We enter the bar to a round of applause. Wesley had already spread the news. Ignoring the applause, I immediately look around for Misty but only find Lucy behind the bar on her own, which is really unusual for a busy night like this one.
I lean over the bar and shout over the crowd “Lucy, where’s Misty?”
“No idea. When Wesley announced that Emmanuel was dead, she ran off through the back. If you didn’t see her outside I’d guess she’s in the toilets or office.” I nod with a smile, to let her know I heard her over the rowdy crowd and turn to go find Misty.
I nearly fall over Eddie, who had been standing directly behind me. “Oh Eddie, will you do me a favour and ask about in here for an address? Let Wesley know what everyone else is doing too.”
As I look around the bar to make sure Wesley is still here, I see Dominick is already asking people questions.
“Yes. Consider it done,” Ed says, slipping away into the crowd.
I go straight through the back hoping to find Misty. I check the toilets as I pass but she isn’t there. I just hope she hasn’t slipped out between us entering the bar and now. As I open the door to the office, I get hit by a wave of sadness. It doesn’t do my guilt any favours. I killed one of her close friends.
“Misty, I’m so sorry.” I have no idea what else I can say. Nothing will make her feel better.
“It’s okay. Ya had no choice. Wesley explained everything. I just wish everyone wasn’t so happy about it. I feel so guilty that I set ya up with him. I had no idea he was like that,” she manages between sobs.
“I went on dates with him and I had no idea either. He hid that side of him well, but he wasn’t all bad.” I start to cry. “I actually cared for him and if Theo and I weren’t true mates, who knows, I could have fallen in love with him. And yet I just killed him.”
Misty comes over pulling me into a hug. “It’s okay don’t live ya life blaming ya-self, ya had no choice.” she consoles me, making me giggle at the situation.
“I came in here to console you not the other way around. I need to ask you something too, do you know his address? He didn’t tell us where Theo is and the others don’t remember anything about what they’ve done, or where they’ve been.” I ask hoping for some good news.
“I’m sorry no. We always met up away from our houses. He never knew where I lived until he walked ya home,” she says frustrated. Probably because she can’t help.
“It’s okay. Patsy and Billy are both checking the census, and Dominick and Eddie are asking about in the bar too. I’m sure we’ll find it soon.” A shocked look washes over her face.
“Oh poor Lucy, I left her alone and the bar is packed tonight.” With those words she dashes out the office leaving me standing alone staring at the door as it closes behind her.
I look at the chair behind the desk and think how nice it would be just to sit down for two minutes. But I don’t have the time I need to find Theo and the only way I will do that is by finding an address. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack.
I open the office door and walk straight into Eddie, again. “We’ll have to stop doing this,” I say whilst rubbing my nose after bumping it on his rock hard chest.
“I don’t know, I quite enjoy it,” he says with a cheeky grin.
“No one knows anything in there. We’re going to have to wait on Patsy and Billy,” Dominick announces as he walks up behind Ed. He doesn’t sound happy at the prospect of waiting.
“I know this might sound obvious, but can’t you just teleport to him? Billy said you can just think of somewhere with your eyes shut and be there when you open your eyes,” Ed enquires sounding eager for his plan to work.
“I can do that, yes, but I need to be able to smell, see and feel the place in my head to get there. Not knowing where exactly he is means I don’t have those senses about this place. I’ve never even seen him in his wolf form, so I can’t even try and do it by looking at him,” I say furious at myself for not being able to do it. Eddie’s eagerness fades within a split second.
“But you know his scent. If you focus on just that, it might work. What have you got to lose?” Dominick always seems to know what to do. Eddie gives me the loveliest encouraging smile. How can I say no to that? I guess it’s worth a try.
“Alright, I’ll give anything a try.”
I close my eyes and focus on nothing except Theo’s dark spicy scent, letting it surround me like a blanket. On opening my eyes I find myself in Theo’s room with a shocked Ruby staring at me with her jaw to the floor.
“Sorry, I’ll explain later.” I say before closing my eyes and trying again. I would rather keep looking for Theo then waste time explaining what I’d just done.
This time I open my eyes hoping with every ounce of my being to see Theo in front of me, only to find myself in his lounge this time. Crap! At least Selena isn’t in here. I don’t think I’d be able to escape without an explanation if she was.
