Chapter 10

SAMMY

"Mom. It'll be fine." I say as I pack a suit case.

"Samantha, you can't do this. What if you have an episode?" She's following me around my room in a panic.

"Mom's right, Sam" Dylan’s sitting on my bed.

"I know she's right. That's why you're moving in with me." I look at Dylan.

He straightened up. "Me. At the pack house? Are you nuts?"

I scoff. "Apparently."

My mom stood in front of me. "They won't understand Sam. This is a bad idea."

"Dylan can watch me Ok. He knows what to do. It's fine." I push past her.

"Mom. This is an opportunity of a lifetime. For me. For us." I motion to Dylan. "We can't turn this down."

I look at Dylan. "Eric's already on board. I signed for it. We're moving. Get packing."

I demand Dylan go pack while I take my bags to the truck.

"I hope you know what you're doing." My mom says as she hugs me. "You call me. For anything at any time."

"I will." I smile and get in the truck. "Dylan let's go!" I yell.

Dylan comes out and tosses his duffle back in the box of the truck.

He gets in and sighs. "Let's go."

Half hour later were walking through the staff entrance.

Dylan’s eyes are wide. He leans over. "You can fit four of mom and dad's house in here." He swallows.

"Good. You're here!" A loud deep voice booms. Bastian crosses the main foyer to greet us. He looks at Dylan. He's smiling, but there's something behind it I can't put my finger on. "Who's this?"

"Alpha Bastian Cole, this is my brother Dylan Gale. He helped me build Sam's Designs so I didn't think it would be an issue if I brought him with me." I introduce.

He's also the only one who can tame any outbreaks that happen.

He rubs his neck behind his prefect ponytail. "I see. Ok. Well, I have plenty of room. I'll show you to the staff wing."

We head back toward the staff entrance to a small marble staircase and climb to the second floor.

"There's no access to the resident bedrooms or the front of the house from here, so you'll have to go back the way we came to get down stairs. This wing is cut off from everything else." Bastian informs.

I nod as we walk down the halls.

He stops at two white doors. "Dylan, you can take this room. I'll have someone come up and prepare it for you. I wish I knew you were coming." He ticked his brow at me.

Dylan opens the door to a room that's at least double the size of his. "This is staff room?"

"Yeah. Is there a problem?" Bastian ticks his brow up.

Dylan shakes his head. "No, Alpha. No problem at all." He grins.

Bastian walks in. "Your closet is there. The showers are at the end of the hall. Showers and laundry are shared so I hope you're not shy." He chuckles.

"Not at all." Dylan chuckles back.

"Ok. Sammy will be just a few doors down." He motions.

"Bye, Dylan." I wave.

"Bye. We'll meet up later." He waves.

We leave Dylan and come to another set of white doors. He holds the knob and looks at me. "And this....is yours." He opens the door and I walk in to a large room with a huge picture window.

The bed is a king-sized bed with big fluffy duvets and lots of pillows. There's even small arm chairs.

He walks over to another set of doors. He opens them "This is your closet and this is your private bathroom."

I looked at him curiously. "Why don't I have to share?"

He looks around nervously. "This is the only room up here with a private bathroom. I figured you'd like the privacy." He grins.

"Bastian. This is incredible. It's too much, really."

He tilts his head. "With all the hard work you've been doing, it's nowhere near enough."

I blush.

He clears his throat. "I also had this room upgraded a bit. He walks to a set of glass doors on the other side of the room. "I had this installed for you. Open them."

I walk over and I can already see the surprise through the glass. "You didn't."

He's smiling a toothy grin.

I open the doors an enter the brightly lit room. Blank canvas' are everywhere. Three easels stand on the floor. There's glass door cabinets with paints in them.

"You also have an immense number of sketchbooks and any other media I think you'd like. If you're missing something, I'll get it for you." He rocks on his heel with his hands behind his back.

I turn to him. "Bastian. I...."

He walks over to me and puts his hands on my arms. "I want you to be happy here. I want this room filled with those paintings I saw." He points a finger in my face. "But don't forget you have a ballroom to decorate.”

