Shadow Wolves: Her addiction (Book 1) - Complete

Chapter 5 - Going back home

Megan

I hadn’t packed to travel in so long that I had no idea what to pack. So, I started with the most obvious … PJs. I would also need some clothes to train in, and I grabbed everything on the shelf that I used for training, not knowing how long I was going to be away. I would need some underwear, of course, and with that, the small suitcase I pulled out at first was full …

“That’s not going to work.” I frowned and went back to the spare room, returning to my closet with my biggest suitcase. Packing my things, I had more than enough space … Tapping my finger on my chin, I thought about what else I would need … It’s a beach town, so I could pack my summer wear, shorts, T-shirts, my summer dresses …

“Hmm, what else? Oh, a couple of jerseys for when it does get cold.” Wow, who would have thought going back home would be this much work!! I hated packing. That is one of the reasons why I never travelled! Sitting on top of the suitcase, I finally got the zipper closed. Grabbing the smaller ones, I packed the shoes I would need, running shoes, sandals, and boots for when it was cold. Then I still had to pack my vanity!!!

By the time I was done, I felt like I needed another shower, but this time I was just too tired. Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, I lay down on my bed for a second when that familiar feeling grabbed me by my shoulders. It had taken me most of the day to get packed. The stars were shining outside. My eyes fluttered, and I let the darkness pull me in.

I WAS UP EARLY in the morning. My nerves shot to hell. All because I fell asleep way too early last night, and not only was I leaving the sanctity of my home, but I was returning to … Well, home. I had no idea what to expect. I hated not knowing what to expect! My informant gave me as much information as he could, and I still remembered some of the details of the property, but I couldn’t remember much about the airport … or the roads … It was all a blur from when I left. Deciding to run on the treadmill to try and calm my nerves.

The time to get ready to leave had finally arrived. I took a quick shower, got dressed in blue jeans, a black Metallica T-shirt, and a pair of bright blue trainers. I may just as well dress comfortably for this trip. Who would expect the well-known Samantha Storm to be walking out of the airport looking like a kid …? I hoped I looked like a kid … My long blond hair was pulled into a ponytail and no make-up; I tried my best not to look like someone anyone would recognize.

My guard pulled up next to the jet, only to find the pilot standing outside the plane. He instructed me to wait inside the car, so he could first find out what was going on. When Reece returned, he told me that the jet had technical difficulties and was grounded. We were not allowed to take off. We had to return home, where I could speak to Lizzy to make other arrangements.

“Reece, thank you for thinking about my requirements, but I would prefer to leave for my home today. Please take me to the main terminal, so I can book into one of the commercial flights?”

“Are you sure, ma’am? Elizabeth is going to kill me!” he looked surprised. “She had very strict instructions.”

“Yes-yes, I am sure, and besides, her strict instructions were because she knows how I want things done. Please, take me to the main terminal? I will fly commercial.” On the drive there, I phoned Lizzy, who was completely freaked out and thought I was having a nervous breakdown. She had never heard of me flying commercial before … She had never heard of me leaving my house! She asked that I give the phone to Reece, who just said, “Yes ma’am … yes ma’am … of course ma’am, yes ma’am … good afternoon ma’am” and then handed the phone back to me.

“Please stay with Reece until you board the plane. We have not had time to book a ticket for him, but I will make sure he is on the next flight out.” Poor Lizzy sounded panicked.

“No, Lizzy! I will be fine. As soon as I start traveling with a guard, people will start looking at me differently and notice things they would not notice if I was just a single traveller.” She agreed that it made sense, and off Reece and I went to book myself in for boarding.

“Please, Ms. Storm, be careful! I would be very distraught if anything happened to you, and I was not there to protect you.”

“Relax, Reece, I am going home. What could possibly go wrong?” I winked at him as I walked away, and I thought he almost had a heart attack. Home was where everything could go wrong. Home was most probably the place I needed protection the most. As I boarded the plane, I noticed the man a couple of rows back. He looked up as I walked in. He was built like a typical romance novel Greek god.

