Chapter 36 - Inner Beauty

Adalyn awoke the next morning to find her bed empty. The previous activity the day before had left her drained. She clasped her hands over face as she recalled what happened and how she had initiated it. She had no idea where that feeling of dominance and lust had come from. She would have given herself up to him completely if he had wanted it. *'Kai's right, you are trouble Tara!'* she inner monologued to herself.

Kai had left a note on her bedside table saying that he would pick her up at 6pm to take her out to dinner. Adalyn suddenly shot upright in her bed. She’d never been on a date before, and had no idea where she was going but it would probably be posh and expensive. She regretted not asking him where he was going to take her, either way she knew that nothing she currently owned would do.

She grabbed her phone and speed dialled Leona. She answered in two rings.

“It’s an emergency! I need your help”

“What’s happened this time? Don’t tell me you’re being courted by another hot prince now?”

“Ha ha! No. Kai is taking me out for dinner tonight. I have nothing to wear and no idea what I’m doing. Can I borrow something from you to wear?”

“Yes! Finally, the country bumpkin is willing to come over to the dark side. Of course Ady! Come over and let me work some magic on you. You have a body to die for, it’s about time you showed it off. I’ll have Prince Charming foaming at the month once I’m done with ya.”

Adalyn could hear the excitement in her voice. Leona had the tendency to dress a little racier than most. Adalyn was starting to second guess if this was a good idea or not.

“Life saver! Okay I'll be over in a sec”

After hanging up Adalyn slipped on some pumps and went downstairs. Mya was in the kitchen looking at a few rolled up pieces of paper. When Adalyn thundered down the stairs it startled her and she shoved the slips of paper back in to a drawer.

“Hey auntie, I’m off out to Leona’s. I’ll be back later” she said without fully making eye contact with her.

“Oh, okay sweetie. Make sure you two don’t get up to any trouble okay.” Mya implored. She did not want a repeat of her going missing again.

As Adalyn threw on her jacket over her shoulders, she gave Mya a short smile just before she was about to leave through the door.

“Wait a minute Ady!” Mya called after her.

Adalyn stopped and poked her head back through the kitchen door. “Hmm?” she asked in response to her aunt. Mya walked over to her and examined her face. “Something feels different about you. Are you okay?” Something in her had definitely changed. She couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was but it made her feel nervous.

“Oh?” Adalyn responded. She ran her hand over her face. “I’m using a new face cream, maybe that’s it? Anyway… I’ve got to go I’ll see you later!”

As Adalyn darted out the door Mya slowly reached out a hand after her but Adalyn slipped through her grasp without even noticing. Seeing her leave, made Mya’s chest tighten.

“Hurry up Gabriel” she muttered quietly to herself.

—————

Leona’s house wasn’t too far from hers, but it was closer in to the city. It felt great to finally not be grounded and to be able to go wherever she wanted. As she headed down one of the paths in the forest that led in to town, she heard a rustle in the trees before a familiar shifter jumped down to greet her. The surprise nearly had her falling on her ass but she managed to steady herself just in time.

"Good morning Ady!" Arrow greeted her.

"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?! Why can't you just walk up and say hello like a normal person!" Adalyn sighed and walked around him annoyed. Both Arrow and Kai seemed to enjoy sneaking up on her.

"Where would the fun in that be?" Arrow responded with a bit too much humor in his voice. He quickly caught her back up in a couple of long strides.

Adalyn rolled her eyes and smiled a little. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Kai said you weren't grounded anymore so he asked me to look out for you again. Congratulations on your release princess."

"*'Look out for me'* again?" Adalyn responded with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "Is that code word for spy on me?"

Arrow huffed a little to himself then put both of his hands in his pockets. "You know he's still weary. Things have gotten a bit quiet which has him a bit uneasy." The seriousness was back in his voice.

Adalyn looked up at him as he walked. He was acting as a concerned friend by all meanings of the word.

"Have you found out any more about the guy that was caught on the CCTV footage?" she asked, pretending to show mild indifference to his answer.

Arrow sighed "No, not yet. I had someone try to help me look into it, but I think I'm gonna have to pick it back up myself when I get some time."

