Chapter Seven
2216 Words
-River POV-
“Are you sure you don’t need help?” I ask as I watch Christian get all the bags inside the house.
“No, don’t worry. I got it.” He says.
“There you are!” Sasha says walking towards us. “We have your permanent room ready.” She says to me.
She has a different scent than Marco and Christian. I noticed it yesterday, her, Mason, and a few other people in the pack.
'Are they really werewolves?' I ask Ariel.
'I don't know. There is the werewolf scent but there is also something else.' She says.
I smile at Sasha. She has been really nice to me so far but I still feel the safest with Christian.
We follow her up the stairs and we stop in front of a door.
“You are just two rooms away from Christian.” She says.
I smile feeling happy at that.
We go inside and it looks like a normal room would but I love it because it’s mine.
Sasha looks at me as she walks away and smiles. “We gave you one of the big ones.” She winks and leaves.
Christian puts all the bags down. “How about we go eat and then we can put all this away.”
I nod with a smile. We head downstairs and I feel like I am starting to get a bit used to this. Used to the people.
When we enter the dining room, it’s empty.
“Everyone probably had dinner already.” Christian says.
He leads me to the kitchen.
“Christian! Hey.” A girl says looking cheery at him.
She is about four to five inches taller than me. She has long black hair and hazel eyes.
“Oh, hey Sadie.” He says back to her.
The Sadie girl looks at me and her cheery face changes to annoyance.
“Huh, so it’s true.” She mumbles.
“Sadie, this is River, our new pack member. River, this is Sadie, also pack member.” Christian says.
She gives me a strained smile and since it’s a fake one, I don’t bother smiling back.
She then looks at Christian and puts a hand on his shoulder. “So you got stuck with her, huh?”
‘This b***h!’ Ariel is now enraged ‘Bite her.’ Her voice is low and menacing.
I give a low growl and Sadie looks at me. She crosses her arms and stands straight. “I was here first... River.” She says.
Ariel takes control of me and lunges at her but Christian quickly holds us by the hips and pulls us back.
“It is not ideal to attack pack members River." He says as he easily holds me back. He then looks at Sadie. "And Sadie, don’t antagonize her, she is not used to pack life yet.” He says all this in a calming tone while I am still growling at Sadie.
Christian turns me around and holds my head on his chest in a hugging way and Ariel starts to quiet down. She relaxes in his arms and gives me back control.
Sadie looks pissed at me and stumps out of the kitchen.
“You okay now?” Christian asks softly caressing my hair.
“Yes, but don’t stop.” I say enjoying his touch.
I can feel him tensing up. He stops and softly pulls away. I look up at him disappointed and see his face is bright red.
Ariel gasps. ‘He is shy.’ She says now realizing this.
I look up at this gorgeous guy. I can tell that he could have any girl he wanted so I am surprised. I have been locked away for years and I am scared of people but anything physical is natural instinct for our kind. I mean, I don’t feel embarrassed by any of it.
‘This is funny.’ Ariel says.
*Gasp* A gasp comes from behind us.
“Is she a doll?!” A sweet female voice asks.
I turn around and I am met with a woman just a bit taller than me. She has long wavy blond hair and brown eyes. She has a sweet innocent look to her.
Christian smiles. “No, she is not a doll though she looks like one doesn't she?”
The girl nods as she stares at me with a sparkle in her eyes.
I look at Christian confused.
“This is Peggy, Marco’s mate. Peggy this is River.” He says.
She gasps again. “I like that name.”
She walks around me looking at me but I don’t feel threatened at all. I can feel the aura of innocence around her.
“Are you sure she is not a big doll? She is so pretty and cute.” Peggy says. She then smells me. “She smells so sweet too.”
Christian chuckles but I am just puzzled by her. She then stands in front of me and gives me a big smile. I can’t help smile back at her genuine grin.
“Do you need anything from the kitchen? Are you hungry?” Christian asks her.
“Nope, just looking for the gnomes...” She leans in and whispers. “They keep disappearing.”
I slowly look at Christian not wanting to think that she is crazy and wait for an explanation. But he just looks at me and gives me a small amused smile.
“Don’t gnomes like gardens?” Christian asks her.
She gasps. “Yes, you're right. Be back later.” She starts to run out of the kitchen. “Bye dolly!” She shouts as she heads out.
I blink a few times, staring at the door from where she left.
“Pack members move and hide ceramic gnomes around the house. It’s a little game they play with her.” Christian says.
I nod but that doesn’t explain everything.
He grabs two plates of food. “Come on. I’ll explain.” He says and I follow him to the dining room. We eat as he tells me what happened to all of them when they were younger and now I feel a little sick.
