Triangle of Love

Please be safe

A few moments pass and I’m feeling calm again I wrap my arm around Penny’s arm giving it a hug,

“Thanks Penny, I don’t know what I’d do without you. You don’t know how much you being here helps me. I’ve never had anyone look out for me the way you do.”

She doesn’t say anything and just lightly pats my hand. Enjoying this moment with Penny I let the silence linger a little longer.

Penny’s phone vibrates and she gets up to answer it and lets me know she’s going to take the call outside and leaves. Grabbing my phone from next to my pillow to check it, Mase sent a text,

Mase: Sorry if my text was too much.

Oh no I did it again, poor guy must have thought I was avoiding his last text. I feel bad again and reply him.

Kali: Sorry I was with the doctor.

Mase: how was it?

Kali: He seems pretty happy so far.

Mase: that's good.

Mase: Can I ask you a question? You can say no if you want.

Kali: No it’s fine. I don’t mind.

I have to wait a little for his question.

Mase: I was hoping we could get to know each other a little more, even if it’s through text. You don’t need to reply straight away but if you could have a think about it please.

I don’t know how to reply to that, kind of caught me off guard, I wasn’t expecting that. I’m unsure of how I feel right now with Penny just outside the door and unsure of her relationship with Mason. I saw the way she reacted to hearing that the flowers were from Mason and how Nikki and the girls spoke of how close they are. I don’t want to cross the invisible line and potentially ruin my friendship with Penny.

Kali: Can I text you back tonight with an answer?

Mase: No worries. We can chat about it later beautiful.

Penny comes back into the room calm and undecipherable like most times. After texting with Mason I need some fresh air and ask Penny if we can chill outside in the hospital garden if there is one. She goes a bit stiff and nods. Excited to get out of this small room I walk over to the bag Penny packed for me and pull out a sweater. Struggling a little to get the sweater down to my hips Penny helps me by pulling it down.

Leaving the room we walk down the corridor, We are about to turn down another and nurse Eden calls out and pretty much power walks over to us, for an old lady she’s pretty quick, holding a sling,

“Just before you leave the ward I’ll get you to put this on, will only take a sec.” holding up the sling for my hand, I raise my arm to let her put the sling on and adjust it to my comfort.

Continuing with our walk following Penny’s direction’s we finally come to the front foyer where people are sitting waiting patiently.

Penny orders us coffee from the mobile coffee van. Waiting for the coffees, the air feels cool with a slight breeze. I’m surprised that the hospital is on the outskirts of the town closer to the tree line I thought that the local hospital would be in closer to the heart of town.

The view is stunning though, the clinic sits on a hill and you can see at least a third of the town, in the distance you can see the ocean, this is just nice.

Penny hands me my coffee and leads me to a wooden octagon gazebo in the middle of a garden in front of the clinic.

Leaning against one of the posts sipping on my coffee, I notice Penny is always eyeing our surroundings as if she is on alert. Feeling a little worried and wondering if there is more that I should know.

Penny’s looking as if she is trying to relax, stretching her neck from side to side obviously trying to loosen up. Observing her from where I’m standing, she looks like she could do with some sleep, I can’t help but worry for her.

“Penny you ok?”

“Hmm…oh yes I’m ok thanks. You excited to get out tomorrow?”

“oh definitely! I want to sleep in my own bed!” happy about the thought of having my own space again, suddenly I hear a change in Penny’s tone.

“Ah..em..” clearing her throat “We will be staying at another house in town. Somewhere in the woods...a secure location.”

“Does this have anything to do with Dane?”

Penny looks over to the trees and scans it I see Brett and Mike walking from one side of the hospital to the other as if they were patrolling.

The hospital look newly built, three floors high and another wing under construction, the placing of the hospital looks like it was placed there for a reason.

“Dane got away that night. “ as blunt as ever, she speaks as if she’s spitting disgusting words at it “Kid, he ain’t going to lay another hand on you again as long as I’m here.” She states with confidence.

“W..wh..what about the P..Police?”

“Mase is the Police. He’s got every…everyone that he knows out there searching.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“Yeah…stay at the new location and not leave on your own…” facing me now and making sure she has my attention “…look don’t worry Mase and I will take care of it.”

Nodding that I will do as I’m told. Thinking of the situation and how Mason saved me, for someone who has only just met me no words could describe the gratitude I have for him and Penny. I am reminded that I need to reply back to Mase but I need to get a gauge on their relationship.

“Penny…what is Mason like? I was told that you two are close.” Biting my lower lip waiting for her answer nervously. Not sure if I’m going to like it or not.

“Mase, is one of the best guys you could ever meet, from.a good family. We grew up together and have been through a lot. He’s been there for me like no one else and I would do anything for him.” Penny speaking about Mase seemed to flow so easily for her “I am lucky to have him in my life, I don’t know where I would be . Why do you ask?”

Now it’s my turn to pause. Trying to search for the right words,

“We were texting earlier, but I wanted to make sure if that would be ok with you cause he sounds like someone dear to you.” Waiting and hoping that my words haven’t offended her in anyway.

“No.” she takes in a deep breath “No that’s fine. You don’t need to worry about me.” She turns and walks to lean on the post and looking down at the town..

Facing the same way and also looking in the same direction as Penny, I sense her feelings for Mase are more than what she perceives it to be.

“Penny…do you have a thing for Mason?”

“If we were destined to be together we would be together.” saying it as if that line. meant something.

The sadness in her words breaks my heart. Unsure of how to approach her I just stand there not knowing what to do.

