3

I left the office and headed towards my room. Passing along the corridor past one of the open doors, she stopped and looked inside. The room was large: a huge carpet on the floor, several armchairs, a sofa and tables. Most likely it was the living room.

My attention was drawn to the door, open to the terrace. She looked around, there was no one around. I crossed the room and stepped out into the air. Slowly walked along the terrace. It turned out that it completely goes around the house, and on the second floor there is the same single balcony.

It was good here: climbing plants served as a fence, which were delicately hidden from casual glances, a fresh breeze blew over the face. I went downstairs and decided to look around, since I have to live here for a while.

Immediately behind the house was a well-groomed garden. Trees were planted around. On the left side of the house there was an alley and through the trees, in the distance, some buildings could be seen. Slowly headed in that direction, trying to at least streamline the information received.

So, there is no reason not to believe Maxim, that they are hunting me and that I am in danger. Moreover, his words about the request of the mother - take care of me. And the ring given to me is evidence of this.

The ring is actually a simple gold band, but my mother always wore it without taking it off. Where she got it from and what it meant to her, she never said. I tried several times to ask, but she scolded me. I also had no doubt that she refused help, this is completely in her character.

Maxim's story about the death of his father did not make any impression, for me he was a complete stranger who ruined the life of me and my mother. Therefore, even if he had drowned in the cesspool, and not died helping his brother, it did not matter to me.

The fact that my uncle was the alpha of the pack was also not particularly interesting: well, he was and was. Now it turns out exactly Maximilian alpha. And how he became one is also not my business in principle.

Finding a brother in the face of Alex ... then the information, frankly, passed by my consciousness. And now I have neither positive nor negative sides in this acquisition did not see. His behavior and views clearly showed how unpleasant I was to him. Although what is the reason for such a bright negative attitude - I did not understand.

Yes, constantly dressing like a scarecrow, I didn’t meet with those around me much sympathy, but in order to see contempt for myself at the very first glance ... well, I don’t like it, okay! As they say: the sheriff does not care about the problems of the Indians!

But the attitude of Maximilian was very pleased, there was no alienation or any kind of rejection. Even when he realized that I was completely unaware of the life of the pack and the father, he calmly and briefly outlined the situation.

True, a couple of times she caught on herself very much studying views, well, yes, this is understandable: the problem has fallen on his head, protect now, endure, feed. A solid man like and used to keep his word. Vaughn as he minted that he would fulfill the promise given to his father, with pressure, firmness. He did not like my doubt.

He remembered sitting back in his chair, in a deceptively relaxed posture, his hands on the table, large palms. And the look of dark eyes, with a completely uncharacteristic for werewolves dark color of the iris.

Definitely, there is something in him ... it is impossible to forget this man, even just by briefly seeing him. And what smell emanated from him, mmm ... Something very familiar was caught, as if from childhood, but I could not understand what it reminds me of. Interesting - this Viola ... how much is she his "friend"?

From the sudden realization in which way I think about Maximilian, I stopped. Something changed my sense of self-preservation. We need to stay as far away from him as possible! Of course, in the current circumstances it will not be easy, but we must try.

The alley ended, and I went out onto a busy street, along which all kinds of shops were located. Walking, sometimes I looked at passers-by, then at the shop windows, and suddenly I heard someone shouting my name. She turned around in surprise: maybe it wasn’t my name after all, and saw Alina, Maxim’s sister, hurrying towards me.

- I'm calling you, calling, but you don't hear, - stopping next to me, the girl chirped and held out her hand to me. - Let's at least get to know each other normally, otherwise it was awkward in the presence of my brother. I am Alina.

I hesitated, but shook her hand.

- Wally. Yes, I also had a feeling of embarrassment during lunch.

- Wallia, not Valeria? She walked down the street pulling me along with her.

- Valeria is a familiar name for people, - I shrugged my shoulders, - Do you live in the house itself, with your brother?

