A Twisted Anthology: A Twisted Design Book

Love is Blind Part 10

[Three days later]

When we’d finally come out of the room, there were still a few trolls hanging around. Rock had some clothes in the room, so I was wearing only his shirt, while he was in his pants. I was grateful for some sort of covering, since the party was still going, the rules I set forth were still in effect. That meant they could have touched me anywhere if I’d come out naked.

Some of the trolls came up to congratulate Rock on finding a mate. They gave their condolences that I was so unfortunately ugly. I tried to hold back my laughter.

“You guys do realize that she’s actually beautiful by non-troll standards, right?” Rosario said from somewhere to my left.

“So she knows it’s a compliment.” One of the trolls laughed.

“I thought it would scare you to send you in there. Jokes on me.” Another chuckled.

“Thank you for sending me to my mate when he needed me. I appreciate your help.” I smiled.

“You knew he was your mate when you came in here, didn’t you?” Forrest asked.

“Yes. I knew he had to follow your traditions and I had to follow mine. The rules are the rules. I wasn’t allowed to say anything until he was of age. I came to his party hoping that being near him would soothe my wolf. She really got mad about all those females who spent two hours with him.” I giggled.

“I promise that she’ll never have to feel like that again. Trolls are honest and loyal. I’ve marked you as mine and you’re mine forever.” Rock said.

“Uhh, Carmen?” Sean said from right next to me.

“Yeah?” I asked.

“Your parents have been blowing up my and Rosario’s phones. They keep asking to talk to you and demanding to know where we are. They can’t find the fae lands, because they don’t have permission to be here.” He answered.

“Did something happen, or are they just trying to run my life again?” I sighed.

“Something about a Beta being here to meet you. I think it’s the… um… the one you told us about.” Sean said quietly.

What the hell? I told them to wait so I could find out if my mate would accept me. They didn’t ask how soon that was. I thought they would wait for me to tell them. I felt my watch, it was eight in the morning.

“Alright everyone, you’ve eaten my food and drank my ale for long enough. Get the f**k out.” Forrest announced.

Rock held on to my hand as the sound of multiple trolls shuffling toward the exit went past. When the house was quiet, I could still smell Sean and Rosario. I remembered their promise not to leave while I was here.

“We should go too. I’m sure Sean and Rosario want to get home.” I said.

“Rock, let’s do a barbeque soon. Just the gang and your new mate.” Forrest suggested.

“Maybe in a couple weeks. Let her get settled in her new home.” Rock replied.

My new home. I liked how that sounded. Forrest grabbed my hand and shook it.

“That’s how softies say hello and goodbye, right?” He asked.

“Well, we actually hug our friends. Since you’re my mate’s friend, you’re mine too.” I smiled.

“Really?” Forrest questioned.

“Definitely.” I replied.

I felt his stony arms wrap around me carefully. I hugged him back, as much as I could. He let me go and backed off quickly.

“I didn’t hurt you, right?”

“You’ll get used to me.” I grinned.

Rock wrapped my arm around his and we walked out, after stopping to get my shoes from the living room. Sean and Rosario were with us as we went.

The morning was warm. It felt like an entirely new world. I didn’t want to go back to my old one to deal with my parents. It didn’t seem fair to my brother or my friends though.

“We’re heading home. Do you know what you’re going to do?” Sean asked.

“I’m going home with my mate. I need time to process and think about what I’m going to do. I can’t do that if I go back right now. I don’t know that I’d be safe if I did.” I said softly.

“What does that mean? Why wouldn’t you be safe? What’s going on?” Rock demanded.

“Can I tell you when we get home? I just want to go home, to our home, Rock.” I answered.

“You better tell me everything.” He growled and pulled me away from Sean and Rosario.

I called out my goodbyes and hurried to keep pace with him. He was walking fast. When I started lagging behind, he slowed down.

We walked for only a little while before Rock turned and led me through a yard. I didn’t realize how close to the house we were.

“We live this close to Forrest?” I asked.

“Yeah. Three houses down. Step up here.” He said.

I stepped up onto the porch. Rock unlocked the door and we went in. After he put my shoes away, he led me into the living room. Rock let go of my hand, then grabbed me around the waist and pulled me into his lap. He had sat on the couch.