To know that my father was a monster is not something easy to digest. I now wonder if my mother was his victim as well. I know how much she struggled as a rogue and trying to protect me. I know she left me in the compound but I also know that she thought they would actually take care of me. Everything she did was because she thought it was the right thing. My heart hurts thinking that she might have suffered because of the man who fathered me... Maybe, she was even running from him. We were always on the go. We never stayed in one place more than a day.
“Are you okay?” Christian's soft voice brings me back, taking me out of my thoughts.
I nod. “Yea, sorry. Just thinking about my mother.”
He smiles understanding.
“You know what we need to do now?” He asks.
I shake my head. “What?”
“The little mermaid.”
I perk up. “The movie?!”
“Yep, let’s go. You have a TV in your room. Let me show you how to use it.” He says.
I gasp feeling excited. We put our plates away and head upstairs.
He shows me how to use the TV and puts the movie.
We sit on the bed and I am completely zoned into the movie. I love Ariel and flounder and the music is just so catchy. Once is done, I am still so excited.
“I loved it!” I say. “Can I watch it again?”
He laughs. “You can watch it as many times as you want but we should probably put your clothes away first.”
“Oh, right!”
We start doing that.
I sit on the floor folding clothes while Christian hangs clothes in the closet.
“Thanks for helping me, Christian. You really don’t have to but you still do. So thank you.” I say.
I look at him and he is hiding his face but I can see his cheeks are pink.
“It’s no problem.” He says sounding shy.
Ariel laughs finding it amusing.
I look around the room as I fold some of my clothes.
(Miles would have loved this. He would have loved to feel free like I do now. He would have loved to be in a pack.)
I lower myself down, hiding the stray tears that fall down my cheeks.
(I wish I could at least have said goodbye to him.)
“Who was it?” I am startled when I hear Christian's voice next to me.
He sits next to me facing the opposite way but his face is still facing me.
“Who did you lose? Is it your mom?” He asks.
I look down wiping my face. “His name was Miles. My partner and only friend. I... didn’t even get to say goodbye to him when they took me away. And then... I learned he had died. That’s when I ran.”
I can feel him staring at me but I can’t face him.
“I am really sorry.” He says softly.
He then leans in and hugs me. That gesture is all I need to make me happy again.
After we are done putting everything away. I put the movie and Christian watches it with me again. He doesn’t have to, but he does and I am glad.
Once it’s done, he gets up and tinkers with the clock next to my bed. “You should probably go to sleep early. We have school tomorrow.”
I honestly am terrified about that. I nod and he chuckles seeing my expression.
“You’ll be fine. I’ll be with you and Marco made sure all our classes are together.”
I sigh. “Alright, good night.”
He smiles. “Good night... and sleep on your bed. No more floor for you okay?”
I smile and nod.
He closes the door when he leaves. I take a shower and wear my new pajamas. I look at the bed.
“I’ve never had a bed before.” I mumble.
I lie down. It takes me a while but I fall asleep.
I wake up yelling when I hear a loud alarm noise from the clock next to my bed. I am so frazzled when it won’t stop, so I kick it. It shatters when it touches the ground.
‘I think that alarm was for us to get up and get ready.’ Ariel says.
“... Oops.”
I get up and brush my teeth. I go to the closet and start to choose what to wear.
‘This is exciting. Being able to choose what to wear I mean.’ Ariel says and I agree.
I put on a white spaghetti strap top with a sweetheart neckline. It has small cherry prints all over it. I wear light blue jeans with white sneakers and a jean jacket. I brush my hair leaving it down and head out.
The minute I go out of the room, Sasha pushes me back inside.
“You are not ready yet.” She says.
She sits me on the bed and opens a small black bag she is carrying.
“I got you these. It’s makeup.” She says.
“I don’t know how to use that.” I say.
“I know. I’ll show you. You don’t need a lot. You have perfect skin. Just a hint here and there to highlight your beauty, that’s all.” She says.
I stand still as she does her thing. A bit of eyeliner, mascara, a hint of blush and soft pink lipstick is all she uses.
I look in the mirror and I love it. I smile at her. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome.”
Christian appears at the door. “Hey, you ready?”
“Yea, but I think I need a new alarm clock... I didn’t know how to turn it off.” I say looking at the broken clock on the floor.
Both him and Sasha laugh.
“I’ll get you a new one.” Sasha says and leaves.
I walk over to Christian and his face turns a shade of pink.
“You look great.” He says.
I smile feeling very happy.
We head downstairs and get in Christian’s car. That’s when I start getting nervous.
After a few minutes, my leg bounces rapidly.
“Calm down River. You’ll be fine.” Christian says noticing my anxiety.
“Is that it?” I ask seeing a building with a bunch of kids.
“Yea.” He says.
I can’t do this. “... I’m jumping out of the window.” I say as I start looking for the button to lower the window down.
He laughs but I don’t find this amusing at all.
“You’ll be fine River... just, don’t bite anyone.”
I sigh. (I don’t think I can promise him that.)
- Writer