I go back to the alley feeling totally defeated.
“Did it work?” Eddie was so excited at the thought of me actually finding Theo. It’s such a shame to fill him with the disappointment I feel too.
“No sorry. I just ended up in his bedroom and his lounge. I scared poor Ruby half to death.” I say trying to lighten the disappointment by adding that bit about Ruby. “If only he’d not stood me up the day he was meant to take me on a run, I’d be able to picture him too.” Now I’m mad at Theo, which isn’t really fair considering he’s the one trapped alone somewhere that no one knows about.
“What colour fur does he have, Eddie?” Dominick asks.
“It’s a rusty colour, why?” We both look at Dominick with the same questioning look.
He answers me rather than Eddie, “Because if you picture a wolf with that colour fur while doing what you just did with his scent, you might find him.”
I close my eyes and picture a rusty colour wolf just like Dominick suggested. I wrap Theo’s dark spicy scent around me. I feel the swirl that I felt when Dominick called me to him that first time, and as I open my eyes hoping I’m not at Theo’s house again, I find myself faced with a big rusty wolf. I did a good job with the colour. It’s just as I imagined. It’s just the size I was off on; he’s easily double the size I imagined - absolutely huge! And he’s growling at me. I didn’t imagine that.
“Theo, it’s me, Bel! I’ve come to take you home!” I approach him cautiously, but when I am about a metre away, I notice he’s not here with me.
He’s delirious. His fur is matted with blood, obstructing my view of any actual wounds. I reach deep into our mate bond hoping to get through to Theo.
The wolf before me pauses and weighs me up.
I don’t move, I can’t tell if he recognises me or if he is wondering if I taste good. It’s much scarier being faced with Theo ready to eat me than it was being faced with Paddy. He’s making a rumbling growl deep within his chest as he slowly starts to edge towards me. I hold my hand out for him to sniff and hope he recognises my scent.
It doesn’t take him long. He’s barely sniffed it when he drops to the floor with a whine. His whole persona changes. He’s extremely weak. It must have taken so much out of him to pretend to be so fierce.
When I fall to my knees and reach out to feel for injuries, he doesn’t protest. I rub my hands over his head and neck, which all feels normal. I find the first wound on his shoulder. He doesn’t even flinch as my fingers probe it.
What the hell is wrong with him? He should at least be reacting to the pain.
“Jared just informed me that Theo has at least two silver bullets in him. He clawed one out himself last night.” Dominick’s voice answers the question I was asking myself. I don’t complain this time.
Thanks.
In the blink of an eye I shift my hand to claws and slice into his shoulder making the wound bigger, once I get it deep enough so that I can see the bullet, I shift my hand back and grab the bullet between my fingers. I grit my teeth against the burning on my fingers where th
e silver comes in contact with my flesh, and drop it to the floor the second it’s out.
“Theo, one down, let’s see how many more you have in you,” I say, running my hands over his body. I find numerous bites but I can’t find another wound that looks remotely like a bullet. I’m about to give up when I find it lodged in his front leg. It’s not too deep but I still need to use my claws again to make the wound big enough for me to get a grip on the bullet. I’m throwing that bullet across the room in no time.
“I think that’s it, Theo. Now we could do with some meat to get your energy back up.” I regret my words as soon as they leave my mouth.
Mentioning food to a hungry wolf. Clever idea, Bel!
His eyes flash from the black of his wolf’s to emerald green. Theo must be fighting his wolf for control.
I slowly back away looking for an exit, catching sight of the reinforced steel door with no handle. I realise I have no chance getting out of that so I give the rest of the room a quick glance. All blank solid walls and not one window to be seen.
Brilliant! There isn’t even a wardrobe I could lock myself in.
“Rosabel, don’t worry. We’re on our way. I can sense you,” Dominick reminds me, the panic clear in his own voice.
I turn my full attention back to Theo. “They know where we are. They’re on their way. Just hang on a little longer.”
His eyes are fully black now, telling me his wolf is back in full control. I have to have faith that he won’t harm his mate. Normally that wouldn’t be a problem but he’s been confined and left injured for twenty four hours. To make things worse I just pulled out two silver bullets that had been stopping him from healing and taking all his energy. He’s not exactly in his right mind right now.
