Chapter 6 Care To Know
2242 Words
[Stella’s POV]
I took the towel and quickly got myself washed off. When I was done, I took a closer look at the clothes. It wasn’t my normal choice of clothes. I was used to wearing all jeans and t-shirts, but why did it have to be a dress?
Okay, he didn’t know me, but really? Wasn’t it a little discriminating to expect that all girls like dresses? It was all black going to the knee, and luckily not too tight.
The v-line was a little too deep for my taste though, but I wasn’t complaining, it was better than going around with a sheet all day. Just as I took a last glance at the mirror, I heard a small knock on the door.
“Come in?” I replied, as Shax stepped in again.
“I thought I would knock this time to make sure I didn’t scare you again.” Shax stated as he looked at me.
“.. And I see the dress was a perfect fit.” He added with a smile.
“That was very thoughtful of you, and yes, thanks for the dress.” I replied with a gentle smile.
“Oh, you shouldn’t thank me, I’m just the delivery-guy.” He explained with a small chuckle, as he held out his hand for me.
“Shall we?” He then asked, as I hesitantly took it.
“You don’t have to worry, Armaros has forbidden anyone to harm you, so you have nothing to fear.” He stated, as he gently patted my hand, and I proceeded to follow him through the hall.
I was surprised how big his house was, it looked like there could live a 100 people in it. Of course, the pack house at home was big, but this was one man’s house.
The walls were filled with paintings and the floor and stairs were carpeted with this dark purple fabric, making it look almost like a royal estate.
But as Shax pulled me through the hallway on the first floor, and into another room, I felt like I had stepped into a nightmare and my grip around Shax's arm tightened.
By a table, several of these demons were playing some kind of card game, while the air was thick with smoke. They were laughing and yelling, but as we stepped in, it suddenly became quiet as Shax paused for a moment.
“So that’s the little wolf-girl.” A voice spoke up in a taunting manner.
“Be nice Morax.. This is Stella.” Shax stated, as I felt a knot in my stomach.
“I’m always nice, but come on Shax! She is a werewolf. Why the hell let her go around like that? Well, I must admit she’s pretty hot, though.” He stated with a smirk, while I felt his eyes looking me up and down, making me take one step backwards.
“Oh, I think you're scaring the poor thing, Morax – why don’t you come over here, I promise we won’t bite.” Another one spoke, as he grinned.
“Shut up, Amon! We shouldn’t interfere unless you want Armaros to put your ass on a stake!” Another one growled.
“Fück off Baal, I’m just being nice like Shax suggested..” Amon stated, as he looked at me again, while numerous of them started to laugh.
“How about you take that nice àss of yours then and drive off a cliff,” Armaros growled from the other end of the room as he walked closer.
“A.. Armaros! You know, I was just joking, right? I.. I wouldn’t do anything, of course.” Amon stated apprehensively.
I was a bit stunned to see how they all seemed to cower away, as he walked past them, until he stood right in front of me.
“I can take it from here, Shax.” Armaros stated, as Shax nodded his head, and I proceeded to let go of his arm.
Then Armaros placed a hand on my waist and led me to the end of the room and into a big dining room.
“You shouldn’t take it personally, it’s just the way they are.” Armaros spoke carelessly, as he pulled a chair out for me, and I sat down.
“Which part of it? That they hate werewolves or is it their degrading remarks about me, as a girl, you refer to?” I asked, as he raised his eyebrows at my comment.
I tried really hard to keep the mask, but then I started to laugh at the look on his face, as I probably had stunned him for a moment.
“You should have seen yourself.” I laughed out loud, as a smile appeared on his lips as well.
“Your laugh.. It is still the same, I see.” He stated, as I was the one who was surprised, that he even remembered that.
“I guess.. I didn’t think you would remember that..” I spoke, placing my hands in my lap.
“How would I ever forget a laugh like that?” He replied, as his expression softened a bit. I didn’t know what to say, so I just glanced at him, with a cautious smile.
“So.. Do you like the dress?” He suddenly asked, changing the subject.
“Oh.. Yes, it’s very nice. I normally don’t wear dresses, but it was very thoughtful of you.” I replied politely.
“Maybe you should.. It complements your body very well.” He spoke, as I felt the heat in my cheeks.
“I’ll definitely think about it..” I replied, as he seemed pleased with my answer.
“Well, you must be pretty hungry by now, I apologize for being a bad host, so I hope this will make up for it..” he spoke as he removed the lid from the dish and my nose immediately was met by a wonderful smell and I felt my mouth water, by the sight of a smoking hot lasagna.
“It looks really good.” I replied, as he placed some on my plate, and I soon dived in.
I moaned loudly as the first bite came in contact with my tongue, and I could see the amusement in Armaros' eyes.
“So.. You told me it was your birthday yesterday?” He suddenly asked, as I looked at him and nodded.
