Alisson had set down for him.

"What a gentleman," she joked sarcastically and turned towards Henry.

He looked like he had seen a ghost and remained silent as he took his seat directly beside Alisson as if to shield himself from something. The kitchen island was wide and Alisson chose to serve breakfast in the kitchen specifically because of their guest(she did not want Melody's naked parts touching her precious chairs). There was more than enough room for him to sit so she could not understand why he would choose to sit so close to her, he had been ignoring her since last night when she returned from his parent's place with Hunter and even now remained silent as he ate, which was the complete opposite of Melody's cocky grin she directed at him.

Alisson did not know how to feel, her mate was hiding something from her that their guest knew about. Maybe she was just assuming things and maybe she was not, but she knew one thing, she was going to get to the bottom of it.

Breakfast ended with Henry practically running out of the room and Melody bursting out in giddy laughter. The redhead thanked her for the meal and stalked upstairs like a woman on a mission.

"Do you have any idea about Henry's mood?" She asked Hunter suspiciously.

"No, he's just as grumpy as always, why do you ask?"

She glanced at the direction the two had left in and walked closer to him to whisper conspiratorially; though if Henry wanted to listen he could, "he has been really quiet and is acting strangely. It started last night when we got back, and when we went to bed he put his arm around me."

Hunter looked genuinely surprised, Henry was usually against touching others. He limited skin contact with others as much as possible including his mate so for him to initiate touch, it meant he was either in a very good mood or felt guilty and vulnerable.

"Maybe he has fallen in love with you?" He joked without any humour. Alisson gave him a look and ran her fingers through her hair in frustration.

"Do you think it has something to do with Melody?"

She turned to him in surprise and felt satisfaction that she was not the only one to notice their behaviour around each other and suspect something.

"I don't want to jump to conclusions, let's just keep observing and see what will happen."

"Okay, don't worry I'm sure it's nothing serious." He assured his friend when he saw the concerned look on her face. She nodded in agreement but felt doubt wash over her.