I giggle as I tilt my head. "I won't. Thank you."

"No problem. Now, get settled and meet me in my office for a progress report on the ballroom." He turns on his heels. "I need this done soon. Because in a few weeks......" He turns...."You're going to a party."

"Excuse me?" I look wide eyed.

"You'll see." He winks and shuts the door.

I stand there in complete awe. The man that just left the room is not the man I was speaking to a couple of months ago. I'm curious to know if what I've been feeling this whole time is what he's been feeling too.

I shake my head. I pull out my business clothes and change. We've actually been pushed behind and I have to get back at it.

I collect Dylan and head for the ballroom.

Eric's in there with Heather and Lisa. Heather is another of my best friends. She's tall. Gorgeous, long blonde hair and blue eyes. She loves a good party too. Maybe we could all go. But first I need to get this ballroom done.

"Hey, guys!' I chirp.

Heather runs up and hugs me. "Oh my God, Sammy. This is amazing!"

"I know right?" I squeal

Eric turns around. "Hey. If it isn't the new pack house residents. How is it?"

Dylan grins. "Excellent. Dude, the showers are shared with the rest of the staff!"

Eric smirks. "Those wait staff girls look pretty fine."

"Oh yeah." Dylan nods with a mischievous grin.

"Stop. We're here to work. Not date." I warn.

Dylan bumps me. "I can do both."

I laugh. "Get to work."

****

I get a few hours of work in before I'm called to Bastian’s office.

As I enter, he gets up from his desk with a big smile on his face and approaches me. Meeting me halfway across the floor.

"Sam. I'm glad you could make it." He chuckles, knowing I was already here. "I didn't tear you away from anything important, did I?"

"No. Not at all." He leads me to a chair on one side if his desk and sits in the one next to me.

"Good. So. Bring me up to speed." He leaned on the arm of his chair.

"Well." I cross my legs. I catch his eyes shoot down and back up to mine. "The furnishings are here and they're better than we expected. The table cloths too. We'll need your opinion on table settings."

He waves me off. "Whatever you choose will be fine. I trust you." He gives a charming smile that does something to my stomach.

"Sure. Now. The walls seem a bit bare. So, I wanted to know if you had any pieces we could hang." I ask.

"No. But I know where I can get some." He eyes me.

I get what he means. "No. Bastian. I already told you. No one sees my art. You weren't even supposed to see it."

"Sammy. Your art is amazing. Please. I just want to show everyone how talented you are." He pleads.

"For the final time. No!" I stand.

He stands too. "Fine. I'll see what I can come up with. But I'm telling you right now. None will be as good as yours."

"Flattery will get you nowhere." I tease.

"Oh. My flattery has got me lots of things, Miss." He smirks.

"Not this time." I walk past him.

He turns. "Sam."

I turn back.

"This is the most fun challenge I've had yet." He gives me a sly smile.

I shake my head and leave his office.

That smile. That hair. That body. He may think he's losing, but I feel it. Little by little. Day by day. I'm losing.

But can I let him in? Can I trust him? Knowing what I am? Knowing what I can become?

I don't know how I'm going to handle this being even closer the Alpha now.

I just hope I can keep it together.

****

My first night in the pack house was restless, but not because of Bastian.

The moon was full and blue. I'm walking in the flower garden wearing a short, silk night gown.

"Hello?" I look around at the fog covered trees.

"My princess." A voice calls out.

I whip around. "Who's there?"

"Your kingdoms broken, Princess. It needs you. Where are you?" I hear it, but I can't see where it's coming from.

I walk into the woods. "Come out." My voice echoes through my mind.

I feel growling up the dark path. "I'm here. I found you."

I watch the path as I start to sweat.

Then I see him.

The large ebony black wolf crests the small hill. He stands tall.

His red eyes call to me. The white cross marking on his forehead almost seems to glow.

I'm scared, but I feel a pull to the giant wolf. "Who are you?"

"Find me." He eyes me once more and turns.

"Wait!" I run up the path and he's gone. Dissolved into the fog.

