Who is my Husband

Chapter 8 Wolf

            “So how long have you and Trey known each other?” Kailee asked as she sipped her coffee.

            “Forever.” Lance chuckled. “We’ve been together since we were toddlers. We don’t remember a time without the other.”

            “Sounds like you grew up like brothers.” Kailee smiled as she watched Lance shrug.

            “I don’t have any family. I don’t know what having a brother is supposed to be like but I guess Trey is close enough to that. He is my only family. I’d do anything for him.” Lance sipped his drink as he thoughtfully looked out the window.

            “Including babysitting his wife.” Kailee gave him a wry grin and he chuckled.

            “That isn’t a task though. I’d do that for fun. You are my new friend after all, right?” Lance asked and Kailee smiled.

            “I guess we will have to wait and see about that.” Kailee smiled as he looked at her with a wide grin.

            “You don’t have to play hard-to-get on our friendship. I mean I did button your dress after all. That makes us close.”

            “Or makes me desperate.” Kailee chuckled as he grabbed his chest in fake pain. Kailee looked at Lance with her sweet brown eyes. “What did you think of my back? Was it a nice back?” She watched as red smeared over his cheeks as he turned his head away from her.

            “On further thought… about the button topic… we probably shouldn’t talk about it again.” Lance said as he cleared his throat.

            Kailee giggled. “It was just buttoning up my dress. You are silly.”

            “Trust me Kailee. Your husband isn’t as sweet and forgiving with anyone but you.”

            “I haven’t known him long enough to know his nature yet and to see if he treats others differently. For now, I will withhold judgement.” Kailee thought about Trey and how tender he has been with her. It was hard to think of him being any other way but that. Was he only being sweet with her because she was new or was it because it was her? She wanted to get to know him better. She didn’t like how she was already feeling towards him. He was still practically a stranger. So why was it that she felt concerned about him? Why was it that she was feeling… lonely knowing he wouldn’t be back tonight?

            She looked out to the window as the two sat there quietly. The sun was shining brightly outside beckoning her to come and play.

            “I’m going to take a walk to the fountain. It looked so pretty from a distance.” Kailee said as she gently eased herself to her feet.

            “Do you really think you should be walking around?” Lance looked at her with a frown.

            “Oh relax. I didn’t say I was going for a run.” Kailee watched his green nervous eyes as he let out a sigh.

            “Fine. But don’t overdo it.” Lance stood up as well. “At least you let us sit inside until mid-morning.”

            “Exactly.”

            “By the way. Happy birthday Kailee.” Lance grinned widely at her as she gave him a small smile of appreciation.

            “Thank you.” That was the second time someone had wished her a happy birthday. And just something simple like that made her happy.

            Lance led her onto a white stone path that was surrounded by dark green, well-trimmed hedges. The sun's rays beat against them as they followed the path.

            “You mentioned before that you have always been with Trey and that you didn’t have any family. What does that mean? What happened to your family?” Kailee asked quietly.

            “That is sort of tough to explain.” Lance rubbed the back of his head and winced up to the sky. “I guess I have family out there somewhere. But I don’t know who they are and they don’t know me. They gave me away when I was young and through a series of different circumstances I ended up with Trey.”

            “So they took you in as their own?” Kailee was trying to figure out what he was to Trey exactly.

            “Well… they took me in to be Trey’s companion. I was brought up to be his right-hand man. And because I was raised with him at a young age my loyalty would not come into question.” Lance answered clumsily something that didn’t go unnoticed by Kailee.

            “Is it the same with Grum? He called himself Trey’s right-hand man as well.”

            “No. Grum’s circumstances are different from my own. His family was born to support Trey’s family. It is part of their family history. A dedicated master-servant relationship that has lasted for centuries.” Lance looked over at Kailee and could see her deep in thought. “Best not to over think it. But just know we are both close with Trey.”

            “What about Reggie then?”

            Lance smiled. “Reggie is a good guy too. He is probably one of Trey’s strongest allies in a sense. The three of us are loyal to Trey and that now includes you as his wife.”

            Kailee looked to the bushes at her side quietly.

            “What’s wrong? Is being his wife all that bad?” Lance asked, noticing her quiet demeanor.

            “I don’t understand it.” Her voice whispered out with wounded vulnerability. She lifted her brown eyes to Lance. “I don’t know why he wanted me.”

            “I mean… you have looked in a mirror before, right? You’re beautiful. I think that reason alone is enough to catch a man’s eye.” Lance winked at her and then cleared his throat. “Better not tell Trey I said that though.”

            Kailee gave him a weak smile. “There are a lot of attractive young girls out there. Though I guess they probably have more strings attached and maybe their families wouldn’t have married them off to a man whose face they have never seen…”

            “It wouldn’t have mattered anyways. Trey wants you.” Lance's voice radiated with certainty and conviction.

            “Which brings me back to my original question… why?” Kailee looked at Lance who was now smiling as he looked off ahead of them.

            “One day he will tell you all of that. Curious kitten.” Lanced winked over at her and she shook her head with a sigh.

            “So you know then?” Kailee eyed him suspiciously as the thought just reached her mind. That these close loyal friends around him probably knew everything.

