His Closest Aids
1618 Words
[Noel’s POV]
I give a small nod while wondering what kind of people have been by Nick’s side for all these years doing his biddings in the dark. And who was Nick really to be able to have these kinds of people on his side? Of course, I knew that he was once meant to be the next alpha of Dark Wing, but even they didn’t possess that much power.
Frowning, I examine Nick as if doing so will yield some answers for me, and when he smiles and ruffles my hair again, I feel a wave of annoyance flow through me.
“Why do you keep doing that?” I demand, trying to fix the hair he has messed up.
“Because I can see that head of yours coming up with wild ideas.” He chuckles, giving me a look of adoration. “Anyway, why don’t you go wash up? Once you finish, the ones you wanted to meet should be here.”
“Okay.”
It’s all I can say since I know that if I said no, he would still find a way to convince me, and honestly, I was more than ready to get out of this dress and makeup.
“Wait,” I gasp, suddenly realizing something crucial. “What am I supposed to wear after?”
All my clothes and belongings were still trapped behind the borders of Azure Moon. So, what on earth was I supposed to wear and use while I was here? I couldn’t possibly use Nick’s things or wear his clothes, could I?
“Don’t worry about that,” Nick says, his voice dripping with an amusement that makes me bristle a little because it makes me feel like he may see me as an i***t. “I told you I’ve taken care of everything. That includes your clothes and your everyday essentials.”
“You… really?”
“Yes.”
Once again my question from earlier pops into my head and begins to play itself on repeat.
Who is Nick really?
Who is he?
What kind of person is he really?
“What?” he asks after a long pause. “Are you waiting for me to take you to the bathroom and wash you?”
“No!” I gasp, snapping out of it. “No, that won’t be necessary!”
Finished speaking, I prepare to move, but realize I don’t quite know where I’m even supposed to be going. Even though I was given a tour of the place, I wasn’t told where I would be staying.
“Um,” I begin, suddenly feeling out of my element. “Where is my room?”
“Downstairs,” Nick responds. “You’ll be staying in the master bedroom.”
“What?” I hiss, eyes widening. “How could I possibly? Isn’t that your room? No! I don’t want to put you out just because…”
“I’ve never slept there.” He responds, though I’m certain that it is a lie. “I’ve always preferred this room.”
As he speaks, he motions around the bedroom that we are currently standing in and although I truly don’t believe his words, I don’t miss the signs of his actually staying in here.
“Okay,” I sigh, deciding there was no point in arguing. “Then I’ll head downstairs and shower.”
“Atta girl,” Nick chuckles. “Remember, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Flushing, I don’t bother responding before I’m turning and heading out of the room and then taking the stairs, and when I finally reach the room that I was told would be mine, I head inside and lock the door behind me. Of course, I don’t expect Nick to walk in here and try to walk on me showering, but something about this action just leaves me more comfortable. It’s probably simply a thing I picked up in Azure Moon since I didn’t trust anyone around me.
Sighing, I try to shake off the unpleasant emotions that are starting to build as the memories of that time threaten to surface.
“No,” I hiss, willing them away. “That time is over, and a new future awaits me from this point on. A better future where I’m…”
The leader. The words appear in my mind, but I can’t quite say them aloud because they still feel so surreal.
I would be Azure Moon’s leader.
After I presented my marriage certificate to Azure Moon’s lawyers and they in turn showed them to the elders lawyers, I would be alpha of my pack.
This single thought stays with me as I strip and hop into the shower. It stays with me as I go through the motions of washing and conditioning my hair, washing my body, and even while I dry off and change into a t-shirt and a pair of leggings that I find in the dresser. And even as I step out of the room and head toward the living room where I can hear a commotion taking place, when I reach the threshold, all talking and laughter stop as three pairs of eyes come to rest on me.
Instantly, I stop and just stare, taking in the three that sit around Nick with looks of excitement.
“Hello!” One, a man with red hair and a lean build, announces, jumping up and grabbing my hand. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you after… OW!”
He doesn’t get to finish his words before a woman with long dark hair and sparkling blue eyes grabs him by the ear and pulls him back.
“Evan,” she sighs, shaking her head. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Aw, come on, Cassidy.” Evan pouts. “I was just greeting the new mistress.”
“More like scare her.” Cassidy huffs, pulling him away from me. “I’m so sorry about him,” she says now, fixing her gaze on me and giving an apologetic smile. “He’s still young, so he is overly energetic. I hope he didn’t scare you.”
“N-no,” I say, looking from Cassidy to Evan and back. “He didn’t. I was just… surprised.”
“Of course you would be,” Cassidy says. “But you should know that he means no harm.”
Nodding, I tear my gaze from the two, peeking around them to find Nick still sitting with the final person, a man with a large build and a buzzed head. His dark eyes are fixed on me, and there is an unreadable expression in them that makes me slightly uncomfortable.”
“Cassidy, Evan,” he says, drawing both their attention toward himself. “Sit down.”
To my surprise, both obey his command and head back to their seats; then they plop down, so I’m left standing alone again. And it is only when Nick gives a smile and pats the place beside him that I start to move.
“Sorry about that.” He murmurs once I’m seated beside him. “I’m sure that must have been a bit shocking.”
“Just a little,” I admit. “But it’s okay. Are these the ones you mentioned?”
“That’s right,” Nick smiles, his whole demeanor changing from just how at ease he is with these people. “Let me properly introduce you. You’ve already met Cassidy and Evan,” he continues, motioning to the two who approached me first. “And this,” he says, nodding toward the man, “is Devlin. He’s my right-hand man.”
“You make me sound like I’m a hit man or something.” Devlin huffs, rolling his eyes. “I’m just your grunt who does all your bidding.”
“Who is making who sound like a hit man now?” Nick chuckles, his face lighting up. “I’m not that bad of a boss, am I?”
“Not at all!” Evan gasps, coming to Nick’s defense. “You’re the fairest boss we’ve ever had.”
Remaining silent, I listen and watch the exchange while wondering just how these four came to know each other. From how at ease they were with one another, it was clear that they had been together for quite some time, but just how long?
“Devlin was my mentor when I came to live in Blue Moon.” Nick explains, seeming to read my thoughts. “And when I graduated from college, he became my business partner.”
“Business,” I repeat, raising a brow. “You own your own business?”
At my words, a giggle escapes Cassidy as she shoots Nick a look, and I know that it is about time that we had a long chat because it was becoming increasingly clear that there were quite a few things he was keeping from me, and if we were going to be working together for the time being, then I wanted full and complete disclosure between us.
But do you deserve that? The small voice in the back of my head asks. He's simply using you just like you're using him. Do you really need to worry about the things he hasn't told you?
No, that was the answer, but I didn't like this answer. However, even if I don't like it, I know that I was being a bit too presumptuous.
Don't get ahead of yourself, Noel. I remind myself before settling on waiting for him to tell me if he wanted. And despite myself, I can't help but hope that he will.
- Writer