Yes, but only in summer. I'm a student of pedagogy, I'm in my second year. I wanted to go to the medical school, but Marta said that I had no talent for either medicine or pharmacology. I’ll just waste my time, it won’t bring me joy in the future.

- Martha? Who is it?

- Ah, - she waved her hand, - This is our doctor. She actually has the gift of a greengrocer, but she feels the movement of vital currents and the energy of the gift. Even influence them a little.

- Zeleynik? What does it mean?

- Well, a medicine man, healer, herbalist... she has many abilities.

For me, what Alina said was from the realm of some kind of fairy tale, but I didn’t ask further, I’ll figure it out later.

- And how does she know: what will be best for you? Feels too?

- No, that's not the point. At the age of sixteen, I worked for her all summer, she watched. Here he knows. And I love kids very much, I like to mess with them. I wanted to become a pediatrician, but alas, ... so I went to the Pedagogical Institute, a teacher of elementary grades. As long as you like it. Did you study and work?

- I studied and worked.

- A woman was sitting at the table today - who is she? Still, I couldn't resist asking.

- Viola, - at the same time, she twisted her face so funny that I snorted. It is immediately clear that the girl is not happy with her: - Actually, she is an accountant ... oh, yes, she is Max's bedding! - it can be seen that the girl is sore if she pronounces in fact to a stranger. But be that as it may, Alina’s words resounded with bitterness in my soul and I quickly changed the topic:

- Who else lives in the house?

- In which? In red"?

I thought a little, the house did not seem to be red, it was an ordinary two-story house.

Is this where we dined today?

- Well, yes, in "red", Alex ...

- Wait, - I interrupted her, - he's not red. Or was it red?

- This is the alpha's house, so it's "red", - she glanced at me suspiciously, - Is it wrong with you in the flock?

- Yes, I just forgot, I have been living among people for many years, so I got a little confused.

“Understood,” she drawled, but it was evident from her face that she did not believe. Eh, something I can’t lie at all, - I live in the house, Max naturally, Alex and Viola.

- And who does the cleaning, cooking, do they live separately?

- Of course, so as not to violate personal space. And you? What are the fates for us? She looked at me with interest.

- Just hang out.

- Max said, are you our relative?

- Well, yes, the younger sister of Sophia, your uncle's wife, - she seemed to repeat correctly, as Maxim told me.

Is this Uncle Vlad or what? - I nodded, - But he doesn't have a wife at all! - she looked at me narrowing her eyes: like a cat on a mouse, stepping on her tail with her paw.

- So he married Sophia.

Alina nodded her head.

- Well, yes, well, yes ... - she looked around.

I looked after her too. We walked the whole street with shops and now turned into a park area. There was no one around.

“I don’t have Uncle Vlad with Maxim,” she looked at me a little mockingly.

Realizing that she had finally failed, she sighed:

- Alin, I'm sorry, but I can't tell the truth.

She turned to me:

- I'm not offended, I just want to say - I hate lies. If you can't tell the truth, then say so next time, okay?

I smiled in relief.

- Promise.

We went back to the street with shops and all sorts of serving household salons. The conversation was laid-back, and Alina along the way showed where and what you can buy, have a tasty snack, nodding at passers-by in a whisper, explaining who it is.

This place was a kind of center of the village, streets with residential buildings radiated from it, quite solid and what was very pleasant and pleasing to the eye - cleanliness.

Houses, buildings were well-groomed, as well as flower beds, trees, flower beds. A little further, according to Alina, there was a cinema, a bowling alley and a couple of bars. A park with small fountains, I have already seen one. It was evident that the village is quite respectable and prosperous. The flock was apparently financially secure.

So, talking imperceptibly, the day turned to evening, and we hurried to dinner. Alina warned that breakfast, lunch and dinner are held in the house and in no case should you be late! In extreme cases, you can stay for five minutes.

“Even if you die, you must crawl to the dining room,” the alpha’s demand! she typed.