“We’re two minutes away Rosabel!” Dominick tries to reassure me and fails miserably.
It won’t take him that long to devour me. Is the reply that runs through my head as my body floods with panic and fear.
“Calm down. The fear will make him want you all the more,” Dominick suggests.
How helpful Dominick. It’s not like I already know that, being a wolf and all. You try being calm in my boots.
Shifting into my wolf would only serve to make Theo feel more threatened, therefore pushing him to attack me. I find myself backed up into the corner of the room; I must have been backing up whilst arguing with Dominick.
Theo is stalking towards me. He nuzzles his snout into my stomach trying to get to the soft flesh he could tear into. Thankfully my hoodie is in the way. I hear the material rip.
Nothing like jinxing myself.
His teeth brush against my skin as I am racking my brain for something to say to stop, or distract him but I can’t think of anything.
I hope you are bringing some fresh meat with you. I think to Dominick.
At that moment the door bursts open, three metres away from me.
The noise is not distracting Theo one bit. There is no way I can get to the door. He has me pinned to the wall.
Dominick and Ed appear from around the door.
“Eddie you need to get out of here, Theo is full wolf it force the change on you. We don’t need two wolves in here!” Panic once again floods my body.
“It’s okay, I can fight it. If I feel like I can’t, I’ll leave. Theo you need to leave Bel alone. Come to me I have some meat for you.” He throws a dead rabbit in the room. It’s freshly killed and dripping with blood. God only knows how he got one so quick.
Theo doesn’t even bat an eyelid. “Theodore, you don’t want to hurt Rosabel. I nearly killed her yesterday. I know what pain it would cause you if you killed her. You don’t want to feel that pain.”
Both Ed and I give Dominick a perplexed look.
Are you insane? That’s only going to make him angrier, I inform him through my thoughts.
“Yes that is my plan. If we get Theodore mad enough, he might take control,” he replies in my head.
Yes, control enough to want to kill YOU!
Fuck!
I look down at Theo. I have to find something to say to ease the situation. When I see Theo’s emerald eyes looking at me my fear subsides and relief washes over me.
“Theo, Ed has lots of those rabbits for you. Please go eat them.” I say, pointing to the dead rabbit on the floor. I’m hoping Ed has more, at least.
Theo rubs his head against my leg, probably in apology at almost eating me. He walks over to the rabbit and starts to devour it.
I walk by him, slowly, hoping not to make him feel like I’m trying to steal it from him. Animals get extremely territorial over food. Once I reach Dominick and Eddie in the doorway, I can’t believe how much safer I feel now that I am standing next to another werewolf and a vampire.
The three of us stay there watching Theo thoroughly clean up the rabbit. Once he starts licking the blood off the floor, I nudge Ed. He gets my hint and leads Theo to a van, which looks the same as the one that had been in the alley earlier. The only difference being that this one is blue not white. They both jump in the back with a mountain of rabbit bodies.
God knows where he got all them from.
Dominick gets behind the wheel so I climb in the passenger side.
It doesn’t take long to get to Theo’s house. We drive around the back of his house where he’s got a big shed on the land there. I call it a big shed but it’s a huge eight bay workshop. Eddie called it ‘the shed’. I had to add big and that still isn’t a good enough name to describe it.
I get out the van and walk in to ‘the shed’, leaving Ed and Dominick to help Theo out. The floor is covered in gym mats. There are a couple of punch bags and a weights bench with weights in the area in front of the entrance, which he must use as a training area. There is also a couple of hospital beds on the far wall set up with what looks like all up to date medical equipment around them. So the training room doubles up as a medical room.
Jared is sat on the edge of one bed and Paddy is sat on the edge of the other.
Wesley is cuddling Alyssa in the corner of the room. I don’t think he’ll be letting her out of his sight for a while. But I won’t be letting Theo out of my sight for a while either.
Billy is standing with a woman of Asian descent who I don’t recognise. She has a black chin length bob, and she’s wearing a white doctor’s coat with a stethoscope hung around her neck.
As I approach Billy, he turns his attention towards me. “Hey beauty, you did real good tonight,” He says, pulling me into a quick side hug, “This is Dr Patel. Dr Patel this is Rosabel.”