Looking down at the cup of coffee thinking. A sudden feeling of danger arises and there's tension tension in the air I look at Penny who is now glaring and scanning the trees and looking tense,

I’m taken by surprise at the sudden arrival of Brett, Mike, 3 Males and a female all looking at Penny as if waiting for their orders all looking like soldiers ready for war. Penny spins to face me grabbing my hand looking serious.

“Go back to the room with Mike and Brett. Nikki is on his way and whatever you do…do not go alone.” Squeezing my hand and pulling me in for a hug..

What is happening? I can’t seem to wrap my head around anything right now. Why do I feel like I am missing something, something bigger than Dane.

Frozen on my spot from my thoughts looking around I see movement behind the trees but can’t make out what it is, it also doesn’t come out from behind the trees as if it is staying hidden. Penny snaps me out of my thoughts and grabs both shoulders,

“Kid, you need to go now. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

I feel like crying, why do I feel like something isn’t right. A tear drops as if knowing whatever and wherever she is going is dangerous, I pull her in for a hug,

“Please be careful.”

I let go and follow Mike and Brett who are on high alert. Rushing back to the room I can feel my heart racing, my breathing has quickened and I'm feeling a little light headed. I'm trying to push through it and focus on slowing my breathing down and try to do my bit of looking after myself so I don’t worry Penny.

We finally reach the room and I run towards the window just in time to see Penny and the others run into the sea of trees. My heart is racing and I want to do something, fear and panic is starting to set in. Unsure of what to do and on the brink of crying, I pull out my phone from my pocket and scroll to Masom’s number and push the call button, it only rings once and he picks up,

“Kali?” sounding surprised and happy.

“M..Mason, h..h..help p..p..please.” not realizing I’m sobbing on the phone.

“What's wrong? I’m coming…” sounding scared and ready to jump through the phone

“Nooo! You have to go to Penny she went with the others! Please Mason you have to help” crying and looking out the window at the spot I last saw Penny.

Nikki comes walking through the door with food and puts it on the table. He is not looking happy then softens his face and approaches me with arms open and pulling me in for a hug then realizing I’m on the phone.

“Mase?”

I nod in reply and gently he takes my phone out of my hand and makes me sit on the bed.

“Mase. It’s Nik…. I just got here and I could hear her crying, thinking that Penny was in the room with her I asked the boys and those eggs didn’t say anything, at first…. She told them not to say anything… I don’t know, you know how much she hates him… they went west, I’m assuming she’s tracking him or whatever it is now… yeah yeah I know… ok.” Turning back to me Nikki is passing the phone back to me and signalling he wants to talk to me.

“Hello?” now just sobbing lightly and calmer.

“Kali, don’t worry I‘ll bring her back. You ok?” speaking with a soft tone but concern in his voice.

“I just want to make sure she is safe.” Still worried and concerned for Penny.

“Penny is tough. I already have some people on their way.” He says reassuring me he’s on it already which helps me calm down.

“O..okay thank you.”

“I’m gonna head there too but I need to know you are ok first.”

“Yes. I’m ok.”

“Kali?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for calling me. You can call or text me anytime you want.”

“Ok thanks."

“It’s nice to hear your sweet voice. I’ll chat to you later ok. Bye beautiful.”

“Oh. B..bye.” stuttering like a teenage girl with a crush.

I put the phone on the bed and try to hide my face from Nikki, I’m a hot mess right now, eyes are red and getting puffy from crying and now my cheeks are hot and I’m sure they are red as a beetroot from Mason's last comment. Nikki walks over with some water and hands it to me.

“She’ll be alright girl. I know it’s hard to believe but Penny is a tough cookie.”

I can believe that with the way she holds herself, never taking any crap from anyone. She even stood up to Dane in the club for me and did not flinch one bit. I wish I had her courage and strength.

“and now that my brother knows, he’ll make sure that she comes home safe.”

Feeling better knowing that Mason is on his way to wherever she went brings me some sort of relief but until I see her I will still sit here worrying about her.

It’s been two long hours and we haven’t heard anything. Nikki is trying to keep my mind occupied and positive but I can’t sit still my mind is still racing with so many questions.

“if you don’t stop pacing I’m gonna have to tie you down girl.”

“Sorry.”

“Here, you barely touched your sushi.” Nikki hands me the little tray of sushi but I’m not hungry. “look if you don’t eat Penny will be disappointed that your not looking after yourself and I don’t want my brother to kick my ass after those two out there get theirs kicked.”

He’s right, I need to look after myself. I eat a few sushis and put the tray back in the bag.

Laying back on the bed I close my eyes to try and clear my mind to give myself a break. Zoning out and pushing aside any thoughts of Mason, all worries for Penny, the noises of in the corridor, blocking out Nikki’s humming. Focusing on my breathing and the rhythm of my heart beat…nothing but peace…

“Kali my child, it is time for you to learn the truth of the world you live in…look to the trees.”

Eyes wide open I jump up out of bed and quickly walk to the window and see a few wolves run into the woods. Wolves? Why would wolves be this close to town? What is she trying to tell me? My mind is running wild again. And they were big.

Focus Kali what are you missing…wait I remember seeing fur in Penny’s car, then the howling of a wolf that felt like I was connected to it somehow, the way Penny acted as if she could sense something in the trees scanning it like she had some super senses and the growls the night I was attacked, now all those wolves are headed in the same direction as she was…no it can’t be,

“Kali??...you ok?

“Tell me I’m wrong Nikki. Tell me Penny and the others she went with aren’t… werewolves.” Saying it without any conviction and more like a crazed idea I’ve just conjured in my head. Observing Nikki’s facial expressions, all I read is shocked.

“OH.MY.GOSH!” he pauses then quickly grabs my hand and pulls me to sit on the bed next to him “You have to tell me how you figured it out. That was way quicker than I thought.”