Alphas Secret Life

Questioning the Family

We drive back up the long mountain road toward the very place that I was attacked, although we weren’t very close to the cabin but close enough that I am very alert to my surrounding. I do not want to have to face anything like that again. NEVER! My palms are even starting to sweat. Kaden must have noticed my nervousness because he reaches over and squeezes my hand gently and reassures me that nothing bad is going to happen to me again. I want to believe him but my mind keeps getting in my own way. I know one thing I do feel safer when he is beside me. We pull up to the cabin just as the sun is setting. The windows are lite up and it looks just like a cabin in some sort of fairy tale romance novel. I comment on how beautiful it looks all lite up, but Kaden blows it off like it is nothing, but this cabin in the woods is one of the most beautiful places in NC other than Kaden's place which is just as beautiful and bigger. I take a deep breath waiting on Kaden to step out of the car because I didn’t want to be outside by myself. He gets out and heads around to my side of the car but I quickly open my own door on my own, not wanting this to feel anything like a date. Although. I am attracted to him, but he is my boss. I don’t want to be the girl who slept her way up the ladder if you know what I mean. He waits as I get out and waits until I get my crutches out before allowing me to go first to the door. The door swings open and there stands his smiling father, arms already reaching for Kaden.

"Hey Dad!"

“Come in, come in. Please make yourself at home Lexi” He says to me as he releases Kaden.

“Thank you” I say with a small smile.

“Your home is beautiful” "

Thank you, I don’t think we were properly introduced the last time you were here. I am Dominic Lance, Kaden’s father."

Alexius Fisher, but please call me Lexi."

"It is very nice to meet you again." He said reaching out and taking my hand in his laying a soft kiss to the back of it. I am almost blushing as he touches my hand to shake it. There was definitely something about the men in this family even Dominic is attractive, Well-built nice bone structure. Still looks like he is in his late 20’s or early 30’s which I know is not possible. Kaden clears is throat and we turn our attention toward him.

"Can we just get started dad. Where is everyone?"

“They will be here soon; I wanted a few minutes to get to know Lexi before shocking her with the rest of our dysfunctional bunch”

Kaden rolls his eyes at the statement but then smiles at me and says you’re in for an eventful evening.

“Great! I love eventful” I say with a giggle and Kaden laughs and says we will see.

Just then the door swings open and two more people join us an older couple who introduce themselves as Kaden aunt and Uncle Tom and Gina Lance. Tom is Dominic’s Brother.

More begin to spill through the door. Kaden’s Brother Colin, His sister Elaina and several other relatives. This is more like a family reunion I think to myself as we enter the dining room. I am astonished at the large wooden table that sits in in the middle of the room with a large open fire place with a fire crackling for warmth, everyone was chatting and laughing just like family should do. Not one person seems nervous or as if they were hiding anything. I decide to wait until after the meal to start the questioning. I debate whether or not to so it in private or invite Kaden. I know I will start with his father as to show respect to him as the man of the house. Kind of like ripping the Band-Aid off, so to say. As I am deep in thought Kaden’s Aunt Gina asks me where I am from.

I answer her honestly, saying "I am from Michigan, Detroit actually."

“Oh that’s lovely dear” she says with a bit of an attitude.

"Yes, it is lovely there when you can actually get outside." I answer her back with a hint of smart-ass. She smiles at me as if the game is on but turns to talk to her husband Tom, ignoring me for the rest of the dinner. I turned my attention to Kaden and his dad. Observing how they interact with each other. Dominic has a softer look in his eye when he talks to his children; His smile is warm and genuine. His Children including Kaden have the same warmth when talking with him. I turn my attention then to the rest of the table and I notice Gina glaring at me from where she is sitting. I lock eyes with her for a moment then she snicker and stands to leave the room. Just then Kaden whispers.

"Ignore Gina, She is always like this with anyone new she meets. It’s her way of well, being a bitch."

“It’s not like I’m here as part of the family” I say holding both hands up.

He laughs and says. "No but your young, beautiful, successful and new. Gina is vein. She sees every other woman as a threat."

“Well she shouldn’t see me that way Kaden I am just your employee”

"Um Hum.I know." He said that with such sadness in his voice it almost made me think he wanted more out of this duo, but I couldn’t let my mind go there. I am already attracted to him; I don’t want to make a complete fool of myself if I am confusing things in my own mind.

