chapter 6: Freya

I woke up and he was gone. Just like that. I guess his alpha called him home or realized he was wasting his time watching a nobody. I was thankful to finally be alone though. Then again… he left before I woke up. He couldn't have-

Throwing the covers off me I immediately started taking inventory of my items. I sighed loudly with relief when I saw nothing was missing. I guess he had been called back afterall. I surprised myself at the slight feeling of disappointment.

“He was a stalker.” I grumbled to myself. “he wasnt charming, he was creepy. Dont let your neediness confuse you. He was just some grunt werewolf that thought he could intimidate you. You dont need that in your life.”

I looked over at my phone and saw a missed text and smirked before quickly typing back: All good. Leaving tonight. Can't stay here another fucking night. I'll explain later. Love yah.

It was already a sticky morning. The humidity was ridiculous and so I decided on jean shorts and a black tank top. My hair, I braided leaving down low to wear a baseball cap. It was going to be my travelling clothes as well so might as well get comfortable as I gathered up all my things and made my way down to the front desk.

“Leaving early?” The front desk associate smiled sweetly. She was the same young girl from last night so she had some gall deciding to pay attention to me now.

“Yeah,” I yawned, “change of plans.”

“Thank you.” She took my card and swiped it. “Looks like you'll get partial credit back.”

“Fine.” I shrugged not caring at this point if I got a refund. I was going to be free by noon at the latest.

“Enjoy your day.” She smiled handing me everything and my receipt that I stuffed into my back pocket.

Enjoy my day? I laughed. It’s seven in the fucking morning and I got almost no sleep. Enjoying my day was going to be challenging to say the least. I dumped my stuff in the car taking only my bag with me crossing it over my chest and double checked the paperwork was inside before closing and locking the door making sure I heard a double beep for peace of mind.

Rosetta’s wasn’t far, just a walk through the park and so I set off. The sun was just at the annoying height too where the trees no longer obstructed the view but it wasn’t high enough to be out of my line of sight. Still, it was a peaceful walk, one that I didn’t actually mind despite the events of last night.

“Can’t go this way miss.” A police officer stepped in my path holding out a hand, “Turn around.”

“What?” I tried raising my head to look around him but couldn’t see anything except a large white tent. “What happened?”

“You’re certainly asking a lot of questions.” The officer stood tall looking down his nose at me.

“I asked one question.” I shrugged but then felt a hand on my shoulder.

“It’s alright Dave.” A young boy who looked so familiar stood next to me. He had those same blue eyes as Elias but his hair was red, he also didn’t stand nearly as tall as him but those eyes were hard to forget. “Heading to Rose’s?” He smiled to me.

I nodded.

“Come on, I’ll take you.” With a thumb up he turned and walked away. I didn’t have to join him but then again I just needed to get to Rosetta’s. “Coming or what?” He turned back finally both of his hands in his pockets. He looked so much like Elias too, they had to have been related.

I shook my head and rushed to walk beside him. “Your alpha sick you on me too?”

He burst out laughing leaning back slightly with his head pointed high in the sky.

“I was only asking,” I grumbled and crossed my arms.

Speaking through the laughter he pretended to wipe away a tear, “No no, you just got it absolutely right. I’m only here because my alpha told me to be.”

“Guess I should feel special.” my eye roll and tone spoke volumes of what was really on my mind.

“Nah,” he shrugged, “How’d you like the alpha?”

“No idea, haven’t met him yet.” and I dreaded ever meeting him if he was so focused on me.

“Haven’t met him?” Cocking his head to the side was what did it for me, he was so animated and it reminded me so much of Elias.

“Are you and Elias related?” I narrowed my eyes scanning him.

“Sure are. He’s my big brother.”

“So it’s a family of annoying wolves then.”

“Damn girl,” his feet kicked the ground sending a few pebbles forward, “I was warned you don’t shut up. Guess you speak your mind?”

Guess I shouldn’t have been surprised wolves spoke across distances so everything about what we had talked about last night was probably fair game to the whole pack. Rather than walk with him feeling exposed I decided to play it cool, “So what was going on back there?”

“Hmm?” He turned looking over to me, “Oh that? Some idiot human was out during the full moon.”

“Well you are very nonchalant about it.”

He shrugged, “Probably deserved it. Might have been trying to take something that wasn’t his. Who knows.” then he zeroed in on me, “You’re not a human are you?”

I shook my head.

“What are you? Also what’s your name? Elias didn’t share the finer details.”

“Probably because he didnt know them.” I growled pushing back at him, “He knows my father was a werewolf, that’s all you need to know.”

“And you have business with Rose?”

I nodded, “Personal business. Like you and him don’t need to share anything with your alpha.”

He smirked as if he had won some kind of hidden argument, “I’m sure my alpha is going to get whatever information he needs from Rose anyway. So tell me your name at least.”

