Chapter 9

I woke up groggily to the musical sound of birds chirping noisily outside, under the bright blue sky. Yawning and stretching my arms up high, I glanced at my phone and noticed it was half past 8 in the morning. The sun was already up, casting a warm glow on everything it touched, while the sky was a brilliant shade of blue with not a cloud in sight. It was going to be another lovely warm day just like the rest of the week had been. I’d already been here at the Midnight Sun packhouse for under a week now. So far, I’ve had a tour of the packhouse and all of the grounds, which were huge. The packhouse sported its own gym, sauna, spa facilities, tennis courts, and outdoor swimming pool plus a cinema room. The packhouse was situated right next to the large forest, perfect for wolves to run around in without getting noticed by the humans which was another bonus.

I also had a tour of the surrounding territory and boundary lines. I found out that my new territory stretched all the way right through to the Red Lake and the mountains and right across the Great Lake Moor. I’d also been introduced to various important pack members such as the Beta’s wife and daughter who are called Hannah and Ruby, and the Gamma, and his wife, Jenoa, and their daughter. I also got to meet the hunters and the warriors, who interestingly, all profusely apologised for our little hiatus in the forests, which I courteously accepted. Marii had also taken me shopping and paid for a whole new wardrobe of clothes and personal care products for me seeing as I arrived with only the clothes I was wearing.

Stretching and yawing happily, I flung the covers off of my body and began to make my way over to my bedroom door. Glancing in the mirror, I casually looked at my figure encased in black shorts and a white vest top before sliding my feet into some grey fluffy slippers. Since living here, I’d been eating decent-sized meals and my weight had now returned to normal which allowed me to start gaining a few much-needed curves. Hearing my belly grumble for food, I decided it was time to get some breakfast. I was due to start working for Marii in two days, so I was determined to make the most of my free time before I was overloaded with chores and tasks. Only this time, I was getting paid for it and treated like an equal. I’d been spending my days bathing in the pool, working out in the gym, or watching movies in the cinema room, something I hadn’t done for a while. I was quite enjoying my freedom.

Quietly, I pulled open my bedroom door and silently began making my way down towards the kitchen. One thing I had learnt was that people in this house seemed to enjoy their lie-ins and even though it was only half past 8, the house was still deathly quiet. Reaching the lobby, I quickly walked over the tiles, noticing that my fluffy slippers were sliding on the marble and made my way towards the kitchen. The chef wasn’t here yet, so I just helped myself to a bowl and filled it with cereal and milk, then grabbed some fruit out of the fruit bowl and turned to walk towards the table. I jumped in surprise at seeing a lone figure sitting there, eating his cereal in an eery silence. Slowly the man looked at me and smiled gently before nodding towards one of the empty chairs.
“Sit. I’m not going to hurt you,” Alistair mumbled, nodding towards an empty chair, before shoving another spoonful of cereal into his mouth. “I’ve been given my orders. You’re safe here.“

Smiling gratefully, I crossed the kitchen and sat down in an empty chair, just across from the man who was adamant that he wanted me dead. I peered up gently and had a good look at the man I feared. He was older than all the other warriors and he had tanned weathered skin with crinkly eyes. His hair was black but sat in tight curls on his head and I noticed that his eyes were a striking electric blue. He wore a red and blue chequered shirt with blue denim jeans. He seemed out of place compared to the other warriors who walked around in joggers and tight-fitting white vest tops. Just as I was about to survey his face once more, Alistair looked up and me and stared at me blankly.
“Can I help you?” he asked slowly in a gruff voice. “Or are you just admiring the view?”
“Umm, no?” I blushed quickly, looking back down at my bowl. “I was just checking out the man who wants to kill me so bad. Or wants me dead, either way.”
“I did. I mean I did want to kill you or have someone do it for me,” he chuckled gently before glancing at me apologetically. “But not anymore. Like I said, you are safe around me. I won’t hurt you!”
“No? What’s changed?” I mused in enjoyment, looking back at Alistair. “Only last week, you were positively foaming at the mouth about Marii bringing me back here. Alive, to say the least.”
“Yeah, that’s true,” Alistair nodded in agreement as he zoned out to relive the memory. “But I’ve had my orders. No one is allowed to hurt a single hair on your body. Doesn’t mean I’m happy about it but what’s done is done.”
“Oh, Marii must mean business then,” I shrugged casually while eating my cereal thoughtfully. “She must really like me. I better thank her later.”
“No. It wasn’t Marii who gave those orders,” Alistair murmured as his eyes came to focus on mine. “I mean, yeah she said, I wasn’t allowed to hurt you, but these orders came from someone else. Someone much more important.”
“Oh?” I replied in shock, pushing my now empty bowl away and staring intently at my new Beta. “And who gave these orders, Alistair? Do tell me?”
“It was Jonas and his son, Blake,” replied Alistair casually, shrugging his shoulders. “There’s something about you apparently. Blake sees and feels something in you, and he has vowed that if anyone harms you, they shall be killed. I know my place. I’m not going against the Alpha and his son.”
“Oh, I see,” I murmured in surprise, or was it shock? “When will I get to meet this Blake and my Alpha? I’ve nearly been here a week and not even met them yet!”
“They are back at some point today. They should have been gone for another two days but Jonas cut the trip short. Apparently, Blake is desperate to return and see you! There’s something that has pissed him off too! I can feel it and hear it through the mind-link. He's not a happy bunny.” replied Alistair, chugging down his coffee and then looking back at me intently. “Which reminds me. Marii informed me of what the healers told her about you. Don’t be ashamed. It’s my job to know every detail about you so that I can best protect you. You do know that we can punish them for you?”
“You can? I mean how?” I gulped nervously. “What did Marii tell you exactly? I don’t really appreciate the whole pack knowing my business but thanks.”
“Only that your parents are both dead, your step-parents treated you like a slave and beat you then some monster raped you,” Alistair replied before glaring angrily, his eyes turning into the darkest shade of black I had ever seen. “You do know that they have broken at least seven laws, that I can think of right?”
“So, she told you everything thing then?” I whispered sadly, feeling a familiar heaviness creep back into my chest. “I don’t want to talk about it right now if that’s okay.”
“I understand kiddo,” Alistair replied softly before grabbing my hand and gently squeezing it. “I am here for you if you need a chat. Just remember that we can find them and punish them before the werewolf court. What they have done is punishable by incarceration. You are under the age of eighteen which still classes you as a pup. Pups are protected by our laws!”
Before I could reply, a loud screech of tyres echoed out nosily from outside the front of the house followed by a loud slam of a door and quick running feet. As quick as a flash, Alistair stood up crossed his arms in front of him and bowed his head. Curiously, I looked at him silently, but before I could ask what was happening, a deep voice suddenly bellowed out, making me jump in fright.
“Where is she? Where is the girl!? I need to see her! Someone bring her to me! Now!”