Diner is winding down now and Dominic asks everyone to meet in the living room. He then tells me I can use his office to do the interviews.

"Kaden will you show Lexi where the office is son?"

He takes my hand and helps me up handing me my crutches. Every time he touches me it feels like electricity running between our skins. This time it made me shiver and Kaden looked at me confused. Or may concerned I don’t know but I couldn’t hide the shiver from him. He turns up the corner of his mouth slightly.

"Are you ok?"

“Yeah, just got a cold chill” He reaches out to check my head for a fever, it happens again.

"Seems you get a cold chill every time I touch you he says with a big smile this time."

“Seems that way doesn’t it” I shrug.

“Show me the way please so I can get this over with”.

"After you."

We enter the office; it is large and roomy but also very homey feeling. It has a large wooden desk sitting in front of a large open fire place. I am a little sad to see no fire but it is summer here in the mountains.

"Who do you want to interview first?"Kaden asks.

“Dominic”

"I will send him in."

“Thank you” I get my computer out and get my list of questions. As I’m getting set up, Dominic knocks on the door.

“Come in” Now that felt weird he says as he enters the room.

“I am sorry Dominic, It felt weird hearing you knock on your own door as well if it makes you feel any better”. He waves his hands as if to wave off the weirdness as he sits in front of me.

"Lexi if that is the weirdest thing to happen to me this week I will be relieved."

He says shaking his head. “Do you mind if we just get started, I fear I will be here all night interviewing the whole family?” Sure. He says giving me his full attention.

I start with, "When was the last time you saw Amy Dickerson?"

“The last time I saw Amy was May 13th around 9pm just before I went to bed”.

"Did you hear anything that was out of the normal that night?"

“No, not at all”.

Did you see or hear anything the next morning? No. I got up around 6am and had meeting with Kaden in town. I figured the girls were still in bed asleep.

"When were you made aware that Amy was missing?"

"Not until the next day when Elaina told me."

Last question, "have you ever seen any wolves in the area? Yes, all the time."

I shivered at his answer. It was so natural for him. "Thank you, Dominic. Can you send in Elaina please?"

In just a few minutes Elaina knocks on the half open door but doesn’t wait for me to say come in. She walks in with a bright smile plastered on her face.

"Hi, Lexi. I am Elaina Kaden’s sister. I know we were introduced but my brother sucks at giving me a full introduction."

She winks and shakes my hand as if we were meant to be best friends.

I smile because her energy as contagious we shake hands.

"Please sit Elaina. Can you tell me a little bit about the night Amy Dickerson went missing?"

“We went out to the club on Patton Ave around 7pm that night”.

"Do you remember the date?"

“Yeah it was a May 13th”.

"Did anything happen at the club?"

“No, we danced and drank a few drinks before calling a cab to bring us here."

"What time did you leave the club?"

“I’m not exactly sure, but the cab company should have a record of the call and the club had video surveillance so you might be able to get the video from there as well”

"Did anything happen on the ride home Elaina?"

“Not that I can remember”.

"Elaina how many drinks did you have?"

”I only had 3 mixed drinks. Which it was weird, because I can usually drink at least five or six before I even have a buzz”.

"Did you see anyone around your drinks or was the bar tender new?"

“No and the bartender has been there for years”.

"Would you be willing to let me get a hair sample?"

“For what exactly?”

"I want to have it tested for a drug that could have possibly been put into your drinks. "

“You mean like a date r**e drug or something?”

"Exactly."

"Yeah sure, I will also write down the cab company’s and the bars name and phone number."

"Thank you, Elaina." I say as she is standing to get a pen and paper. I hand her small baggy to put a sample of her hair in. She takes it and with tears in her eyes says.

"Thank you Lexi. Amy was my best friend and I really want the bastards who did this caught. The damn cops don’t seem too concerned about her death just want to blow it off as another animal attack."

I interview the rest of the family which all seemed to know next to nothing about Amy and May 13th. I sit there thinking about the video from the club. I am anxious to see what happened in the bar that night. I gather my things and head out of the office where I am face with the whole family I just interviewed

. Kaden comes over to me. "Did you get everything you needed?"

"Yes, Thank You all for letting me conduct the interviews. You have all been a great help."

I hear Gina scoff and tell Kaden’s Uncle Tom to take her home. I ignore her and ask Kaden to drive me to the club.

"I want to see if they still have the video from that night." He agrees and says his goodbyes as do I and we make our leave.