Book Two – Ch.#14
Over the next few days, I found myself feeling anxious. Under the constant watchful eye of both my father and Gavin, I continued to play along with my usual daily routine. Acting as if nothing was amiss. Doing all the training that was asked of me. But, inside, I was thinking back to that keycard.
The one I‘d hidden under my mattress. Waiting for exactly the right moment for when I‘d be able to use it.
…A moment I found finally presented itself on the night of the third day.
With my father expected to be staying overnight elsewhere for a late meeting and Gavin only working until seven o‘clock, I saw an opportunity to take advantage of the soon–to–be quiet house.
And I devised a plan to leave as soon as the sky grew dark.
A few hours later, I was slowly scaling to the ground from my bedroom window. This being something I did with ease and without being seen. And though I never thought to use my abilities to go behind my father‘s back, I certainly couldn‘t deny that it came in handy.
Soon, before much time had passed at all, I found myself facing the door I‘d been thinking of so incessantly. The door I‘d been wondering about every day, contemplating all of the things I could possibly discover once I entered through it. A door that might just possibly change my life forever.
And I stared at it.
…And stared.
…….And stared.
And I kept staring, even while my hand reached out several times to knock, failing every time to go through with it.
…I‘d been so certain in my decision and come all this way, only to But then, suddenly, the door opened in front of me.
“...Are you just going to stand out there all night?” came a voice from inside.
It was his voice. I recognised it well now.
“I ah…,” I started, feeling a little awkward for being caught. “I‘m sorry. I just… I—.” “It‘s okay. No need to be sorry,” he said, his face then appearing from the other side of the door.
Instantly, that same effect started to hit me, a reassurance spreading throughout as his presence held me. “I get it. If you need more time to think, I can just leave this open. I‘m not pressuring you to d–.”
“No!” I quickly blurted out. “No, it‘s okay. Everything is okay… I‘m ready.” I came here with determination to get answers. I couldn‘t back out now. Whatever happened tonight, at least I could say that I tried. My mistake would only lie in wanting to hope for a better life.
“Okay… well, come on in,” he said.
I was ready to step through the door but was stopped as he held a hand out to me. Just as he had done so once before.
However, the last time he‘d done that, I had been too overwhelmed to reciprocate. Too many thoughts and questions holding me back, so unsure of everything that had been happening at the time.
Now, when I looked at his outstretched hand, I saw a possible beginning.
(*“I just need you to trust me,“*‘ he had said to me that day.
Well, I couldn‘t be sure if I was ready for that just yet, but I was at least willing to believe. Believe that there was a chance of this being real… if only for a moment.
tingled along my
felt as my cheeks began
I could see how easy it would be
mean I trust you,” I clarified. “And I… I‘d like some sort of proof. I‘m risking a lot by
the front door and closed it behind me, his gaze never leaving mine. From where I stood, he towered over me, something that I
I can
if he were somehow devouring me with
maybe it was just
“Make yourself at home.”
around him into the living room. Desperately
penthouse. Honestly, it felt larger than some people‘s houses in here. Room enough to host an elaborate party without
to do something where people might see,” he said as he walked behind me. “We‘ll just have to make
to just spin right back around again. Because
doing?” I yelled in surprise, unable to stop myself from looking. He didn‘t seem phased in any way though, his lip twitching into a smile. “It‘s my favourite shirt,” he said, as if it were obvious. “I don‘t want it
skin that was revealed seemed moulded around perfectly sculpted ‘muscles underneath. A sight
tried
Ruined?” I
shift?” he said, almost a little confused. “You asked me to prove
that in here, was he? And my mind immediately recalled the massacres I would wake up to post–change. “Isn‘t that… dangerous?” I quickly asked. “Do I need to lock you
immediately made him laugh, much to my
answers. Right now, I could only make assumptions based on the knowledge I had. And that
he appeared right in front of me. And, instantly, a shiver ran through me involuntarily. “Raven,” he said quietly, drawing in my attention. “I promise you, there is absolutely nothing in this world that could ever make me hurt you. I am the
me wanted so badly to
was done, there was a semi – large open space in which he stood looking at me expectantly. “Are you ready?”
something unbelievable
watched him shift forms in a mere matter of seconds. Changing and transforming effortlessly
familiar hazel eyes. But I didn‘t feel like running or feel even remotely afraid, as I thought I would.
him, moving until I was crouched right in front of him. And, in response, he laid down
control right now? Would this wolf move if he instructed it to? He looked at me as if he knew exactly who I was, knew
trust that instinct… reaching out hesitantly
mused aloud to
different textures. And though I didn‘t feel the same sparks as when I touched his skin, I still
really be something I can do?” I
impossible to think that I could go from blackouts and bloody murders to
he raised his head and gave me a nod, confirming that this really was something attainable. My chest ached with new
I whispered. “I don‘t want to be
always felt so lonely, thinking I was a freak all these years. But seeing Kieran like this now… knowing that he could teach me and was willing to help me learn about who I really was… It honestly felt like the
lies or nefarious intentions… just purely a part
he had been telling me the truth so far… did that mean
room I couldn‘t see. I was taken a little off guard by the sudden movement but tried not to react. He
he was back to his
he said, walking over to
this immediately
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