“How old are you, if I may ask?” He spoke, as he observed me for a moment, while he took another bite of his lasagna.
“I just turned 18..” I stated truthfully, as he nodded slowly and took another bite.
“What about you..?” I asked, as he raised his sight from his plate to me.
“Definitely older than you..” he revealed with a small grin, as he ignored my glowering stare, but I held back my remarks.
He surely didn’t make it easy for me to keep the nice tone, but I didn’t plan to let him fool me that easily.
“How much older, if I may ask?” I spoke as I copied his way of speaking. He placed the knife and fork on his plate as he looked at me.
“What do you think?”
“20?” I asked as he shook his head and a small grin was at the sight of his lip.
“21 then.” I tried once again, as his grin widened.
“More like 23..” he chuckled as I looked at him startled.
“But you seemed so young when I met you ten years ago..” I spoke as he shrugged.
“I was probably just small for my age, I guess..” he replied as his calm face turned into a stern expression.
[Back at the tribe]
“How about we ask Lior for help? He is pretty good at using portals. Maybe he can get us there?” Bella suggested as they looked at her with raised eyebrows.
“Are you seriously considering that we should go alone, instead of telling our parents?” Kyan asked in disbelief.
“What do you think is going to happen if we tell them, huh?” She retorted, as she looked at them all.
“They will probably bring a whole army of werewolves and what not, and everything will just get worse. Plenty of people will die!” She explained, as they looked at each other.
“But how should we make a difference?” Jaze asked, as he glanced at the other, as he shrugged.
“Yeah, there are most likely hundreds of Demons, and we are just the four of us!” Nathan added.
“Maybe if we just go down there and explain that it’s all just a big misunderstanding, then she can go back home with us and everything will go back to normal.” Bella explained with a smile.
[Stella’s POV]
Four days had passed since I arrived at Armaros’ place, and though I tried my best, I knew I wasn’t fooling anyone. I really missed my home, my parents, and my friends and family.
Though Armaros was practically keeping me prisoner, I felt like he actually was making an effort to make me feel comfortable in this place, and that should count as something, right? But at the same time, I wasn’t sure if it was just a part of the bet.
I know it sounds stupid, that I chose to make a bet with him, but I hoped that, if I was being nice to him, it would make him open up a little more, and maybe reconsider keeping me here, against my will.
But to do so, I needed to know more about him, but he wasn’t that easy to talk to – at least not when it was about him.
Despite the fact that I was spending a lot of time with him; as I was having breakfast and dinner with him every day, and I was forced to sleep in the same bed as him – which, of course, was because I was detained in his bedroom - though he could have picked any other room for me in the big mansion of his – But anyway.. There was just one problem with all of it, and it was that; that I was only getting myself more attached to him.
But I was already too deep in it to just give up, and then I would just lose the bet anyway. So, I finally decided to make another approach, as we were having breakfast..
“The way you and Damien talk to each other, I would never have guessed you were brothers.” I spoke, as Armaros looked up at me.
“Me and Damien might be brothers, but we aren’t that close,” Armaros replied, as he shrugged.
“Oh, that’s sad, I couldn’t imagine if I had that kind of relationship with my brother.” I spoke, as I took a bite of my bread, and Armaros looked at me, as he slightly tilted his head.
“You have a brother?” He asked, and I proceeded to nod my head.
“Yeah, his name is Theo, and he is seven.” I replied, as I felt a little sad as I mentioned him.
“That’s quite an age difference you got there..” he spoke as he took a sip of his coffee.
“Yeah, but my mom was pretty young when they got me, and I wasn’t actually planned at that time, so she and my dad waited a little before they chose to have him.” I added, as he nodded his head.
“What about your parents?” I asked him, as his expression almost turned to ice.
“What about them?” He asked in an indifferent tone, and I knew I probably had touched something I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t just stop now because the cat was already out of the bag.
“Are you close with them?” I asked hesitantly, as I saw how he tensed by my question, as he seemed to be fighting against the way he felt, like he didn’t want me to see how it truly affected him.
“No..” he replied coldly, and I already knew he didn’t want to be more specific about it, but I kept pushing it.
“Why not?” I asked again.
“Let it go, Stella.” He warned me, but I couldn’t, I had to make him understand my perspective.
“What’s wrong? Why can’t you just answer the question..” I began to ask as he raised from his seat and slammed both his hands down on the table, making me jump.
“Why do you have to be so nosy, why can’t you just understand I don’t wanna talk about my fücking parents!” He hollered.
“So just because you don’t have a good relationship with your parents, it’s okay for you to rob me of mine!” I yelled back.
“Shax! Please escort Stella to my room now!” He ordered, while he stared at me intensely. His hands were shaking, and his whole body was tensed.
“No need! I can find it myself.. Dad!” I snarled sarcastically, as I stormed off.
- Writer
