In The Beginning, Chapter 79
Daniel zipped around the property, excitedly showing me everything, he had favoured comfort and function in everything, providing a family with everything it could need. He had even thought to provide towels, bed linens, and toiletries, and I suspected Maria had been involved too when I saw a stuffed animal on each of the children’s beds. A pang of jealousy stabbed at me from my subconscious as I wondered why Daniel hadn’t asked for my opinion before then, I tried to bat it away as I opened cupboards and draws.
“Where is the food?” I asked after opening the refrigerator and pantry but finding nothing, the rest of the kitchen was stocked with a full set of pots, pans, baking trays, and utensils, but there wasn’t a crumb of food in the place.
“We have a welcome grocery delivery coming later today.” Daniel explained with a smile.
“Do you have laundry and cleaning products included in that?” I asked, and he dug his phone out of his pocket, opened up an email chain, that included a long list of items at the bottom. They really had thought of everything. “Then I think you’re good.” I smiled, but with how forced it felt I knew Daniel was already on alert. “I’m fine, just in a weird mood. I promise we can talk about it later when we are alone.” I rushed through the link before he had a chance to ask.
“I can tell Hyacinth she can’t stay in the cottage if it’s bothering you?” Daniel offered his arms circling me protectively.
“No, its not that, really. Its not important, but its a longer conversation than we can have right now, please Daniel?” I replied, kissing him softly so he would know I wasn’t angry with him.
“Okay... but we’re okay?” He asked, his nose moving down my slowly.
“Yes, we are good, I promise.” I replied, and he left me on the porch with Bailey, while he went to find where Hyacinth had wandered off to. The street was quiet, even for a Monday morning when I assumed most people were in work, so the sudden appearance of a dozen men out of the forest was more than a little startling, at least to me. Bailey gave them a cursory glance, before his eyes moved on, constantly scanning for anything unusual. I looked at him incredulous that the men didn’t warrant any more attention than a glance, until they reached the house, and slowed their pace slightly.
“Luna.” They chorused as they jogged past, picking their pace back up at the end of the street. I looked at Bailey for an explanation, while he suppressed a chuckle at my expense.
“The training grounds are five miles, that way.” Bailey said, as if that cleared everything up. “There is a well run circuit through the forest, down this street, and around back to the training grounds. It’s exactly ten miles, and how every training session begins. Everyday. Twice if you train as a Zeta. One of my classmates used to say the only time he saw his mate and pup was on that run. Training is all consuming, it is why so many of us do not look for our mates, but sometimes the goddess has other plans for us.” He smiled ruefully, and I could tell the moment his thoughts shifted to his mate, his eyes became glassy, and his smile widened.
“You complete your training this spring?” I asked, and he nodded, his eyes once again scanning the area around us. “How long ago did you meet your mate? Isabella, right?” I hoped I remembered correctly.
“Yes, Isabella. Four years ago, she came to the training grounds when her brother was an Iota. There are often accidents, injuries, sometimes a family member will be called rather than the hospital. Mostly it’s cleaning out wounds so they can heal properly, slapping a dressing on so you can continue. She was home from college for winter break, so she came by. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.” He blushed slightly, clearly worried he had said too much, as his eyes darted to the floor, then down the street to the forest, and away from me.
“I was terrified the first time I saw Daniel, in real life.” I blurted, my brain somehow deciding if I also confessed a little too much about myself, he would feel more at ease. Thankfully he chuckled softly.
“Yeah... while I wouldn’t want to face Alpha in a real fight, there’s nothing as terrifying as coming face to face with everything you’ve ever wanted. Once it’s really a possibility, so are the odds you’ll mess it up and lose it.” He surmised, and I had to wonder if there was a philosopher somewhere in the giant warrior.
“That’s very astute.” I commented as I shivered against the cold breeze. The sky was blue, and watery sunlight was bouncing off the snow-covered laws, but it was still bitterly cold. We watched in silence as a woman emerged from a house and began shovelling her path and driveway, until Daniel and Hyacinth joined us.