*'Great!'* Adalyn thought to herself. She was still planning to meet up with Dylan, the Star Howlers pack Alpha, over the weekend after the ball. It felt good that she could be of some use to them, even if they didn't know it.

"It's a shame that you're stuck babysitting me then huh?" She looked at him from the corner of her eyes to gauge his response. "I'm sure you could do a lot more if you didn't have to follow me around. You know, I'm not a bad fighter. I'm sure I could take care of myself if there is other more important stuff you needed to be doing."

Arrow looked over at her curiously. As much as he didn't want to admit it, she wasn't wrong about him having to effectively babysit her. Watching her was not what he felt he should be doing but if it kept Kai at ease, he wouldn't oppose it.

"Don't worry about that Ady. If it keeps it keeps both you and Kai safe, then I have no problem with it."

*'Damn!'* Adalyn gritted her teeth slightly. If she was going to have to sneak out to see Dylan, she would have to somehow try and lose Arrow to avoid Kai from finding out. She already had a plan in mind, but it would be easier with him already out of the way. *'Damn loyal friend'* she said to herself.

"So where are you off to anyway?" Arrow asked to change the subject.

"I'm just heading off to see my friend Leona. She doesn't live far from here."

Arrows eyebrows raised excitedly "Oh? A lady friend? Is she single?"

Adalyn gave Arrow a quick nudge in the ribs with her elbow. "Don't get any ideas you. Besides, aren't you already spoken for?"

"Do you mean Naya?" Arrow's eyebrows furrowed in to a straight line before he sighed again. "Sadly, I think that ship might have already sailed." As Adalyn looked at him, she could see the tiny bit of hurt in his eyes. In spite of all the cheesy lines that he was throwing at Naya when they were back at the manor house, it was clear to Adalyn that there were some genuine feelings there. *'Those two definitely have some history.'*

Arrow caught her concerned glances and smiled as he looked at her. He started staring at her a bit too long and Adalyn felt a hint of blush creep up her skin as he analysed her.

"What?" she asked feeling slightly embarrassed at his gaze. She stared directly in front of her to try and relieve some of the awkwardness.

"You look...different today," he answered. His eyes briefly glanced up and down her frame.

"Do I? You’re the second person to say that to me today. Now I'm starting to get paranoid."

Arrow could feel that she was starting to get uncomfortable and looked back in the direction of where they were going. A mischievous smile replaced the curious one on his face.

"I'm guessing Kai must be taking *really good* care of you," Arrow said in a cheeky voice.

Getting your physical *needs* tended to by your mate had the tendency to bring out a female shifter’s inner beauty. The few heated interactions between Kai and her had already made her start to look more effeminate.

"Wha?. ...Wait? What's that supposed to mean?!" Adalyn asked. She couldn't help but get flustered at his words and Arrow chuckled to himself at her reaction. Kai didn't seem like the type to kiss and tell. If he did though, she would kill him. She made a mental note to ask him later tonight.

"Oh, nothing at all Ady" he waved his hand in her direction then chuckled again. With the short walk, they had already reached Leona's house. Arrow walked with her up the path and Adalyn knocked on the heavy wooden door.

"Hey bitch!" Leona shouted as she opened the door expectedly. Her mouth dropped open in slight embarrassment when she made eyes with the tall, dark and handsome shifter stood next to her. Her eyes instantly widened like saucers.

Arrow stared down at the little red head stood in front of him and unleashed a huge smile at her little outburst before turning to Adalyn.

"Nice friend you have there Ady. Well, I'll leave you ladies to it. If you need me, you know where I'll be *right*?" Arrow nodded and emphasised the word 'right' to signal to Adalyn that he'd be close by. He obviously wasn't aware that Leona knew everything and was trying to give Adalyn a coded message.

"Uh huh," Adalyn replied as she looked back at Leona who was still eyeballing Arrow like she was a starved dog at a hog roast.

"Okay, see you later!" Arrow waved a hand behind him as he walked away before slipping both of his hands back in to his pockets.

Just as Arrow was out of sight, Leona grabbed Adalyn's hand. "Adalyn Rose Caddel, get in here right now!!" She pulled her in forcefully and slammed the door behind her.