“Mind your damn business.” I growled.

He shrugged and turned back but we both caught him looking down at my bag. Oh if he thought he could pull one over on he and steal my stuff he was going to be in for a rude awakening.

“Relax,” he laughed and nudged sideways at me, “I’m not a thief. Besides, if any harm came to you my alpha would kill me.”

“Why?”

“Mind your damn business.” He winked playfully as we rounded a corner.

This section of park led out farther down the street from Rosetta’s place but it wasn’t that much farther. Now was my chance. I saw him looking around and when he fully turned away I snapped my fingers setting the illusion.

“Fuck,” he barked and looked around nearly running into me, “Oh come on. I had one fucking job, don’t lose you. He’s going to fucking kill me!”

Stifling a chuckle I set off toward Rosetta’s. I needed a break from all of this and I needed to get the fuck out of here before the alpha decided to show up. Certainly giving that kid the slip was going to bring him out of the woodwork quicker.

I bolted for the bar only to find it crawling with werewolves. Funny, I thought, shouldn’t they all be passed out over some deer carcase? I snuck into the bar against my better judgement just to see if I could corner Rosetta to get the details I needed or at least to explain the papers needed signed and turned in. I had already signed my part so I didn’t care who took it from me at this point.

“Who the fuck is she?” Elias boomed from the kitchen door. “Rose, you tell me why she’s here right now.”

“Fuck you.’ she tossed back, clearly not at all intimidated by this grunt from the pack. “She’s family you one track dumbass. You do anything to harm a hair on her head-”

“It’s not like that!” he interrupted but judging from how quickly he stopped I could only imagine the look she tossed him.

“She’s coming to breakfast, you better behave yourself young man or I will put you over my knee.”

“You can’t fucking talk to me like that!”

“Oh I’ll talk to you how I want boy. You’re still fresh behind the ears if you think I’ll let you treat family like this.”

Finally I was able to see the two of them through a small crack in the door. I had to be careful though, I knew Elias could see through my illusions, one false step and I just knew he was going to attack.

“She’s fucking missing-” guess his younger brother told him the news. “You-” he stopped and I saw his nose twitching. “Nevermind, just forget it.”

“Something-” but she stopped talking too and rolled her eyes, “Just get the fuck out of the kitchen unless you’re going to help cook and if you are going to help cook the moon is about to fall from the damn sky.”

He nodded and started walking toward the door. Panicking I darted into the lady’s room where I watched him move over to meet that scruffy dark brown haired boy from last night. He was facing away from me though. He was actually going to give me the opening I needed. Finally luck was on my side as I slipped through the two doors and snapped my fingers dropping my illusion. It would take a while before I gained the strength to do it again, I could feel how exhausted I was.

“Hey!” I smiled waving to Rosetta who was busy stirring a large pot of some gravy.

She looked up and her smile stretched so wide I nearly felt faint. It was like being greeted by family I hadn’t seen in years. “Freya!” She tossed the giant ladle down and rushed over giving me a tight hug, “Oh girl you actually came back? I’m so happy they didn’t scare you off last night. I heard you had a rough night and an awkward morning.”

“Nothing I couldn’t handle.” I shrugged, “I just really need to talk to you. I’m needing to head home early and I just-”

“Oh no!” She turned away dismissing my plans, “Business can wait until after breakfast. You haven’t eaten?”

I shook my head.

“Then grab a plate fill her up and I’ll take you to sit down. The wolves will be in after us and trust me you do not want to be in the same room as hungry wolves after a full moon.” Her laughter was cut short as she grabbed a plate and started to fill it with every type of item she had prepared. There was a mountain of pancakes, biscuits, gravy, sausages, and so much bacon I shuddered to think the local pig population had to have dwindled. “Come on. I’ll show you where we sit.”

“No really I-” but she was gone. I had to trail after her and she side stepped toward the bar holding out an arm to stop me from advancing.

“Go get it boys. Breakfast is served.” When she called out to the crowd they turned and the army of werewolves dashed inside forming a line. Oddly though Elias and his brother were no where to be seen. “Come on. You’re sitting with me at the alpha table.”

“The what-” I gasped and started following her almost as if I was in a trance. Looks like I was finally going to meet him after all.

“Yeah, you’ll sit next to the alpha, don’t worry though. He might act tough but he’s a softy. Super nice to everyone.”

“No no-” nervously I laughed but was guided to sitting down, “I can’t sit next to him. He’s been sending wolves after me-”

“He’s been what?” She snapped.

“Last night and this morning.” I nodded. “Please just let me give you these papers and I can go.”

“ELIAS!” She barked and the crowd turned as Elias with a mouth full of biscuits made his way over to us. “What’s this I heard about you sending wolves after her?”

“Elias?” I choked. “You-”

“Alpha Elias.” he spoke through a mouthful of food and took a seat next to me. “Your name?”