“Right, this way!” Daniel sighed, turning away from the car, and to the forest, his hand in mine leading me down the street, with Bailey and Hyacinth following close behind. Once on the path, it was difficult to veer from it, as it appeared to have beaten down the earth until it was effectively a ditch with foliage growing over the sides. We followed the trail until it forked, the much-worn path to the right, and a slightly overgrown path to the left. “Do you want me to carry you? I don’t know how clear the path is through here. No one has come here since before the first snow of the season.” He explained to me, pausing our troop.
“I will tell you if I struggle.” I replied, pushing him onward, despite his hesitation, but that only served to have him warn me about the same tripping hazard repeatedly, like I would forget about it once I had navigated it by one foot, and would need assistance with the other. I lasted a minute. “You know what? Maybe you should just carry me!” I huffed when he pointed out the same thorny vine eight times in one minute, and I heard Bailey snort behind me. I shot him a look that I hoped said I would make all three of them pay, when I saw Hyacinth also struggle not to laugh. Daniel however was obliviously happy, carrying me in his arms until the trees thinned, and we were in a small clearing.
“There’s a trail through there that comes out in the meadow.” Daniel pointed across the front yard of the most picturesque, fairy tale cottage I had ever seen in real life. I could see parts of a stone walkway under the patchy snowfall, the encroaching trees provided some cover from the elements. There was ivy growing up the posts and across the roof of the porch, stretching up past the small wood railing of the balcony above, and across the second floor. A matching railing ran along the front and sides of the porch, leading to a set of twin doors, all made with the same wood. I could see by where the ivy was disturbed, that someone had fixed some broken slats, and the windows and doors had been replaced, but in the same style and wood as the original.
“Daniel, it’s beautiful.” I whispered. The roof above the balcony had a thick layer of snow perched precariously over the edge, which brought to mind thick creamy frosting on the gingerbread houses my mother made every Christmas when I was a kid. “It’s magical.” I whispered, kissing him softly, unable to think of anything to say in response he smiled at me relieved, and carried me up the path to the porch, insisting it was too slippery and needed to be shovelled. Daniel set me down on the porch, and I rushed towards the window, eager to peek inside, he chuckled as he kicked the snow from his boots and opened the door, which was unlocked. I followed him quickly, inside was essentially one large room, the staircase was the only structure in the centre of the room, and made from the same wood as the floors, closed storage cupboards of the same wood enclosed the back. To our right was a kitchen, with a large rectangular farmhouse sink and an oven that seemed as wide as the kitchen, with eight gas stoves. It also had floor to ceiling fitted cabinets around a picture window above the countertop, looking out on the back of the house. It even had a small herb garden in a ceramic planter on the windowsill and plenty of room for a dining table. On the left side of the house was an open room, with bookshelves and cabinets built into the recesses either side of an enormous fireplace of a soft grey stone.
“Oh, this will do nicely. Although without road access furnishing it will be difficult.” Hyacinth smiled appreciating the simple beauty of the house.
“And if my mother doesn’t want it, I wouldn’t be opposed to spending a weekend here, without our phones.” I muttered to Daniel though the link, as I saw no DSL line, or even a landline plug.
“The closest house would definitely hear us.” Daniel replied, a hint of mischief to his voice. “It has gas and electric, but no phone lines or Internet. No cable or satellite TV... its a little basic right now.” Daniel explained, as he shrugged a little self conscious of its rustic elements.
“I have lived longer without those things than I ever will with them. And my mobile gets service here, so I will be fine.” Hyacinth smiled, and I was reminded just how old Hyacinth was. The fine crows feet around her eyes, and the most prominent of the lines on her face, misled you into believing she was yet to reach fifty, but she was more than twice that. Even her brilliantly white curls that fell perfectly to her shoulders didn’t age the woman at all, but somehow managed to garner her more attention as men and women alike had openly gawked the beauty. “May I see upstairs?” She asked sweetly, and Daniel happily allowed her to lead the way, while Bailey remained outside.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