With a new found exhaustion, I laid my head on his shoulder. I hadn’t really felt tired the entire time we were in the room. I was able to take some cat naps during that time, but would often wake to Rock touching, kissing, or licking me, ready for more.

I started to doze in the peaceful quiet of the room. Rock didn’t say anything. There was no angry energy coming off him. His breathing slowed and his arms relaxed around me.

He must have been as tired as I was, if not more. His party had started at midnight. I could imagine he had been locked up some time before that. He explained that he would be awake for that entire three-day period no matter what. It was part of the coming of age. Trolls just didn’t sleep in that time.

Slowly, I drifted off. There would be plenty of time to talk after we slept. It wasn’t like my parents could find me.

-

We woke some time later to a ringing phone. I checked my watch. It was two in the afternoon. Five and a half hours would have to do until we could go to bed.

Rock settled me on the couch and left to get the phone. I dragged my fingers through my hair. I had some serious bed head.

“Hello. This is him. I see. They’re wrong. She’s staying with me. No. She’s mine. She needs clothes. Yes, well, that was my fault. Just one second.” He said. “Carmen, is there anyone in your pack who you trust to bring you clothing?”

“I would say Ashley or Gemma, but it might be better if it’s my brother. Mike Rosen.” I told him.

“Yeah, she says her brother, Mike Rosen. I wasn’t aware that he was the Beta. I guess it makes sense, he was in front of the pack house when I took her home last weekend. Of course. I’ll let her know. Thank you, Queen Maeve.” Rock hung up the phone.

He walked back over to where I was sitting and sat on the couch next to me. I scooted myself to lean against him and wrapped my arms around one of his. It had all caught up with us.

“Sorry. You fell asleep and I wanted to let you rest before getting into this.” I said.

“I needed it. It was hard to control my anger earlier. Tell me now, and tell me everything. We can’t fix this situation without me knowing everything. Then, I’ll help you get cleaned up. Your brother will be bringing you some clothes.”

After taking a soothing breath, I told Rock everything. I started with my side of the night we met. I told him about the arranged marriage, the fight, the slap, the threats, and my request that they wait for me to see if my second chance mate would accept me. I told him the manipulations I used on his friends to get one of them to send me into the room. I apologized again for not being able to tell him and for not just telling his friends straight out.

Rock was quiet. I liked that he was a bit of a thinker. I needed that more than someone who would rush headlong into a situation.

A little while later, he got up and left the room. I listened as he went down the hall. He came back shortly after.

“Put out your hand, palm up.” Rock said.

I did and I felt the handle of a hairbrush being put in it. I smiled and started brushing my hair. I had quite a few snags.

“Tell me the number to your Alpha… Trent.” He ordered.

I’d learned when he used that tone that he wanted no pushback. I told him the number I had memorized by heart ever since I knew what a telephone number was. I knew it better than I knew my own.

Quietly, I brushed my hair while I listened to him pace. It was like he was trying to calm down. I smiled to myself. This was a perk of being mated to an older man. They had experience that helped them act properly.

He picked up the phone and I heard the dial tones as he punched in the number. There was silence. I knew the line must be ringing.

“Hello, Alpha Trent. This is Rock Beaumont. Yes, Queen Maeve contacted me about that. Carmen is safe. The party can last for a few days. No, she won’t be coming back to the pack lands. I’m sorry. No, sir. This is her home. I am her second chance mate and I’ve already marked her as mine. She told her parents she had found her mate. In fact, she told them she would agree to the marriage, which they set up behind her back, if I rejected her. I am not allowing my mate to return to the pack lands unless I have assurances that she will not be harmed or taken from me. Me and two of my friends will accompany her. She will not leave my sight. When I leave, she does.” Rock demanded sternly. “Great. Instead of having her brother bring her something, we will come for her things. We’ll be there in a little over two hours. I have some arrangements to make. Thank you.”

Rock hung up the phone firmly. I bit my lips together. That was hot as hell. He was a little growly, which made Blanche practically purr. She loved when he was aggressive.

I pulled myself up and made my way carefully around the couch. I took off the button up shirt I was wearing and let it fall to the ground. I could feel Rock’s eyes on me. I dropped to my knees and put my hands on my thighs.