She reaches out and shakes my hand. “Call me Zainab.”
“Nice to meet you, Zainab. I’m Bel. How are these guys doing?” I ask waving my hand, gesturing to each of the three that had been taken.
“I’ve just finished checking them over and they are all perfectly healthy.”
“That’s great news. We have one more patient for you to look at. He’s not in as good a condition as these three though. He should be in any minute, now.”
I turn to look at the door and see Eddie walking in with Theo trotting in alongside him. His eyes roam the room looking for something. When they land on me he heads straight for me. He stops in front of me so I crouch down.
“Bel, be careful,” Billy warns me.
Wesley appears next to me ready to protect me if he needs to.
“It’s okay. He won’t hurt me!” I say confidently before putting my arms around his neck, cuddling into his fur and filling my lungs with his lovely scent. My wolf is itching to get out. I can’t stop myself whimpering in his ear. “My wolf will join you when you’ve been checked over, if you want?” I think it was her telling him that not me.
A rumble comes from deep in his chest, which I take as yes, along with the excitement I can feel emanating from him.
I stand up and Theo pads over to the empty bed that Jared had been on a few minutes ago.
Jared is now standing behind me in a protective stance.
I notice
Dominick is missing. “Eddie, where’s Dominick?”
“I need an invite from Theo. He’s not got the ability to give one at the minute.” Dominick’s voice answers me in my head. I turn and head for the door before Eddie could answer.
“He’s outside, but you seem to know that now, how?” His curiosity rushes over my skin.
“We’ve got a blood tie. He answered me before you did, in here,” I say laughing, while pointing to my temple.
“What?” Jared’s anger hits me like a wall. I thought he’d be jealous because when any other guy is involved that’s usually the case, but he’s angry as if he’s concerned for my protection. But then again why would he be jealous? Dominick is a vampire. He’s dead. I don’t think he’d be capable of love. I don’t think I’d be able to fall in love with someone that is dead either.
“Am I?” Dominick says in my head again. I’m kind of getting sick of not being able to think without being interrupted.
“Can’t you just listen to me when I’m actually talking to you? Rather than butting in on my personal thoughts. I can only hear what you want me to. How come?” I take a few steps out the door before Dominick walks into view from around the other side of the van.
He speaks out loud this time, “If you want to drink some of my blood, then you’ll be able to listen in on my thoughts whenever you wish, too.” He tilts his head in a gesture to offer his neck to me.
“Eww, no thanks.” That thought totally grosses me out. Although I’m not sure why? Because when I’m in wolf form I hunt and eat animals, fur, bones and all. It’s probably because Dominick’s cold and dead that it freaks me out so much.
“I have blood running through my veins and a heartbeat. Am I really dead?” He grabs my hand and places it on his bare chest through the opening of his dress shirt, right over his heart. I feel the thud, thud. It’s slightly out of time compared to a human’s. It has an extra faster thud, thud in between the normal thud, thud. Werewolves run to a slightly different beat too.
I move my hand away and force myself not to wipe it on my sweats.
“I don’t know,” is the only answer I can give him.
“I must leave now, Rosabel.” He kisses me on the forehead before I even have the chance to think about dodging it.
“Thanks for your help tonight,” I say, pulling away.
He smiles. “We are even now.” He disappears with a pop before my eyes. How come he can make noises if he wants?
I turn back to go inside, only to find Jared standing in the doorway. I feel his concern tickle against my skin. “I don’t like you having this tie with him. I don’t trust him.”
“He’s not too bad, if you didn’t nearly kill him the other day. I wouldn’t have had to donate my blood and I wouldn’t have a tie at all.”
His face drops into a look of sadness as his guilt brushes against my skin.
“I’m sorry Jared, I shouldn’t have said that. It wasn’t you. It was Emmanuel.” I lean in and give him a big hug and he squeezes me back hard. He was always great to hug.
“I miss you baby Bel, I really do.” The truth of his words is evident in his emotions. His love is just as strong as it was when we first got together all those years ago.
“I know.” I stay in the hug to hide the fact that I am crying. I don’t want him to get the wrong idea if he sees so it’s a good job he seems happy enough to still be hugging me. We hear a fierce growl coming from inside the shed causing Jared and I to break apart and run inside.
