The hotel room was as delightful as I ever could have imagined. It almost felt like I had come back home to the lifestyle I was accustomed to. Not that Jay’s place wasn’t grand, but compared to the full life I had, it was like I had taken ten steps back. How he had so many funds was beyond me. Maybe he lived a more simple life so that he could afford to buy a wife.
The only issue was having to share a bed with the man I held no care for. Though that was a worry for later on. Right now, he was following me around like a little duckling as I shopped. I didn’t have money of my own, so it was only natural I spent his money. I wasn’t going to at first; as I had no intention of being in his debt like my parents were, but when he had clarified that his money was mine and there was no catch, I figured why not make life at his place more comfortable?
I tried to keep to things he could easily carry, but the number of clothes was piling up. Not once did he argue or deny me my spending. I wasn’t sure if it was worse he was letting me act spoiled rather than setting any boundaries. Did he really have no backbone? Glancing back at the pile of bags and boxes he carried, I let out a long sigh and shook my head.
“Let’s go back to the hotel. I’m tired now,” I said as I stormed onwards down the street. I wasn’t sure why I was so annoyed again, but I was. Maybe I had hoped he would be a bad person, so my dislike of him would be justified. However, he was being far too sweet. I couldn’t justify my dislike of him if this kept up. I pursed my lips as I focused on the direction of our hotel. All I could think of was that I refused to fall in love with such a man as Jay.
Back in our room, Jay put away all the new clothes into the suitcase for me while I sat on the bed and watched. He had packed a spare one, knowing full well I had planned to shop, but he hadn’t planned for the sheer numbers.
“These will look lovely on you,” Jay said once he had finally managed to shut the suitcase and lock it. “Though can you really wear all of them?”
I pursed my lips into a pout. “Don’t you want to show off how pretty I am?” I question him with a heartrending tone. “I just wanted to feel special,” I added on. I was being a brat, and I knew it. However, I wanted to see just how far he would let me push before he snapped. He had to have a limit, right? Something that would give me a reason to prove he wasn’t a complete doormat.
Jay stared at me for long enough that I thought maybe I had done it. Found his limit on how far I could push. However, to my disappointment, he muttered, “I don’t need to show you off for people to know you’re beautiful. Our family knows this already, even without seeing you for themselves. As for being special, you’re more than special. You’re mine, so you’re more than something special.”
He was still singing my praises but still treating me like property. I let out a long huff.
“What?” He asked, confused at my disappointment. “What did I say wrong now?” Fine. If Jay would not be a man, then I’d force his hand. I stood up from the bed and folded my arms across my chest and peered at him intently. He didn’t look intimidated at all, just confused.
“I’m not yours. I don’t belong to you like a toy or whatever,” I hissed. “Sure, I am legally a wife to you, but I’ll never belong to you! Your bargain with my parents has nothing to do with me!” I raised my voice a little. The first time in my life I had ever done so. It surprised me how well I could stand up for myself. I would never have dared towards my parents.
Jay looked taken aback for a moment as he heard my words. Then his expression shifted into a frown, then guilt. He didn’t have a rebuttal for what I had said. “You’re destined to be mine,” he uttered quietly. Was that all he could come up with?
“That’s the same thing!” I shot at him and then let out an annoyed grunt. “You act all sweet and innocent, but you just see me as some possession to own and do as you wish! I’m a human being and the only reason I even agreed to this stupid marriage was that I had no other choice!” I quickly shut my mouth. That wasn’t something I had meant to say out loud, and especially not towards the man in question!
Jay was about to say something else, but at this point, I panicked. I quickly left the hotel room before he could chase me down. Luckily for me, I knew my way around far better than he did, so losing him was easy.
I could hear him calling my name, but he was getting further away, rather than closer. I let out a small sigh and stormed off down to a second lot of elevators. Knowing he wouldn’t think to check this side of the hotel, I planned on easily slipping past him should he make it down to the lobby before I did. I’d come back later, after making him worry for a bit, but for now, I needed a moment to think over what I would do if he was mad at me.
Luck was on my side. If he had gotten on the elevator or taken the stairs, he hadn’t made it to the lobby before me. I easily slipped on out and headed towards the beach. It was late in the afternoon, so barely anyone was around right now. I wasn’t sure if I should stay on the beach or head somewhere else. He could spot me here, which wasn’t what I wanted.
Tapping my lip in thought, I remembered a place I could go.
There was an extensive park near here. It was mostly open fields with a few trees and bushes. Joggers often made use of it at this time of the day, so I’d not stand out too much and Jay probably didn’t know about the spot. It was the perfect hideout to mull over my next actions.