“Alpha, do you need to use your little wolf slut?” I asked demurely.

I heard him move toward me and braced myself for what he might want to do. He scooped me off the floor and held me tightly. I certainly wasn’t expecting this.

“Who do you belong to?” He growled in my ear.

“You, Alpha.” I replied.

“NO. Say my name. Who. Do. You. Belong. To?” Rock repeated.

“I belong to you, Rock Beaumont. I’ll only ever belong to you. I only want to belong to you.” I told him.

“Go take a shower. Can you find your way there?” He asked.

“Yes. Did I do something wrong?” I asked.

“You’re young, sweetheart, and your wolf makes you more enamored of the physical aspects of this relationship. I’m not a wolf. I need to take care of this business before I can even consider pleasure. This is far more pressing than the erection I’m trying to quell. Go get cleaned up. I have some calls to make. I love you.” Rock said and kissed me gently.

He set me on my feet and led me to the hall, turning me in the right direction. I smiled and shifted into my wolf. Rock laughed.

Rock crouched down and scratched me behind the ears. I loved it, so did Blanche.

“I forgot you could do that. Can you see?”

I nodded.

“Are you disappointed in how ugly I am?” He asked.

I turned and licked his face. I could never be disappointed in how he looked. I loved him. He laughed.

“Go take your shower. I’ll be in the living room.”

Turning, I trotted down the hall toward his room. Our room. I still had to get used to that. I shifted back as soon as I was in the bathroom.

The shower had individual knobs for the hot and cold water. I preferred that to the single knob, it was easier to get the temperature just right. I found a wash cloth and a bar of soap on a little shelf. I would need to get my bathing stuff if I was going to stay soft for him.

I took my time, making sure I was clean. There was nothing to wash my hair with, but I was fine with that. Once I had my shampoo and conditioner I would wash it.

When I got out of the shower, I grabbed the large towel that was hanging outside of it. I dried off and wrapped it around me. I needed something to wear and I needed my lotion. I realized I left it at Forrest’s house. I headed out to the living room to let Rock know.

As I approached the living room, I heard other voices. I stopped in the hallway and listened, I didn’t want to interrupt something important with something as silly as needing my purse for lotion.

“I appreciate you guys coming with. I don’t want those wolves to get any ideas. Against one troll, they might, against three, they’ll think twice.” Rock said.

“I don’t really get what’s going on. They think they can marry your mate off to someone else? Who the f**k does that?” A voice said.

“Her parents seem to think that they own her and she’s some sort of child, Elbio. She’s marked, so the guy can’t mark her for his own. I don’t want her father thinking he can force her to do something she doesn’t want. I’d like for this to be a get in, get out situation that ends with me and Carmen back here by dinner time.” Rock answered.

“So you wanted me and Elby, as the two scariest trolls in town, to come with. I get it. He’s a little slow. Rocks for brains, you know.” Forrest laughed.

“f**k you, Forrest.” Elbio growled.

“Well, I already f****d your sister, I guess it can be your turn. Sharing is caring.” Forrest replied.

I couldn’t help myself and started laughing. I loved hearing my mate and his friends. I was really beginning to enjoy being around trolls.

“Spying on us?” Rock asked from right next to me.

“No, I just came out to tell you I forgot my purse at Forrest’s house and I need my lotion. I just didn’t want to interrupt your conversation. Forrest’s comment was too funny, though, I couldn’t help it.” I giggled.

“This is a lot of trouble you stirred up, wolf. You’re lucky your mate has such good friends.” Elbio snarled.

“I definitely appreciate it.” I smiled.

“I brought your bag with me.” Forrest said.

I heard my purse being tossed and caught, then Rock pressed it into my hands. I grasped it and held it to my chest.

“You can grab a shirt out of my closet to put on. We’ll be right out here, planning things. If Elbio can improve his mood.” Rock chuckled.

“Maybe he’ll feel better after Forrest rearranges his guts.” I suggested and turned down the hall.

Forrest and Rock’s laughter followed me. I headed for Rock’s closet and touched every single one of his shirts until I found one with material that felt good. I would have to take him clothes shopping. He had a lot of scratchy shirts.