You Belong To Me

Chapter 2

Margaret and Kate reach the Lake Park Cemetery early, meeting only a few of the event planners and some other journalists. Cameramen go round taking pictures of a few high ranking families in the community and others who are affiliated with the Mason’s family, but none of the direct relatives of late Mr. Liam Mason were present.

Margaret wears a pair of dark shades and a sleeveless navy blue gown, with a pair of black sandals to match.

"Why did I have to come for this?" she grunts lowly and Kate opens her mouth as if to respond, "Don't say it," Margaret stops her before she can speak.

"Let me interview some of the big families before the main event arrives," Kate says excitedly.

"You know this is a funeral, right?" Margaret exclaimed, rolling her eyes, but her ginger haired friend ignores her and walks away.

"Aren't you on leave?" a man says as he walks up from behind, "Trent.". The man stands at an average right with thick bushy brows and a medium size buzz cut. He has stubble looking beards and dark eyes that hold an unwelcome gaze, and it was directed at Margaret, "I guess this is more your scene," she says.

"Any chance I've got to put my picture on the headlines, I've got to show up" he says.

He sees Kate at a distance and says, "So that's why you are here. I know you aren't the type to come for these things," Trent says as he arranges his camera. He takes a quick picture of Margaret who is looking elsewhere, but the lights draw her like a magnet, and she looks at him seething.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" "You used to like it when I took shots of you, Maggy," Trent says with mild annoyance in his voice.

"Screw you, Trent," she cusses and furrows her brows at the man.

He laughs and blows her a kiss before walking away, she makes a disgusted face and shakes her head, "Creep," she says.

"Baby," a woman calls and walks toward her, they hug and giggle. "I did not expect to see you here. I thought you would be under a blanket trying to bury yourself," the woman says as she adjusts a pair of glasses on her face.

"I was about to until Madam Grain came knocking my door," Margaret said, and the woman laughs.

"Kate can do that to you," she says and laughs again.

"Right on time," the woman says as a black Limo drives and parks by, a woman comes out with two guards beside her. She wears a long black gown and a black hat with a net over her face, "The Queen, Mrs. Anita Mason" the woman beside Margaret says.

Kate looks over at them and runs to join them, "Hey Sherry" she greets the woman beside Margaret.

Another limo pulls up and four men step out of the car, "Are those who I think they are?" Sherry asks.

"Yes, the princes of Laurel City have returned" Kate says, she and Sherry rub fingers together and giggle like little kids.

"They look so fine," Sherry says with a smile.

"This is a funeral." Margaret tries to remind the two women.

The guys look around, and one of them turns in their direction, his brown eyes stay fixed on the group for a brief second, but it is long enough for them to admire his well chiseled face.

His long black hair is tied into a half ponytail, and his face is beautified by the smooth beards across his jaw, his black suit hugs his body tightly and his brow gives him a rough demeanor.

He turns away and continues his walk to the front row seats for the occasion.

"Who is that?" Margaret asks with a tingle of appreciation in her voice.

"That is Eric Mason, he is Mr. Mason's oldest son," Kate answers.

"Wow," Margaret says as she plays with her hair.

"What are you doing? Look at her, she is doing that thing she does when she gets wet for a man," Sherry says and laughs.

"Stop that, you are saying nonsense," Margaret argues and tries to compose herself, "I just didn't think the princes would look so..."

"So cute, right? I bet you are happy I brought you," Kate says with a broad smile.

"You came here to work, stay focused" Margaret says and the girls laugh.

She takes one last look at Eric Mason, and she can swear that he returns her gaze before his eyes move away. It could just be her imagination, but her body feels a new wave of heat, and her heartbeat plays a new melody.

About an hour later everyone leaves with just the family members standing over the tombstone, after saying a few words Mrs. Mason leaves the four sons and heads back to her limo.

The brothers gradually disperse and return to the car, leaving Eric and an elderly man standing over the grave.

"Before I leave I have to tell you Eric, it is important that you find a mate within the pack or one of the strong families at the very least.

You need to strengthen your claim to the position as alpha, and you need to be strong," the elderly man says.

Eric's fair skin brightens under the sun but his heart is darkened by the situation before him, "I thought you would stake a claim to the position of alpha, seeing as you were one of his oldest and closest friend," Eric says to the man.

"All the more reason why I should respect the laws that have been passed down within the pack. But that doesn't mean we have to be ignorant of the fact that there are those who will seek to take advantage of this," the man says.

"My father and I did not see eye to eye on many things, but there is one thing we can agree on. He did not raise me to be weak, let them try. I will kill them all," Eric says and glances at the man.

"Thank you, Gilbert," he says with appreciation, and the man walks away.

Eric closes his eyes and raises his head, so many thoughts jump into his mind like a kangaroo. He takes a deep breath and opens his eyes sharply as a scent intrudes his nostrils; "What is this?" he asks himself.

The scent is strong but different, it is not the scent of one of his kind but one of a weaker being. He clenches his hands in his pocket as the scent gets stronger, he sharply turns around as if he perceives an attack on his life, but instead what stands before him is a woman with ginger colored hair and brown eyes.

She holds a small book in her hand and she seems frightened by his sudden movement, his gaze is intense, and it stays on her as he tries to determine if the scent he perceived was hers.

"I'm sorry, you frightened me. My name is Kate Grain, for Laurel Leader-Call, can I ask you a few questions?" Kate asks with a shaky voice, but the man looks over the shorter woman as if to find something, "I'm not interested," he says and walks past her.

"Kate, care for a hotdog? I got one from across the street" Margaret calls out as she walks toward Kate.

Margaret's steps slow a bit as she sees his broad back a few meters away from Kate. He seems to be walking away towards the limo surrounded by cameras, but he suddenly stops just as she stops.

He turns around, and their eyes meet, Margaret can feel her heart pounding and screaming like a little child as he stares at her with intense eyes.

Strands of her hair fall on her face to blur her vision, and she tilts her head a bit to see the man before her eyes move to Kate who walking towards her.

She glances back at him and notices that his eyes are still on her, she can see a smile grow on his face before he turns away and walks to the limo, ignoring the cameras that flash before he disappears behind the door.

Kate joins her and collects one of the hotdogs from her hand, "Why are you looking so dumbfounded? Did you get a stroke?" Kate asks as she takes a bite from the hotdog.

"Did you get to interview any of the "princes"?" Margaret questions in a quirky manner while making a funny gesture with her hands.

"No, it seemed inappropriate. I did get to meet Eric Mason, but he ignored me. I think he is a total asshat," Kate says.

Margaret puts her hand on her chest as she watches the limo drive away with only one thought in her mind, "Why was he looking at me like that?".