I can’t see a problem with the scene before my eyes, except Theo was looking directly at me, growling. I look back at the door. He would have seen me and Jared cuddling but I can’t feel jealousy coming from him.
The room fills with his bonding scent.
“Jared stay there,” I warn as I put my hand behind me to stop him coming any closer.
“Yeah I get the point,” he replies as Billy, Paddy and Alyssa walk over to where we’re standing, while I head for Theo who is still growling quietly.
“Come on. You need to get out of here,” I hear Billy say to Jared behind me.
“But Bel?” He’s worried that I’m going to get hurt.
“It’s not her he wants to hurt,” Billy tells him as Theo pounces in front of me facing Jared, growling fiercely once again.
Jared puts his hands up above his head like you do to the police to show them you have no weapons. “It’s okay mate. I’m going,” he says backing up and out the door.
I start taking my clothes off. Wesley has seen me naked and I’m sure Dr Patel has seen plenty of people naked before. I need to get into wolf form so we can communicate better.
I’ve just pulled the bra off my arm, to be fully naked, when Eddie emerges from the cupboard with what looks like some medical supplies in his hand, “Is this what” he looks up midsentence, “you, wow.”
I instantly smell his arousal and so does Theo.
He spins around and growls at Eddie in warning, just as the room fills even more with the bonding scent. For Eddie’s sake this time.
Billy comes running back in as I finish the shift into my wolf form; I guess he heard the growl.
He takes in the scene. “Eddie, what have you said?”
“Oh, Eddie, for god’s sake. You’ve seen plenty of naked people before.” He must have caught on to the scent of Eddie’s arousal.
I trot over to Theo and wiggle my behind at him in a flirty way in order to distract him. “I’m all yours, Theo.” It seems to get his attention.
“I never doubted that. You were crying. Jared upset you.” He was trying to protect me. I can’t help but smile at that thought.
“No! He didn’t upset me, not really. He was telling me he missed me. I could feel how much he loved me still and I cried because I can’t return those feelings.”
Theo rubs his head against the side of mine and I notice a mass of matted blood on the back of his neck, making me think there must be a serious wound there.
“Has Dr Patel looked at this wound on your neck?”
“Yes, it’s all healed, I just need to wash the blood out my fur, that’s all. There is one on my stomach too. I’m healed enough to change back now, but I’d rather have you to myself like this for a while first, or maybe for the rest of the night. I’m sure the pack can cope without talking to me until morning.” Theo strides over to the corner on the gym mats. He turns around a couple of times to get comfy.
I make the same move curling up next to him.
“I love you, more than I knew it was possible to love someone,” he blurts out. The love flowing through our bond. He meant it with all of his heart.
“Ditto.”
I feel him chuckle in a wolfy way against my side. “Has somebody been watching ‘Ghost’ too much?”
“Sounds like I’m not the only one since you knew what I meant.” We both chuckle at that. It’s great to feel him so happy, not to mention, healthy.
“Has anyone filled you in on who the controller was?” I ask him. I guess he should be told and since I was in charge. I should be the one to fill him in.
“No, not yet. I guess I’ll have to bring him to justice tomorrow, where is he?” He sounds as though he hates that part of being alpha. I don’t blame him, I do too!
“No, you won’t. It was Emmanuel. He wanted to cause a war between the werewolves and the vampires.”
“I know you dated him Bel, but I have to serve a death sentence, it’s the law.” He thinks I said no because I didn’t want him to hurt Emmanuel.
I wish that was the case.
“No, it’s already been done. I k-killed him.” My voice cracks and tears well in my eyes. I don’t know if I’ll ever get over killing someone I cared for. Killing the pride members that duelled with me was a completely different thing. It was them or me. I could live with that. Emmanuel, though. Emmanuel was different.
“Oh, Bel. I’m so sorry you had to do that. It must’ve been hard for you,” he says with regret.
“It was,
but I had no choice.”
“Why didn’t you just leave him to me?” he asks.
“He knew he had a death sentence. He wanted to hold you hostage so we wouldn’t kill him.”
“Thank you for taking over and coming to rescue me.” He gives me a funny looking toothy grin that I think is meant to be a smile. It’s hard to tell on a wolf’s face.
