Tangled

*Hezzlie*

I’ve never seen a bathtub this big before. I think three or four people could easily fit in here. I’m imagining inviting my few friends from high school over and all of us sitting in here–in swimsuits, of course–drinking champagne or something else we’re not old enough to drink, and I almost laugh.
I’m never going to fucking see any of those girls again.
I may never see anyone I know again–including my mother.
My emotions flip on a dime, and I’ve gone from laughing aloud to balling. I sink down so that only my eyeballs are above the mountain of bubbles Wilma poured in when she insisted on drawing the bath for me, and for a few moments I wonder what might happen if I just didn’t resurface.
When I can’t hold my breath any more, I come up for air, trying to control my tears. It’s not as bad as all that. Sure, Alpha King Rowan is a dick. Wilma told me very little about the man, other than his name and his title, but I’ve discovered all of the important parts for myself. He thinks he’s the shit, and when he says jump, well, your feet better have already left the ground before his lips form the P.
“Asshole,” I mumble, not crying anymore. I’m used to bullies. Not only did I have plenty of them in high school, there were a lot of them at Peripheral, too. Other patients, nurses, doctors. I avoided them as much as I could, but I wasn’t above facing up to them either.
Frankly, I hope I never see Rowan again, but if I do, well, maybe I won’t be so timid next time.
I have to tackle this bird’s nest on my head if I’m going to have any sort of confidence, though. Wilma gave me an enormous bottle of scented conditioner that reminds me of the beach. I’ve already shampooed twice. Now, I lather this creamy substance onto my head and comb it through carefully. I’d be worried that the water would chill by the time I’m done, but Wilma told me to take my time because the tub is heated.
Where the fuck am I?
I honestly don’t know. I stared out the window for much of the drive, but I wasn’t paying attention. I don’t recall any signs mentioning states or countries. It’s almost like we drove through a portal into another dimension.
Maybe we did.
After at least an hour of carefully combing, I’m ready to rinse. I turn the water back on and stick my head under it until I have to let some of the water out. This process takes forever, but by the time I’m done, my hair is silky and smooth. I’m clean shaven and smell heavenly, if I do say so myself.
When I’m finished, I get out, dry off, and look through the products Wilma set out for me. I don’t usually wear a lot of makeup, but some of these products look interesting, so I try them. My thick hair takes forever to dry even with a blow dryer, so I just brush it out and leave it be. Then, I get dressed in the same clothes I had on before, even though Wilma says there are more outfits in the enormous closet. I like these clothes–and it’s not like I'm going anywhere.
Back in the bedroom, I find a sandwich, chips, a soda, and a cookie under a cloche and dig in like a wild animal. Maybe I really am a wolf because I practically inhale all of it as I stare out my window.
I have no idea what I’m looking at, but it looks like something out of a fairy tale. The mountains are gorgeous. Covered in a forest of green, with white peaks, the scenery is off-set by a brilliant blue sky. In the distance, on top of a mountain range, I think I see the top spires of a castle. A layer of clouds billows by, so it’s difficult to know for sure.
Closer, I can see the tops of houses and other buildings. A village is nestled along the mountain side that tapers off, and I think there must be some sort of a valley between this mountain range and the other. I have a thousand questions about where I’m at, but I have no one to ask. I assume Wilma or James will come back to check on me eventually, but for now, I’m alone.
It’s better than being in a crowded room full of other crazy people, at least.
Another hour passes before I hear a soft knock on the door. My heart lurches into my throat. What if it’s Rowan? No, he’d knock the door down. It’s probably Wilma. “Come… in,” I call sheepishly. What the fuck is wrong with me? Where is my backbone?
The door swings open, and I gasp as I see who is standing there. Tears fill my eyes, and I begin to run.

***

*Rowan*

Dean sits across from me, his bushy eyebrows drawn together as he tries to figure out what’s wrong with me. I’m always in a foul mood, but knowing what I know about Hezzlie Stone has me even more angry than usual, and he doesn’t have to read my mind to know it.
He’s just returned from collecting Hezzlie’s mother. It was a long journey, and in a few days, he’ll have to take her back. That was part of the deal. She can’t stay here, but I agreed with James to let her come to visit for a few days. Now, I wish I hadn’t. This isn’t a fucking family reunion.
I glance at Mara and wish it could be–but not for the Stones. For us.
“Anyway, she’s in there now,” he says, adjusting his leg where his ankle wrests on his knee. “I’ll take her back on Friday.”
“Good. The girl’s birthday is the fifteenth. We need her mother out of here before then.” I glance at the calendar and almost lose my shit again. “Fuck.”
“What’s the matter?” He leans forward but doesn’t quite figure out what has me so angry now before I just tell him.
“The full moon is the week after that.” I shake my head. “We should’ve found her earlier. If she goes through her first heat while she’s under my roof–
“What difference does it make?” he interrupts. “If her mate isn’t around, it’ll be mild.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Do you honestly think I have that kind of luck? No, we have to be in contact with Solomon and get this over with before the full moon.”
“Rowan….” He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. I only allow certain people to call me by my given name, and only in private, so I allow it. “You can’t really be considering any alternative other than trading her–or releasing her–right? She’s just a girl.”
“She’s more than that.” I picture her face, those large, chocolate-colored eyes. Her slender nose and high cheekbones. That mess of raven hair. “I will do what needs to be done.”
“You can incite a war without having to murder an innocent girl.”
“Don’t tell me what to do, Dean. I’m the Alpha. You’re the Beta.” My eyes bore a hole through him that had better serve to put him in his place.
He holds up his hands. “Fine. I’ll leave it alone for now. I’m sure your mother wouldn’t want you to harm her though, and for that matter, neither would Mara.”
“Well, it’s not like I can fucking ask her, now can I?” My eyes flicker to the picture, and I want to punch something again. “My father wouldn’t hesitate.”
“Thus the reason we went to war in the first place.” Dean pushes up from his seat, and I’m glad he’s leaving before I have to yell at him to get out for a remark like that. He is really pushing my boundaries today. “Will she be dining with us?”
“Fuck no. She’s not to leave her room.” The less I see of Hezzlie, the better.
My best friend turns away from me, shaking his head as his large form heads back to the door. I know he doesn’t approve of my decisions, but I don’t care. We often balance each other out nicely, but when it comes to this situation, the only person I’m listening to is myself.
“You know, you should give her a chance,” he says, his hand on the doorknob. “You might like her.”
“Get the fuck out.”
He shrugs and leaves, and I sigh. “That’s exactly what I’m worried about.”