He looked down calmly, as I reached my seat. His hand, dragging through his black messy hair, nearly made my heart come to a standstill. I realized I was gawking and quickly took my seat, hoping he would not notice and that I did not actually drool. My cheeks turned blood-red. Oh lord, if I had only stayed in the shower last night! My hormones were still running rampant, and I couldn't understand why!

Even Samantha and Storm were horny! What the hell girls??!! I took a deep breath and was very thankful that the flight was only an hour long. I could go straight to the forest when I got home and run off this burning desire that I felt … literally a burning desire! I stepped out of the doors at the airport and felt the slight breeze caressing my cheek. I never realized how much I had missed this place. I was so young and hurt when I ran, that all I could think about was getting as far and as fast away as possible.

I smelled cocoa and musk. Where was it coming from? It was totally intoxicating. Once again, it disappeared as quickly as it appeared. I booked a rental car and drove to my parent’s old house. My house now, I guess. It seemed the informant was in fact correct and no one had been there in years. The once lush gardens were dry and dead.

The paint was peeling everywhere on the outside of the house, and the stairs creaked as I ascended them. After unpacking my things, I decided to start the enormous task of making my bedroom livable. There was a stifling amount of dust everywhere. I took the sheets off my bed and dressing table.

I fetched the cleaning products from downstairs and made sure every inch in my room was dust-free. The next room was the kitchen and, lastly, my bathroom. I had forgotten about the old antique steel bath with the molded feet. There was no full-length mirror, no shower … no hot s*x imagination release! What was I thinking!? This used to be the bedroom of a way younger me. I rolled my eyes at myself and took a bath after all the cleaning.

Sam and Storm were excited and could not stop asking about running in the forest. I felt exhilarated after the bath and agreed to a run. I walked into the forest and shifted. It was safer to run in my wolf form rather than the more dangerous Lycan. My wolf form was a dark chocolate brown, and my eyes were amber in color. I stepped up the pace and loved the feel of the ground giving way beneath my paws and the wind blowing through my fur.

The forest was a lush green color and the sun was peeking through the leaves like angels shining their light down on earth. All three of us were purring with happiness, as we felt free and amazed for the first time in a long time. That evening, I settled down on one of the old chairs on the terrace overlooking the forest, with a cup of coffee in hand. I took a deep breath ... I was home.

In the morning, I ordered supplies online. I took a walk through the forest, and it felt like I could finally breathe again. Like I had been dead, and the forest air had given me life. I heard a branch snap and turned around to see who it was, but I could see nothing. It was probably just a rabbit or something. I heard the delivery truck pulling up and walked back home to collect my things.

When everything was packed away, I walked to my mother’s old office. I still had some serious cleaning to do before I would be able to work there. Her office was all done in red velvet. She loved the gypsy theme and there were pillows and blankets all over the place. I started taking everything to the laundry room to wash. I never really thought I had the talent to be an author and that I would be where I am today. A couple of novels down the line and I had a comfortable life.

“Not like my poor damsels,” I laughed at myself. Well, I kind of felt like one of them at the moment, covered in all this dust. Once again, I tackled the office like I did with the other rooms and cleaned every corner until there wasn't a spot of dust left. I put back all the blankets, pillows, and curtains. It looked so much like when mother was still alive. Some of the furniture could not be cleaned or repaired due to age, but mostly everything was beautiful.

I had been living on my own for many years and had only seen a few people face to face. I did not think about the branch until later that afternoon. I decided to go for an afternoon run. The nearest town was 134 kilometers away, and I felt free and safe to run. I shifted and gave control to Samantha, who jumped with delight. It gave me the chance to let go of control. Our bond was strong, and we trusted only each other. Samantha felt the dirt under her paws, and Storm’s excitement made her pick up the pace.

The sun started to set, and the sky was turning the most beautiful red and orange colors. The cool breeze caressed our fur. I was starting to feel happy for the first time in what felt like an eternity. Sam closed her eyes for a second and took in the smell of the forest and the feel of the breeze running through her fur when she slammed into a brick wall! In the middle of the forest?!

“Did you just make us run into a tree?!” Storm asked before everything went black.