I snuggle into his fur breathing in his scent. It’s so relaxing after such a long twenty four hours.
We both lift our heads as we hear the door open, to see Billy rushing in and closing the door behind him. “You guys need be quiet. Selena thinks we have a pack of wolves on the property. She’s talking about setting traps.” I start to giggle at the fact that it’s true. There is a pack of wolves on the property, well a quarter of a pack, not to mention the lion.
Theo changes into human in a second flat. “What is Selena doing here?” He’s fuming. I don’t need to be an empath to know that.
I quickly shift to human form while Theo strides to the cupboard and pulls out some sweats and a t-shirt, pulling them on instantly. He wets a towel and rubs at the visible blood on his neck and face.
I quickly gather my clothes and throw them on.
“She turned up this afternoon. She hasn’t said why, she just booked herself a room. Didn’t Bel tell you?”
“No, Bel didn’t tell me,” he snaps, aiming his anger at me.
Now wait a minute, why is he mad at me?
“It totally slipped my mind. I have had a lot on it tonight. I did just kill someone for god’s sake. I’m terribly sorry she wasn’t on the top of my list.” Sarcasm at its best. On the defensive, I go.
“Sorry, I snapped. I’m mad at her not you. She has no right to just turn up.” He comes and kisses me on the top of my head. “Come on, let’s go kick her out.” Grabbing my hand and interlocking our fingers, he pulls me out the shed after Billy.
Just as we step out the door I pull his body back towards me. “One thing first.” He turns to look at me.
I reach up and put my hand behind his neck and pull his head towards me, brushing my lips against his. He reciprocates by working his mouth on mine. I pull away and press our foreheads together as we both catch our breath.
Breath caught, we step away and find Billy standing nearby waiting for us. The three of us head for the house and enter through the glass doors in the lounge without another word. I’m too busy thinking about how great that kiss was to bother speaking.
“No wolves on the loose out there, but look who I found making out behind the bushes.” I’m sure Billy added that last bit for Selena’s sake.
“TED!” Ruby screams as she pounces on him, throwing her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. “You’re okay?” she adds as she drops her legs back down to the floor.
He gives her a squeeze before breaking away. “I’m fine, Ruby.”
Ruby turns to me pulling me into a hug. “Thank you so much Bel.”
“You’re welcome.” As soon as she lets me go, Theo grabs my hand again.
I look around the room for the first time since entering. It looks so small compared to normal. I realise that’s probably because it’s full of werewolves; Wesley, Alyssa and Paddy are all squashed together on the sofa facing the stairs. Selena and Jared are on the other one, Ruby had been sat next to Jared. Eddie and Chloe are sitting on the kitchen bench top leaving Greg, Darren, Phil and Dave all standing around leaning against the walls throughout the room. Billy walks to the kitchen and leans against the side next to Chloe.
Everyone seems to give Theo a little nod. I think they all probably want to come over and welcome him back just like Ruby had, but I’m sure Selena would ask why everyone was so pleased to see him. Ruby’s reaction looked suspicious enough! Ruby goes back to her spot on the sofa next to Jared, who ruffles her hair as she sits down. So typical of Jared.
“Selena, what are you doing in my house? I thought I made it clear, you are not welcome anymore.”
Theo, just cut to the chase why don’t you?
She stands up, walks up to us and, do you believe it? She actually tries to cuddle him. Before she manages to get a hold of him, he takes a step backwards dragging me along with him.
“Can we talk in private?” she asks, giving me a pointed look.
“Anything you want to say, Selena, can be said in front of everyone here.” He waves his hand around the room. She follows his hand with her eyes falling on everyone, one by one.
She looks down at her feet. I can see the contemplation on her face, deciding whether she should tell everyone her business. She must have decided to go with it because she opens her mouth to speak; only nothing comes out for a second while she lifts her eyes and looks at Theo. “I thought we could give our marriage another go.”
Theo sighs shaking his head “You’re too late. A couple of months ago maybe I would’ve been stupid enough to take you back, but I’m with Bel now. I’m not giving what we have up for you. If that’s all you wanted, you can get your stuff together and leave.”
