Victor catapulted from the bed to Enora's side in a flash, body shielding hers in a defensive stance. A quick observation of the room produced no threats, and he turned back to attend to her. Excessive short breaths and shaking hands seized her body, keeping her gaze unfocused and erratic. "Enora! Hey, look at me. You're ok." It took a moment for her to register. Like a switch, her body reacted and came back into the present. The grip she had reflexively put on his arms relaxed, and her breathing slowed, but her heart still pounded to the beat of a drum's crescendo. "I'm sorry, I..." she began, unable to finish the sentence. The adrenaline from her dream coursed through her veins, setting her senses on overload. Looking at Victor, she rubbed at the part of her neck he had bitten and felt the breaking of her skin. She saw him again with flushed skin and open mouth; how his voice had lowered an octave. "Are you listening?" Victor asked, interrupting her thoughts. "Huh? What did yo
Back in their pajamas and wrapped in extra blankets, they sat up in bed, having given up on getting sleep. Dawn's gradual reveal of light peeked into the room as Enora propped herself up against Victor's chest; securely nestled in his arms. "So...?" Enora began. "So, I need you to tell me everything that happened between you and that shifter. You told me before, but I know you left out details," he accused. She brought her knees to her chest and took a deep breath, "I needed to buy time and distract him. I told you he was ranting on about me and his Alpha, but I didn't tell you that I asked him to explain a few things." Victor stiffened behind her but kept quiet. "He mentioned my being unworthy for a few reasons, and I didn't care about that of course, but then he said I wasn't marked..." She pulled his arms in for a tighter embrace. "And it stuck with me. I thought it made sense; it would explain a lot. I couldn't help it." Victor released her and turned her to face him instea
THE NEXT DAY The laundry basket hit the floor with a thud. Enora exhaled heavily, bending over the basket in defeat. The journey from her apartment to the elevator and then the laundry room, had been routine for years, and yet somehow, it refused to get easier. "I may have to invest in one of those foldable carts with the wheels. The old people are onto something." The phone rang as she dragged the basket into her room. It was Victor. "Hello?" "Enora, I have news. Where's Gil?" "Outside because the guys are changing shifts." "Good. I'll be there in ten." "Vic wait–" The phone hung up before she could get out another word. Naturally, she began to worry; it had to be something urgent if he was coming to tell her in person. Or maybe speaking over the phone was the problem–too big a risk. Victor was late. It was expected, as he usually was, but she was still irritated. The polish on one of her nails had chipped onto her lap from her chewing on it, and her leg bounced incessantly
The envelope looked hefty from how bulky it was. The words: A GIFT FOR ENORA, written in large, sloppy handwriting made her pause. Another threat? Victor opened the flap quickly and pulled out a stack of photos. They were all of her. She caught the envelope as he let go, swiping through the photos speedily. His anger increased with each one, seeing them display moments from her every day. The places she frequented. The people in her life. "Do not tell me you let someone get past you all downstairs," Victor began evenly. "N–no boss! No one other than the residents of this building have gone in or out! We have surveillance recording," his underling replied quickly. "Then how did this get here? Search everything. NOW!" The underling took off and Victor pulled out his phone, "Gil, get Wilson up here and gather group A for a hunt." He crushed the photos with his hand, throwing them against the wall where they scattered; a few of them slid to Enora's feet. There were photos from two
BACK AT ENORA'S APARTMENT Victor looked at his phone, the open text conversation between him and Enora on the screen. The text line blinked patiently as he wrote and erased in the bar over and over again. What was he supposed to say to her? They didn't find the guy, so stay away from the windows? That he feels like an idiot for letting Bianchi get the jump on him again? That sending her away from him was the last thing he wanted to do because it's practically killing him being apart. Nah. Those wouldn't bode over well. Gil entered the apartment with a tablet in hand, "We found how the envelope got in." Victor straightened up in the armchair, "Let me see it." "The men were right that only residents came in and out of the building, but that was how it got in. Her elderly neighbor from down the hall taped it to the door. She'd explained that a man asked her to leave it as a surprise," "Ah geez." "Yeah. We had to lie and tell her it wasn't anything bad, but rather that it was sus
AT THE LOTUS PACK COMMUNITY Wolves sparred in the front area of the cluster of buildings, a group of children passed with chaperones on their way home, and humans ran drills on an obstacle course. All turned when Victor passed through; they bowed, waved, and saluted to their respected Alpha. Coming back to the main compound consistently put Victor in a good mood. Most of his time was spent at Lotus headquarters, in charge of the portion of the pack that was for business affairs. It was comforting being there, but it didn't have the same aura as the community. "Sir, your parents await you in their apartment," a guard at the front desk informed him. He nodded and continued to the elevator. The main, center building of the compound housed his parents on the top floor, while the five lower floors were for meetings, security, and other business. With all that had transpired thus far, he felt guilty for not informing his parents sooner, but especially his father who held a place on the
BACK AT ENORA'S APARTMENT More than a week had passed, and Enora hadn't heard from Victor. That morning Wilson had informed her the apartment was safe enough to return to, and it instantly brought her mood up. Enora entered her place with her arms spread wide, soaking in all that she missed from being away. At a run, she dramatically dove onto her bed with a light thud. "Oh, how I've missed you." "A fancy hotel not comfortable enough for you?" Wilson asked, knocking lightly on her door. "I can't help it. It always feels good to be back in your own bed." He laughed, "I'm just messing with you. I get it completely. Nothing can compare to what you're used to." She smiled in response, "Exactly." "Anyway, I'm checking every room and then I'll be out of your hair." She flopped onto her back and texted Victor again, asking when they'd be able to speak. She was surprised he hadn't been there to inspect everything himself, including her. Of course, she couldn't blame him if he was tr
MEANWHILE AT QUERCIA HEADQUARTERS His steps echoed through the empty halls as he made his way into the office and poured himself a drink. The ice clinked noisily together in the glass as Alessandro tipped it, taking a long swig of whiskey. His patience had grown thin. How long did it take to interrogate one shifter? The phone buzzed, displaying his beta's name on the screen. "Alpha, you wanted a progress report." "Yes. Why is this taking so long? Over a week is more than sufficient in time." "Understood, but he was being difficult at first. Then there was slight... complications." Alessandro rubbed his temples, understanding that his beta must have used excessive force as he usually did. "You should know by now that ones like him are weak. Control yourself beta. I expect to be able to speak with him." "Understood. My apologies." If he hadn't been ready to murder at learning of the underling's actions, he would be interrogating the idiot himself. The insignificant amount of cr