            “Sure, do but it’s useless.” He looked at her with a big grin. “You can’t lay siege to this castle. My defenses are too great.”

            “Fine.” Kailee said displeased at her attempts to gain information. “Well what about you all then. If you are constantly at Trey’s side, what about starting your own families and finding someone of your own.”

            “Who says I haven’t?” Lance looked over at Kailee and shrugged. “This is who I am. It isn’t always easy but if she really cares about me and is loyal she will adjust to this lifestyle.”

            “So you have a girl you are seeing then?”

            “No. I have a wife.” Lance looked at Kailee from the corner of his eye with a side smirk. “So best not fall in love with me.”

            “I’ll try to contain myself.” Kailee looked ahead as the fountain came into view. She wondered about what he said. Did he really have a wife? Or was he alluding to her being his wife?

            “Can I meet your wife soon?” Kailee asked and tilted her head to the side to look at Lance. She watched a small smile stay on his face.

            “Perhaps one day.” His voice was quiet as he stared out in the distance.

            Kailee found this interesting. She kept quiet as she added the information to the puzzle pieces she was gathering. Above her she heard loud squawks announcing its presence. She looked up to see Sparks and smiled brightly to her friend. “The fountain is lovely, isn’t it?” Kailee yelled up to Sparks who continued to squawk in agreement.

            The bushes stopped and there was a wide circular clearing with flowers littering the grass. In the center was a white stone fountain that trickled into a small pond below it.

            “So pretty.” The words escaped out from Kailee’s lips in a quiet whisper. She walked up closer to the fountain and touched the cool water as it cascaded down.

            “This was the late lady’s favorite spot. It is well kept up in her honor now.” Lance said as he walked up to Kailee’s side. He glanced up at the phoenix slowly descending to them. “I see your friend is back.”

            Kailee smiled and nodded. “He always greets me daily.”

            Sparks landed on the edge of the fountain and then looked up to Kailee. He began squawking and flapping his wings alerting Kailee to something. He kept telling her he is coming. But she didn’t know who he was.

            Kailee felt her chest squeeze as a heavy presence came closer. She took a small step away from the fountain so she could get a better view of her surroundings.

                “Kailee? Are you okay?” Lance asked, noticing the change in her.

            “I…” Kailee watched as Sparks took off into the sky, squawking as he circled an area in front of them.

            A low growl was heard from the nearby hedges beyond the fountain. Lance positioned himself in front of Kailee as he stared ahead in tense anticipation.

            The bushes rustled slightly and a few green leaves fell to the ground. Kailee took a small step closer as she watched for what was causing the movement. A colossal looking black wolf came into view. Kailee gasped. This was not an ordinary wolf. Everything about it was bigger.

            “Get out of here.” Lance turned his head to her as he held his arm out protectively. “Damn, I should have brought my sword with me.”

            Kailee…

            Kailee inhaled sharply as she looked at the wolf. It had called her name. But more importantly… It knew her name. It’s mint green eyes narrowed onto her as he fully came into view.

            “What do you want?” Kailee asked as she squeezed her fists together.

            “What are you doing?” Lanced asked hurriedly. “Run. I’ll hold it off.”

            The wolf snarled at the man when he put his hand on Kailee.

            “Don’t!” Kailee yelled at the wolf and jumped in front of Lance. She gazed fiercely at the wolf as she ignored the pains on her body from her quick movement. “Don’t hurt him.”

            Sparks squawked loudly and then landed back onto the fountain. It looked at the wolf and flapped in protest.

            We can’t continue to wait. The wolf growled out looking at Sparks. It’s eyes flickered back to Kailee.

            We need you to wake up. The wolf’s gaze held intently on Kailee.

            “What do you want with me…?” Kailee looked over at Sparks who lowered his head away from her.

            You need to come with me.

            The burning started to radiate inside of her again. She clutched onto her stomach as she continued to hold her gaze with the wolf.

            Stop fighting it! The wolf snarled loudly as he barked at her.

            “Stop!” Kailee yelled at the wolf. “I don’t understand. I don’t understand what’s going on.”

            The wolf went silent as he stared at Kailee sadly. I’m sorry. But we need you to wake up. The forest needs you, Kailee.

            Kailee felt the energy inside of her surge. Only this time she felt an odd liquid heat spread over her wounds. Her body started to mildly tremble, and Lance put his arm around her, pulling her into his side.

            Another sound was soon heard. The sound of heavy footsteps approaching. A man ran up from behind and jumped in front of Lance and Kailee. He stood there staring at the wolf as he held his hand over his sheathed sword.

            “Make your move wolf.” The man’s voice growled out. The wolf bared his teeth at the man at first but then took a small step backwards. He studied the man and then slightly turned to his side. He looked back to Kailee again conflicted and then took a few steps away.

            I’ll be back for you Kailee… The wolf glanced at her one last time before it turned running off.

            “Kailee. Are you okay?” Lance asked as he felt her body shivering.

            “Hand her to me.” The other guy said as he grabbed her from Lance. “What in the world is going on with you little one?” The man’s voice was soft and gentle. “Time to calm down.” His voice cooed to her.

            Kailee looked at the man. He had brown hair and green eyes. Oh look… another one. She thought as darkness overtook her.