Tears fill her eyes, but she doesn’t move. She takes a deep breath. “I’m pregnant! The dad chucked me out. I thought you...” She doesn’t finish her sentence.
Theo’s body goes tense next to me before I hear Eddie’s whisper.
“Oh fuck.” If I had human ears, I wouldn’t have heard it.
Theo squeezes my hand, too hard. I’m actually glad I have super strength or he might have broken something. Then again, if he carries on squeezing much longer he might just do that.
Selena is once again looking at the floor.
Theo glances at me with his wolf eyes as he releases my hand before storming up the stairs. We all hear the door slam behind him, leaving me to wonder if it’s still going to be intact when I go up there.
“Theo?” Selena shouts as she makes a move to chase after him.
For the second time in a few minutes I find myself extremely grateful for being a were. I reach the bottom of the stairs first and manage to block her way. There is no way she wants to go up there when he’s as angry as that.
“Just let him calm down. He’ll come down when he’s ready to talk,” I say forcefully.
I watch the thoughts cross her face whilst she decides whether to tell me to get out of her way or just listen to me and wait. She chooses right, going for the latter, turning and sitting on the sofa without a word to me.
I sit down on the stairs, not wanting her to try and sneak up to him when I’m not paying attention. I don’t know why he got so angry. His anger appeared before she mentioned the father so it can’t be because he kicked her out. I’m so deep in thought that I jump a foot off the step as I feel someone’s hand rubbing my knee. I look to my left to see Billy sat on the step along side me.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he asks.
I shake my head and shrug. “Just wondering what got him so mad. It’s still escalating, I can feel it.”
“We all can. You should go talk to him. It might calm him down. Just be cautious,” he warns me.
“Do you think he’s that angry at Selena, that he might attack me?” I really don’t think he’d hurt me no matter how angry he is, not after he managed not to attack me tonight when he was so hungry and injured.
“I don’t have time to explain everything, Theo’s mood is affecting everyone, and we can’t risk exposing ourselves in front of Selena.”
I look around the room at the others and he was right everyone was tense. Paddy is really struggling at fighting off his wolf.
“The main cause of Theo and Selena’s arguments were because he wanted kids like, yesterday, and she never wanted them. Now she turns up pregnant. The one thing he wanted from her, she gave to someone else.”
I have a really bad sinking feeling in my gut. “What are you trying to say, Billy?”
I finally place that look he had in his eyes before he ran upstairs. Regret.
“I honestly don’t know. I just figured you deserved to have a h
eads up.”
I quickly kiss him on the cheek. “Thanks Billy.”
I race up the stairs needing to know what Theo is thinking because my brain is coming up with too many scenarios I don’t like.
Theo’s door has a crack running right down the middle and the jamb is a bit loose, but it’s intact enough to be serving its purpose. I knock on the door before opening, just to be courteous. He’ll have been able to sense me coming, not to mention hearing my footsteps. I open the door before he has time to reply to my knock and close it behind me.
He’s pacing back and forth across the room.
I decide to steal Billy’s line. “Penny for your thoughts?”
He sighs and carries on pacing.
So I sit on the edge of his bed ready to wait for him, but to my surprise he joins me, putting his head in his hands. We sit in a silence that I’m not willing to break. If he wants to talk he can. He came up here to think and calm down. I haven’t joined him to make him more tense, if that’s even possible, by asking him stupid mundane question’s like ‘are you okay?’ when it’s blatantly obvious he’s not.
He lifts his head out of his hands and looks at me with his beautiful emerald green eyes that are filled with nothing but love and regret. “Bel, I’m sorry,” he says, giving me a bad gut feeling that this is a conversation I don’t want to be involved in.
“Billy is right isn’t he? You’re going to take her back.” It’s a statement, not a question to let him know, I know where his head is at. There is no need for him to go around the trees to tell me what Billy already has. There are tears running down my cheeks as I look at him making him a blur so I can’t read what his eyes are saying, but I can feel his emotions loud and clear, the love, regret and guilt.
He’s made his decision.
“Bel, I…”
I don’t need to listen to him tell me his decision, not when I can already feel it. I close my eyes so I can let my body take me wherever it wants to.
God only knows where I’ll end up!
29. PRIVATE CELEBRATION
Theo
Pride to Pack Page 44