As I expected this time of day, few people were in the park outside of joggers and the dog walkers. It was still warm enough that I wouldn’t need my coat, and seeing as I hadn’t picked it up when I stormed out of the hotel room, that was a good thing. I wasn’t sure how long I should give Jay before I would crawl back to him, but I wanted to make him worry about his ‘lost investment’ for at least a bit.I couldn’t stop the slight sigh that escaped my lips as I slowly travelled down the path. Why had I been giving him such a hard time again? I had thought it was just so that I could have a reason to divorce him, but now I was feeling upset about not being cherished by him at all. Had I caught feelings for him?“Ugh, no way,” I muttered to myself and shook my head swiftly. There was not a chance in hell that I had any feelings for such a man! He was too pathetic and sickly sweet.Passing by a sm
The sound of growling and fighting startled me after I had resigned to my fate. I was crying in the branches of the tree and hadn’t noticed the arrival of yet another, larger wolf. That was until I heard yelping come from below me. Looking down from my spot, I wondered if this new wolf would be the one to finish me off and if it would be a swift or slow death. What I didn’t understand was why the wolf was fighting the others. Wasn’t it part of the same pack?I watched in shock and horror as the larger of the wolves fought the small group of wolves off. It seemed to take forever, but finally, it was the only one remaining. I wasn’t sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing. On one hand, this wolf looked stronger, faster and likely had the jumping ability to get me from where I was sitting. On the other hand, there was now only one wolf.I wasn’t sure if I could outrun it, but maybe I could di
After Jay has turned back into his human-self and gotten dressed again, we both get back to our hotel room. I stay silent the rest of the way, as I am far too tired and just want to warm up again. I’m sure when I wake up after a good night’s rest, everything will turn out to just be some weird dream and I won’t remember any of it. Or that’s my plan, anyway.Jay keeps me warm with his jacket, even after we get into our hotel room. He also runs a nice hot bath for me, all the while babbling on and on about packs and roles within them. I don’t understand half of it, unfortunately. All I can do is nod my head slowly to show I am listening. Though I’m not following along at all. There’s just too much to take in. As soon as he has finished drawing my bath, he rubs at his neck sheepishly. He can probably tell I’m too tired and confused to let all this information sink in.“Sorry,” he mumbles at
The next morning, I woke up in a slight daze. It’s a little too warm and uncomfortable. It isn’t until I am pulled closer towards a warm body that I realise Jay is clinging to me from behind. I find my face burning hotter, but I can’t wiggle free without waking him up. I glance back over my shoulder and gaze at what I can see of my sleeping husband. Surprise washes over me. That he is so comfortable being this close to me while asleep is not anything I am used to experiencing. It’s almost like he cherishes me somehow. I’m not sure what to make of this closeness between us. Part of me wants to get out of his hold, but another part of me thinks it feels nice to be held this way. Even my parents have not held me in such an affectionate way. I decided to allow Jay to sleep like this a little longer. He looks so peaceful and happy in his sleep, so disturbing him now would be such a shame. I’m not sure ho
“So, how did your honeymoon go afterwards?” Darnell questioned with a big grin on his face while we walked through the resort grounds. Jay and I had returned this morning, and it almost felt like he had known something had happened before he had even been told. I couldn’t figure it out. It didn’t matter in the long run, but I was curious about how he seemed to know.I offered Darnell a smile and then asked, “before or after those crazy wolves showed up? Or should I say werewolves? Either way, crazy things!”Chuckling, Darnell nodded. “Yeah, that happens more often than I’d like. We get into fights often with other packs. I suppose we will have to keep you out of our scuffles, as they can get really bloody at times,” he murmured.I blink up at Darnell and then nod slowly. “I didn’t know being a werewolf would be dangerous. Why do they attack others?&rdq
The sound of snarling and howling fills my ears as soon as the fighting starts. I can just about see the rival pack on the outskirts of the forest and, from what I can see, they’re not a small group at all. There are easily twenty individual wolves out there, and that isn’t counting any that have come from the other directions into the resort.I bite my lower lip anxiously. I feel so powerless to help the people here, but I know going out there would only put me in danger. Unlike those that live here, I am no werewolf. I can’t transform and fight in another form and I certainly wouldn’t know how to fight in a human form either. There are no guns or anything here either, not that I would know how to use one of those, but the point is moot as I have no training to use one.All I can do is hope and pray that this rival pack backs off without too much bloodshed on either side. Holding my hands up to my chest, I watch as the fi
As I make my way over the rooftop to the other side, where there is a way down, I hear the Alpha smashing open the bedroom door at last and slamming into the chest I put in the way. He curses, but I don’t stick around to find out just what he thinks of me. I want nothing to do with this crazy man or his pack that wants to hurt others. I almost slip on a spot on the roof, but quickly gather my balance. “Goddess be damned!” The Alpha calls as he realises I’ve left through the window and onto the roof. With a glance behind me, I just about see the top of his head as he searches for my location. It doesn’t take him long to realise where I’ve gone, but I’ve no intention of allowing him to catch up with me. I quickly lower myself from the roof onto the metal fire-exit steps on the side of the building and dart down them as fast as my feet will carry me. “Damnit, woman! Get back here right now!” The Alpha demands of me. He still hasn’t learned
As I embrace the inevitable jaws of death, I can feel the Alpha’s hot breath on my neck. This is it. The end of my brief life in this world. A whimper escapes my lips, but before I can feel the release of life, someone knocked the Alpha off me with tremendous force.Looking up, my tear-stained face spots two wolves standing next to me protectively. One of them I instantly know is Jay. The other, I assume, is Darnell in his wolf form. I let out a shaky sigh of relief, though the crying doesn’t stop. I can’t believe how close my life was to ending.“You alright, Gwen?” Jay asked me, though he does not take his eyes off of the Alpha, who is slowly regaining his balance. “I know this is scary, but you have to get up. You are vulnerable here.”I nod hesitantly and get to my feet, though my knees are shaking and I can’t stop the tears from falling down my cheeks. “I’m okay… you t