Chapter Four

Cooking breakfast.

Lycans are hungry creatures. I had now moved on to sausages and eggs. As soon as I placed food on the table they gobbled it all up within seconds.

“Are you not fed at home?” I tut, sitting down to finally enjoy a morning cup of tea.

“Yes but not so well fed by such loving hands.” Jake smirks grabbing my hand from my slightly warm cup of tea and placing it in his hand. He flutters his eyelashes at me before placing the back of my hand to his mouth.

“Knock it off!” Brennan growls at his playful younger brother.

“Aida knows I’m just playing…don’t you Aida?” He licks the back of my hand with his warm wet tongue causing me to pull my hand out of his grasp and wipe it on my top near my breasts.

“Eww gross! Keep your tongue to yourself!” I chuckle as I grab some breakfast for myself.

“Morning boys, I hope you are behaving?” Lorrel walks in wearing a silk black dressing gown. The woman was stylish even on little sleep.

“Yes Aunt Lorrel!” Brennan, Emmett and Jake sing out together, clearly a routined response.

“Morning Aida. I didn’t expect you up so early. Are you feeling okay?” She frowns at me from behind the kitchen island before opening the fridge door for milk to put in her morning coffee. I just nod at her while taking a sip of my tea. I didn’t want anyone here knowing about my bad dreams. It was embarrassing enough that Lance and Blake knew.

“You boys didn’t bother the staff too early I hope?” Lorrel narrows her eyes at her nephews.

“Fear not Auntie, Aida came to our rescue!” Emmett responds as he walks over to his auntie and greets her with a morning peck on her cheek.

It’s fascinating to watch. The three Lycan males clearly sense Ricardo entering the room before his scent or voice even makes his presence known. They do not even realise yet their backs straighten, ready to please and serve the Lycan King.

“I thought I’d be the first up!” He walks over to the fridge and pulls a cold one litre carton of orange juice out, draining the entire thing in under a minute.

“Morning Aida, I trust my cousins haven’t been too troublesome?” He winks at me as he leans into the table next to me to plate up some left over food. That is until his posture changes and he sniffs the air around me. Surely me being a rogue wasn’t too repulsive too him? He sniffs my hand and then stops himself getting to close too me before a growl emits from his chest. He is quick in his torment, grabbing the back of Jake’s neck which earns a yelp from the playful cousin.

“Why is your scent all over Aida?” Ricardo growls menacingly at Jake. My eyes dart from Ricardo to Brennan who is watching carefully. I have no doubt that King or not, he would fight to protect his brother from Ricardo’s wrath.

“He was just messing around. He licked the back of my hand and I rubbed it on my top in disgust.” I try to turn the room’s darkened mood.

There is a slight pause, the room’s atmosphere heavy.

“You idiot Jake!” Ricardo reprimands him by pushing his head forward as he lets go.

“What?”

“You can’t touch females that belong to somebody else. Hands off.” Ricardo’s mood changes instantly, his wolf clearly some what satisfied with my explanation.

“Be glad I’m not Lance!”

“Are you joking, Lance is the tame one!” Emmett chuckles as he reaches into the cupboards for some cereal. Are these lycans serious? He can’t still be hungry.

“Not with our Aida he’s not! Trust me…hands off or he’ll unleash the beast within.” Ricardo warns with a smirk.

Brennan’s eyes haven’t left me at all. His stare was quite intense and was making me feel somewhat uncomfortable. I suddenly stand up wanting to remove myself from the situation.

“Aida?” Lorrel calls out to me just as I reach the hallway.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to speak to Nadine about Lynx.” I reply.

“Damn it Aida…not on your own. Brennan your up first, watch her like a hawk!” I hear Ricardo’s growl vibrate through the hallway.

…….

I’m fast. I make it to the pack house in record timing. I wasn’t deliberately trying to give Brennan the slip, but if I managed to lose him then I’d pat myself on the back. I was waiting for the elevator to Nadine’s level when a hand touches my shoulder and leans forward to press the call button. I could have sworn I pressed the button.

“You have to press the button to go up Aida!” Brennan’s corner of his mouth turns into a small smirk.

“Are you not feeling well?” All teasing aside, he takes a step closer to look at my eyes.

“I didn’t sleep very well that’s all.” I reply, not wanting him to pry any further. My life was a mess and my chest was starting to struggle with being a rogue. It felt like a sharp tug that increased by the hour. It was my body’s way of trying to call me back to the pack, to defend myself. She-wolves didn’t make good rogues for many reasons, let alone the monthly heats. I was doing well keeping it hidden but it wouldn’t be long until someone noticed. I wasn’t even twenty-four hours in yet.

“Okay…you seem in pain?” Or it’s already being noticed! He gestures for me to enter the elevator as the doors open.

“Not at all!” I plaster on a big grin, extra toothy.

“Apartment number?” Brennan asks, his finger poised on the elevator’s buttons.

“Three-Four-Seven.” I offer.

“So this she-lycan is under house arrest?”

“Yes, she was leaking details to the rebels via her family mind-link. Queen Lorrel removed the link and she is under house arrest unless Lynx proves to Lance and Ricardo that he can be trusted.”

“Trusted?”

“For him and his group to switch sides.” I confirm.

“And you trust him?” Brennan raises an eyebrow at me.

“Trust is a strong word, but I hope he’ll do what is right by his mate and child.”

“Child?”

“Yes Baby Bonnie was born a few weeks ago. Nadine was mated to Lynx and his twin brother Spike…who is now dead.”

“He’s the one that shot at Axel and you?”

“Not Axel…he shot at me, but Axel took the brunt, stupidly blocking me.” I frown at the memory.

“Not stupid Aida. He did what he thought was best.”

The lift doors ding open. That had to be the longest elevator journey of my life.