I wake and I'm in bed. In the pack house. I sit up and blow out a shaky breath. It was calmer than my other dreams. There was no assault on my head this time. I don't know what's going on, but I feel like this wolf is somehow important to me or at least the beast within me. I don't know how long I can hold on with it calling me now.

I can't tell anyone. I can't get advice.

I get up and go to my little paint room at 3 in the morning.

I break out my paints and throw up a canvas. I painted well into dawn.

I stepped back and looked at the ebony wolf with the white cross and red eyes. Standing like a king in the trees.

"Who are you?" I whisper.

"Sam?"

I turn and Dylan’s standing in the doorway. "Wow. What's that?" He analyzes the painting.

I shrug. "I don't know. It came to me last night." I cross my arms and look at the painting.

He rubs his chin. "I can't put my finger on it, but I feel like I've seen that guy before."

I turn my head to him. "Really?"

He nods. "Yeah. I don't know where. I do know he gives me the creeps. Like bad mojo or something."

"Hmm....I've never seen him before. I'm sure of it. I think I'd remember that wolf."

He turns to me. "Anyway. The staff here tell me that they get the swim in the pool after hours. You want to come?"

"Sure. I just need to finish a few things today. After that dream, I could use a relaxing time by the pool." I smile.

****

I worked actually quite peacefully all day. Bastian was at the Unit all day, so I didn't have him hanging around, which was great. As the days go on, he's become quite the distraction.

I change into my black string bikini and head out with some other staff members and Dylan.

The pool is huge. Trimmed with rock. There's a spa with a waterfall and another waterfall rock wall at the end of it. The water is heated to the best temperature. It's so good for relaxing after work.

I jump in with Dylan and we swim around splashing each other.

Nigel and Anton are also out here. Relaxing on lounges with beers. Wearing swim trunks and sunglasses. Excellent eye candy if I must say.

The pool has several people jumping in and out. It's actually quite the get together.

I was just splashing around when a loud voice boomed.

"Hey!"

I spin around and Bastian is at the edge of the pool.

"Hi!" I chirp.

He crooks a finger at me. "Come here, now."

Nigel sits up. "Bastian...."

Bastian raises a hand to him. Not taking his eyes off me. They don't look happy. "Come. Here." He points to the deck.

I swim over to the edge of the pool. I feel like I'm a kid in trouble.

He squats down and looks around at his staff. "What are you doing?"

"Swimming?" I say.

He scrubs his face. "You're practically naked. Get out now!" He demands quietly.

"What? No. Bastian...."

He raises his finger. "Get out." He growls.

The Alpha tone has me climbing out of the pool. He motions to Nigel who tossed a large towel at him. He wraps it around me. Staring into my eyes he points at me. "You will not parade around this house like that. Definitely not with unmated wolves."

"You can't talk to...."I protest.

He presses his finger to my lips which is really starting to get irritating. "I'm the Alpha of this house. And if I say, no bikinis, I mean no bikinis. Am I clear?"

"No. I'm not..."

"Am I clear?! " He grits. His eyes flare.

I narrow my eyes. "Fine." I turn and stomp into the house.

The Bastian I knew is back. I knew the sweet Alpha was only temporary.

He follows me to the stairs.

As I climb the stairs, the towel falls off my shoulders.

"What's that?' He says looking at my back.

I look over my shoulder. "What's what?" I'm pissed that he's pulling this possessive crap on me, but I'm hoping he's not talking about what I think he is.

"This." He gets close and he touches the scar on my shoulder blade. His touch instantly sends spikes of heat through me and not the good kind. It kind of felt like it burned.

I jump. "It's nothing. Just an injury I got when I was kid.

"Wolves don't scar unless it was pretty bad.

"Well, it was." I pull up the towel.

"It looks like.... a bite." He looks at me confused.

"It's nothing. I'm going to go change." I leave him at the bottom of the stairs as I reluctantly climb up. My afternoon ruined by the Alphas demands.

I can't believe I let him talk to me like that, but he is my boss and for some reason he doesn't like it when I dress casually. Like I'm going to get jumped if I show a little more skin than usual. It's ridiculous.

If we're going to make this work. I'm going to have to set some ground rules here.